Mari Ness, writer of things
@mariness.bsky.social
I write things. Occasionally they get published.
Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness
Also occasionally on other sites, including marikness.wordpress.com, https://medium.com/@marikness, https://www.patreon.com/mari_ness. Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/mari_ness
Pinned
So yes, delighted to say that I am one of the inaugural finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Poem, alongside @angelaliu.bsky.social, @aijiang.bsky.social,
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!
@swantower.bsky.social, @devanbarlow.bsky.social
& Oliver K. Langmead!
"Skeleton is the safest sliding sport on ice," declares the NBC commentator, not all that convincingly, as an Italian athlete ALMOST but NOT QUITE slams his helmet into the icy run.
#Olympics #Skeleton #TeamRelay
#Olympics #Skeleton #TeamRelay
February 15, 2026 at 6:05 PM
"Skeleton is the safest sliding sport on ice," declares the NBC commentator, not all that convincingly, as an Italian athlete ALMOST but NOT QUITE slams his helmet into the icy run.
#Olympics #Skeleton #TeamRelay
#Olympics #Skeleton #TeamRelay
Erin Jackson of Ocala, Florida, is on the ice, getting ready to race in a few minutes.
(I kinda feel impelled to cheer on anyone from FLORIDA who is seriously contending for a medal in the Winter Olympics.)
#Olympics #SpeedSkating
(I kinda feel impelled to cheer on anyone from FLORIDA who is seriously contending for a medal in the Winter Olympics.)
#Olympics #SpeedSkating
February 15, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Erin Jackson of Ocala, Florida, is on the ice, getting ready to race in a few minutes.
(I kinda feel impelled to cheer on anyone from FLORIDA who is seriously contending for a medal in the Winter Olympics.)
#Olympics #SpeedSkating
(I kinda feel impelled to cheer on anyone from FLORIDA who is seriously contending for a medal in the Winter Olympics.)
#Olympics #SpeedSkating
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
some past “multicultural economic zones” you may recall include the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 3:58 PM
some past “multicultural economic zones” you may recall include the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
Neighbor is singing very loudly (with a mic) and off key and in general I am all about the musical arts, but perhaps not at this precise moment.
February 15, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Neighbor is singing very loudly (with a mic) and off key and in general I am all about the musical arts, but perhaps not at this precise moment.
Do what you wish with this information:
February 14, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Do what you wish with this information:
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
What a great photo of Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the first South American to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
February 14, 2026 at 9:06 PM
What a great photo of Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the first South American to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
If somebody you read and even admired when you were a teenager turns out to be a bad person, that's not actually on you. And the technology doesn't exist yet to remove the things you've read from your brain, and any impact they may have had on your thinking.
February 14, 2026 at 5:37 PM
If somebody you read and even admired when you were a teenager turns out to be a bad person, that's not actually on you. And the technology doesn't exist yet to remove the things you've read from your brain, and any impact they may have had on your thinking.
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
😻
It just happens that back in 2014 I made a bunch of Winter Olympic Lolcats. Let's have a look!
February 14, 2026 at 10:36 PM
😻
Just one lap into this Women's 3000 m short track relay and people have already crashed out.
Which....I mean, I'm getting mild vertigo from this and I'm on a couch on the other side of the ocean so, understandable!
#Olympics
Which....I mean, I'm getting mild vertigo from this and I'm on a couch on the other side of the ocean so, understandable!
#Olympics
February 14, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Just one lap into this Women's 3000 m short track relay and people have already crashed out.
Which....I mean, I'm getting mild vertigo from this and I'm on a couch on the other side of the ocean so, understandable!
#Olympics
Which....I mean, I'm getting mild vertigo from this and I'm on a couch on the other side of the ocean so, understandable!
#Olympics
Loving these animal motifs (pandas, tigers) on the helmets of the short track skaters.
#Olympics #ShortTrack
#Olympics #ShortTrack
February 14, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Loving these animal motifs (pandas, tigers) on the helmets of the short track skaters.
#Olympics #ShortTrack
#Olympics #ShortTrack
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
It’s that day of the year I post this again.
February 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM
It’s that day of the year I post this again.
Murphy Cat has discovered speed skating AND LOVES IT.
He is trying, very hard, to hit Jordan Stolz. Possibly - possibly - to congratulate him. Possibly - possibly -
Ok, now Murphy Cat is just trying to knock things off the TV stands.
Love can be SO fickle.
#Olympics
He is trying, very hard, to hit Jordan Stolz. Possibly - possibly - to congratulate him. Possibly - possibly -
Ok, now Murphy Cat is just trying to knock things off the TV stands.
Love can be SO fickle.
#Olympics
February 14, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Murphy Cat has discovered speed skating AND LOVES IT.
He is trying, very hard, to hit Jordan Stolz. Possibly - possibly - to congratulate him. Possibly - possibly -
Ok, now Murphy Cat is just trying to knock things off the TV stands.
Love can be SO fickle.
#Olympics
He is trying, very hard, to hit Jordan Stolz. Possibly - possibly - to congratulate him. Possibly - possibly -
Ok, now Murphy Cat is just trying to knock things off the TV stands.
Love can be SO fickle.
#Olympics
More poetry!!!!
The deadlines for the Rhysling and Nebula Awards are coming up, & Hugo noms just opened! Please consider my works for the poetry categories. I'm threading my poems that are available to read for free online: ⬇️⬇️⬇️
February 14, 2026 at 1:53 AM
More poetry!!!!
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
We're each allowed 5 noms. I'm happy to chat about favorites you should check out, or your can find your own!
You don't have to know about poetry to nominate. You just need to know you liked the poem.
300 nominations is an achievable number.
You don't have to know about poetry to nominate. You just need to know you liked the poem.
300 nominations is an achievable number.
So I have a personal goal for the Hugo for Best Poem this year:
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
February 13, 2026 at 11:48 PM
We're each allowed 5 noms. I'm happy to chat about favorites you should check out, or your can find your own!
You don't have to know about poetry to nominate. You just need to know you liked the poem.
300 nominations is an achievable number.
You don't have to know about poetry to nominate. You just need to know you liked the poem.
300 nominations is an achievable number.
Yes!
(This list is also very helpful for finding eligible folks in the two Best Editor categories, which can be comparatively obscure, and the Best Related Work category, which can be confusing.)
(This list is also very helpful for finding eligible folks in the two Best Editor categories, which can be comparatively obscure, and the Best Related Work category, which can be confusing.)
Also! In case any of your readers don’t know this, the Lady Business Hugo recommendations spreadsheet has a tab for poems. (docs.google.com/spreadsheets...)
I mention this both to point nominators to the poems already recommended there, and to suggest that people add eligible poems that they like.
I mention this both to point nominators to the poems already recommended there, and to suggest that people add eligible poems that they like.
The Hugo Awards (2026)
docs.google.com
February 14, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Yes!
(This list is also very helpful for finding eligible folks in the two Best Editor categories, which can be comparatively obscure, and the Best Related Work category, which can be confusing.)
(This list is also very helpful for finding eligible folks in the two Best Editor categories, which can be comparatively obscure, and the Best Related Work category, which can be confusing.)
(auugh. that should have been "not necessarily for me/my poems personally," something that I of course only discover about 30 posts down into a very long thread.)
So I have a personal goal for the Hugo for Best Poem this year:
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
February 14, 2026 at 12:10 AM
(auugh. that should have been "not necessarily for me/my poems personally," something that I of course only discover about 30 posts down into a very long thread.)
So I have a personal goal for the Hugo for Best Poem this year:
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
February 13, 2026 at 11:39 PM
So I have a personal goal for the Hugo for Best Poem this year:
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
300 nominations.
Not for me/my poems personally, but overall in the category.
Hugo nomination thread one - my stuff, listed in this blog post. Includes some short stories, an essay that is eligible for Best Related Work, and some poems:
marikness.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
marikness.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
February 13, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Hugo nomination thread one - my stuff, listed in this blog post. Includes some short stories, an essay that is eligible for Best Related Work, and some poems:
marikness.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
marikness.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
And so, in this break before I head back to watch more Olympic replays....
....people have told me about another exciting upcoming event, Hugo nominations!
....people have told me about another exciting upcoming event, Hugo nominations!
February 13, 2026 at 11:27 PM
And so, in this break before I head back to watch more Olympic replays....
....people have told me about another exciting upcoming event, Hugo nominations!
....people have told me about another exciting upcoming event, Hugo nominations!
Also, full credit to Simone Biles, continuing to be the absolute GOAT, even just being in the audience.
(And thank you, venue cameras, for catching that moment.)
(And thank you, venue cameras, for catching that moment.)
February 13, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Also, full credit to Simone Biles, continuing to be the absolute GOAT, even just being in the audience.
(And thank you, venue cameras, for catching that moment.)
(And thank you, venue cameras, for catching that moment.)
(currently deeply regretting not making a joke earlier, as the last six skaters came out on the ice, with GIVE THE ONE GUY NOT IN BLACK PANTS THE GOLD MEDAL NOW.)
(oh well. missed opportunities and all that. though credit to me for at least NOTICING it before those six skated.)
(oh well. missed opportunities and all that. though credit to me for at least NOTICING it before those six skated.)
February 13, 2026 at 10:16 PM
(currently deeply regretting not making a joke earlier, as the last six skaters came out on the ice, with GIVE THE ONE GUY NOT IN BLACK PANTS THE GOLD MEDAL NOW.)
(oh well. missed opportunities and all that. though credit to me for at least NOTICING it before those six skated.)
(oh well. missed opportunities and all that. though credit to me for at least NOTICING it before those six skated.)
THE LAST SIX MEN ARE UP FOR THE LONG PROGRAM FIGURE SKATING AND THE AUDIENCE IS LOSING IT.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
#Olympics #FigureSkating
February 13, 2026 at 9:02 PM
THE LAST SIX MEN ARE UP FOR THE LONG PROGRAM FIGURE SKATING AND THE AUDIENCE IS LOSING IT.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
#Olympics #FigureSkating
Here we go, with the next set of skaters who are all - I need everyone to hold your shock - WEARING BLACK PANTS.
France's Aymoz at least seems to be having a wonderful time.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
France's Aymoz at least seems to be having a wonderful time.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
February 13, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Here we go, with the next set of skaters who are all - I need everyone to hold your shock - WEARING BLACK PANTS.
France's Aymoz at least seems to be having a wonderful time.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
France's Aymoz at least seems to be having a wonderful time.
#Olympics #FigureSkating
Just turned on what Peacock claims is the venue feed for the men's figure skating and....
....well, it might well be the venue feed, but it's a feed with commentary, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid, NBC/Peacock!
#Olympics #FigureSkating #NBCPeacock
....well, it might well be the venue feed, but it's a feed with commentary, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid, NBC/Peacock!
#Olympics #FigureSkating #NBCPeacock
February 13, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Just turned on what Peacock claims is the venue feed for the men's figure skating and....
....well, it might well be the venue feed, but it's a feed with commentary, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid, NBC/Peacock!
#Olympics #FigureSkating #NBCPeacock
....well, it might well be the venue feed, but it's a feed with commentary, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid, NBC/Peacock!
#Olympics #FigureSkating #NBCPeacock
Reposted by Mari Ness, writer of things
At literally no point in this headline was it possible to predict the next word, 10/10 work
ICYMI: Fukushima's radioactive hybrid terror pig boom was driven by amorous mothers
Fukushima's radioactive hybrid terror pig boom was driven by amorous mothers
Genetic study finds domestic pigs’ year-round breeding sped gene flow into wild boar
Back in 2021, in the thick of pandemic mania, The Register gleefully reported that "radioactive hybrid terror pigs" were thriving in Japan's Fukushima exclusion zone.…
dlvr.it
February 13, 2026 at 1:33 PM
At literally no point in this headline was it possible to predict the next word, 10/10 work