Yet another update: Understand that I'm not telling you to give up your computer. I'm just saying that there are options when it comes to composing text. The different methods use different parts of your brain, so switching between them can be a good way to get past writers block.

Richard Kadrey@richardkadrey.bsky.social · 5h ago

I mentioned earlier this week that after reading Neal Stephenson's article on the benefits of writing by hand, I've been working that way all week. In fact, today I bought a lap desk so I can write anywhere in the apartment. Naturally, I added a mouse for my cat, Aces.

@richardkadrey.bsky.social

best cramps news in a long time! no firewall www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/a...

This can't be a real photo of a Triassic quinceañera. I can prove it. Flowering plants didn't evolve till the Cretaceous!

The Onion@theonion.com · yesterday

New Evidence Suggests Dinosaurs Had Quinceañeras https://theonion.com/new-evidence-suggests-dinosaurs-had-quinceaneras/

one thing i miss about florida is these guys. beautiful snakes. here it's garter snake garter snake garter snake garter snake garter snake twine

youtu.be/fhYISIc4ERM?...

Ray Bradbury - "There Will Come Soft Rains". Read by Burgess Meredith, 1962

YouTube video by sedonaz

youtu.be

The day that Ray Bradbury died I was on book tour and that night I read "There Will Come Soft Rains" to my audience instead of the usual reading.

Adam Rawnsley@arawnsley.bsky.social · yesterday

Today, August 4, 2026, is the setting of Ray Bradbury’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” about a fully automated house continuing on after the family who lived there and the world around it died in a nuclear blast.

Impressed that you knew that today was the day (I didn’t & I love that story). Happy Soft Rains Day! We’re still here!That’s something, I guess.

Gilly@gillyarcht.bsky.social · yesterday

I dont know about you, but this story has haunted me since I read it as a child. It’s still one reason I am a near-Luddite when I design houses for people (surveillance and hack-ability aspects aside).

We need to freeze & seize their assets & cap accumulated wealth (at what, $10 million?) but I despair that we’ll ever have the political will to do that until we’re all in rags and holding pitchforks at their throats.

Andrea Pitzer@andreapitzer.bsky.social · yesterday

The billionaire class is both a threat and an embarrassment to humanity.

I dont know about you, but this story has haunted me since I read it as a child. It’s still one reason I am a near-Luddite when I design houses for people (surveillance and hack-ability aspects aside).

Gilly@gillyarcht.bsky.social · yesterday

‘In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh and ejected from its warm interior eight pieces of perfectly browned toast, eight eggs sunny side up, sixteen slices of bacon, two coffees, and two cool glasses of milk. "Today is August 4, 2026," said a second voice from the kitchen ceiling’

apps.npr.org/troubled-wat...

These are some of the last pristine ocean ecosystems. Now, they're losing protections

The largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean, where tiny islands are epicenters of biodiversity. The Trump administration is now opening their waters to commercial fishing, spar...

apps.npr.org

GIRL SNAKE CATCHER. she makes a snug little income by securing reptiles for traveling shows SHE JUST GRABS THEM (The Washington Bee, Washington DC, November 8, 1902)

It was the only way to make sure

John Scalzi@scalzi.com · 2d ago

Bluesky oldheads will remember that brief period of time when the conservative trolls tried to storm the place and were flummoxed by the idea they would have to organically grow an audience and that someone who didn't want to talk to them could nuke every interaction they ever had from orbit

That said, let us take a moment to thank our Bluesky Trans and Furry Elders for freaking out Jack Dorsey so much he bolted and left us this nice social media playground, taking most of his crypto chuds with him. We thank you for your service.

Why would you ever trust a computer enough to upload your consciousness to it? Just die in a Victorian manor and transfer your consciousness to its dilapidated walls in the traditional fashion

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Benjamin Dreyer@bcdreyer.social · 2d ago

Happy Jean Hagen's birthday!

I’m hoping the goons all go to jail, but for this guy, I wonder if a judge would sentence him to a damn good slapping. The number of slaps to be determined by how many it takes to wipe that smile off his face, plus maybe ten more just to make sure it stays off.

Asawin Suebsaeng@swin24.bsky.social · 2d ago

wut

I remember photographing the COVID wards myself seeing people die and seeing people so incredibly tired, yet dedicated to trying to save lives. bryanwjones.com/2021/02/covi...

I remember medical intensive healthcare workers breaking down in tears in front of me, telling me they were working so hard to help save lives when their own lives were falling apart, or their own family members were sick or dying from COVID. I will not tolerate any revisionist history on this.

Beautiful

Jeff VanderMeer@jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 3d ago

Although I turned over my duties running the Shared Worlds teen SF/fantasy summer writing camp to former students a few years ago, I enjoy getting the current year's poster. I thought it was a fun thing last day of camp for students to get theirs signed by the other attendees as a keepsake.

Cool, I’m on the Hill fairly often these days, here’s a picture of the owls I got last night!

Gilly@gillyarcht.bsky.social · 3d ago

Rocking it. Bernal way

An unknown radio tower on South Side. I like to think that it's really a numbers station. Pittsburgh, PA

I have absolutely no memory of this edition of Metrophage and the covers make no sense, but I kind of like them.

I love this! I’ll be keeping an eye out for that face as I pack. I bet I’ve got more of him!

Cool!! Fun fact about WALK TO THE END OF THE WORLD: that’s the artist, Gene Szafran, glaring at you. Szafran mostly centered women on his book covers, but when he centered a (recognizable) man, it was more often than not a self-portrait.

Rebecca Baumann@arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social · 2w ago

Briefly breaking the only post 4 rule to showcase some badass women of science fiction.

It’s in my work office so maybe I’ll feature it when I pack over there. It was actually my first Badger! I got it in an eBay lot of sf books and was like “whatever the fuck this is I must find more!”

I second that!! Thanks!!

Richard Kadrey@richardkadrey.bsky.social · 3d ago

Your book collection is amazing! Thank you for posting so many.

Good morning

Masterpiece

Oh wow this triggered a cool recollection of reading PATTERN RECOGNITION in 2003. That book made such a huge impression on me. 

Alan@gammacounter.bsky.social · 4d ago

Found it. Written by @annaleen.bsky.social ! gizmodo.com/why-is-willi...

Today in animal friends. A snakey in the grass & a toad friend in a window well.