Ben Abrams

screengrab of a portion of new yorker interview with former simpson's writer john swartzwelder: Mike Sacks: How much time and attention did you spend on these scripts? Another “Simpsons” writer once compared your scripts to finely tuned machines—if the wrong person mucked with them, the whole thing could blow up. Swartzwelder: All of my time and all of my attention. It’s the only way I know how to write, darn it. But I do have a trick that makes things easier for me. Since writing is very hard and rewriting is comparatively easy and rather fun, I always write my scripts all the way through as fast as I can, the first day, if possible, putting in crap jokes and pattern dialogue—“Homer, I don’t want you to do that.” “Then I won’t do it.” Then the next day, when I get up, the script’s been written. It’s lousy, but it’s a script. The hard part is done. It’s like a crappy little elf has snuck into my office and badly done all my work for me, and then left with a tip of his crappy hat. All I have to do from that point on is fix it. So I’ve taken a very hard job, writing, and turned it into an easy one, rewriting, overnight. I advise all writers to do their scripts and other writing this way. And be sure to send me a small royalty every time you do it.

hi this is my favorite writing advice, it's from former simpsons writer john swartzwelder (i think about the crappy little elf all the time) www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

In Gaza, Journalism Is a Death Sentence “That is a war crime.”

Safety requests from Gazan journalists are significantly rising, following Israel’s murder of 6 journalists on Aug. 10.

“We are hearing more and more from journalists concerned that they are now the next targets,” CPJ CEO @jodieginsberg.bsky.social told @slate.com's What Next.

‘We’re building concentration camps’: Former Tulsa police chief lambasts immigration enforcement He blasted the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including the practice of wearing masks to conceal their identity.

“People who don’t like what I’m saying will say, ‘I mean, you’re saying that we’re Nazis and we’re building concentration camps.’ Yes, I am.”
#tulsa

A university in Green Country is focusing on AI with new degree program Northeastern State University joins over a dozen other universities in the United States to offer degrees with specific focus on AI.

Northeastern State University announced Thursday it would offer a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for the coming fall semester.
#oklahoma

New report says voter-backed program to reduce crime and incarceration has paid off The report, released by nonprofit Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, concludes property crime has gone down by nearly a third in the state.

A pair of voter-approved state questions from 2016 have made a significant impact in reducing both Oklahoma’s prison population and crime rate, according to a 32-page report released Friday by nonprofit Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform.
#oklahoma

two men sit on a stage and point toward an audience

a man poses with an audience

Sean Astin and Kel Mitchell during their respective Q&As at Oklahoma Comic Con 2025.

In an interview with Mary Louise Kelly, Lovell said the Apollo 13 crew and NASA succeeded in "taking almost certain catastrophe into a successful recovery."
Jim Lovell, 1928 – 2025

Thank you, @neal.fun, the hero we didn't deserve.

a web page titled "Absurd Trolley Problems" reads: "Congratulations! You have solved philosophy. Kill count: 60."

I will never get tired of the sheer absurdity of this game.

TU student leader ‘shocked’ his club is cited in discrimination complaint A former U.S. Department of Education official under President Trump filed a civil rights complaint against the University of Tulsa, alleging discrimination based on race and gender.

A student leader at the University of Tulsa reacted with surprise to a recent complaint against the school alleging discrimination that cited his club.

Former Trump education official files complaint over ‘discriminatory’ TU programs Among the items listed in the civil rights complaint are a free math program for middle school girls and the university’s Chinese Student Association.

A former U.S. Department of Education official under President Trump filed a civil rights complaint Tuesday against the University of Tulsa, alleging discrimination based on race and gender.
#tulsa

Hern backs Trump's view of Iran’s nuclear capabilities as Oklahomans evacuate Israel Prior to the United States joining forces with Israel to bomb Iran, two private planes landed Friday at Tulsa International Airport carrying 21 local church members evacuated from the Middle East.

Prior to the United States joining forces with Israel to bomb Iran, two private planes landed Friday at Tulsa International Airport carrying 21 local church members evacuated from the Middle East.
#tulsa #oklahoma

Funny enough, I also thought it was "hone in," but alas, I was mistaken. The more you know!
www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/home...

More than a thousand protest Trump in Tulsa prior to military parade Hundreds of people turned out in Tulsa to protest President Donald Trump on his 79th birthday prior to a controversial military parade scheduled for the streets of Washington, D.C.

Hundreds of people turned out in Tulsa to protest President Donald Trump on his 79th birthday prior to a controversial military parade scheduled for the streets of Washington, D.C.
#tulsa

Advocates decry AG Drummond’s letter calling for removal of Afghan refugees Executive Director of CAIR OK said Drummond is using the Afghan community as “a political pawn” as he campaigns for governor.

Advocates decry AG Drummond’s letter calling for removal of Afghan refugees
www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is on his way back to the U.S. from El Salvador, lawyer says Abrego Garcia is expected to immediately face criminal charges in the U.S. for transporting migrants without legal status around the country, according to a Justice Department indictment.

JUST IN: Abrego Garcia is expected to immediately face criminal charges in the U.S. for transporting migrants without legal status around the country, according to a Justice Department indictment.

Tulsa mayor says city should consider changes to highway over Greenwood Advocates have attributed the long-term decline of the historic Greenwood neighborhood to the construction of I-244.

Mayor Monroe Nichols said the city would “behoove ourselves” to talk about modifying or removing a section of Interstate 244 that crosses over the Greenwood neighborhood.

www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

$105 million trust to be built for 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre reparations, city says Tens of millions of dollars will go toward repairing harms from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Tens of millions of dollars will go toward repairing harms from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
#tulsa

Two dead, nine wounded in Memorial Day shooting in Philly’s Fairmount Park “It’s been a challenging day,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said early Tuesday morning.

“Rapid gunfire” erupted on Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park on Memorial Day., according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. Two adults were killed and three teenagers were among those wounded.

Big gusts at the TU campus!
**
#Oklahoma #Wx #Tulsa #TulsaOklahoma #SevereWeather

Sheriff’s office seeks expanded ICE contract The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office is working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold undocumented detainees for longer periods of time.

Under the current agreement, ICE detainees in the Tulsa County jail must be released after 72 hours.

The Tulsa County sheriff wants to be able to hold the detainees until they're deported or have a court date.
www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

TU President Brad Carson to step down According to a release, the university's board will appoint an interim president "in the coming weeks."

#BREAKING: TU President Brad Carson to step down
#Tulsa #Oklahoma #TulsaNews
www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

.@publicradiotulsa.bsky.social's first Live @ Lunch: complete! ✅
You can watch a VOD on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook! (Sorry to those who wanted to view on Tiktok. We were having technical difficulties.)
YouTube VOD here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWXj...

Catholic leaders and community members in Tulsa mourned Pope Francis with a memorial mass Monday evening.

With Assad gone and Syria's war over, the White Helmets have a new mission Vilified by the Assad regime, these Nobel-nominated first responders operated only in rebel areas. Now their founder is in the new government and they're extending their reach to all of Syria.

Vilified by the Assad regime, these Nobel-nominated first responders operated only in rebel areas. Now their founder is in the new government and they're extending their reach to all of Syria.

HUD staffers unreachable as ‘mass eviction’ threat looms in Tulsa The Tulsa Housing Authority’s president has warned the possibility of a “mass eviction event” looms if the federal government doesn’t give the organization voucher money to keep up with rent increases...

A lack of money from HUD to make up for rent increases has put 690 tenants in Tulsa at risk.

Also, the housing authority can’t reach HUD, which is probably because the people who help them with stuff like this have been cut.
www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

YouTube video by Public Radio Tulsa Sunset Club showcases Tulsa rock and roll of today

BY THE WAY: we have a YouTube channel now! Hit that 'Subscribe' button, as they say!
Here's a video from @mbryanok.bsky.social's story about this cool indie record label.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90CH...

Sunset Club showcases Tulsa rock and roll of today The record label's store is filled to the brim with cassettes, records, t-shirts and posters of bands that Tulsans can catch on any given weekend at the city’s music bars.

@mbryanok.bsky.social: *furious drum solo, probably*
www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

Proterra, the company MetroLink bought its first four EVs from in 2021, has since filed for bankruptcy and dissolved, leaving Tulsa and other transit authorities across North America with electric vehicles that have been difficult to maintain at best.
My latest:

13 Tulsa schools moved off state improvement list; Walters expresses 'excitement' over education department dissolving One of those schools is Unity Learning Academy, where local and state education leaders held a press conference Monday morning.

Tulsa Public Schools celebrated on Monday the announcement of 13 schools in the district being moved off the state’s Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) list, thanks to improvements in reading proficiency.