In an interview in our Fall issue, Robert Glück told Lucy Ives, “I think about the workshops I ran at Small Press Traffic in the seventies and eighties, how reading became a part of writing. We were reading our lives and living our fictions.” We asked Glück—whose free community workshops spearheaded the New Narrative movement in San Francisco—for a syllabus from one of his former classes. This one is from a course called The Displaced Person.

Here is my catalog description: This M.F.A.-level course in fiction explores—through readings, writing assignments, and critical essays—the many ways in which alienation defines the self, from Lacan’s mirror stage, where the self comes to be organized around an image outside of the body, to the various kinds of exile we experience by virtue of class, age, race, and sexuality, as well as the hatred of the other, the discontents of language, and the economies of pleasure that society seems to be founded on.

I assigned class presentations, creative responses based on my prompts, and brief critical responses—two observations supported by examples. Discrete observations allow students to express and get past initial resistance.

My class anthology was more of an environment than a set syllabus. I also taught books—Jane Bowles’s Two Serious Ladies, Philip K. Dick’s Ubik. I had a session on the Gnostics and imported Bruce Boone to talk about them.

Some of the readings:

The episode where the late actor truly showcased his comic genius

Why Apple TV+'s new costume drama is a hit-in-the-making

Manchester United may have lost yesterday, but at least they have a really bad tackle from one of their former players 20 years ago on one of Man City’s new players’ dad to cling onto.

Marcus, Jim and Pete look back on the Manchester derby, Antony’s terrible cameo, and some even worse poetry about Man City which Pete tries to rewrite. Plus, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen written on a bridge? Have you ever seen anything more painful than that VAR check at Bournemouth? And have you EVER heard anyone as excited as Marcus about Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham?

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***

Did the radio drama The War of the Worlds really cause mass hysteria?

Newcastle United and Premier League legend Alan Shearer have had a change of heart regarding his opinion on Gabriel Jesus. Previously, he had criticised Jesus for his lacklustre goal-scoring record as a striker in England’s top flight.

Jesus is not known for being the most prolific scorer in the Premier League but often compensates for this by creating chances for his teammates. He is also adept at pressing, making him an ideal player for Mikel Arteta’s team.

Arteta added Jesus to his squad in the last campaign, and despite facing challenges such as injuries and struggles in front of the goal, Jesus has remained the club’s main striker.

Despite his previous view that Jesus might not be a top Premier League striker, Shearer has now acknowledged that the Brazilian could fit into the current Newcastle United side and perform well.

“I would agree with you (that he’d take Jesus at Newcastle),” Shearer said, as quoted by Football London.

Rep. Mike Johnson, the newly elected Republican House speaker, used to conduct a seminar in churches premised on the idea that the United States is a “Christian nation.” This ministry, as he has referred to it, is yet more evidence that Johnson is committed to a hardcore Christian fundamentalism that shapes his views of politics and government.

The seminar, titled “Answers for Our Times: Government, Culture, and Christianity,” was organized by Onward Christian Education Services, Inc., a company owned by his wife, Kelly Johnson, a Christian counselor and anti-abortion activist who calls herself a “leader in the pro-family movement.” The website for her counseling service—which was taken down shortly after Johnson became speaker—described the seminar, which featured both her and Johnson, as exploring several questions, such as, “What is happening in America and how do we fix it?” The list includes this query: “Can our heritage as a Christian nation be preserved?” There were different versions of the seminar running from two-hour-long lectures to retreats lasting two days. 

Mike and Kelly Johnson, each a fundamentalist Christian and culture war battler who advocates adhering to what they call a “Biblical worldview,” launched this initiative in 2019. After one such presentation on February 24, 2019, at the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, where they are members—an event that also featured Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council—a local television news show reported that the seminar’s goal was to “keep God in Government.” Johnson posted the article on his congressional website. 

According to a Louisiana Baptist newsletter, the Johnsons intended to first pitch their seminars to Baptist churches in the Pelican State before expanding to other states. The publication reported that the couple’s goal was “to equip churches to take a stand against the cultural attacks now being directed at people of faith, the traditional family and basic freedoms embedded in the U.S. Constitution.” It noted that Johnson said he was compelled to create this new ministry while serving in the US House because he was concerned “that too many believers today feel ill-informed to provide substantive answers to fake arguments.” It quoted Johnson: “Our nation is entering one of the most challenging seasons in its history and there is an urgent need for God’s people to be armed and ready with the Truth.” He was referring to what fundamentalists call “Biblical truth.”

A promotion blurb for the seminar described it this way: “As polls show that Christianity is in rapid decline in America, and the culture is growing more secularized and more coarsened, many believers feel ill-informed and ill-prepared to do anything to reverse these trends. Scripture is clear that we have an obligation to provide substantive answers… But HOW?”

Arsenal players and fans worldwide are celebrating their 5-0 victory over Sheffield United this afternoon, recognising a job well done.

The Blades proved to be no match for the Gunners, but the match didn’t start as an easy one for Arsenal. They had to wait until almost the half-hour mark to score the first goal, despite dominating the proceedings.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were their primary targets on the wings, both posing a significant threat to Sheffield United’s defence.

According to a report from Football London, Martinelli was seen shouting at William Saliba in one incident as they were looking for the opening goal of the game. The report suggests that Martinelli had made a run behind the defender and expected Saliba to deliver a long ball to him, but the defender didn’t spot his run. In response, he shouted at the Frenchman, instructing him to look toward his wing and find his run the next time.

Just Arsenal Opinion

Piers Morgan has singled out Declan Rice for praise following the midfielder’s standout performance for Arsenal in their 5-0 victory against Sheffield United.

While Eddie Nketiah rightfully earned the Man of the Match award for his hat-trick in the game, he was not the only top performer in the match. Several Arsenal players displayed excellent form, and the team delivered one of their best performances of the season.

With questions arising about how Arsenal would cope in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, Nketiah stepped up to the challenge. However, it was Rice who orchestrated proceedings behind the striker. Since joining the club in the summer, Rice has been in superb form and was virtually unstoppable in both the defensive and offensive phases of the game. This exceptional performance led Piers Morgan to commend him.

After the game, the TV show host tweeted:

“Arsenal have been so good today.. and once again, this guy’s run the show: Declan Rice”

Sky Sports journalist Nick Wright has lauded Arsenal’s confident and stylish performance after their commanding 5-0 victory against Sheffield United in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s team appeared to glide through the game, winning convincingly despite seemingly operating in first gear. The standout performer of the match was the in-form Eddie Nketiah, who secured a hat-trick.

In general, it was a positive day for Arsenal’s players, while Sheffield United’s performance reinforced their status as one of the favourites for relegation at the end of the season.

Despite Arteta making several changes to his starting lineup, some of which were enforced, the Gunners did not appear concerned and managed to secure a resounding victory in the fixture.

Wright watched as they came through the game with little problem and said on Sky Sports: