Tessera

You know, there are a couple different world mythologies that mark time in massive ages And each age gets a kind of theme And at least a few of them mark this particular age as one of suffering and misery and general nastiness And it’s really hard to disagree

Me: Maybe I will re-up my membership to the HWA this year. So many of my friends are in it & I kinda miss StokerCon HWA: HAVE A COMPLETELY CONDESCENDING AI APOLOGIST OPINION PIECE IN OUR NEWSLETTER AS A LITTLE TREAT ☹️

Holly Lyn Walrath@hollylynwalrath.bsky.social · 19h ago

Hey, StokerCon & HWA friends: You OK with this?

There is a lengthy pro-AI screed in the latest HWA newsletter and it is . . . a mood.

The real enemy isn’t your buddy who is using AI to make a book cover; the enemy is the Powers-That-Be who thrive on dividing everyone, especially in the United States. Look at how divided everyone in the US got over politics over the past ten years, and it’s now trickled to other countries. No more, are you a fellow human? Nope, it’s who did you vote for? Well, then you must be a hateful asshole. Instant block.

But who’s the asshole?

Every week, the gatekeepers of horror writers have some new witch hunt. Sometimes it’s a good thing to suss out shitty publishers, editors, and agents. Yet, not ALL shitty ones are sussed out because, you know, there are consequences to getting all the shitty people shut down. Some people still like the opportunities to get published or represented even if it means going with the most despicable people because the gatekeepers didn’t get them shut down, or sometimes, don’t even notice. It all depends on who is buttering the toast.

Annalee Newitz@annaleen.bsky.social · 18h ago

Someone make this happen (close to me, please!)

New idea just dropped: a cat library. Like a cat cafe, but with books. Read your library book with a cat in your lap.

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 19h ago

In light of the disastrous purchase of EA games (and thus the Sims): My vampire romance game MIDNIGHT’S KISS grew out of my longest-running couple on the Sims, vampire Gabriel & his human lover Nathan who is a writer in the game #TheSims #Sims4 #Vampires #SoloRPG

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 21h ago

Boost:

i’m just ken@shepardcdr.bsky.social · 23h ago

If you're part of the BioWare or Sims community and want to talk about how those studios' queer characters and themes have impacted you and your fears for those series moving forward after this sale, I'd love to chat with you for a Kotaku story. Can be reached here or email kshepard@kotaku.com

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 21h ago

A thought piece from yesterday on herd mentality, sensing threats, and when we react:

M. Belanger@sethanikeem.bsky.social · 2d ago

There was a psych study some years back about our tipping point as individuals to break out of herd mentality - specifically when we pick up on a threat I think it offers insight into why so many terrible people get by in our spaces, even when many of us instinctively pick up on their ick

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 21h ago

You know, when a post about someone with abusive tendencies results in this many messages in my inbox from folks harmed by the guy??? Oof I get feeling unsafe to speak up as a victim, but surely someone else noticed & could’ve spoken up publicly before now? Dude‘s been at it for decades

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 22h ago

Releases I am looking forward to (for Reasons™️) Cass Khaw’s brilliant FIND ME WHERE IT ENDS The @tenebrouspress.bsky.social anthology YOUR BODY IS A FEVER DREAM Horror game #13Omens from @paizo.com

Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 22h ago

If SCREEN were to pass, you'd be required to scan your face and upload an ID to access this site because it allows "harmful" material. This affects you even if you don't care about sex work or porn.

404 Media@404media.co · yesterday

Mike Lee's SCREEN Act, which heads to Senate Commerce Committee for markup on Wednesday, would expand age verification requirements to a nearly limitless scope of websites, and is supported by the architects of Project 2025.

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 23h ago

This news coming out hot on the heels of the revelation that Capital One canceled something like 21 of his accounts a few years ago for signs of money laundering - oof! Capital One – an institution notorious for their left-wing agenda 🙄

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social · yesterday

“.. Trump has leveraged his control of the federal government to instead escape the scrutiny that every other modern president, not to mention every other regular taxpayer, has been subject to.” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/b...

M. Belanger @sethanikeem.bsky.social · 24h ago

I know the fires here are bad in the US and in Canada, but seeing the Cairngorms fires inspire a chill so primal, I cannot give it a name

This is vague-posting (if you know, you know) But I take pride in the fact that in 99% of the instances where someone declares me their “worst enemy” it’s because I called them out publicly for abuse. Can’t stop. Won’t stop.

Went on a walk the other night through our neighborhood with @palorrin.bsky.social Around the corner from our house, we encounter a full-blown fairy ring wrapped around the sidewalk 🍄 Sidewalk passes right through the center Felt like walking into a @seananmcguire.bsky.social cautionary tale

I respect the writers’ room approach to Star Trek Strange New Worlds this season — which seems to be a cavalier, “oh, we’re canceled after this? Everybody pitch their wildest one-shot dream story. And … go!!!” Dinosaurs! Ghost ships! Body swaps? Noir? More time travel? Mirror universe? Q???

Paizo@paizo.com · yesterday

Get this game on your radar You will thank me later #13Omens

Something OMINOUS this way comes! In fact, all 13 of them are on their way! SIGN UP NOW to get all the latest updates on the new rules-lite horror TTRPG we previewed at Gen Con, 13 Omens! Step into the darkness: https://bit.ly/4bTX5nf

Today’s cat is asleep on my foot #CatBreak #BlueskyCats #CatSky

A black cat with a white blaze on her belly curls up against her favorite human’s ankle in a big bed with a grey comforter. The human is wearing faded black jeans and the cat has pressed her head up to the hem of the jeans as if trying to bury her face in them. A vivid red blanket stretches beneath the cat and the outstretched leg of the human taking the photo.

Gentle reminder: If that guy is giving you skeevy vibes it’s because he’s skeevy

I am become pillow #CatBreak

A black cat with a white blaze on her belly is curled against the ankle of her favorite human. The cat’s face is partly tucked under the hem of the person’s faded black jeans. The human has their leg stretched out on a scarlet blanket on top of a large bed with a light gray comforter.

A T-shirt I should probably have in my repertoire at this point: Polyamorous But Exhausted by People