Mark Athitakis
@mathitak.bsky.social
Writer, mostly about books.
Vote for your four favorite snowplow names in Arizona DOT's contest. (You do you, but the correct answer is "Clearopathra" all four times.) azdot.gov/name-a-snowp...
Name a Snowplow | Department of Transportation
*/
azdot.gov
February 19, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Vote for your four favorite snowplow names in Arizona DOT's contest. (You do you, but the correct answer is "Clearopathra" all four times.) azdot.gov/name-a-snowp...
Optimal use of a Cybertruck IMHO. Promote your local tile business. Big 90s-style logo. Slap a big ol' QR code on that baby.
February 18, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Optimal use of a Cybertruck IMHO. Promote your local tile business. Big 90s-style logo. Slap a big ol' QR code on that baby.
The Player
fun question: what’s the maddest you’ve ever been leaving a movie theater? not necessarily worst movie you’ve seen, but the one that just pissed you off the most. mine is Batman v Superman
February 18, 2026 at 10:55 PM
The Player
This book is gem in both concept and execution. Mini essays by @tomnissley.bsky.social on 100 books that deserve more love, as featured in a club at Phinney Books. Lovely illustrations. I've read six, and a good third are unfamiliar to me.
February 18, 2026 at 9:19 PM
This book is gem in both concept and execution. Mini essays by @tomnissley.bsky.social on 100 books that deserve more love, as featured in a club at Phinney Books. Lovely illustrations. I've read six, and a good third are unfamiliar to me.
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
New documents confirm a Surprise warehouse will be retrofitted as an ICE detention center, potentially housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees for months at a time — numbers much higher than previously known.
Surprise ICE warehouse could house up to 10,000 detainees for months at a time, new documents show
After weeks of speculation about what the 400,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise might be used for, the documents confirm it will be retrofitted as an ICE detention center, potentially housing 7,00...
www.kjzz.org
February 18, 2026 at 6:49 PM
New documents confirm a Surprise warehouse will be retrofitted as an ICE detention center, potentially housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees for months at a time — numbers much higher than previously known.
A burn so sick no light can escape it.
February 18, 2026 at 1:21 PM
A burn so sick no light can escape it.
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
Back flap of Penguin Classics' 2007 edition of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN.
Artwork and design, Dan Clowes. Design director, Paul Buckley.
(1/6)
Artwork and design, Dan Clowes. Design director, Paul Buckley.
(1/6)
December 10, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Back flap of Penguin Classics' 2007 edition of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN.
Artwork and design, Dan Clowes. Design director, Paul Buckley.
(1/6)
Artwork and design, Dan Clowes. Design director, Paul Buckley.
(1/6)
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
Arizona Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, wants to make it so counties are required to allow ICE into vote centers and polling places. Bill is being heard tomorrow afternoon.
www.azleg.gov/legtext/57le...
www.azleg.gov/legtext/57le...
February 17, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Arizona Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, wants to make it so counties are required to allow ICE into vote centers and polling places. Bill is being heard tomorrow afternoon.
www.azleg.gov/legtext/57le...
www.azleg.gov/legtext/57le...
A young Kevin Pollak picking up a paycheck from Sun Microsystems in a "Star Trek" spoof, 1988. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I16U...
Sun Microsystems StarTrek Spoof (1988)
YouTube video by Robert Garner
www.youtube.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:09 AM
A young Kevin Pollak picking up a paycheck from Sun Microsystems in a "Star Trek" spoof, 1988. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I16U...
Scam email says if I run my book through their curatorial process they'll find some way to feature it in a ... Medium post. Bet if I kick in a little extra they'll tweet about it, too.
February 17, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Scam email says if I run my book through their curatorial process they'll find some way to feature it in a ... Medium post. Bet if I kick in a little extra they'll tweet about it, too.
Hey everybody take a look at me
I've got street credibility
I've got street credibility
What’s the best song lyric in history?
February 16, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Hey everybody take a look at me
I've got street credibility
I've got street credibility
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
Kanopy has a lot of Frederick Wiseman films. They’re worth the watch, and the only thing you need to sign up for Kanopy is a library card.
February 16, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Kanopy has a lot of Frederick Wiseman films. They’re worth the watch, and the only thing you need to sign up for Kanopy is a library card.
Who wants a review of a new book reprinting a fanzine combining the hardcore punk ethos and hardline Orthodox Christianity? Anyone? Anyone? orthochristian.com/175781.html
New book compiles all 1990s Death to the World material
The volume of about 400 pages includes the 12 original issues published by St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, reflections from the editors, and even a letter from Mr. Rogers.
orthochristian.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Who wants a review of a new book reprinting a fanzine combining the hardcore punk ethos and hardline Orthodox Christianity? Anyone? Anyone? orthochristian.com/175781.html
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
I've been publishing a free newsletter for writers of fiction, poetry, and cnf every month for *22* years. Here's the latest (anniversary) edition, featuring 55+ fee-free, paying/funded opportunities that are now (or will soon be) open for submissions. Please share! bit.ly/PracticingWr...
February 1, 2026 at 2:35 AM
I've been publishing a free newsletter for writers of fiction, poetry, and cnf every month for *22* years. Here's the latest (anniversary) edition, featuring 55+ fee-free, paying/funded opportunities that are now (or will soon be) open for submissions. Please share! bit.ly/PracticingWr...
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
I listened to a few episodes just the other week while writing a Toni Morrison piece. To me they are a resource as essential as Paris Review interviews. RIP to a true book lover.
Michael Silverblatt, 'genius' host of KCRW literary show 'Bookworm,' dies at 73
Michael Silverblatt, 'genius' host of KCRW literary show 'Bookworm,' dies at 73
Silverblatt’s 30-minute show, which ran from 1989 to 2022, included interviews with celebrated authors including Gore Vidal, Kazuo Ishiguro, David Foster Wallace, Susan Orlean, Joan Didion and Zadie Smith.
www.latimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM
I listened to a few episodes just the other week while writing a Toni Morrison piece. To me they are a resource as essential as Paris Review interviews. RIP to a true book lover.
Tagalongs, the Just-OK Girl Scout Cookieᵀᴹ
February 16, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Tagalongs, the Just-OK Girl Scout Cookieᵀᴹ
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
My local record store is like, “Support your local store. Also, here’s a beat to hell first printing of Mister Mister for $95.”
February 16, 2026 at 1:55 AM
My local record store is like, “Support your local store. Also, here’s a beat to hell first printing of Mister Mister for $95.”
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
I had nothing better to do yesterday, so: here are all 18 ballplayers buried in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Alsip, IL. Special thanks to Cemetery Dog for protecting me from geese.
February 15, 2026 at 3:26 PM
I had nothing better to do yesterday, so: here are all 18 ballplayers buried in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Alsip, IL. Special thanks to Cemetery Dog for protecting me from geese.
Book title that shouldn't be hard to style correctly but apparently is: "The Sea, the Sea."
February 14, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Book title that shouldn't be hard to style correctly but apparently is: "The Sea, the Sea."
For the past few years I've helped select titles for Southwest Books of the Year, which spotlights the fine literary work coming from this peculiar corner of the country. Here are this year's picks. If you're in the region, check your library for a hard copy! pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...
Southwest Books of the Year 2026 for Adults — a staff-created list from Pima County Public Library
Southwest Books of the Year considers titles published during the calendar year that are about the Southwest, or are set in the Southwest.
pima.bibliocommons.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
For the past few years I've helped select titles for Southwest Books of the Year, which spotlights the fine literary work coming from this peculiar corner of the country. Here are this year's picks. If you're in the region, check your library for a hard copy! pima.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...
So good. LRB should sell some kind of pamphlet/reprint pairing it with Patricia Lockwood's genius essay.
‘Updike’s reduction of women to receptacles, landing strips and entrapment devices is a compulsive tic as identifying as Vidal’s rictus sneer.’
@jwolcott.bsky.social reconsiders John Updike.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@jwolcott.bsky.social reconsiders John Updike.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
James Wolcott · What you can get away with: Updike Reconsidered
Betwixt and between is a strange place for any major writer to be more than a decade and a half after their death, and...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM
So good. LRB should sell some kind of pamphlet/reprint pairing it with Patricia Lockwood's genius essay.
Jim Peterik of Ides of March and Survivor.
Who's the most famous alum of your high school?
I'll go first: David Draiman of Disturbed
I'll go first: David Draiman of Disturbed
guys i just found out i went to the same high school as howard lutnick. please respect my privacy at this time.
February 14, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Jim Peterik of Ides of March and Survivor.
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
You are throwing an intimate cocktail party. Which “Airport” cast would you invite?
February 14, 2026 at 12:48 AM
You are throwing an intimate cocktail party. Which “Airport” cast would you invite?
Sorry this event exists, but it's a superb lineup.
If you're in D.C. a week from tomorrow, there's an event at Politics & Prose honoring the history of Book World. I think the tone will likely be less funerary than you might imagine. I know my comments will be. politics-prose.com/tribute-book...
A Tribute to Book World
- Jonathan Yardley — author, book critic, Book World, 1983-2015
politics-prose.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Sorry this event exists, but it's a superb lineup.
Reposted by Mark Athitakis
Since I use this place as my news & culture feed I've kind of forgotten that I can also be a person here too, and do what a person does: promotes their own work! I just made a book with my sister (the talented @nornissley.bsky.social ): The Phinney by Post Book, with my words and her pictures.
February 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Since I use this place as my news & culture feed I've kind of forgotten that I can also be a person here too, and do what a person does: promotes their own work! I just made a book with my sister (the talented @nornissley.bsky.social ): The Phinney by Post Book, with my words and her pictures.