Mike Duncan
@theophrastean.bsky.social
Professor in Texas. Rhetoric, tech comm, composition, early Christianity. Author: Rhetoric and the Synoptic Problem. Fiction, too. Dad gamer. https://badrhetoric.com/about/
Pinned
Rhetoric and the Synoptic Problem
Mike Duncan argues that the Farrer Hypothesis is the best working solution to the Synoptic Problem in New Testament studies by way of rhetorical theory, as he s…
www.bloomsbury.com
Hey. You should read the book I put out in 2022 about how the gospels were written. Read, not buy, because it’s too damn expensive. Use the library. Or that other place.
Excuse me, is this the queue for the Bulterian Jihad?
The Association for Human Mathematics (AHM) statement on OpenAI’s October 6 release of mathematical documents just dropped! www.ahmath.org/statements
October 8, 2026 at 5:53 AM
Excuse me, is this the queue for the Bulterian Jihad?
I teach a graduate research methods course in a English department, on rhetcomp and tech comm. We read a ton of recent journal issues from ‘26 and ‘25. The sheer amount of ‘We must adjust to AI’ publications is staggering, like taking a census of zombies. There is resistance, but not enough.
October 7, 2026 at 8:55 PM
I teach a graduate research methods course in a English department, on rhetcomp and tech comm. We read a ton of recent journal issues from ‘26 and ‘25. The sheer amount of ‘We must adjust to AI’ publications is staggering, like taking a census of zombies. There is resistance, but not enough.
My son is learning about the Bill of Rights and has been asked to draw each right. For the Third Amendment he drew a house with a meanie outside, and a guy inside the house with a small but firm NO bubble.
Also, a mailbox with the flag up, so ‘pick up the mail on your way out, redcoat.’
Also, a mailbox with the flag up, so ‘pick up the mail on your way out, redcoat.’
October 6, 2026 at 3:04 AM
My son is learning about the Bill of Rights and has been asked to draw each right. For the Third Amendment he drew a house with a meanie outside, and a guy inside the house with a small but firm NO bubble.
Also, a mailbox with the flag up, so ‘pick up the mail on your way out, redcoat.’
Also, a mailbox with the flag up, so ‘pick up the mail on your way out, redcoat.’
Control Resonant’s a banger so far.
October 4, 2026 at 5:41 AM
Control Resonant’s a banger so far.
The hard science fiction novel I wrote over the summer about Sandra Misha is in strong shape; I’ve started querying literary agents.
The title: A Closer Orbit.
Now I really like the book, but the title is dead on. I went through hundreds of duds to get three perfect words.
The title: A Closer Orbit.
Now I really like the book, but the title is dead on. I went through hundreds of duds to get three perfect words.
October 3, 2026 at 5:06 AM
The hard science fiction novel I wrote over the summer about Sandra Misha is in strong shape; I’ve started querying literary agents.
The title: A Closer Orbit.
Now I really like the book, but the title is dead on. I went through hundreds of duds to get three perfect words.
The title: A Closer Orbit.
Now I really like the book, but the title is dead on. I went through hundreds of duds to get three perfect words.
Every university needs journalism faculty and a strong, independent student newspaper.
One of the most apparent truths about universities in this era is that student journalists have tended to exhibit the greatest courage and tenacity when it comes to applying their institutional mottos and academic lessons to the world.
The Student Journalists Who Never Let the Cornell Assault Case Go (Gift Article)
The student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, covered the allegations of rape at a fraternity house since they were first made in 2024 and led the reporting on the case.
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Every university needs journalism faculty and a strong, independent student newspaper.
I watched The Empire Strikes Back in a dark theater colder than Hoth in 1980. I hadn’t started kindergarten. Vader was absolutely terrifying. I wasn’t old enough to understand how he was never going to kill Luke. Formative, though, in the sense that repeated failure and tension make a good story.
September 29, 2026 at 10:19 PM
I watched The Empire Strikes Back in a dark theater colder than Hoth in 1980. I hadn’t started kindergarten. Vader was absolutely terrifying. I wasn’t old enough to understand how he was never going to kill Luke. Formative, though, in the sense that repeated failure and tension make a good story.
I read three books today. I think I’ve averaged a book a day since June.
September 28, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I read three books today. I think I’ve averaged a book a day since June.
It occurs to me that no one will probably check to see if these fictional moons I’ve got in the novel are within the Hill sphere of the given planet and have plausible masses, orbits, and related phenomena, but someone MIGHT, so those ducks are gonna be a row.
September 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM
It occurs to me that no one will probably check to see if these fictional moons I’ve got in the novel are within the Hill sphere of the given planet and have plausible masses, orbits, and related phenomena, but someone MIGHT, so those ducks are gonna be a row.
One must imagine Team Rocket happy.
September 28, 2026 at 12:54 AM
One must imagine Team Rocket happy.
My recurrent carpal tunnel symptoms fade after solving a Rubik’s cube a few times. Also good for grip strength and endurance on guitar and similar dexterous activities.
September 27, 2026 at 6:23 PM
My recurrent carpal tunnel symptoms fade after solving a Rubik’s cube a few times. Also good for grip strength and endurance on guitar and similar dexterous activities.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day
He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.”
If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it.
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.”
If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it.
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day
Take five minutes to not destroy civilization
sammatey.substack.com
September 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day
He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.”
If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it.
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.”
If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it.
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Duncan
I have dissected the latest set of peer reviews I received. I now have a lot of unpleasant things in sealed containers that I don’t want. A few might be useful for my… project.
Gene Wilder as Young Frankenstein
ALT: Gene Wilder as Young Frankenstein
static.klipy.com
September 25, 2026 at 7:20 PM
I have dissected the latest set of peer reviews I received. I now have a lot of unpleasant things in sealed containers that I don’t want. A few might be useful for my… project.
It’s possible to look up how much money you’ve spent on Steam overall.
You’re most welcome.
You’re most welcome.
September 25, 2026 at 4:07 PM
It’s possible to look up how much money you’ve spent on Steam overall.
You’re most welcome.
You’re most welcome.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Reminder: Almost time for Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October! (A short blog post) skullsinthestars.com/2026/09/23/r...
Reminder: Almost time for Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October!
It is a tradition for fans of Roger Zelazny to read his novel A Night in the Lonesome October every spooky season. The book has one chapter for each day of October, making it a fun casual activity …
skullsinthestars.com
September 24, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Reminder: Almost time for Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October! (A short blog post) skullsinthestars.com/2026/09/23/r...
“That Green-Blooded SOB: Effects of Hosting A Vulcan Katra on the Human Body” Leonard McCoy, SMJ
What’s your fake STAR TREK academic paper?
"Does Vulcan have a Dionysus? The Diplomatic Effect of Wine on Cross Species Negotiations" - Commodore Joseph, Commander 6th Diplomatic Squadron, Flagship: USS Paso Robles
"Does Vulcan have a Dionysus? The Diplomatic Effect of Wine on Cross Species Negotiations" - Commodore Joseph, Commander 6th Diplomatic Squadron, Flagship: USS Paso Robles
September 23, 2026 at 11:57 PM
“That Green-Blooded SOB: Effects of Hosting A Vulcan Katra on the Human Body” Leonard McCoy, SMJ
I’ve never written for a specific academic journal. I write to my interests, then look for a place. If I don’t like it and feel confident about quality, why share it?
Audience-centric models of communication feel dishonest to me, though they’re not wrong. Chasing an audience just ain’t in me.
Audience-centric models of communication feel dishonest to me, though they’re not wrong. Chasing an audience just ain’t in me.
September 23, 2026 at 9:01 PM
I’ve never written for a specific academic journal. I write to my interests, then look for a place. If I don’t like it and feel confident about quality, why share it?
Audience-centric models of communication feel dishonest to me, though they’re not wrong. Chasing an audience just ain’t in me.
Audience-centric models of communication feel dishonest to me, though they’re not wrong. Chasing an audience just ain’t in me.
So It’s time for me to start looking for a literary agent for the hard SF novel.
This seems to involve a query letter and a synopsis. The letter is straightforward enough, but writing a synopsis is weird. It feels like I’m rewriting the novel as a deathly serious children’s book.
This seems to involve a query letter and a synopsis. The letter is straightforward enough, but writing a synopsis is weird. It feels like I’m rewriting the novel as a deathly serious children’s book.
September 20, 2026 at 10:41 PM
So It’s time for me to start looking for a literary agent for the hard SF novel.
This seems to involve a query letter and a synopsis. The letter is straightforward enough, but writing a synopsis is weird. It feels like I’m rewriting the novel as a deathly serious children’s book.
This seems to involve a query letter and a synopsis. The letter is straightforward enough, but writing a synopsis is weird. It feels like I’m rewriting the novel as a deathly serious children’s book.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
CCCC Leadership Response to NCTE’s De-Chartering of CCCC. Please read and sign.
theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
September 19, 2026 at 11:57 PM
CCCC Leadership Response to NCTE’s De-Chartering of CCCC. Please read and sign.
theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
Reposted by Mike Duncan
September 19, 2026 at 11:26 AM
I was overworked, broke, half-starving, about to drop out of college at 20. Impressed that I’d mated and reproduced and became one of those cranky eccentric professors, but disappointed that I’d let so many creative projects slide, and that I was creating a closed loop time paradox…
Would 20 y/o you be impressed or disappointed by you today?
September 19, 2026 at 7:18 AM
I was overworked, broke, half-starving, about to drop out of college at 20. Impressed that I’d mated and reproduced and became one of those cranky eccentric professors, but disappointed that I’d let so many creative projects slide, and that I was creating a closed loop time paradox…
Reposted by Mike Duncan
"She *lived* for her job.
"For 40 years.
"And now it’s gone."
-- Dave Barry, writing about how his wife, longtime Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, just got laid off by "two corporate guys she did not know, who did not know her." davebarry.substack.com/p/michelle
"For 40 years.
"And now it’s gone."
-- Dave Barry, writing about how his wife, longtime Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, just got laid off by "two corporate guys she did not know, who did not know her." davebarry.substack.com/p/michelle
Michelle
A tribute.
davebarry.substack.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:21 PM
"She *lived* for her job.
"For 40 years.
"And now it’s gone."
-- Dave Barry, writing about how his wife, longtime Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, just got laid off by "two corporate guys she did not know, who did not know her." davebarry.substack.com/p/michelle
"For 40 years.
"And now it’s gone."
-- Dave Barry, writing about how his wife, longtime Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, just got laid off by "two corporate guys she did not know, who did not know her." davebarry.substack.com/p/michelle
I am well within the target audience of the Steam Frame, but VR makes me dizzy too quickly. And I got the Machine already…
September 17, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I am well within the target audience of the Steam Frame, but VR makes me dizzy too quickly. And I got the Machine already…
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Shout out to the student journalists at The Daily Iowan for reporting on the travesty that is Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom. With quotes from me dailyiowan.com/2026/09/15/u...
Uncertainty in leadership, curriculum surrounds UI Center for Intellectual Freedom
In the barren walls of his Calvin Hall office, where the Center for Intellectual Freedom resides, interim director and University of Iowa economics professor Luciano de Castro shuffles a stack of pape...
dailyiowan.com
September 16, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Shout out to the student journalists at The Daily Iowan for reporting on the travesty that is Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom. With quotes from me dailyiowan.com/2026/09/15/u...