Bruce Arthurs
@brucearthursaz.bsky.social
Long-time SF/F reader, occasional writer. I live in Arizona with my wife, several housemates, and a small mob of cats.
I strive for posts that are amusing, informative, and/or wise. (The last one's the toughie.)
I strive for posts that are amusing, informative, and/or wise. (The last one's the toughie.)
The greatest "cook a turkey" video ever.
THERMITE THANKSGIVING. Ten pounds of thermite and thirty seconds. Fireworks begin around the 1:00 mark. Stay for the surprise twist.
(Reality check: Don't try this at home. Or, probably, at all. But enjoy these idiots' video.)
youtu.be/SU8iRYbnAb0?...
THERMITE THANKSGIVING. Ten pounds of thermite and thirty seconds. Fireworks begin around the 1:00 mark. Stay for the surprise twist.
(Reality check: Don't try this at home. Or, probably, at all. But enjoy these idiots' video.)
youtu.be/SU8iRYbnAb0?...
Thermite Thanksgiving
YouTube video by AsgardEntertainment
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The greatest "cook a turkey" video ever.
THERMITE THANKSGIVING. Ten pounds of thermite and thirty seconds. Fireworks begin around the 1:00 mark. Stay for the surprise twist.
(Reality check: Don't try this at home. Or, probably, at all. But enjoy these idiots' video.)
youtu.be/SU8iRYbnAb0?...
THERMITE THANKSGIVING. Ten pounds of thermite and thirty seconds. Fireworks begin around the 1:00 mark. Stay for the surprise twist.
(Reality check: Don't try this at home. Or, probably, at all. But enjoy these idiots' video.)
youtu.be/SU8iRYbnAb0?...
Pete Hegseth is just pissed off at the Boy Scouts because he only ever qualified for one merit badge.
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Pete Hegseth is just pissed off at the Boy Scouts because he only ever qualified for one merit badge.
Reposted by Bruce Arthurs
In self-interest but also general interest, folks: Black Friday is coming up, and small publishers/independent creators will always be a better choice than megacorps.
When the sales drop, please remember that!
When the sales drop, please remember that!
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In self-interest but also general interest, folks: Black Friday is coming up, and small publishers/independent creators will always be a better choice than megacorps.
When the sales drop, please remember that!
When the sales drop, please remember that!
You're kidnapped. The characters from the last show you watched are coming to rescue you.
I like my odds.
I like my odds.
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
You're kidnapped. The characters from the last show you watched are coming to rescue you.
I like my odds.
I like my odds.
Reposted by Bruce Arthurs
🐠 Help #GiveBHLWings. After nearly two decades under the Smithsonian, BHL must become independent by 1 Jan. Your donation helps us take flight and keep 500 years of biodiversity knowledge accessible. 🧪 📖 #GivingTuesday #ILoveBHL #BHLTransition 💚 Give today: ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/GiveBHL...
November 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
🐠 Help #GiveBHLWings. After nearly two decades under the Smithsonian, BHL must become independent by 1 Jan. Your donation helps us take flight and keep 500 years of biodiversity knowledge accessible. 🧪 📖 #GivingTuesday #ILoveBHL #BHLTransition 💚 Give today: ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/GiveBHL...
Ooh, ooh, just thought of a great comic book character name, suitable either as a villain or as a ruthless vigilante hero.
Cyanide de Bergerac
Cyanide de Bergerac
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Ooh, ooh, just thought of a great comic book character name, suitable either as a villain or as a ruthless vigilante hero.
Cyanide de Bergerac
Cyanide de Bergerac
Somehow I missed Belanger Books recently releasing two volumes of Ed Bryant's complete work. Must remedy that oversight.
Meanwhile, Paul Di Fillippo reviews Vols. 1 & 2 in LOCUS. Ed was one of the SFFH field's most talented writers; these are a welcome reminder.
locusmag.com/review/the-c...
Meanwhile, Paul Di Fillippo reviews Vols. 1 & 2 in LOCUS. Ed was one of the SFFH field's most talented writers; these are a welcome reminder.
locusmag.com/review/the-c...
The Complete Works of Edward Bryant, Volumes I and II: Review by Paul Di Filippo
On the Road to Cinnabar: The Complete Works of Edward Bryant—Volume I, Edward Bryant (Belanger Books 978-3558635740, hardcover, 510pp, $59.95) August 2025. Dark Angels: The Complete Works of Edward…
locusmag.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Somehow I missed Belanger Books recently releasing two volumes of Ed Bryant's complete work. Must remedy that oversight.
Meanwhile, Paul Di Fillippo reviews Vols. 1 & 2 in LOCUS. Ed was one of the SFFH field's most talented writers; these are a welcome reminder.
locusmag.com/review/the-c...
Meanwhile, Paul Di Fillippo reviews Vols. 1 & 2 in LOCUS. Ed was one of the SFFH field's most talented writers; these are a welcome reminder.
locusmag.com/review/the-c...
Reposted by Bruce Arthurs
Welcome to our three-part series on book rebinding, where Library of Congress advanced book conservation interns Brittany and Devon will take you through all the steps of rebinding a book from the Library's Thomas Jefferson Library Collection. Stay tuned for parts two and three!
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Welcome to our three-part series on book rebinding, where Library of Congress advanced book conservation interns Brittany and Devon will take you through all the steps of rebinding a book from the Library's Thomas Jefferson Library Collection. Stay tuned for parts two and three!
"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown, ya filthy animal."
--
"I say we take off and nuke Charlie Brown from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
--
Senior Angel: A man, Charlie Brown, down on Earth needs our help.
Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?
Senior Angel: No, worse. He's discouraged.
--
"I say we take off and nuke Charlie Brown from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
--
Senior Angel: A man, Charlie Brown, down on Earth needs our help.
Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?
Senior Angel: No, worse. He's discouraged.
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown, ya filthy animal."
--
"I say we take off and nuke Charlie Brown from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
--
Senior Angel: A man, Charlie Brown, down on Earth needs our help.
Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?
Senior Angel: No, worse. He's discouraged.
--
"I say we take off and nuke Charlie Brown from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
--
Senior Angel: A man, Charlie Brown, down on Earth needs our help.
Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?
Senior Angel: No, worse. He's discouraged.
Can't feel bad about a really nice rejection letter that included a rec for another market that might be a better fit. (This sub was a bit of a stretch, tbh.)
November 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Can't feel bad about a really nice rejection letter that included a rec for another market that might be a better fit. (This sub was a bit of a stretch, tbh.)
Interesting piece about "captive audience" venues as monopolies, with monopolistic price gouging. Applies pretty well to monopolies at large too.
($21 beer? Holy freakin' Christ!)
The Freakout Over Cheaper Beer at Yankee Stadium washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/24/m...
($21 beer? Holy freakin' Christ!)
The Freakout Over Cheaper Beer at Yankee Stadium washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/24/m...
The Freakout Over Cheaper Beer at Yankee Stadium
Mamdani and Khan consider using long-standing powers to end monopolistic pricing at NYC stadiums. Cue the neoliberal freakout.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Interesting piece about "captive audience" venues as monopolies, with monopolistic price gouging. Applies pretty well to monopolies at large too.
($21 beer? Holy freakin' Christ!)
The Freakout Over Cheaper Beer at Yankee Stadium washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/24/m...
($21 beer? Holy freakin' Christ!)
The Freakout Over Cheaper Beer at Yankee Stadium washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/24/m...
No ghosts, but a couple of... odd experiences.
Sitting in a chair handmade by monks in a NM monastery. It felt like the chair was a living thing.
Holding a knife forged from a single piece of meteorite iron, and feeling a faint tingle like electricity.
Sitting in a chair handmade by monks in a NM monastery. It felt like the chair was a living thing.
Holding a knife forged from a single piece of meteorite iron, and feeling a faint tingle like electricity.
do you believe in ghosts or are you like me, a person who finds themself saying all the time “I absolutely don’t believe in ghosts, but this place has ghosts.”
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
No ghosts, but a couple of... odd experiences.
Sitting in a chair handmade by monks in a NM monastery. It felt like the chair was a living thing.
Holding a knife forged from a single piece of meteorite iron, and feeling a faint tingle like electricity.
Sitting in a chair handmade by monks in a NM monastery. It felt like the chair was a living thing.
Holding a knife forged from a single piece of meteorite iron, and feeling a faint tingle like electricity.
Capitalism, in brief:
Can it be monetized?
Can it be weaponized?
Can it be weaponized AND monetized?
Can it be monetized?
Can it be weaponized?
Can it be weaponized AND monetized?
The way people are so scared of these robot dogs yet they walk around with cell phones needs to be studied.
It can ALL be weaponized, folks.
It can ALL be weaponized, folks.
November 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Capitalism, in brief:
Can it be monetized?
Can it be weaponized?
Can it be weaponized AND monetized?
Can it be monetized?
Can it be weaponized?
Can it be weaponized AND monetized?
Damn, this guy's good.
A chickadee giving serious side-eye to a holiday ornament. Painted with Golden QoR watercolors and a Pentel water brush on cold press Etchr card stock. Two hours and two coffees later and we’re done. I kept this one loose and made it fun. Happy Watercolor Day! #watercolorday #birds
November 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Damn, this guy's good.
The Big Indies (if that's not a contradiction in terms) get mentioned a lot, but here's a very useful thread of lesser known magazines & small presses serving their own individual or peculiar editorial viewpoints & interests.
( @undertow.bsky.social gets a particularly high recommendation from me.)
( @undertow.bsky.social gets a particularly high recommendation from me.)
2 ongoing convos are dovetailing rn:
1. a holiday shopping $ blackout aimed at big business;
2. worry over small presses closing or paring down.
Let's talk direct action: YOU CAN DO BOTH😀
IT'S VITAL TO SUPPORT indie pubs that encourage risk & diversity. Here's a 🧵 of em you can support directly:
1. a holiday shopping $ blackout aimed at big business;
2. worry over small presses closing or paring down.
Let's talk direct action: YOU CAN DO BOTH😀
IT'S VITAL TO SUPPORT indie pubs that encourage risk & diversity. Here's a 🧵 of em you can support directly:
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The Big Indies (if that's not a contradiction in terms) get mentioned a lot, but here's a very useful thread of lesser known magazines & small presses serving their own individual or peculiar editorial viewpoints & interests.
( @undertow.bsky.social gets a particularly high recommendation from me.)
( @undertow.bsky.social gets a particularly high recommendation from me.)
This is why we can't have nice State Fairs anymore.
The Arizona State Fair's petting zoo apparently failed to provide handwashing stations. So, lots of sick kids. Very sick; Shiga doesn't fuck around.
Source: Cronkite News share.google/U2RGvrKRjqzC...
The Arizona State Fair's petting zoo apparently failed to provide handwashing stations. So, lots of sick kids. Very sick; Shiga doesn't fuck around.
Source: Cronkite News share.google/U2RGvrKRjqzC...
Health officials investigating an outbreak of an E. coli-related Shiga toxin, possible connection to the Arizona State Fair - Cronkite News
A spike in diagnoses of Shiga toxin and hemolytic uremic syndrome has been reported in teenagers and children in Arizona, with a potential connection to the state fair.
share.google
November 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This is why we can't have nice State Fairs anymore.
The Arizona State Fair's petting zoo apparently failed to provide handwashing stations. So, lots of sick kids. Very sick; Shiga doesn't fuck around.
Source: Cronkite News share.google/U2RGvrKRjqzC...
The Arizona State Fair's petting zoo apparently failed to provide handwashing stations. So, lots of sick kids. Very sick; Shiga doesn't fuck around.
Source: Cronkite News share.google/U2RGvrKRjqzC...
Finally saw FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Overall positive, but had a few thoughts.
Pedro Pascal's line delivery felt weird, until realizing he was speaking in the same calm, bland voice used by scientists delivering information in educational science films I saw in grade school in the 1960s.
1/5
Pedro Pascal's line delivery felt weird, until realizing he was speaking in the same calm, bland voice used by scientists delivering information in educational science films I saw in grade school in the 1960s.
1/5
November 23, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Finally saw FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Overall positive, but had a few thoughts.
Pedro Pascal's line delivery felt weird, until realizing he was speaking in the same calm, bland voice used by scientists delivering information in educational science films I saw in grade school in the 1960s.
1/5
Pedro Pascal's line delivery felt weird, until realizing he was speaking in the same calm, bland voice used by scientists delivering information in educational science films I saw in grade school in the 1960s.
1/5
Reposted by Bruce Arthurs
It's that time of year
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
It's that time of year
I think of this as "The Detour", as if driving towards a shiny neon city, seeing a signpost that identifies it as "Bad Choice City", and taking the next offramp to take a wide detour around it.
Too many folk don't see the signpost.
Too many folk don't see the signpost.
One moment that sticks in my mind from the early Robert B Parker Spenser novels is when Spenser notices an attractive lady and then realizes that she's a teenager. He immediately looks away and banishes her from his mind.
It's a throwaway moment in a book series that's a lot about how to be a man.
It's a throwaway moment in a book series that's a lot about how to be a man.
November 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I think of this as "The Detour", as if driving towards a shiny neon city, seeing a signpost that identifies it as "Bad Choice City", and taking the next offramp to take a wide detour around it.
Too many folk don't see the signpost.
Too many folk don't see the signpost.
Back when, a local radio station announced it would play "The Little Drummer Boy", and nothing else, until a local charity received x-amount of donations.
They played it at normal speed, fast, slow, at high falsetto and low bass, standard version and covers. Extortion worked; took about a day.
They played it at normal speed, fast, slow, at high falsetto and low bass, standard version and covers. Extortion worked; took about a day.
And if you manage to commandeer the music player, get yourself a playlist of Baroque orchestras and you're golden. Frosty and (shudder) THAT GODDAMN RUMPAPUMPUM DRUMMER BOY are banished.
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Back when, a local radio station announced it would play "The Little Drummer Boy", and nothing else, until a local charity received x-amount of donations.
They played it at normal speed, fast, slow, at high falsetto and low bass, standard version and covers. Extortion worked; took about a day.
They played it at normal speed, fast, slow, at high falsetto and low bass, standard version and covers. Extortion worked; took about a day.
Dr. Oz: "Oh, no, I gave him the ANTI-asshole injection by mistake!"
he charmed that demented old man so hard he could’ve gotten into his will lmao
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 22, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Dr. Oz: "Oh, no, I gave him the ANTI-asshole injection by mistake!"
Today marks my 100th blood and platelet donation.
November 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Today marks my 100th blood and platelet donation.
Oh, just great, we have Fascist Police on our streets, now we're supposed to deal with airport Fashion Police, too?
Trump's Transportation Secretary on how to improve air travel:
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
"People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly... We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
November 21, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Oh, just great, we have Fascist Police on our streets, now we're supposed to deal with airport Fashion Police, too?