Dcat
dcatty.bsky.social
Dcat
@dcatty.bsky.social
Historian, writer, professor. I work on race, politics, sports, & pop culture in the US and South(ern) Africa. Go Sox/Pats/Cs/B's/Boks! Part-time sports broadcaster. Author of 5 books, editor of another. [All opinions my own.] Will talk or write for food.
On travel and darkness in Helsinki:

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/a...
A Week in Helsinki
Some Thoughts on Being Far-Northern Life-Curious
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
An accidental London layover.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/a...
A London Interregnum
On Turning Poorly-Planned Travel Plans Into Lemonade, Or Something Like That
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:23 AM
On Travel, Ennui, and Probably a Little Depression in Lisbon.

dcat.substack.com/p/accidental...
Accidental Touristing in Lisbon
On Travel, Ennui, and Probably a Little Depression
dcat.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Books I completed in November, and thoughts on the College Football Playoffs Selection process.

Please consider subscribing!

dcat.substack.com/p/november-r...
November Reading
On Books I Completed in November (Plus Some Thoughts on the College Football Playoffs Selection Process)
dcat.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
In which I manage to couch self-promotion as an apology for light posting.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/s...
Self Indulgence as a Weird Way to Apologize
On Couching Laziness as Altruism
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Thoughts written during the Springboks' 32-17 victory over France at Stade de France.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/b...
Boks v. France and Siya's 100th Cap
Live Thoughts Written During Boks v. France at Stade de France in St. Denis (outside of Paris)
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:28 PM
In which I argue that Joe Namath was a slightly worse Steve Grogan with less mobility but with a Super Bowl ring and better publicity. Please consider subscribing!

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/a...
A Tale of Two Quarterbacks
On Hype, Style, Substance and Nostalgia
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Covering the Boks' Rugby Championship clincher from afar.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/a...
Argentina v. Boks at Twickenham
The Boks Try to Finish Off a Second Straight Rugby Championship
open.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Capsule reviews of books I completed in September:

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/s...
September Reading
On Books I Finished in September
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Random thoughts on things I've come across of late. Please consider subscribing.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/c...
Clearing Out the Tabs Again ...
Misc. Things I'm Too Lazy to Fully Explore
open.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Jarod Mayo sitting on his couch right now saying "not so fucking easy, is it?"
September 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
In which I cover a lot of territory on a host of topics while watching the Patriots eke out a somewhat disconcertingly narrow win against the Dolphins.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/r...
Random Thoughts While Watching Football
Dashed Off Opinions During the Patriots Game
open.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Quick hit thoughts on a wide range of issues (and I only just barely touch on THAT news ...)

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/c...
Clearing Out the Tabs (Again!)
A Links Dump With Intermittent Commentary
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:34 AM
It goes without saying that we've had years to prepare for required voter ID and now for no vote by mail. Of course it's all intended to be voter suppression. But we need to be planning carpools and ID drives yesterday.
September 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Capsule Reviews of Books I Finished Last Month:

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/a...
August Reading
Capsule Reviews of Books I Completed Last Month
open.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Thoughts on the South African Women’s Springboks at the World Cup.

open.substack.com/pub/dcat/p/s...
Springbok Women Rising
On The Women's Rugby World Cup
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I'm back in the US after ten weeks in South Africa. A few thoughts.

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Back in the USA
On Returning From Extended Travel
open.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I'm just going to point out that if someone commits a murder-suicide in a small town, that makes the murder rate there far, far above anything in cities. Small towns are no more or less virtuous than urban areas.
August 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
At Ellis Park for the Boks-Wallabies Rugby Championship opener. It'll be the last test I cover before heading back to the US this coming week. My prediction: Boks 39 Wallabies 15.
August 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Jesus, I'd entirely forgotten what a gut punch of a movie "Million Dollar Baby" is.
August 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
On losing a beloved pet:

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Roly
On the Passing of My Big Chonky Sweet Love of a Baby Boy
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I haven't been posting pics of my cooking, because I haven't been taking pics of my cooking, but I slow-cooked oxtail with potatoes, onion, and yellow bell peppers in a red wine-beef broth.
July 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM
On Trans Athletes
In Which I Try to Thread a Needle
open.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 10:21 PM
On an unimaginable loss.

dcat.substack.com/p/on-suicide...
On Suicide
Thoughts After the Unthinkable
dcat.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM