Jonathan Lack
@jonathanlack.bsky.social
I'm critic, scholar, and podcaster Jonathan R. Lack, PhD. Follow my writing at https://www.jonathanlack.com. Links to podcasts and other socials at http://linktr.ee/jonathanrlack
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Pokémon Legends Z-A, Ghost of Yōtei & Taylor Swift x Shakespeare Collabs | Purely Academic #23
YouTube video by Purely Academic
youtu.be
New Purely Academic today, and it's absurdly packed, with big game reviews (Ghost of Yotei, Pokemon Legends, Dragon Quest, etc.), lots of news (Doctor Who, One Piece, Halo), and the funniest Monthly Ten segment we've done to date (please listen for this if nothing else).
youtu.be/VrHBAukdRgw?...
youtu.be/VrHBAukdRgw?...
I don’t think I’ve ever been so personally invested in a game that took as long from announcement to release as METROID PRIME 4. 8 years since the announcement, now just a few minutes until it unlocks. God damn I’m so excited.
December 4, 2025 at 4:59 AM
I don’t think I’ve ever been so personally invested in a game that took as long from announcement to release as METROID PRIME 4. 8 years since the announcement, now just a few minutes until it unlocks. God damn I’m so excited.
This is genuinely super flattering to see, and I’m sure I also speak for Sean in thanking anyone and everyone who’s listened to us this year.
Tomino-thon is taking a bit longer than planned, but hoooooo boy is it gonna be worth the wait. News on that front soon. 2026 is gonna be huge.
Tomino-thon is taking a bit longer than planned, but hoooooo boy is it gonna be worth the wait. News on that front soon. 2026 is gonna be huge.
December 4, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This is genuinely super flattering to see, and I’m sure I also speak for Sean in thanking anyone and everyone who’s listened to us this year.
Tomino-thon is taking a bit longer than planned, but hoooooo boy is it gonna be worth the wait. News on that front soon. 2026 is gonna be huge.
Tomino-thon is taking a bit longer than planned, but hoooooo boy is it gonna be worth the wait. News on that front soon. 2026 is gonna be huge.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
Bad news for Hegseth, it turns out the Pentagon is a big bureaucracy filled with people who got there because they know how to fight bureaucratic battles and they will wait for you to lie about something then leak details about it. Who knew?
A most important question on the Sept. 2 double-tap strike is who had "target engagement authority" (TEA).
Wall Street Journal:
"A Defense Department official ... said Hegseth was the 'target engagement authority,' the key figure who authorized the strike."
www.wsj.com/politics/whi...
Wall Street Journal:
"A Defense Department official ... said Hegseth was the 'target engagement authority,' the key figure who authorized the strike."
www.wsj.com/politics/whi...
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Bad news for Hegseth, it turns out the Pentagon is a big bureaucracy filled with people who got there because they know how to fight bureaucratic battles and they will wait for you to lie about something then leak details about it. Who knew?
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
it's wild how the positive use cases are like "save 5 minutes reading a long doc" and "write a generic email faster" and the negative use cases are "get encouraged to dive deeper in psychosis, misogyny, or suicidal thoughts" and we're still on the fence about overall value
New from 404 Media: ChatGPT told a violent stalker to continue running his misogynistic and threat-filled podcast despite the “haters,” and to visit more gyms to find women. The man stalked women in multiple states, including touching and following from work
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
ChatGPT Told a Violent Stalker to Embrace the 'Haters,' Indictment Says
A newly filed indictment claims a wannabe influencer used ChatGPT as his "therapist" and "best friend" in his pursuit of the "wife type," while harassing women so aggressively they had to miss work a...
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
it's wild how the positive use cases are like "save 5 minutes reading a long doc" and "write a generic email faster" and the negative use cases are "get encouraged to dive deeper in psychosis, misogyny, or suicidal thoughts" and we're still on the fence about overall value
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
@jonathanlack.bsky.social @seanthechapman.bsky.social Thanks for the casts!
December 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
@jonathanlack.bsky.social @seanthechapman.bsky.social Thanks for the casts!
AC Shadows on Switch 2 is kinda stunning, based on this Digital Foundry breakdown. Lots of cutbacks, yes, but this is SUCH a different situation from 'impossible ports' like Witcher 3 or DOOM on Switch 1. It's still very recognizably the same game.
youtu.be/2U5h4_MqXaU?...
youtu.be/2U5h4_MqXaU?...
Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2 Review: Impressive Handheld Play But Docked Mode Needs Work
YouTube video by Digital Foundry
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
AC Shadows on Switch 2 is kinda stunning, based on this Digital Foundry breakdown. Lots of cutbacks, yes, but this is SUCH a different situation from 'impossible ports' like Witcher 3 or DOOM on Switch 1. It's still very recognizably the same game.
youtu.be/2U5h4_MqXaU?...
youtu.be/2U5h4_MqXaU?...
The NYT review of the Nuzzi memoir begins with their critic explaining how all Nuzzi’s myriad breaches of journalistic ethics would be worth defending if only we got a better book out of it in the end.
You can’t make this shit up. What a perfect encapsulation of the paper’s entire pathology.
You can’t make this shit up. What a perfect encapsulation of the paper’s entire pathology.
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The NYT review of the Nuzzi memoir begins with their critic explaining how all Nuzzi’s myriad breaches of journalistic ethics would be worth defending if only we got a better book out of it in the end.
You can’t make this shit up. What a perfect encapsulation of the paper’s entire pathology.
You can’t make this shit up. What a perfect encapsulation of the paper’s entire pathology.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
If we're not at war, Pete Hegseth is a murderer. If we are at war, Pete Hegseth is still a murderer. He's a murderer. And you don't need to go to The Hague to hold him accountable because there are perfectly good, American laws AGAINST MURDER.
My latest in @thenation.com
My latest in @thenation.com
Pete Hegseth Should Be Charged With Murder
No matter how you look at the strikes on alleged “drug boats”—as acts of war or attacks on civilians—Hegseth has committed a crime and should be prosecuted.
www.thenation.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
If we're not at war, Pete Hegseth is a murderer. If we are at war, Pete Hegseth is still a murderer. He's a murderer. And you don't need to go to The Hague to hold him accountable because there are perfectly good, American laws AGAINST MURDER.
My latest in @thenation.com
My latest in @thenation.com
Jeffries isn't as performatively weak as Schumer, but he's just as bad, and maybe even more morally craven and bereft of actual beliefs, as this awful awful awful co-signing of Trump's corruption signals.
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Jeffries isn't as performatively weak as Schumer, but he's just as bad, and maybe even more morally craven and bereft of actual beliefs, as this awful awful awful co-signing of Trump's corruption signals.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Just finished the true ending in KIRBY AIR RIDERS, and I say this without a hint of jest or irony: the absolute batshit story Sakurai tells here is my favorite video game narrative of 2025, with some of the most killer cinematics you’ll ever see. I love this game so much.
December 3, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Just finished the true ending in KIRBY AIR RIDERS, and I say this without a hint of jest or irony: the absolute batshit story Sakurai tells here is my favorite video game narrative of 2025, with some of the most killer cinematics you’ll ever see. I love this game so much.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
Best review I’ve read for Prime 4 here — what a great breakdown of what makes this series tick, especially now.
I really liked Metroid Prime 4, even taking into account the stuff everybody already hates about it mashable.com/review/metro...
'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond' review: It's good to be back
If you can get over Myles McKenzie, there's a lot of fun to be had here.
mashable.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Best review I’ve read for Prime 4 here — what a great breakdown of what makes this series tick, especially now.
Little behind-the-scenes glimpse of work on Japanimation Station’s Tomino-thon: an excerpt from my notes on XABUNGLE Episode 16, which has one of the absolute raddest moments in anime history.
December 2, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Little behind-the-scenes glimpse of work on Japanimation Station’s Tomino-thon: an excerpt from my notes on XABUNGLE Episode 16, which has one of the absolute raddest moments in anime history.
Trying to upload a really great episode of Purely Academic for tomorrow, but the gigabit internet I pay Xfinity for is currently chugging along at upload speeds of about half a megabyte per second, which is too slow for platforms to even *start* the upload. So. You know.
Fucking Xfinity, goddamn.
Fucking Xfinity, goddamn.
December 2, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Trying to upload a really great episode of Purely Academic for tomorrow, but the gigabit internet I pay Xfinity for is currently chugging along at upload speeds of about half a megabyte per second, which is too slow for platforms to even *start* the upload. So. You know.
Fucking Xfinity, goddamn.
Fucking Xfinity, goddamn.
WB going to Paramount is bad because it's owned by Trump-loving billionaires who suck. WB going to Netflix is bad because it's owned by people who hate movies and theaters and want to crush us all under the algorithm. No good options. It all sucks. Late stage capitalism coming for us all.
Netflix’s new bid to buy Warner Bros is a mostly cash offer.
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
December 2, 2025 at 12:03 AM
WB going to Paramount is bad because it's owned by Trump-loving billionaires who suck. WB going to Netflix is bad because it's owned by people who hate movies and theaters and want to crush us all under the algorithm. No good options. It all sucks. Late stage capitalism coming for us all.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
1) Yes, obviously this is what this is actually about.
2) Academic freedom and, more to the point, standards are supposed to render this approach ineffective. Their abandonment in order to throw trans people under the bus is catastrophic.
2) Academic freedom and, more to the point, standards are supposed to render this approach ineffective. Their abandonment in order to throw trans people under the bus is catastrophic.
For my newsletter, I wrote about that college essay scandal that's gone viral and what everyone is seeming to miss:
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
That Viral Essay Scandal is (SURPRISE!) Actually About Trans People
A shoddy Oklahoma University essay went viral. Cis people think this is about conservatives whining for better grades. Trans people see a planned attack on a trans academic.
(Note for free subscriber...
www.burnsnotice.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
1) Yes, obviously this is what this is actually about.
2) Academic freedom and, more to the point, standards are supposed to render this approach ineffective. Their abandonment in order to throw trans people under the bus is catastrophic.
2) Academic freedom and, more to the point, standards are supposed to render this approach ineffective. Their abandonment in order to throw trans people under the bus is catastrophic.
The best part of this extraordinary clip is knowing it's in part a rebuke to Rolling Stone snubbing Prince for their 'Top 100 Guitarists of All Time' piece published a few months earlier. A patently ridiculous omission, as Prince came out and proved with aplomb. Because he was the GOAT.
Start your week with Prince smoking the While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo
December 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The best part of this extraordinary clip is knowing it's in part a rebuke to Rolling Stone snubbing Prince for their 'Top 100 Guitarists of All Time' piece published a few months earlier. A patently ridiculous omission, as Prince came out and proved with aplomb. Because he was the GOAT.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
i’m genuinely so convinced all of this has been a planned operation by the student and her mother (who is commenting on this publicly, and associated closely with the republican party), and big far right propaganda account going all in on it. this is designed to oust trans people from public life
December 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
i’m genuinely so convinced all of this has been a planned operation by the student and her mother (who is commenting on this publicly, and associated closely with the republican party), and big far right propaganda account going all in on it. this is designed to oust trans people from public life
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
And that’s how Calvin got a degree in physics at OU
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 PM
And that’s how Calvin got a degree in physics at OU
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
"Reinforcing the Social Safety Net at No Cost to Anyone" is a terrible governing principle, both because it's a lie and because it concedes without so much as a struggle the idea that the obscenely rich have no duty to repay the nation that allowed them to become so
December 1, 2025 at 2:02 AM
"Reinforcing the Social Safety Net at No Cost to Anyone" is a terrible governing principle, both because it's a lie and because it concedes without so much as a struggle the idea that the obscenely rich have no duty to repay the nation that allowed them to become so
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
people think “no ceiling” means “lets the rich keep getting richer” because it’s an idea taken from a venture capitalist by a party that has shown no stomach for reining in the worst excesses of 21st century capitalism. It’s not that people don’t know what it means. It’s that they do.
I think people are negatively reacting to the "no ceiling" part as shorthand for "let the rich get richer," though I don't think that's what's meant at all. It's an aspirational claim that *can* resonate with plenty of people. It's about opening up opportunity for everyone, which is good?
December 1, 2025 at 1:51 AM
people think “no ceiling” means “lets the rich keep getting richer” because it’s an idea taken from a venture capitalist by a party that has shown no stomach for reining in the worst excesses of 21st century capitalism. It’s not that people don’t know what it means. It’s that they do.
Reposted by Jonathan Lack
conservatives basically want to implement the caricature of affirmative action for conservative students. acceptance without meeting qualifications, good grades and degrees without having to do the work.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 1:29 AM
conservatives basically want to implement the caricature of affirmative action for conservative students. acceptance without meeting qualifications, good grades and degrees without having to do the work.
Democratic leadership is a parody of a parody at this point. My god.
November 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Democratic leadership is a parody of a parody at this point. My god.