Nicholas, Up and Not Crying
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nbsab.in
Nicholas, Up and Not Crying
@nbsab.in
shameless wife guy.
cisgender bisexual non-monogamous doom uncle.
historical L3 magic: the gathering judge.
mid-atlantic regional coordinator 2012-2018
of course I’m an anti-fascist. who isn’t?
talk to me about chess, feminism, mtg, and metal.
Pinned
Hi! I'm Nicholas. Let's be friends.

Here are some things I like!

One book 📚: Someone You Can Build a Nest In, by @wiswell.bsky.social
One movie 🎥: Arrival (2016)
One album 💿: As the Love Continues, by Mogwai
One TV show 📺: The Good Place (2016-2020)
Chess friends: In a game of online chess, what factors influence your decision to grant or decline an opponent's takeback?

My answer in the comments.

#chess #chesspunks
January 28, 2026 at 4:20 AM
This is a step in a good direction.
Donald Trump must fire Kristi Noem immediately.

Or Democrats will initiate impeachment proceedings against her in the House.

We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
January 27, 2026 at 8:27 PM
If you want to see what's good in America, watch the citizens of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They're getting out, they're speaking up, and they're doing it despite the active threat of a well-armed, fascist, terrorist organization in their streets.
January 25, 2026 at 5:38 AM
January 24, 2026 at 1:56 AM
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Since people are asking if they can do something for me, here is a short thread. I'm clearly going to be laid up for a lot longer.

Here are a few simple links.

Patreon: www.patreon.com/Wiswell
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/johnwiswell
Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
January 23, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I faced the final boss of Hollow Knight for the first time tonight. They whupped my ass.

I will prevail.
January 23, 2026 at 5:31 AM
POST AN EMERGENCY CAT PIC
January 23, 2026 at 5:30 AM
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if you could do anything at a commander and casual focused magic event, what would you do?

events/formats are cool, but if you could do *anything* what would it be?

(pls reskeet because i want to see something)
January 22, 2026 at 9:03 PM
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I write because it is the easiest way to hug monsters.
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 21456:
There are two kinds of writer: the ones who write for love, and the ones who do it to get results. In a world in which writers are paid less and less, results are often uncertain. But if you really love what you do, you'll keep going.
January 22, 2026 at 11:23 AM
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yes, Dems are 100% ok with it. if they weren’t, they wouldn’t have voted for it dozens of times or tried to hit Republicans from the right for not being “serious about the border” during the 2024 election or be totally abdicate fighting against it now. but they did all that, they’re social fascists
January 22, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Logan with Big Naturals.
Improve a movie title by adding "With Big Naturals"
January 22, 2026 at 1:38 AM
I am enjoying Hollow Knight so much lately. The game is exquisite in all respects. I could not possibly add anything to it, nor could I take anything away from it.
January 21, 2026 at 2:35 PM
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Chloe can have whatever she wants.
This is Chloe. She doesn't understand why she can't have any of your Chinese food. Brought over a clean plate and everything. 13/10 (TT: morgansieberrr)
January 21, 2026 at 12:24 AM
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Well, it’s the 9th anniversary of this today. No special reason for mentioning it now, obviously
January 20, 2026 at 9:25 AM
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This is what they said about him then. This is what they say about us now. This is who they always have been.
January 19, 2026 at 6:09 PM
TIL that Costco is a very popular place on Dr. King’s birthday. 😳
January 19, 2026 at 7:50 PM
For my MTG friends: Powered Cube is great fun, and CalebD is great at explaining it.
Hey! My Essential Guide to Powered/Vintage Cube is live! I spent some serious time on this one so it'd mean a lot if you'd check it out and share it or leave a comment. It's intended to help onboard the cube-curious, but plenty of stuff there for intermediate drafters as well.

youtu.be/Wb3Ci7kmmTc
The Essential Guide to Powered/Vintage Cube
YouTube video by CalebDMTG
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 7:49 PM
I know it's very early, but my frontrunner for 2026 Video Game of the Year is Hollow Knight.

No, not Silksong.

Hollow Knight.
January 18, 2026 at 8:18 AM
If you’re not up on Meg Elison’s work, this sale is a tremendous on-ramp. Her prose is sharp and her storytelling is wicked. Go. Read.
My short story collection that includes The Pill 💊 is on sale for $5! Support an independent press and also me, your favorite unemployed author.
pmpress.org
January 17, 2026 at 6:18 PM
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I would like Aubrey Plaza to read Someone You Can Build A Nest In.
what is the biggest writerly goal you are willing to cop to publicly? I would like to be nominated for a Lammy
January 16, 2026 at 10:42 PM
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Alt text
December 22, 2025 at 4:46 AM
If you've missed Phantom View, today is a great day to change that. There's a common thread of wholesome humanity in John's writing, but his palette for expressing those sentiments keeps getting more nuanced, more broad, and more vivid.
January 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM
If you want a good messaging client, I recommend Signal.
If you want a good email client, I recommend Proton Mail.

They're both free, simple, and secure.
Do not talk about your ~activities~ on non-encrypted platforms. Do NOT talk about your friends’ ~activities~ on non-encrypted platforms. DO NOT TALK about your family’s ~activities~ on non-encrypted platforms.

Do not be the weak link that gets you or your people in trouble. Be smart. Be safe.
January 15, 2026 at 4:06 PM
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It's such a short jump from "abolish ICE" to "abolish police." You can do it! I believe in you!
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Watched POLTERGEIST (1982) with the Long Table tonight, having never seen it before. It was really good in ways I didn't expect, given the plot. I especially liked that the movie spends the first 30-40 minutes making the family seem natural and enmeshed, and then another 100 minutes scaring you.
January 12, 2026 at 4:52 AM