Bryan Waterman
@waterman.bsky.social
Lit, hist, art, music. Toggling btwn the 1790s and the 1970s, I write abt seduction, friendship, arts scenes/circles, NYC. 33 1/3 on Marquee Moon. Professing English at NYU since 2001.
Missing me here search the WFMU comments board.
Missing me here search the WFMU comments board.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
ahem ... bsky.app/profile/heid...
BTW, any story about a possible Northwestern capitulation should include this detail (screenshot is from the oped linked below)
November 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
ahem ... bsky.app/profile/heid...
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
I am going back to bed.
November 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I am going back to bed.
I mean come on, the last frames/titles of e3 would have been the perfect moment to push play on that tape.
A little disappointed that, in spite of the chronological opportunity, the Stranger Things folks didn’t use “Girlfriend in a Coma” this season.
November 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I mean come on, the last frames/titles of e3 would have been the perfect moment to push play on that tape.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
I can’t believe people in the room don’t push back. It doesn’t matter if he’s the president, part of holding him accountable is standing up to his bullying— especially if he’s doing it right in front of your face
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I can’t believe people in the room don’t push back. It doesn’t matter if he’s the president, part of holding him accountable is standing up to his bullying— especially if he’s doing it right in front of your face
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I can only think of one person for whom this is true and it’s Stephen Miller, who for some reason will not rest till the US reproduces the violent xenophobia that made his and my ancestors flee eastern Europe. The rest of his family seems normal, though
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I can only think of one person for whom this is true and it’s Stephen Miller, who for some reason will not rest till the US reproduces the violent xenophobia that made his and my ancestors flee eastern Europe. The rest of his family seems normal, though
Would it be Thanksgiving without the racist ranting of an unhinged lunatic?
November 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Would it be Thanksgiving without the racist ranting of an unhinged lunatic?
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
If you are waiting for holiday events, why not take a moment and read this excellent Jonathan Beecher Field piece from the Commonplace catalog. It looks at the widening gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics like #Thanksgiving. 🗃️ commonplace.online/article/come...
Come On, Lilgrim - Commonplace
The gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics is an enduring challenge for early Americanists. In the case of Thanksgiving, that gap is widening.
commonplace.online
November 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
If you are waiting for holiday events, why not take a moment and read this excellent Jonathan Beecher Field piece from the Commonplace catalog. It looks at the widening gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics like #Thanksgiving. 🗃️ commonplace.online/article/come...
A little disappointed that, in spite of the chronological opportunity, the Stranger Things folks didn’t use “Girlfriend in a Coma” this season.
November 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A little disappointed that, in spite of the chronological opportunity, the Stranger Things folks didn’t use “Girlfriend in a Coma” this season.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
Here’s a link to the syllabus and the lectures/podcast that David Blight, Beverly Gage, and I are teaching this semester: America at 250: A History.
president.yale.edu/committees-p...
president.yale.edu/committees-p...
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Here’s a link to the syllabus and the lectures/podcast that David Blight, Beverly Gage, and I are teaching this semester: America at 250: A History.
president.yale.edu/committees-p...
president.yale.edu/committees-p...
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength
—George Orwell
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength
—George Orwell
The Trump administration is ordering the State Department to label countries with abortion access, LGBTQ+ protections, DEI policies, and even hate-speech safeguards as human rights violators.
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 AM
War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength
—George Orwell
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength
—George Orwell
How are Dems not jumping on this more during a holiday travel week? Scoldilocks and the Private Jet people, who flew all through the shutdown with no delays, are calling people slobs. Time to remind folks that the reality TV billionaire class is the enemy.
I guess my issue with the pajamas thing is that if they drop the rule requiring airlines to compensate people for lengthy delays and continue other deregulatory efforts, more people will be needing their pajamas in the airport.
Sean Duffy: "Dressing with respect -- whether it's a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let's try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport."
November 25, 2025 at 11:17 AM
How are Dems not jumping on this more during a holiday travel week? Scoldilocks and the Private Jet people, who flew all through the shutdown with no delays, are calling people slobs. Time to remind folks that the reality TV billionaire class is the enemy.
I'm still mad* about the time change.
*sad
*sad
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I'm still mad* about the time change.
*sad
*sad
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
I heard there was a Cohen song,
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
November 23, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I heard there was a Cohen song,
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
"I am a lineman for the county..."
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"I am a lineman for the county..."
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
This struck a chord, with lots of great suggestions in the replies and quote-posts. There are lots of reasons why people don't drink, including religious and health reasons. I have no shame about it, but it's really no one's business why. And I recommend a hiking backpack for easier transport.
I do not drink because I have almost no tolerance for it anymore (one margarita is too much).
If you are hosting a party, I recommend also stocking:
-fancy ginger beer
-coconut water
-premium juices like lychee and guava
-apple cider with cinnamon
-Italian sodas
-sparkling water
Lots of options!
If you are hosting a party, I recommend also stocking:
-fancy ginger beer
-coconut water
-premium juices like lychee and guava
-apple cider with cinnamon
-Italian sodas
-sparkling water
Lots of options!
November 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This struck a chord, with lots of great suggestions in the replies and quote-posts. There are lots of reasons why people don't drink, including religious and health reasons. I have no shame about it, but it's really no one's business why. And I recommend a hiking backpack for easier transport.
Plain and simple. Billionaires are the enemy.
Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Plain and simple. Billionaires are the enemy.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
❤️❤️❤️
forever grateful to @waterman.bsky.social who introduced me to patti smith ~15 years ago in his writing new york class as I see her play once again 🥰
November 23, 2025 at 2:54 AM
❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
Ok but may I suggest I ❤️ YOU, MAM! -DONNIE
November 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Ok but may I suggest I ❤️ YOU, MAM! -DONNIE
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
We don’t need to reform ICE.
We don’t need alternatives to ICE.
We don’t need to engage in dishonest debates wondering what the U.S. would do without ICE.
ICE isn’t even 23 years old. Most adults know a world without ICE. And the billions used to fund ICE can be used to meet people’s basic needs.
We don’t need alternatives to ICE.
We don’t need to engage in dishonest debates wondering what the U.S. would do without ICE.
ICE isn’t even 23 years old. Most adults know a world without ICE. And the billions used to fund ICE can be used to meet people’s basic needs.
November 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM
We don’t need to reform ICE.
We don’t need alternatives to ICE.
We don’t need to engage in dishonest debates wondering what the U.S. would do without ICE.
ICE isn’t even 23 years old. Most adults know a world without ICE. And the billions used to fund ICE can be used to meet people’s basic needs.
We don’t need alternatives to ICE.
We don’t need to engage in dishonest debates wondering what the U.S. would do without ICE.
ICE isn’t even 23 years old. Most adults know a world without ICE. And the billions used to fund ICE can be used to meet people’s basic needs.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
oh, alas, i've been informed that there was another velvet underground of paducah, kentucky, and this was almost certainly them.
November 21, 2025 at 11:24 PM
oh, alas, i've been informed that there was another velvet underground of paducah, kentucky, and this was almost certainly them.
Reposted by Bryan Waterman
John F. Kennedy Jr.
by Andy Warhol in Montauk, 1972.
by Andy Warhol in Montauk, 1972.
November 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
John F. Kennedy Jr.
by Andy Warhol in Montauk, 1972.
by Andy Warhol in Montauk, 1972.
Maybe my favorite literary work on JFK's death.
Kenneth Goldsmith, "The Assassination of John F. Kennedy," from American Deaths and Disasters (2012).
Kenneth Goldsmith, "The Assassination of John F. Kennedy," from American Deaths and Disasters (2012).
Kenneth Goldsmith Reading: "American Deaths and Disasters - The Assassination of John F. Kennedy"
YouTube video by Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit - MOCAD
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Maybe my favorite literary work on JFK's death.
Kenneth Goldsmith, "The Assassination of John F. Kennedy," from American Deaths and Disasters (2012).
Kenneth Goldsmith, "The Assassination of John F. Kennedy," from American Deaths and Disasters (2012).