Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
@vertvoltapress.bsky.social
Imprints: Extra:Solar, Hinton Publishing.
Run by Vlad Verano, Designer/Publisher; part-time bookseller. Moonlights as artist/illustrator/astromech. Latest book; THREE ALARM FIRE (Hinton) https://vertvolta-design-press.square.site/product/Three_Alarm_Fire/3
Run by Vlad Verano, Designer/Publisher; part-time bookseller. Moonlights as artist/illustrator/astromech. Latest book; THREE ALARM FIRE (Hinton) https://vertvolta-design-press.square.site/product/Three_Alarm_Fire/3
Pinned
Hello to all the new followers! It's been a while since I talked about Vertvolta, & an introductory thread is in order.
Vertvolta Press is a publishing house (some would say 'hybrid'). We publish books, contemporary & reprints, & offer consulting & design services to self-published authors (1/5)
Vertvolta Press is a publishing house (some would say 'hybrid'). We publish books, contemporary & reprints, & offer consulting & design services to self-published authors (1/5)
Either he used AI to write this, or he copy-pasted the original into Google translate (eng-Russian) then ran it again (Russian-eng) then pasted the results in the email.
///BREAKING/// Body cams, texts, emails and other evidence have been released in the Oct. 4 shooting of Marimar Martinez by Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum, including this email to Exum by Cmdr. Greg Bovino on the day of the shooting
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/p...
Background:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/p...
February 11, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Either he used AI to write this, or he copy-pasted the original into Google translate (eng-Russian) then ran it again (Russian-eng) then pasted the results in the email.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
BEEP BEEP THE HAWKS ARE BACK IN SEATTLE. And so are 750,000 of your closest friends, all coming to Seattle to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPS.
So if you're heading to Seattle tomorrow, take whatever ferry, bus, train, or spinning teacup is closest to you. Please.
So if you're heading to Seattle tomorrow, take whatever ferry, bus, train, or spinning teacup is closest to you. Please.
February 10, 2026 at 11:40 PM
BEEP BEEP THE HAWKS ARE BACK IN SEATTLE. And so are 750,000 of your closest friends, all coming to Seattle to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPS.
So if you're heading to Seattle tomorrow, take whatever ferry, bus, train, or spinning teacup is closest to you. Please.
So if you're heading to Seattle tomorrow, take whatever ferry, bus, train, or spinning teacup is closest to you. Please.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Worth watching this in full. The statement is more powerful than this quote alone. Here is is from USA Today, with alt text.
Also! Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer and the oldest athlete to ever represent the United States in a Winter Games at 54 years old.
Also! Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer and the oldest athlete to ever represent the United States in a Winter Games at 54 years old.
February 10, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Worth watching this in full. The statement is more powerful than this quote alone. Here is is from USA Today, with alt text.
Also! Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer and the oldest athlete to ever represent the United States in a Winter Games at 54 years old.
Also! Rich Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer and the oldest athlete to ever represent the United States in a Winter Games at 54 years old.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Highlights from judging the elementary school science fair.
An investigation of which household objects conduct electricity.
Can cheese conduct electricity? Apparently so.
Me: You and cheese both conduct electricity. What do you two have in common?
Student: We are both thick
Me: Ah yes of course
An investigation of which household objects conduct electricity.
Can cheese conduct electricity? Apparently so.
Me: You and cheese both conduct electricity. What do you two have in common?
Student: We are both thick
Me: Ah yes of course
February 10, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Highlights from judging the elementary school science fair.
An investigation of which household objects conduct electricity.
Can cheese conduct electricity? Apparently so.
Me: You and cheese both conduct electricity. What do you two have in common?
Student: We are both thick
Me: Ah yes of course
An investigation of which household objects conduct electricity.
Can cheese conduct electricity? Apparently so.
Me: You and cheese both conduct electricity. What do you two have in common?
Student: We are both thick
Me: Ah yes of course
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
nostalgia can be toxic but what if also i don't want whatever this is
February 10, 2026 at 6:26 PM
nostalgia can be toxic but what if also i don't want whatever this is
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
I've been hearing people who are witnessing the impacts of AI on coding saying, "Aside from physical labor, the thing people should be focusing on is...mmm...I don't know what to call it..."
...and then they haltingly describe a liberal arts education.
...and then they haltingly describe a liberal arts education.
February 10, 2026 at 6:56 PM
I've been hearing people who are witnessing the impacts of AI on coding saying, "Aside from physical labor, the thing people should be focusing on is...mmm...I don't know what to call it..."
...and then they haltingly describe a liberal arts education.
...and then they haltingly describe a liberal arts education.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Dismissed because of jurisdictional confusion, it should be stressed, rather than any new revelation that would discredit the survivors of sexual assault who have come forward.
Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand.
US judges dismiss lawsuits accusing fantasy author Neil Gaiman of sexual assault in New Zealand
Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand.
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Dismissed because of jurisdictional confusion, it should be stressed, rather than any new revelation that would discredit the survivors of sexual assault who have come forward.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
What’s the conversational equivalent of a duct tape wallet (asking for a friend)
Saying “um” is like using duct tape for conversations.
February 10, 2026 at 7:16 PM
What’s the conversational equivalent of a duct tape wallet (asking for a friend)
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
NEW: ICE has a plan to lease offices across the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign.
Today, @wired.com is publishing dozens of those locations. Many are near schools, medical offices, and places of worship.
Vital work from @leahfeiger.bsky.social that I'm proud to publish.
Today, @wired.com is publishing dozens of those locations. Many are near schools, medical offices, and places of worship.
Vital work from @leahfeiger.bsky.social that I'm proud to publish.
ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next
ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
www.wired.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:13 PM
NEW: ICE has a plan to lease offices across the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign.
Today, @wired.com is publishing dozens of those locations. Many are near schools, medical offices, and places of worship.
Vital work from @leahfeiger.bsky.social that I'm proud to publish.
Today, @wired.com is publishing dozens of those locations. Many are near schools, medical offices, and places of worship.
Vital work from @leahfeiger.bsky.social that I'm proud to publish.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Yes, we talked to a geologist who curls about the very special geology of curling's stones, please enjoy
Why curling rocks come from just two spots on Earth
The rocks used in the Olympic sport of curling come from one island in Scotland and one quarry in Wales. What makes them so special?
www.scientificamerican.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Yes, we talked to a geologist who curls about the very special geology of curling's stones, please enjoy
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
it will really be something if the Epstein Files unseat a British Prime Minster who isn't in them, and not the American President who was Epstein's best friend.
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 PM
it will really be something if the Epstein Files unseat a British Prime Minster who isn't in them, and not the American President who was Epstein's best friend.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
This is a famously messy Norwegian biathlete who was banned in 2023 from the Biathlon World Cup because he accidentally fired his competition rifle in his hotel room (he was also teary and apologetic then)
new most bizarre moment of the Olympics just dropped
Norwegian biathlete wins bronze medal, then, totally unprompted, reveal he cheated on his GF, she left him, and he wants to apologize publicly hoping she takes him back
www.vg.no/sport/i/vr5g...
Norwegian biathlete wins bronze medal, then, totally unprompted, reveal he cheated on his GF, she left him, and he wants to apologize publicly hoping she takes him back
www.vg.no/sport/i/vr5g...
February 10, 2026 at 5:35 PM
This is a famously messy Norwegian biathlete who was banned in 2023 from the Biathlon World Cup because he accidentally fired his competition rifle in his hotel room (he was also teary and apologetic then)
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
It's LOOP, which just restocked along with the rest of our glow-in-the-dark + blacklight reactive VAPORWAVE series of watercolor. store.pushpullseattle.com/s/search?q=v...
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
It's LOOP, which just restocked along with the rest of our glow-in-the-dark + blacklight reactive VAPORWAVE series of watercolor. store.pushpullseattle.com/s/search?q=v...
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Everybody knows that Pupper just won Downhill Gold
February 10, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Everybody knows that Pupper just won Downhill Gold
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
🚨BREAKING: Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since 1898, and people still act confused that Puerto Ricans are American.
States that joined after Puerto Rico:
• Oklahoma — 1907
• New Mexico — 1912
• Arizona — 1912
• Alaska — 1959
• Hawaii — 1959
Yet somehow this is still news to folks.
States that joined after Puerto Rico:
• Oklahoma — 1907
• New Mexico — 1912
• Arizona — 1912
• Alaska — 1959
• Hawaii — 1959
Yet somehow this is still news to folks.
February 10, 2026 at 4:36 AM
🚨BREAKING: Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since 1898, and people still act confused that Puerto Ricans are American.
States that joined after Puerto Rico:
• Oklahoma — 1907
• New Mexico — 1912
• Arizona — 1912
• Alaska — 1959
• Hawaii — 1959
Yet somehow this is still news to folks.
States that joined after Puerto Rico:
• Oklahoma — 1907
• New Mexico — 1912
• Arizona — 1912
• Alaska — 1959
• Hawaii — 1959
Yet somehow this is still news to folks.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
I’ve been doomscrolling and am very disappointed to see that a critical news story isn’t being talked about.
That news story is Kid Rock’s lip syncing disaster was PRE-RECORDED.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
That news story is Kid Rock’s lip syncing disaster was PRE-RECORDED.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
February 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
I’ve been doomscrolling and am very disappointed to see that a critical news story isn’t being talked about.
That news story is Kid Rock’s lip syncing disaster was PRE-RECORDED.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
That news story is Kid Rock’s lip syncing disaster was PRE-RECORDED.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Boy Kibble? When MENudo is right there?!
February 9, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Boy Kibble? When MENudo is right there?!
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Bad Bunny's historical advisor is an assistant professor at UW-Madison.
Hell of a flex for your tenure file.
Hell of a flex for your tenure file.
Not at all surprised to learn that Bad Bunny has a historical adviser. His halftime show was a reminder that our history and culture are deeply intertwined with the rest of the western hemisphere. We should think of his performance as part of #America250. #SuperBowl
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu
February 9, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Bad Bunny's historical advisor is an assistant professor at UW-Madison.
Hell of a flex for your tenure file.
Hell of a flex for your tenure file.
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
if you're an author attending BookCon this year (or, to be honest, any other ReedPop events, which include NYCC), and would like to add your name to the letter: forms.gle/V7m2YbcGguAY...
![TO: newyork@relx.com
ATTN: RELX CEO Erik Engstrom, Nick Luff (CFO), and Paul Ashton Walker (Chair)
Re: Immediate Termination of contracts between RELX subsidiaries and ICE
February 9th, 2026
Dear Erik Engstrom, Nick Luff, and Paul Ashton Walker,
We are some of the authors that make events like BookCon—run by your subsidiary, ReedPop—possible. Another of your subsidiaries, LexisNexis, has a $22.1 million dollar contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), supplying them with the data they need to surveil and terrorize our neighbors, friends, and families.[1] We condemn any collaboration with ICE and call for the immediate termination of all contracts between RELX and ICE.
ICE has a twenty-two year history of discrimination and abuse against immigrant communities. Under the current administration, their efforts have escalated in both violence and visibility—enabled by their partners in big data, including LexisNexis.[2]
RELX is a multinational corporation worth $40 billion, of which events like BookCon are only a small fraction. Our power is limited. But BookCon advertises itself as a place where "fantasy meets reality,"[3] and the reality is that RELX is profiting from mass terror against communities of color, including the murder of eight people this year alone. The fantasy is that a bunch of readers and authors could ignore it; we know a villain when we see one.
We, as authors, intend to honor our immediate commitments to BookCon and to our readers. If RELX chooses to renew their current contract with ICE–which expires on February 28, 2026[4]–we will be forced to reevaluate our association with all future ReedPop events.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5c65uqakb4kmnss5zgdsfego/bafkreicnq6khcuo2nkyef76ghhzvaikkm4vojnlasyxpuemjnrtmni4koa@jpeg)
February 9, 2026 at 5:19 PM
if you're an author attending BookCon this year (or, to be honest, any other ReedPop events, which include NYCC), and would like to add your name to the letter: forms.gle/V7m2YbcGguAY...
Reposted by Vlad @ Vertvolta Press
Helpers seeking help! 👇
felinerescue.org is doing this, I have volunteered for them in St. Paul and they need donations!
Feline Rescue, Inc. – Feline Rescue, Inc. is a Minnesota based no-kill companion cat rescue organization
felinerescue.org
February 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Helpers seeking help! 👇