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Brandon Ketchum

@brandonketchum.bsky.social

Speculative fiction writer (fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, in that order) and LCSW working for the Pittsburgh VA, trying to understand life, the universe, and everything.

144 Followers  |  261 Following  |  483 Posts  |  Joined: 22.09.2023  |  2.0552

Latest posts by brandonketchum.bsky.social on Bluesky

Gray, as I write in American English. Grey would be incorrect and stand out in any manuscript I would try to sell. Ah, two nations divided by a common language!

05.11.2025 11:33 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I see your Pink Panther reference and respect it.

04.11.2025 11:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yeah, I hear you, and it will help if they are much swifter than the Bear was. Still no reason for it. I don't think it would have been hard to just complete an arc or two that would have taken probably 5 minutes or less of screen time. I think it's just writers getting lazy.

04.11.2025 11:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Title: The desk of a late, great author 

Panel 1:
A woman asks "The publisher is on my back again. Have you guys got anything left in there?"

Panel 2:
A desk, with four drawers and a friendly face on each, replies
"Nope"
"Sorry."
"Nothing."
the last one says
"I might have something..."

Panel 3:
The woman reaches into the drawer which says
"That's it...Right At the back."

Panel 4:
The woman holds some paper 
"It's just a pizza menu."

Panel 5:
The drawers reply:
"Oh well"
"We've done our best"
"We have secured a great reputation for eternity!"

But another voice joins in:

Panel 6:
"Now, hold on there. I've got a few things that might Interest you..."
It is the waste-paper basket, filled with crumpled balls of discarded paper.

Title: The desk of a late, great author Panel 1: A woman asks "The publisher is on my back again. Have you guys got anything left in there?" Panel 2: A desk, with four drawers and a friendly face on each, replies "Nope" "Sorry." "Nothing." the last one says "I might have something..." Panel 3: The woman reaches into the drawer which says "That's it...Right At the back." Panel 4: The woman holds some paper "It's just a pizza menu." Panel 5: The drawers reply: "Oh well" "We've done our best" "We have secured a great reputation for eternity!" But another voice joins in: Panel 6: "Now, hold on there. I've got a few things that might Interest you..." It is the waste-paper basket, filled with crumpled balls of discarded paper.

My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com

02.11.2025 14:16 β€” πŸ‘ 645    πŸ” 167    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 8

Let theme at cake.

02.11.2025 13:08 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Dang, I'm jealous that you have a nice covering for yours. Well, I guess the upside is that visitors at my place can pick it up and "play" with the puzzle cube hehe

02.11.2025 13:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I have the same critique for this as the season before last of the Bear: It wasn't a season. The story arcs didn't arc--they only went one direction. Lame. Very, very lame. Some entertaining content, but not a full season.

02.11.2025 13:04 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

If this were a movie, this is the point where the highly skilled combat veteran snatches the pistol away from the cowardly bully boy federal agent, pistol whips him with it, and calls him out. Because that "federal agent" is a little nothingburger with a badge.

02.11.2025 12:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A dark impressionistic panel of ICE beating a civilian in a Home Depot parking lot. There are flames in the background. The panel is captioned, "I've never seen the real monsters until now."

A dark impressionistic panel of ICE beating a civilian in a Home Depot parking lot. There are flames in the background. The panel is captioned, "I've never seen the real monsters until now."

I agree with Lynda Barry. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/o...

02.11.2025 03:17 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Amongst the Witcher’s glaring idiocies is its gross mishandling of archery. Ima dive into the water with my bow and come up and immediately shoot a bunch of guys smfh

01.11.2025 12:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Image: three figures in protective suits watch from behind a screen as a child approaches a door-like mechanical structure in which stands a man. Between them is an amorphous glowing shape.

Caption: Scientists at the institute of halloween studies have succeeded in creating "The treak": a quantum state that is simultaneously trick and treat. It is stable for a millionth of a second before decaying into a half-hearted prank and a mediocre candy bar.

Image: three figures in protective suits watch from behind a screen as a child approaches a door-like mechanical structure in which stands a man. Between them is an amorphous glowing shape. Caption: Scientists at the institute of halloween studies have succeeded in creating "The treak": a quantum state that is simultaneously trick and treat. It is stable for a millionth of a second before decaying into a half-hearted prank and a mediocre candy bar.

A halloween cartoon for @newscientist.com

31.10.2025 11:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1088    πŸ” 383    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 10
Reasons to visit your local haunted bookshop:

Open Until Very Late (image: moonlit bookshop)
Staff with nine hundred years experience (image: skeleton bookseller)
Home delivery by Headless Hoseman or flying fiend (image: deliveries being made)
Readings from famous authors (Image: Shakespeare zombie)
Stay and browse forever (Image ghost in a bookshop)

Reasons to visit your local haunted bookshop: Open Until Very Late (image: moonlit bookshop) Staff with nine hundred years experience (image: skeleton bookseller) Home delivery by Headless Hoseman or flying fiend (image: deliveries being made) Readings from famous authors (Image: Shakespeare zombie) Stay and browse forever (Image ghost in a bookshop)

Three @theguardian.com books cartoons from previous halloweens: 1. Haunted Bookshop

31.10.2025 17:14 β€” πŸ‘ 877    πŸ” 286    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 9
Preview
Harrison Ford says Trump’s assault on climate policy β€˜scares the shit out of me’ Indiana Jones star calls US president one of history’s greatest criminals for attacks on science and boosting of fossil fuels

Harrison Ford on Donald Trump: "It scares the shit out of me. The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy. ... I don’t know of a greater criminal in history." www.theguardian.com/environment/...

01.11.2025 00:11 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

For Halloween, I will quote Wednesday: β€œWoe to the republic.”

31.10.2025 12:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Xander asks Buffy, whose dressed up as red riding hood: What you got in the basket, little girl?
Buffy: weapons.

Xander asks Buffy, whose dressed up as red riding hood: What you got in the basket, little girl? Buffy: weapons.

Gm! πŸŽƒ

31.10.2025 11:50 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I hope so too, but it is a tricky day.

31.10.2025 09:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes!!! It's bad pulp, but hey, pulp is fun.

31.10.2025 09:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

🀣🀣🀣

31.10.2025 09:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Image: The library of an ancient castle. A full moon shines through a gothic window. A vampire creeps up behing a carpenter.
Caption: "It had not been easy, but the Count was glad that he had resisted drinking the carpenter's blood until his beautiful new bookshelves were complete."

Image: The library of an ancient castle. A full moon shines through a gothic window. A vampire creeps up behing a carpenter. Caption: "It had not been easy, but the Count was glad that he had resisted drinking the carpenter's blood until his beautiful new bookshelves were complete."

A halloween books cartoon for @theguardian.com

30.10.2025 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 818    πŸ” 240    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 12

This feels right. It is at least in part about the midterms. Which are utterly critical.

30.10.2025 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Conjuring was okay. Then they made more movies than the Rocky franchise.

31.10.2025 09:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image 31.10.2025 09:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Sooo many cringe and eye rolling moments and parts to the Witcher. But, it’s decent pulpy fantasy fun to be appreciated.

30.10.2025 14:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Repost this please.

30.10.2025 00:19 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

🀣

29.10.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A great watch party lineup: Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde followed by Jekyll and Hyde Together Again. *chef’s kiss*

29.10.2025 17:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde was a fun little movie.

29.10.2025 17:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Title: Know Your Acronyms

Image: four colourful panels each containing four figures representing the disciplines listed.

1. STEM
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics 

2. STET
Sword-swallowing, , trapeze, escapology and tightrope 

3. STEP
Swindling, theft, extortion and piracy 

4. STEW
Seance, telekinesis, exorcism and witchcraft 

below is the following text:
From 'Physics for cats' by tom gauld - order it at www.tomgauld.com

Title: Know Your Acronyms Image: four colourful panels each containing four figures representing the disciplines listed. 1. STEM Science, technology, engineering and mathematics 2. STET Sword-swallowing, , trapeze, escapology and tightrope 3. STEP Swindling, theft, extortion and piracy 4. STEW Seance, telekinesis, exorcism and witchcraft below is the following text: From 'Physics for cats' by tom gauld - order it at www.tomgauld.com

One of the cartoons in my new book 'Physics for Cats' which is out now in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Spain and Germany. Order from your local bookshop or online: www.tomgauld.com/

28.10.2025 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 541    πŸ” 150    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 11
Preview
With SNAP in jeopardy, here's where to find food assistance across Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh City Paper | News, Dining, Music, Best Of, Arts, Film These resources include pantries, free fridges, food banks, and free grocery programs by neighborhood or region.

PITTSBURGH FRIENDS: here's a list of "pantries, free fridges, food banks, and free grocery programs by neighborhood or region" for folks impacted by impending loss of SNAP.

*please share*
www.pghcitypaper.com/news-2/with-...

#SNAP

28.10.2025 21:25 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The counter suit is going to be huge.

29.10.2025 10:44 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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