Failed State of Enlightenment
@fsoenlightenment.bsky.social
A not-great human who keeps trying to be better. Some days successful, some days not, but we keep trying.
Currently reading: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Currently reading: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Random and probably unoriginal thoughts this Thanksgiving (US) morning:
1) Generally, humans are an extinction level event on this planet.
2) Specific humans are doing their damnedest to change that. They need more of us to help.
...
1) Generally, humans are an extinction level event on this planet.
2) Specific humans are doing their damnedest to change that. They need more of us to help.
...
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Random and probably unoriginal thoughts this Thanksgiving (US) morning:
1) Generally, humans are an extinction level event on this planet.
2) Specific humans are doing their damnedest to change that. They need more of us to help.
...
1) Generally, humans are an extinction level event on this planet.
2) Specific humans are doing their damnedest to change that. They need more of us to help.
...
Completed reading Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery by Brian Murphy. A good book with a lot of the history of the sword-&-sorcery genre of books.
A few thoughts:
1/x
A few thoughts:
1/x
November 13, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Completed reading Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery by Brian Murphy. A good book with a lot of the history of the sword-&-sorcery genre of books.
A few thoughts:
1/x
A few thoughts:
1/x
Do you want good sports writing? How about silly sports writing? Weird/wonderful creatures (non-political)? Horrible/infuriating creatures (sports, political)? Arts and culture?
Defector is a great blog to spend your dollars for all that and more. I've never regretted subscribing.
Defector is a great blog to spend your dollars for all that and more. I've never regretted subscribing.
The website that I co-own Defector.com is hosting a RARE sale where you get three months of blogs for just $5! That’s something like 600 blogs for FIVE AMERICAN DOLLARS. Pretty good deal imo and you get to support worker-owned media.
Defector | The last good website.
Defector is an employee-owned sports and culture website brought to you by the former staffers of Deadspin.
Defector.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Do you want good sports writing? How about silly sports writing? Weird/wonderful creatures (non-political)? Horrible/infuriating creatures (sports, political)? Arts and culture?
Defector is a great blog to spend your dollars for all that and more. I've never regretted subscribing.
Defector is a great blog to spend your dollars for all that and more. I've never regretted subscribing.
Morning glory
August 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Morning glory
Poetry and prose are not graced to any one class, any one race, any one creed. It is graced to all.
Poetry is emotion expressed for all the world to see.
Even when the emotion is something as simple as lamenting a power bill for the sake of comfort.
Poetry is emotion expressed for all the world to see.
Even when the emotion is something as simple as lamenting a power bill for the sake of comfort.
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
August 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Poetry and prose are not graced to any one class, any one race, any one creed. It is graced to all.
Poetry is emotion expressed for all the world to see.
Even when the emotion is something as simple as lamenting a power bill for the sake of comfort.
Poetry is emotion expressed for all the world to see.
Even when the emotion is something as simple as lamenting a power bill for the sake of comfort.
The sturgeon moon. Lovely.
August 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM
The sturgeon moon. Lovely.
Took a while to get through it, but finished I Am The Law by @molcher.bsky.social today. I've been working my way through it now for a couple months, primarily because of how heavy feeling his prose is and seeing it reflected... well... everywhere all at once.
My thoughts below.
1/x
My thoughts below.
1/x
July 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Took a while to get through it, but finished I Am The Law by @molcher.bsky.social today. I've been working my way through it now for a couple months, primarily because of how heavy feeling his prose is and seeing it reflected... well... everywhere all at once.
My thoughts below.
1/x
My thoughts below.
1/x
17,897 days on this planet.
49 orbits around the sun.
An insignificant percentage of a galactic year.
This space/time has been mostly good. I'm glad I was here to see it. I hope to see a lot more of it.
49 orbits around the sun.
An insignificant percentage of a galactic year.
This space/time has been mostly good. I'm glad I was here to see it. I hope to see a lot more of it.
June 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
17,897 days on this planet.
49 orbits around the sun.
An insignificant percentage of a galactic year.
This space/time has been mostly good. I'm glad I was here to see it. I hope to see a lot more of it.
49 orbits around the sun.
An insignificant percentage of a galactic year.
This space/time has been mostly good. I'm glad I was here to see it. I hope to see a lot more of it.
Went for a ride and found this fine specimen on the steering wheel. I think it wanted to drive.
May 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Went for a ride and found this fine specimen on the steering wheel. I think it wanted to drive.
Just finished So I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney. An interesting book. It was a relatively fast read, breezy in some parts, especially for a very weighty theme.
A few quick thoughts...
1/
A few quick thoughts...
1/
May 17, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Just finished So I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney. An interesting book. It was a relatively fast read, breezy in some parts, especially for a very weighty theme.
A few quick thoughts...
1/
A few quick thoughts...
1/
I have now consumed the first two episodes of Murderbot.
I love it already. There's enough differences from the source material to keep me on my toes. The sets and costumes are wonderful. All the actors bring exciting new flavors to the characters.
Now I have to wait a week for episode 3.
I love it already. There's enough differences from the source material to keep me on my toes. The sets and costumes are wonderful. All the actors bring exciting new flavors to the characters.
Now I have to wait a week for episode 3.
May 16, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I have now consumed the first two episodes of Murderbot.
I love it already. There's enough differences from the source material to keep me on my toes. The sets and costumes are wonderful. All the actors bring exciting new flavors to the characters.
Now I have to wait a week for episode 3.
I love it already. There's enough differences from the source material to keep me on my toes. The sets and costumes are wonderful. All the actors bring exciting new flavors to the characters.
Now I have to wait a week for episode 3.
The peony in the front bloomed. This was the only bud on this bush, but I suspect future years will have more.
May 7, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The peony in the front bloomed. This was the only bud on this bush, but I suspect future years will have more.
Mornings are a quiet time of reflection. Most are walked head down, ruminating on the day ahead. But some mornings, I take a moment to look up and see the paintings of light in the sky.
I hope we all have a moment to look outward and see the beauty that is all around us.
I hope we all have a moment to look outward and see the beauty that is all around us.
April 24, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Mornings are a quiet time of reflection. Most are walked head down, ruminating on the day ahead. But some mornings, I take a moment to look up and see the paintings of light in the sky.
I hope we all have a moment to look outward and see the beauty that is all around us.
I hope we all have a moment to look outward and see the beauty that is all around us.
Though we're in a pretty dark timeline, there are always little bright moments that can help relieve our sadness. Seeing this was one of them today for me.
This cover of an awesome book kicks all sorts of ass in all the right ways! Love it!
This cover of an awesome book kicks all sorts of ass in all the right ways! Love it!
💥THIS IS NOT A DRILL!💥
The new Japanese translation of AUGUST KITKO & THE MECHAS FROM SPACE drops soon and LOOK at that cover!!!
Want your own? Get it here!
www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4...
The new Japanese translation of AUGUST KITKO & THE MECHAS FROM SPACE drops soon and LOOK at that cover!!!
Want your own? Get it here!
www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4...
April 23, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Though we're in a pretty dark timeline, there are always little bright moments that can help relieve our sadness. Seeing this was one of them today for me.
This cover of an awesome book kicks all sorts of ass in all the right ways! Love it!
This cover of an awesome book kicks all sorts of ass in all the right ways! Love it!
A distraction: a ladybug I saved from my pool.
April 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A distraction: a ladybug I saved from my pool.
It first took a bit to arrive, then a bit for me to read, but I've finally finished You Didn't Hear This From Me by @mckinneykelsey.bsky.social
Fantastic examination of gossip, with a goodly amount of scholarly insight to support the book.
A couple thoughts:
1/
Fantastic examination of gossip, with a goodly amount of scholarly insight to support the book.
A couple thoughts:
1/
April 19, 2025 at 4:12 AM
It first took a bit to arrive, then a bit for me to read, but I've finally finished You Didn't Hear This From Me by @mckinneykelsey.bsky.social
Fantastic examination of gossip, with a goodly amount of scholarly insight to support the book.
A couple thoughts:
1/
Fantastic examination of gossip, with a goodly amount of scholarly insight to support the book.
A couple thoughts:
1/
I am trying not to be political and angry on this site. However, seeing everything I've seen from the news today, I feel I need to say:
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.
I have a small voice but enough small voices together can be loud.
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.
I have a small voice but enough small voices together can be loud.
April 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I am trying not to be political and angry on this site. However, seeing everything I've seen from the news today, I feel I need to say:
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.
I have a small voice but enough small voices together can be loud.
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.
I have a small voice but enough small voices together can be loud.
As seen on the DC Metro.
April 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
As seen on the DC Metro.
Came down with COVID over a super nice weekend in my area. I watched from my window as the buds became flowers. I went out today to get closer to spring.
I didn't miss spring. And I'm getting better.
I didn't miss spring. And I'm getting better.
April 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Came down with COVID over a super nice weekend in my area. I watched from my window as the buds became flowers. I went out today to get closer to spring.
I didn't miss spring. And I'm getting better.
I didn't miss spring. And I'm getting better.
My view from early this morning. Overslept my alarm and almost missed totality.
I am always awed by the night sky, even in the mostly light polluted area I live in. How many millions and millions of stories are being told just out of our reach? How many will mankind never hear?
I am always awed by the night sky, even in the mostly light polluted area I live in. How many millions and millions of stories are being told just out of our reach? How many will mankind never hear?
March 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
My view from early this morning. Overslept my alarm and almost missed totality.
I am always awed by the night sky, even in the mostly light polluted area I live in. How many millions and millions of stories are being told just out of our reach? How many will mankind never hear?
I am always awed by the night sky, even in the mostly light polluted area I live in. How many millions and millions of stories are being told just out of our reach? How many will mankind never hear?
Finished From Russia with Love by Ian Flemming. I've been pecking at this for a couple years, mostly on account of "shiny new book" syndrome, but also because of the no-longer-accepted language the the author uses.
1/4
1/4
March 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Finished From Russia with Love by Ian Flemming. I've been pecking at this for a couple years, mostly on account of "shiny new book" syndrome, but also because of the no-longer-accepted language the the author uses.
1/4
1/4
Blue skies with white clouds. The clouds looked like someone dragged their finger through the icing of a cake.
March 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Blue skies with white clouds. The clouds looked like someone dragged their finger through the icing of a cake.
Next book on the done pile: After the Forest by @kellinthewoods.bsky.social.
A really fun tale of "what happens next" building on Hansel and Gretel, but also adding a lot more ingredients to the tale to make it fresh.
There were some nice twists that I should have seen coming, but didn't.
A really fun tale of "what happens next" building on Hansel and Gretel, but also adding a lot more ingredients to the tale to make it fresh.
There were some nice twists that I should have seen coming, but didn't.
February 21, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Next book on the done pile: After the Forest by @kellinthewoods.bsky.social.
A really fun tale of "what happens next" building on Hansel and Gretel, but also adding a lot more ingredients to the tale to make it fresh.
There were some nice twists that I should have seen coming, but didn't.
A really fun tale of "what happens next" building on Hansel and Gretel, but also adding a lot more ingredients to the tale to make it fresh.
There were some nice twists that I should have seen coming, but didn't.
I am on vacation and had hoped to have @mckinneykelsey.bsky.social's new book in my hands and reading it on a beach in Hawai'i.
However, my copy is allegedly on back order, so I instead made my wife and her sister listen to Normal Gossip.
We broke at emotional support fruits.
However, my copy is allegedly on back order, so I instead made my wife and her sister listen to Normal Gossip.
We broke at emotional support fruits.
February 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I am on vacation and had hoped to have @mckinneykelsey.bsky.social's new book in my hands and reading it on a beach in Hawai'i.
However, my copy is allegedly on back order, so I instead made my wife and her sister listen to Normal Gossip.
We broke at emotional support fruits.
However, my copy is allegedly on back order, so I instead made my wife and her sister listen to Normal Gossip.
We broke at emotional support fruits.
Next up on the done pile: Polostan by @nealstephenson.bsky.social. A very intriguing start to the Bomb Light series. There are bits of history twisted into the story that I had no idea of, and some I only had very basic knowledge of, like the immediate aftermath of the Russian revolution.
February 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Next up on the done pile: Polostan by @nealstephenson.bsky.social. A very intriguing start to the Bomb Light series. There are bits of history twisted into the story that I had no idea of, and some I only had very basic knowledge of, like the immediate aftermath of the Russian revolution.