Close Reading

In transitioning from teaching university courses to teaching high school, I have of course thought a lot about “close reading,” as it’s called, and why it’s such an important thing. After all, it’s… Continue reading →

Why Does Kryptonite Hurt Superman?

Recently, a lot of you have been wondering — in anticipation of this summer’s hottest new blockbuster, Ender’s Game — why it is, exactly, that kryptonite is so damaging to Superman. The reason… Continue reading →

Retreat: Chapter 3

The third chapter of Retreat is here! Download the PDF. Due to difficult personal circumstances, Chapters 3 and 4 were delayed. My sincere apologies about that. The story continues next week. -Kugelmass PS.… Continue reading →

Thinking Like Melanie: Zizek, Hitchcock, Psychoanalysis

Well, uh, these are for my sister, for her birthday, see, and uh, as she’s only gonna be eleven, I, I wouldn’t want a pair of birds that were… too demonstrative. -“Mitch Brenner,” The… Continue reading →

paragon: jane mcgonigal’s “reality is broken”

The sheer number of games I invented or modified during my youth is both amazing and typical. Ninja Hide. Best Path. Tennis Baseball. Elder Dragon Wars. Fatal Leap. Cheater. Pothole Racing. I modified… Continue reading →

happiness zombies attack humanity, proving reality is broken

I’ve been reading Jane McGonigal’s Reality Is Broken, thanks to an alert reader responding to my discussion of video games in “From This Point Forward.” It’s good, which is pretty remarkable, considering the topic.… Continue reading →

Translating Manzoni On Cinco De Mayo

I have already written the music for that catastrophe — seventeen years ago. -Ludwig van Beethoven, upon learning that Napoleon had died All criticism is a form of autobiography. -Oscar Wilde *** Dear… Continue reading →

In which we respond to many terrific requests

Dear readers, One of the best things about having a blog is that people send you links. They’re not chosen at random, either — they’re links that, based on what I write, these… Continue reading →

The Blank Caught Fire: poems

The Blank Caught Fire: poems Dear readers, People are always asking me, “Why so much prose, Kugelmass? Why no poetry?” I remember my poetry instructor in college asking me this, for example. Well,… Continue reading →

Retreat: Chapter 2

The second chapter of Retreat is here! We now have page numbers. Download the PDF. The story continues on May 15th. Enjoy. I hope you had a very happy Whitsun! -Kugelmass PS. You… Continue reading →