From @chuckwendig.bsky.social : "If you wanna use AI, I can’t stop you. But I can definitely give you a look like you just giddily shit your pants on a crowded train. That’s not me bullying you. That’s me acknowledging you shat yourself willfully and with joy and now we’re all having to deal."

Regarding The Pro-AI Tantrum In The HWA Newsletter

Today I, and every other HWA member, received the HWA newsletter in our inboxes. In that newsletter was an essay (“essay”) of pro-AI propaganda that made a number of specious points in …

terribleminds.com

This is a great poll because there are no options listed — you can write in whatever song you want. I voted for Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Boys.” What’s your song of the summer? #musicsky

Stereogum@stereogum.com · 7h ago

Less than 24 hours left to vote in our annual Song Of The Summer poll

Best songs released in July: 1/2 UrNewImTrue, Pretty Sick Outline, Lucy Park All the Rage, Wishy Rocksteady/HeavyMetal, Emma Ogier Wanna Get Free, Luluc Blood, mary in the junkyard Come On, Yana winner, Ella Woolsey Goldmine, Anna Graves Good at Leaving, Stella Lefty #newmusic #musicsky

"I've Endured" was written by Appalachian icon Ola Belle Reed, and Lindsay Lou just released a brisk, casual version, the 2nd single from her upcoming album Bluegrass Women, with Sarah Jarosz and Emma Rose on vocals. I'm a devoted Sarah Jarosz fan, so anything she does is A-OK. #musicsky #bluegrass

I'm obsessed with the new Wolf Alice cover! "Hammond Song" is by The Roches, and has such a beautiful texture, layers of harmony undercut by a simple, plain-talk lyric, like a family arguing over breakfast. Ellie Rowsell, Julia Cumming, and Bria Salmena capture it beautifully. #musicsky #folkmusic

If you're pining for a new Mumford & Sons song, "Luckiest Man Alive" by Buffalo Traffic Jam will get you through the long dark night. Thanks for putting in the work, guys, so nobody else has to learn how to strum on the mandolin with that kind of frenetic zeal. #musicsky #musicreviews #folkrock

I had to write an email to ask to purchase this art magazine from a local photographer in western Pennsylvania. It was the opposite of a For You page experience — hyperlocal, tangible, and very satisfying. #zines #artsky 🎨

Is Push Content Over Yet?

Meet Eight & 322, an Art Magazine I Wanted to Go Out and Get

itsonthebubble.substack.com

Marking myself safe from Katie Pruitt's instruction to go and knock on my neighbor's door! "Little Boxes" is a gentle siren alerting us to the fragmentation/disconnection of digital life. TL;DR: Touch grass. But I've been resisting warnings against the internet since 1995, and I'm good. #musicsky

Little Boxes

Katie Pruitt · Little Boxes · Song · 2026

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Best lyrics in a song out this week: "God Has a Hitman" by Jensen McRae with Brandi Carlile. Two women and a guitar: simple, fresh, but heartfelt and gritty too. In a track like this there is nowhere to hide -- every lyric clear, every breath audible -- the engine has to be the idea. #musicsky

God Has A Hitman

Jensen McRae, Brandi Carlile · I Don't Know How But They Found Me...Again! · Song · 2026

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Oops, I'm enchanted with Medium Build's new song "Home Depot." It's cheerful, sad, self-deprecating but also affectionate. Pretty sure this is a country song that leaked into the indie playlists, and I can just imagine a room full of people yelling back "Hey Steve" at the stage. #music #nowplaying

Home Depot

Medium Build · Home Depot · Song · 2026

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I'm really enjoying reading Home Sick by Rhiannon Grist. This story is keeping me up late, and scaring the absolute shit out of me when there's an unexpected noise in the dark. Small town in Scotland, fey stuff, weird sheep, and I genuinely have no idea where this is going. #netgalley #booksky

Charlize Theron should have played Odysseus. She was wasted as his magical hair-petter.

I reviewed The Odyssey movie from Christopher Nolan. Let's fight. #theodyssey #filmsky 📽️

The Odyssey Movie is LOL

A surprising answer to the eternal question: Why can't Odysseus just go home?

itsonthebubble.substack.com

Musicians of BlueSky, would you like a short, honest review of your single? Send me a message with a link to your song, and if I have something to say, I will post about it. I won't tag you, so you can decide whether to share it. My favorite genres are indie, folk, and pop. #musicsky #indiemusic

Check out Mary in the Junkyard's "Blood" for a really satisfying guitar lick. Thank you Clari Freeman-Taylor, for demonstrating unapologetically exceptional skill. Don't know her? She's a classically trained guitar player bringing precision and melodic sensibilities to indie rock. #bluesky #guitar

Best road trip song this week: "Rocksteady/Heavymetal" by Emma Ogier with Eden Joel. Everything you need in a car song: propulsive beat for tires turning, easy shouty chorus for singing along, and it doesn't have any weirdly filthy or suddenly personal lyrics to bother you. #musicsky #emmaogier

Dear Wishy, thanks for cutting through the droning monotony of this week's new indie releases with "All the Rage." It's Lemonheads, and it's The Muffs, and never mind it's an illustration of complete vibe/lyrics disconnect -- it's a welcome shot of energy. #musicsky #alltherage

In Malcom Todd's new song "I Just Got Mad" he says things you'd only forgive in a wayward little brother, in a tone that makes you want to put your hand in the middle of his chest and just push him around a corner. #ijustgotmad #newmusicfriday #musicsky

Chuck Tingle's latest horror novel, Fabulous Bodies, is a boisterous, bloody playmate with a sweet simple heart, clothed in cinematic sparkle. Were you expecting more from it? Read on to find out why you weren’t: #netgalley #fabulousbodies #booksky

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle

A boisterous, bloody playmate with a sweet simple heart, clothed in cinematic sparkle.

itsonthebubble.substack.com

The Museum of Black Women Innovators in Portsmouth seeks to highlight the overlooked contributions of 250 Black women whose inventions and ideas transformed history. Read more here: tinyurl.com/2jt4epbv

20 best songs from the last 3 months, not in order: 1/3 Tiny Raisin by Suki Waterhouse Let Me Go by Baby Rose The Chicken is Naked and Afraid by Sofia Isella While the Womb Screams Silently by Cinder Well Zombie by Joy Oladokun Just Like You by Jensen McRae tennis practice by Khatumu #musicsky

"Another Drink" from producer Marshmello and singer Kelsea Ballerini isn't a song I needed or wanted, and isn't a song I ever need to or want to listen to again, but damn it's a nice balance to all the sad-girl songs that came out last week. Looking at you, "American Wedding." #musicsky

I love that Katy Perry is dipping a polished toe into female rage with "Watch it Burn," but it all kind of sounds like the inside of a box. Or just another costume? #musicsky

The new song "Wink Wink" by Charli xcx isn't exactly hooky, and there's no real melody, and the beat is familiar. However, I just love it. The lyric has me on alert. The same with "My Body Isn't Ready" from sombr, also released last week. Songs can be about things. It's okay. #musicsky #popstars

Most Adorable song of June: "Counting" by Anna Shoemaker. Most Unlistenable song of June: "Turtles World" by King Tuff. #musicsky #turtlesworld #countingsong

There's a guitar sound, cultivated by indie band types, that sounds like you just picked up a toy instrument off your neighbor's back porch and couldn't quite get it in tune. Why do you do this, young people of America? Are you trying to sound analog? Are you trying to be nostalgic? Is this lo-fi?

Phoebe Bridgers released a game to accompany her new single "Lost Boys." Or did she release a single to go with her game? My high score is 751 but I'm coming for you, broken heart. #musicsky #lostboys

I reviewed Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer from @torbooks.bsky.social #netgalley #obstetrix

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer

Kidnapped by a fertility cult, an ob-gyn fights to keep herself safe.

itsonthebubble.substack.com

Hmm, two songs released this week are about a man being attractive through beer goggles. "Cutting Off the Head of a Ghost" by Kelsey Lu and "When I Get Drunk (I Want You Boy)" by Suki Waterhouse. Girls, do keep your shit together. #musicsky #newmusicfriday

Holy shit, Meg Stalter is the gay hype star of June. If this song doesn't put a gay smile on your gay face, you need more iced coffee, girl. #megstalter #musicsky #pride

GAY

Meg Stalter · GAY · Song · 2026

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