Howard Tayler
@howardtayler.bsky.social
He/Him, Husband to Sandra Tayler, Father of Four, Fully Vaxxed, #mecfs/#LongCovid, howardtayler.com, schlockmercenary.com, writingexcuses.com. This feed is 100% artisanal human me.
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Canadian officials are correct, and it’s truly a tragedy.
Canadian officials say US health institutions no longer dependable for accurate information
Misinformation from the Trump administration is cited as fuelling Canadians’ concerns over childhood vaccinations
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Canadian officials are correct, and it’s truly a tragedy.
This is horrible, and for my own part it's not even a nail in the coffin, because the GenAI coffin lid is now 99% nail-heads.
Not just around the edges, either. Right through the lid, really long sharp nails, turning the interior into a sort of galvanized steel maiden.
Not just around the edges, either. Right through the lid, really long sharp nails, turning the interior into a sort of galvanized steel maiden.
A dear friend just quit social media entirely because some pigfucker decided to use Grok to generate nudes of her and send them to her, without her knowledge or consent.
At this point, using ChatGPT or Grok is deliberately aligning yourself with Nazis and pedophiles and I refuse to respect it.
At this point, using ChatGPT or Grok is deliberately aligning yourself with Nazis and pedophiles and I refuse to respect it.
January 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM
This is horrible, and for my own part it's not even a nail in the coffin, because the GenAI coffin lid is now 99% nail-heads.
Not just around the edges, either. Right through the lid, really long sharp nails, turning the interior into a sort of galvanized steel maiden.
Not just around the edges, either. Right through the lid, really long sharp nails, turning the interior into a sort of galvanized steel maiden.
Every year at about this time I decide that I really should spend more time updating things over at schlockmercenary.com, so here's a blog post that does that without really talking about how much I want to do more of that.
www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/hello-2...
www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/hello-2...
January 3, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Every year at about this time I decide that I really should spend more time updating things over at schlockmercenary.com, so here's a blog post that does that without really talking about how much I want to do more of that.
www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/hello-2...
www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/hello-2...
Reposted by Howard Tayler
OTHER PEOPLE'S PLAYGROUNDS is a collection of stories by me in universes other people created: folks like Asimov, Farmer, L. Sprague de Camp, Poul Anderson, Steve Stirling, Saberhagen, HPL, and Jerome K. Jerome.
www.amazon.com/Other-People...
www.amazon.com/Other-People...
Amazon.com: Other People's Playgrounds eBook : Turtledove, Harry: Kindle Store
Other People's Playgrounds - Kindle edition by Turtledove, Harry. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Other People's Playgrounds.
www.amazon.com
November 6, 2024 at 3:17 PM
OTHER PEOPLE'S PLAYGROUNDS is a collection of stories by me in universes other people created: folks like Asimov, Farmer, L. Sprague de Camp, Poul Anderson, Steve Stirling, Saberhagen, HPL, and Jerome K. Jerome.
www.amazon.com/Other-People...
www.amazon.com/Other-People...
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Today I wrote about our white supremacist political movement's perverse insistence that "we don't have to apologize for being white anymore."
Conservatives have been apologizing, apparently. Did you know? I had no idea. So I asked, and here's what I found.
www.the-reframe.com/apologies-fo...
Conservatives have been apologizing, apparently. Did you know? I had no idea. So I asked, and here's what I found.
www.the-reframe.com/apologies-fo...
Apologies For Being White
How supremacists convert responsibility into blame to avoid paying natural costs and to make everyone else pay unnatural ones.
www.the-reframe.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Today I wrote about our white supremacist political movement's perverse insistence that "we don't have to apologize for being white anymore."
Conservatives have been apologizing, apparently. Did you know? I had no idea. So I asked, and here's what I found.
www.the-reframe.com/apologies-fo...
Conservatives have been apologizing, apparently. Did you know? I had no idea. So I asked, and here's what I found.
www.the-reframe.com/apologies-fo...
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Remember how appalled we all were in 2022 when Russia completely unprovoked attacked Ukraine? That is what we’re doing tonight with Venezuela. We are the bad guys here. Everyone who supports this is supporting unprovoked murder. Fuck every last one of them
January 3, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Remember how appalled we all were in 2022 when Russia completely unprovoked attacked Ukraine? That is what we’re doing tonight with Venezuela. We are the bad guys here. Everyone who supports this is supporting unprovoked murder. Fuck every last one of them
I'm having a bit of a religious crisis. These slow-cooker baby back ribs are amazing, and as a devout evangelist of the Sous Vide I'm struggling with the realization that I have not, as yet, made ribs anywhere close to this tasty while adhering to the Gospel of Under Vacuum.
January 3, 2026 at 5:59 AM
I'm having a bit of a religious crisis. These slow-cooker baby back ribs are amazing, and as a devout evangelist of the Sous Vide I'm struggling with the realization that I have not, as yet, made ribs anywhere close to this tasty while adhering to the Gospel of Under Vacuum.
My eldest designed, and then crocheted this "Chester" cat bed as a Christmas gift for her siblings. And for her siblings' cats.
January 2, 2026 at 5:08 PM
My eldest designed, and then crocheted this "Chester" cat bed as a Christmas gift for her siblings. And for her siblings' cats.
A quick note re: the STRANGER THINGS ending...
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on a 2-hour movie, that's too much epilogue.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on (math math math) 40+ hours of serial TV, that might be enough.
The final episode of STRANGER THINGS is not a 2-hour movie.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on a 2-hour movie, that's too much epilogue.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on (math math math) 40+ hours of serial TV, that might be enough.
The final episode of STRANGER THINGS is not a 2-hour movie.
January 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
A quick note re: the STRANGER THINGS ending...
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on a 2-hour movie, that's too much epilogue.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on (math math math) 40+ hours of serial TV, that might be enough.
The final episode of STRANGER THINGS is not a 2-hour movie.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on a 2-hour movie, that's too much epilogue.
If you put a 30-minute epilogue on (math math math) 40+ hours of serial TV, that might be enough.
The final episode of STRANGER THINGS is not a 2-hour movie.
Reposted by Howard Tayler
"Where do you want to live?"
"At an appropriate no-pants distance from the nearest neighbor."
"At an appropriate no-pants distance from the nearest neighbor."
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
"Where do you want to live?"
"At an appropriate no-pants distance from the nearest neighbor."
"At an appropriate no-pants distance from the nearest neighbor."
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Fortunately, I saw this post before I'd eaten anything this morning, so I was able to grab a chocolate. 2026 is gonna be sweet!
According to legend, the first thing you eat during the new year is a portent for the next 365 days.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
January 1, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Fortunately, I saw this post before I'd eaten anything this morning, so I was able to grab a chocolate. 2026 is gonna be sweet!
Thanks you, Science! 2026 will be the year of fancy cheese and tabletop games.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
January 1, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Thanks you, Science! 2026 will be the year of fancy cheese and tabletop games.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
According to legend, the first thing you eat during the new year is a portent for the next 365 days.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
January 1, 2026 at 7:06 AM
According to legend, the first thing you eat during the new year is a portent for the next 365 days.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
I'm having a Pop-Tart with a bit of triple cream brie on it, portending a year of very fancy things supported by the mundane.
The fan theories about a common universe for STRANGER THINGS and THE BLACKLIST can begin now:
January 1, 2026 at 1:28 AM
The fan theories about a common universe for STRANGER THINGS and THE BLACKLIST can begin now:
Welcome back artists!🖌🎨✨️
Quote Post with an old piece that you still like!
Quote Post with an old piece that you still like!
December 30, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Welcome back artists!🖌🎨✨️
Quote Post with an old piece that you still like!
Quote Post with an old piece that you still like!
Writing this for someone who needs a good light bar in their studio. It might be useful for other people, too.
END RESULT: a long bar of LEDs providing lots of light without point-source shadows, safely run in a heat-wicking aluminum channel.
END RESULT: a long bar of LEDs providing lots of light without point-source shadows, safely run in a heat-wicking aluminum channel.
Okay, I'm in front of a keyboard and can do this properly.
PARTS:
1) AC/DC transformer for LEDs. Output should be 12v DC, at least 1 amp and 5 watts.
2) Double-density LED ribbon, 3500k to 4500k.
3) Aluminum LED ribbon channel, with diffuser and spring clips.
4) A frame of your choosing
PARTS:
1) AC/DC transformer for LEDs. Output should be 12v DC, at least 1 amp and 5 watts.
2) Double-density LED ribbon, 3500k to 4500k.
3) Aluminum LED ribbon channel, with diffuser and spring clips.
4) A frame of your choosing
December 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Writing this for someone who needs a good light bar in their studio. It might be useful for other people, too.
END RESULT: a long bar of LEDs providing lots of light without point-source shadows, safely run in a heat-wicking aluminum channel.
END RESULT: a long bar of LEDs providing lots of light without point-source shadows, safely run in a heat-wicking aluminum channel.
How I'm walking out of 2025:
December 30, 2025 at 5:29 AM
How I'm walking out of 2025:
Apparently there's some review-bombing of STRANGER THINGS S5 E7 because that's the episode where Will comes out to his friends and family.
I think it was a great scene. It models good behavior, and it's completely in keeping with the feel of the show.
I think it was a great scene. It models good behavior, and it's completely in keeping with the feel of the show.
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Apparently there's some review-bombing of STRANGER THINGS S5 E7 because that's the episode where Will comes out to his friends and family.
I think it was a great scene. It models good behavior, and it's completely in keeping with the feel of the show.
I think it was a great scene. It models good behavior, and it's completely in keeping with the feel of the show.
So... STRANGER THINGS, Season Five...
tl;dr - I really like it, and this isn't the thread where I defend that. This is the thread where I skeet very briefly (for me) about one big thing they did well.
Let's call it "stakes of wonder."
tl;dr - I really like it, and this isn't the thread where I defend that. This is the thread where I skeet very briefly (for me) about one big thing they did well.
Let's call it "stakes of wonder."
December 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
So... STRANGER THINGS, Season Five...
tl;dr - I really like it, and this isn't the thread where I defend that. This is the thread where I skeet very briefly (for me) about one big thing they did well.
Let's call it "stakes of wonder."
tl;dr - I really like it, and this isn't the thread where I defend that. This is the thread where I skeet very briefly (for me) about one big thing they did well.
Let's call it "stakes of wonder."
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Great post about generative AI. Happy Holidays. Don't say I never gave you anything. anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
December 29, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Great post about generative AI. Happy Holidays. Don't say I never gave you anything. anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
My Open Letter To That Open Letter About AI In Writing And Publishing
The tl;dr before you get into this post is this: the SFWA came out, said that some AI usage was okay enough in books for the authors of those books to not to be disqualified from winning a Nebula a…
terribleminds.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Reposted by Howard Tayler
Seems there is yet another app using the ICEBlock logo and charging people for access. It’s called ICEBlocker and it is not us.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD or pay. Best we can tell is it’s Russian.
We would never ask for money.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD or pay. Best we can tell is it’s Russian.
We would never ask for money.
December 27, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Seems there is yet another app using the ICEBlock logo and charging people for access. It’s called ICEBlocker and it is not us.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD or pay. Best we can tell is it’s Russian.
We would never ask for money.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD or pay. Best we can tell is it’s Russian.
We would never ask for money.
Still laughing when I see this. So I'm sharing, because that's the rule. If I laugh a second time, it goes wide.
can we PLEASE get a collection of Peter Gallagher's Heathcliff comics? @realheathcliffs.bsky.social They are wonderfully weird and deserve a collection. Maybe @fantagraphics.bsky.social ?
27 Nov 2025
December 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Still laughing when I see this. So I'm sharing, because that's the rule. If I laugh a second time, it goes wide.