iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 07/01/2026

Walking the Labyrinth and Finding Your Path, our first Substack post, is now live (we think. Brother Clifford assures us it is, but none of us can find it.) Tell your friends and thank you for sticking we us. We're glad to be back (but, are we?)

open.substack.com

Walking the Labyrinth and Finding Your Path

Welcome to The Cloister’s Walking the Labyrinth, a journal of the contemplative life for queer men and allies.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 07/01/2026

Welcome to The Cloister! We're live on Substack (we think) You can follow us at: www.the-cloister.org And here, of course

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 24/06/2025

Here at The Cloister, we celebrate Pride Month with this beautiful chat between Father James Martin, S.J. and Pete (please run for Prez. in 2028) Buttigieg, on life, fatherhood, spirituality, and being gay. Think of it as required listening. We insist. . #PeteButtigieg #TheSpiritualLife

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 23/06/2025

Testimonium perhibemus. We bear witness. This is the vow at the heart of The Cloister—not just service or silence, but presence. To witness what the world tries to overlook. To stand beside one another, not in judgment, but in sacred acknowledgment: We see you. We hear you. You are not alone.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 22/06/2025

For what? The faces change, the flags shift, the technologies evolve—but the cycle grinds on, ancient and relentless as a millstone, powered by fear, grievance, ambition, and despair. And here we are again, waking up to war in a land that has known too many. For what?

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 17/06/2025

Here at The Cloister, we applaud Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for "serving" it, telling it, and calling it out. This is one of their finest 27 minutes of news commentary that should be required watching by everyone, everywhere. #TDW #TheDailyShow #JonStewart

youtube.com

Jon Stewart on Israel’s "Urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & MAGA’s Blame Game | The Daily Show

YouTube video by The Daily Show

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 19/05/2025

We love Pete! Here at The Cloister we can't get enough of Pete Buttigieg's scruff, nor his eloquent chat in Iowa, talking about issues affecting everyone in the country. It's good to see him out, free to be himself, and ready to get back to work! Run, Pete! Run in 2028! . #MajorPete #PeteButtiegieg

youtube.com

BREAKING NEWS: Possible 2028 Contender Pete Buttigieg Takes Voters' Questions At Iowa Town Hall

YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/05/2025

Here at The Cloister we wish all moms around the world, a happy Mother's Day.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 09/05/2025

Here at the Cloister, we're glad to finally have our copy of #RandyFair 's newly published book: Gay Arab American. We can't wait to dive into the interviews and stories of this anthology of under-represented men. . #reading #books #readingbro #gayreaders #gaybooks #gayArab #gayArabAmerican

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 08/05/2025

Here at The Cloister, wish #RobertPrevost the best of luck as #PopeLeoXIV. We hope he brings peace and unity to a fragmented and anxious world. As the first #AmericanPope, however, we caution him not to invite J D Vance to the Vatican. You saw what happened last time he was there and met the Pope.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 08/05/2025

Here at The Cloister, we love audiobooks. We listen to stories while we knit, write, cook, or are out on the trails. We love our local bookstores and our purchases support independent sellers. Have a look, browse around, and sign up! What will you listen to first? . #aurdiobooks #Libro.fm #audioread

libro.fm

Buy audiobooks & support local bookstores

Libro.fm makes it possible for you to buy audiobooks directly through local bookstores.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 06/05/2025

Here at The Cloister, we're admirers of Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha. His poetry and essays not only document but also bear witness to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Toha won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and it is well deserved. . #MosabAbuToha #Palestine #Pulitzer

youtube.com

Palestinian Poet Mosab Abu Toha Is Documenting War in Verse

YouTube video by TIME

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 03/05/2025

Here at The Cloister, we love a good pin-up (and Pinots — white or red is fine by us). The ones in this New Yorker article do not disappoint. Vince Aletti writes about how mid-century physique publications walked a fine line between discretion and seduction. And boy, are we easily seduced.

newyorker.com

The Secrets of Physique Magazines

The mid-century publications didn’t need to announce themselves as gay, even if they had been able to. Their readers understood the necessity of balancing discretion and seduction.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 03/05/2025

And now we're off to Lincoln City in Lincolnshire to watch our beloved Dragons play their final match of the season. Thank you, Plymouth, for a great way to start our day. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have 15 minutes to drive 250 miles to watch the match. Off to iFollow we go. . #WxmAFC #askwxm

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 01/05/2025

Here at The Cloister we have seen what this gay "New Fire Island" is like, and it's called Wilted Manners in Fort Lauderdale. And no, honey, you did not pass out from drinking too many screwdrivers. That was a K-hole. So, no. Not interested. Except for gays in Speedos. Now that we'd pay for.

newyorker.com

Creating a New Fire Island from Scratch

Plotting the next gay utopia—less expensive than Long Island, with fewer children—an architect scours Europe for a site, and searches for Speedo-friendly investors.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 30/04/2025

Good news for Mohsen Mahdawi at last. Here at the Cloister we're glad to see Mohsen freed from detention. His arrest without due process is a judicial travesty, and curtailing his freedom of speech unconstitutional. We're happy to see him freed and doing well.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 29/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we're mad for Matthew Gaston. Our Herbs Master is considering abandoning us for an apprenticeship with him. (He's been restrained.) Still, with such good looks and lush hair, it's no wonder why he's hard to resist. We seriously hope he'll consider an apprenticeship with us.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 29/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we congratulate our northern friends's election results. But when we reach out to our Canadian Chapter House, all we get is news of a Mounties bare-chest syrup licking contest, and of spots being filled. We are left to wonder if this is part of Canada's election process.

apnews.com

Canada's Liberals celebrate a stunning win and the populist challenger loses his seat

Canada’s Liberals are celebrating election victory in a stunning turn of fortune. The country won't know until later Tuesday whether the party of new Prime Minister Mark Carney will have an outright m...

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 29/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we are neither surprised nor amused. Once again, the GOP shows itself to be the party of lies and hypocrites. Jesus Wept! . #JesusWept

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 25/04/2025

God bless English humor. It's always so on point.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 24/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we go online to listen to Offline, a podcast with @jonfavs.bsky.social & @max-fisher.bsky.social. We love spirited banter, and Jon and Max bring it twice a week with insight and humor that leave us alarmed and fearful for our future. Go and listen. . #Offline #OfflinePodcast

youtube.com

MAGA's Online Reaction to the Supreme Court's Ruling Against Trump is a Call for Authoritarianism

YouTube video by Offline with Jon Favreau

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 21/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we bear witness to Pope Francis's work, and ask the Catholic Church to continue to advocate for his causes for LGBTQ+ rights, combating climate change, set technology ethics, and help immigrants around the world. Testimonium perhibemus. . #PopeFrancis #testimoniumperhibemus

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 21/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we are beside ourselves with grief. Francis was not a perfect man, but he saw and believed the best in humanity. He uplifted the down and trodden, and lived by his word. We mourn his passing and pause to remember him and his works. Testimonium perhibemus. . #PopeFrancis

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 18/04/2025

The crisis is here, and this episode of @podsaveamerica.crooked.com lays it out the way no corporate run media outlet has the cojones to do. It's real, people! Letting Grump and his GOP gremlins chip away at our laws and freedoms is happening faster than a repost skeet. . #JesusWept #PodSaveAmerica

youtube.com

Wake Up, People. The Crisis Is Here.

YouTube video by Pod Save America

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 17/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we think Major Pete looks dashing with his new grown beard. However, his message to our country is far more important than any follicle-induced swooning. We encourage everyone to heed Pete's call to civil action, and to follow his example to build a better, kinder America.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 17/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, our replies are short and to the point: 🖕 We will be taking our business elsewhere.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 15/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we think the retro landline phone is everything! And it reminds us of days of yore.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we love nuns. Who doesn't? The Sisters of Mary Morning Star are no exception. Unlike some ruler-wielding-knuckle-breakers we are familiar with, these nuns make it their business to save more than souls, and in the process, make us feel ashamed we don't do more. Touché, sisters!

newyorker.com

The Nuns Trying to Save the Women on Texas’s Death Row

Sisters from a convent outside Waco have repeatedly visited the prisoners—and even made them affiliates of their order. The story of a powerful spiritual alliance.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/04/2025

Here at the Cloister, we take our computer offline time seriously, which is odd because we have to go online to listen to @jonfavs.bsky.social's podcast Offline. Confused? Anyway, here's Jon talking to Ryan Broderick about Internet bros, Elon being cyber-bullied (yay!), and trade stuff (beyond us).

youtube.com

Dave Portnoy & Joe Rogan Breaking From Trump After Chaotic Trade War

YouTube video by Offline with Jon Favreau

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/04/2025

Amen! Reverend @brandanrobertson.bsky.social Here at The Cloister, we refute dogmas and policies that promote hate, violence, injustice, and discriminate against minorities. We stand with those who are oppressed and work to achieve social justice, dignity, and equality for everyone. Everywhere.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/04/2025

We bear witness to the cruelty and injustice of the Trump administration's illegal deportation and handling of Andry José Hernández Romero, who's been deported by ICE to a concentration camp in El Salvador. Hernandez has no criminal record and was seeking asylum in the US. We demand his release.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 11/04/2025

A horrifying account, warning, and evidence of the illegal policies and abuse of power this administration is capable of. Once again, this administration chooses Barabbas over justice and washes its hands of crimes it commits. We deplore these actions, and demand Romero's release and safe return.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 10/04/2025

Olivia Munn and Daisy Lydic are national treasures. LYDIC/Munn 2028! 🇺🇸

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 07/04/2025

Here at The Cloister, we love penguins. Emperor, King, Chinstrap, Gentoo — you name it! We're mad for the flightless creatures. That is why today we officially declare ourselves allies to flightless birds. All except emus. Emus freak us out. . #tariffs #penguins #HeadIslands #McDonalIslands

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 03/04/2025

This! THIS! THIS! and KRYPTO! He's back!

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 03/04/2025

Here at the Cloister, we are not surprised by today's stock market crash. Everything Hair Furor touches turns to shit. No doubt MAGA will try to spin it into...something. But we're not buying it. Jesus wept! . #JesusWept

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 02/04/2025

Hey MAGA: Hear that? That's the price of everything going up thanks to Hair Furor's tariffs. Congratulations. Everyone hates you. . #tariffs #highprices NPR: Trump unveils 10% tariff on all imports. www.npr.org/2025/04/02/n...

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 02/04/2025

We love our @supernote.com #Manta and #Nomad here at The Cloister. So much so we don't use paper anymore. We now keep our notes and sticky notes digitally. Everyone loves them, so we thought we'd share them. . #SupernoteTemplate

Supernote Nomad and Supernote Manta sticky notes template.

Supernote Nomad and Supernote Manta notepad template.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 01/04/2025

Here at the Cloister, we stand in solidarity with people suffering under the government's policies. In this story, we bear witness to Andry José Hernández Romero's illegal deportation under the GOP's immigration politics. . #AndryJoséHernándezRomero #TestimoniumPerhibemus

newyorker.com

The Makeup Artist Donald Trump Deported Under the Alien Enemies Act

The President has invoked the law to send Venezuelans to prison in El Salvador without due process—and, in many cases, under false pretenses.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 01/04/2025

I case the media does not cover this, we bear witness to Senator Cory Booker taking the Senate floor for as long as he is able to lift the voices of Americans who are being harmed by Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the GOP. . #CoryBooker #TestimoniumPerhibemus

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 31/03/2025

Here at the Cloister we believe all people are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights; and that these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We deplore Orbánian tactics of governing, or any such politics that seek to enthrone an oligarchy in power.

theatlantic.com

The Hungarian Model

MAGA conservatives love Viktor Orbán. But he’s left his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished.

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 30/03/2025

Here at The Cloister, we enjoy spirited debates; this episode of @podsaveamerica.crooked.com with guests @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and @dkthomp.bsky.social is as good as it gets. We poured ourselves tea, got us questionable nibbles, and listened with piqued interest. We hope you do too. . #Abundance

youtube.com

Ezra Klein + Derek Thompson on Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Their Own Critics

YouTube video by Pod Save America

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 26/03/2025

Here at @the-cloister.org we are avid @theatlantic.com readers and subscribers. This week the magazine proved they have more gravitas than other "news" sources that have capitulated to the current regime. We encourage responsible citizens to subscribe and keep free journalism alive. . #TheAtlantic

theatlantic.com

The Atlantic: A History

From a presentation given in 1994 by the magazine’s managing editor

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The Cloister @the-cloister.org · 26/03/2025

Lock them up! And to be clear: we don't mean their phones.

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