@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

If I told you you had a tasty chew, would you hold it against me? #DogsOfMastodon

funny story with a bad word

One of the ways you can recognize a local here is because you don't pronounce the H in Amherst. My son was talking to a robot online and it asked what town he was in.
"Amherst," he said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand that. What town are you in?"
"Am-HERST."
"One moment please..."
"Fuckin' robots," he grumbled.

I'm seeing reports that the NIH is going to cap indirect costs on grants at 15%. Currently, at my university, they're set at 61.5%. What this means is that life science research is going to be devastated and universities will be crippled. The overhead is what pays the bonds for the buildings and other big investments that universities have made in order to carry out this expensive work.

If you want to stay current with life science research in future, you might want to start learning Chinese.

*Lady Cecelia's Temptation* is the omake story for *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, a sapphic romantasy road story. It has not yet been scheduled for release, but if you subscribe to my monthly mailing list, you can receive updates when it appears. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

#LesFicFri "Surprise"

"Good morning," Cecelia said.
The girl, not expecting anyone so early, jumped and squealed. Taken by surprise, she spun around. She looked at Cecelia and her eyes widened.
"Good morning, Milady," she breathed. She had picked up that Cecelia was a member of the aristocracy instantly from her accent. "It's going to be a moment before the kitchen is ready. May I bring you a cup of coffee?"
"Tea?"
"Yes, Milady. Of course! Tea!"

The other smiled and merely raised his finger. The man's eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped senseless to the floor. He gasped a time or two and then was still.
"As ye #sow, so shall I reap," he said with a smile, then faded slowly and vanished. (4/4) #wss366

The man took another swig from the bottle as the other approached. Then, with his finger, he twirled his knife around on the bar.
"I thought I'd killed everyone."
"So you did," the other said. "Every one."
"Where were you hiding?"
"I was right here."
"Not for long." He snatched up his knife. (3/4)

He left the bottle on the bar, then walked around the bar. He leaned up against the counter and looked up, inspecting himself in the mirror.
He saw the door open and a figure stepped through from outside: An unassuming figure, wearing dungarees and a Filson vest. (2/4)

The man walked behind the bar, mindful of the pool of blood on the floor. He set his knife on the bar and pulled a bottle out from behind. His hand was tired, so he pulled the cork out with his teeth and spat it out. Then he tipped the bottle of scotch back and took a swallow. Then another. (1/4)

If anyone is curious about my recent story fragment, here's a reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_production#Nanogalvanic_aluminum_alloy_powder

From the third sequel to Revin's Heart. It has not yet been scheduled for publication. To find out when this work-in-progress manuscript is released, you can subscribe to my monthly mailing list. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"It's that light metal that the frame of the Vengeance is constructed from."
"And you can make the powder?"
"Well, no," the Professor growled. "We can tell that its principal component is made from #alum. But we don't yet know how to make the powder. Or the metal. We're working on it." (2/2) #wss366

"We finally figured out what that powder is," the Professor said.
"That powder?" Revin said.
"That powder that can generate hydrogen. It's made from #alum."
"Alum?" Revin asked.
"It's an ore they use in dyeing," the Professor said. "If properly refined, it can be turned into metal. (1/2) #wss366

#WordWeavers Is the world your characters live in a good place to raise kids?

Sure — if you're a member of the aristocracy.

I saw a helpful list of things I could do beyond voting and protesting. But they all involved doing things with other people — like THAT's going to happen…

You can read more about Curtains in Revin's Heart from Water Dragon Publishing. To find out when this work-in-progress manuscript is released, you can subscribe to my monthly mailing list. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"Castleton? Truly?"
"I'm a Castleton: Now, always, and forever," he said, reciting the formula.
She smiled and nodded. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Milord."
"And you, Milady Aspidelle. Now, lest I #abuse your hospitality, let me see to your travel arrangements." (2/2) #wss366

Curtains opened the door to the coach. Inside, sat a young woman wearing a suede traveling costume. Her platinum hair was bound up in a bun with silver wire.
"Good afternoon, Milady," he said.
"And to you, sir," she replied. "May I know your name?"
"Castleton," he said. (1/2)

I'm reminded again of Jane Fountain's distinguished faculty lecture I attended in 2012. She made many interesting and insightful points, but the one that sticks with me most was her observation in the wake of the Arab Spring. It's easy to destroy stable institutions. It's much harder to build them. I fear we're going to experience this first hand. http://blog.bierfaristo.com/content/jane-fountain-technological-change-variable-state-development

I must admit I don't have much patience with people who say they can't leave Facebook. It's not like "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover." Just close the tab and don't go there again. Done.