In defense of escapism | ***Dave Does the Blog

While I read some good non-fiction historical works, and have done my time reading some of the classics, I'll confess most of my reading is for entertainment and "escapism". Jo Walton explains, quite well, why that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Fantasy, Reading, and Escapism | Tor.com
Fantasy, Reading, and Escapism – the merits of having them in our lives.

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2 thoughts on “In defense of escapism”

Jo Walton is an excellent writer!

I have never heard of Jo Walton. I am a bit befuddled by the reference to "guilty reading pleasures." Why feel guilty about reading anything? OK, maybe the National Enquirer and its ilk, but otherwise…

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8 hours ago

Amusing story both for the headline and for the underlying message.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/katie-zacharia-is-out-after-half-a-scaramucci/

1 day ago

The take-away from #Trump canceling the #execution #livestream is not that he has even a modicum of decency, but that if a controversial idea is proposed *by someone else* that might blow back on him, he will throw it and the proposer under the bus in a hot minute. TACO loyalty.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/10/15/trump-cancels-hegseths-plan-live-stream-fort-hood-shooters-execution/

1 day ago

There is a graduated, progressive #IncomeTax #measure on the ballot this #election in #Colorado, replacing a flat 4.4%, and it is remarkable that the top arguments being levied against this "bizarre/radical" measure are "It's unfair because $500K [the tipping point] isn't that much income," and "Egads, all the rich people will move away to Texas and we will be poor!"

6 days ago

It's time for "Barefoot in the Park" at #ArvadaCenter! Front row seats!

1 week ago

High Altitude Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake with Cinnamon Sugar https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/margie/high-altitude-snickerdoodle-bundt-cake-with-cinnamon-sugar.html

2 weeks ago

Every now and then I get a burr up my butt about something and have to write it out. Today it was about strategic voting and "the lesser of two evils is still evil" thinking. Feel free to skip if you don't need another #screed in your life.

https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/2026/10/04/is-the-lesser-of-two-evil-also-evil.html

2 weeks ago

#DonaldTrump doesn't actually say anything *new* in his TIME interview -- but it remains fascinating (and deeply depressing) reading the farrago of lies, delusions, illogic, self-serving, and Bizarro World perspective of what he has to say. Failure is Success! Annihilation is Peace! Lies are Truth! Everyone Loves Me!

Future generations (assuming there are any) will read this stuff and disbelieve this guy was ever let close to the reins of power.

https://time.com/article/2026/10/01/donald-trump-2026-interview-transcript/

2 weeks ago

Yes, judges are making rulings based on "The President is a dick and might do something irrational, political, and spiteful about this case, so we are dismissing it *with* prejudice, GO AWAY NOW" reasoning.

#Trump #reflectingpool

https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/100126_DDF-Order-Davey-Hearn.pdf

2 weeks ago

I mean, it's one thing (though still pretty bad) to refuse to sign on to the international court that tries #warcrimes. It's a whole new level of badness (if not evil) to actively persecute its members and demand its destruction. #icc

2 weeks ago

"Federal #watchdog says Trump’s $810M funding cancellation is #unconstitutional"

Which, of course, is why #Trump gets rid of every "watchdog" he can. #GAO

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/09/29/congress/pocket-rescission-gao-unconstitutional-01096965

2 weeks ago

I Am Old Enough To Remember when one of the big conservative arguments against #SocializedMedicine was that the gubbiment would have access to everyone's health care data.

So apparently they'll get access to that data anyway, and without bothering about socialized medicine.

RFK Jr outlines expansive vision for collecting US health data at Maha event
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/29/rfk-jr-collect-health-data?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

2 weeks ago

We can't auto-enroll folks to vote. We can't auto-enroll kids to get vaccines. We can't auto-enroll families for food stamps But apparently we can auto-enroll children into slush-funds-for-investment-banker-friends "Trump Accounts".

Treasury: Trump Accounts to auto-enroll children
https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/09/29/trump-accounts-auto-enroll.html

2 weeks ago

If #Trump gave one shit about the #KennedyCenter as an arts institution, he wouldn't care about getting credit for "saving" it. That he insists he'll let it fall apart and then be demolished unless *his* name is plastered at the top of the sign, since only he can (or will be allowed to) raise the money demonstrates it's only stroking his colossal ego he's concerned with. To hell with him.

DOJ blasts court block on Kennedy Center repairs 'existential' threat
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/29/kennedy-center-trump-appeals-court/92004039007/

4 weeks ago

30-Minute Tomato Basil Soup Altered https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/margie/30-minute-tomato-basil-soup-altered.html

1 month ago

Madness. This shit has gone so far past "not normal" that we can't even see normal in the read-view mirror. They've had to build a whole new wing for the Overton Window to shift to.

#Trump is an existential threat to the American republic, not just for what he does, but for what he lays the groundwork for others to do now and in the future.

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2 thoughts on “In defense of escapism”

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