Overheard two 20-something artists discussing life last night. Highlights: * "When I'm not interested in something, that's it, I'm not interested." * "My girlfriend wants to go to South America, which I'm not into. But she won't go to Asia, and I'm like, come on, that's billions of people." ->

The Ozempic trend among celebrities is producing some weird dreams for me: Women in puffed-sleeve blouses whose arms turn to charred tree branches walking along the street, and the withered people from Ursula‘s garden in The Little Mermaid giving a fashion show in front of a castle.

I tried to listen to Ariana Grande's new album, Petal, but then I imagined a cartoon mouse singing all the songs and now that's all I can hear.

There is a wildfire right by my house. It will probably be OK. I hate that we are just ignoring climate change and pretending it isn’t a problem.

We do not need a Clueless sequel! Did Jane Austen write a sequel to Emma? Hollywood, quit shitting over all of our memories and think of something new.

Just thinking about all those times and grammar school were for some reason they had *me* be the goalie….

Jane Austen’s house!

At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice movie (2005): Teenage boy soooooooo bored, cannot sit still, girls and marriage subject matter highly suspect. By the end:

Nelson Muntz Fascinated by Andy Williams

ALT: Nelson Muntz Fascinated by Andy Williams

static.klipy.com

We have three days to save science from a fascist takeover that will threaten our ability to stay on top of technology and scientific advancement. Link below to comment.

A New Trump Rule Threatens Research Behind Every American Industry

A 412-Page Federal Rule Could Reshape American Science Forever. The Comment Period Closes in July 13, 2026.

forbes.com

For some reason I mix up the words "angle" and "angel," which can be a very awkward mistake, especially when pontificating to editors.

Overhearing a young child pretend to order something on the phone. "That's all I need. Okay? What!? Are you getting them? Are you getting it? You nitwit!"

I guess it doesn't matter that Trump screwed up America 250 because almost half of Americans don't even know why we're celebrating.

Nearly half of Americans surveyed don't know what America 250 commemorates

A new national poll reveals a striking paradox in public sentiment ahead of America's 250th anniversary: a disconnect between Americans' strong patriotic pride and their lack of civic knowledge.

npr.org

Well thank goodness Taylor Swift is never getting divorced or this would all be a bit much.

I'm a bicentennial baby. All my life, people have given me 1976 quarters and told me in 2026 the country would be 250 years old. I never dreamed it would look like this, with our rights and democracy under attack, the White House torn up, and a thief for a president.

I’m rendering tallow in the slow cooker and the house smells so weird right now.

My 14-year-old son is really into Alfred Hitchcock movies and it is adorable.

I hate how dumbed down museums are now. I visited the local history museum and it was 70% screens, 25% posters, and about 5% artifacts.

Weird anxiety dreams last night asking pertinent questions like: * Why did that one girl I knew 20 years ago never seem to like me? * Do The Simpsons still have a cat? If so, what iteration of Snowball are they on after 40 years?? * What is wrong with Sharon Stone's eyes?

took my son to Foster's Freeze for some fun nostalgic soft serve ice cream. $14 for two cones. The last time I bought a cone there, they were maybe $4 each. It wasn't *that* long ago.

I love that readers and writers rally around independent bookstores the way we do. I wish we did the same for small presses.

Controversial opinion: Michelin stars make dining elitist, annoying, and overpriced. And they ruin your local favorites.

A hell of a lot of people in this coffee shop seem to be writing books. If only they were reading them instead.

Why is a character on House of Dragons quoting Elizabeth 1? Are we not supposed to notice they lifted that line from her 1588 Tilbury Speech? I was sincerely confused.

Another AI short story contest winner? Harper's Bazaar (not Harper's Magazine) picked an extremely suspicious looking story as the winner of its 2026 Short Story Competition. Over 30 em dashes alone. What is going on?! Even if this story is human written, it's so *bad.*

Read the winning entry of the 2026 Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition

The story chosen by our all-star judging panel is published here

harpersbazaar.com

The way my cats look at me when they figure out I'm going away overnight and they have to be alone together inside the house...

Obsession is a super entertaining horror movie. Highly recommend.

Sitting here listening to the unceasing drone of chainsaws taking out the park across the street from my house. The school, Mary Collins, is removing 29 trees so they can put in a 9,000-sf classroom. Thanks to the #PetalumaSchoolDistrict for being so climate forward.

To everyone I've ever done business with: I now charge to "rate my experience" working with you. Please don't ask me to do this unless you're prepared to Vemo me $10. If you would like a review, I charge $1/word.

Awww RIP David Hockney

My characters love to turn toward things. And look. Oh my, do they ever look at things.