Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026For some reason my brain keeps wanting to put Burke's "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful" into conversation with Pope's "Peri Bathous, Or the Art of Sinking in Poetry." They're not. At all. It's just the titles, I think. 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Started the reading @romgothsam.bsky.social's fall continuing education class. Speaking as a Gen Xer, I was surprised to learn that "the stuff I like is psychological horror and high art; the stuff you like are stupid slashers" snark apparently dates back to the 18th century. 120
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 12/09/2026I’m sitting by Zürichsee reading a book I bought in Bolen Books in Victoria (where I was eight days ago) just before I drove home to California. It’s been a geographically complex couple of weeks. 001
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Name SiFi bad guys. Wrong answers only.static.klipy.comBen Stiller as Mr. Furious in Mystery MenAlt: Ben Stiller as Mr. Furious in Mystery Men 111
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Back in the country all of two days when Sarah got food poisoning. Ahh… definitely back home. 🤦static.klipy.comAchievement Unlocked Gaming NotificationAlt: Achievement Unlocked Gaming Notification 011
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Having a ton of beef on this trip. This could be a new growth industry for Canada: Untainted meat tourism. 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Enrolled in another literature class in the University of Liverpool Continuing Education series run by @romgothsam.bsky.social. (These classes are what you imagine a book club is going to be until you actually attend one, and what they’d all be if they were organized by Literature Ph.D.s.) 140
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 27/08/2026There are some lines in books that instantly tell you what author you're reading. "The mule’s look indicated continued skepticism on that point." is one of the most @tkingfisher.com lines imaginable. (From Daggerspell.) 120
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Back in Victoria for the week and a bit between my wife’s birthday and my younger daughter’s. 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Back in Canada. This was meant to be a trip to help our younger daughter move, but she did all that on her own, so now it’s just a nice long vacation for birthdays.static.klipy.comBritish Columbia FlagAlt: British Columbia Flag 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Many thanks to Canada for walking away from the demented monster currently running the show down here. There was never going to be a deal. A deal implies that both sides will abide by their word. Is anyone on the planet still foolish enough to think Trump abides by his?static.klipy.comCanadian Flag Waving ProudlyAlt: Canadian Flag Waving Proudly 021
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Film you have watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode. No star trek, star wars, Marvel, Disney....static.klipy.comBuckaroo Banzai Peter WellerAlt: Buckaroo Banzai the big final walk. 010
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I don't normally follow the Romancing the Gothic book group, because the BST/PDT time difference makes it impossible to attend the meetings. That said, Grief Eater (by Emma Osborne) was brilliant, and depressing, and I'm very glad that I read it. 231
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Marin-san had the only possible answer when @romgothsam.bsky.social asked which of the twenty-five or so texts from this semester was our favorite. 021
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 06/07/2026As an American, there's only one responsible thing to do at this point. Allez les Diables Rouges! 🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026The cinematography in this film is just STUNNING. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 130
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Heh. Got a helicopter. Smirk. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 020
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Yes, I can see how he'll have a much easier time proving his innocence if he's carrying a police service revolver. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 120
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Question from my wife: "Does Rutger Hauer just automatically get Vangelis-adjacent music?" 100
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026That embarrassing moment when you realize that you're watching entirely the wrong movie. Now joining the correct movie already in progress. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 240
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026 PROFESSIONAL DRIVER ON CLOSED ROAD DO NOT ATTEMPT #TransformationsOfTheGothic 010
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Another 4th of July that's less about celebration and more about remembering what we've lost and remembering that this too shall pass. We're all still here. The sane America — the nation that spent over 200 years pulling ourselves out of slavery and provincialism. Time to do it again.static.klipy.comMorpheus: We Are Still Here!Alt: We are still here (A Matrix movie) 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Oh, Holmes! You are so wise and brave and not at all the sort of person who fed a Canadian aristocrat to a dog for funsies. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 130
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026"You can't arrest me, Holmes!!" Dude's got a point! Did the movie just forget that Holmes and Lestrade are different people? #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Sorry, Watson, could you help Sir Bait home, here? I've got shit to do. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 130
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026That dog is having SO MUCH FUN. Always nice to see an actor who genuinely enjoys their craft. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026You know, for a mire that's claimed victim after victim, none of these people spends half a thought thinking about the wisdom of just wandering through it after dark. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 120
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026MAKE THE ROMANTIC SCENES STOP!!!!! #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026No Zither Stairway to Heaven! Denied! #TransformationsOfTheGothicstatic.klipy.comWayne's World: No Stairway, Denied (Mike Myers)Alt: Wayne's World: No Stairway, Denied (Mike Myers) 020
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE HOLMES, this bullshit is embarrassing when you do it in London. You're just here to mortify Watson, aren't you? #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026THANK YOU WATSON YOU SPEAK FOR US ALL in stopping this half-assed half-written romantic subplot. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026And now I hate Sir James. "It'll be fine, my dear! Let me just patronize you a bit more." #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Mr. Frankland is my favorite character in this so far. He's a jackass and a litigious bastard and so far he's right about basically everything. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Surprisingly sensible ancient man who seems to get that maybe grave-robbing doesn't actually get better if you just wait a few generations first. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026So many stage-trained actors STATING THEIR LINES LOUDLY ENOUGH TO BE HEARD IN THE CHEAP SEATS. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026I think my standards for "in need of repair" aren't quite what they were before I watched Crimson Peak. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 040
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Yes, sir Henry, that is certainly _an_ accent. Not a Canadian one, but... you know, AN accent of some sort. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 130
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026At this point Watson has had three consecutive lines of the form "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON NOW?????" #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026It's Sir Henry and His Enunciating Extras!! #TransformationsOfTheGothic 020
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026And this ends the #TransformationsOfTheGothic read-along by Watson, Holmes, and Dr. Mortimer. 010
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Apparently this is a flashback to the Backadder II episode "Beer." #TransformationsOfTheGothic 120
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Oops... screwed up the hashtag ... that was the most flirting-coded interaction between Watson and Holmes ever. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 030
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 21/06/2026... that was the most flirting-coded interaction between Watson and Holmes ever. #TransformationOfTheGothic 000
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026There's been a LOT of "trust me"s by massive fonts of terrible ideas here at the end of this. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 050
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Dude... this is NOT the time to introduce Lucille to the concept of polyamory. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 040
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026"Trust me, one last time." Based on... what, exactly? #TransformationsOfTheGothic 050
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Least effective rescue party since The Shining. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 150
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026"I have to get out of here!" Runs directly into the movie Frozen, already in progress, in her nightie. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 040
Ian Sammis @isammis.bsky.social · 14/06/2026If I'm ever dramatically investigating something, I'll have to call out every piece of period technology by name in case anyone's watching from over a century in the future. #TransformationsOfTheGothic 040