Apprentice philologist. Poetry translation and history teaching. Chair-leg hero. Emeritus: Signal to Noise, Chicago Review reader-in-chief of Caliber, an occasional newsletter of translation and reading [ask at calibernewsletter at gmail dot com]https://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwt43yufvk2bi don’t like to brag, but the inspiration for the look of the aliens in Arrival came from my minivan’s back window01 Oct 2026 14:48 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwt43yufvk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwqlbrnnbs2mAnother exhibit in the Bring Back Shame campaign, and also LMAO [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Sep 2026 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqlbrnnbs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwnxvw3qps2lThe Stevie Wonder vault songs are incredible, anyone else’s A-sides but prime Stevie’s cutting-room scraps.29 Sep 2026 13:50 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwnxvw3qps2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwlr5rz7z22xThe thing i really don’t get about people who use FaceTime or speakerphone in public places is, don’t they care about privacy? I can’t even bear to talk on the phone w members of my immediate family in the same room. I couldn’t imagine.28 Sep 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwlr5rz7z22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwljzyylxc2bAs a Calvino-ist I believe I was predestined to live in Venice [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Sep 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwljzyylxc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwliuo5mgc2lBring 👏🏻 shame 👏🏻 back 👏🏻 [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Sep 2026 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwliuo5mgc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwjiilemos2fLamp is gone, so I’m trying out a new lean27 Sep 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwjiilemos2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwhuccnbo22bA perfect nighttime weekend song https://youtu.be/2mhUVbc8Nn0?is=W_UX6A5cjDpIHzz527 Sep 2026 03:30 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwhuccnbo22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwhrheiu7s2lLovers in Venice fête galante A Londoner finds the ring Beneath the trees. Shadowed pianos. If your ash drifts free, My future is revealed. Oh Musset! Oh George Sand! Oh Venice! Old guitar Full of music and water, A simple earthquake Will jumble your dominoes. Jean Cocteau, 192227 Sep 2026 02:39 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwhrheiu7s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwgoykhhdk2gAdolescent fans of Cultural Capital are called Guillo-teens [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Sep 2026 16:22 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwgoykhhdk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwgnloyyyk2gThe kid spends his Saturday mornings playing through the Monkey Island series. This gets the Dad Seal of Approval™️.26 Sep 2026 15:57 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwgnloyyyk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwfcdjp4ec25If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. …And when you wager, use DraftKings, where $5 gets you $200 in bonuses.26 Sep 2026 03:03 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwfcdjp4ec25https://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwewjkbsck22literally a mountain goats album title [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Sep 2026 23:31 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwewjkbsck22https://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mwevf3m4l222This is true and I note that it’s not only useful for practical reasons. If you don’t reclaim your attention then how will you ever keep alive the slow-burning, endlessly enriching pleasures, like reading a poem, canoeing a river, or sketching your partner nude? [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Sep 2026 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwevf3m4l222https://bsky.app/profile/joelcalahan.com/post/3mweixqrjbc2tI love it when you’re catching up with old friends and you can tell they’re pulling out their best anecdotes to impress you, even though you both know it’s unnecessary. Hell yeah brother, impress me! I love that you still want to!25 Sep 2026 19:29 +0000at://did:plc:sfadmpuifdn2tc726b4aaowd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mweixqrjbc2t