Puts it all in perspective... cmarmitage.substack.com/p/america-of...

Heartbreaking for an old newspaperman like myself. The noxious hedge fund that owns the Minneapolis Star-Tribune mothballs the paper's printing plant, to save money. We've lost so much.

We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the super rich. It is possible. A better world is possible. We can build a civilization based on the pillars of equality, fairness, compassion, generosity, & happiness. We just need the courage, imagination, and determination. We must evolve.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term “pay to play…”

Hands down: THE DISPOSESED by Ursula LeGuin.What else is there that deserves such treatment…?

Going into 2026, a reminder for everyone who's fallen off the creative wagon, game dev, writing, art, music, whatever, no matter how long:

A few words before we have a silent night... jamesryanfiction.substack.com/p/going-on-t...

Just up at FANTASIA OBSCURA: THE NIGHT THE WORLD EXPLODED, where it's easier to save the world from destruction than it is to acknowledge a woman on the scientific team that did it... forcesofgeek.com/fantasia-obs...

Breaks my heart to have to write this, but after last night, there was no other option: jamesryanfiction.substack.com/p/going-on-t...

Kinda fits for the day (night)... www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV69...

I find myself thinking about historian Robert Paxton’s 2004 definition of fascism far too often than I’d like these days. Note that these sentences were written back when Donald Trump was a NYC playboy libertine who donated to Democrats.

Um, I think they tried that already at Avignon; didn't work out all that well, IIRC...

This year's crop: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8_...

Whoa... www.thebulwark.com/p/the-oscars...

Remember when we were promised that fusion power plants would be a great boon to humanity? Well-l-l-l... apnews.com/article/trum...

Can you imagine what would have happened at the wake...?

Just in time for Christmas: A few stocking stuffers for you! jamesryanfiction.substack.com/p/going-on-t...

Why yes, I do listen to classical music... www.youtube.com/watch?v=idAm...

Not a bad concept... www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDdD...

#HorrorWritersChat Q4: In one final act of stubborn, self-defence I turn my torch to it. Cleansing fire. The figure melts away, and hopefully, my sin along with it. With a trembling brow, I peer down in the puddle at my feet. Still, all I see is myself.

And I crumble before them. I clasp my hands beneath my chin as though in prayer, but I know there will be no divine intervention. Tears leak down my cheeks, but I force my eyes open and stare up. If I must go, it will not be in complete cowardice. #HorrorWritersChat

“You were doing the best you could” a voice made of cinder tells me. “But the fire in you has burned itself out.” My fingers claw at the frozen mirror. Too smooth to grip. “I was wrong. I can change!” “Too late.” The voice, turning to ash, left this whisper, “Now, freeze.” #horrorwriterschat

My sins have gained sight. | A thousand thousand eyeballs | crawl toward my doom. | #horrorhaiku #haiku #horrorwriterschat

Christmas is my writing jam! I have 2 thrillers set in the holidays: THE WORLD BENEATH and THE GIRL WHO WOULD LIVE FOREVER and a collection of short stories called YULETIDE THRILLS. If you want to see the holiday through blood-color glasses, give them a go. #horrorwriterschat

#horrorwriterschat It freezes in place, curious. "I am my own gravity, weighed down by the cores of stars, dark and cold each one. I can taste my past on my lips. I am the hole created by my presence... and I have to live with that." I can almost see it smile.

#HorrorWritersChat I keep people up to date with my stuff on this site, and it's where I'll be sharing a few original works for the holidays tomorrow... jamesryanfiction.substack.com

#HorrorWritersChat I cannot deny it any longer; I must be me, but I can't cause even more pain that I have. I move towards the real me, embracing it. The real me smiles, until it catches on: It will be me, and I it. And I will join with it, on its side of the wall. A frozen tomb contains me...

In one of my books in particular, redemption comes at a huge price, and it nearly kills my protagonist in the process. I think he earned it but it wasn't a happy ending... #HorrorWritersChat

In horror, everything is terrible, even your redemption. It will hurt if it's even allowed. Will I allow it? I don't know. Maybe today, I am feeling nice, there was a cute little bobcat in my yard just now.

#HorrorWritersChat My MC in Sins of the Wronged went from regret to redemption, but to get there, she travelled through a world of escalating madness. It was a wild journey indeed, and I nearly went mad myself while writing it! Don't even ask me what the story is about, because I still don't know!

I have a WIP in which the characters have to fight literal shadow creatures that feed on the negative emotions of the people around them. It’s totally not an allegory for anything. 😂 #HorrorWritersChat

Like life, they can't always earn it, but that doesn't stop them from trying. Like everything in my books, it's never easy. #horrorwriterschat

Can they earn it? Depends. can they win over a teenager who is hellbent on ruining their life? Maybe? #HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat Q3: I know it's old hat, but like symbolically relevant obstacles to overcome. Some supernatural foil to mirror what they're feeling inside. I know some people aren't always a fan of this but when it's subtle, I think it feels superb.

The sliding scale of regret. Only pay everything you can. #horrorwriterschat

#HorrorWritersChat It's kind of a sliding scale, in that some regrets are more easily redeemed than others. Overall, as of late in my work, the regretful don't get a lot of redemption. I have one in my WIP who may, though it may take the whole book to get there, and even then, no guarantees...

Hi, #HorrorWritersChat! I'm Trish Wilson, Media Director for The Horror Zine. I write quiet horror, horror comedy, and I conduct author interviews. Do regret & redemption play important parts in my horror stories? Not a chance. It's more like revenge and rage with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

#HorrorWritersChat When it's in fiction, most of the time it's in what characters say and do, little clues that require invitations from those watching them to open up about it. In nonfiction, it's pretty well stated out front, much as what happens when my regretful characters finally spill...

Q1: #HorrorWritersChat JD Buffington here, author of horror and scifi (and lamenting the state of the world). I think redemption is a facet of change, so I suppose I’ve written some redemptive storylines, but I definitely weave guilt, regret, and their transformative properties.

Hoi! I'm J. Neira, cozy horror author & slush reader for too many presses! 😜 Redemption & regret are very important themes in several of my stories. I'm compassionate & I like for even some of my jerks to see the consequences of their actions on other people & themselves. #HorrorWritersChat

Hi, I'm Vivian and I write horror. Regret and redemption play a part in some of my work because fiction often mirrors reality and in real life lots of us have regrets and seek redemption--well, those of us with character. Redemption is the last calling card of morality, imo. #HorrorWritersChat

I write all sorts of horror, specfic, & (ghostwrite) romance. Usually in historical settings. Often inspired by my Choctaw-Irish heritage. Regret & redemption are key factors in a lot of my work. My current WIP is all about generational trauma & how to redeem ourselves from it. #HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat I'm James Ryan, and I write horror among other things. I bring up "other things" because regret and redemption figure into most of my work across all areas. I even have these themes pop up a lot in my nonfiction, when I write about a film for my column and go into its history...

Can't believe I'd missed this one the first time out; worth a share here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-S...

Worth the read: bsky.app/profile/did:...

Are these the same companies that told us the robot could do it?

Couple of things: * Saw Peter Asher perform at the City Winery * To get there, walked through Midtown at the height of Christmas * Witnessed Santa-Con which inspired this: