Philip Nolen
@philipnolen.bsky.social
Idler. Sometimes, an actor.
Look at the moon!
January 2, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Look at the moon!
Employers: if someone applies for a job, and you notice that their phone screen is cracked, don’t hire them.
January 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Employers: if someone applies for a job, and you notice that their phone screen is cracked, don’t hire them.
Reposted by Philip Nolen
This 73 year old cartoon by Yuliy Ganf called "At This Restaurant Only One Person Is Served," is as true today as it ever was.
January 1, 2026 at 8:23 PM
This 73 year old cartoon by Yuliy Ganf called "At This Restaurant Only One Person Is Served," is as true today as it ever was.
After feeling a smug thrill watching Mamdani take office, I now understand the glee of many Trump voters, in spite of all the President’s venal buffoonery: I don’t care if Mamdani succeeds, I just want him to scare the shit out of a complacent, fat-cat Establishment.
Get the popcorn!
Get the popcorn!
January 2, 2026 at 3:31 AM
After feeling a smug thrill watching Mamdani take office, I now understand the glee of many Trump voters, in spite of all the President’s venal buffoonery: I don’t care if Mamdani succeeds, I just want him to scare the shit out of a complacent, fat-cat Establishment.
Get the popcorn!
Get the popcorn!
One of my final purchases in 2025 was this delightful T-shirt from the Indian restaurant, eet, at Disney Springs. The back reads “eet•Drink•Dance”.
I quite like this.
I should have more T-shirts that express silliness and joy; my snarky atheist tees are threadbare.
I quite like this.
I should have more T-shirts that express silliness and joy; my snarky atheist tees are threadbare.
January 1, 2026 at 8:27 PM
One of my final purchases in 2025 was this delightful T-shirt from the Indian restaurant, eet, at Disney Springs. The back reads “eet•Drink•Dance”.
I quite like this.
I should have more T-shirts that express silliness and joy; my snarky atheist tees are threadbare.
I quite like this.
I should have more T-shirts that express silliness and joy; my snarky atheist tees are threadbare.
A lot of people got the Meta Ray Ban internet glasses for Christmas, it seems. As a theme park actor in an intimate venue, I now declare: I find them less distracting and intrusive than a phone’s camera held towards my face. The tiny camera light on the glasses is less annoying, too.
December 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A lot of people got the Meta Ray Ban internet glasses for Christmas, it seems. As a theme park actor in an intimate venue, I now declare: I find them less distracting and intrusive than a phone’s camera held towards my face. The tiny camera light on the glasses is less annoying, too.
This used to be the Crossroads shopping and dining complex; soon, it will be a glorious interchange off I-4, which will prevent me from risking my life every day going to work, when I turn left into a Yield sign ignored by traffic coming the other way. It can’t come soon enough.
December 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
This used to be the Crossroads shopping and dining complex; soon, it will be a glorious interchange off I-4, which will prevent me from risking my life every day going to work, when I turn left into a Yield sign ignored by traffic coming the other way. It can’t come soon enough.
I am finding Dave Chappelle’s persona more than a little disingenuous these days. His latest Netflix special is largely a report of his lucrative gig in Saudi Arabia ($6 million?), during which he opines “it’s easier to talk” there; he means “easier to criticize Israel” there. I’m sure it was.
December 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I am finding Dave Chappelle’s persona more than a little disingenuous these days. His latest Netflix special is largely a report of his lucrative gig in Saudi Arabia ($6 million?), during which he opines “it’s easier to talk” there; he means “easier to criticize Israel” there. I’m sure it was.
All is quiet now, but tomorrow, at the Orlando Premium Outlets mall, next to where I live, not only will this lot be full, and the parking garage beyond it, but cars will be parked up on the curbs, making impassible the now-deserted sidewalks.
Trafficmageddon.
Trafficmageddon.
December 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
All is quiet now, but tomorrow, at the Orlando Premium Outlets mall, next to where I live, not only will this lot be full, and the parking garage beyond it, but cars will be parked up on the curbs, making impassible the now-deserted sidewalks.
Trafficmageddon.
Trafficmageddon.
Reposted by Philip Nolen
a very happy Falling Angel/Rising Ape day to you all
for my money the single best passage in all of Discworld, and one of the finest passages in the history of literature
for my money the single best passage in all of Discworld, and one of the finest passages in the history of literature
December 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
a very happy Falling Angel/Rising Ape day to you all
for my money the single best passage in all of Discworld, and one of the finest passages in the history of literature
for my money the single best passage in all of Discworld, and one of the finest passages in the history of literature
Observing the Jewish tradition this year.
December 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Observing the Jewish tradition this year.
“Bad writing is bad for children, and the Harry Potter books (even if I am in a minority of one on this) are cliché-heavy period pieces, and will end in dustbins.”
- Harold Bloom, GENIUS: A MOSAIC OF ONE HUNDRED EXEMPLARY MINDS
- Harold Bloom, GENIUS: A MOSAIC OF ONE HUNDRED EXEMPLARY MINDS
December 25, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“Bad writing is bad for children, and the Harry Potter books (even if I am in a minority of one on this) are cliché-heavy period pieces, and will end in dustbins.”
- Harold Bloom, GENIUS: A MOSAIC OF ONE HUNDRED EXEMPLARY MINDS
- Harold Bloom, GENIUS: A MOSAIC OF ONE HUNDRED EXEMPLARY MINDS
Though I am a fan of Connie Willis, her short story anthology THE WINDS OF MARBLE ARCH is not worth your time. A few stories are just humorous enough to be readable, but most of the items are a tedious slog, during which nothing happens very slowly. Skip it.
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Though I am a fan of Connie Willis, her short story anthology THE WINDS OF MARBLE ARCH is not worth your time. A few stories are just humorous enough to be readable, but most of the items are a tedious slog, during which nothing happens very slowly. Skip it.
While perambulating around the Epcot resorts, I saw a woman run up to a trash can, then squeal in surprise, and retreat just as quickly, laughing.
There was a raccoon in the can, looking rather indignantly at us.
There was a raccoon in the can, looking rather indignantly at us.
December 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
While perambulating around the Epcot resorts, I saw a woman run up to a trash can, then squeal in surprise, and retreat just as quickly, laughing.
There was a raccoon in the can, looking rather indignantly at us.
There was a raccoon in the can, looking rather indignantly at us.
“Actors of the jockeys of literature. Others supply the horses, the plays, and we simply make them run.”
- Ralph Richardson, in an interview on the acting profession
- Ralph Richardson, in an interview on the acting profession
December 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
“Actors of the jockeys of literature. Others supply the horses, the plays, and we simply make them run.”
- Ralph Richardson, in an interview on the acting profession
- Ralph Richardson, in an interview on the acting profession
Another Saturday night shambling around my apartment, in shabby pajamas, like a penniless Russian aristocrat.
December 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Another Saturday night shambling around my apartment, in shabby pajamas, like a penniless Russian aristocrat.
It is not the man who has too little, but who craves more, who is poor.
Seneca
Seneca
December 18, 2025 at 5:13 AM
It is not the man who has too little, but who craves more, who is poor.
Seneca
Seneca
When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
December 16, 2025 at 1:06 AM
When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Once again, my local sushi place seems to be trying very hard indeed to impress me.
I’m not mad at it.
I’m not mad at it.
December 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Once again, my local sushi place seems to be trying very hard indeed to impress me.
I’m not mad at it.
I’m not mad at it.
Ford is discontinuing the electric F150, but long live the Mustang Mach-E! I want one so badly I lose sleep fantasizing about it.
December 16, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Ford is discontinuing the electric F150, but long live the Mustang Mach-E! I want one so badly I lose sleep fantasizing about it.
I’ll tell you a secret:
If you had not told Facebook your birthday, none of your “friends” would’ve remembered it.
If you had not told Facebook your birthday, none of your “friends” would’ve remembered it.
December 16, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I’ll tell you a secret:
If you had not told Facebook your birthday, none of your “friends” would’ve remembered it.
If you had not told Facebook your birthday, none of your “friends” would’ve remembered it.
Reposted by Philip Nolen
Didn't think I could be more crushed by anything vicarious this weekend than Ethan Hawke reading this speech from Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia. But the murder of the Reiners definitely proved everything wrong.
www.instagram.com/reel/DRp03CX...
www.instagram.com/reel/DRp03CX...
December 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Didn't think I could be more crushed by anything vicarious this weekend than Ethan Hawke reading this speech from Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia. But the murder of the Reiners definitely proved everything wrong.
www.instagram.com/reel/DRp03CX...
www.instagram.com/reel/DRp03CX...
Just got recognized at a resort quick service restaurant as an alumnus of the Comedy Warehouse.
I guess not all of the work vanishes completely.
I guess not all of the work vanishes completely.
December 14, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Just got recognized at a resort quick service restaurant as an alumnus of the Comedy Warehouse.
I guess not all of the work vanishes completely.
I guess not all of the work vanishes completely.
It seems an eerie time to be alive, as if Americans are blithely going about their business, oblivious to a coming civil, and economic, collapse.
Like the beginning of a zombie apocalypse movie.
Like Roman children playing in the street, while Nero plays his violin.
Like the beginning of a zombie apocalypse movie.
Like Roman children playing in the street, while Nero plays his violin.
December 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It seems an eerie time to be alive, as if Americans are blithely going about their business, oblivious to a coming civil, and economic, collapse.
Like the beginning of a zombie apocalypse movie.
Like Roman children playing in the street, while Nero plays his violin.
Like the beginning of a zombie apocalypse movie.
Like Roman children playing in the street, while Nero plays his violin.