Edmund Schweppe
@edschweppe.bsky.social
Making software better, and making better software. Ex-ET1/SS USN. Beware the puns.
Also, make sure your images have alt text (turn on "require alt text before posting" under Settings/Accessibility); blowing off alt text is a great way to get blocked.
Also, make sure your images have alt text (turn on "require alt text before posting" under Settings/Accessibility); blowing off alt text is a great way to get blocked.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.
December 2, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
I'm so tired of measles.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
Gallatin Co. reports 2nd measles case, warns of exposure sites nbcmontana.com/news/local/g...
December 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea
While we were marching through Georgia
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea
While we were marching through Georgia
The best American flag is the battle flag of Tecumseh Sherman’s 23rd Corps, made from the tattered remains of Confederate banners.
December 2, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee!
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea
While we were marching through Georgia
Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free!
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea
While we were marching through Georgia
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
COVID isn’t acting like the viruses most of us grew up with, and treating it like “just a cold” is putting people at real risk. David Brasure breaks down why SARS-CoV-2 is fundamentally different, how it causes long-term damage, and what we can do to protect ourselves.
December 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
COVID isn’t acting like the viruses most of us grew up with, and treating it like “just a cold” is putting people at real risk. David Brasure breaks down why SARS-CoV-2 is fundamentally different, how it causes long-term damage, and what we can do to protect ourselves.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
“Trump promised he’d reduce government bureaucracy and make life cheaper and now I have to pay $45 just to get on an airplane!”
yes, yes, we can work with this
yes, yes, we can work with this
December 2, 2025 at 12:46 AM
“Trump promised he’d reduce government bureaucracy and make life cheaper and now I have to pay $45 just to get on an airplane!”
yes, yes, we can work with this
yes, yes, we can work with this
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
The architect tried to keep doubt from her face. "These are very interesting ideas, your majesty."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
December 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The architect tried to keep doubt from her face. "These are very interesting ideas, your majesty."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
The issue is clear: Who gave the orders? Did anyone refuse or object, and what was the reaction? This wasn't a mistake or human error; we must aggressively seek answers. Those involved in the strike will likely find little support in Congress or the Pentagon.
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The issue is clear: Who gave the orders? Did anyone refuse or object, and what was the reaction? This wasn't a mistake or human error; we must aggressively seek answers. Those involved in the strike will likely find little support in Congress or the Pentagon.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Libraries are probably the last free Third Space that you can use year-round, too. Librarians are there to help you, and they fight for your right to read, and your privacy. We connect people with services and ideas and experiences. Libraries are powerful and awesome.
Libraries aren't just books. They provide gathering places, free internet, and programs like story hours and classes and films. Using your library demonstrates to your local government its importance to your community and can affect funding decisions.
November 30, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Libraries are probably the last free Third Space that you can use year-round, too. Librarians are there to help you, and they fight for your right to read, and your privacy. We connect people with services and ideas and experiences. Libraries are powerful and awesome.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Hey, just got word that there's someone out there emailing people from annleckie05 at gmail, pretending to be me "reaching out" to people.
That is not me! If I email you out of the blue it will almost certainly come from annleckie.com, or possibly my personal email which doesn't contain my name.
That is not me! If I email you out of the blue it will almost certainly come from annleckie.com, or possibly my personal email which doesn't contain my name.
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Hey, just got word that there's someone out there emailing people from annleckie05 at gmail, pretending to be me "reaching out" to people.
That is not me! If I email you out of the blue it will almost certainly come from annleckie.com, or possibly my personal email which doesn't contain my name.
That is not me! If I email you out of the blue it will almost certainly come from annleckie.com, or possibly my personal email which doesn't contain my name.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Daily thought about writing novels
I’m glad I figured out that I actually make the book great when I revise it. My 1st draft is ideally a joyful race to the end, and to do that, I have to trust myself. But great ideas happen after that too! And they can’t happen until after the 1st draft is done.
I’m glad I figured out that I actually make the book great when I revise it. My 1st draft is ideally a joyful race to the end, and to do that, I have to trust myself. But great ideas happen after that too! And they can’t happen until after the 1st draft is done.
November 29, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Daily thought about writing novels
I’m glad I figured out that I actually make the book great when I revise it. My 1st draft is ideally a joyful race to the end, and to do that, I have to trust myself. But great ideas happen after that too! And they can’t happen until after the 1st draft is done.
I’m glad I figured out that I actually make the book great when I revise it. My 1st draft is ideally a joyful race to the end, and to do that, I have to trust myself. But great ideas happen after that too! And they can’t happen until after the 1st draft is done.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
An ogre knocked - carefully - on the witch's door.
She looked up at the hulking figure. "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where giants live?"
"Haven't been any here for centuries. Why?"
The ogre blushed. "I... It's stupid, but... I want to be the small spoon."
"Hm. I have a shrinking potion."
She looked up at the hulking figure. "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where giants live?"
"Haven't been any here for centuries. Why?"
The ogre blushed. "I... It's stupid, but... I want to be the small spoon."
"Hm. I have a shrinking potion."
November 29, 2025 at 11:13 PM
An ogre knocked - carefully - on the witch's door.
She looked up at the hulking figure. "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where giants live?"
"Haven't been any here for centuries. Why?"
The ogre blushed. "I... It's stupid, but... I want to be the small spoon."
"Hm. I have a shrinking potion."
She looked up at the hulking figure. "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where giants live?"
"Haven't been any here for centuries. Why?"
The ogre blushed. "I... It's stupid, but... I want to be the small spoon."
"Hm. I have a shrinking potion."
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Let's say it again for the people in the back.
HITLER WAS BAD.
HITLER WAS BAD.
Hitler was bad.
An essay that, you know, I didn’t think I’d need to write.
An essay that, you know, I didn’t think I’d need to write.
Perry: The pro-Hitler problem with the American right
"We need to get back to the basics: Hitler was bad. The people who suggest otherwise are also bad," David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Let's say it again for the people in the back.
HITLER WAS BAD.
HITLER WAS BAD.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
I see people saying
“I would use alt text but I keep forgetting!”
Thankfully, @bsky.app has a setting for that.
- Go to Settings
- Then Accessibility
- Toggle “Require alt text before posting” to the active setting.
Now Bluesky will remind you to add alt text to all of your posts.
“I would use alt text but I keep forgetting!”
Thankfully, @bsky.app has a setting for that.
- Go to Settings
- Then Accessibility
- Toggle “Require alt text before posting” to the active setting.
Now Bluesky will remind you to add alt text to all of your posts.
May 11, 2025 at 8:34 AM
I see people saying
“I would use alt text but I keep forgetting!”
Thankfully, @bsky.app has a setting for that.
- Go to Settings
- Then Accessibility
- Toggle “Require alt text before posting” to the active setting.
Now Bluesky will remind you to add alt text to all of your posts.
“I would use alt text but I keep forgetting!”
Thankfully, @bsky.app has a setting for that.
- Go to Settings
- Then Accessibility
- Toggle “Require alt text before posting” to the active setting.
Now Bluesky will remind you to add alt text to all of your posts.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Monitoring #squirrelcrimes together. 🥹
November 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Monitoring #squirrelcrimes together. 🥹
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu lies dreaming. I focus on my dreamwatcher machine, making minute adjustments in all five dimensions.
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
November 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu lies dreaming. I focus on my dreamwatcher machine, making minute adjustments in all five dimensions.
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
a cancer nurse in a state I've never been to told messaged me and said that reading out Rice Truck aloud as it happened was the only day in her entire 14 year career on chemo ward that nobody cried and it's probably the best compliment I will ever get in my life
What is the best compliment you ever received? Putting aside whether or not you believed it.
November 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
a cancer nurse in a state I've never been to told messaged me and said that reading out Rice Truck aloud as it happened was the only day in her entire 14 year career on chemo ward that nobody cried and it's probably the best compliment I will ever get in my life
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are on the Muppet Show tonight
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are on the Muppet Show tonight
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are on the Muppet Show tonight
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are on the Muppet Show tonight
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
AND supporting your local library is super important! If you actually DO want books to be available to everyone, the library *already exists* and is staffed by the people who are deep in the trenches of fighting censorship! Supporting the library is doing actual good for your community!
TAPS SCREEN
For like the zillionth time: Libraries are FREE for you, but WE still get compensated for our work!!
For like the zillionth time: Libraries are FREE for you, but WE still get compensated for our work!!
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
AND supporting your local library is super important! If you actually DO want books to be available to everyone, the library *already exists* and is staffed by the people who are deep in the trenches of fighting censorship! Supporting the library is doing actual good for your community!
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Q: Why did Donald Trump bury Ivana on one of his golf courses?
A: So he could still cheat on her.
A: So he could still cheat on her.
November 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Q: Why did Donald Trump bury Ivana on one of his golf courses?
A: So he could still cheat on her.
A: So he could still cheat on her.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
"Let me get this straight. Your lab has bred a dragon?"
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-"
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-"
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"Let me get this straight. Your lab has bred a dragon?"
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-"
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
"A wyvern, director. It has two legs, two wings, whereas a-"
"Which flies, breathes fire, and is intelligent?"
"About as intelligent as a border collie."
"So, intelligent. Why?"
"You asked us to invent measures to take down small drones."
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
The United States of America is the richest country in the history of the world. It is time for us to make good on the statement that health care is a basic human right.
We need health care for everyone. I’m staying in that fight all the way.
We need health care for everyone. I’m staying in that fight all the way.
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The United States of America is the richest country in the history of the world. It is time for us to make good on the statement that health care is a basic human right.
We need health care for everyone. I’m staying in that fight all the way.
We need health care for everyone. I’m staying in that fight all the way.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
Machiavelli: It is better to be feared than loved, but you must absolutely avoid being *hated.*
So many forget that last part.
So many forget that last part.
It is a bit alarming, when rereading Machiavelli's The Prince, that it lands as reportage rather than political theory. However, I find great comfort in the fact that they are really effing it up.
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Machiavelli: It is better to be feared than loved, but you must absolutely avoid being *hated.*
So many forget that last part.
So many forget that last part.
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
New story with The Vertigo Project! Advice for Wormhole Travelers: a little help for when you find yourself in another, weirder world! vertigoproject.co.uk/files/2025/1...
vertigoproject.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
New story with The Vertigo Project! Advice for Wormhole Travelers: a little help for when you find yourself in another, weirder world! vertigoproject.co.uk/files/2025/1...
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
"What are you working on?"
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."
November 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"What are you working on?"
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."
Reposted by Edmund Schweppe
I paused, out of breath. The Void had taken all my frustrated screaming and absorbed it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I paused, out of breath. The Void had taken all my frustrated screaming and absorbed it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."