Squalid Splendor

A new instance and a new start. I’m a retired French professor
living in Pittsburgh PA with my husband. This account has an an older “sibling”, Michael (npub1frv…ugrx). I decided to leave that instance and start over here.
Header pic: the Olympic Peninsula (west of Seattle) seen from space.
Profile pic: a squirrel seen at my window.
I’m a cis gay male.

Last Notes

2026-07-06 00:10:30 UTC

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It’s intentionally and performatively cruel, it’s genocide, and it’s accelerating. It won’t end with trans folx.
People need to wake the fuck UP.

2026-06-30 17:43:41 UTC

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You’ll find someone, and as @npub1z9n…r70m says, they’ll be lucky to have you. I didn’t meet my husband until I was in my 50s. Don’t lose hope.
As far as frugality goes, graduate school and being an academic in the humanities taught me how to be frugal. I don’t recommend the career path, but there have been advantages.

2026-06-29 19:04:40 UTC

#oversharing
After years of being pre-diabetic, my new A1C level (over 7) means I’ve officially crossed into diabetes territory. Yay me! I know: eat better, get more exercise. Meanwhile, my doc offered me the choice of Ozempic (I hate needles, so no thanks) or metformin (pills, very common treatment). So I’ve been on metformin for a few weeks now.
I already knew this, but if you Google “side-effects of”, the second suggested topic is “side-effects of metformin”. These include nausea and diarrhea, and sure enough I’m nauseous and shitting my guts out. Yay. I’m drinking lots of water and forcing myself to eat at least a little bit. The heat and humidity aren’t helping, but at least we have A/C so I’m grateful for that. And I need to lose weight, so there’s a silver lining in there.
I know, poor me, wah wah wah, etc. Nausea is one of my least favorite things, but I’m very familiar with it. My anxiety always goes straight to my gut, and I am naturally a very anxious guy.
But I’m grateful for Medicare, while it lasts. Thinking about the future only fuels my anxiety. I’m looking for healthy distractions. God knows I’ve tried nearly all of the unhealthy ones.

2026-06-05 19:36:15 UTC

After Gay Pride comes Gay Wrath.
https://media.beige.party/media_attachments/files/116/699/178/960/441/372/original/4a6154594e47abb9.jpeg

2026-05-28 03:47:35 UTC

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That’s great! Is this the CMU library? I helped expand their film collection in the 90s, but I don’t remember requesting them to purchase it. (I taught French so I couldn’t justify it to build up their French film collection.)
Here’s the entry from Wikipedia. It’s just as wild as it’s described.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland,_PA?wprov=sfti1#

2026-05-28 03:29:39 UTC

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There’s an oscure but great film called “Scotland, PA” (2001) which is a retelling of Macbeth set in 1975 in a burger joint somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. It’s fantastic. It stars Christopher Walken, which is all you need to make you want to see it. No idea if it’s available anywhere.