Charlie Stross
@cstross.bsky.social
SFF author, triple Hugo award winner (and three times Locus award too), over a million books sold.
Mostly on Mastodon: @cstross@wandering.shop
Blog: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/
Mostly on Mastodon: @cstross@wandering.shop
Blog: https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/
Work in progress: "Narnia is actually Imp's second choice of destination [for filming amateur action furry porn], but Doc persuaded him that Moominpapa might have opinions about the arrival of humans intent on filming Moomintroll/Snork Maiden bukakke."
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Work in progress: "Narnia is actually Imp's second choice of destination [for filming amateur action furry porn], but Doc persuaded him that Moominpapa might have opinions about the arrival of humans intent on filming Moomintroll/Snork Maiden bukakke."
Reminder that Dan Hannan is the idiot who thought Brexit would lead to 10% annual GDP growth for multiple years, the EU would come back to the UK on bended knees begging to be admitted, etc etc.
He's *reliably* wrong—a valuable service to those of us who recognize idiocy on stilts.
He's *reliably* wrong—a valuable service to those of us who recognize idiocy on stilts.
November 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reminder that Dan Hannan is the idiot who thought Brexit would lead to 10% annual GDP growth for multiple years, the EU would come back to the UK on bended knees begging to be admitted, etc etc.
He's *reliably* wrong—a valuable service to those of us who recognize idiocy on stilts.
He's *reliably* wrong—a valuable service to those of us who recognize idiocy on stilts.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
ohhhh. the "new vine" is just an attempt to drive customers to nostr, which is where jack dorsey went when there weren't enough nazis on bluesky. that explains it
November 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
ohhhh. the "new vine" is just an attempt to drive customers to nostr, which is where jack dorsey went when there weren't enough nazis on bluesky. that explains it
Reposted by Charlie Stross
toy company CEOs: "at long last, we have created the Sinister Talking Doll Factory from the acclaimed movie 'Don't Create the Sinister Talking Doll Factory'"
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
AI-Powered Toys Caught Telling 5-Year-Olds How to Find Knives and Start Fires With Matches
AI-powered toys are flying off the shelves -- but they're engaging in horrifically inappropriate conversations with children.
futurism.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Disney has an iron policy: never pay royalties to artists if they can avoid it, legally or not. As witness the LucasFilm/Fox novelists' lawsuit of a couple of years ago: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/star-wars-author-royalties-disney-1234951422/
Bob Iger says Disney+ will soon have AI-generated short form content from users
(via THR)
(via THR)
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Disney has an iron policy: never pay royalties to artists if they can avoid it, legally or not. As witness the LucasFilm/Fox novelists' lawsuit of a couple of years ago: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/star-wars-author-royalties-disney-1234951422/
Reposted by Charlie Stross
This actually is probably correct in a certain way. Punishing women for their existence and operating under the VERY standard medical belief that women are required to be in pain and they should just endure it is a reasonable explanation for why MAHA would come out against pain medication.
JD Vance is working for Big Menstrual Cramps and maybe that's not even a joke
JD Vance calls ibuprofen "useless medication" and implies it's not "necessary, safe and effective."
November 12, 2025 at 11:18 PM
This actually is probably correct in a certain way. Punishing women for their existence and operating under the VERY standard medical belief that women are required to be in pain and they should just endure it is a reasonable explanation for why MAHA would come out against pain medication.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Meanwhile, on X
November 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Meanwhile, on X
Reposted by Charlie Stross
girlies is it wrong to like The Man In Black
Well I can see Bluesky is handling a PR crisis in their normal competent manner
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 AM
girlies is it wrong to like The Man In Black
Reposted by Charlie Stross
I noticed last month that they are hiring for a Head of Content who also handles crisis com, and boy do they need it
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I noticed last month that they are hiring for a Head of Content who also handles crisis com, and boy do they need it
Reposted by Charlie Stross
I was in a situation where a guy had lost his arm. He had put on a tourniquet and I administered his morphine. We were waiting for his airlift and I said I hope thats not your wanking hand. He replied I don’t need one I know your Mum😂
August 9, 2024 at 9:01 AM
I was in a situation where a guy had lost his arm. He had put on a tourniquet and I administered his morphine. We were waiting for his airlift and I said I hope thats not your wanking hand. He replied I don’t need one I know your Mum😂
Reposted by Charlie Stross
The lesson learned here is dont point a supposedly knackered foam extinguisher at someone’s face squeeze the trigger and shout money shot unless you are absolutely sure it’s knackered.
Giving someone a bollocking for doing something you found hilarious is the worse part of work.
August 8, 2024 at 11:18 PM
The lesson learned here is dont point a supposedly knackered foam extinguisher at someone’s face squeeze the trigger and shout money shot unless you are absolutely sure it’s knackered.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
I again note that the SNP was for decades an impenetrable orb of omerta, due to their (justifiable) hostility to media. And all it took to crack it open like a piñata was for their ex-leader to get arrested for arse-grabbing, then it haemorrhaged treats for every reactionary wanker in the land.
November 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I again note that the SNP was for decades an impenetrable orb of omerta, due to their (justifiable) hostility to media. And all it took to crack it open like a piñata was for their ex-leader to get arrested for arse-grabbing, then it haemorrhaged treats for every reactionary wanker in the land.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
my brain can't process how horrifying all these powerful people are because if I let it sink in I will probably scream for the rest of the week, so it keeps tripping over the fact that they're all borderline illiterate weirdos talking about doing crimes on gmail
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
my brain can't process how horrifying all these powerful people are because if I let it sink in I will probably scream for the rest of the week, so it keeps tripping over the fact that they're all borderline illiterate weirdos talking about doing crimes on gmail
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Season of Skulls by @cstross.bsky.social is a delight. Can’t believe that such a dark book had me laughing like a drain on the 5:06 from New Street. Twice. Total Quality management consultant indeed.
November 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Season of Skulls by @cstross.bsky.social is a delight. Can’t believe that such a dark book had me laughing like a drain on the 5:06 from New Street. Twice. Total Quality management consultant indeed.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Was having sex in the blue whale wrong? Should I have not done that? I tell you I gotta plead ignorance on this thing because if anyone had said anything to me at all that that sort of thing was frowned upon. Because I’ve worked in a lot of museums and I tell you people do that all the time.
November 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Was having sex in the blue whale wrong? Should I have not done that? I tell you I gotta plead ignorance on this thing because if anyone had said anything to me at all that that sort of thing was frowned upon. Because I’ve worked in a lot of museums and I tell you people do that all the time.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Just saw a similar anecdote on Reddit. Poster's company had decided to use an "AI assistant" to schedule interviews, so that they'd be evenly distributed throughout the week. All 50 applicants were, you guessed it, called up on the same day, at the same time.
November 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just saw a similar anecdote on Reddit. Poster's company had decided to use an "AI assistant" to schedule interviews, so that they'd be evenly distributed throughout the week. All 50 applicants were, you guessed it, called up on the same day, at the same time.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Meant a whole bunch of people circling like sharks trying to find a space, all anxious about PHANTOM FUCKING APPOINTMENTS.
Because of the power of AI.
What a waste of time and bringer of aggravation and anxiety (is my heart okay? Dunno!).
That's the future for you.
end/
Because of the power of AI.
What a waste of time and bringer of aggravation and anxiety (is my heart okay? Dunno!).
That's the future for you.
end/
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Meant a whole bunch of people circling like sharks trying to find a space, all anxious about PHANTOM FUCKING APPOINTMENTS.
Because of the power of AI.
What a waste of time and bringer of aggravation and anxiety (is my heart okay? Dunno!).
That's the future for you.
end/
Because of the power of AI.
What a waste of time and bringer of aggravation and anxiety (is my heart okay? Dunno!).
That's the future for you.
end/
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Appointment.
Their spanking new AI system is testing their appointment system by creating dummy appointments. But they aren't supposed to actually go out to patients.
Dear Reader, the car park was jam packed with folks like me, trying to be on time for urgent appointments. Fewer places to park 2/
Their spanking new AI system is testing their appointment system by creating dummy appointments. But they aren't supposed to actually go out to patients.
Dear Reader, the car park was jam packed with folks like me, trying to be on time for urgent appointments. Fewer places to park 2/
November 12, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Appointment.
Their spanking new AI system is testing their appointment system by creating dummy appointments. But they aren't supposed to actually go out to patients.
Dear Reader, the car park was jam packed with folks like me, trying to be on time for urgent appointments. Fewer places to park 2/
Their spanking new AI system is testing their appointment system by creating dummy appointments. But they aren't supposed to actually go out to patients.
Dear Reader, the car park was jam packed with folks like me, trying to be on time for urgent appointments. Fewer places to park 2/
Reposted by Charlie Stross
So this morning I get an urgent email for a same day cardiology appointment at my local treatment centre.
I was surprised (and alarmed) but fine. I moved things around and went there a few minutes ago.
Only there was no real appointment. The receptionist said I wasn't supposed to receive any 1/
I was surprised (and alarmed) but fine. I moved things around and went there a few minutes ago.
Only there was no real appointment. The receptionist said I wasn't supposed to receive any 1/
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
So this morning I get an urgent email for a same day cardiology appointment at my local treatment centre.
I was surprised (and alarmed) but fine. I moved things around and went there a few minutes ago.
Only there was no real appointment. The receptionist said I wasn't supposed to receive any 1/
I was surprised (and alarmed) but fine. I moved things around and went there a few minutes ago.
Only there was no real appointment. The receptionist said I wasn't supposed to receive any 1/
@ironspike.bsky.social I loved The Sims 1, but ... took 20 years off, downloaded The Sims 4, and had a visceral HATE reaction to the gameplay within an hour.
I do NOT want capitalist propaganda gameplay like "work in a Starbucks, mop the tables, apologize to customer-bots, turn tricks for tips".
I do NOT want capitalist propaganda gameplay like "work in a Starbucks, mop the tables, apologize to customer-bots, turn tricks for tips".
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
@ironspike.bsky.social I loved The Sims 1, but ... took 20 years off, downloaded The Sims 4, and had a visceral HATE reaction to the gameplay within an hour.
I do NOT want capitalist propaganda gameplay like "work in a Starbucks, mop the tables, apologize to customer-bots, turn tricks for tips".
I do NOT want capitalist propaganda gameplay like "work in a Starbucks, mop the tables, apologize to customer-bots, turn tricks for tips".
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Didn't think Trump's birthday doodle to Epstein could get any creepier.
House Democrats release Epstein emails, including one in which he flatly asserted that Trump “knew about the girls,” many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage. @migold.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Epstein Alleged in Emails That Trump Knew of His Conduct
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Didn't think Trump's birthday doodle to Epstein could get any creepier.
Reposted by Charlie Stross
They're fucking with *Subterranean Press*. Like, who DOES that?
November 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
They're fucking with *Subterranean Press*. Like, who DOES that?
Reposted by Charlie Stross
Well, it would make more sense if the longer term plan is to run Wes against some chumps while angrily squealing that if anyone votes against him, then the bond markets will flood Britain with face-huggers and Xenomorphs. But maybe that’s too charitable to the organisation and intelligence here.
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Well, it would make more sense if the longer term plan is to run Wes against some chumps while angrily squealing that if anyone votes against him, then the bond markets will flood Britain with face-huggers and Xenomorphs. But maybe that’s too charitable to the organisation and intelligence here.
Incidentally, I know people keep saying Trump has no class, but stiffing your tradespeople is ABSOLUTELY a core aristocratic value going back centuries.
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Incidentally, I know people keep saying Trump has no class, but stiffing your tradespeople is ABSOLUTELY a core aristocratic value going back centuries.
I guess they should rename "Home Depot" to "Home Despot" now.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/trump-gold-oval-office-home-depot
https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/trump-gold-oval-office-home-depot
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I guess they should rename "Home Depot" to "Home Despot" now.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/trump-gold-oval-office-home-depot
https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/trump-gold-oval-office-home-depot