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🦜 Mike Monteiro’s Good News • Buttondown

@buttondown.com.monteiro@rss-parrot.net

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Hi. My name is Mike and this is my newsletter. Every week I answer one of your questions. The question can be about anything you want, but I'll only answer it if I think I can give a good answer. To ask a question, just fill out this simple form. Why the hell should I subscribe to this? Well, you shouldn’t. You should go outside and plant a garden. You should start a band! You should go explore every part of the world you’ve ever wanted to see. You should learn Italian, French, or Tagalog. You should volunteer your time to an organization that works with disadvantaged youth. You should go teach an ESL class for immigrants at the local community college. You should spend your time tracking down abusive priests, like some sacred Avenger. Those are the things you should do. And I encourage you to do them. Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter because you want to. In addition to doing some of those things above. How often will this shit hit my inbox? Weekly. Do you charge for the newsletter? Nope. The newsletter is free. You can, however, become a premium member to show your appreciation, and because you want to support independent writing. But everyone sees the same thing. I don’t have special hidden stuff for paid subscribers. Who did that drawing in your newsletter header, and is it supposed to be you? My friend, the wonderful Kate Bingaman-Burt. And yes. Is there any hope for the world? No, but there's a lot of work to do.

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Site URL: buttondown.com/monteiro

Feed URL: buttondown.com/monteiro/rss

Posts: 10

Followers: 2

How to be a petty motherfucker

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-be-a-petty-motherfucker/

Published: July 31, 2026 23:08

Waymo on Fire, 2025, painted by me. Enjoying the newsletter? Gimme $2/mo, man. Writing is labor. This week’s question comes to us from Jim Christensen: Is there really a difference between being bitter or being petty? Most of the time I feel the latter is…

How to be useful

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-be-useful/

Published: July 24, 2026 18:02

Fuck ICE forever. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, you can keep it going for $2/mo! Read to the end for some exciting art news! This week’s question comes to us from Jason Conant: What’s your go-to piece of advice in life? Be useful. Earlier this year…

How to take a break

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-take-a-break/

Published: July 17, 2026 20:21

Halfway to being properly bolted together and hung. When completed, it will measure 80"x72". There is no question this week, And there is also no answer. Because I am tired, and have decided to take a week off. (And I want to spend the afternoon finishing…

How to mend a broken heart

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-mend-a-broken-heart/

Published: June 18, 2026 23:28

Update on large painting. It’s all smooth now! Two more weeks. $2 a month helps me keep this newsletter going. Thanks. This week’s question comes to us from Shani Jayant: What’s the right amount of heartache in times like these? I hope my heart never stops…

How to get out of bed

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-get-out-of-bed/

Published: June 12, 2026 00:36

Making slow but sure progress on this very large painting. Enjoying the newsletter? $2/mo is one way to show your love. This week’s question comes to us anonymously: Mike, how do I get out of bed every day? How do I try? Last night, like a lot of people, I…

Interrupting cow says wha…

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/interrupting-cow-says-wha/

Published: June 10, 2026 18:15

Hello loves, Sorry to interrupt everyone in the middle of the week (I’m not), but if this showed up in your inbox it’s because I really, really, really like you. And I want you to come to tomorrow’s book event. I’ll be talking to the amazing Sacha Judd…

How to use NO as a complete sentence

https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-use-no-as-a-complete-sentence/

Published: June 5, 2026 18:00

Happy Pride. I found this sticker on a rack when I was chaining up my bike. If you enjoy this newsletter please consider giving me $2/mo to help keep it going. This week’s question comes to us anonymously: I did my job fine before AI came along. Now my…