Alex Hughes ( Capell )
@alexhughescapell.bsky.social
Professional ghostwriter. Penguin published author of Mindspace (telepath detective in future) & other SF/F. Nerd. Spoonie. Fan of nuance and complex things.
What's a book you're reading lately and love?
Mine is Dungeon Crawler Carl. It's bonkers but clever, fast-paced, and fun.
Mine is Dungeon Crawler Carl. It's bonkers but clever, fast-paced, and fun.
November 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
What's a book you're reading lately and love?
Mine is Dungeon Crawler Carl. It's bonkers but clever, fast-paced, and fun.
Mine is Dungeon Crawler Carl. It's bonkers but clever, fast-paced, and fun.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
Hooray, an @xkcd.com about tides! Although only little ones, round here we can get a tidal range of 10 *metres* .
xkcd.com/3135/
xkcd.com/3135/
![[Single frame, with Megan and Cueball standing at a coastline with grass, with water and waves visible. They are looking at the ocean and are standing together.]
Cueball: Hey, where's that big island we were looking at this morning?
Megan: Oh, it's underwater. The ocean's depth here goes up and down by like ten feet every day.
Cueball: What?
Megan: It's because the planet has a big moon orbiting near the surface. It causes weird gravity effects.
Cueball: What???
[Caption below the frame:]
People here are used to them, but tides are one of the weirdest and most sci-fi elements of life on Earth.
Transcript thanks to explainxkcd](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:d67aicqw6nicsf7cjauvzuo3/bafkreibnctesneis67q7qz6tgdszao5vn2zzjlqzdblcy4h6vygipyclni@jpeg)
August 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Hooray, an @xkcd.com about tides! Although only little ones, round here we can get a tidal range of 10 *metres* .
xkcd.com/3135/
xkcd.com/3135/
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
Here's the thread. Find a #FoodBank in your area and donate. $1 = $2 at most food banks, they can stretch money further than canned food donations. #NoHunger
Donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank this morning in case anyone wants join on a food bank donation train
find a food bank in your area here: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
find a food bank in your area here: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
October 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Yesterday (while sick) I spent a lovely 7 hour rabbit trail reading about the economics and labor realities of pre-modern peasants.
As a former history major and science fiction worldbuilder, I cannot recommend this site and series enough. acoup.blog/category/col...
The past was *different* y'all
As a former history major and science fiction worldbuilder, I cannot recommend this site and series enough. acoup.blog/category/col...
The past was *different* y'all
The Peasant – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
Posts about The Peasant written by Bret Devereaux
acoup.blog
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Yesterday (while sick) I spent a lovely 7 hour rabbit trail reading about the economics and labor realities of pre-modern peasants.
As a former history major and science fiction worldbuilder, I cannot recommend this site and series enough. acoup.blog/category/col...
The past was *different* y'all
As a former history major and science fiction worldbuilder, I cannot recommend this site and series enough. acoup.blog/category/col...
The past was *different* y'all
Excited that the first book I've worked on as managing editor for Palfrey Press has just dropped. It's a genealogical history book of British royals and British history. With a meticulously researched family tree! :)
www.linkedin.com/posts/palfre...
www.linkedin.com/posts/palfre...
#genealogy #royalhistory #heraldry #kingcharlesiii #booklaunch #palfreypress | Palfrey Press
Palfrey Press is thrilled to announce the publication of All the King’s Fathers: The Paternal Ancestry of King Charles III and the House of Glücksburg by Edward Hilary Davis — a sweeping, richly detai...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Excited that the first book I've worked on as managing editor for Palfrey Press has just dropped. It's a genealogical history book of British royals and British history. With a meticulously researched family tree! :)
www.linkedin.com/posts/palfre...
www.linkedin.com/posts/palfre...
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
they used to print floral patterns on sacks of grain & feed because that's the material that women back in the early 20th century used to make their dresses; employers would often let workers take the sacks home because it was the only thing cheap enough to sew. google 'flour sack dresses'!
November 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
they used to print floral patterns on sacks of grain & feed because that's the material that women back in the early 20th century used to make their dresses; employers would often let workers take the sacks home because it was the only thing cheap enough to sew. google 'flour sack dresses'!
Why a data center in space is a terrible idea—for the geeks in the crowd, with detailed explanations :)
wlockett.medium.com/musks-most-m...
wlockett.medium.com/musks-most-m...
Musk’s Most Moronic Idea To Date
Data centres, but in space!
wlockett.medium.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Why a data center in space is a terrible idea—for the geeks in the crowd, with detailed explanations :)
wlockett.medium.com/musks-most-m...
wlockett.medium.com/musks-most-m...
Autocorrect just turned skin crème into skin crime in a text and I have questions.
November 6, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Autocorrect just turned skin crème into skin crime in a text and I have questions.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
Once again: cleverness is not a thing that keeps you out of cults. Much more often, it’s the thing that keeps you *in* a cult – because if you’re clever, it’s easy to come up with rationalizations.
People go “Well these pundits are smart enough to see what Twitter is doing to their brains” but I assure you many cannot. That’s because the thing that determines whether your brain gets cooked isn’t SMARTNESS but SELF-SECURITY.
October 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Once again: cleverness is not a thing that keeps you out of cults. Much more often, it’s the thing that keeps you *in* a cult – because if you’re clever, it’s easy to come up with rationalizations.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
![Barbie crying [edited]: He thinks I'm megafauna? I don't suppress the growth of woody vegetation or stabilize the abundance of smaller animals.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wpdti66qcvzywaum55sucghw/bafkreid33rymnixdez3rme5jbyhrvmymugiq7bqfnyxmz2pjh6tpoicrnq@jpeg)
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
Also, on the subject of women not liking science fiction, you can bite me. Mary Shelly invented the genre, and women have ALWAYS been here.
October 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Also, on the subject of women not liking science fiction, you can bite me. Mary Shelly invented the genre, and women have ALWAYS been here.
Wow. Did this man even watch Star Trek? Gene Roddenberry put a Russian on the deck of the Starship Enterprise in the middle of a friggin’ Cold War. “Infinite wonders in infinite varieties.”
Inclusion is kinda the point, my dude.
Inclusion is kinda the point, my dude.
I take it back. He’s not 15. He’s 12 and dumb as an effing stump.
“Trekkies are and always have been men. Women are not usually interested in science fiction, but that’s doubly true of Star Trek in particular.”
www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/mo...
“Trekkies are and always have been men. Women are not usually interested in science fiction, but that’s doubly true of Star Trek in particular.”
www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/mo...
Most Trekkies Are Republicans, Star Trek Can Embrace It Or Die
Star Trek has always had a specific audience, and it has never had much appeal outside that group. Now it’s … Continue reading "Most Trekkies Are Republicans, Star Trek Can Embrace It Or Die"
www.giantfreakinrobot.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Wow. Did this man even watch Star Trek? Gene Roddenberry put a Russian on the deck of the Starship Enterprise in the middle of a friggin’ Cold War. “Infinite wonders in infinite varieties.”
Inclusion is kinda the point, my dude.
Inclusion is kinda the point, my dude.
As a reminder, with the government shut down, food banks are about to be overrun. if you have a few dollars to spare, consider giving it to your local food bank. They can stretch dollars into meals better than we can imagine.
October 22, 2025 at 12:48 AM
As a reminder, with the government shut down, food banks are about to be overrun. if you have a few dollars to spare, consider giving it to your local food bank. They can stretch dollars into meals better than we can imagine.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
If you want to pursue something, don't be discouraged by how long it may take. The time is going to go by anyway. You can either be moving toward something you want to see happen, or not.
Those who are 35+, what advice do you have for people just entering their 30s?
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
If you want to pursue something, don't be discouraged by how long it may take. The time is going to go by anyway. You can either be moving toward something you want to see happen, or not.
apparently a real thing and well worth the read: Robot priests.
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Robot priests can bless you, advise you, and even perform your funeral
AI religion is upon us. Welcome to the future.
www.vox.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:54 AM
apparently a real thing and well worth the read: Robot priests.
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
World class movie with the best lighting in film. Lighting was a character. Writing was excellent. Acting great. Plus Claudia Black of Farscape also stars.
Seriously if you haven’t seen it, see it.
Seriously if you haven’t seen it, see it.
Never not thinking about the clickyclicky teeth 'n claws guys from PITCH BLACK just A+ creature design love them dearly very creepy
August 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
World class movie with the best lighting in film. Lighting was a character. Writing was excellent. Acting great. Plus Claudia Black of Farscape also stars.
Seriously if you haven’t seen it, see it.
Seriously if you haven’t seen it, see it.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a UNIVERSAL vaccine that dramatically BOOSTS the immune system’s ability to fight tumors- even WITHOUT targeting a SPECIFIC cancer type. It has the potential to do away with chemotherapy, surgery AND radiation treatment.
August 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a UNIVERSAL vaccine that dramatically BOOSTS the immune system’s ability to fight tumors- even WITHOUT targeting a SPECIFIC cancer type. It has the potential to do away with chemotherapy, surgery AND radiation treatment.
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
When people say, “do your own research,” they generally mean, “google it.” They generally do NOT mean, “conduct an independent, ethical, peer reviewed study.” I would love if we spent more time differentiating between “research as knowledge production” and “research as knowledge consumption.”
August 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
When people say, “do your own research,” they generally mean, “google it.” They generally do NOT mean, “conduct an independent, ethical, peer reviewed study.” I would love if we spent more time differentiating between “research as knowledge production” and “research as knowledge consumption.”
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
US folks: Did you know the EPA (currently run by someone more concerned with businesses than the environment) has a public-comment period right now?
This is our opportunity to tell them why we think they should not repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
www.epa.gov/regulations-...
This is our opportunity to tell them why we think they should not repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
www.epa.gov/regulations-...
Proposed Rule: Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards | US EPA
The proposed rule on the reconsideration of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding and motor vehicle rule
www.epa.gov
August 15, 2025 at 11:34 AM
US folks: Did you know the EPA (currently run by someone more concerned with businesses than the environment) has a public-comment period right now?
This is our opportunity to tell them why we think they should not repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
www.epa.gov/regulations-...
This is our opportunity to tell them why we think they should not repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
www.epa.gov/regulations-...
Reposted by Alex Hughes ( Capell )
My daughter is 13 and has social media, but I don't let her post on it. She saw several stories and videos of mass kidnappings and told me about it.
I asked her to find a credible source to back it up. When she couldn't, she realized she had been duped.
It's that easy.
I asked her to find a credible source to back it up. When she couldn't, she realized she had been duped.
It's that easy.
August 15, 2025 at 11:47 AM
My daughter is 13 and has social media, but I don't let her post on it. She saw several stories and videos of mass kidnappings and told me about it.
I asked her to find a credible source to back it up. When she couldn't, she realized she had been duped.
It's that easy.
I asked her to find a credible source to back it up. When she couldn't, she realized she had been duped.
It's that easy.
Gotham Writers is currently doing a survey of how writers are using AI and if you’re a writer it’s probably worth filling it out.
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
AI and the Writing Profession
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Gotham Writers is currently doing a survey of how writers are using AI and if you’re a writer it’s probably worth filling it out.
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
gothamghostwriters.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?...
This would be an absolutely amazing Captain Planet style no-powers superhero movie.
Someone intentionally killed endangered seals in Otago and I’m considering quitting my job and becoming a conservation bounty hunter.
August 12, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This would be an absolutely amazing Captain Planet style no-powers superhero movie.
I’m really feeling off balance and worried as a human right now. Sigh. I think middle age is feeling the things and continuing to move through, take your kid to school, show up at work, do what you can, and hope it all ends up okay.
The world situation isn’t helping, sigh.
The world situation isn’t helping, sigh.
August 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I’m really feeling off balance and worried as a human right now. Sigh. I think middle age is feeling the things and continuing to move through, take your kid to school, show up at work, do what you can, and hope it all ends up okay.
The world situation isn’t helping, sigh.
The world situation isn’t helping, sigh.
Um, wow.
August 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Um, wow.
My new all time favorite thing is watching my kid play Barbies with my cousin, for literally hours. The storylines are complicated! The characters and accents are crazy! It's like a bonkers serial soap opera for friendships!
They seriously should make a cartoon about this stuff.
They seriously should make a cartoon about this stuff.
August 5, 2025 at 1:33 AM
My new all time favorite thing is watching my kid play Barbies with my cousin, for literally hours. The storylines are complicated! The characters and accents are crazy! It's like a bonkers serial soap opera for friendships!
They seriously should make a cartoon about this stuff.
They seriously should make a cartoon about this stuff.