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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · 13d

My latest essay for California Review of Books is Halloween-time appropriate, a spooky tale about sisters in 18th century England who just might turn into dogs.... (Plus, sighthounds on the cover--how could I resist!) calirb.com/the-hounding...

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

Holt Review by George Yatchisin Xenobe Purvis can write spooky, but then there are all sorts of haunts, aren’t there? Her debut novel The Hounding, set during the 18th-century in Little Nettlebed …

calirb.com

Reposted by George Yatchisin

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · Sep 12

As I write in my newsletter today, there are several reasons why the media is utterly failing in its coverage of Charlie Kirk. These are the big three, however. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

The fact that most media types still live on Elon Musk's fascist-promoting Twitter platform and thus fail to understand just how much of an extremist Kirk was. Post-Musk Twitter is a bubble which showcases and promotes the most extreme voices imaginable which, in turn, gives the media a warped sense of what constitutes normal political and social discourse. It causes them to overreport and underreport a lot of things under the mistaken belief that the online stew in which they marinate is real life and the people who marinate there alongside them are normal and common;
Despite Kirk's extremism, a lot of people in journalism and punditry engage in a professional tribalism which causes them to identify with other people who also spend too much time on social media, who do podcasts, and who show up in cable news green rooms alongside them. On some level they saw Kirk as one of their own even though he was, actually, involved in a completely different sort of project than legitimate journalists or pundits are. It's a more extreme version of what I've observed in sports media over the past 20 years or so in which reporters will almost always overlook the faults of a "fellow scribe" because, above everything else, they belong in the same club. It's an object example of failing to understand that we are what we pretend to be; and

Basic fear. The media's reticence to label Kirk an extremist has made it jarringly clear how afraid the media is of the people in power who share Kirk's extremist beliefs. How afraid of they are of drawing the ire of Trump, Vance, Loomer, Libs of TikTok, and the rest. Reporters and commentators are censoring themselves and are otherwise acting obsequiously so they aren't denied access, won't get sued, won't get fired, won't have their employer's broadcast licenses suspended or investigated, and won't have mobs turned on them. At first this might have been done in response to actual criticism, hostility, or active pushback from those in power, but it has quite obviously become an internalized fear that has dissuaded them from speaking criticially, let alone condemning, racism, misogyny, homophobia, antisemitism and the like. This may be the most significant and the most disturbing explanation of such behavior given the implications it has for democracy and free expression.

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Sep 1

I was given the great honor to guest edit the new issue of ANACAPA REVIEW! Check out these terrific poems. anacapareview.com

George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Aug 11

Ah, the writer’s life. Happy to learn that artistic endeavors were rewarded on St. George’s Day, though.

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · Aug 11

Writers gettin' paid less today than they were 650 damn years ago.

From Geoffrey Chaucer's Wikipedia page: "A possible indication that his career as a writer was appreciated came when Edward III granted Chaucer "a gallon of wine daily for the rest of his life" for some unspecified task.[28] This was an unusual grant, but given on a day of celebration, Saint George's Day, 1374, when artistic endeavours were traditionally rewarded, it is assumed to have been for another early poetic work."

Reposted by George Yatchisin

Hamlet @hamletactual.bsky.social · Aug 1

Same with this

Mickey Kuhns @mickeykuhns.bsky.social · Jul 31

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Jul 20

Good thing he does, as the Dems in Congress sure don’t.

George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Jul 7

It's been a crazy run of acceptances for me lately, so here's another just published poem. Thanks to Jackdaw Review for including "Duplex for the Days of Dusk" in your new issue. www.jackdawpress.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Jul 1

Welcome to my Poet Laureate project Poetry Pick to Click, a weekly podcast that airs on KCSB-FM (in Summer 2025 around 6:20 pm on Tuesdays). Now I have the first 8 segments posted on my website Podcast page. Go and listen up, because we need poetry more than ever. georgeyatchisin.com/podcast/

Podcast

One project I’ve begun as Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, 2025-2027, is Poetry Pick to Click, a weekly podcast that originally airs on KCSB-FM (in Summer 2025 somewhere around 6:20 pm on Tuesdays). Each ...

georgeyatchisin.com

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Reposted by George Yatchisin

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Jun 8

A few thoughts on Trump nationalize state nat guard in LA talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/break...

Breaking Out of Los Angeles

This is serious enough to break in on the weekend. You’ve seen...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · May 20

Thanks for publishing my poem.

The Woolf (Official) @thewoolfofficial.bsky.social · May 20

'We required enemies to keep us whole...'

In just under 160 words, poet @gyatchisin.bsky.social dives into a nation's so-called good ol' days. New work in the #Bully issue, out now. #prosepoetry

thewoolfx.com/where-prospe...

Where Prospect Met Crescent by George Yatchisin | The Woolf

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thewoolfx.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Apr 26

Thanks for sharing! And RIP David Thomas.

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Apr 25

Pleased the Indy has agreed to publish my installation poem as SB Poet Laureate. They always called city symphony films "poetic," so figured you could just do one as poetry itself. www.independent.com/2025/04/24/f...

From the Pen of Our New Poet Laureate

An ode to Santa Barbara from its newly anointed supreme scribe

www.independent.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Apr 23

Thanks, Indy--my journalistic home for 30 years now--and Leslie Dinaberg for the sweet story and Ingrid Bostrom for taking photos of me that don't make me feel too bad. It was a day I will cherish. www.independent.com/2025/04/22/g...

George Yatchisin Is Named Santa Barbara’s 11th Poet Laureate

Longtime ‘Independent’ contributor joins a “League of Laureates” that includes Melinda Palacio, Emma Trelles, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Enid Osborn, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Chryss Yost, Paul Willis, Davi...

www.independent.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Apr 21

There's no creative mind I value more than Brian Eno's, so to get to engage with his thoughts (and those of artist Bette A.'s) reviewing "What Art Does" was a challenge and delight. Here's my latest from California Review of Books. calirb.com/what-art-doe...

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Apr 6

Alas, this is a too timely poem, but good to have it in a proper home. Thanks, Moonstone, for including "The Ever Was," in your latest anthology.

George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 31

Believe it or not, there will be 14+ poetry events happening in Santa Barbara between now and May 2. Collect them all! Win valuable prizes, like a nourished soul! What's more, we are slowly resurrecting the website SB Poetry Net, your one-stop shop for all things poetry. sbpoetry.net

Santa Barbara Poetry – April and Beyond

sbpoetry.net

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 25

Hey, Archie and I made the paper! Thanks, Melinda Palacio, for writing your latest Poetry Connection about me. Did I tell Bluesky I'm going to be SB's next Poet Laureate? www.independent.com/2025/03/24/p...

Poetry Connection | Get to know Santa Barbara’s Next Poet Laureate

Ten questions with George Yatchisin, Santa Barbara’s next Poet Laureate sounds off.

www.independent.com

George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 20

California's got a cool new aperitif--atōst. And I, of course, make a cocktail with it. www.georgeeats.com/2025/03/make...

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 19

What a joy and honor to review the new novel by Sameer Pandya at California Review of Books. And if you want to hear Pandya read, he's holding a book event on Saturday, March 22 at 2:30 pm at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. calirb.com/our-beautifu...

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 11

I finish up my World of Pinot Noir coverage with Old Friends. Isn't that what we all need--friends and wine? #wopn25 www.georgeeats.com/2025/03/wopn...

WOPN 2025: Old Friends

One of the reasons I love going to World of Pinot Noir is that I've gone to WOPN before. Even better, many people I really like go year aft...

www.georgeeats.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 6

Once again had the honor to be an eater/writer for the Indy's Burger Week, and what burgers they are. Third Window! Finch & Fork! Read the whole story and get eating for 10 bucks a burger. www.independent.com/2025/03/05/b... #sbindyburgerweek

Bring Your Appetite to Santa Barbara Burger Week

Seven days, 37 burgers for $10. Please eat responsibly.

www.independent.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 5

My latest Indy article: "No one who has attended a Just 8 Supper Club at Clean Slate Wine Bar would ever, ever say that they just ate....a kitchen firing at the peak of its creativity, providing an eight-course feast." www.independent.com/2025/03/04/t...

The County’s Finest One-Off Food Night | Clean Slate’s Just 8

Solvang’s Clean Slate Wine Bar offers intimate pairings from the cellar of Matt Kettmann.

www.independent.com

George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 4

Hungry tonight and want to do Mardi Gras right? Get down to Little Dom's Seafood in Carpinteria. #mardigras www.georgeeats.com/2025/03/litt...

Little Dom's Gets Its Fat Tuesday On

You've still got time tonight to get down there, so I wanted to post this quick. As you do want get there. Little Dom's Seafood in Carpint...

www.georgeeats.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 4

Here's a write-up of the Opening Night Party for World of Pinot Noir. I will go light on wine in this one, as the Grand Tasting stories will cover that, promise. #wopn25 www.georgeeats.com/2025/03/why-...

Why Not a Pinot Party?

Twenty-five years is as fine a reason for celebration as any, so that's certainly what happened at Thursday, February 27th's Opening Night P...

www.georgeeats.com

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George Yatchisin @gyatchisin.bsky.social · Mar 2

My latest for CALIRB, about creativity and friendship and just hanging in there, so a balm in our horrible time. Read it while listening to some Belle & Sebastian, of course. calirb.com/nobodys-empi...

Nobody’s Empire by Stuart Murdoch

Harper Via Review by George Yatchisin It would be easy to spend a ton of time teasing out where writer/musician Stuart Murdoch ends from where the main character of his debut novel Nobody’s Empire…

calirb.com

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