Author | Lightnews

Michael Riches

@michaelriches.bsky.social

760 followers 620 following 450 posts

Assistant Professor of English, Appalachian State University | writing on California, African American literature, frontiers, crime fiction | straddling uncomfortably the intersection between Bartleby the Scrivener and Gonzo the Great

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · 15d

Everything about the music business in the late sixties sounds completely fake

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Oct 1

Always exceptions to the rule

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Oct 1

No disrespect to Ira Gershwin but rhyming brunch with lunch is hack. You can't just go rhyming a portmanteau with one of the two words it's derived from.

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 28

“You know, these plans are quite similar to the ones they have at the Reform conference”

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 24

Just give me a giant flashing neon GONE FISHING sign

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 24

One of the things I find hardest about severe episodes of mental ill-health is the number of people you have to lie to about why you’re canceling on them/late in doing something/forgetting to reply to messages/not doing your best work Exhausting!

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 22

In Sonic 3 (2024), End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys (1988) is used as diegetic music in a flashback to 50 years before the present-day events of the movie.

All the more galling given that a period-appropriate pop song (The Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t It Be Nice) is used elsewhere in the movie.

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 19

“Will no one rid me of this turbulent place?”

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 17

I don’t even know why I still had an account on that exploitative and largely useless platform but as of today I don’t anymore.

Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · Sep 17

Academia dot edu licensing agreement says it can use your likeness and voice and publications in any manner they want, world wide.

Ordinary Notes @hystericalblkns.bsky.social · Sep 17

If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 11

Pete Mandelson? The Hartlepool MP?

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 10

I struggle to keep track of all those Leigh Francis characters

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 10

Imagine how frustrating it must've been to find that "giantpaedo" sans numeral was already taken

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 10

True admiration for Bruce Springsteen, the most “claims to be 5‘10” on Hinge but is 5’7” IRL“ guy in rock, making a tactical decision decades ago to flank himself with actual hobbits Steve van Zandt and Nils Lofgren

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 9

Arthur Miller died less than 7 weeks after the release of Meet the Fockers and we can't rule out the possibility that the two events were linked

Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · Sep 9

a thing I have just discovered that feels utterly wrong is that Arthur Miller only died in 2005. he could have seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. he could have seen Donnie Darko!

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 7

In a month’s time we get a new Pynchon novel and I just think that’s neat

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Sep 4

That’s Don Henley for you

Richard M. Nixon @dicknixon.bsky.social · Sep 4

The Eagles will not be on the field to see the Super Bowl banner raised against Dallas tomorrow. They have made this choice as a team to say they've left the celebrations behind and now they have to go to war again.

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Aug 20

A wonderful former student of mine is struggling with medical bills. While access to healthcare without fear of financial hardship shouldn’t be contingent on being a good or talented person, Matthew is both. If you can spare anything, I know it will be deeply appreciated.

gofund.me/46c876c0

Donate to Matthew Washington's Medical Bill, organized by Matthew Washington

Hey there everyone. My name is Matthew Washington. I am a recent graduate of … Matthew Washington needs your support for Matthew Washington's Medical Bill

gofund.me

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Aug 15

Academic request: do I know anyone, or do you know anyone, who has access to the journal African Identities?

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Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Aug 7

I don’t speak to my father any more but alas I can never disown his description of TNG as “social workers in space” (he was a social worker)

Brandon Bird @brandonbird.bsky.social · Aug 7

TNG did not take off in the zeitgeist until it ditched the overt futurism and became a "hang out with your pals" show.

Hunter Elenbaas @hunterje.bsky.social · Aug 7

Or when present, embarrassingly ham-fisted and oversimplified (those early-season TNG morals whoof)

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jul 22

Profound symbol of national decline

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jul 18

PSA: due to [reasons] I'm exploring changing my surname to my mother's maiden name, and I'm choosing Bluesky as a consequence-free place to test out how it feels. Given my career choice, this is the only way I'm ever going to obtain Riches.

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jul 18

[Youth Pastor turning to the Book of Genesis] “let me tell you about the original content creator”

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jul 3

Menswear ads on instagram are either for $49 suits from a sketchy dropshipping operation called either Spvrluocyj or Bloodlust and Hinterland Supply Co., or they’re for high-waist trousers that cost five million dollars

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jun 26

They should just make one cleanser and one moisturizer and one sunscreen that are good.

Michael Riches @michaelriches.bsky.social · Jun 19

ill-advisedly ambiguous marketing copy from Spirit, here