Amanda Cook
@amandacook627.bsky.social
Writer, artist, cosplayer. Fiction at Apex, Etherea, Apparition Lit, Wyngraf. Poetry at The Future Fire & Kaleidotrope.
Pinned
Nobody bought any of my stories or poems this year (probably because I stopped submitting a lot of them a while ago). Anyway, here's a poem I published on my blog that will win no awards, but that still resonates with me all these months later.
acooksbooks.com/2025/02/11/a...
acooksbooks.com/2025/02/11/a...
Reposted by Amanda Cook
seasonal reminder that if someone says they don't drink:
-it's none of your business why
-hosts should have several non-alcoholic beverage options
-the holidays can be a tough period for non-drinkers
-many jokes about not drinking are bad
-people are burned out and might just be tired
-it's none of your business why
-hosts should have several non-alcoholic beverage options
-the holidays can be a tough period for non-drinkers
-many jokes about not drinking are bad
-people are burned out and might just be tired
November 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
seasonal reminder that if someone says they don't drink:
-it's none of your business why
-hosts should have several non-alcoholic beverage options
-the holidays can be a tough period for non-drinkers
-many jokes about not drinking are bad
-people are burned out and might just be tired
-it's none of your business why
-hosts should have several non-alcoholic beverage options
-the holidays can be a tough period for non-drinkers
-many jokes about not drinking are bad
-people are burned out and might just be tired
Reposted by Amanda Cook
And one more other thing I’m seeing now, that Northwestern unsurprisingly didn’t mention in its statement, effectively banning gender affirming care at NU school of medicine
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
And one more other thing I’m seeing now, that Northwestern unsurprisingly didn’t mention in its statement, effectively banning gender affirming care at NU school of medicine
Reposted by Amanda Cook
One other notable thing here: Northwestern said a few months ago it would fund own research through the end of the year, but remained unclear about what would happen at the start of 2026
Today is Nov. 28 and funding will be restored within 30 days…have to imagine the timing was intentional
Today is Nov. 28 and funding will be restored within 30 days…have to imagine the timing was intentional
November 29, 2025 at 1:57 AM
One other notable thing here: Northwestern said a few months ago it would fund own research through the end of the year, but remained unclear about what would happen at the start of 2026
Today is Nov. 28 and funding will be restored within 30 days…have to imagine the timing was intentional
Today is Nov. 28 and funding will be restored within 30 days…have to imagine the timing was intentional
Reposted by Amanda Cook
And DOE Secretary celebrating the “agreement” as a “landmark deal”
November 29, 2025 at 1:05 AM
And DOE Secretary celebrating the “agreement” as a “landmark deal”
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Institutions that accept federal funds are obligated to follow civil rights law — we are grateful to Northwestern for negotiating this historic deal.”
November 29, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Institutions that accept federal funds are obligated to follow civil rights law — we are grateful to Northwestern for negotiating this historic deal.”
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Statement from U.S. AG Pam Bondi:
“Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first…
“Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first…
November 29, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Statement from U.S. AG Pam Bondi:
“Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first…
“Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first…
Reposted by Amanda Cook
This is the second largest payout from a private university to the Trump admin yet, second only to Columbia’s $200m
November 29, 2025 at 12:52 AM
This is the second largest payout from a private university to the Trump admin yet, second only to Columbia’s $200m
Reposted by Amanda Cook
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 12:31 AM
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Have spoken/taught at Northwestern many times; have many good friends there; always been an admirer and fan. Multiple ties especially with Medill School. Will never forget commencement ceremony there, 19 years ago.
Not an admirer or fan of this.
Courage is contagious. So is capitulation.
Not an admirer or fan of this.
Courage is contagious. So is capitulation.
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Have spoken/taught at Northwestern many times; have many good friends there; always been an admirer and fan. Multiple ties especially with Medill School. Will never forget commencement ceremony there, 19 years ago.
Not an admirer or fan of this.
Courage is contagious. So is capitulation.
Not an admirer or fan of this.
Courage is contagious. So is capitulation.
Reposted by Amanda Cook
I just became aware of this incredibly relatable drawing by John Singer Sargent.
November 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I just became aware of this incredibly relatable drawing by John Singer Sargent.
Reposted by Amanda Cook
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
November 29, 2025 at 3:08 AM
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Imagine getting ready for your daughter to come home from her freshman year of college for Thanksgiving, and the day of departure she goes MIA, and then 48 nightmarish hours later she calls you to tell her that ICE goons kidnapped her and shipped her to Honduras www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/25/m...
November 29, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Imagine getting ready for your daughter to come home from her freshman year of college for Thanksgiving, and the day of departure she goes MIA, and then 48 nightmarish hours later she calls you to tell her that ICE goons kidnapped her and shipped her to Honduras www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Amanda Cook
As immigration courthouse ICE arrests have dipped over the past several weeks, seemingly random ICE arrests appear to be on the rise. Attorneys are calling it “a coordinated campaign of race-based stops in largely Hispanic and immigrant neighborhoods in New York City."
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
As immigration courthouse ICE arrests have dipped over the past several weeks, seemingly random ICE arrests appear to be on the rise. Attorneys are calling it “a coordinated campaign of race-based stops in largely Hispanic and immigrant neighborhoods in New York City."
Reposted by Amanda Cook
“I considered myself a strong person, a resilient person, but I’ve never gone through something like this... Leave your family out of nowhere, the uncertainty of what’s going to happen to you."
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/i...
Sidewalk Arrests Seize New Yorkers in ICE’s Latest Surge
Activists and legal advocates are tracking seemingly random detentions of immigrants on the streets in what they say is a campaign of ethnic profiling.
www.thecity.nyc
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
“I considered myself a strong person, a resilient person, but I’ve never gone through something like this... Leave your family out of nowhere, the uncertainty of what’s going to happen to you."
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/i...
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Even Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center—where SCOTUS “whisperer” Leonard Leo sits on the board—says that Judge Currie’s dismissals of the criminal cases against Comey and Letitia James are legally sound. 1/
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Even Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center—where SCOTUS “whisperer” Leonard Leo sits on the board—says that Judge Currie’s dismissals of the criminal cases against Comey and Letitia James are legally sound. 1/
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Hell of a way to tee up America’s 250th year.
November 29, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Hell of a way to tee up America’s 250th year.
Reposted by Amanda Cook
"Some have said it's extortion, others claim it is extortion (good)"
November 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
"Some have said it's extortion, others claim it is extortion (good)"
Reposted by Amanda Cook
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:07 AM
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
Fox
Coyote
Red-tailed hawk
Wild turkey (strutting with his tail feathers fanned out, even)
Box turtle
Fox
Coyote
Red-tailed hawk
Wild turkey (strutting with his tail feathers fanned out, even)
Box turtle
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
- Hedgehog
- Toad
- Kingfisher
- Squirrel
- Fox
- Hedgehog
- Toad
- Kingfisher
- Squirrel
- Fox
November 28, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
Fox
Coyote
Red-tailed hawk
Wild turkey (strutting with his tail feathers fanned out, even)
Box turtle
Fox
Coyote
Red-tailed hawk
Wild turkey (strutting with his tail feathers fanned out, even)
Box turtle
Reposted by Amanda Cook
I treat boycotts as personal blood vendettas. This is about me physically harming a corporation, not about me telling any other human how to live their life.
I don’t have time to judge others while I’m digging two graves for me and Target.
I don’t have time to judge others while I’m digging two graves for me and Target.
As I always do with boycotts, I urge: be tough with corporations, gentle with individual buyers. For some people, Black Friday sales are the way they get their kids jackets that fit, shoes that hold up to the weather. Yelling at them doesn’t help the cause.
November 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I treat boycotts as personal blood vendettas. This is about me physically harming a corporation, not about me telling any other human how to live their life.
I don’t have time to judge others while I’m digging two graves for me and Target.
I don’t have time to judge others while I’m digging two graves for me and Target.
Reposted by Amanda Cook
To be clear the adjustment is less than we need but I’m trying to count money that will hopefully be here in two weeks lol
November 13, 2025 at 7:15 PM
To be clear the adjustment is less than we need but I’m trying to count money that will hopefully be here in two weeks lol
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Ugh hate to post this but bringing this back to just get us out of a “small” hole. We have money coming in but it is a struggle to get caught up
Keeping the same gfm for transparency sake
gofund.me/d63b5b894
Keeping the same gfm for transparency sake
gofund.me/d63b5b894
Donate to Support Danny and Nathalie's Housing Stability, organized by Danielle Lorick
EDIT: i should be receiving end of month payments, but trying to deal … Danielle Lorick needs your support for Support Danny and Nathalie's Housing Stability
gofund.me
November 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Ugh hate to post this but bringing this back to just get us out of a “small” hole. We have money coming in but it is a struggle to get caught up
Keeping the same gfm for transparency sake
gofund.me/d63b5b894
Keeping the same gfm for transparency sake
gofund.me/d63b5b894
Reposted by Amanda Cook
and somehow i doubt those same people would then tell French speakers that what they spoke was corrupted, debased Latin
gee, i wonder why
gee, i wonder why
November 28, 2025 at 11:35 PM
and somehow i doubt those same people would then tell French speakers that what they spoke was corrupted, debased Latin
gee, i wonder why
gee, i wonder why
Reposted by Amanda Cook
Anyway, we have great Caribbean SFFH literature: people before me, ppl with me and people coming up who I respect but it's still a situation where you can be first to have published something. You're first to include something or try something and that is jarring for a lot of ppl.
but we persist :P
but we persist :P
November 28, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Anyway, we have great Caribbean SFFH literature: people before me, ppl with me and people coming up who I respect but it's still a situation where you can be first to have published something. You're first to include something or try something and that is jarring for a lot of ppl.
but we persist :P
but we persist :P
Reposted by Amanda Cook
When I was a child we were told what we spoke was broken english...and now I'm like nope.
It wuk. It wukking fantastic.
It wuk. It wukking fantastic.
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
When I was a child we were told what we spoke was broken english...and now I'm like nope.
It wuk. It wukking fantastic.
It wuk. It wukking fantastic.