Jess
@jessicaesquire.bsky.social
Queer, ex-Mormon, former lawyer, book reviewer, extremely online. Day job in media. She/her. The Triangle, NC. https://jess-of-the-durbervilles.ghost.io/
If I want to get my kid a typewriter for Christmas but I don't have a big budget, what's my best bet? She has asked for YEARS and she's a good enough writer that I can no longer say no in good conscience. Something she can actually use, but also she cares deeply about aesthetics. Is this possible?
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 AM
If I want to get my kid a typewriter for Christmas but I don't have a big budget, what's my best bet? She has asked for YEARS and she's a good enough writer that I can no longer say no in good conscience. Something she can actually use, but also she cares deeply about aesthetics. Is this possible?
I don't have my kids on Thanksgiving and I'm always uncomfortable when I try to force the holiday at other people's gatherings. So I stay home, buy myself an entire pumpkin pie, make my first gumbo of the year, and try to enjoy a few days where I don't worry about anyone else.
Actually in the spirit of this conversation, what’s a decision you made about a past Thanksgiving holiday that really paid off? I think people often feel trapped by their lives. Sharing our experiences can liberate us from that sense of claustrophobia.
On the most recent episode of VIBE CHECK, we answer listener questions about Thanksgiving, most importantly “do you go celebrate with the family members you don’t even like?”
November 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I don't have my kids on Thanksgiving and I'm always uncomfortable when I try to force the holiday at other people's gatherings. So I stay home, buy myself an entire pumpkin pie, make my first gumbo of the year, and try to enjoy a few days where I don't worry about anyone else.
I started a blog. 🤷🏼♀️
November 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I started a blog. 🤷🏼♀️
Such a great example this week of how local organizations can make a difference. All kinds of small groups and regular people worked together in NC, networks are growing and expanding and it's wonderful to see.
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Such a great example this week of how local organizations can make a difference. All kinds of small groups and regular people worked together in NC, networks are growing and expanding and it's wonderful to see.
The bubble will hold for too long because too many big players are involved and no one is blinking. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft have gone all in on ai. The market needs it to succeed at an unprecedented level. No one has found a way out that doesn't plunge us into a huge recession.
NVIDIA earnings were a mirage. The market figured it out surprisingly fast. NVIDIA bump evaporated.
I don’t know how this information can enter the system without exploding the bubble.
But sometimes bezzles visible for months before crash.
Waiting for the feds?
open.substack.com/pub/shanakaa...
I don’t know how this information can enter the system without exploding the bubble.
But sometimes bezzles visible for months before crash.
Waiting for the feds?
open.substack.com/pub/shanakaa...
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The bubble will hold for too long because too many big players are involved and no one is blinking. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft have gone all in on ai. The market needs it to succeed at an unprecedented level. No one has found a way out that doesn't plunge us into a huge recession.
They had already seen his Real ID before they took him away. They knew he wasn't undocumented, it's another example of their vindictive, racist, lawless pattern of conduct.
When he told them he was born in Raleigh, the agent questioning him grew angry, Vazquez said. They abruptly pulled off the road into the parking lot of a carpet cleaning company, where they dumped him, a half mile away from where they picked him up.
‘They Basically Just Kidnapped Me’: US Citizen Taken by Border Patrol in Cary
This article originally published online at NC Newsline. The first thing they asked Fernando Vazquez was “Where are you from?” When two unmarked SUVs full of Border Patrol agents arrived Tuesday at th...
indyweek.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
They had already seen his Real ID before they took him away. They knew he wasn't undocumented, it's another example of their vindictive, racist, lawless pattern of conduct.
I long for the good old days of passwords. Getting a one time sign in code requiring me to go back and forth between tabs and programs to do the smallest thing, forever filling up my text messages and my email inbox with useless numbers, is no way to live.
November 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I long for the good old days of passwords. Getting a one time sign in code requiring me to go back and forth between tabs and programs to do the smallest thing, forever filling up my text messages and my email inbox with useless numbers, is no way to live.
Reposted by Jess
The NC Triangle says: FUCK ICE
November 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The NC Triangle says: FUCK ICE
I've heard a lot of hemp industry freakouts but this gives some really useful and interesting context about the state of weed drinks and how they might be saved. (Also I will keep my 5 mg, thank you.)
For @bloomberg.com, I wrote the legal loophole around THC the government just closed, and what it means for the Four Loko of THC drinks www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Weed Drinks That Get You Very, Very High Could Be Gone Soon
Cannabis beverages with up to 100mg of THC are increasingly popular. A ban on hemp is threatening their survival.
www.bloomberg.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I've heard a lot of hemp industry freakouts but this gives some really useful and interesting context about the state of weed drinks and how they might be saved. (Also I will keep my 5 mg, thank you.)
Ok but Whitney setting up their group conflict as a Testimony Meeting and then saying "I looked up the definition of regret" is the most Mormon thing I've ever seen on television. (But feels like they could have had a pulpit with a little step stand and refreshments after.)
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Ok but Whitney setting up their group conflict as a Testimony Meeting and then saying "I looked up the definition of regret" is the most Mormon thing I've ever seen on television. (But feels like they could have had a pulpit with a little step stand and refreshments after.)
I was in a left turn lane with a flashing yellow. Would love to yield to oncoming traffic, except the guy facing me in his left turn lane had lights so bright I could not see if anyone was coming. After I finally turned I had a big white spot in my vision for five minutes. Seems bad!!!
I wish we, like, regulated shit nowadays. Between car bloat, blinding headlines, and neighbourhoods packed with rental suites but no on-property parking, driving is an absolute nightmare now.
Nearly all drivers say vehicles' lights are too bright in study
The study, commissioned by the Department for Transport, was completed by Berkshire's TRL.
www.bbc.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I was in a left turn lane with a flashing yellow. Would love to yield to oncoming traffic, except the guy facing me in his left turn lane had lights so bright I could not see if anyone was coming. After I finally turned I had a big white spot in my vision for five minutes. Seems bad!!!
I am finally watching Interview with the Vampire and Sam Reid as Lestat is such perfect casting in a role that's basically impossible to cast well.
November 18, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I am finally watching Interview with the Vampire and Sam Reid as Lestat is such perfect casting in a role that's basically impossible to cast well.
I had a conversation with some industry people on this and they said, "Wait shouldn't Google *encourage* content production since that's what feeds the LLM? Isn't this going to destroy the very sources genAI needs?" And I said yup.
And they were baffled. And I said yup.
And they were baffled. And I said yup.
And so KILLING the value of the ad revenue systems that are funding *waves generally* ALL of the content production on the internet, which is also maybe your most core product and revenue stream. . .
seems insane.
14/
seems insane.
14/
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I had a conversation with some industry people on this and they said, "Wait shouldn't Google *encourage* content production since that's what feeds the LLM? Isn't this going to destroy the very sources genAI needs?" And I said yup.
And they were baffled. And I said yup.
And they were baffled. And I said yup.
Reposted by Jess
If you are in Raleigh or other parts of the state, and you see something you suspect to be an immigration enforcement action, call our hotline at (336) 543-0353
Contact Carolina Migrant Network to report sightings and to get connected with legal support in Charlotte.
Contact Carolina Migrant Network to report sightings and to get connected with legal support in Charlotte.
November 18, 2025 at 6:18 AM
If you are in Raleigh or other parts of the state, and you see something you suspect to be an immigration enforcement action, call our hotline at (336) 543-0353
Contact Carolina Migrant Network to report sightings and to get connected with legal support in Charlotte.
Contact Carolina Migrant Network to report sightings and to get connected with legal support in Charlotte.
This Is The Worst Thing I've Ever Read You Have To Read It is just not something I'm going to participate in! I have learned my lesson!
Anyway I am going to go read a book now.
Anyway I am going to go read a book now.
November 18, 2025 at 2:30 AM
This Is The Worst Thing I've Ever Read You Have To Read It is just not something I'm going to participate in! I have learned my lesson!
Anyway I am going to go read a book now.
Anyway I am going to go read a book now.
🚨🚨🚨
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell told WRAL News that agents are “already in Raleigh and will be active tomorrow.” #ncpol
Federal immigration agents plan Raleigh operations as early as Tuesday, mayor says
Federal immigration agents are on the ground in Raleigh and plan to conduct operations in the area as soon as Tuesday, according to Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell.
www.wral.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
🚨🚨🚨
Reading this felt eerily similar to reading all the explainers about how we got the 2008 financial crisis from mortgage backed securities. Gonna be hard for them to say no one could have predicted it this time tho.
why is Nvidia propping up a company that seems doomed? www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Meet CoreWeave, the AI industry’s ticking time bomb
The debt-laden AI compute company has been boosted by Nvidia.
www.theverge.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reading this felt eerily similar to reading all the explainers about how we got the 2008 financial crisis from mortgage backed securities. Gonna be hard for them to say no one could have predicted it this time tho.
Reposted by Jess
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
One thing that's gone mostly unreported with the bill to reopen the government is that it also literally destroys the hemp industry. In states like NC that means legal hemp-based weed is going out the window in a year if Congress doesn't take action.
With a ban on most hemp-based cannabinoid products set to take effect in 2026, hemp business owners in North Carolina are scrambling to respond. ncnewsline.com/2025/11/14/w... Story by @kingdollar.bsky.social #ncpol #Hemp
‘We can’t really pivot’: North Carolina hemp stores, farms prepare to fight federal ban • NC Newsline
North Carolina hemp business owners and their counterparts across the U.S. are bracing for a 2026 ban and advocating to reverse it.
ncnewsline.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:04 PM
One thing that's gone mostly unreported with the bill to reopen the government is that it also literally destroys the hemp industry. In states like NC that means legal hemp-based weed is going out the window in a year if Congress doesn't take action.
I know it would be healthy for me not to read this but I did and all I can say is that you should make better choices.
November 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I know it would be healthy for me not to read this but I did and all I can say is that you should make better choices.
"What’s left when the rich people lose interest is the work," an important statement. An industry boom will show you who people really are. (Like Ira Glass, who starts this piece insisting that all podcasts should be listened to at 2x to maximize podcast listening.)
I expected this podcast festival to feel like a funeral, but it was surprisingly optimistic. Once you hit rock bottom, you can only really go up.
defector.com/resonate-pod...
defector.com/resonate-pod...
The Bad News Is There’s No More Money, But That’s Also The Good News | Defector
RICHMOND, VA – The audience was booing Ira Glass. It was the opening session of Resonate, a podcast festival founded three years ago by Chioke l’Anson at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute ...
defector.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
"What’s left when the rich people lose interest is the work," an important statement. An industry boom will show you who people really are. (Like Ira Glass, who starts this piece insisting that all podcasts should be listened to at 2x to maximize podcast listening.)
I'm happy to report the sandwich guy jury did make sandwich jokes when they had sandwiches for lunch. (Gift link below)
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I'm happy to report the sandwich guy jury did make sandwich jokes when they had sandwiches for lunch. (Gift link below)
I'm rewatching Mad Men and it's more of a mixed bag than I remember but it has an unmatched ability to create iconic scenes and moments.
Yes, I just finished the John Deere episode and that stony British delivery of "The doctors say he'll never golf again" is an all timer.
Yes, I just finished the John Deere episode and that stony British delivery of "The doctors say he'll never golf again" is an all timer.
November 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I'm rewatching Mad Men and it's more of a mixed bag than I remember but it has an unmatched ability to create iconic scenes and moments.
Yes, I just finished the John Deere episode and that stony British delivery of "The doctors say he'll never golf again" is an all timer.
Yes, I just finished the John Deere episode and that stony British delivery of "The doctors say he'll never golf again" is an all timer.
So the Dems reopened the government to do Epstein stuff? They couldn't have just waited? Do they only care because they have the far right on their side? Idk honestly I'm just tired.
November 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
So the Dems reopened the government to do Epstein stuff? They couldn't have just waited? Do they only care because they have the far right on their side? Idk honestly I'm just tired.
Just had my first half ass lunch (meaning I forgot to plan lunches for the week) from this batch of freezer burritos and it was DELICIOUS.
I am using a bunch of my fancy Rancho Gordo beans to make refried beans for freezer burritos. Because why shouldn't my half ass lunch when I suddenly realize I don't have anything to eat be spectacular?
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Just had my first half ass lunch (meaning I forgot to plan lunches for the week) from this batch of freezer burritos and it was DELICIOUS.