Sandstone
@quartzen.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.6K following 7.9K posts
Programmer and SFF reader. Sega fan. Asexual and otherwise queer. She/her. 📚
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michiums.bsky.social
a reminder ! also I still have so many of these :)! your support helps me scrap by and also be able to support mutual aid efforts when and where I can !

michiums.bigcartel.com
embroidered patch with florals on top of a bouquet that reads “queer existence is eternal” embroidered floral patch on top of a bouquet of dusty pink and red roses that reads “trans existence is an undying garden”
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flyinghabu.bsky.social
Two nights of 3:45am alarms, blazing full moon lighting the sky like daytime and washing out the light of everything else, comet included. Then two days of post-processing battles, as comet processing is maddeningly tricky.

But I finally pulled it off: here is C/2025 A6 Lemmon. 🔭

#Astrophotography
Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon taken from my backyard
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bogiperson.bsky.social
Was so delighted to meet @conradloyer.bsky.social and listen to him read this awesome story from @fiyahlitmag.bsky.social at the Sturgeon awards ceremony!!! This award win makes me SO happy. (And he is an awesome reader too, my hair stood on end!)
quartzen.bsky.social
The real problem here are the people who continuously complain "why is everything so sexless! why is no one horny in modern media today!" who, when pointed at the literal billion dollar genres of romance and erotica where talented authors have spent decades honing their craft, go "no, not like that"
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paris.nyc
after the 10th radioactive shrimp recall in 7 weeks, i decided to do some digging

little did i know it would lead me to an underreported industrial accident that may have released an airborne plume of radioactive debris over swaths of indonesia
www.consumerreports.org/health/food-...
What Is Really Going on With All This Radioactive Shrimp? - Consumer Reports
Here’s the latest on how shrimp and spices got contaminated with cesium-137, how the FDA has responded, and why consumers should not panic.
www.consumerreports.org
quartzen.bsky.social
(But Berg also had her "X was a self-absorbed megalomaniac all along" reveal as a sideline, not the main plot twist!)
quartzen.bsky.social
This one did that, at least, I'm just not completely convinced the pieces fit together for me in the new shape- I liked it enough I'll probably reread it sometime knowing to see, though

It probably suffers by comparison to the Carol Berg duology I read recently (Berg is very good at plot twists!)
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vanessafogg.bsky.social
"Vanessa Fogg is one such bard, using her words to illuminate the emotions, the ambitions, the hopes and desires, and sometimes fears, of humanity."

A lovely review for my upcoming book, The House of Illusionists! @interstellarflight.bsky.social

templetongate.net/house-of-ill...
Templeton Gate 3.0 - Literature - The House of Illusionists, and Other Stories by Vanessa Fogg
Reviews of science fiction, fantasy and horror books, films, comics and television shows
templetongate.net
quartzen.bsky.social
Yeah! The question I wish authors ask themselves about plot twists is "wait, does this twist actually make this more typical and less interesting" because unfortunately more often than not the answer is "yes"
quartzen.bsky.social
The recent fantasy novel I just finished that I won't name cued this reveal up a lot better than most stories of this kind, but I can't help but wish it had stopped one twist short with the scenario it had set up before that was more interesting to me
quartzen.bsky.social
I think that "you thought this was a nuanced, perhaps conflicted antagonist with an interesting story but little did you know it was a self-centered, privileged egomaniac who's been lying to everyone all along!" is probably my least favorite plot twist, even if it does feel increasingly true to life
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vajra.me
For people who love weird short stories—Did you know the incredible Lackington's archive is still online? You should read it now while we still have an internet lackingtons.com
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what-eats-owls.bsky.social
“Too many districts to keep track of. Can we make it 5? And just one kid from each district. Our commercial readers would want a stronger romantic throughline. Let’s age up everyone to 19 so we can add spice. We might lose commercial readers with all the politics. Katniss isn’t relatable.”
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what-eats-owls.bsky.social
Texting with another YA author friend this morning about the rough state of the market, and our consensus was, publishing keeps looking for the next Hunger Games, but they wouldn’t acquire the original if it were in their inboxes today
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thecolfax.bsky.social
In the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete, Greece, lies a very deep cave with a continual cold spring waterfall. To reach it, you have to swim about 100 meters in 10 degree (C) water. I spent time thinking about hypothermia I was so cold. Nice payoff tho.

Pic of the day

#photography
Walls of the cave direct you to a small bright opening in which a cold mountain spring falls to bright turquoise water. 

Along with Denali Mountain and Bryce Canyon, this is the most majestic place I’ve ever been. 

My teeth rattling even as I could stand in only waist deep water kept me from fully enjoying it,, but no chance I was missing this just for some discomfort. 

It seemed to get progressively colder tho so this is about as close as I got. In later days I’ll post a shot looking back thru the caves. The video I took is really the best indicator of the beauty here but I dunno if I can post that here or not. I may try in the comments later today.
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tedmccormick.bsky.social
A striking thing about articles I’ve read claiming to “study the effects” of generative AI on student writing skills and consumption of information is that (1) they nearly always find the effects are negative and (2) most “conclusions” are still written assuming that we must use AI, for some reason.
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jparish.bsky.social
Remember how I kept talking about the Metroidvania book I had in the works, and then it kinda dropped off the radar? I didn't lose interest. I was just working with a Legit Major Publisher (Dark Horse!) on turning it into the pilot release for a Press Run team-up: www.gamespot.com/articles/exp...
Explore The Origins Of Metroidvania In This New Retro Gaming Book
This new book will explore the history of the enduring metroidvania genre in video games.
www.gamespot.com
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enerjax.bsky.social
Incredible coverage of the R360 from construction to reception to now! Being able to experience it is something you just won’t forget if you ever get a chance to play it! Great work, Brian!
onemillionpower.com
This is the story of Sega's R360: The legendary arcade cabinet that spun players around and left arcade floors far too early. Exclusive interviews, developer quotes, and more!
I'd appreciate not only everyone watching, but also sharing this post and the video!
youtu.be/I-LnKFILB5I
Sega R360: Spinning Dreams in the Arcade
YouTube video by One Million Power
youtu.be
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unfrozenofficial.bsky.social
The 30th Anniversary Broadcast is LIVE NOW! Join us to see all the amazing updates within the Might and Magic Universe that are coming!

YouTube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2k...
Twitch Link: www.twitch.tv/ubisoft
Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Showcase
YouTube video by Ubisoft
www.youtube.com
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mjsdc.bsky.social
It is pretty galling that the Supreme Court spent four years telling Biden "you can't do that without Congress" then allowed Trump to seize a once-unthinkable amount of power from Congress within nine months and concentrate law-making authority almost entirely in the executive branch.
quartzen.bsky.social
Omg yes that's better! 😂
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readingtheend.bsky.social
good morning, Bunny! new from me at the
@nytimes.com, just in time for spooky season: a Dark Academia starter pack, feat. Sofia Samatar, Melina Marchetta, Mona Awad, and unexpectedly, Sarah Rees Brennan, for lo, I am Like This full time.
Dark Academia: A Starter Pack
www.nytimes.com