One of my biggest irrational fears as a child was the planet Venus, but sometimes I think it wasn’t that irrational 

WIRED@wired.com · 2w ago

One of the great mysteries in astronomy has been why Venus has no moon. Now a new theory provides a simple answer: It might have been eaten. www.wired.com/story/venus-...

For the NYT I wrote about Ed Sheeran, the fantasy of political neutrality and the politics of self-interest www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/o...

Opinion | Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and Why Politics Is So Hard for Celebrities

Celebrities use the facade of neutrality as shelter, as a place to take refuge.

nytimes.com

last night we had ed sheeran apologizing for saying what’s happening in palestine is bad and at the same time david byrne putting up a huge graphic that says MAKE AMERICA GAY AGAIN and showing footage of ICE brutality to a sold out crowd. you can actually be famous and successful AND give a shit.

Can't stop thinking about the prancing kitty cats

Not really the same thing, although I've just come out of a production of Cats and that's definitely a different experience at 36 than it is at 10.

While we wait to see if Digger gets Tom Cruise an Oscar, here's an essay I wrote about his three Academy Award nominations, his hard turn away from that early quest, his strengths and weaknesses, and the limits of "intensity." A decade later, I think it still applies. grantland.com/hollywood-pr...

meowth all curled up

this is utterly adorable and i think if i saw this show as a kid i would've been bouncing off the walls

I started playing Pokémon Legends Z-A, and I am quite disappointed so far. What I liked about Arceus was the more open world and emphasis on exploration, collection and research over battling (my least favourite element of the games). So far Z-A mainly seems to want to force me to battle :(

Everything is on fire but at least it is Taskmaster Thursday once again.

I wish more people applying for PhDs understood (or respected) that admissions tutors and supervisors generally don't like unsolicited applications. Please - if you're thinking of applying - reach out by email to supervisors first! You will have much better chances of acceptance when you do apply!

The question is do I tell my students this also applies to me when I teach it this semester?

Kate Hagen's House of Horrors 👻@thathagengrrl.bsky.social · 3w ago

Flipped on THE GRADUATE on TCM + have learned I am now Mrs. Robinson years old (36)!

Spent ages scrutinising the new food pictures on the website one of my preferred takeaways wondering if they're AI-generated. Caved and decided to order anyway because I'm too hungry and tired to have principles, only for it to turn out they've adjusted their delivery area and I am no longer in it.

the chicken that dances at the end of Stroszek has pulled out of Ed Sheeran's tour

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you gotta buy my pots cause actually they may one day grow to be Emrakul The Promised End and destroy all of humanity thats how powerful and important they are. Every time i throw a pot i am tempting eldritch power. Invest now in pots

Rose Schmits@roseschmits.bsky.social · 4w ago

Go see what’s still available ✨www.roseschmits.com

One of the very sad things (of many) about Drag Race being dropped from the BBC, and linear TV/PSB generally, is how much of the show's hallmarks are indebted to British televisual (queer) culture: Blue Peter, Blankety Blank, Eurovision, among many others.

The thing i like about calling it “Woke 1” is the implicit admission that there shall be a Woke 2. It admits the inevitable defeat of antiwokism even while mocking woke

Sorry to report I have been robbed* in broad daylight yet again. *Went into CEX on a whim and bought a lot of physical media.

I hadn't foreseen the one downside to Kier Starmer not being PM any more: no more George Fouracres impression on SNL :(

5枚以上でカルーセル表示になったみたいなので実験

Just got one of these on Currys, posting if it helps anyone. My seasonable depression is already kicking in but at least I know what I'll be doing on 5th November.

dr. cat@cinefeline.bsky.social · last mo.

Wdym the Zelda 40th anniversary special edition console that was announced yesterday is already sold out for preorder 😭

I sincerely wish I could have one day off from hearing about AI

Wdym the Zelda 40th anniversary special edition console that was announced yesterday is already sold out for preorder 😭

Birmingham airport website saying that £12 for 'up to an hour' parking to pick someone up is 'affordable' is some of the pettiest gaslighting I've seen in a while.

GenAI is ‘very good for animals,’ says Danny Boyle, as yet another data centre destroys the meagre land we’ve left for animals to live on and the light, noise and thermal pollution it creates puts all the animals in the surrounding area at risk

Deadline@deadline.com · last mo.

"There's about 30 seconds of it in our movie," the Oscar winner said about using AI to bring the Kray twins and Margaret Thatcher to life on screen.

It is still National Cinema Weekend for a further few hours so now's yours chance to see something for about £4 especially if you don't go to the cinema often! I have seen and recommend: Coyote Vs Acme Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma The End of Oak Street