A military vet I know (he can claim the quote here if he wants) says that he/others used to be able to stop a lot of questionable plans by continually asking "And then what?"

Song for the day/month/year: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ntx...

Today is supposedly Pinocchio Day. Those happy few who know my War & Craft story know how truly sinister that is. #AmericanCraftsmen

Dave LeLacheur's (@djl71.bsky.social) Synthesizing Sense newsletter is a slightly nerdier version of Heather Cox Richardson reports w/ SF & gaming lenses on events. It's free, and he's nearing an odometer # of subscribers, so consider signing up & helping him get there: davelelacheur.substack.com

Life imitates art.

OK, I've read some of this history, and didn't see any of this goofy melodrama in the weather go/no-go decision, but if someone knows better, please let me know. (Also, it ignores the role of the Mortons from American Craftsmen, but that's still a well-kept secret.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdM4...

Received my contributing author’s copy of this—contains my story “Thieves of the Fallen World”

To riff on Dr. McCoy and Bad Bunny, love may be more powerful than hate, but hate usually triumphs unless love is on its toes. Happy Valentine's Day!

Two other small notes about #StrangerThings: 1) I think this season had a lot of James Cameron influence, so the casting of Linda Hamilton was fitting. 2) It was nice to see the science teacher's nerd exuberance, and hear the word he used for his technical trick.

Happy book birthday to Lisa Peers! Her new novel Motor City Love Song is out today in print, ebook, and audio. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771481...

Holy crap this is extraordinary!

Since it's Superb Owl Sunday, here's a picture of the GOAT, Flaco.

Vague #StrangerThings season 5 spoilers: I think "Walk up the hill" was an indirect clue as to what would be there. Also, I hadn't ever heard Camazotz pronounced before--among its various meanings, was it also poking at the "Camelot" of the time of the book?

Started watching the final season of #StrangerThings. One thing I love: Maya Hawke's character rambling about mandalas. Look up her grandfather and you'll get the joke.

Happy birthday tomorrow to James Joyce. He had plenty to say about mindless nationalism and imperialism, but lately what's rattling in my skull are words from Finnegans Wake--the final thoughts of Anna Liffey as she flows into the sea: "The keys to. Given! A way a lone a last a loved a long the..."

Latest Oscar nominee viewed:# Frankenstein. The good: Bernie Wrightson-inspired visuals, great film craft generally. The iffy: odd story changes from both the original book and much of the previous film legacy--which at least made it a different film than what we've already seen.

Of course, no one should actually see the M*lania film--its artistic merit is only as part of the performance art of its public release, which is a note-perfect homage to the opera singer sequence in Citizen Kane.

Viewed #KpopDemonHunters last night. Something I've noted before in apocalyptic/anti-apocalyptic narratives was prominent--the role of the hybrid in opposition to ideas of purity.

Billy Bragg has given our moment a song.

From another winter, 1776: THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.

Time to post this one again, because it seems more on point now than the last time I did. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VuD...

So, if I understand the local weather forecast, my tauntaun won't actually freeze before the 1st marker, but it will likely slip and fall on the ice and break its neck.

Another song for the day--roaming DC as cosmic horror. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukgr...

People are still doing analyses of the "reasons" for the various actions and words of the regime. They don't seem to get that that's not where we are anymore. Seems the right day of the week to post this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yte...

@dynamicsymmetry.bsky.social Just saw The Testament of Ann Lee at AFI Silver Spring in 70mm--you might enjoy it. Spirituality represented as both sincere & messy--not cleaned up, domesticated, & austere like Shaker furniture. Also some apocalyptic symbolism. 70mm does well with natural light shots.

I don't usually say this, but read to the very end of this one.

Trump Administration Officials Describe A Routine School Drop-Off

I invite all Americans to join Minnesota in a day of unity tomorrow.

@cliocontemporary.bsky.social Tin soldiers? check Nixon? hard to believe, but far worse Midwestern state? check Dead woman? check And on our own again.

@juliarosekraut.bsky.social Tin soldiers? check Nixon? hard to believe, but far worse Midwestern state? check Dead woman? check And on our own again.

Tin soldiers? check Nixon? hard to believe, but far worse Midwestern state? check Dead woman? check And on our own again.

Not an accident that Thucycides puts the Melian Dialogue not far before the Sicilian Expedition--yes, that's when the siege of Melos occurs, but the author stops the action to show us a polis operating beyond all bounds, caring only that might makes right. The disaster of Sicily follows naturally.

VERY VAGUE PLURIBUS SPOILERS: I think that by the end of season 1 #Pluribus may be shifting from being a post-apocalyptic story to a creation tale. I've already mentioned the Genesis aspect in an earlier post, and I think the season finale is a Promethean reference and setup.

Starting off the year strong to reach the 1 billion excess mortality that this regime will directly and indirectly cause.

Saw #SongSungBlue -- the tonal shifts of the plot were a bit much, but the song order for final part (starting with "Holly Holy") was the exact way I'd use Diamond for occult purposes--the song I'd use to summon the magic, the invitation to join the magic, and the sharing of the magic/apotheosis.

Here's the thing about a dead republic--it's a lot of struggle, but you can get a new one. The French are on their 5th. For us, this may have been our 2nd republic that bit the dust (see the Civil War and aftermath). We should try to build a new one. Something to think about for a new year.

Minor #Pluribus finale spoiler: The science fiction book that shows up in the finale (photo shared far and wide online) is the story that Carol thinks she's in, instead of the story that's actually happening.

@hotgpod.bsky.social Thanks for the Christmas gift podcast--nice to hear both about places I've seen and those I haven't.

Around 2000 years ago, all sorts of folks were wondering how to just exist under the shadow of a powerful military dictatorship. And some in different ways found a common solution--while we live, they can't stop us from loving one another. So happy holidays to all the children of that revolution.

Ar-Pharazon is working on his golden fleet. That story always ends well.

Does anyone (particularly those who know Hebrew) know what the negative of Emmanuel (from Immanu'el) might look like? Asking for my country.

@kierongillen.bsky.social Enjoyed Power Fantasy #14, but a question--assuming I'm reading re: the right problem, I'm not sure I get how infinite-dollar problem connects to Eliza's situation (even with the nice illustration). Is this link the correct problem? xorshammer.com/2008/08/22/s... Thanks!

A weeks-old note, so not a spoiler: in #Pluribus, the hive mind has no knowledge of (relative) good & evil, just the biological imperative of be fruitful & multiply throughout the galaxy. If the story is tracking its biblical predecessor, then Carol (or another?) has a clear place in the narrative.

In a sign of declining judgment, I'm going to take another run at Joyce's Finnegans Wake. To add insult to self-injury, the start of my path to understanding leads through my nemesis, Joseph Campbell, and his Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. This is my idea of fun before the thunderclap.

It's THE POWER FANTASY #14 and DIE: LOADED #2 week!

I have an internal protocol (rule seems too strong for something so arbitrary): to be one of the cool nerds, I have to read the SF/F book before a big adaptation comes out. So listening to Project Hail Mary now.

@hotgpod.bsky.social enjoying your Barbarossa guest appearances on @historyofvenicepod.bsky.social!

Re-upping this, since it's only available for two days:

@hotgpod.bsky.social Hey, did you know about the Maximillian and Marie TV show? x.com/MedievalScho...

For the print half of my reading, I'm enjoying Alan Smale's Burning Night--the final book in his alternate history of the space race trilogy that began with Hot Moon. If you haven't read the trilogy yet, you should.