Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

@planecrazy.bsky.social

530 followers 1.4K following 3.1K posts

A strange assortment of knowledge, caprice, and whims. Throw in steel pens and DnD, shake, strain and serve. He/Him/Hey You https://thesteelpen.com/ https://theesterbrookproject.com/

thesteelpen.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · Feb 15

I'll make this a table of contents post for my steel pen posts. They seem to be reasonably popular, but I only post them periodically, so they may get buried. Here are the ones I've posted so far. I'll keep adding as I go.

Also, more info in my alt text.

The original.
bsky.app/profile/plan...

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · Dec 18

Thought I'd try something, see if anyone is interested.

Let's look at a single object, humble and everyday for it's time, and unpack some of its context and importance.

This is a "steel pen" from Gillott. They were sold by the gross in small paper boxes.
1/

A photo of a shiny steel dip pen nib. It is laid out on a millimeter scale and is approximately 3.1 centimeters long. The imprint on the pen says, "Double Elastic. 604F. Joseph Gillott's" and "England" along the heel of the pen. It is a straight shaped pen with a strong grind, two shoulder slits and long tapered point which help with it's elasticity.

1 3 11

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Adroitly Absurd @adroitlyabsurd.bsky.social · 17h

Dis heah ting is wicked pissah - well woith a peep

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 22h

"When they fought, the Vikings fought hahd! N’ some’ah the ones that got the most famous fahr fightin’ the fuckin’ hahdest were the Varangians who fought in Constantinople befoh r’it turned intah a Turkish caliphate ah whatevah." #LeifEriksonDay

A Short History of the Varangian Guard for Bostonians

Art by Matt Smith - - -Now, evuhryone knows that the Vikings were some sehriously hahdco’ah fuckin’ fightahs. ’Cept most’ah ’em actually didn’t go...

buff.ly

1 1 4

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 10h

To John Carpenter, Thanks For Everything!
Julie Newmar

Goofrider @goofrider.bsky.social · 11h

Make a movie better by adding John Carpenter's to the title:

The Adventure of John Carpenter, Queen of the Desert

National Security Counselors 🕵 @nationalsecuritylaw.org · 11h

John Carpenter's Cousin Vinny

1 2

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Gretchen McCulloch @gretchenmcc.bsky.social · 19h

Higgledy piggledy
Timothée Chalamet
Has a name meriting
Endless design

Much like his forerunner
Benedict Cumberbatch:
Hexasyllabically,
Easy to rhyme

tweet from childish branzino @absflora:
timothée chalamet is the new benedict cumberbatch in the sense that you can say ANYTHING and we know who you mean. tiffany chevrolet. timpanogos charlemagne. symphony cabernet. jiminy castaway.

45 560 1.8K

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 14h

When I was growing up, quilts, bedspreads and comforters each were different and even differed from blankets. A duvet is different again and too fancy to ever hear of one growing up in the Midwest.

1 4

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Erin L. Thompson @artcrimeprof.bsky.social · 21h

Wildly jealous

Natalia Jagielska @nataliajagielska.bsky.social · 21h

I absolutely love the fact they've Pokemon-ised the museum staff, for the upcoming Pokémon partnership with the Field Museum. Museums, take note.

1 3 22

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 1d

TONIGHT (and especially for followers outside of NYC who want to get involved):

Join @brennanleemulligan.bsky.social on a special phonebank at 6pm!

Sign up: volunteer.zohranfornyc.com/phonebank-fo...

A graphic with a photo of Brennan Lee Mulligan that says "Phone Bank with Zohran, Wednesday, October 8th at 6pm."

52 840 3.6K

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 21h

I found that I wasn't following you. I just corrected that. I think that's a prerequisite for DMing. You can also contact me via the Contact page on either thesteelpen dot com or theesterbrookproject dot com. That goes directly to my email.

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Suzanne Karr Schmidt @drkarrschmidt.bsky.social · 22h

Brilliant Colleague's
New Book Alert!

Buy Chris Fletcher's latest,
hot off the presses or read the OPEN ACCESS version online!
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270096...

Arc Humanities book cover for "Public Engagement in the European Middle Ages: Medieval Solutions for a Modern Crisis."

2 18 44

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 21h

If you're fleeing the country and head to Canada but the US has flagged your passport, you can request asylum, and by the same international law we supposedly agreed to, you get your chance to demonstrate need for asylum. Having your passport flagged might be additional evidence. Just speculating.

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 1d

But, but these nice people I see at parties can’t be that bad. Their kids go to the right schools….

It’s all a game to the professional DC crowd, just a matter of scoring who are the current winners and losers in their mind, judged by “message” etc. Meanwhile we’re dying out here.

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 1d

Asking in a little bit of desperation, does anyone know how to unify the colours for BGS mapping polygons or point me in the direction of some help? I've hit a wall, even though I know I've done it before. Is the a file I need to apply?
What I have now is funky but not helpful. @bgs.ac.uk? 🙏

3 4 5

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Json Momoa @jotatx.bsky.social · 1d

@chrischirp.bsky.social is doing a fantastic work here
www.trumpactiontracker.info

3 72 130

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent summation, if not the merriest of reads.

digby @digby56.bsky.social · 1d

www.salon.com/2025/10/07/t...

2 2

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 1d

Bring it on home!

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 1d

Head shaking (all beats, heavier on beats 2 and 4).

Hand drumming on every surface—steering wheel, tables, grocery cart.

Get excited when, in the noise of the mall, you hear the perfect high-hat rhythm. Only to find that it's coming from a coffee machine.
buff.ly/MqfqVYw

This Is What Happens When You Listen to Too Much Jazz

Foot tapping (beats 2 and 4!). Head shaking (all beats, heavier on beats 2 and 4). Hand drumming on every surface—steering wheel, tables, grocery c...

www.mcsweeneys.net

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

[Ghost]🌀 @leftytheghost.bsky.social · 1d

It's actually pretty simple.

6 270 770

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Fleischer Cartoons! @fleischertoons.bsky.social · 1d

1 left in Large!

Fleischer Cartoons! @fleischertoons.bsky.social · 2d

🖤Betty Boop Zip Hoodie💚

Down to just 1 per size S, M, L & XL!

www.rockinpins.com/product/bett...

#fleischerstudios #maxfleischer #cartoon #animation #bettyboop

2 5

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 1d

I live 10 min from campus and people here are not happy. It’s even spilled over to Next Door. Huge mistake just when funding keeps getting cut.

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

TrustedReveler @trustedreveler.bsky.social · 2d

LA: we will fight you.

Chicago: we will fight you.

PDX: we will make you endure week after week of of improv theater.

36 740 3K

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

RiotGrlErin @riotgrlerin.bsky.social · 1d

horror movie posters but with muppets: thread

Oscar the Grouch in the movie poster for Alien.

13 210 800

Writing our Destiny aka Andrew @planecrazy.bsky.social · 1d

There’s always some alley behind buildings where the dumpsters fester. Kind of a reverse memorial.

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

belugatooth.bsky.social @belugatooth.bsky.social · 1d

this is art 🥹

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 1d

"WE MAKE NEWS LOUDER. IF STORY GOOD ON ONE SIDE, SHOW OTHER SIDE TOO. OTHER SIDE WRONG? OTHER SIDE WANT BLEACH IN VEINS? ANIMAL RUN BOTH. REPORT BOTH SIDES. EVEN WHEN ONE SIDE THINK HEAD MEDS MAKE QUIET BABIES."

“AAAGGGHHH!!!” A Memo from Animal, Your New Editor-in-Chief

“[Editor-in-chief of CBS News] Bari Weiss told network staffers in a morning editorial call that she wants to ‘win’ before delivering a rallying cr...

buff.ly

2 21 110

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

🇵🇸Martin “Doomsday” Pfeiffer🖖🏳️‍🌈 @nuclearanthro.bsky.social · 1d

in other news, I have begun reading David Tod Roy’s 5 volume translation of “Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P’ing Mei” and:

-Wade-Giles is awful & I loathe it

-did not expect a drugged silver cock ring

-am enjoying the read

-my read is enhanced by recent read of Chinese dynastic histories.

2 1 8

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 1d

Two big GOP activists from Oregon were in DC last month for meetings with Trump admin officials. On their podcast they talk about a plan they discussed to nullify the results of Oregon's 2026 federal elections. Pass federal voter ID law, then refuse to seat OR delegation because OR didn't comply.

Ep. 18: September to Remember
October 6 • S1 E18 • 44 min
Also, we proposed a idea how to do a end run on vote by mail. Concept is based on what Trump proposed. When you vote, you check everyone's citizenship as well as voter ID.
In a vote by mail state, you might be able to check citizenship during voter registration. You can send copies of your passport and your birth certificate in.
How in the world are you going to check our voters?
Voter ID, right? Vote by mail. So that creates a problem for Oregon.
But if federal government new requirement is to check both, and if Oregon can comply with the requirements, what would happen to our election result? I'm talking about the entire federal delegation.
For federal elections, we're talking about only federal elections.
COMMON SENSE
Vascluar

Ep. 18: September to Remember
October 6 • S1 E18 • 44 min
So entire federal delegation, congressmen and senators could be challenged, could be unseated because you didn't follow federal requirements to elect them. So I said the trade-off is worth it. You know why?
Democrats control two Senate seats out of six congressional seats. We only control one. They control five.
You talk about trade-off, right?
COMMON SENSE
Sanctuany

58 1.1K 2K

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Takuo Matsuzawa @matsuzawa.bsky.social · 1d

Dr. Kitagawa, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has carried out his research while keeping in mind the concept of “the usefulness of uselessness” from the ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi. Although he is a scientist, his way of thinking is philosophical and distinctly Asian in spirit

3 10 73

Reposted by Writing our Destiny aka Andrew

Gorey Cask of Amontilladoing @coreybrickley.bsky.social · 1d

what it she was fine and the prayers just supercharged her, gave her powers

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING

In a new video, Dolly Parton, the Queen of America, says she’s going to be ok.

5 31 190