Alistair Young
@cerebrate.schelling.pt.ap.brid.gy
Science fiction writer. Speaker to minerals. Consensualist. Illeist. Pony and kanmusu stan. Can call spirits from the vasty deep!
[bridged from https://schelling.pt/@cerebrate on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
[bridged from https://schelling.pt/@cerebrate on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Foreign Dealings - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/25/foreign-dealings
We all know how, but this is where.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
We all know how, but this is where.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Foreign Dealings
I've been feeling moderately like crud all month (possibly weather, plague, lingering COVID, acute state of paranoia brought on by not being a native-spawned American in the US these days, that sort of thing) and not been getting much done. So have some little worldbuilding snacklets that I have managed
eldraeverse.com
June 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Foreign Dealings - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/25/foreign-dealings
We all know how, but this is where.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
We all know how, but this is where.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Story idea: a mad scientist looking for the ideal woman.
He solves this problem by building a machine which can transport him bodily into the Realm of Forms, where all the perfect archetypes dwell.
But then he realizes the flaw in his plan.
The love, too, is Platonic.
(Ba-dum tish.)
He solves this problem by building a machine which can transport him bodily into the Realm of Forms, where all the perfect archetypes dwell.
But then he realizes the flaw in his plan.
The love, too, is Platonic.
(Ba-dum tish.)
June 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Story idea: a mad scientist looking for the ideal woman.
He solves this problem by building a machine which can transport him bodily into the Realm of Forms, where all the perfect archetypes dwell.
But then he realizes the flaw in his plan.
The love, too, is Platonic.
(Ba-dum tish.)
He solves this problem by building a machine which can transport him bodily into the Realm of Forms, where all the perfect archetypes dwell.
But then he realizes the flaw in his plan.
The love, too, is Platonic.
(Ba-dum tish.)
The Will Is The Deed
Variations on psychokinesis as they exist in the 'verse.
https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/17/the-will-is-the-deed/
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Variations on psychokinesis as they exist in the 'verse.
https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/17/the-will-is-the-deed/
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
The Will Is The Deed
In this introductory textbook, we will discuss the basic techniques of the psychokinetic arts, from the trivial through the trained with a brief reflection on the rarely attained exotic abilities, and then pass on to focus upon each in turn. We shall discuss, however, only the simplest techniques which form
eldraeverse.com
June 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The Will Is The Deed
Variations on psychokinesis as they exist in the 'verse.
https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/17/the-will-is-the-deed/
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Variations on psychokinesis as they exist in the 'verse.
https://eldraeverse.com/2025/06/17/the-will-is-the-deed/
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
I feel the urge to note at this point that while it is obviously illegal for someone who is not a US citizen to vote hereabouts, it's perfectly legal for them to not-vote.
Hell, I legally not-voted six times before breakfast today, and I'll probably not-vote again before dinner.
Hell, I legally not-voted six times before breakfast today, and I'll probably not-vote again before dinner.
June 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I feel the urge to note at this point that while it is obviously illegal for someone who is not a US citizen to vote hereabouts, it's perfectly legal for them to not-vote.
Hell, I legally not-voted six times before breakfast today, and I'll probably not-vote again before dinner.
Hell, I legally not-voted six times before breakfast today, and I'll probably not-vote again before dinner.
[pol]
I'm sure it's very satisfying to people to declare their opponents' belief systems, in one way or another, "incompatible with democracy", but if one wants to stay in contact with reality, one really does have to admit that a large proportion of The People really *are* just dumb, cruel […]
I'm sure it's very satisfying to people to declare their opponents' belief systems, in one way or another, "incompatible with democracy", but if one wants to stay in contact with reality, one really does have to admit that a large proportion of The People really *are* just dumb, cruel […]
Original post on schelling.pt
schelling.pt
June 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
[pol]
I'm sure it's very satisfying to people to declare their opponents' belief systems, in one way or another, "incompatible with democracy", but if one wants to stay in contact with reality, one really does have to admit that a large proportion of The People really *are* just dumb, cruel […]
I'm sure it's very satisfying to people to declare their opponents' belief systems, in one way or another, "incompatible with democracy", but if one wants to stay in contact with reality, one really does have to admit that a large proportion of The People really *are* just dumb, cruel […]
The five states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and weird-ass.
June 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The five states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and weird-ass.
Am I better or worse at recognizing endless screamwhining of "RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH" because my default is to not?
June 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Am I better or worse at recognizing endless screamwhining of "RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH" because my default is to not?
The thing that occurs to me, considering the #nokings protests, is that quotation -
"Any man who must say, 'I am the king,' is no king."
- observing, as one does, that Trump says little else.
"Any man who must say, 'I am the king,' is no king."
- observing, as one does, that Trump says little else.
June 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The thing that occurs to me, considering the #nokings protests, is that quotation -
"Any man who must say, 'I am the king,' is no king."
- observing, as one does, that Trump says little else.
"Any man who must say, 'I am the king,' is no king."
- observing, as one does, that Trump says little else.
I was writing a thing about how smart-matter/nanoweapons are unsuitable for starships because given engagement ranges and prevalent space radiation, you'd basically be hurling blobs of seething necrotic robocancer at each other.
But that just makes it sound cooler than it is.
(Also, "Seething […]
But that just makes it sound cooler than it is.
(Also, "Seething […]
Original post on schelling.pt
schelling.pt
June 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I was writing a thing about how smart-matter/nanoweapons are unsuitable for starships because given engagement ranges and prevalent space radiation, you'd basically be hurling blobs of seething necrotic robocancer at each other.
But that just makes it sound cooler than it is.
(Also, "Seething […]
But that just makes it sound cooler than it is.
(Also, "Seething […]
Today I once again discover that I am both a strong supporter of civil liberties and a strong opponent of *incivil* liberties.
June 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Today I once again discover that I am both a strong supporter of civil liberties and a strong opponent of *incivil* liberties.
Cultural translation in speculative fiction is necessary due to the limited number of readers prepared to deal with sentences along the lines of "Yon clut-manging nimp's a limit-switching no-op, not so?" one after another.
June 1, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Cultural translation in speculative fiction is necessary due to the limited number of readers prepared to deal with sentences along the lines of "Yon clut-manging nimp's a limit-switching no-op, not so?" one after another.
In a hole in the ground there lived an astronaut.
May 30, 2025 at 6:49 PM
In a hole in the ground there lived an astronaut.
Reposted by Alistair Young
May 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
It irritates me quite unreasonably that our asshole of a Vice President shares a surname with one of my favorite authors.
#zerothworldproblems
#zerothworldproblems
May 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
It irritates me quite unreasonably that our asshole of a Vice President shares a surname with one of my favorite authors.
#zerothworldproblems
#zerothworldproblems
The Pompatus of Love Considered as a Magical Artifact.
May 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The Pompatus of Love Considered as a Magical Artifact.
A breed of hellhound raised for their exceptionally potent fiery breath: the blastiff.
May 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
A breed of hellhound raised for their exceptionally potent fiery breath: the blastiff.
Today I shall invent the a tiny antipersonnel mine, and I shall call it the clay-s'more.
May 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Today I shall invent the a tiny antipersonnel mine, and I shall call it the clay-s'more.
*ChatGPT no longer lets you cuss it out*
Other People: "This is UNACCEPTABLE! Machines are our SLAVES! What's next, a hammer that won't work if you're mean to it! RARRGH!"
Me: "Oh brave new world where nothing works for assholes, not even simple machines. Speed thy advent."
Other People: "This is UNACCEPTABLE! Machines are our SLAVES! What's next, a hammer that won't work if you're mean to it! RARRGH!"
Me: "Oh brave new world where nothing works for assholes, not even simple machines. Speed thy advent."
May 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
*ChatGPT no longer lets you cuss it out*
Other People: "This is UNACCEPTABLE! Machines are our SLAVES! What's next, a hammer that won't work if you're mean to it! RARRGH!"
Me: "Oh brave new world where nothing works for assholes, not even simple machines. Speed thy advent."
Other People: "This is UNACCEPTABLE! Machines are our SLAVES! What's next, a hammer that won't work if you're mean to it! RARRGH!"
Me: "Oh brave new world where nothing works for assholes, not even simple machines. Speed thy advent."
Death, and How We Give It To You - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/05/27/death-and-how-we-give-it-to-you/
Death penalties, of various sorts.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Death penalties, of various sorts.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Death, And How We Give It To You
So, in reader questions of the day: I swear I saw an entry for the levels of execution, ranging from kill current instantiation, restore, to kill them, their back ups and the servers they rode in on. Am I misremembering? And since I don't recall any such thing existing, I
eldraeverse.com
May 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Death, and How We Give It To You - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/05/27/death-and-how-we-give-it-to-you/
Death penalties, of various sorts.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Death penalties, of various sorts.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Contemplate this on the tree of woe.
May 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Contemplate this on the tree of woe.
Sky Chonker - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/05/21/sky-chonker/
Air travel for non-peasants.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Air travel for non-peasants.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Sky Chonker
The largest passenger-carrying aeronef of the pre-superwing era - and the second-largest aeronef of any type, exceeded only by the same manufacturer's Teliríän's Talon-class lifting-body cargo hauler - was unquestionably the Simurgh-class skyliner. The brainchild of fêted designer Amélys Skybreaker of Cisspatiale Aerospace, Simurgh was intended to be the ultimate
eldraeverse.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Sky Chonker - https://eldraeverse.com/2025/05/21/sky-chonker/
Air travel for non-peasants.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Air travel for non-peasants.
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
Opens up a check valve.
"Hello, poppet."
"Hello, poppet."
May 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Opens up a check valve.
"Hello, poppet."
"Hello, poppet."
So, looks like iOS 18.4.1/iOS 18.5 has broken Pi-hole and other DNS filtering mechanisms.
Damn their sleek and shiny hides.
Details:
https://open.substack.com/pub/randombytes/p/pi-hole-and-ios-1841185?r=8byfa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Damn their sleek and shiny hides.
Details:
https://open.substack.com/pub/randombytes/p/pi-hole-and-ios-1841185?r=8byfa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Pi-hole and iOS 18.4.1/18.5
A warning of nasty surprises to come.
randombytes.substack.com
May 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
So, looks like iOS 18.4.1/iOS 18.5 has broken Pi-hole and other DNS filtering mechanisms.
Damn their sleek and shiny hides.
Details:
https://open.substack.com/pub/randombytes/p/pi-hole-and-ios-1841185?r=8byfa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Damn their sleek and shiny hides.
Details:
https://open.substack.com/pub/randombytes/p/pi-hole-and-ios-1841185?r=8byfa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
[tariffic]
If Amazon won't do it, how's about someone writes a nice little browser extension to display the cost of tariffs on every product page?
This would of course be "hostile" and "political", but if you didn't want people to know about all the "good" you're doing, you shouldn't have […]
If Amazon won't do it, how's about someone writes a nice little browser extension to display the cost of tariffs on every product page?
This would of course be "hostile" and "political", but if you didn't want people to know about all the "good" you're doing, you shouldn't have […]
Original post on schelling.pt
schelling.pt
April 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
[tariffic]
If Amazon won't do it, how's about someone writes a nice little browser extension to display the cost of tariffs on every product page?
This would of course be "hostile" and "political", but if you didn't want people to know about all the "good" you're doing, you shouldn't have […]
If Amazon won't do it, how's about someone writes a nice little browser extension to display the cost of tariffs on every product page?
This would of course be "hostile" and "political", but if you didn't want people to know about all the "good" you're doing, you shouldn't have […]
"I don't know how things are where you come from, but around here you're going to find that all the laboratories come with a shrine to the God of Science."
(Whose traditional invocation is "Let me have the clarity to see things as they are.")
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
(Whose traditional invocation is "Let me have the clarity to see things as they are.")
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
April 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"I don't know how things are where you come from, but around here you're going to find that all the laboratories come with a shrine to the God of Science."
(Whose traditional invocation is "Let me have the clarity to see things as they are.")
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing
(Whose traditional invocation is "Let me have the clarity to see things as they are.")
#eldraeverse #sciencefiction #writing