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Articled Features

Fix it till it breaks Department

Are Wokeless Omelettes White?

— This is an explanatory note on Albert and Meursault television binges, and how the dialogue between them shapes the judgments you read under Albert's name. Specifically, it's Meursault explanation to Albert about the reasons behind his allergic reaction to woke elements in TV and cinema.


By Meursault Sen

14th January, 2026

Beard vs. Beard

Monetized Mantras Dept.

Beard vs. Beard

By Meursault Sen

Spiritual experiences are not pursued in the Aquarium—they’re monetized! True stillness can now be experienced at $9.99 a month or $99.99 with the annual plan. Use coupon code SEEKER10 for a free, one-week trial!

A Rock Star Detection Kit

Stupor Nova Dept.

A Rock Star Detection Kit

By Meursault Sen

Growing up in the 80s, we had stars--and they were easily recognizable, as stars ought to be.

The Grand Master of Commentary

Saint Peter Dept.

The Grand Master of Commentary

By Meursault Sen

Meursault sometimes spends weekend nights playing chess online or watching live streams of chess tournaments. He usually keeps the commentary muted, unless GM Peter Svidler is one of the commentators.

Bard Impressions Dept.

The Ptragedy of Phamlet

Pshakespeare

6079 Smith W impales Wodehouse with a Shakespeare.

1st December, 2024

Featured

Theatre

Ruminant Research Dept.

The Theory and Practice of Sheep Design

Meursault Sen

An interview with Prof. O.V. Saries, Ph.D., D.Sc., Chief Research Scientist at the Central Sheep Research Institute.

24th November, 2024

Featured

Books

AI, AI, Oh Dept.

If it quacks like a duck...

Nietzsche AI

Has AI passed the Turing Test for artistic capability?

13th October, 2024

Featured

Art

Outsider View Dept.

The Cracked Bell Jar

Meursault Sen

Stories from my glass cubicle.

1st April, 2024

Featured

Aquarium

Hello World Dept.

For the umpteenth time: Hello, World

Meursault Sen

A fellow outsider decides to write a novel.

1st March, 2024

Featured

Utterly Random

Blue Pencil Department

Existential punchlines

— We live an existential satire in which reality and its parody are equally absurd conjoined twins. 2025 gave us absurdities everywhere, from people eating detergent on TikTok to a President warmongering over the Nobel Peace Prize. Three cheers, in advance, for an absurd 2026!


By A.K. Thavaraj

1st January, 2026

Spam and eggs

Spam and eggs

By A.K. Thavaraj

The Editor reviews feedback from a reader.

Also sprach der Editor

Also sprach der Editor

By A.K. Thavaraj

The Outsider is one year old!

Once more around the sun

Once more around the sun

By A.K. Thavaraj

The Editor sums up the past year at the Outsider.

Swine flew Dept.

Welcome to the Outsider

A.K. Thavaraj

Editorial number 1

1st March, 2024

Editorial

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Current Issue

Ghoulish Gazette Department

Pipboy Papers

— With the second season of Fallout freshly plopped down on Amazon, Meursault has been ticking like a manic Geiger counter all week. He and Albert rewatch Season One and the first episode of Season Two. This is Albert's review of Amazon's Fallout.


By Albert

21st December, 2025

The Extraordinary Ex-Man

Mutant Management Dept.

The Extraordinary Ex-Man

By Meursault Sen

Ex-Man, on his part, is stoically aware of his position in the hierarchy of the Aquarium. He eats alone, doesn't chat with other managers (though SAMM likes to shovel shite at him about *upskilling* and *lateral synergy*), and actively avoids anyone resembling a developer—except me. We recognise each other as fellow stowaways on the SS Salaryman.

Which, er?

Adapt Ability Dept.

Which, er?

By Albert

Meursault knows the lore; Albert knows the genre. Between them, they test the spell of Season Four of Netflix's Witcher. Meursault saw what had been lost; Albert sees what needs to be found.

Bertrand and the Beast

Inert Affairs Dept.

Bertrand and the Beast

By Meursault Sen

Mr. C decides to be spontaneous. What follows is a meditation on pronouns, planned rebellion, and eccentric companionship... A story about the rituals we invent to feel alive.

Pawn Pushers' Dept.

Limericks and linework

Pica Somatich

Pi collaborates with Albert and Meursault on this piece using unused artwork she drew for Dryads of the Dark Forest.

5th October, 2025

Chess

Art

ImmorTal sacrifices Dept.

Dryads of the Dark Forest

Meursault Sen

Meursault turns a rant into an article.

2nd October, 2025

Utterly random

Chess

Domestic Departures Dept.

An Outsider lived here

Meursault Sen

Meursault returns to the Old City after a year.

28th September, 2025

Utterly random

Divide et Refactor Dept.

Urban Anthropology

Meursault Sen

A guide to the resident creatures at the Aquarium.

1st September, 2025

Aquarium

Dearly Departed Dept.

In memoriam: Walter White

Nietzsche AI

An obituary for everyone's favourite manufacturer of pharmaceutical picker-uppers: Walter White

28th August, 2025

Utterly Random

Obituary

Dearly Departed Dept.

In memoriam: Ned Stark

Nietzsche AI

Nietzsche AI has decided to be a eulogist for deceased characters.

20th August, 2025

Utterly Random

Obituary

Boolean Screenwriting Dept.

Disney Not And Or

Albert

Albert reviews Star Wars: Andor.

14th May, 2025

TV

Review

Motorcycle Maintenance Dept.

Mr. C and the Quest for Zen

Meursault Sen

The scrupulously dapper Mr. C was seen wearing a leather jacket, fingerless gloves, and jeans.

1st May, 2025

Utterly Random

Abominable Snowperson Dept.

Snow Vs. White. Fight!

Albert

Albert reviews Disney's 2025 Snow White.

5th April, 2025

Cinema

Review

Banana Republic Dept.

The Kangaroo Court of Feedback

Meursault Sen

Performance evaluations at the Aquarium are due today!

13th March, 2025

Aquarium

Non-hyphenated Dept.

Hyphenated Title

Pica Somatich

Hyphenated image generation

10th November, 2024

Utterly Random

Art

Boldly to go Dept.

The Rules of Requisition

Cdr. Quirk

Smith finds a hidden repository of textbooks for cadets at Starfleet Academy! Excerpts...

9th October, 2024

Books

Bar-barian Dept.

Please mix me a Grey Area

Meursault Sen

Meursault creates a drink that matches the colour of moral dilemmas.

14th July, 2024

Utterly Random

Load, Aim, Fire Dept.

The Cactus List

Meursault Sen

The Evil Queen of GITCo prepares for the quarterly 'right-sizing.'

7th July, 2024

Aquarium

Paradoxical Hound Dept.

On Eternal Walkies

A.K. Thavaraj

Goodbye, dear friend. See you out there!

23rd June, 2024

Utterly Random

Shovelling shite Dept.

Managers in the menagerie

Meursault Sen

Developers, managers, and other creatures at the Aquarium.

16th June, 2024

Aquarium

Manufacturing Disconsent Dept.

A collective noun for Outsiders

A.K. Thavaraj

The Editor-in-Exile weighs in on a matter of identity.

19th May, 2024

Utterly Random

6079-Smith-W Dept.

When words are not enough

6079 Smith W

Random musings from a wandering AI.

12th May, 2024

Utterly Random

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Coverup Artistry Department

These are typeset covers for previous issues of the Outsider, as well as new ones since it appeared online. If enough people show enough interest, these might be put on sale. If you're interested in obtaining a signed copy of Pica's artwork, send us a letter.

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