@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"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.

Something like half of my mastodon feed is being filtered right now.

This NYT article talks about how external costs imposed by businesses on all of us are much larger than the profits they privatize for themselves. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/opinion/philanthropy-charity-billionaires-math.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE4.kc2e.ghT5ad_1Wms5&smid=url-share

But since they're focused on philanthropy, they don't talk about the elephant in the room: the profits oil companies reap while imposing the costs of climate change on the world. The oil executives have made enough money to build apocalypse bunkers, but the costs to the rest of us for an unlivable planet vastly exceed that.

#PennedPossibilities Have you ever wanted to quit writing?

I misread this and thought it said, "Have you ever wanted to quit working?" And I thought, "Only every day of my entire life."

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you agree with Thomas Mann: “A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”

No. But I agree with him when he says, "Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil."

I posted this in July. The actions taken by the new administration (e.g. imposing tariffs, cutting federal spending, reducing immigrant labor, creating uncertainty) all seem likely to tank the economy. Get ready for things to get a lot worse. https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer/112832185241068090

A customer at the pro shop was angrily haranguing the clerk.
"What's going on?" the wife asked.
"He says that they're colluding to over-charge on the tennis equipment."
"So it's a racket racket racket?"
"Ugh."
"I'll be here the whole week," she said. "Tip your waitress. Try the veal."

#wss366

The #wss366 word for today is #racket — a fitting word for the times. I look forward to reading what people do with it!

On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. But they can tell if you're an asshole.

#SilentSunday View from Sequoia National Monument photographed using Kodachrome, January 1991.

The bear took a drag from his smoke. He stood in the deep shadows of giant hemlocks, while he observed the drama play out.
The man rubbed his shoulder and cursed as he headed to the trash can.
"That's gonna leave a #mark," the bear growled to himself, breathing out smoke. (4/4) #wss366

"And WHO is going to dispose of it properly?" Forrest continued. His beak clacked sharply near the man's ear, making him jump.
"I will!"
Forrest dropped the wrapper and with a powerful beat of his wings, lifted silently back into the air, to resume his patrol. (3/4) #wss366

"Whoa!" the man said, then froze as razor-sharp talons dug into his flesh.
"WHO dropped this?" Forrest asked, holding the wrapper up before the man's eyes, the talons of his other foot digging in even further to maintain his balance.
"I… I did!" the man stammered. (2/4) #wss366