Former Earthling
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former-earthling.bsky.social
Former Earthling
@former-earthling.bsky.social
190 followers 420 following 780 posts
Former Earth resident. Current interstellar expat. Native of Doomscroller IV.

Temporarily stationed near Alpha Centauri.

If you’re receiving this, Earth’s Wi-Fi is still catastrophically overpowered.
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former-earthling.bsky.social
Just want to show my appreciation to the people of Tours for trying to make me feel at home.

#Canada #Quebec #Flags #Tours #France
A Canadian and a Quebec flag are displayed above the front of a poutine restaurant in Tours, France
November 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
From my #wip #sci-fi novel Shadow Of Horizon.

Lt Commander Sarah Jensen is investigating a fatal accident outside a nascent Martian colony only to uncover a conspiracy of corruption.

#wipsnips #impede #writesky
Jensen realized she wasn't going to get anywhere by trying to have a conversation. She allowed a hint of her frustration to seep into her voice. "Ensign Brooks, I'm trying to figure out exactly what happened that day. When it comes time to write my report, it will contain a paragraph or three describing either how helpful you were, or how badly you impeded my investigation. The choice is completely up to you, so either cooperate with me here, or tell me to go jump out an airlock so I know which of those options I'm going with." Brooks sighed in exasperation and looked furtively around the room to see who might be listening. A few other colonists were sitting at a table across the room, playing cards, not paying them any attention. Turning back to Jensen, he spoke in a quiet voice, taut with tension. "Fine. You want to know what hap-pened? I'll tell you, and then you can get on with ruining my career. Kaur didn't do anything wrong. He followed protocol to the let-ter. He always did. He would've cut off his own hand with a laser torch before he did something that might endanger the crew.
November 27, 2025 at 8:13 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
A connecting scene from my sci-fi short story “Iterations.”

I should probably get it finished and do something with it before I give away the whole game here. 🙂

#wipsnips #system #scifi #writesky
The air here was stale and dry, tasting of dust and machine oil. Several of the lights that should have lit the entire length of the corridor were out, leaving pools of shadow where they didn't belong. The hum of air being pushed through vents by the life support system was the only sound other than my breathing. The five hatches connecting to the living modules spun silently in a circle around the corridor. My brain didn't seem to want to make sense of the spinning hatches so I turned towards the aft of the ship and put them out of my mind. Using my hands (and occasionally feet), | propelled myself down the corridor, caroming from wall to ceiling to floor to wall. It was like I'd never been weightless before. As I approached the small staging room from which I could access the engine room, engineering and the cargo hold, the temperature began to drop. By the time I had positioned myself in front of the cargo hatch, I was shivering. Was that normal? I couldn't remember. It didn't seem normal. I slid my feet into the straps on the "floor," braced myself and twisted the handle on the hatch. It took considerably more effort than I expected, but eventually it opened with a reluctant groan. Inside the room a few lights came on automatically, although not as many as l'd have liked. I took a deep breath, then took hold of the edges of the hatch and pulled myself into the cargo hold.
November 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Look closely, #recruiters.

I received these two #LinkedIn #InMail messages on the same day.

I’m going to reply to one and ignore the other.

See if you can guess which one and why.
A screenshot of an email that reads: Hi, We're currently hiring for a full-time "Java Full Stack Developer" position onsite in Edmonton, Alberta | Calgary, Alberta. Please let me know if you're interested in this opportunity. A screenshot of an email that reads: I hope you're enjoying a great day! I am hiring for a Java Full Stack Developer position on behalf of a client in Calgary, Alberta. Your background as a songwriter and guitarist, along with your experience in software development, caught my attention. It's exciting to see someone with a unique blend of creativity and technical skills. This role could align well with your interests, especially since you're open to opportunities that value your problem-solving abilities and tech-savvy perspective. It might be a fun chance to bridge your creative insights with tech. If you'd like to chat more about this position, feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Best regards
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Another section from my sci-fi short story “Iterations,” still waiting on my hard drive for me to get motivated enough to do a new revision.

#writesky #scifi
No matter how I looked at it I couldn't escape the conclusion that ISAAC was up to something that it didn't want me to know. As my mind worked to find connections between the oddities, another thought slowly percolated to the top of my consciousness. It was so ridiculous that I ignored it until I had to admit it wasn't going to go away. Something that l'd seen but not noticed. Refusing to believe what I was thinking, I got up from the bed and crossed the room to stand in front of the mirror. I must be going insane, to be thinking this. I slowly lifted my shirt and looked at my abdomen. I blinked. This wasn't possible. It couldn't be. I brushed my fingers over the smooth skin of my stomach. This was what my subconscious had been trying to tell me ever since l'd showered and dressed earlier. This is what was wrong. Where the hell was my appendectomy scar?
November 12, 2025 at 10:10 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Hmm... 🤔
A screenshot of a press release that reads "SOCAN, ASCAP and BMI Announce Alignment on AI Registration Policies SOCAN, ASCAP and BMI today announced they have each adopted policies to accept registrations of musical compositions partially generated using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These works can now be registered directly with the individual societies."
October 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
What’s your sign?
A sign on a shop door in France that indicates aliens and bicycles are not allowed.
September 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
From a sci-fi short story that's been sitting on my drive waiting for another revision for a while now.
Back in the cryo-module I coiled up the electrodes that I’d peeled off my skin when I woke up. I tossed the IV needles into the sharps container, then I gathered up the tubes that had delivered oxygen and nutrients into my body or carried waste out of it and headed out the connecting aisle towards the medical module where the autoclave lived. I clambered through the hatch into the aisle and immediately realized my mistake. The autoclave I needed to sterilize the cryo equipment was in the medical module, but as ISAAC had already told me, that module was sealed due to the fire. The red light next to the hatch was all the indication I needed that it was sealed and not safe to open. I cursed under my breath and walked the short length of the companionway. As long as I was here I may as well get a look at what damage the fire had done.
September 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
More #live #music in #Revelstoke
with Stephen Fearing @sfearingmusic.bsky.social
Stephen Fearing performing live in Revelstoke. Revy.live
August 23, 2025 at 2:47 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Today’s hike was down (and then back up) the old Revelstoke ski jump where multiple world records were set early in the last century.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nels_Ne...
The old judge’s tower overlooking the ski jump Mrs. Former-Earthling standing at the edge of the ski jump overlooking the town of Revelstoke. A view of the ski jump from the bottom of the hill. A plaque made to look like a replica of a newspaper story about former ski jump world-record holder Nels Nelson.
August 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
#Revelstoke live music tonight: #AHRF
AHRF playing live outdoors in Revelstoke
August 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
My annual hike around the top of Mr. Revelstoke. We did a couple of trails I hadn’t done before.
Lake Revelstoke from the top of Mt. Revelstoke. Sign for the beginning of Broken Bridge trail. Part of the town as seen from a lookout on Mr. Revelstoke. The broken bridge at the end of Broken Bridge trail
August 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Shit. I’m in a camper.

So, just in case… Been nice knowing y’all.
Tornado warning received while camping.
July 23, 2025 at 1:49 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Good morning Skyers.

I’ve been dissing a bit on Northern #Ontario (and will continue to do so) but damn if the river by our #campsite 🏕️ isn’t absolutely beautiful this morning. #Sunrise
A calm river at sunrise.
July 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Family from NB, AB, ON & BC come together again to spread the ashes of my dad and two of his brothers in the area around the village their grandparents came from.

#goodbyeDad 😢
The full moon rising over the Bay of Fundy and reflected in the water. The Irish River at low tide below sandstone cliffs. Several people standing in a field above the ocean. Several people walking towards a lighthouse next to the ocean.
July 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Back on the #Fundy coast where some of my ancestors settled in the way back times.

Hits different today than when I spent summers here as a kid.
A double lane covered bridge A small fishing harbour at low tide with fishing boats sitting on the mud A small waterfall in a forest A rocky beach at the edge of a forest
July 9, 2025 at 8:28 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Nothing spectacular, but since you asked… here they are.
Palais de l’isle, Annecy House in Valensole Fountain in the town centre, Valensole Thiou River, Annecy
June 30, 2025 at 11:11 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Oh Canada, how I've missed you. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

Now to figure out how to get the last ~4500 km to home.
A road sign showing directions to Sackville, Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John via the Trans-Canada Highway.
June 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
This has absolutely nothing to do with anything going on anywhere in the world, but, damn. #Annecy has got to be near the top of the list for places I want to live.
A canal with boats in Annecy, France Swans and boats on Lake Annecy, France The Palais de l’Isle in Annecy, France The Thiou River in Annecy, France
June 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Road trip continues through Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

#LavenderFields #Valensole
A fountain in a public square in the town of Vansole, France Lavender fields in Aix-en-Provence, France Lavender fields in Aix-en-Provence, France A narrow street in the town of Valensole, France
June 21, 2025 at 8:32 AM
former-earthling.bsky.social
#wipsnips #check
I stood on the ground in front of the tarp that keeps the worst of the weather out of my shack. The sun would be up soon and I wanted to be out of town before there was enough light to be seen. I took a quick mental inventory. Water, flashlight, rifle and ammunition, dried food. Check, check, check and check. Shutting the padlock that secured the gate behind the tarp, I struck out, convinced that it was as secure as I could make it. I headed down the road out of town, past the junk dealers, the food and booze sellers, the bordellos and the gunsmiths. There was no moon tonight and no lights this late in the evening, so no need to stick to the shadows. The entire world was in shadow. Just the way I liked it.
June 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
Not gonna sleep much tonight. 5-0 #PSG
May 31, 2025 at 8:56 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
People outside my apartment seem excited for some reason.

#PSG
May 31, 2025 at 8:37 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
#wip #writingPrompt
Morales headed away from the wrecked vehicle in an undulating pattern, scanning the ground around him. Arriving at a tangle of equipment, he pushed a large panel aside and his stomach dropped. In front of him, lying face down was a body, half buried in the blowing Martian dust, the familiar blue of the environment suit standing out against the red sand. Alex knelt beside the figure, his voice tight as he radioed the others. "Sarah, Elena, get over here! I've found someone!"
May 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
former-earthling.bsky.social
So, I had a look at a photo I took along the Loir River a few weeks ago, and lo and behold, my photo has a sign identifying it as the Loire: “Une passerelle sur la Loire”

Good to know that even the signage professionals can’t keep the Loir and the Loire straight. I no longer feel quite as dumb.
Photo of a footbridge over the Loir (without an E) River and a sign identifying it as the Loire (with an E) River.
May 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM