I'm embarrassed to say, I only now learned about this. "As many historians have written, the Emergency revealed how easily democratic structures could be hollowed out from within - even legally." www.bbc.com/news/article...

"I think all writing is [an act of optimism]. You sit alone in a room, sometimes for years, and you hope that what you produce is going to be valuable or enjoyable to people — at least people will respond well to it. But you have no idea, so that requires optimism." ~Salman Rushdie

What an interesting coincidence.

I know I shouldn't engage with grognards on facebook RPG pages since I'm only there for the memes, but it was early and I was still waking up before I remembered fully how fucking awful a lot of people are. Fucking people, man!

This book is great!

I am calling it now: despite the fact that he's brutally murdered more than a dozen children, they're going to give Henry/Vecna a redemption arc at the end of Stranger Things.

What's the over under on how long until Trump pardons the suspect?

Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune

If we're not at war, Pete Hegseth is a murderer. If we are at war, Pete Hegseth is still a murderer. He's a murderer. And you don't need to go to The Hague to hold him accountable because there are perfectly good, American laws AGAINST MURDER. My latest in @thenation.com

Donald Trump is a gutter racist and we to start reporting on him as such.

Madge: You're soaking in it. Customer: That's why I come to you, Madge.

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT to sign up for the Sensitivity Reader Workshop! I’ll be discussing sensitivity reading and answering specific questions about your WIP (work-in-progress). Grab your spot today. #Writing #Booksky fundrazr.com/sensitivityr...

It’s ok Donald, move into the Light… go, follow the Light… (ssshh don’t tell him the light is fires in Hell)

Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.

I switched from black nail polish to red for a party last night and suddenly got all sorts of compliments from women about my nails. It was GREAT! I may never go back/black.

They say nothing good comes from hate, but when I see artists hating on AI, it makes me immediately like them and want to check out their work.

Good morning. In the past 24 hours, more Americans have Googled “felching” than have searched for “turkey recipes”

Data journalism is not dead: @cingraham.bsky.social’s felching charts are in here for the quant minded.

Evergreen

We’re not small business owners, ffs - we’re independent contractors, and we are routinely robbed by the world’s dumbest dingbats.

@mollytanzer.bsky.social, they're playing your tune!

Again, people have forgotten what it's like to get punched in the mouth for talking shit. Class traitor, my ass! We were just talking about how none of us can fully afford to pay our bills with our labor, but now you want to deny artists that little bit too. Fuck all the way off! Artwork is WORK!

Folks telling on themselves. (I suppose Novo's desired effect was also achieved.)

There are few words in English that get my blood agitated more than "Doorbuster." It's a foul compound that should've never been birthed!

I agree!

Available December 9! Pre-orders on sale now, a six novella collection with a "secret society" horror theme. I chose to kill a lot of Nazis. Like, A LOT. ruadanbooks.com/product/sini...

It's absurd and frustrating that my kid's pediatrician's office felt the need to send this. The providers at [City] Pediatrics support the clear statements from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics that there "is no link between vaccines and autism."

I always seem to run across these things weeks after they're out, at the end of the relevant observation, but hey, it's never too late to read good books, amirite?

when the AI bubble bursts, remember your worth and how little regard they had for you when they let you go to save money.

I can't quote skeet @prisonculture.bsky.social's post, but when my first novel was published, the figure I heard was that 6% of working writers are able to support themselves through writing. Everyone else has a day job. Six books later I'm not at all surprised to hear that number has likely shrunk.

95% of authors are not making a living through book publishing. The public needs to understand this.

DISBAR! THEM!

Seeing the picture of RFK Jr. on the cover of The Atlantic, reminded me that news broke he authored some "erotic" "poetry". And now I am reminded that my curiosity does not align with my mental health at all times.

The Atlantic's cover editor as they slip into their comedically oversized clownshoes: "He should definitely be holding a rosary to really sell the science angle, don't you think?" Editor in Chief: "Oh absolutely!" before squeezing his red ball nose and honking a bicycle horn.

Still haven't gotten NINJA BORG? Dafuq? Alright, well we are at least going to make it a little easier on your pocketbook with the Cool Guys Wear Black sale this weekend. #NINJABORG #cutenessoverload #piratessuck itch.io/s/167791/coo...

If you are part of MTG's apology tour, get out of my feed. She's repugnant beyond belief. Hollywood lied to you. Not all villains get redemption arcs.

As a constituent in your district, I am embarrassed for you, @whipkclark.bsky.social. That Seth Moulton voted for this is completely unsurprising, but I expect more from you, Madam Whip.

"We live in an era where personal expression is saturated by digital filters, hivemind thinking is promoted through endless algorithms and academic freedom itself is under assault by the weakest minds among us. AI has only made this worse. It is a crisis."

I hate it when it's like this. Wordle 1,615 6/6 ⬛🟩🟨🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I'd classify this as "Not The Onion" but it doesn't even have that *so absurd it's kind of funny* vibe. It's just fucking infuriating. "Potentially divisive" indeed.

Some advice from a couple of years ago that I still think most creative people need to hear --

Being a writer is like surfing. Always hoping to catch the perfect wave, but most of your time will be spent paddling against the tide or just floating, waiting, eyes on the horizon while you watch other people riding their highs into the sunset. But you have to love the work more than the ride.

You should totally visit booth the fine folks of @ipr.bsky.social 3701 at #PAXUnplugged. Thanks to an assist from @plusoneexp.bsky.social you can make all your boner-popping, nazi-killing dreams come true with #NINJABORG www.ninjaborg.com

Listening to this again and my assessment remains the same: Scratches that SubRosa itch! In addition to lots of fiddle shred, there's also a lot of nyckelharpa, a keyed Nordic fiddle that you also bow. Folkloric post-metal without the kooky stuff.

I am asking all men on International Men's Day to smile more

In today's Not The Onion news, apparently the hooded musician "African Imperial Wizard," is some middle-aged white European dude. You can't make this shit up! I mean, I could make it up, but again, the difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to be plausible.

I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered. He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here : www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...

PSA: me not commenting on something does not mean I am "complicit." First of all, you need to log off and touch grass. Secondly we are total strangers so call your therapist. Thirdly there are 1,000 things happening every day and I am busy. Finally what exactly do you want me to do about it?