Mercury has been in retrograde in Cancer since last month and will only be retrograde for a couple more days. Why am I telling you this? Well, this is my most Mercury Retrograde ever. So if you feel drawn back into the past lately, this story is for you. Let's play What If?

This is incredible

“Like most boys, he needs proof of love, which means proof of his power over you.” This flash story, in its structure and detail, perfectly encapsulates the psychological spiral of rumination. “The What If? Game: Advanced Version” by @chelseastickle.bsky.social in @ellipsiszine.bsky.social

Me: "this is going to sound paranoid but it is actually evidence based anxiety"

Every ad I’ve head for Google Health has been like “not intended for medical purposes” and I don’t think you should be able to say that if your LLM gives out medical advice and has “Health” in the title.

We really need communities to go all-in on "fuck you, make me" as a response because it works

The FDA says lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms de Mexico is still linked to the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. But the source may be difficult to definitively trace. n.pr/4fKvIhH

I bring a gift ✨🧚‍♀️💋

Attn: @helioscopepdx.bsky.social

I’ve been keeping this secret for MONTHS and now I can finally scream about it: I’VE GOT A FLASH CHAPBOOK COMING OUT!!!! it’s called Lies I Tell My Children and it has an amazing cover!! order it from Bottlecap Press: bottlecap.press/products/lie...

Wonderful. Sharp.

“I don’t know understand why I can’t keep them, so I don’t stop asking. Eventually, while scrubbing dishes, she says, ‘Wild things are meant to be free, Jeannie.’” A beautiful heartbreak from @chelseastickle.bsky.social in @reckonreview.bsky.social

New flash over at @ellipsiszine.bsky.social about rumination and the various paths our lives could've taken. Tonight we play out all the shoulda coulda wouldas.

Yes. Using a computer now feels like this at all times.

'The What If? Game: Advanced Version' flash fiction from @chelseastickle.bsky.social Tossing and turning in your twin bed, you try to understand your place in every room. Sleep won’t visit until you’ve exhausted yourself. Read more: www.ellipsis-zine.com/writing/the-...

Fantastic!

matthew always brings the receipts

A gentle reminder: libraries are still here, still free, still open to everyone. No appointment required. No subscription fee. Just walk in.

a gorgeous one from @chelseastickle.bsky.social “If I gathered all the fireflies into my palm, would they look like a rock glittering in the sun? Like that fool’s gold I found panning last summer. It wasn’t real gold, but I felt like I won anyway.”

The FDA said a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by ‌Taylor Farms that is not part of the current recall tested positive for the parasitic illness

I cannot recommend n95 and kn95 masks enough. I've covered enormous wildfires multiple times throughout my career (southern california reporter) and they have saved my ass time and again. Remember, burning houses also means burning household chemicals

Billionaires having much more success making Earth like Mars than the other way around

"During dinner, Mom and Dad talk like knives sharp, quick and quiet while I watch the day’s catch zoom around my jar. Neon light pulses like it’s alive." Stunning @chelseastickle.bsky.social

Here’s instructions on building your own Corsi-Rosenthal box.

They’re fossil fuel fires started by the fossil fuel industry.

"My repurposed Peter Pan peanut butter jar winks neon yellow-green from the fireflies I caught before dinner. When I was really little, Mom used to come with me. Now she lets me go alone." I love this extraordinary piece by @chelseastickle.bsky.social in @reckonreview.bsky.social 💙💙💙

when the cdc didn't care and the federal government attacked them, remember that taco bell stood with the people

John Carpenter’s legacy doing good work out there.

For real, though, N95 masks protect you pretty well from wildfire smoke if you have to breathe the air. Highly recommend

Second day in a row where I'm basically wrecking my fingers trying to get my old calluses back.

I don’t know understand why I can’t keep them, so I don’t stop asking. Eventually, while scrubbing dishes, she says, “Wild things are meant to be free, Jeannie.” She’s in one of those moods where she feels “harassed” by everyone and everything @chelseastickle.bsky.social @reckonreview.bsky.social

The Luddites loved technology. They owned looms at home and would ‘mod’ them to count threads. Their battle was against worker exploitation. The degradation of their rights, safety and wages. They were against a handful of rich businessmen owning the means of production. Sound familiar?

"Bite after bite of wrongness. Sip after sip." Beautiful story, @chelseastickle.bsky.social

"... and that wrongness has spilled from its container into the dining room and all over the table. It’s filled our cups and plates. It’s all we can eat or drink now. Bite after bite of wrongness. Sip after sip." @chelseastickle.bsky.social @reckonreview.bsky.social reckonreview.com/life-cycle-o...

Today I've got a new flash in @reckonreview.bsky.social about disappearing fireflies and family. Thank you to the editors for publishing it. This story saw many drafts over the years, but I'm glad this is the one out there. reckonreview.com/life-cycle-o...

A new tiny beauty that packs a punch from @chelseastickle.bsky.social 💙

New fiction for you today from Chelsea Stickle.

Quick Tip: "Don't speak ill of the dead" means dont demean, or spread lies, or speak malicious untruth about dead people, who cant defend themselves Accurately describing someone's life and legacy is not "speaking ill" It's the truth - which is self justifying in that it is the truth!

"If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better." - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

Oh, OH SO THEY HAD TO **PROVE** THAT THE CERVIX HAS A LOT OF NERVE ENDINGS BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT?? A CENTURY OF PATIENTS PASSING OUT FROM PAIN WASN'T ENOUGH?? OH OK I SEE HOW IT IS

CDC stopped monitoring parasite now causing explosive diarrhea across the country

I’m begging every single person who reads this to never, ever rely upon AI for mental health services. An early study on what professions could be performed by AI found that therapists were the *least replaceable* AI will not be suited to this task in our lifetime. Save yourself the pain.

We've received the highest number of submissions this year, compared to Issues 1 & 2. Thanks again to everyone who sent us their work! Please don't forget to withdraw your work if it's accepted elsewhere. Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to congratulate you!

June was a big publication month for me, so here's a roundup of those stories. First up, I had a flash in @havehashad.com about that time zebras were running around Maryland: www.havehashad.com/hadposts/it-...

Books, shirts, book club, totes—it’s all 25% off. Would love to send you some nice book mail!

This ends tomorrow and there will be no extensions

I saw a video from someone in Arizona saying they were being asked to conserve power and water. In 120° heat. So the data centers could run. Time to launch all the data centers directly into the sun.

Just a reminder. I'm always surprised how many people aren't aware of this. #Libraries

We're looking for poetry, art, fiction, and nonfiction for our next issue! Submissions are open until 7/31 or until our cap is reached. Learn more at mudseasonreview.com/submit. #callforsubmissions

June was a big publication month for me, so here's a roundup of those stories. First up, I had a flash in @havehashad.com about that time zebras were running around Maryland: www.havehashad.com/hadposts/it-...