This Week's Writing 3/14/26
Holding up the floof.
Back in the saddle here after a week of somewhat erratic posting since I was out of town. Now I am scribbling away with a floof atop me, as it should be.
This month has not been great for subscriptions so far…if you find my writing valuable, please consider becoming a paid subscriber, so I can support the cat (in various senses.) It’s $5/month, $50/year. Subscribers get access to my track of the week selection as a little bonus; music! (see the end of this post.)
And here’s what I published this week.
Politics
The bombing of Iranian children is unforgivable (Public Notice)
Organizers believe an Illinois commission could help hold ICE accountable. (Prism)
Why isn’t Trump (even) less popular? (EIH)
Why politicians resist public opinion on Israel. (EIH)
Cultural Criticism
The Informant!’s cheerful portrait of a liar feels dated. (Splice Today)
Vladimir’s academic mid-life crisis narrative is enlivened by Rachel Weisz. (Chicago Reader)
Conclave is all about the men. (EIH)
A prayer for Beni, the best character in the 1999 Mummy. (EIH)
Poetry
Not an AI poem. (dadakuku)
Predict Text
Tomorrow and tomorrow and
Little confused poem. (Five Fleas)
Monoglot
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
From the archive
This Awards Season, Let’s Pray for the Death of Film
Film critics are generally invested in film as a form and a tradition. They want film to thrive, and they dislike encroachments on films central cultural position. Critics tend to mistrust the move to streaming; they want more people to see more movies in theaters. They tout big blockbuster successes as a triumphant sign of film’s continuing relevance; …
