Jim Laczkowski
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jimlaczkowski.net
Jim Laczkowski
@jimlaczkowski.net
Hat-Wearing Librarian (chipublib.org). Podcaster/Writer (jimlaczkowski.net), Film Critic, (chicagofilmcritics.org), (http://linktr.ee/jimlaczkowski). Movies, music, cats, coffee, books, podcasts, libraries!
Pinned
It's time to leave Substack and move to Ghost. Thanks to everyone on BlueSky for making me aware as to why. More info here on my decision and the change to come within the next week or so. directorsclub.substack.com/p/ghostisborn
Gone For Good
Hi Folks. Substack isn't for me anymore for a plethora of reasons. Mainly the one that everyone talks about the most BUT I am slowly moving everything over to an exciting one-stop shop soon!
directorsclub.substack.com
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Chicagoland - CPB and Kristi Noem didn’t like our Christmas caroling. Go home, ICE Barbie. Immigrants are welcome here. Hands Off Chicago. Melt ICE. @indivisiblels.bsky.social @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social @indivisible.org @aaronparnas.bsky.social @altnps.bsky.social
@jesscraven101.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
The founders of Substack don't block Nazis bc they don't want "to be in the censorship business," but they *do* block adult content, just because.

They've told us who they are.
November 29, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Hey Bill I'm a big fan of your work and I'm a big fan of your foodie posts but could you not support a website like substack please they have a long history with neo-nazis arstechnica.com/tech-policy/... I'm not trying to put you on blast I really love your work and I love your food posts.
Substack’s “Nazi problem” won’t go away after push notification apology
Substack may be legitimizing neo-Nazis as “thought leaders,” researcher warns.
arstechnica.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Sorry but if you have a Substack, I will never, ever share your work, no matter how good it is. Migrate to a site that doesn’t promote neo-Nazis and I’ll share your work.
December 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
It's time to leave Substack and move to Ghost. Thanks to everyone on BlueSky for making me aware as to why. More info here on my decision and the change to come within the next week or so. directorsclub.substack.com/p/ghostisborn
Gone For Good
Hi Folks. Substack isn't for me anymore for a plethora of reasons. Mainly the one that everyone talks about the most BUT I am slowly moving everything over to an exciting one-stop shop soon!
directorsclub.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Happy Holidays from the Chicago Police Department
December 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It is an honor to be hosting a Q&A at Rogers Park Library in Chicago in about six weeks for film critic/author/podcaster @nickdigilio.bsky.social to celebrate the release of his memoir 40 YEARS 40 FILMS. If you love movies, you won't want to miss this! chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/68f7f...
December 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Yesterday's library event was a success; grateful to all of those who came. It was a packed house; the author had participants make their own postcards! It was a wonderful experience for all, and we'll definitely be doing a lot more events in 2026! For more on the author: www.sophielucidojohnson.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Black Friday reminder: You can support independent bookstores and get great deals without lining the pockets of billionaires 😌
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Super stoked to announce that I have a video essay in the upcoming @arrowvideo.bsky.social release of THE VISITOR. This is one of these movies you have to see to believe. Franco Nero is Space Jesus! John Huston is his agent! It's about abortion, somehow! Amazing film

www.arrowvideo.com/p/17631543/
The Visitor Limited Edition 4K UHD | Arrow Video
Shop The Visitor Limited Edition 4K UHD at Arrow Video. Free UK Delivery
www.arrowvideo.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
I don't think that the internet was ever filled to the brim with only useful, verifiable info, but it was at one time a vast repository of knowledge. AI articles cannibalizing the web is the opposite of knowledge collection. It takes what once was knowledge and refracts it into something useless.
the internet is now a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy and so on
November 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Recommending this for many reasons; includes a commentary track featuring myself and true blue cinephile Bill Ackerman. If you want to purchase gifts today with something special to add to your collection, make it this. Thanks again @cine-matographe.bsky.social! vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/...
At Close Range
2025 Subscribers: this is NOT included in your Subscription. If you'd like to purchase it, you will need to login to view your special 50% off SRP pricing. Flash Pre-Order Absolutely Everything custom
vinegarsyndrome.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
I wrote a book about US media’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. It's available for pre-order. It’s a data-driven and, I hope, thorough account of how center-left media sold the American public on mass death in Gaza.

Out 4/21. 100% of royalties go to @mecaforpeace.bsky.social.
How to Sell a Genocide - Pluto Press
A gripping exposé of how the corporate media fuelled genocide in Gaza
www.plutobooks.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Really loving that Chicago Public Libraries distribute the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights hotline number in the children’s coloring section.
November 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
We need to do everything we can to encourage posts like this on bluesky. Terrible food opinions from big name sportswriters are genuinely the lifeblood of any social media app
Apple pie is bad. This is not really debatable. So is key lime pie, while we’re on the topic. Pecan pie is the 🐐 tho.
November 25, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
We've got some pretty big markdowns for Black Friday Week at FCE HQ. PARADISE & HEAVENLY BODIES (w/booklets), BAD COMPANY, STRANGERS KISS, PRIMETIME PANIC, SEEING RED, RADIO ON, DEEP IN THE HEART/HANDGUN, FATAL FEMMES, DUDDY KRAVITZ, TR BASKIN...
www.funcityeditions.com/shop
November 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
As the year winds down and everyone is playing year-end catch up, please don't overlook Carson Lund's EEPHUS, a meditation on mortality and the transience of time played out during a small town baseball game that is quietly one of the most remarkable films of the year.
November 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Hey librarians,

How is sustainability one of our core values if we're also supposed to be all-in on the AI hype?

Asking for these folks.

#medlibs 📚
In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly.

In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.

🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
In one week, a local author event is happening here at the Rogers Park Library. Weds, December 3rd at 6pm, be sure to come out to not only learn more about the talented Sophie Lucido Johnson but to make your own postcard during the interactive workshop! chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/68da9...
November 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
“What the hell is a gigawatt?!”
“How could I have been so careless?”
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Happy news from the library!! I obviously recommend The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by SGJ but also absolutely loved Woodworking by Emily St. James! chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...
Our Favorite Books of 2025: Top 10 — a staff-created list from Chicago Public Library
The Chicago Public Library proudly presents our top 10 favorite books of the year.
chipublib.bibliocommons.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Another great new episode of one of my favorite pods on the network :)
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Favorite podcast episode of the year so far. Loved leaning about Willow, a truly inspirational film writer and so much more. Adored this and you will too!
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM