Michael Riches
@michaelriches.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of English, Appalachian State University | writing on California, African American literature, frontiers, crime fiction | straddling uncomfortably the intersection between Bartleby the Scrivener and Gonzo the Great
Everything about the music business in the late sixties sounds completely fake
October 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Everything about the music business in the late sixties sounds completely fake
No disrespect to Ira Gershwin but rhyming brunch with lunch is hack. You can't just go rhyming a portmanteau with one of the two words it's derived from.
October 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
No disrespect to Ira Gershwin but rhyming brunch with lunch is hack. You can't just go rhyming a portmanteau with one of the two words it's derived from.
“You know, these plans are quite similar to the ones they have at the Reform conference”
September 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
“You know, these plans are quite similar to the ones they have at the Reform conference”
One of the things I find hardest about severe episodes of mental ill-health is the number of people you have to lie to about why you’re canceling on them/late in doing something/forgetting to reply to messages/not doing your best work Exhausting!
September 24, 2025 at 2:46 AM
One of the things I find hardest about severe episodes of mental ill-health is the number of people you have to lie to about why you’re canceling on them/late in doing something/forgetting to reply to messages/not doing your best work Exhausting!
In Sonic 3 (2024), End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (1988) is used as diegetic music in a flashback to 50 years before the present-day events of the movie.
All the more galling given that a period-appropriate pop song (The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice) is used elsewhere in the movie.
All the more galling given that a period-appropriate pop song (The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice) is used elsewhere in the movie.
September 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM
In Sonic 3 (2024), End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (1988) is used as diegetic music in a flashback to 50 years before the present-day events of the movie.
All the more galling given that a period-appropriate pop song (The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice) is used elsewhere in the movie.
All the more galling given that a period-appropriate pop song (The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice) is used elsewhere in the movie.
I don’t even know why I still had an account on that exploitative and largely useless platform but as of today I don’t anymore.
Academia dot edu licensing agreement says it can use your likeness and voice and publications in any manner they want, world wide.
If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.
September 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I don’t even know why I still had an account on that exploitative and largely useless platform but as of today I don’t anymore.
Pete Mandelson? The Hartlepool MP?
September 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Pete Mandelson? The Hartlepool MP?
True admiration for Bruce Springsteen, the most “claims to be 5‘10” on Hinge but is 5’7” IRL“ guy in rock, making a tactical decision decades ago to flank himself with actual hobbits Steve van Zandt and Nils Lofgren
September 10, 2025 at 2:18 AM
True admiration for Bruce Springsteen, the most “claims to be 5‘10” on Hinge but is 5’7” IRL“ guy in rock, making a tactical decision decades ago to flank himself with actual hobbits Steve van Zandt and Nils Lofgren
Arthur Miller died less than 7 weeks after the release of Meet the Fockers and we can't rule out the possibility that the two events were linked
a thing I have just discovered that feels utterly wrong is that Arthur Miller only died in 2005. he could have seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. he could have seen Donnie Darko!
September 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Arthur Miller died less than 7 weeks after the release of Meet the Fockers and we can't rule out the possibility that the two events were linked
In a month’s time we get a new Pynchon novel and I just think that’s neat
September 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
In a month’s time we get a new Pynchon novel and I just think that’s neat
That’s Don Henley for you
The Eagles will not be on the field to see the Super Bowl banner raised against Dallas tomorrow. They have made this choice as a team to say they've left the celebrations behind and now they have to go to war again.
September 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
That’s Don Henley for you
A wonderful former student of mine is struggling with medical bills. While access to healthcare without fear of financial hardship shouldn’t be contingent on being a good or talented person, Matthew is both. If you can spare anything, I know it will be deeply appreciated.
gofund.me/46c876c0
gofund.me/46c876c0
Donate to Matthew Washington's Medical Bill, organized by Matthew Washington
Hey there everyone.
My name is Matthew Washington. I am a recent graduate of … Matthew Washington needs your support for Matthew Washington's Medical Bill
gofund.me
August 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
A wonderful former student of mine is struggling with medical bills. While access to healthcare without fear of financial hardship shouldn’t be contingent on being a good or talented person, Matthew is both. If you can spare anything, I know it will be deeply appreciated.
gofund.me/46c876c0
gofund.me/46c876c0
Academic request: do I know anyone, or do you know anyone, who has access to the journal African Identities?
August 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Academic request: do I know anyone, or do you know anyone, who has access to the journal African Identities?
I don’t speak to my father any more but alas I can never disown his description of TNG as “social workers in space” (he was a social worker)
TNG did not take off in the zeitgeist until it ditched the overt futurism and became a "hang out with your pals" show.
Or when present, embarrassingly ham-fisted and oversimplified (those early-season TNG morals whoof)
August 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I don’t speak to my father any more but alas I can never disown his description of TNG as “social workers in space” (he was a social worker)
PSA: due to [reasons] I'm exploring changing my surname to my mother's maiden name, and I'm choosing Bluesky as a consequence-free place to test out how it feels. Given my career choice, this is the only way I'm ever going to obtain Riches.
July 18, 2025 at 9:02 PM
PSA: due to [reasons] I'm exploring changing my surname to my mother's maiden name, and I'm choosing Bluesky as a consequence-free place to test out how it feels. Given my career choice, this is the only way I'm ever going to obtain Riches.
[Youth Pastor turning to the Book of Genesis] “let me tell you about the original content creator”
July 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
[Youth Pastor turning to the Book of Genesis] “let me tell you about the original content creator”
Menswear ads on instagram are either for $49 suits from a sketchy dropshipping operation called either Spvrluocyj or Bloodlust and Hinterland Supply Co., or they’re for high-waist trousers that cost five million dollars
July 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Menswear ads on instagram are either for $49 suits from a sketchy dropshipping operation called either Spvrluocyj or Bloodlust and Hinterland Supply Co., or they’re for high-waist trousers that cost five million dollars
They should just make one cleanser and one moisturizer and one sunscreen that are good.
June 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
They should just make one cleanser and one moisturizer and one sunscreen that are good.
ill-advisedly ambiguous marketing copy from Spirit, here
June 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
ill-advisedly ambiguous marketing copy from Spirit, here
An obvious point, made many times before, but surely concert ticket prices for established/legacy acts are unsustainable? I love live music, I have a decent salary, but I am simply not paying $140+ (for a crap seat), plus travel and accommodation for Elvis Costello or David Byrne.
June 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
An obvious point, made many times before, but surely concert ticket prices for established/legacy acts are unsustainable? I love live music, I have a decent salary, but I am simply not paying $140+ (for a crap seat), plus travel and accommodation for Elvis Costello or David Byrne.
Didn't expect to feel such joy and relief that, after 20 years of dross, pointless covers, and screeds about how Klaus Schwab, George Soros, and Bill Gates are trying to stop him touring, Van Morrison has made a mostly good album and returned to songs about remembering place names in Belfast.
June 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Didn't expect to feel such joy and relief that, after 20 years of dross, pointless covers, and screeds about how Klaus Schwab, George Soros, and Bill Gates are trying to stop him touring, Van Morrison has made a mostly good album and returned to songs about remembering place names in Belfast.
The year is 1955 and I am profoundly misunderstanding Bill Haley and His Comets
June 16, 2025 at 1:58 AM
The year is 1955 and I am profoundly misunderstanding Bill Haley and His Comets
JFK is a scam to make you so flustered, frustrated and despairing after the three hours of waiting in lines, the missed flight, the bag recheck, the patdown, the being demeaned by 8-10 different staff members, that you’ll gratefully spend $53 on a burrito and a beer to make yourself feel better
June 15, 2025 at 9:23 PM
JFK is a scam to make you so flustered, frustrated and despairing after the three hours of waiting in lines, the missed flight, the bag recheck, the patdown, the being demeaned by 8-10 different staff members, that you’ll gratefully spend $53 on a burrito and a beer to make yourself feel better
[Henry II joins the Beastie Boys]
His strong BELIEFS
My cause of GRIEF
Rid me of this turbulent PRIEST
His strong BELIEFS
My cause of GRIEF
Rid me of this turbulent PRIEST
June 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
[Henry II joins the Beastie Boys]
His strong BELIEFS
My cause of GRIEF
Rid me of this turbulent PRIEST
His strong BELIEFS
My cause of GRIEF
Rid me of this turbulent PRIEST
Faced with a dilemma whenever I place an order in an American cafe and the person asks "what's a good name?" I don't really think Michael's a good name. Fine, serviceable, but nothing striking. Marmaduke is a good name, so is Alphonse, so is Caractacus, so is Cthulhu. They're not *my* name, but...
June 9, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Faced with a dilemma whenever I place an order in an American cafe and the person asks "what's a good name?" I don't really think Michael's a good name. Fine, serviceable, but nothing striking. Marmaduke is a good name, so is Alphonse, so is Caractacus, so is Cthulhu. They're not *my* name, but...