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Matthew Claxton

@matthewclaxton.bsky.social

1.3K followers 540 following 8.4K posts

Semi-failed science fiction and fantasy writer, semi-successful local newspaper reporter. Deeply confused most of the time. He/him

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · Apr 24

My newspaper is on here now – if you're interested in local news in the Langley, British Columbia area, you could do worse than to follow @advancetimes.bsky.social.

Well, I write for it, so I guess that may alter your opinion. But still! Here since 1931! Still in print and online!

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Stephen Kotowych 🇨🇦 @ourmankoto.bsky.social · 9h

Submissions are OPEN for Year's Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction: Volume Four (the best of 2025). Send me your SFF published in 2025, you crazy Canucks! Details on my site at the link below. DON'T SELF REJECT! You can't win if you don't play ;) Subs close Feb 28, 2026. Pls share WIDELY.

Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction | Stephen Kotowych

kotowych.com

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

lilli @toomanymouths.bsky.social · 6h

i love that when someone tries to communicate a Color That Shouldn't Exist in a cosmic horror movie, invariably it's just like. purple

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 5h

This is the one that immediately comes to mind:

How a 14-year-long legal fight left valuable Langley land vacant

$40 million lots grew weeds while business partners battled in court

www.langleyadvancetimes.com

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 5h

In many jurisdictions (like Canada!) an informal contract between business partners, even a verbal contract can be enforceable.

But I know this because, as a reporter, I've covered some of the times it has gone very, very, VERY wrong.

Just pay a lawyer, if anything important is at stake.

Kathryn Tewson @kathryntewson.bsky.social · 7h

Nick: "Users are able to use natural language to describe what they want - whether that’s to create a contract, review one or something else related to contracts - and have AI do the work for them. "

The T&C:

IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
NOT A LAW FIRM

GitLaw is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal representation, or legal services. We are a technology platform that provides AI-powered tools for document drafting, review, and management. GitLaw's services, including any AI-generated content, documents, or suggestions, do not constitute the practice of law and are not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney.

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 12h

FRIENDS!

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 12h

George Frederick Ives – wrote a bit about him many years later.

Remembrance Day: Langley played a part in Britain’s war in South Africa

The last living veteran of the Boer War died in Aldergrove at age 111

www.langleyadvancetimes.com

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 12h

When I was a Cub Scout in the 1980s, I attended Remembrance Day ceremonies where an old man would stand up and be recognized – the last surviving veteran of the Boer War. He lived long enough to see commercials for Nintendo.

He died at the age of 111.

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 12h

Brings back memories of the time a guy tried to run over another guy with a truck in the parking lot of the Aldergrove CPO.

Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Tyler Olsen @tyolsen.bsky.social · 23h

NEW: I teamed up with @castanetkamloops.net to write this long in-depth account of Reid Hamer-Jackson's three years as mayor of Kamloops. I also talked to the unrepentant mayor for two hours.

thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Mayor of Chaos: How Kamloops Politics Became Infamous | The Tyee

Car dealer Reid Hamer-Jackson won office with charisma and ideas. Then the wheels came off.

thetyee.ca

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Ville Sinkkonen @villesinkkonen.bsky.social · Dec 3

Assorted carboniferous critters

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 14h

Meanwhile, in B.C., the ruling NDP are relatively unpopular, they have a bare-minimum majority in the Legislature… and they're batting around the opposition Conservatives like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn.

The NDP sets a trap. The B.C. Conservatives walk right into it

Vaughn Palmer: Opposition leader pulls his MLAs from the legislature to avoid appearing split on social issue vote

vancouversun.com

Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Michael Whelan @michaelwhelan.bsky.social · 14h

THE NONBORN KING (1983)
Mixed Media on Watercolor Board - 28” x 18”

Once or twice a year, for a change of pace, I work in watercolors as I did in this painting. Sometime later I decided that I should have used acrylics instead. 1/4

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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 15h

Cheap renewables now generating more power than expensive coal on a global basis. This is entirely unsurprising and hugely important from a climate and economic perspective.

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 15h

And 2025 is on pace to exceed 2024.

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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 15h

This is remarkable. The world added more solar and wind capacity in 2024 than we added demand. 100% of demand growth PLUS 9% to retire dirtier sources. Cheap energy keeps winning. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

Reminding me again that I need to read Hopeland…

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

Anna Burns @annaburns.bsky.social · 1d

Surrey Sikh temple president murder case adjourned again www.surreynowleader.com/local-news/s...

Surrey Sikh temple president murder case adjourned again

Next hearing set for Nov. 20 at B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster

www.surreynowleader.com

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

Huh. I think that might include this kind of novels, but be broader in scope, as well…

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

Most of the examples definitely come from outside traditional genre publishing, but I can think of some examples from firmly within, as well. Ken MacLeod's The Stone Canal and The Sky Road, from his Fall Revolution series, include 1970s student protest strands, and post-singularity mind uploading.

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

Real question – is there a term of art for the Cloud Atlas-style novel that includes historical, contemporary, and future/science fiction-style strands?

And if there isn't, why not?

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Reposted by Matthew Claxton

♔Prince ✨Gunpowder Messenger ⚙💌 @prlnce.bsky.social · 1d

all a writer has to do is say "wow that sure was a bummer that no one read the thing i put so much work into!" for the community to start banshee shrieking "write for yourself or fail" as if writing for ourselves AND wanting as social creatures for our art to be seen and acknowledged can't coexist

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Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

My schadenfraude will be very real.

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

Or, AI-native feeds could destroy existing social media in the same way that social media gutted the previous ecosystem.

Maybe it's evolving towards the perfect distraction engine, an infinite chain of dopamine microdoses, good enough to watch, bad enough you always need just one more.

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

I am really curious to see what this does to viewership.

My cynical side says "nothing," that TikTok and most of YouTube and Instagram were already empty calories and it won't impact their model at all. Could make it more powerful, more addictive, in fact?

Matthew Claxton @matthewclaxton.bsky.social · 1d

So… with Sora2 out, how long before we get articles about the professional streamers/influencers who suddenly see their viewership numbers plummet toward zero as the algorithm pivots to an infinite amount of free genAI bullshit?

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