David Mislin
@davidmislin
Historian of 19th 20th + 21st c. US religion. Temple U. faculty. Wrote about Protestants + pluralism. Now writing on religious liberals in small towns. Once and (hopefully) future marathoner. Tired political junkie. Sheetz/Wawa equal opportunist. He/him.
With some upcoming travel, this is the last week of my sabbatical that feels like my own. No better way to spend it than to kick off early and enjoy screwball comedy week at Pgh’s Rowhouse Cinema.
Finished this last night. The mood and atmosphere are great, and the story-in-story is brilliant (though a bit anticlimactic). Characters and plotting a little weaker than the followup, The Postscript Murders—that one kept me guessing but I pegged the killer pretty early here. 8.5/10
I’ve been thinking about this passage from Pittsburgher Mary Roberts Rinehart’s The Man in Lower Ten (1909) a lot today.
It’s uncanny how this brand of Trader Joe’s chips taste exactly like I remember every 1990s health food store smelling.
As an early, enthusiastic supporter of her campaign (and contributor to it), it’s been painful to watch McMorrow hit what seems like a doom spiral. Whoever has been advising her shouldn’t be allowed near another campaign in a competitive state.
Very useful and helpful information, though a pleasant break from alerts about armed robberies and shootings near campus
And second fun read of the year is done—the book I should have read first. Also a very fun book with terrific characters and a solid whodunit. I found the plot somewhat less engrossing than “Man Who Died Twice,” but despite some predictable turns along the way, the ending totally surprised me. 9/10
Serious question: did I miss a previous moment when he became as much of a doomer as the random accounts with 3 followers on here? Or is this new today? Seriously, I’m so sick of this sh*t. Imagine seeing everything that ordinary people are doing to fight back and using your platform to say this.
First fun read of 2026 done! It was a gift and I was initially skeptical (septuagenarians solving murders isn’t exactly a new idea). It’s actually great, though! Twists were generally surprising and pacing was excellent (I couldn’t put it down). Some character stuff dragged, but only a bit. 9.5/10
He doesn't want us to back down; he just wants to go to the beach. Some gall to send a fundraising email the same hour this video is circulating.
Yes, I am recording six weeks of lecture videos for an online course in one day. And, no, I will not wear the same shirt in all of them, even if the hair is a giveaway.
It's mind-boggling that appalling things like this happen and the response from Democrats, including ones I really like, is to send a fundraising appeal about it.
This is the funniest thing I’ve read all week. (From Mary Hunter Austin’s Earth Horizon)
Final stretch of research for this book. First stop: the main Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which is just about as pleasant as any archive reading room.
Happy 420 from Team Fetterman. I can’t think of anything else important happening right now. 🤔 Tbh, it’s easier dealing with my GOP senator than my Democratic one who’s this unserious.
This was from Sunday so I’ll give them some benefit of the doubt, but I’m so f*ing sick of this “sleepwalking” framing from legacy media. Yeah, things are bad. But countless people are trying to stop it. Nobody is sleepwalking into anything.
Rare occurrence (at least in my experience):landing to the south on runway 17 at PHL. Great views of the city and a very low pass over I-95.
At PHL three hours early for a flight? Perfect excuse for the ultimate airport comfort food.
This is really good and I've eaten way too much of it. 10/10 highly recommend. (and I'm not a huge Jeni's fan)
If you're peddling some gimmicky ed tech product and this is your opening pitch, just stop right there. My answer will be no.