Imperial Twilight

There are many examples of how the Japanese take things from other cultures and elevate them to a higher level. City Pop is infinitely better than the American disco music from which it’s derived

Columnist M. Gessen has been awarded the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in opinion writing, for "an illuminating collection of reported essays on rising authoritarian regimes that draw on history and personal experience to probe timely themes of oppression, belonging and exile."

i understand why ppl do small talk when they are first meeting someone, but why do some ppl do compulsive small talk all the time? my MIL just by default talks nonstop. “do you think all of that will fit in that suitcase? i always check my suitcase, don’t want to be lifting it on the plane. i take it to the gate and check it there. they let you check it for free!” “uber is here! last time i took an uber it was a prius. hard to get ubers at my house, have to call ahead.” “i talked to margaret. did i tell you that? she called me. she’s getting ready to go to the airport. 2pm fight for her. but she’s flying domestic. gets in in the evening.” but like basically nonstop for hours. never anything that needs to be said, always just kinda autobiographical and impossible to respond to with anything other than “mmmm.” it is very much the same as someone following me around with a television playing nonstop ads, but if i don’t kinda pay attention to the ads i am rude. not only can i now not have a normal conversation with my fiancé, i cannot even have interesting thoughts in my own mind.

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