Michael Hanscom
@michaelhans.com
Enthusiastic ambivert. Geeky, liberal, friendly, curious, hopepunk; trying to be a good person. (he/him) 🖖
Primarily a Mastodon user (@[email protected]); semi-active here. Blogging since the '90s: https://michaelhans.com/
Primarily a Mastodon user (@[email protected]); semi-active here. Blogging since the '90s: https://michaelhans.com/
Pinned
Michael Hanscom
@michaelhans.com
· May 4
Old policy: No #AltText = no boost.
New policy: No alt text OR bad alt text = no boost, except in rare instances when I find it worthwhile to write better alt text for you, in which case I will also mock you for your original poor or absent alt text.
New policy: No alt text OR bad alt text = no boost, except in rare instances when I find it worthwhile to write better alt text for you, in which case I will also mock you for your original poor or absent alt text.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: 58/2025: ⭐️: Whether it’s because I’m not enough of a fantasy fan, or not English enough, or some other thing, this was _not_ my thing.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
58/2025: ⭐️: Whether it’s because I’m not enough of a fantasy fan, or not English enough, or some other thing, this was _not_ my thing.
michaelhans.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: 58/2025: ⭐️: Whether it’s because I’m not enough of a fantasy fan, or not English enough, or some other thing, this was _not_ my thing.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Well, that’s disappointing: 5 a.m., and the LEGO Enterprise-D is already sold out. 😞 Signed up for the “notify when back in stock” list, but unless they open ordering back up really soon, there’ll be no way to get the “free gift with purchase” shuttle pod with Ro Laren.
November 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Well, that’s disappointing: 5 a.m., and the LEGO Enterprise-D is already sold out. 😞 Signed up for the “notify when back in stock” list, but unless they open ordering back up really soon, there’ll be no way to get the “free gift with purchase” shuttle pod with Ro Laren.
Nice quiet day for us. Slept in, then spent the day alternating reading & munching. Wore my PNW turkey day themed t-shirt. FaceTimed w/mom in the afternoon, watched a few 30 Rock episodes this evening. Hope all of you had good Thanksgivings/turkey days/Thursdays (pick one or more as appropriate)!
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Nice quiet day for us. Slept in, then spent the day alternating reading & munching. Wore my PNW turkey day themed t-shirt. FaceTimed w/mom in the afternoon, watched a few 30 Rock episodes this evening. Hope all of you had good Thanksgivings/turkey days/Thursdays (pick one or more as appropriate)!
I had tonight’s* Final Jeopardy before Ken finished reading it. Only one of the three contestants knew.
Category: 1980s TV
Answer: This spin-off premiered 21 years after the show that inspired it but took place nearly a century later.
* Last night’s, but we watch it streaming, so delayed by a day.
Category: 1980s TV
Answer: This spin-off premiered 21 years after the show that inspired it but took place nearly a century later.
* Last night’s, but we watch it streaming, so delayed by a day.
November 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
I had tonight’s* Final Jeopardy before Ken finished reading it. Only one of the three contestants knew.
Category: 1980s TV
Answer: This spin-off premiered 21 years after the show that inspired it but took place nearly a century later.
* Last night’s, but we watch it streaming, so delayed by a day.
Category: 1980s TV
Answer: This spin-off premiered 21 years after the show that inspired it but took place nearly a century later.
* Last night’s, but we watch it streaming, so delayed by a day.
Happy pseudo-Friday (if that's what it is for you; otherwise, happy Wednesday)!
November 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Happy pseudo-Friday (if that's what it is for you; otherwise, happy Wednesday)!
Dreamt that I and others were interviewing candidates for something, when one of the candidates to walk in was Steven Wright. Only in a very Steven Wright way, he walked over and sat at the end of the interviewers’ table like he belonged there, and gestured for the next candidate to come in.
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Dreamt that I and others were interviewing candidates for something, when one of the candidates to walk in was Steven Wright. Only in a very Steven Wright way, he walked over and sat at the end of the interviewers’ table like he belonged there, and gestured for the next candidate to come in.
Post your warning label.
One of these days I want to turn this one into a shirt.
One of these days I want to turn this one into a shirt.
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Post your warning label.
One of these days I want to turn this one into a shirt.
One of these days I want to turn this one into a shirt.
Half-seriously considering adding "Bulterian Jihadist" to my standard bio line, save for the likely responses from random people who don't get the reference and just flip out at the second word in the phrase.
Reference, in case you need it: dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butleri...
Reference, in case you need it: dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butleri...
Butlerian Jihad
"We must negate the machines-that-think. Humans must set their own guidelines. This is not something machines can do. Reasoning depends upon programming, not on hardware, and we are the ultimate progr...
dune.fandom.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Half-seriously considering adding "Bulterian Jihadist" to my standard bio line, save for the likely responses from random people who don't get the reference and just flip out at the second word in the phrase.
Reference, in case you need it: dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butleri...
Reference, in case you need it: dune.fandom.com/wiki/Butleri...
Weekly Notes: November 17–23, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Weekly Notes: November 17–23, 2025
A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.
michaelhans.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Weekly Notes: November 17–23, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
David Macaulay's "Enterprise"; one episode for each variation (1701, refit, A, B, C, D, etc.).
(This one will likely resonate most for 1980's PBS kids who discovered Macaulay's "Castle", "Pyramid", and "Cathedral" documentaries.)
(Here's Castle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbP...)
(This one will likely resonate most for 1980's PBS kids who discovered Macaulay's "Castle", "Pyramid", and "Cathedral" documentaries.)
(Here's Castle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbP...)
November 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
David Macaulay's "Enterprise"; one episode for each variation (1701, refit, A, B, C, D, etc.).
(This one will likely resonate most for 1980's PBS kids who discovered Macaulay's "Castle", "Pyramid", and "Cathedral" documentaries.)
(Here's Castle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbP...)
(This one will likely resonate most for 1980's PBS kids who discovered Macaulay's "Castle", "Pyramid", and "Cathedral" documentaries.)
(Here's Castle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbP...)
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
For me it's the way the press pool just quietly went along with it because he's the president
The entire point of this country is that we don't have to let some guy do whatever he wants just because of his title. We don't have to respect him or go along with him just because he holds an office
The entire point of this country is that we don't have to let some guy do whatever he wants just because of his title. We don't have to respect him or go along with him just because he holds an office
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
November 19, 2025 at 2:26 AM
For me it's the way the press pool just quietly went along with it because he's the president
The entire point of this country is that we don't have to let some guy do whatever he wants just because of his title. We don't have to respect him or go along with him just because he holds an office
The entire point of this country is that we don't have to let some guy do whatever he wants just because of his title. We don't have to respect him or go along with him just because he holds an office
Congratulations to Highline's exempt professional staff for reaching a huge milestone towards unionizing with our first card signings tonight!
#union #UnionStrong
#union #UnionStrong
November 19, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Congratulations to Highline's exempt professional staff for reaching a huge milestone towards unionizing with our first card signings tonight!
#union #UnionStrong
#union #UnionStrong
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
The recent video by @patrickhwillems.bsky.social about Legacy Sequels is quite interesting, and far less excoriating about the phenomenon than I had expected.
In light of this, I'm going to hammer out a thread of the Legacy Sequels I *ACTUALLY* want Hollywood to make.
1/X
In light of this, I'm going to hammer out a thread of the Legacy Sequels I *ACTUALLY* want Hollywood to make.
1/X
How Legacy Sequels Took Over Hollywood
YouTube video by Patrick (H) Willems
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The recent video by @patrickhwillems.bsky.social about Legacy Sequels is quite interesting, and far less excoriating about the phenomenon than I had expected.
In light of this, I'm going to hammer out a thread of the Legacy Sequels I *ACTUALLY* want Hollywood to make.
1/X
In light of this, I'm going to hammer out a thread of the Legacy Sequels I *ACTUALLY* want Hollywood to make.
1/X
Today’s edition of “songs I wished existed outside of my head”: #GarthBrooks’s “Ain’t Goin’ Down ‘till the Sun Comes Up” as covered by ‘90s JBMH-era #Ministry, with #LesClaypool on vocals.
I’ve wanted to hear this one for around three decades now.
I’ve wanted to hear this one for around three decades now.
November 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Today’s edition of “songs I wished existed outside of my head”: #GarthBrooks’s “Ain’t Goin’ Down ‘till the Sun Comes Up” as covered by ‘90s JBMH-era #Ministry, with #LesClaypool on vocals.
I’ve wanted to hear this one for around three decades now.
I’ve wanted to hear this one for around three decades now.
Weekly Notes: November 10–16, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
michaelhans.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Weekly Notes: November 10–16, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
As seen at Safeway while shopping. Pretty sure it actually says "Sassy Cat", but we both saw "Sassy Gay".
November 17, 2025 at 1:51 AM
As seen at Safeway while shopping. Pretty sure it actually says "Sassy Cat", but we both saw "Sassy Gay".
I keep getting this ad for a photographer's bag on my Facebook feed, and every single time, there's a brief moment when I think it's the cover for the CD single of #Ministry's "Jesus Built My Hotrod". 🤣
November 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I keep getting this ad for a photographer's bag on my Facebook feed, and every single time, there's a brief moment when I think it's the cover for the CD single of #Ministry's "Jesus Built My Hotrod". 🤣
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
I can't even fathom what January will look like, except probably very bad for the Trump regime.
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
The timetable evidently has been accelerated.
What's your new predication for when we get to January?
I'll just throw a random one out there: They do release the Epstein files but only after Trump had time to preemptively pardon himself and he tells his base he had to cause it was a Dem smear job.
What's your new predication for when we get to January?
I'll just throw a random one out there: They do release the Epstein files but only after Trump had time to preemptively pardon himself and he tells his base he had to cause it was a Dem smear job.
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I can't even fathom what January will look like, except probably very bad for the Trump regime.
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
Just finished updating the @norwescon.org historical archives with a new, high-quality scan of an original 1978 Norwescon 1 program book autographed by Theodore Sturgeon, Alan E. Nourse, Poul Anderson, J.F. Bone, Vonda N. McIntyre, H. Warner Munn, Sydney J. Van Scyoc, and John Varley!
Norwescon 1 Program Book · Norwescon History
Historical archives for Norwescon, the Pacific Northwest's premier fantasy and science-fiction convention.
history.norwescon.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Just finished updating the @norwescon.org historical archives with a new, high-quality scan of an original 1978 Norwescon 1 program book autographed by Theodore Sturgeon, Alan E. Nourse, Poul Anderson, J.F. Bone, Vonda N. McIntyre, H. Warner Munn, Sydney J. Van Scyoc, and John Varley!
Weekly Notes: November 3–9, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
michaelhans.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Weekly Notes: November 3–9, 2025: A week in the life of…. Thoughts, photos, links, and miscellany from the past week.… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
oh holy shit I need to never go there again
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
oh holy shit I need to never go there again
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
I LEARNED THE ANSWER TO THIS
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
what did ruth mean when she said her steakhouse was "chris"
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I LEARNED THE ANSWER TO THIS
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Affinity by Canva Accessible PDF Output Test: Canva/Affinity is making improvements, but Affinity in its current state is definitely _not_ ready to be a replacement for Adobe InDesign. But I'm happy to see the progress they've made, and really ho… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Affinity by Canva Accessible PDF Output Test
Canva/Affinity is making improvements, but Affinity in its current state is definitely _not_ ready to be a replacement for Adobe InDesign. But I'm happy to see the progress they've made, and really hope...
michaelhans.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Affinity by Canva Accessible PDF Output Test: Canva/Affinity is making improvements, but Affinity in its current state is definitely _not_ ready to be a replacement for Adobe InDesign. But I'm happy to see the progress they've made, and really ho… michaelhans.com/eclecticism/...
Reposted by Michael Hanscom
heads up to anyone who holds trans kids near: amy harmon from the nyt is searching for and having a hard time finding people to interview to find out exactly what trans kids are doing when their care is limited or cut off, and for purposes of community safety, please shut the fuck up around her.
November 5, 2025 at 8:54 PM
heads up to anyone who holds trans kids near: amy harmon from the nyt is searching for and having a hard time finding people to interview to find out exactly what trans kids are doing when their care is limited or cut off, and for purposes of community safety, please shut the fuck up around her.