The alt text is the christmas present you didn't know you wanted.

I thought I might have one more trip before the end of the year, but I think this is it. 36 flights is the most I've ever taken in a year, so I don't suppose I needed another, really. I have eight booked for 2026, with more to come. Up, up, and away... ✈️

And there's lots more 1950s game shows too - in honor of his 100th birthday, here's Dick Van Dyke on "Nothing But the Truth" - the 1956 pilot episode of what became "To Tell the Truth." youtu.be/v3bSwCJD1_8?...

It turns out YouTube has 757 episodes of What's My Line, and they are DELIGHTFUL. My partner and I have been watching it a bunch and enjoying Groucho Marx as a panelist, Eleanor Roosevelt as a special guest, and more. Give it a try for some comedy (and maybe nostalgia)! www.youtube.com/@WhatsMyLine

Is it okay to constantly sit on your feet and have them fall asleep? I tend to curl one foot under me when sitting and it inevitably falls asleep, I take it back out, it wakes up, I repeat the process...I've done it for decades so it's probably fine, but are there eventual neurological consequences?

I had a GREAT first #Smofcon. Conrunning is about creating temporary alternate realities, and so too was this con - it was great to see friends and talk about our shared visions. The days of US Smofcons are over for a bit, we'll see if I can make it to Lisbon next year, but I had a great time.

Something I'd like to address. There's this idea that TQ+ folk are all 21 year-old art students... and all the 'normal' old school folk are LGB and entirely left behind and confused by 'pronouns'... Every talk I give, know who the most outspoken trans allies are? Queer folk in their 70s!!

The whiteness of some comment sections amazes me sometimes. Folks will do everything to not say the quiet part out loud.

Smofcon folks, note that you'll find me in Lilla tomorrow not Sveas!

I love @thedailyshow.com and Jon Stewart, but WOW the repeated use of the r-slur with no bleeps in the latest episode is a lot. They even acknowledged it's a slur, but went ahead and said it half a dozen times. Ouch.

This World AIDS Day, I invite you to learn more about the deaf community and HIV/AIDS. This remains the project I am most proud of during my ten years leading the National Deaf Life Museum. nationaldeaflifemuseum.omeka.net/exhibits/sho...

The latest @smofcon42.bsky.social email has given me the word "glöggmingel" which I didn't know before, but I'm going to make all of my holiday parties into this. See folks in Stockholm in just over a week!

If you're coming to LAcon and want info about accessibility, email me at the address below! I'm not going to spam you!

I just backed Coffeey Cat New CAT CAFE in VA on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/cof...

Hey friends - are any of you on Focusmate? I think it would be nifty to match with people I already know. I'd like to follow more people so maybe our sessions will link up.

Well, that'll teach me to check the settings of a new app before using it. Lost my last work session on my PhD because I didn't realize auto-save wasn't turned on. Back at it...

I can't read books anymore. I can't get through them at any reasonable pace. I checked out Tim Curry's memoir from the library, and I love it, but I can only read a little at a time and it drives me batty. Maybe I should try audiobooks again? Being deaf they're nigh-impossible but so is print...

My Popsocket Pocketable has actually split its plastic, and they don't make them anymore. I cannot find anywhere to buy one. Why would they get rid of such a perfect product?!

About the iPhone Pocket, copied from Apple dot com: "Inspired by the concept of 'a piece of cloth,' its singular 3D-knitted construction is designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items." In the words of Dave Barry, I am NOT making this up.

Having a unique ORCID identifier is one way for academics to distinguish themselves from other researchers with the same name, but a far simpler solution would be for the bigger one to consume the smaller one.

Dear Americans, please go vote today. Lives are depending on you.

The internet rabbit hole has given me a complete history of the MTM Enterprises logo, and if you ever watched the Mary Tyler Moore Show or any other MTM productions, you might enjoy this too: youtu.be/cB-KpzIOc0U?...

Remember Catz? I don't think I've thought about them in 20 years but I sure remember!

The latest reason not to trust AI: "On the West Wing, @marleematlin.bsky.social had a recurring role as Laurie Bey, a deaf bank robber who takes the town sheriff hostage in one episode. She later became a regular cast member and her character even went on to be elected mayor." On WHAT, ChatGPT?

I went to Six Flags America today, by myself, for one last time before they close it. I've been going for nearly 40 years. In all that time I never once had to visit First Aid - until today. Got stung multiple times by a wasp mid rollercoaster ride. 0/10, can't recommend. First Aid though - 10/10!

When I see a disability org advertise they'll provide ASL/CART for "full participation" in a fellowship, and no deaf people are selected, it makes me feel like they didn't want to spend that money after all.

Where is the Grammarly setting to reject person-first language? I wrote "disabled visitors" and that's what I want. 🙄

What are pomegranates if not edible fidget toys?

Yesterday we received word that the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) within Dept of Ed (DoEd) was gutted--right now we believe there is no one or nearly no one left. But what does it mean? 1/11

I don't know much about Bad Bunny but I'm into whatever pisses the other side off

I hate when Lyft drivers have marked themselves deaf when they're not. I think it's usually by mistake, but I get all excited for nothing.

For the first time ever I've had side effects from the flu shot. I've been utterly miserable for over 24 hours. STILL WORTH IT.

It’s hilarious to me that they think “antifa” is like an official group with a secret headquarters instead of a political orientation/philosophy against fascism. Like it’s not the League of Women Voters or the United Way you idiots.

Meanwhile the Deaflympics start in two months in Tokyo!

Excited to see that the defunct hivtravel .org website has relaunched as Positive Destinations - with up-to-date information for HIV+ travelers and migrants around the world! So happy this resource is back in action. www.positivedestinations.info

My doctor sent me a 30-min video to watch about an upcoming treatment plan. The video does not have captions. What the hell, Kaiser?

Wait, do people call the airport DIA instead of DEN because they still remember when DEN meant Stapleton, and they're using DIA to differentiate the two, even 30 years after the change? 🤔

Bluesky has been mostly doomscrolling for me lately, so I will only say this... How do you get to Carnegie Hall? 🤞🏻

Torin and Danthres must navigate the difficult political waters of Cliff's End's upper classes in an attempt to determine a girl's killer in Unicorn Precinct. buff.ly/Z2wKuz2 @dackleymcphail.bsky.social @kradec.bsky.social #fantasy #unicorns #mystery

What is it like to have siblings?

Reconciling business expenses after a trip: 🥴 I am really happy working as a consultant, but wow I miss the per diem from my former employer! 😂

I didn't need another reason to dislike Florida, but I got one anyway. www.cfpublic.org/education/20...

Some pictures from my travels! I should've shared more while en route, but such is life. At least I can share one selfie per country. 1. On the Cutty Sark in London (7/27) 2. At the Jardin Luxembourg (8/4) 3. Inside Ghent's city hall (8/6) 4. Ready for the Hugos in Seattle (8/16)

So I experimented with they/them as my only pronoun stickers on my Worldcon badge, to see if anybody defaulted to them. The only people who did were those who also had only they/them stickers on their badge. Cis folks, please make more of an effort to pay attention to things like this.

It's August 2025, why are writers and readers still using Substack? leavesubstack.com

With my #Worldcon2025 duties concluded (including checking in this morning for MIMO needs), I now have the day to explore. I'm going to head over to Bainbridge Island to play Ingress - reportedly the ferry is a nice ride. Today is day 26/27 of travel, and I could use some relaxation with views.

It's the little encounters that make me happy at #Worldcon2025 - like walking down the street near the convention center and seeing @tmkutawrites.bsky.social wave to me from inside a restaurant. 😊

Moderator of "Learning from Mistakes at Worldcons" noted the "maleness and paleness" of the panel and asked Program if it could be expanded. It's not, of course - but that's less an indictment of Program and more of who's been doing the most SMOFing for 80+ years. #Worldcon2025

So sad to see Jim Lovell has passed at 97. I hoped he would make it to 100. Of the 24 Apollo astronauts, only five are still with us.

Museums take note – you are part of the problem. Next time you advertise a freelance role, do some research on what their fees need to cover and ask yourself if what you’re expecting to pay is reasonable.