@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

My wife told me to use some upholstery cleaner on the back seat of the car. When I came in she asked how it went.

I said, "Boxer dog one, upholstery zero."

I saw that @blogsh updated to version 1.3. I hadn't installed via git previously, so I went back and did it right. I installed from git, manually migrated my @elegantlich settings into the new settings file, used "doctor" to check everything, then used "rebuild" to rebuild the site using the new install. It looks perfect. It's nice when things just work.

After I work on Elegant Lich for a bit, my next plan is to get ready to start building a blog.sh site to use as an archive for my older stuff.

My post about tracking air quality appears to have some google juice. I can tell because the spammers are leaving comments left and right. Sigh… I can't even read cyrilic writing so I'm never going to approve a comment in Russian or whatever.

Sarah Corrolli, "founder of The Sara Carrolli Ecosystem, an independent literary platform where readers discover thoughtfully selected books through editorial features and reader-focused experiences," wants to let me know she's considering *Revin's Heart* for inclusion. What she doesn't mention anywhere is that her "ecosystem" is evidently in Nigeria — at least that's where her email was sent from.

Every scam message I get is like a slap in the face.

Don't pull the handle on the slop machine. https://stevendbrewer.com/the-slop-machine-and-its-enablers/

#WritersCoffeeClub What are your limits for writing outside your lived experience? (race, nation, gender, etc.)

Obviously none, because I also fly on airships and starships all the time.

"What can't you find!"
"I can't find my porpoise!"
"You don't have a porpoise," Mary said, patiently. "You were not put on the Earth for any particular porpoise."
"My stuffed porpoise!" he yelled. "I had it when I came upstairs!"
"Maybe you should ask the dauphin."
"That's not funny, mom!"
"Did you look behind the bed?"
She heard the springs squeak, then a cry of elation. She rolled her eyes.
"Good night, Billy!"
"Good night, mom!" (2/2) #wss366

Mary sat down with her cup of tea. She heard a loud bang from upstairs and a #tremor ran through the house. Ripples formed in her teacup as the house shook.
"Go to sleep, Billy," she called up.
There were more thumps and bangs and she could hear him yelling as he stomped around in his room.
She sighed, got up from her seat, and walked up the stairs. She stood outside his door.
"What's wrong, Billy?"
"It's gone!" he screamed. "I can't find it!" (1/2) #wss366

Wow. I just saw this today, via @hkrn https://1667.ai/

That's… That's something, alright. Something terrifyingly repellent.

Ooh! And you install it by piping the output of a webpage to sh!

My brother, @philipbrewer, and I are having fun planning to launch a fantasy magazine: https://stevendbrewer.com/elegant-lich-refined-fantasy-for-a-more-civilized-age

RE: https://mastodon.social/@blogsh/117016992194995688

This is the static-site generation system that @philipbrewer and I are trying out for @elegantlich. We're currently using it for our planning blog. We had few hiccups setting it up but so far (knock wood) it's working very smoothly. +1 Would recommend.

The brain treats invented languages like natural languages: "When fluent speakers used invented languages (such as Esperanto, Klingon, the Na'vi language from Avatar, and High Valyrian or Dothraki from Game of Thrones), the brain activated the same neural networks as for a natural language. In other words, there was no difference in how the brain processed natural and invented languages." https://phys.org/news/2026-08-elvish-klingon-pig-latin-languages.html #Esperanto Via #file770

#WritersCoffeeClub How often do you reread what you’ve written after it’s "done"?

Well, "done" has various meanings. It could mean after I've finished writing or after it's published. In general, I like reading my stuff and do often re-read my own stories. During the publication process, however, I have to go back to read and re-read the story over and over again to respond to editor's comments, revise, then check proofs. By the end of that, it's usually a while before I want to read one again.

I read this one to my mom, who laughed and said, "That's a good one."

"Non-human biological androids don't have birthdays," the bear explained. "We are replicated fully grown."
"Why did he say that then?"
"He probably thought he was being funny," the bear said. "The jokes on him, though, because I appreciate the cupcake." He tossed it, like a crumb into his enormous mouth.
"You should take the paper off before you eat it!" Brunhilde advised.
"Paper?" (2/2) #wss366

"Hey! Hey!" Brunhilde said to the bear. "Happy Birthday!" She handed him a cupcake.
"Is today your birthday?" he asked, accepting the cupcake gingerly between two massive claws. "Many happy returns!"
"No!" she said. "Forrest told me it was your birthday!"
The bear shook his head. (1/2) #wss366

#WordWeavers Which fictional setting of yours would you most like to visit?

Probably Sendia Springs on the island of Havelock from *Revin's Heart*. it's a famous vacation spot and resort, located near scenic hot springs. It's an inn loosely modeled on a Japanese onsen, with a bathhouse and fine dining, featuring small plates.

One of my query replies reads, "Thank you for the opportunity to read LADY CECELIA'S JOURNEY, which I have carefully considered but decided to decline. I am sorry to say that I do not think this material would be right for me, and therefore I would not make your most effective advocate."

Here's how the Query Tracker software reflects the response:

#ScribesAndMakers Have you ever turned a short story into a novel?

All the time. When I first started trying to write fiction, I wrote "short stories" that were actually more like the first chapter of a novel. My debut work, *Revin's Heart* started out that way. Similarly, *A Familiar Problem* started out as a short story that clearly needed to be a novel.

"NeoBoxers are fiercely loyal, but they can be independent-minded and will try to become #dominant in relationships where the partner does not take steps to maintain firm control."
"Ain't that right!" Totemo murmured. "I should have listened to these before."
Just then the door popped open and Lambda returned. Totemo abruptly powered off the screen.
Lambda looked at her and barked.
"Nothin'!" Totemo said. "I was just checking to see if there was a new episode of Rogue Android yet." (2/2) #wss366