M Nesce Drake

I just had to make a phone call and I would like a hug.

It wasn't a bad call, it was a short but pleasant conversation. But, it was on the phone....

I'm disappointed there isn't a lunar Glasgow with the info for the moon.

UK PEOPLE: this is REALLY IMPORTANT. If the government bans under-16s from using VPNs, then logically they must intend to REQUIRE AGE VERIFICATION FOR ALL VPN USE. Which will affect adults too!

*Your* right to anonymous web browsing is at risk!

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/754408

A review of the deeply problematic, The Everlasting I wrote this review because I feel like I live in a time where we have to draw attention to narratives that abuse our sentiments about right and wrong, that use sleight of hand to have us accept da…

Really important review of The Everlasting here by the ever-thoughtful @stewarthotston.com. I felt too uncomfortable with the opening chapters to read the book but Stew has done an excellent job of exploring why.

stewarthotston.com/2026/01/23/r...

I need to be *that* person here ... I'm annoyed that the guy in the background is distracting the viewer from the discussion of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) getting away with criminal neglect.

:) thanks

Lmao, he was summoned!

*squints in disbelief*

It's my 6th year with this thing, it's about time I learn how to do this!

I reconcile the demand to Rate and Review (tm) in Storygraph by using it for recommendations. But I think most books on my TBR are from your annual book list.. lol.
I'm working on upgrading my spreadsheet to make it easier to sort out the graphic novels vs novellas, etc.

I use a spreadsheet (and Storygraph and Note To Self via Signal) to record my readings. I started it when I realised I had the power to nominate books for awards, eg the Hugos. Expanding it this year to include video games and short stories.

I've read 84 books this year. About 20 more than last year.

It required a thorough investigation of my various reading logs to confirm this, though, because why not keep notes on these things in 3 different places?

Just got some marketing guff in the mail from Reform. It was disguised as mail and we opened it... the house needs a spiritual cleansing or something now.

YouTube video by Techlore UK Proposes 24/7 Phone Surveillance & VPN Age Verification

Hey, you know those dystopian novels tech bros keep trying to make into real life? The UK govt has joined in.

In the name of child safety they want none of us to have any safety. They literally want to read everything you type on your phone and are trying to pass the laws to do so.

#ukpol

-ish. From New Zealand.

Wear a mask in public.
Masks are so effective against the flu an entire strain was eradicated during the covid making era.

WEAR A MASK!

I feel infinitely better about my writing now having read that.

I had a paper rejected because the reviewer clearly only looked at the graphs and didn't read the bit explaining anything, ie the rest of the paper. They basically called me an idiot.
My point is I really hate this, too.

As the person who does most of the VM socials, let me tell you this: bluesky is absolutely the worst platform of the bunch for slapping random adult content warnings on innocent posts to bury them. Would super appreciate if you share the post below like hell, and donate a fiver!

What a great list! I really love the synopses; brief but conveying a lot.

As someone who struggles to afford to live, libraries are fucking amazing!
There's so many books and graphic novels and audiobooks and it's warm!

The reason I bought my present phone was because my previous phone was no longer getting security updates. It still worked well, the battery was good. But something that lives on the interwebs like your phone needs security updates.

The Salvation Army are a hate group. Do not forget that this winter.

It's up to 37 tickets sold so far. Can we manage 50 by Monday when I have to pay the deposit?

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pictcon2-t...
A Scottish science fiction convention about science fiction in Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

And writings from the 1800s often use "race" to mean "family." It's been a word used for demarcating an us vs them divide since ages ago and is long past due for retirement.

I'm reading Wuthering Heights for the first time. Is Ellen/Nelly meant to be the baddie? Her narrative is filled with instances of her not passing on messages or misrepresenting what was said.

Yes! I enjoy the evil river not staring back at me while I read.

a picture of a space ship with the words virtual foto division Alt: A gif of the Normandy approaching the Citadel in dramatic silhouette

Ooh ooh I can still you wish you a happy N7 day!

Books I plan to read in November:

Blood Price, by Tanya Huff
The Familiar, by Leigh Bardugo (I've started these 2 already)
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
The Year of the Fruitcake, by Gillian Polack

I knew a some climbers in NZ who would likely do this type of thing. And they weren't white, either, just arrogant.