Maitland

Just finished Conclave without subtitles. So well done that I didn’t think to check until near the end whether they were supposed to be there for the Spanish and Italian dialogue. One of the rare films that I actually liked more than the book, and I wonder how much that was a factor.

I enjoyed the book quite a lot, but in a strange way, watching the movie and not understanding some 20% of what was said (while still following enough to get the gist) feels like the right way to experience this story.

It’s been a while since I was on social media with any kind of regularity, and so I really want to scroll insta and see how happy my former social support network is, and I don’t understand why it’s all movie clips, queer comedians (ones I don’t know personally), and ads for curly hair products.

I’m gonna say this one louder for the folks in the back: The fact that Texan progressives’ progress has been limited does not mean that they don’t exist or they have given up. It is a *hard* battle here, for a lot of reasons, one of which is how little support we get from outside the state.

“Too many ICE goons are from Texas.” Sure. One is too many. “The majority of Texans voted for this.” False. Barely a majority of Texans vote. Why are y’all like this? Do you just not want people to try?

(I really am too smart to let myself get irritated by this. Statistically speaking, they’re probably bots created to stoke anger and division. I’m tired today.)

“Too many ICE goons are from Texas.” Sure. One is too many. “The majority of Texans voted for this.” False. Barely a majority of Texans vote. Why are y’all like this? Do you just not want people to try?

Avocado Casanova Tumbleweed left us yesterday evening after 15 years of service. He saw us move to Austin, move in together, get engaged, buy a house, get married, move to England, have a baby, Covid, move back, the loss of two other pets, the loss of my in-laws, the baby grow to almost 8.

(This feels like I’ve left it too open ended. There are a million Avocado stories to tell. But I’m too heartbroken to write good right now.)

Avocado Casanova Tumbleweed left us yesterday evening after 15 years of service. He saw us move to Austin, move in together, get engaged, buy a house, get married, move to England, have a baby, Covid, move back, the loss of two other pets, the loss of my in-laws, the baby grow to almost 8.

More rough news for the video game industry today. It’s been painful to watch good devs put out of a job over and over for the past few years. It’s frustrating and angering and depressing.

You are strong. You are capable. You are curious. You are kind. Everyone has these in themselves. So do you. No company, no government, nobody can take them from you. They are yours. And it’s okay if you forget you have them from time to time. They’re still there for you.

More rough news for the video game industry today. It’s been painful to watch good devs put out of a job over and over for the past few years. It’s frustrating and angering and depressing.

I’ve made a lot of choices I’m not proud of when times are tough. Snapped at people, didn’t give them the benefit of the doubt. Buried my head in the sand, indulged my own naïveté. I don’t fault anyone who finds it hard to be their best selves right now.

Cruising into the end of the week like