Stephen Blackmoore
@stephenblackmoore.com
Narrative Designer at @inxile.net Author of the Eric Carter urban fantasy books. Los Angeles.
Repped by @lisarodgers.bsky.social
https://www.stephenblackmoore.com
https://www.patreon.com/c/sblackmoore
https://ko-fi.com/sblackmoore
Repped by @lisarodgers.bsky.social
https://www.stephenblackmoore.com
https://www.patreon.com/c/sblackmoore
https://ko-fi.com/sblackmoore
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
Machiavelli: It is better to be feared than loved, but you must absolutely avoid being *hated.*
So many forget that last part.
So many forget that last part.
It is a bit alarming, when rereading Machiavelli's The Prince, that it lands as reportage rather than political theory. However, I find great comfort in the fact that they are really effing it up.
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Machiavelli: It is better to be feared than loved, but you must absolutely avoid being *hated.*
So many forget that last part.
So many forget that last part.
Who knew there was a grouping of words guaranteed to make me sick?
Like a Konami code for vomiting.
Like a Konami code for vomiting.
The women drawn to RFK Jr. see an intoxicating cocktail of romance and danger—whether it's getting attacked by a yak or texting about taking metaphorical bullets for each other.
But to most others, Kennedy is a reckless conspiracy theorist whose appetite for danger will result in a sicker America.
But to most others, Kennedy is a reckless conspiracy theorist whose appetite for danger will result in a sicker America.
The inexplicable sex appeal of RFK Jr.
How can such ferocious desire be attached to this man? Two memoirs by the women who love him offer some clues.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Who knew there was a grouping of words guaranteed to make me sick?
Like a Konami code for vomiting.
Like a Konami code for vomiting.
What's a nine-letter word for a country on the northern coast of South America starting with the letter V?
One of the aircraft carriers based here in San Diego left yesterday, more quietly than usual. No one seems to know where it's going.
San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln quietly leaves on deployment
The Navy has yet to say whether the flattop will be going to the Indo-Pacific or Middle East, or both.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
What's a nine-letter word for a country on the northern coast of South America starting with the letter V?
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
But a meat thermometer won’t tell me that it is less athletic than Elon Musk.
(A) stop feeling pressure to be perfect;
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
(B) normalize asking questions, because that is normalizing learning;
(C) do not ask AI if your turkey is done; ask a meat thermometer
This is so soulless, I can't stand it. We have BRAINS. We can USE THEM.
November 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
But a meat thermometer won’t tell me that it is less athletic than Elon Musk.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
Giving this a little bump because apparently a lot of folks missed it and some other folks are *really determined* to find someone to blame for it. Despite me explaining it's just crap luck and there's no one to blame.
*sigh* Yeah. About that.
If you hadn’t already seen, as of this morning the audiobook version of GOD's JUNK DRAWER has been pushed back to January 20th because it’s been dealing with a sort of rolling technical difficulty. I’m so very sorry.
If you hadn’t already seen, as of this morning the audiobook version of GOD's JUNK DRAWER has been pushed back to January 20th because it’s been dealing with a sort of rolling technical difficulty. I’m so very sorry.
Ahhhh, audiobook delayed?
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Giving this a little bump because apparently a lot of folks missed it and some other folks are *really determined* to find someone to blame for it. Despite me explaining it's just crap luck and there's no one to blame.
The important things. As opposed to the point that, you know, you could die.
First thing in the story about shitty AI stealing clicks from legit sources:
November 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The important things. As opposed to the point that, you know, you could die.
The number of salmonella cases this year are going to go through the roof.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The number of salmonella cases this year are going to go through the roof.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
At the moment, I’m regrettably not reading Edgar Allan Poe whilst having cappuccinos and croissants in a dimly-lit quaint café on a cobblestone street in Prague during a snowstorm, so no, I’m afraid your email did not “find me well.”
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
At the moment, I’m regrettably not reading Edgar Allan Poe whilst having cappuccinos and croissants in a dimly-lit quaint café on a cobblestone street in Prague during a snowstorm, so no, I’m afraid your email did not “find me well.”
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
I think my best course of action is to get inducted into a polycule so that the rent is cheaper.
November 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I think my best course of action is to get inducted into a polycule so that the rent is cheaper.
“CAN’T A GUY GET SOME SLEEP WITHOUT ANGELS BLASTING FUCKING HORNS IN HIS FACE WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE”
#TuesdayFeels: A skeleton, seated on his grave, awakes to the last trump on judgement day.
Etching by Martin after J. Gamelin, 1778/1779.
Etching by Martin after J. Gamelin, 1778/1779.
November 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“CAN’T A GUY GET SOME SLEEP WITHOUT ANGELS BLASTING FUCKING HORNS IN HIS FACE WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE”
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
Floors me year after year that my editor at Del Rey, Tricia Narwani, isn't nominated for all the editor awards. A truly exceptional editor who understands a) how to deliver strong, constructive feedback nestled in effusive praise and b) the best editing identifies a problem without providing the fix
By the way, it's National Editor Appreciation Day.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Floors me year after year that my editor at Del Rey, Tricia Narwani, isn't nominated for all the editor awards. A truly exceptional editor who understands a) how to deliver strong, constructive feedback nestled in effusive praise and b) the best editing identifies a problem without providing the fix
There’s something wrong when getting a rejection email for a job rather than simply being ghosted feels like a win.
November 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
There’s something wrong when getting a rejection email for a job rather than simply being ghosted feels like a win.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
Are you in the military? Are you concerned that the chain is command is fucking up and giving illegal orders? Call the GI Rights Hotline 1-877-447-4487
girightshotline.org
girightshotline.org
GI Rights Hotline: Military Discharges and Military Counseling
Are you in the military or thinking about joining? Are you unsure of where to get reliable answers? Call the GI Rights Hotline at 1-877-447-4487. Call for yourself or someone you care about Free and c...
girightshotline.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Are you in the military? Are you concerned that the chain is command is fucking up and giving illegal orders? Call the GI Rights Hotline 1-877-447-4487
girightshotline.org
girightshotline.org
When the history books are written the chapter for the 2020s is going to be titled The Clusterfuck.
Albert Edwards gets the @fortune.com treatment:
“.. It will end in tears, that much I’m sure of.”
fortune.com/2025/11/23/i...
“.. It will end in tears, that much I’m sure of.”
fortune.com/2025/11/23/i...
November 25, 2025 at 2:55 PM
When the history books are written the chapter for the 2020s is going to be titled The Clusterfuck.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
It’s telling that the decades of child sexual abuse they paid out $2.5 Billion to settle weren’t enough to do it.
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It’s telling that the decades of child sexual abuse they paid out $2.5 Billion to settle weren’t enough to do it.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
Crazy how “only the good die young” turned into the most damning indictment of our time
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Crazy how “only the good die young” turned into the most damning indictment of our time
I would pay good money to see a Fight Club of Senate Democrats.
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:50 AM
I would pay good money to see a Fight Club of Senate Democrats.
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
If you are in LA County, this is a story to follow: laist.com/news/politic...
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 AM
If you are in LA County, this is a story to follow: laist.com/news/politic...
Two photos taken from Downtown L.A.
They're from the L.A. Herald Examiner in 1951 and 1952. One from the Herald's roof, the other, I don't know, west of Downtown, maybe?
Not particularly remarkable. Kind of boring, really. Unless you know what they are.
They're nukes.
They're from the L.A. Herald Examiner in 1951 and 1952. One from the Herald's roof, the other, I don't know, west of Downtown, maybe?
Not particularly remarkable. Kind of boring, really. Unless you know what they are.
They're nukes.
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Two photos taken from Downtown L.A.
They're from the L.A. Herald Examiner in 1951 and 1952. One from the Herald's roof, the other, I don't know, west of Downtown, maybe?
Not particularly remarkable. Kind of boring, really. Unless you know what they are.
They're nukes.
They're from the L.A. Herald Examiner in 1951 and 1952. One from the Herald's roof, the other, I don't know, west of Downtown, maybe?
Not particularly remarkable. Kind of boring, really. Unless you know what they are.
They're nukes.
"We think telling our armed service members that they're obligated to follow the law, uphold the Constitution, and defy an illegal order is in fact illegal because that's what Big Daddy says and Big Daddy is always right."
“I think what Sen. Mark Kelly was actually trying to do is intimidate the 1.3 million active duty members serving in our United States armed forces with that video that he and his Democrat colleagues put out,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
https://to.pbs.org/3M1V0eT
https://to.pbs.org/3M1V0eT
WATCH: White House supports Pentagon probe of Sen. Kelly after video urging troops to defy 'illegal orders'
“I think what Sen. Mark Kelly was actually trying to do is intimidate the 1.3 million active duty members serving in our United States armed forces with that video that he and his Democrat colleagues put out,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavit...
www.pbs.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
"We think telling our armed service members that they're obligated to follow the law, uphold the Constitution, and defy an illegal order is in fact illegal because that's what Big Daddy says and Big Daddy is always right."
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
November 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Stephen Blackmoore
What if Dems ran on sacrificing James Carville's human rights?
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
What if Dems ran on sacrificing James Carville's human rights?