Getting a limited signed copy of a book from the public library feels weirdly transgressive, but at the same time like a source of almost secretive glee. 'Look what I found!' I will have to give it back.

Why does Wonderman work? I recently finished watching the rather excellent Wonderman, the latest Marvel entry which sits in their 'Spotlight' space which focuses entire runs on a single hero. I had low hopes for Wonderman going in - it's been sat on a shelf at Disney for quite a long time and that…

You know a sports team has no hope when the commentator refers to their event as being 'a great experience for them'.

Anyone fancy a very special deal? My entire Empire of Ruin Saga now comes in one collection... and this week it's just 2.99! That's FOUR BOOKS containing 720k words of award-nominated epic fantasy. Get it here: mybook.to/empireofruin...

I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many. The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.

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I am trying to re-establish a habit of reading before bed. Just started Wildewood by @rflong.bsky.social (as Jessica Thorne) and I have already been both properly creeped out and also amused to the point of snorting laughing at the phrase 'potatoes in a GAA shirt'.

Did you know I wrote a whole (personal) essay on Murderbot and aspec representation in that series (with a brief detour into the show)? Now you do! www.patreon.com/posts/new-es...

Awww, that's sad - the Camden Street Zaytoon was the first I went to, back when @octocon.bsky.social used to be across the road in the Camden Court Hotel. I still love getting a Zaytoon kebab whenever I'm in Dublin so at least I can go to Parliament Street - which is handy for the Porterhouse!

It's been a few years and a different platform since I last tried to find out. So does anyone here recognise these three kitties from an early 00s webcomic, and can tell me what they and it were called? (I think the grey cat was Indy. And despite the Newkie Broon box, the comic was American.)

There's this one deer out there somewhere with all the knowledge of the universe, if you eat it you'll know everything. Unfortunately it is also armed with a death ray so it's up to you if you want to risk it

*fully restores your HP as you scroll past*

rightwingers see people caring about others in their community and instead of finding that inspiring they think it’s some sort of grand conspiracy because they don’t understand what it means to care for others you don’t personally know

My favourite podcast! If I don't get a ticket for this, I know I will deeply regret it. And I am not prepared to suffer that level of regret.

Quote with a gif of where you're from.

There are many serious governments in the world. The US is not one of them. (There are no penguins in Greenland.)

"Is it true you live backwards in time?" the queen asked. "Not yet, but it will be," Merlin replied. "And then, I will have." "You speak in riddles. But you have seen the future? What will it bring?" "Fanfic." "Is that a spell? What does it do?" "It will give you Lancelot." "What is that?"

Yesterday it was cows using tools, today its penguins using satellite imagery.

Can we get this over the line? It was only on about 1600 signatures last week when I reposted it. Now it's over 80,000. Can we get it to 100,009?

First Octocon committee meeting of the calendar year 2026 is done and dusted - we have a lot of planning to do, and not just for one weekend in October! Join us now on an early bird special rate to be sure not to miss out on exclusive events throughout the year. #Octocon octocon.com/join-us

One more, I am begging English commentators and journalists to remember what the UK did in Northern Ireland. Of course what's occurring in the US could happen in the UK! It already fecking did.

And if that URL doesn't work (we have hiccups sometimes), you can go straight to registration.octocon.com Come join us in Cork and Online for 2026!

Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking? Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me. 1/

Pssst... Wildewood is only 99p for a limited time. If Irish gothic romance with ghosts and folklore is your thing, this is for you. geni.us/B0FX4GQ59Bau... Welcome to Wildewood. Don't stray from the path. #booksky 💙📚 #speirgorm #romancelandia @secondskybooks.bsky.social

Welcome to your fifties! You can’t remember what you did to cause the new pain in your back, but you can remember the embarrassing thing you said twenty years ago to a person you’ll never meet again, and relive that moment with perfect toe-curling clarity.

"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."

Waiting at the vet, and an elderly pug named Princess was just wheeled in in a pink buggy. Sadly she is wearing a yellow sweater not a tiara but otherwise no notes.

BBC report at a headline level that Grok will now not make sexually exploitative images any more. An actual reporter comes on and explains that it will do no such thing, and will just make the images invisible in the UK. These are two very, very different things.

RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'

Out today in print, ebook and audio, my latest Jessica Thorne novel is an Irish gothic romance. Are you ready to enter Wildewood? geni.us/B0FX4GQ59Bau... Audible: UK: ow.ly/KAOf50XQhCH US: ow.ly/qFav50XQhCF Listen here: ow.ly/swlv50XQhCG

If I wish for a day without a minor crisis, then I'm cursing myself to have a major crisis instead, aren't I.

Great essay. Regarding the controversy over pagan/occult themes, I vividly remember watching a particularly supernatural episode while staying at my grandparents' not far from Sherwood Forest & Nottingham, and my grandma saying 'it wasn't like that at all!' as if she'd been there then!

Every dog or cat in a video game should be pettable.

Pretty sure I have seen this in the (not)flesh as very random décor on one of the ferries I have crossed the Irish Sea on in the past few years.

I love my little cat but when she shouts at me right after eating, her fish breath nearly knocks me out.

Dreamed last night that I got caught in a stampede of capybara, and honestly I think that would be a fine way to go.

I have played one day so far and am craving a chicken fillet roll something fierce. I miss Irish delis!

We had a good run

I have been job-hunting for a while and seeing all the AI editing & writing jobs is incredibly frustrating and demoralising.

‘AI is just a tool like Photoshop. Artists who reject it are technophobes.’ I remember when Photoshop came out. We FUCKING LOVED IT. Digitally retouching artwork? Undo? Colour correction? Selections for masking? LAYERS?! We loved it because it gave us MORE control over the art process, not LESS.

Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up. I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.

The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little." ‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.” So a napkin is a little tablecloth. 10/10, no notes.

Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and close to finishing the very enjoyable fantasy The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott. What are you reading at the moment? Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?

Today's Twixtmas cleaning session is brought to you by loud 00s indie and emo and some new IKEA coat hangers.

This thread and the quoted one should be required reading. Just be sound to other people, focus on writing well, and take joy in other people's successes.