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"I'm a biological android. Real bears can't talk. I was made for a circus, to be scary."
He suddenly stood up and roared at her.
Brunhilde was unfazed. She clapped, laughing at his performance.
"Weren't you scared?" he asked.
"Of course not," she scoffed. "I know you'd never hurt me." (2/2) #wss366

"Hey! Hey!" Brunhilde said, walking alongside the bear. "Do you #wash everything before you eat it?"
"No. You're thinking of a raccoon," the bear said. "People sometimes call them 'wash-bears.' But they're not really a bear. Of course, I'm not really a bear either."
"You're not?" (1/2) #wss366

#ScribesAndMakers 17. Tell us about a book you like despite its cover (don't show the cover yet)

There was a book by @cstross (The Apocalypse Codex) that had a cover I couldn't stand. I checked the book out twice from the library, but every time I looked at the cover, I just couldn't make myself read it. I finally bought the ebook and, since I could just skip past the cover, and not have to see it every time I picked up the ereader, I could read the story — which I enjoyed immensely.

This is… Well… I… Uh… This is interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWnKAkr1X6E

I finally got the mysterious text on my fountain pen translated. https://stevendbrewer.com/pretty-fountain-pens/

"Need a #light?" the bear said, offering them his lighter.
"Oh, thank you!"
The man lit the coals. Flames soon rose and began to lick the grill. He passed the lighter back and the bear ambled away.
"Where do you suppose he keeps that thing?" the woman whispered to the man.
He shrugged. (2/2) #wss366

The bear wandered through the picnic area as people happily cooked out — many for the first time. Then he heard raised voices.
"Did you forget to pack it?" a man said.
"I'm sure I put it in there!" a woman replied.
They were digging through their supplies frantically looking for something. (1/2) #wss366

One of the things I appreciated the most about the Before Times was non-partisan government. I'm sure it wasn't always true then either. For the most part, however, government policy was driven by functionaries that were guided by the science and evidence, and not transparently corrupt as they are now. Now, everything is partisan and policy changes are seemingly entirely driven by fulfilling vendettas against opponents or findings ways to drive profits toward oneself and one's allies. It's sick.

On Disability Pride Month and representing disability in fiction. https://stevendbrewer.com/disability-pride-month-and-representing-disability-in-fiction/ #writing

I quite like this p-pop song, Pantropiko (and I think Maloi is a new favorite idol.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx31bB2vMns

Everything at Masuda's is Tanuki-approved, but she can't give them a thumbs-up. #DogsOfMastodon #WesternMass https://masudascafe.com/

My son had to run an errand this morning, so I have a parrot-boxer this morning. After him being gone all day yesterday, Tanuki's fixin' to go 'nuki-lar. #DogsOfMastodon

@asakiyume “Science often works like that,” Dr. Camerlenghi said. “You search for one thing and end up finding something else, which sometimes turns out to be even more interesting than what you were originally after.”

Perhaps relevant to the interests of @asakiyume… https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/science/ocelots-opossums-friends-video.html?unlocked_article_code=1.W08.puBw.1LPO7V2sYGWh&smid=url-share

Republicans are pushing universities to make "diversity hires" of unqualified conservative faculty. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/conservative-professors-viewpoint-diversity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.W08.SK7H.tYbi1iO9z9Oj&smid=url-share

Dogs aren't allowed at Nature Conservancy properties (though we saw someone else with a dog) so poor Ta-chan had to stay home with my wife. She said she was a perfect angel — while she was sleeping. #DogsOfMastodon

I went hiking at the Wales Preserve in Southern New Hampshire. It's a beautiful trail along a cascade of waterfalls with lots of moss, lichens, ferns, and liverworts. #Mosstodon #LichenSubscribe #WortsUpDoc

Ooh! The new ribbons have arrived in time for Readercon! https://stevendbrewer.com/whats-in-your-dna/

Forest bathing in New Hampshire.

The ground crew cheered as the pirates returned, bringing their captured airship with them. The sign painter stepped up.
"What shall we name her?"
"She's a real bounty…" one pirate said.
"How about Bosom Bounty?" said another.
"No. That would need to be Bosom Bounties."
"Bosoms Bounty?"
"What be this?" the Captain thundered. "A grammar school? She'll be Betty's Bounty."
"Aye-aye," the men said, without enthusiasm. #wss366