Sandstone
@quartzen.bsky.social
Programmer and SFF reader. Sega fan. Asexual and otherwise queer. She/her. 📚
Reposted by Sandstone
the world is asleep, time to post about Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts, Once Again
There are plenty of reasons to write off the Kingdom Hearts series. From an unnecessarily complex and confusing story to a prolonged wait between mainline entries, it’s an easy series to walk away …
standardissuecomputing.blog
November 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
the world is asleep, time to post about Kingdom Hearts
Reposted by Sandstone
You have to send this link to everyone you know who voted I Seattle: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/... It takes like 30 seconds to make sure your vote was counted. Folks on here have all seen this probably, but your friends and family might not have!
King County Elections
Led by Director Julie Wise, King County Elections conducts accurate, secure, and accessible elections for King County's over 1.4 million registered voters.
info.kingcounty.gov
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
You have to send this link to everyone you know who voted I Seattle: info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/... It takes like 30 seconds to make sure your vote was counted. Folks on here have all seen this probably, but your friends and family might not have!
Reposted by Sandstone
An anonymous donor just offered to match up to $1,000 to my fundraiser in support of health benefits for @scarleteen.com's staff and an as-needed health fund for volunteers, which means your $1 is worth $2! Anyone want to join in with ANOTHER match to turn that into $3?
Scarleteen Staff and Volunteer Healthcare Fund
{{MetaTags.description}}
www.classy.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 PM
An anonymous donor just offered to match up to $1,000 to my fundraiser in support of health benefits for @scarleteen.com's staff and an as-needed health fund for volunteers, which means your $1 is worth $2! Anyone want to join in with ANOTHER match to turn that into $3?
Reposted by Sandstone
If you’re seeing this viral claim that Trump is working on 15-year car loans, it’s fake.
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
If you’re seeing this viral claim that Trump is working on 15-year car loans, it’s fake.
Reposted by Sandstone
Don't let this get lost in the current health care debate:
Stripping legal, taxpaying immigrants of insurance subsidies will inevitably hurt citizens too, experts warn.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Stripping legal, taxpaying immigrants of insurance subsidies will inevitably hurt citizens too, experts warn.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Legal immigrants face loss of Obamacare help, threatening insurance markets
The GOP megabill stripped subsidies from hundreds of thousands of green card holders and other legal migrants. Experts predict ripple effects for citizens.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Don't let this get lost in the current health care debate:
Stripping legal, taxpaying immigrants of insurance subsidies will inevitably hurt citizens too, experts warn.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Stripping legal, taxpaying immigrants of insurance subsidies will inevitably hurt citizens too, experts warn.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Sandstone
NEW PODCAST ALERT!
The latest Critical Friends episode it out now!
In Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully, Dan Hartland, Paul March-Russell, and Jacqueline Nyathi discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism.
Link ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
The latest Critical Friends episode it out now!
In Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully, Dan Hartland, Paul March-Russell, and Jacqueline Nyathi discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism.
Link ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Critical Friends Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully
Dan Hartland is joined by Paul March-Russell and Jacqueline Nyathi to discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism. Where has it gone? How do writers express it? And what are its pit…
strangehorizons.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
NEW PODCAST ALERT!
The latest Critical Friends episode it out now!
In Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully, Dan Hartland, Paul March-Russell, and Jacqueline Nyathi discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism.
Link ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
The latest Critical Friends episode it out now!
In Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully, Dan Hartland, Paul March-Russell, and Jacqueline Nyathi discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism.
Link ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Reposted by Sandstone
Got a review of Bogi Takács's latest space opera, Song of Spores. This weird, fun sci-fi story is out now from Broken Eye Books.
bookjockeyalex.com/2025/11/10/r...
bookjockeyalex.com/2025/11/10/r...
Review: “Song of Spores” by Bogi Takács
Release Date: November 4, 2025Publisher: Broken Eye BooksGenre: Space opera, Science fiction Description Hugo Award winner Bogi Takács spins a tale of adventure, mystery, and political intrigue in …
bookjockeyalex.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Got a review of Bogi Takács's latest space opera, Song of Spores. This weird, fun sci-fi story is out now from Broken Eye Books.
bookjockeyalex.com/2025/11/10/r...
bookjockeyalex.com/2025/11/10/r...
There are a lot of tropes I don't really like that I'll sometimes give a chance anyways but "dangerous/morally ambiguous love interest is directly responsible for the protagonist's best friend's death and this is somehow not a relationship dealbreaker for the protagonist" is one that is never for me
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
There are a lot of tropes I don't really like that I'll sometimes give a chance anyways but "dangerous/morally ambiguous love interest is directly responsible for the protagonist's best friend's death and this is somehow not a relationship dealbreaker for the protagonist" is one that is never for me
Reposted by Sandstone
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Somehow it does not surprise me that people who self-identify themselves as "thought leadership writers" are the heaviest users of the flattery, sycophancy, and plagiarism software?
“The report found that the heaviest AI users are thought leadership writers (84%), PR/comms professionals (73%), and content marketing writers (73%).”
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
November 10, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Somehow it does not surprise me that people who self-identify themselves as "thought leadership writers" are the heaviest users of the flattery, sycophancy, and plagiarism software?
Reposted by Sandstone
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank 50 years ago today. The next year, the singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot chronicled the tragedy in an unlikely hit single.
Read about how ↓
Read about how ↓
Gordon Lightfoot Read About a Shipwreck. Then He Wrote One of Music's Most Unusual Hit Singles
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank 50 years ago today. The next year, the singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot chronicled the tragedy in an unlikely hit single.
Read about how ↓
Read about how ↓
Reposted by Sandstone
BREAKING: The Supreme Court denied an attempt to challenge Obergefell v. Hodges, the case affirming marriage equality nationwide.
Our freedom to marry remains the law of the land.
Our freedom to marry remains the law of the land.
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court denied an attempt to challenge Obergefell v. Hodges, the case affirming marriage equality nationwide.
Our freedom to marry remains the law of the land.
Our freedom to marry remains the law of the land.
Reposted by Sandstone
I think its important to know which parts of the process bring you joy. I love dialogue and character quirks, I hate worldbuilding. I love revising once things are in place, I hate first drafting.
If you don't have patience for any of it, maybe find a different outlet?
If you don't have patience for any of it, maybe find a different outlet?
100% this.
If you can't find joy in the act of writing, and feel euphoria after editing several drafts into exactly what your thoughts had in mind (or close to it), then I really suggest you don't become a writer.
The idea, the thoughts, are nothing without execution. The work is the thing.
If you can't find joy in the act of writing, and feel euphoria after editing several drafts into exactly what your thoughts had in mind (or close to it), then I really suggest you don't become a writer.
The idea, the thoughts, are nothing without execution. The work is the thing.
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I think its important to know which parts of the process bring you joy. I love dialogue and character quirks, I hate worldbuilding. I love revising once things are in place, I hate first drafting.
If you don't have patience for any of it, maybe find a different outlet?
If you don't have patience for any of it, maybe find a different outlet?
Reposted by Sandstone
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
Reposted by Sandstone
i was shown Sonic Jam last night, so i got to behold a lot of this art for the very first time. immediately smitten with all the art in the game. i feel like a kid looking at this art on geocities, staring at them with wonder
November 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
i was shown Sonic Jam last night, so i got to behold a lot of this art for the very first time. immediately smitten with all the art in the game. i feel like a kid looking at this art on geocities, staring at them with wonder
Reposted by Sandstone
Might you have missed some of the depth of Tuesday's results, beyond the big headline races?
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Might you have missed some of the depth of Tuesday's results, beyond the big headline races?
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
If you're fortunate enough to have a Democratic senator, please give them a call and tell them you want them to oppose any resolution that does not extend the ACA tax credits, you can reach the US Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (you'll be prompted to select your senator at this line!)
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
If you're fortunate enough to have a Democratic senator, please give them a call and tell them you want them to oppose any resolution that does not extend the ACA tax credits, you can reach the US Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (you'll be prompted to select your senator at this line!)
I really enjoyed this Le Guin inspired comics anthology, would definitely recommend!
If you weren’t at Boise Comic Arts Festival or Shortrun, you’re in luck because I just put fresh, minty copies of Far Away Ansible up on my online store! Comics from myself, @lauraknetzger.bsky.social, @aluhnim.bsky.social, and @rosebdraws.bsky.social.
www.vannotesbooks.com/store/p/far-...
www.vannotesbooks.com/store/p/far-...
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I really enjoyed this Le Guin inspired comics anthology, would definitely recommend!
Reposted by Sandstone
Reposted by Sandstone
Interested in #RosalindFranklin? With help from her family, we published an anthology of stories in honor of her work and struggle, edited by @bogiperson.bsky.social and featuring stories by authors whose names you will recognize! Give it a look? For you or your local or school library? #Booksky
Rosalind's Siblings, edited by Bogi Takács
Fiction and Poetry Celebrating Scientists of Marginalized Genders
www.atthisarts.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Interested in #RosalindFranklin? With help from her family, we published an anthology of stories in honor of her work and struggle, edited by @bogiperson.bsky.social and featuring stories by authors whose names you will recognize! Give it a look? For you or your local or school library? #Booksky
Reposted by Sandstone
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
Reposted by Sandstone
“individual employees asked to change behavior in response to catastrophic mistakes made by their high-level leadership over the past 3-7 years” really feels like the overarching story of the current times
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
“individual employees asked to change behavior in response to catastrophic mistakes made by their high-level leadership over the past 3-7 years” really feels like the overarching story of the current times
Reposted by Sandstone
Alright y'all. This is finally happening.
November 8, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Alright y'all. This is finally happening.
Reposted by Sandstone
In this newsletter, I talk about other things about the INCREDIBLE Kickstarter for @siennatristen.bsky.social 's Orchestrated Audiobook for HERETIC'S GUIDE TO HOMECOMING.
To the KS: www.kickstarter.com/projects/sie...
This is where I gush about it: XD (scroll down) buttondown.com/ClaudieArsen...
To the KS: www.kickstarter.com/projects/sie...
This is where I gush about it: XD (scroll down) buttondown.com/ClaudieArsen...
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
In this newsletter, I talk about other things about the INCREDIBLE Kickstarter for @siennatristen.bsky.social 's Orchestrated Audiobook for HERETIC'S GUIDE TO HOMECOMING.
To the KS: www.kickstarter.com/projects/sie...
This is where I gush about it: XD (scroll down) buttondown.com/ClaudieArsen...
To the KS: www.kickstarter.com/projects/sie...
This is where I gush about it: XD (scroll down) buttondown.com/ClaudieArsen...
Reposted by Sandstone
Does anyone know what's going on with Harlequin Afterglow? A few months ago I heard they were cancelling contracted books and closing the whole line, but now there are releases lined up all through 2026 with new submission guidelines posted. Looks like they're pivoting to more SFF?
November 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Does anyone know what's going on with Harlequin Afterglow? A few months ago I heard they were cancelling contracted books and closing the whole line, but now there are releases lined up all through 2026 with new submission guidelines posted. Looks like they're pivoting to more SFF?