No skyping, no panel interview, no campus talk, no uncomfortable faculty/student dinner. In its penultimate episode, "Girls" demonstrated a level of fantasy that might compete with George R.R. Martin. 2/2
I wrote this about “Girls” in 2017: A pregnant woman without a PhD or a significant publishing history is offered a professorship (complete with generous health benefits) at a liberal arts college after a single interview. 1/2
Hahaha! Exactly!
I spent way too much time developing this theory.
This book is going to be everywhere - but I have a bit of an issue with the originality of the overall concept. youtu.be/tYHoObNvyd4?...
I really like this definition!
Ok. I am convinced I don’t really understand what actual good writing is. Can someone give me a specific trait of “good” writing??
In the midst of the Lindy West discourse, I wrote about how I think we got to this point: touchofallright.substack.com/p/thinking-a...
That reason is totally legit and all the more important!!!
I just read someone saying “bagels are just bread” and I think my immediate incandescent rage means I just might be a real Montrealer.
Montreal spring.
Can I just say, and I know this is a simple point, that learning is hard. When students say to me (and when I say to myself) that using ChatGPT makes things “easier”, I get worried.
@sorayaroberts.bsky.social Hey you! I miss interacting on a website like this with you.
Talked about what we loved and what we questioned about Nirvanna TBTSTM! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfVa... #Nirvanna #Nirvannathebandtheshowthemovie
Alysa Liu made me write about my experience with figure skating as a teen and now as an adult. touchofallright.substack.com/p/how-alysa-...
I just watched “Wuthering Heights” and I am disappointed at how unsexy the whole thing was. I was promised bridles plural and all I got was bridle singular.
Want to watch me tell a story about Leonard Cohen, Montreal and belonging? youtu.be/DdHIWMh0lpc?si
Thank you for sharing!!!
The cover of Cambridge University Press's The World of Leonard Cohen edited by David R. Shumway features a young Cohen in a black turtleneck writing with a ballpoint pen in a small notebook in his lap.
Hey beautiful losers, this week the books series has ed David Shumway @nearleft.bsky.social talking new collection THE WORLD OF LEONARD COHEN w/ contribs @touchofallright.bsky.social, @eweisbard.bsky.social & Sarah Hill. Wed 5:30 pm ET, achieve satori here: iaspm-us.wildapricot.org/Popular-Musi...
Having a decades-old Wolf Parade song gain new found fame in 2026 due to a Canadian gay hockey romance show makes me feel like anything can happen. Thank you.
I spent an afternoon talking about Leonard Cohen with lovely people in Toronto. I hope this portends that there is indeed a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in. At this moment, I hope and pray this continues to be the case.
Jays, Jays and more Jays.
Here's my review of 2025 - I would love to talk to folks about it. open.substack.com/pub/touchofa...
Someone on threads just said that Quebecois French is not French. It is not going well and I am here for it.
I went on CBC's Commotion to talk about the best Canadian music of 2025...the picks were pretty darned good! youtu.be/LC9vboR39Ys?...
Thank you for sharing this! This article is perhaps one of my favourites that I have ever written.
My favourite music moment this past year was going to Osheaga with my niece. Read about it here: the-midst.com/osheaga-revi...
This was really good! Thank you!
