i knew that the Romans had pipe organs and that Vitruvius talked about them, but had forgotten they had them in amphitheatres so they could go 'doot-da-dooo-da-doo' as you watched the instant replay mosaic of a gladiator being killed

Peacehammer 40K: Paintinge litel miniatures of gardeneres, sculptors, academics. Detailed scale dioramas of museums, kiosks, cafés. Trimminge hedges. Makinge friendes. Yn the cozye glowe of the far future ther ys onlye WARMTH.

Post a banger that's not in English. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBP1...

🍊🐻 Capybara (2022) #telekitneticart #formline #indigenousart

Our latest bundle contains 12 stories, all translated from their original languages, so you can explore different cultures and journeys all in one place! It even has 5 StoryBundle exclusives! storybundle.com/translation

Happy Monday! Public Access is coming to Kickstarter in March, and it would help us a lot if you signed up for prelaunch! www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau... Please repost!

I'm stoked that the Humble Bundle of my and @annaleen.bsky.social's books from Tor has raised nearly $5000 for the TGI Justice Project and Miss Major/Alexander Lee Black Trans Cultural Center. www.humblebundle.com/books/charli... Let me tell you about when I went to the TGIJP's anniversary party

With >85% of votes in, Portugal decisively rejects far-right candidate André Ventura. Center-left candidate António José Seguro is the President-elect.

there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.

My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com

The Largest Historical Dictionary of English Slang Now Free Online: Covers 500 Years of the “Vulgar Tongue”

The authentic sounds of musical instruments used in ancient times 🎶 #saturdayvibe 📹 Bilimtüel

“Alternative code map added because SCT FSN and synonym index to different codes in the classification.”

One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.

So, today: A) attended Harrogate Quilt Show and got some lovely bargains. (Also some lovely non-bargains, but so it goes. B) Got rained on less than I might have done. (Current weather, sigh.) C) got home to find ARC of Mortedant’s Peril by @rjbarker.bsky.social Excellent day. More like this, plz.

At Harrogate Quilt Show and have already spent more than I planned. But discounts! But remnants! But! (And not regretting it at all.)

New on FT website: Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract. www.ft.com/content/5bba...

That splendid sign-off of the Queen Mother’s – “Tinkety tonk old fruit, & down with the Nazis” – celebrates its 85th anniversary today

NEW: Reform UK’s flagship council, Kent, has been accused of telling a “blatant lie” after its claim of nearly £40m in savings on net zero were found to be based on hypothetical projects for which there was no documentation. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Today we’re bringing you this charming print by Ohara Koson. Koson was a Japanese painter and woodblock print designer. He was famous as a master of bird-and-flower designs and was a prolific artist, creating around 500 print designs during his lifetime. 🦆 EA1957.81

Barker: look steve that's a little far fetched Barker: evil politician, i can see Barker: harming a child, totally i buy that Barker: but consequences? Poe: that is a little out there King: yeah well King: it sure is with THAT attitude

Do not use these things. Do not give them a try. Do not give them your money. It’s a Mechanical Turk that can actually kill you.

Police now raiding Mandelson’s house.

Turning to the most recent translation of the Cosmography of Aethicus Ister, I find the following: Am I using this in the Mesopotamian game? Without a doubt!

"Well, lads, I haven't been able to get hold of any gunpowder, but what I have got is a consultants' report on the cost of restoring the building. If we just wait it out, they'll let the place collapse and/or burn down all on its own." "Nice one. Pub?" "Pub."

Found on Mastodon via @cstross.bsky.social, an LLM-generated map of Yorkshire

"About preparation for a broader perspective in many of our girls before we reach the summer term and exams descend upon us like giant fire-breathing monsters emerging from the sea to lay waste to our precious curriculum.” “Ooh, like Godzilla!” Phil said happily. The Head gave her a *look*. #writing

I need everyone to know that on the crochet subreddit the mods made a big post about how they're taking a week off because there was too much fighting/political posts. so there's currently no mods on r/crochet and people are being absolutely insane

It's a CON Check DORK TOWER THURSDAY! Original(list) new strip up now, at the Mothership! www.dorktower.com/2026/02/04/c... Repost/reblog/repeat, please and thank you!

"It's like watching a documentary about how Eva Braun feels sad about war, while in the background her husband is invading Poland." youtu.be/DTyUni8dbkE?...

Nigel Farage tells GB News that Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador shows his judgement is "seriously wrong" and he should stand down as Prime Minister. Here's what Farage said when Mandelson was appointed

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue

Love it! 🥇🇭🇹 alt-text: a Black man and woman model the 2026 winter Olympic outfits designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean. Inspired by Édouard Duval-Carrié, a blue sky, lush greenery, and a horse are painted onto quilted thermal ski fabric. The woman wears matching headwrap & full skirt.

Trump, standing in front of a chart depicting the angelic hierarchy as described by Pseudo-Dionysius and explaining that while Angels, Archangels and Principalities can be executed in the street by masked paramilitary goons, procedure requires Dominions and Seraphim be given warning shots.

Happy paperback day to me! THE SLEEPLESS is now available in cute lil' purple format (Prince, I feel, would approve), with plenty of time to catch up before THE DREAMLESS arrives 🔥 enemies to lovers 🚫 forbidden touch 🦊 strange gods 🦄 monsters 🍄 wild magic www.waterstones.com/book/the-sle...

"balrogs dont have wings" "balrogs do have wings" balrogs are clearly stated to have wings but also those wings evidently are not functional so balrogs are closer to penguins than anything else

Public Access is coming to Kickstarter soon, and if you have a podcast, stream, blog, etc., I'd love to come talk to you about it! I'm great on the mic, and a really good interview. Get in touch! www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...

Ars Magica 5th Edition Digital, 75% Off Today Only! #ArsMagica #TabletopGames

Yesterday we kicked off NYC’s Free Tax Prep season. That means filing your taxes at zero cost, keeping every dollar of your refund, and not getting ripped off by for-profit companies.    Nearly half of all New Yorkers qualify. Get help—virtually or in person—at nyc.gov/TaxPrep

Indie authors using Draft2Digital, this does indeed work, and your self pubs can now be sold on bookshop.org

Need a new pair of glasses. Drat.

Molumbo

I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever. A thread.

wassup Jing Ke

Wow, I just found out my drawing "Destruction of Troy" is nominated for an artwork award by BSFA. But @bsfa.bsky.social I hope you know, I finished that drawing in I think 2016, 10 years ago! Are you sure it's eligible? Anyway, if it is eligible (but I doubt it is?), this is the artwork, thanks!

Well now, would you look at that? A massive, 4-YEAR-LONG study of NEARLY 30 MILLION people in France found that individuals who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine had a 74% LOWER risk of death from severe COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals and ZERO increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Celebrating Black History Month with new and upcoming releases from Black authors we can’t stop thinking about. 📚✨ Which one’s going on your TBR first? 👀

HI! Every Tor Books release from @annaleen.bsky.social and me is available thru @humblebundle.com for a few weeks! Get 2 books for at least $3 Get 4 books for at least $10 Get all our stuff for at least $18 This bundle supports the amazing TGI Justice Project! www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...