Leo Tolstoy, 1869: My book cannot be considered a novel, because it includes a long discussion of Napoleon’s defeat. Victor Hugo, 1862: I have sandwiched an 18-chapter digression on Napoleon’s defeat into the 2nd most melodramatic and sentimental novel of the 19th century, nbd.

this is what i think it would be like if aliens had true religion jeans

Jess@ennui-haver.bsky.social · 2d ago

i wonder what an alien would make of humanity if all they had from us was a pair of true religion jeans, they would probably only see beauty in us

I feel this very strongly

[Depeche Mode voice] Champagne and pâté

Whoops! Booked a class at the wrong studio—the one where the Influencers go, instead of the one that feels like a cave for rare, pale creatures. If you see me in the background of a fitness reel sweatin’ and cussin’, I apologize.

This must be how it feels for people when a new Fr*msoft game is released.

Works of Genius@worksofgenius.org · 3d ago

Hooting and hollering looking at the Hobonichi 2027 lineup.

Hooting and hollering looking at the Hobonichi 2027 lineup.

Former elementary school in a coastal area of Ishinomaki that was taken out by the tsunami. Cannot properly summarize the whole story here so I urge you to pay a visit. It has been converted into a museum with portions of the damaged buildings left as they were.

Pleased to finally announce... Abdication, the last Southern Reach novel! "There will come the days of the watcher, the drowned woman and the shadow of a man who keeps falling apart with each step, but first comes the moment the birds appear at night from the gaps between the stars, far from home."

But since it *is* Bandcamp Friday, why not check out my little record label for some pop/noise/other from Japan (and one or two other places): call-and-response.bandcamp.com

Call And Response Records

Indie, post-punk, new wave and underground music in Koenji, Tokyo since 2005.

call-and-response.bandcamp.com

Ian (F) Martin@ianfmartin.bsky.social · 4d ago

What's this? 40 emails suddenly drop into my inbox? It must be... Bandcamp Friday!

I'm reading "The Pensées" by Blaise Pascal and I think we need to bring this format back. Just "my thoughts." Fragmented take after take. "Change is usually pleasing to princes." Exactly. Next. "How many kingdoms know nothing of us!" Blaise, that's so true. And real.

#OTD in 1944, Ralph Lazo, a Mexican American who claimed to be Japanese, was released from the Manzanar incarceration camp. Lazo, who enlisted into the Army, wanted to join his friends in the camp and stayed for two years. "Who can say I haven't got Japanese blood in me?," he stated. 🗃 #skystorians

Lovely evening with the Maria Schneider Orchestra. 🎶

Evening viewing recommendation? Celebrate Robert Mitchum's birthday with a Southern Gothic double bill on the Criterion Channel featuring THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER and CAPE FEAR! 🖤

been making a single-page app with pocketbase.io this week and it's been a nice experience. I like making single-page JS apps with a Go backend API and this means that I don't have to write the Go backend. Really impressive project given that it's built by one person in their spare time.

PocketBase - Open Source backend in 1 file

Open Source backend in 1 file with realtime database, authentication, file storage and admin dashboard

pocketbase.io

since oscilloscope graphics are doing the rounds again, here's some photos from that time a few years ago when I built a gizmo to show dril tweets (and assorted other nonsense) on my ancient Tek 466

Ouughhgghh

Any dl4j specialists on here? I mean actual pro, someone who maybe modified the source code or something like that. I'm getting 0 help from their forum, it's completely dead and I'm talking to myself

I’ve got 20 pages left in War and Peace (excluding the epilogue) and no idea how Tolstoy is going to wrap this up. What do you mean this is the seventh new chapter on the Great Man theory? What do you mean there’s a new battle brewing? Where are Pierre and Nikolai?!

🚨 The [Japanese] government is accepting public comments about the proposed changes to permanent residency requirements through Sept. 3 🚨 public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/pcm/detail?C... For info about how (e.g. you must submit in 日本語) >> public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/pcm/download...

After a long, stupid day at the office, nothing beats pushing 75kg of weights around.

"it looks like you're using an adblocker to visit our site." yep! ha ha! it rocks!

ICYMI: On July 1, Japan raised its departure tax and visa fees to help fund overtourism measures, while lowering passport fees for its own citizens the same day. With the yen this weak, though, visiting Japan remains a bargain.

Japan Just Made Visiting More Expensive: Departure Tax, Visa Fees Jump

On the same day that departure tax and visa fees for travelers went up, passport application fees for Japanese nationals went down.

unseen-japan.com

🚨🚨 Good breakdown of details in shifting policy 🚨🚨=> Current permanent residency applications to be judged using new income criteria www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08...

Current permanent residency applications to be judged using new income criteria

The income requirement the government introduced may be applied to applications submitted as early as April of this year.

japantimes.co.jp

"Today is August 4, 2026" There Will Come Soft Rains By: Ray Bradbury

[whispering to paramedic before I pass out] save me but not enough that I have to go to work tomorrow

🎼 Let’s talk about cheese, baby, Let’s talk about sharp and brie, Let's talk about all the soft ones, And the hard ones that we’ll eat 🎶

This fall’s reading group listings comprise one of the richest @catherineproject.bsky.social offerings I’ve seen so far. There are multiple Moby-Dick sections, including one in a young parent-friendly 8–10 p.m. slot—consider! Would be a great way to spend a damp, drizzly November in your soul!

Catherine Project@catherineproject.bsky.social · last wk.

Enrollment for Fall 2026 is now open! 📚🍂 Join our global readership for thoughtful, open-ended discussions on books that matter. Browse what's on offer and apply today: catherineproject.org Applications close August 14.