Polly Schattel

Came across this conservative take-down of Bruce Springsteen, which is fascinating in its sheer number of bad faith assumptions and assertions. (As an aficionado, it’s easy to poke holes in the nonsense.) He’s an effective spokesman and they’re in damage control. open.substack.com/pub/sashasto...

Despicable. Facebook, Instagram and Meta tried to intervene in yesterday’s Brazilian presidential elections. They throttled and interrupted services, and even interfered in the US’s No King’s protest. Fuck these evil assholes. #deletemeta #Deletedacebook paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-oligar...

New addition to the fam. I’ve got a decent Strat, but I hated the neck. Tried to sell it and couldn’t. Finally decided to get a better neck, and found this, a used but pristine Japanese neck from 1984(!). The original models are below. But now the guitar only wants to play New Wave. #turningjapanese

One of the biggest awakenings I ever had was when I lived abroad, in Brazil for a year. The US looks soooo different from the outside. Even the TIME and NEWSWEEK magazines were different. You see what a bloviating bully we’ve become (even while we are admittedly pretty awesome in other areas). #USA!

They can try to suppress it, but you and I know that will never be successful. What a crazy time we’re living in right now: Rogue Russian-asset pedophilic presidents, sociopathic billionaires with delusional visions of grandeur and bigotry, corrupt heads of state and autocratic tech CEOs. Wild.

If I ever win the lottery, you’ll know it by me driving around in my 1970’s fantasy-art airbrushed van. Yes, there will be shag carpet involved.

This was fun. Some creative-ass folks out there. Stanley Kubrick talked about commercials, and how some of them were so skillfully told (and rapidly cut) that you get a sense of a whole world in just eight or so seconds. He would have enjoyed this film. #horrorfilm

Who doesn’t love Uncle Stevie?

The richest man in the world, y’all. The largest Republican $$ donor ever. A serial liar, disassociative drug addict and semen-dispenser. Racist, fraud, transphobe, bully, shitty father, shitty partner, and all around terrible person.

Morgan Fairchild’s Texas Corn. I mean, canned corn? Just cook it fresh. And a can of chilies? Cook them too. Cream cheese? Nah, cheese is okay but this seems flavorless. Here: add some chili powder, mayo, some generous amounts of cotija and lime, and give it some elote energy. Now you’re talkin!

The Magician (Self Portrait with Four Arms), René Magritte, 1952

My hobby. I don’t play out. I’m pretty terrible, actually, but man do I like to chill and play guitar. It’s nonverbal, which I need (gotta get away from words sometimes); it’s both creative & technical. Songwriting is fun too—I’ve recorded enough original songs for a double album. Apprentice work.

Haha. The Elongated Muskadine is worried.

This guy and his magnificent crib.

In my writing (my rough drafts particularly) I see the word "hesitation" way too much. For some reason, I love "hesitation," and will have to revise it out when the time comes. "After a moment's hesitation, she ... " etc. What are some of your go-to words that crop up again and again in your work?

Read “Leonide the Vampyr: Miracle at Crow’s Head” for free, via @macabredaily.bsky.social. www.macabredaily.com/articles/cel...

Mike Thorn names his 100 favorite horror books. It's a great list. I'm biased. He's included my story collection STRANGE IS THE NIGHT among some wonderful books by Ramsey Campbell, Stephen King, Daphne Du Maurier, Joyce Carol Oates, Kathe Koja, Gwendolyn Kiste... You will find an October read here.🎃

Reminder: there's a special deal for signed paperback copies of my new novel, OUR SAVAGE ANATOMIES. Details in this blog post. thewildernesswithinbyjohnclaudesmith.blogspot.com

On this day in 1980, Bruce Springsteen released “Hungry Heart,” his first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, reaching No. 5. Originally written for the Ramones, The Boss kept it after his manager convinced him it was too good to give away.

On Wednesdays we wear black.

We’re serious!

Powerful stuff. Salamanca, Tuco and Gus Fring mourn RJ Mitte. #breakingbad

Dont give a f*ck about this fake Buck Rogers shit

Wait. So you’re telling me there are folks out there who enjoyed a bowl or two of decent bud before reading, viewing or (god forbid) *writing* classic sword & sorcery? Why, I don’t believe you!

The hate group Genspec are running anti-trans and “detransitioning” ads. The reality is that most of us don’t detransition, and the ones who do, do it for financial or family reasons. But the trans community has always supported those who detransition. You don’t need a hate group to help you.

Hell yes. I’ve been a Kubrick fanatic for decades, and was in the theaters the night FMJ opened. Like every other film of his, I had no idea what I just watched, it was oddly compelling and weirdly brilliant. I’ve seen it many many times since. youtu.be/KY92uD90-tg

Dude could end world hunger and homelessness tomorrow. He could make college free. But yes. Next year. First of many. Let’s pencil it in!

Great article about Bruce’s depression. You can hear it in the music; it gives deep contrast to all those hopes and dreams. But depression can hit anybody—many in my family have suffered from it. But we’re not helpless against it. Be aware. Be vigilant. Be proactive.

Hallowe’en vibes.

Also, fuck Meta, fuck Twitter, and fuck TikTok.

Can’t save the idiots from themselves. Seems some TERF loved Donald until she didn’t. But the TERF is unrepentant. “It all says a lot about the shocking quality of the Dem candidates,” she writes. Someone’s still publishing her? You can be that stupid and still have a job? Oh do fuck off, Julie.

God bless the troublemakers. It takes cojones and commitment. #fuckjo

I’m tired of winning. www.reddit.com/r/CringeTikT...

I used to love Pantera I used to love SLAYER I used to love Danzig I used to love Metallica Then Phil threw up a Seig Heil at a show Then Tom posted Trump throwing horns Then Glen used a not see symbol on his merch Then James said he wasn't political and he was about love and peace and heavy

Proof of life. Headed out to a political meeting tonight with our next mayor. AVL is really just a big small town, and I’ve been fortunate to know Kim Roney for several years. It’s like seeing old friends. #transisbeautiful

Also: you should order this HALLOWEEN MYSTERY BOX from Hybrid Sequence Media. I hear there's Howling good stuff included... ;-) hybridsequence.wordpress.com/2026/10/13/7...

The Weird Library has an audio version of my story 'Cold Reading' out! Check it out for some haunted carny action! www.youtube.com/watch?v=663I...

Obviously Stanley made the film way before the Epstein years (in fact, he'd wanted to make it since the 1960's). But so much of EYES WIDE SHUT follows, anticipates, and confirms the age old truth of corruption: it all really does come down to money. People laughed at the film in the day. No longer.

👇🤦‍♀️

It ain’t that hard. I got progressified when I read some good and proper books as a teen. Never looked back.

I mean, Soderbergh is one the best directors out there, but maybe give this one a rest, huh? The universe is giving you a sign, boys. Batman is tired. Superman is tired. Spiderman is tired. We need new stories, fresh stories, good stories, not more middle-aged men pouting in rigid headgear.