Brian Mackenwells
@mackenwells.bsky.social
Writes things, likes pencils
www.firebrigademusical.com
www.firebrigademusical.com
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Two interesting stationery facts that you might need to sit down for :
1. The blue part of a classic pink/blue eraser was originally intended for pencil on thick paper, not ink.
2. Etymologically ‘stationery’ stems from ‘stationary’.
1. The blue part of a classic pink/blue eraser was originally intended for pencil on thick paper, not ink.
2. Etymologically ‘stationery’ stems from ‘stationary’.
November 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Two interesting stationery facts that you might need to sit down for :
1. The blue part of a classic pink/blue eraser was originally intended for pencil on thick paper, not ink.
2. Etymologically ‘stationery’ stems from ‘stationary’.
1. The blue part of a classic pink/blue eraser was originally intended for pencil on thick paper, not ink.
2. Etymologically ‘stationery’ stems from ‘stationary’.
At some point I played my last game of chasing with my friends in school, without realising it would be our last game.
However, that means one of us is still IT, and doesn't even know. Forever chasing people who don't know they're being chased.
I think about this all the time. Is it me? Am I IT?
However, that means one of us is still IT, and doesn't even know. Forever chasing people who don't know they're being chased.
I think about this all the time. Is it me? Am I IT?
November 9, 2025 at 12:22 PM
At some point I played my last game of chasing with my friends in school, without realising it would be our last game.
However, that means one of us is still IT, and doesn't even know. Forever chasing people who don't know they're being chased.
I think about this all the time. Is it me? Am I IT?
However, that means one of us is still IT, and doesn't even know. Forever chasing people who don't know they're being chased.
I think about this all the time. Is it me? Am I IT?
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
This is so good.
My old 20-page Simpsons tournament arc comic can be read on my website: joechouinard.com/springfight
October 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This is so good.
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
ScienceWrite 2026 is open for applications! 🧪
Our programme for minoritised/marginalised science writers based in the UK is running again!
Have an idea for a book, article or other writing project for a lay audience? This is for you!
Apply & find out more at sciencewrite.co.uk
Our programme for minoritised/marginalised science writers based in the UK is running again!
Have an idea for a book, article or other writing project for a lay audience? This is for you!
Apply & find out more at sciencewrite.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM
ScienceWrite 2026 is open for applications! 🧪
Our programme for minoritised/marginalised science writers based in the UK is running again!
Have an idea for a book, article or other writing project for a lay audience? This is for you!
Apply & find out more at sciencewrite.co.uk
Our programme for minoritised/marginalised science writers based in the UK is running again!
Have an idea for a book, article or other writing project for a lay audience? This is for you!
Apply & find out more at sciencewrite.co.uk
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
We're almost there.
Why not download issue 1 for free. Dip your toe in the icy waters of Foran 4. Explore a new world...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hnvyx...
Then back the kickstarter here!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Who knows... when it ends tomorrow, maybe the world will be a brighter place
Why not download issue 1 for free. Dip your toe in the icy waters of Foran 4. Explore a new world...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hnvyx...
Then back the kickstarter here!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Who knows... when it ends tomorrow, maybe the world will be a brighter place
September 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
We're almost there.
Why not download issue 1 for free. Dip your toe in the icy waters of Foran 4. Explore a new world...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hnvyx...
Then back the kickstarter here!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Who knows... when it ends tomorrow, maybe the world will be a brighter place
Why not download issue 1 for free. Dip your toe in the icy waters of Foran 4. Explore a new world...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hnvyx...
Then back the kickstarter here!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Who knows... when it ends tomorrow, maybe the world will be a brighter place
Wait, mesmerism is an eponym en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_M...
Franz Mesmer - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Wait, mesmerism is an eponym en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_M...
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
This has surprised me as much as hearing tonight that Tennessee Williams only died in 1983, meaning he was alive at the same time as Serena and Venus, the other tennisy Williams
a thing I have just discovered that feels utterly wrong is that Arthur Miller only died in 2005. he could have seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. he could have seen Donnie Darko!
September 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
This has surprised me as much as hearing tonight that Tennessee Williams only died in 1983, meaning he was alive at the same time as Serena and Venus, the other tennisy Williams
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
I feel like it's hard to get across to my English pals that if the Taoiseach **made a point of insisting to the press** that they put Irish flags all over their house, and made sure to 'always' sit by one in their office, then they would immediately, and forever, be tainted as a massive weird freak.
NEW: Keir Starmer has said he hangs the English flag in his home and 'always sits front of a Union Jack'
He told the BBC: 'I'm very encouraging of flags. I think they're patriotic and a great symbol of our nation.'
He told the BBC: 'I'm very encouraging of flags. I think they're patriotic and a great symbol of our nation.'
September 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I feel like it's hard to get across to my English pals that if the Taoiseach **made a point of insisting to the press** that they put Irish flags all over their house, and made sure to 'always' sit by one in their office, then they would immediately, and forever, be tainted as a massive weird freak.
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Publication day for “About Time”! It seems to have got the horology world very excited (see review below). I hope some of you might take a look to learn about something so absolutely central to our existence - you literally can’t imagine it not existing, because without time, there’d be no thought
About Time — How Two Writers Made The Most Elusive Concept Kid-Friendly
✓ Chris Antzoulis highlights About Time by Rebecca Struthers and Alom Shaha ✓ A wonderfully engaging children's book on horology and more! ✓
www.fratellowatches.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Publication day for “About Time”! It seems to have got the horology world very excited (see review below). I hope some of you might take a look to learn about something so absolutely central to our existence - you literally can’t imagine it not existing, because without time, there’d be no thought
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
A jury of my peers? TWELVE murderers?!
August 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A jury of my peers? TWELVE murderers?!
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
For deeply silly reasons, I need to find a scientist who specializes in magnet stuff. If you are such an individual and would be up for talking about superheroes on a podcast, I would love a word with you.
August 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
For deeply silly reasons, I need to find a scientist who specializes in magnet stuff. If you are such an individual and would be up for talking about superheroes on a podcast, I would love a word with you.
I STRONGLY urge you to back this. Space Captain: Captain of Space is a fantastic comic, full of humanity and heart, I love it so much. Also a chance to pick up a copy of We Said Goodbye To Gravity, also a big rec from me (I haven't read the others on offer, but I'll bet they're real good too)
Hey the new Kickstarter is live!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Physical book is £18
Digital book is £12
That's it for main tiers. Keeping it super simple to make things easier at the fulfilment stage. Feel free to add some digital rewards on though if you like!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/chr...
Physical book is £18
Digital book is £12
That's it for main tiers. Keeping it super simple to make things easier at the fulfilment stage. Feel free to add some digital rewards on though if you like!
August 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I STRONGLY urge you to back this. Space Captain: Captain of Space is a fantastic comic, full of humanity and heart, I love it so much. Also a chance to pick up a copy of We Said Goodbye To Gravity, also a big rec from me (I haven't read the others on offer, but I'll bet they're real good too)
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
It's Swiss Independence Day!
Here's a drawing of William Tell, the retired country crossbowman & Swiss folk hero who, in 1307, was, as a cruel jest by his captors, given the chance to save himself & his young son from execution if he could shoot an apple off his son's head at an absurd distance. 1/
Here's a drawing of William Tell, the retired country crossbowman & Swiss folk hero who, in 1307, was, as a cruel jest by his captors, given the chance to save himself & his young son from execution if he could shoot an apple off his son's head at an absurd distance. 1/
August 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's Swiss Independence Day!
Here's a drawing of William Tell, the retired country crossbowman & Swiss folk hero who, in 1307, was, as a cruel jest by his captors, given the chance to save himself & his young son from execution if he could shoot an apple off his son's head at an absurd distance. 1/
Here's a drawing of William Tell, the retired country crossbowman & Swiss folk hero who, in 1307, was, as a cruel jest by his captors, given the chance to save himself & his young son from execution if he could shoot an apple off his son's head at an absurd distance. 1/
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
15) We should improve society by responding to every declaration of "Cringe!" with "Shut up, coward."
July 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
15) We should improve society by responding to every declaration of "Cringe!" with "Shut up, coward."
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Eadweard Muybridge: Animal Locomotion: An Electro-Photographic Investigation of Consecutive Phases of Animal Movement 1872-1885
July 19, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Eadweard Muybridge: Animal Locomotion: An Electro-Photographic Investigation of Consecutive Phases of Animal Movement 1872-1885
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
A favourite variation was one I contrived for @thefence.bsky.social in 2020, re: Jeff Bezos' then wealth of $177bn.
"Iago first said 'Put money in thy purse’ at the premiere of Othello on Nov 1st 1604. You'd only need to put $1.1 million in said purse every single day since to match Bezos’ total".
"Iago first said 'Put money in thy purse’ at the premiere of Othello on Nov 1st 1604. You'd only need to put $1.1 million in said purse every single day since to match Bezos’ total".
Given the Mamdani discourse, I wrote a bit about billionaires. If you were given $100 a day and aimed to have as much wealth as the world’s billionaires, you’d have had to have started about when animals first developed the ability to breathe oxygen.
s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?tra...
s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?tra...
July 1, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A favourite variation was one I contrived for @thefence.bsky.social in 2020, re: Jeff Bezos' then wealth of $177bn.
"Iago first said 'Put money in thy purse’ at the premiere of Othello on Nov 1st 1604. You'd only need to put $1.1 million in said purse every single day since to match Bezos’ total".
"Iago first said 'Put money in thy purse’ at the premiere of Othello on Nov 1st 1604. You'd only need to put $1.1 million in said purse every single day since to match Bezos’ total".
Reposted by Brian Mackenwells
Illuminated comics are always great, this one particularly so. Enjoy! I didn't clip my fav panel because it's a spoiler, but it's only ten pages so you can get there and enjoy it yourself!
Osso Duro! 10 pages, 1 of 3 🧵
Also on the website:
illuminatedcomics.github.io/ossoduro/
#comics #HumanArtists
Also on the website:
illuminatedcomics.github.io/ossoduro/
#comics #HumanArtists
June 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Illuminated comics are always great, this one particularly so. Enjoy! I didn't clip my fav panel because it's a spoiler, but it's only ten pages so you can get there and enjoy it yourself!