David DeGusta

A screenshot of an survey question from Apple asking: How do you typically listen to Apple Music? Select all that apply. • On my smartphone • In my car • On my home speakers • On my tablet • On my TV Other (specify): Under “other” the user has entered “On my Mac.” And, in retrospect, wishes he had added several exclamation marks.

I took Apple’s feedback survey for Apple Music and was surprised to see that for the question “How do you listen to Apple Music?“ the possible answers did not include “on my computer.” Which maybe goes some way towards explaining why the Mac Music app is so bad. @siracusa.social

Looks like a rock band to me. 😀

Endings: The Final Episode — Book Fight Podcast Well, friends, here it is. After 13 years, the Book Fight podcast is finally riding off into the sunset. Join us for one final episode, as we look back at what we've learned, read some listener tribut...

Well, friends, after 13 years (!!) the Book Fight podcast has finally ridden off into the sunset. One last episode, posted today, in which Tom and I do some reminiscing, and a bit of an exit interview (plus we write blurbs for each other)

Screenshot of the end of an email that reads as follows: … I will definitely miss doing the show. But I'm thankful for all the cool stuff it's brought into my life, including how many of you I've gotten to meet, or even just chat with online. -Mike (and Tom, in spirit) (oh wait, that makes it sound like Tom is dead, and not just on vacation in Canada.)

If you were desperate to end your long-running podcast, murdering your co-host and claiming that they are “on vacation in Canada” would be one way to go. Like, hypothetically.

Many thanks to @mikeingram.bsky.social & @tmcallister.bsky.social (rip??) for 13 years (!!) of Bookfight.

“Fought with” is my current fascination. “X fought with Y” usually means X and Y were in opposition, but sometimes means they fought together on the same side in a conflict.

I give myself a strict limit of one parenthetical per email, though my overuse is not driven by ADHD but instead by a compulsion to anticipate ways in which I might be misunderstood and preempt that via a parenthetical clarification (though of course I don’t mean to disagree with your ADHD link).

Fair by Jen Calleja review – on the magic of translation A highly original book from the author of Goblinhood explores the art and work of translating fiction

✨ FAIR is Book of the Day in The Guardian ✨

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

@prototypepubs.bsky.social @theguardian.com

The next deadline to apply for a residency at Yaddo is Thurs Aug 1 (for residencies Nov-June). The application is pretty straightforward, no letters of recommendation needed. It’s an amazing place and my stay there was transformative, so I say go for it! @yaddocommunity.bsky.social yaddo.org/apply/

Glad you are enjoying it so far! Thank you for sharing.

Translators - the excellent journal Exchanges run out of the stellar mfa program in translation at Iowa is now on Bluesky @literaryexchanges.bsky.social. They’re also open for submissions for what sounds like a cool themed issue on in/fidelity in translations. Give it a look!

I am 75 pages into Baalu Girma's Oromay (1983) and the slick start in Addis nightlife starts turning gloomy, mesmerizing, & bureaucratically, infomation-wise, politically complex. It is likely that this novel about Ethiopia/Eritrea will become a long-lasting friend.

Thanks
@tommikakko.bsky.social

Stet

Photo of a bag of Trader Joe’s Avocado Ranch Salad Kit showing that it mistakenly contained not one but two packages of shredded cheese.

A top ten moment of my life occurred yesterday when I opened the pre-made salad kit (I know, I know, I usually do make my own but this week is busy) and discovered that it contained TWO packages of shredded cheese. That, my friends, is the taste of victory.

An instagram ad for a “Retro” Golden State Valkyries WNBA t-shirt from Homage. Relevant ad text reads as follows: “Retro Golden State Valkyries Logo T-shirt From Homage. Homage goes deep into the archives to bring you the most unique, fun, and comfortable t-shirts. Shop officially licensed sports leagues or pop culture favorites.”

The retro/throwback sports apparel trend has officially gotten out of hand - I just saw an ad (below) for a “Retro Golden State Valkyries Logo T-shirt” from Homage. Folks, the Valkyries are an expansion franchise. Not sure how you can go “retro” during their very first season, but here we are. #wnba

Aha! Many thanks, on behalf of the entire pack here!

Two basset hound dogs looking at the camera and generally being adorable. #dogsofbluesky

Isn’t there also a statue of his basset hound next to him? Asking for a friend. Two friends actually.

“I dunno, Andy. ... Mom said we were never to go near the old Sutter place.”

“I dunno, Andy. ... Mom said we were never to go near the old Sutter place.”

Women in Translation month is coming up again in August. Not sure if interest is waning as it was quieter on Twitter the past couple of years and I'm not sure if it has transferred to Bluesky.

I'm reading for a review column during August with an all female line up so far.

#witmonth to take part.

Sorry to hear that. I do feel like book pr is a nearly infinite ladder that makes 99% of authors feel like they’ve come up short, because there is always more that could maybe have happened. Hang in there, and I look forward to reading it in September.

Never had cable either (which was fine) and I’d add Doctor Who to that list.

Oh, it’s really my readers that you should be apologizing to. 😀

The Book Fight podcast by @tmcallister.bsky.social and @mikeingram.bsky.social is drawing to a close. They were my gateway to the literary world. Anyone with an internet connection could listen to two writers talk, joke, and occasionally argue about books and writers. Made it all seem possible ;)

Glad you’re enjoying it!

Happy to see The Pitt getting some Emmy love, but if that pilot script had been from an unknown writer, it would have sank under a metric ton of notes. “Too many characters. Lead undeveloped. Too much jargon. What conflicts will drive series beyond cliche ‘admin wants to shut us down’?”

💙

Thanks, but that’s why I specified the version as Mac 365 Personal and included screenshots showing that Microsoft’s official instructions referred to a checkbox that did not exist. Months later, they did add such a checkbox.

A view of some French archaeologists (and wonderful people) eating at a table on the terrace of a medieval monastery looking out over a valley in St Thome, Ardeche, France.

Joyeux 14 juillet! Had some very nice ones in France, grateful to everyone I worked with and got to know there.

cc: @segovandevelde.bsky.social

Not sure we’re even going to get any good soliloquies this time around.

Well, given his interest in ghosts … 😀

Thanks, and yes, good to connect with you on here.