Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

"As in guillotine..." Sometimes loud, formerly poet, always opinionated. Gen X. He/Him.

Previously: mastodon.social (2017), zirk.us (2022)

#comics #manga #gaming #FediFC #NewJersey #cmonson

Header: My forearm with a tattoo ("I was made for the library, not the classroom."), in front of some of my favorite books on a shelf.

Avatar: Me, looking directly into the camera with a slight smirk.

WEBSITE: https://loudpoet.com
NEWSLETTER: https://loudpoet.com/newsletter/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guylgonzalez
BLACKSKY: https://blacksky.community/profile/did:plc:5woi6h3y7ygxpgygk6jpytau

Public Key

npub1xh9hjzrf9yfrk7k4uulnjptst0774330xcjkvt344apl6g6fgk4q4lx0uw

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsrtjmepp5jjy3m0t27w0eeq4c9hl02cchnvftx9c667slaydy5t2spz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsgzcl4j

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1xh9hjzrf9yfrk7k4uulnjptst0774330xcjkvt344apl6g6fgk4q4lx0uw

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Published at

2026-09-01T03:51:31Z

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Last Notes

2026-02-04 18:40:40 GMT

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This is on my bedside TBR right now, looking forward to jumping into it soon!

2026-01-02 17:34:19 GMT

New year, updated blog roll!
There are several new-to-me blogs in the mix that I discovered in 2025, along with some of my favorite YouTube channels.
All of them will improve your feed in 2026.
#SocialReboot #RSS #blogging
https://loudpoet.com/blogroll/

2025-12-14 22:58:31 GMT

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After spending yesterday checking out more of Poughkeepsie, #KingstonNY is back in the mix.
It's further North than I've been comfortable with in the past, but we like it a lot more on several other metrics. I just have to decide if I'm finally ready to untether myself from NYC — specifically, the large segment of the publishing industry that's still based there. 🤔

2025-12-12 12:44:46 GMT

Anyone here from the #Poughkeepsie area, or the broader #HudsonValley?
Any related news or cultural sources on the Fediverse?

2025-12-03 20:11:18 GMT

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LOL! My frustration the past few years is from wanting WP to be MORE of a blog with fewer website bells and whistles built in. The site looks good, though; straightforward and easy to navigate.

2025-11-21 23:31:43 GMT

Finally realizing today that I simply do not know how to voluntarily "relax" — not even on a vacation where we explicitly planned to do nothing but relax!
Went for a run, went for a walk, read some of my book, played a few games, hung out by the pool... all relaxing things on their own, but a full day of nothing but that, and now killing time until dinner?!?
I even snuck a peek at work email and did a few small things.
W.T.F.
Is this a toxic productivity thing?

2025-10-31 12:32:31 GMT

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Intriguing!

2025-10-30 11:18:06 GMT

"Over the past three decades, journalistic practices have steadily been devalued. That many, if not most, of you consider them to be useless purity signalling only serves authoritarians and oligarchs. It serves those who don’t like their power to be scrutinised or criticised...
Turns out, if you want to act like a journalist, write like a journalist, and fight the fights of a journalist, not practicing journalism can get you into trouble."
@npub1hr7…jxyc 🔥
https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2025/use-the-tools-of-the-job-youve-chosen/

2025-10-28 16:35:19 GMT

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My film snob son is all about Blu-Rays and he's building an impressive collection. I still have a few dozen DVDs and Blu-Rays of some older favorites (and some impulsive randos) from before streaming took over. Gaming is now the only media I'm not prioritizing ownership anymore.

2025-10-20 19:14:03 GMT

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I've found myself surprisingly less engaged with social media over the past several weeks, reconnecting with books and games and [is there a single word for TV, movies, and non-social videos?], and it's been stabilizing. I'm still angry about everything, but it's not all-consuming. And I continue to purposefully seek out specific news rather than soaking in it 24/7, which has meant less time on Bluesky, in particular.

2025-10-15 17:30:11 GMT

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That's the explanation I've been given before. My local shoe store has avoided calling me the "destroyer of shoes," although I'm sure they quietly appreciate it!

2025-10-15 15:09:01 GMT

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How is that even possible?!? I know 300 is on the low end, but the heel thing happens with every shoe I've bought, it's just a question of how fast. Which shoe(s) do you run in?

2025-10-15 14:59:04 GMT

One of the main reasons I've stuck with Ghosts for several years now is they're the only shoe I can consistently get 300 miles out of before the left heel wears down too much.
I liked these On Cloudstratus for speed runs, but the left heel is almost gone already after barely 200 miles and have to be retired now.
Running shoes are too expensive to give less than 300 miles, no matter how comfortable they might be.
#running
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/378/740/288/767/493/original/3bcc277b76107444.jpg
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/378/768/460/682/598/original/3a716ca52f76e300.jpg

2025-10-04 01:27:54 GMT

It arrived and looks great in print! Glad to be able to add this my physical shelf of favorite reads now. Kudos, @npub1hr7…jxyc .
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/313/291/663/438/489/original/b2646c875a0bebb0.jpg

2025-10-01 21:34:48 GMT

Took a mental health day, and after a cool morning run, played Grim Dawn most of the day.
Not sure how "relaxing" it was, but at least I had fun (it's really good!) and ignored email all day.
I have enough sick days left to do this every other week, and I'm seriously considering it...
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/301/041/806/536/018/original/f186a73cdb84efd6.jpg

2025-09-24 18:04:03 GMT

"But we all know managers who only budge if it shifts the bottom line. Environmental havoc and the rise of authoritarianism is less important to them than their quarterly numbers and they, for the most part, believe the spin that 'AI' is a productivity miracle.
That’s what The Intelligence Illusion is for."
One of my favorite books is now available in print and can finally sit next to my other favorites! Kudos, @npub1hr7…jxyc 👏🏽
https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2025/the-print-edition-of-the-intelligence-illusion/

2025-09-20 01:45:56 GMT

Medium's core pitch is heavily mission-driven, creating a big tent for a wide range of writers and writing goals — but it's tied to a BHAG that reminds you of their origination and very troubled history.
Medium is basically a very good, purpose-built blogging platform, which is something worth appreciating in 2025.
#MediumDay
https://loudpoet.com/2025/09/19/medium-thoughts-after-medium-day/

2025-09-19 16:23:07 GMT

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I hope current events don't ruin my chance of getting a print edition! 🤞🏽

2025-09-09 18:00:52 GMT

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"Once more into the breach" with Baldur Bjarnason.

2025-09-04 11:31:12 GMT

"It makes me wonder what's changed since 2020?"
On racism in publishing and sports, moving to Spain, and cozy library mysteries.
https://loudpoet.com/2025/09/04/five-things-september-4-2025/

2025-08-31 23:51:15 GMT

Went to Plantcon with my wife today and found a little something for myself that can survive in my basement office!
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/126/055/067/579/707/original/7cc22b75acd8ca2d.jpg

2025-08-29 02:27:36 GMT

I didn't know about Kagi's Small Web feature until I noticed a referral from it today. Not sure how I made it in their index but it seems like a cool initiative, similar to powRSS, which has been sending a few visits/week since I was added there. Serendipity FTW!
Coincidentally, I've started messing around with regular Kagi for search and am intrigued. Paying for a search tool seems odd at first, but it seems to be where everything online is heading now. 🫤
https://blog.kagi.com/small-web

2025-08-28 17:06:04 GMT

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Such a pet peeve, and the move towards more automation just makes it more likely to happen, even if you have an account-based marketing platform.

2025-08-16 22:48:58 GMT

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Today was a good day. 🥳
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/040/878/314/285/215/original/55905e25f7b3ea12.jpg

2025-08-16 14:24:22 GMT

Happy birthday to me! Starting with an easy run, then hanging in the backyard with some family and friends for the rest of the day.
#running
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/038/884/407/188/568/original/3fb5db9f6d60d20e.jpg

2025-08-14 16:07:29 GMT

"Florida cannot call itself the 'freest state' while it blatantly violates the First Amendment rights of our youngest citizens."
This is why you don't comply in advance.
Kudos to Kelly Jensen for her ongoing work reporting these stories and, more importantly, always putting them in context so the bigger picture remains crystal clear.
#libraries #BookBans #bookstodon
https://bookriot.com/penguin-random-house-florida-lawsuit/

2025-08-10 18:47:45 GMT

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I can see it as an optional offering, but I wonder who the audience for only uplifting stuff is, and what you'd gain from serving them that way?

2025-08-07 11:30:49 GMT

"Meanwhile, if you’re reading this via email or RSS, be sure to check out my WordPress!" #cmonson
On FOLIO:, robotic parrots, free-ola, and extra Medium.
https://loudpoet.com/2025/08/07/five-things-august-7-2025/

2025-07-23 21:19:15 GMT

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Is cozy library mysteries a genre? This thread might be the start!

2025-07-14 20:07:38 GMT

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I have thoughts on both that I've debated writing down or keeping to myself! 🤣

2025-07-12 16:00:54 GMT

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I was looking at it, and if not for your recommendation, would have assumed it was a scam!

2025-07-12 15:58:24 GMT

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Amazing! I have to get one of these to put in my office.

2025-06-29 00:54:33 GMT

#ALAAC25 highlight: seeing the Dynamic Duo, Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford, do their RA thing in person. 🔥
Favorite quote from the RA panel: "Libraries should be the place people find the books they don't know about." Lila Denning 💯
Least favorite moment: Hearing a librarian argue that big name authors (like Patterson and King) NEED libraries' marketing support. 😬 👎🏽
#bookstodon #libraries
https://bsky.app/profile/loudpoet.com/post/3lspgahgmcc2h

2025-06-23 19:15:23 GMT

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🤣 I hired a new marketing manager this year and she introduced me to Notion. I'm getting used to it now, but I swear it's just another "productivity" tool that creates more work and noise for everyone involved.

2025-06-05 17:31:00 GMT

I initially posted briefly about this, but wanted to say a little more about Buscaglia, the journalist who "wrote" the AI-generated supplement in question.
Resist like your career depends on it.
https://loudpoet.com/2025/06/05/a-modest-defense-of-marco-buscaglia-ai-vs-journalism/

2025-06-03 11:28:07 GMT

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I'm so tired of having to explain the basics to people who refuse to make any effort to think critically themselves. They want to believe and they won't be dissuaded, no matter how many examples or thoughtful critiques you give them.

2025-05-26 11:51:35 GMT

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Been off that list so long I've forgotten about it, but I wonder if anything's changed since one of its primary voices passed? Probably not, I assume.

2025-05-22 18:13:51 GMT

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I'm finding my narrow focus here has kept my feed pretty quiet and enjoyable, but I'm also not using certain hashtags to avoid attracting randos. I wonder how being on relatively small servers affects our experience and reach, too?
Bluesky is everything I ever disliked about Twitter, improved a little bit by "knowing what I know now." There's more happening there with comics and publishing, though, so I'm sticking with it, but I don't love it.

2025-05-16 15:39:36 GMT

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"unless you’re in the business of intentional self-sabotage and are out to deliberately destroy your own email productivity" LOL! So harsh!
It's a fascinating and disturbing take, but it makes total sense. I suspect a lot of people you're referring to are obligated to churn out content, which already has a negative impact on quality. That they might unknowingly be in a prolonged fog and are relying on LLMs to navigate through is actually kind of depressing.

2025-05-10 15:26:51 GMT

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2025 Book 17: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
"There's always room on a liberal's lawn." Part memoir, part current events, El Akkad offers a powerful critique of our collective guilt, with a glimpse of hope that we can still do better. We have to do better.
#bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9780593804148
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/484/232/132/009/885/original/4f0d0a4bb19e95f0.jpg

2025-05-02 21:45:36 GMT

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2025 Book 16: The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe, et al
I picked this up looking for something cyberpunk-ish and got something very different instead! Each vignette gives just a glimpse of Monae's dystopian setting, but the focus is always on the people living in it, and how they survive. Left me intrigued and wanting more.
#bookstodon #FridayReads
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9780063070882
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/440/423/339/216/854/original/522980d492cda06d.jpg

2025-04-25 11:12:23 GMT

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ALA at the national level; EveryLibrary at the local level.

2025-04-16 12:24:51 GMT

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2025 Book 15: Ronin by Frank Miller
Interesting as an influential historical artifact and notable highlight of Miller's early career, but its ambitiously messy narrative makes it a rough read in 2025.
#bookstodon #comics
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781401290979
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/347/622/874/190/465/original/9b0b75c116e0471d.jpg

2025-03-28 14:38:20 GMT

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2025 Book 14: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
A delightfully wicked satire of modern publishing that leaves no one unscathed, with an absolutely perfect ending. Avoid spoilers and just read it cold. 👍🏽👍🏽
#FridayReads #bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9780063250857
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/240/563/118/883/819/original/ae2cce560f225309.jpg

2025-03-24 13:14:34 GMT

It's disappointing to see so many NEW newsletters on Substack despite their leadership making it very clear in public statements and consistent actions what they're really about.
@npub1ezw…6sxs does a great job of framing things, along with links to multiple sources where Substack's leaders and investors explicitly state their beliefs and goals.
Every online platform comes with some compromises, but very few are as actively bad and unnecessary to tolerate as Substack.
https://america2.news/the-substack-dilemma-how-creators-are-inadvertently-fueling-americas-failure/

2025-03-21 19:00:09 GMT

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I was surprised to see USA Today covered it, but as "flood the zone" goes, I suspect the DOE is going to dominate the news, and libraries won't get much attention at all outside of industry coverage.
It's been particularly disappointing that concerns about Libby have been the most common question I've seen from non-librarians.

2025-03-21 16:24:18 GMT

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I think she covers the conservative context with "the reality that saying anything contrary could result in annihilation. The neutrality debate has always been a hot button for her, though, and is notable context, esp for the "killer is in the house" scenarios that unfortunately exist. She's also been very vocal about the need for a "people+libraries push," even if it wasn't the focus of this particular article.

2025-03-21 14:10:14 GMT

"What will go unsaid is that libraries have found themselves unable to push back or state otherwise because of the long-prevailing lie that libraries must remain neutral and because of the reality that saying anything contrary could result in annihilation."
Kelly Jensen's take on the potential ripple effects of an IMLS "in lockstep with this Administration" is an important but depressing read.
#libraries
https://bookriot.com/imls-propaganda/

2025-03-21 12:42:47 GMT

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It's a crucial point that's rarely mentioned when they're praised for disruption while "legacy" companies are mocked for being dinosaurs. Economic incentives actually encourage the net destruction of value rather than the creation they claim, and consumers inevitably get screwed over.

2025-03-18 12:56:01 GMT

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I've been considering video myself for a while (beyond work webinars) and you've pushed me closer to the ledge. I'm always overthinking the production side of things even though it's mostly irrelevant for anything I'd do.

2025-03-18 12:45:56 GMT

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"People will forgive chaos and a little bit of disorder if there’s a person behind it." 💯
As for authenticity and errors in speech, you might find this relevant and reassuring:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/huh-interjections-are-critically-important-to-communication-180986170/

2025-03-17 20:22:54 GMT

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2025 Book 13: Fear and Loathing in La Liga by Sid Lowe
Part oral history, part deep dive into the storied history of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Lowe does a great job establishing historical context during and after the Spanish Civil War, connecting the dots to the modern era — ending just before I got into soccer for the first time in 2014.
It added important nuance to my persistent dislike of Madrid, and my vague appreciation for Barca.
#bookstodon #FediFC
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781568584508
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/179/628/270/001/802/original/a6ebcd90f3924581.jpg

2025-03-12 14:36:26 GMT

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Are you planning on making a POD version of TII's 2nd edition available?

2025-03-12 13:09:15 GMT

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2025 Book 12: The Library Mule of Córdoba by Wilfrid Lupano and Leonard Chemineau
A modern (and timely) fable and love letter to the importance of books and education that doesn't forget to also tell an engaging and inspiring story, deftly balancing humor and tragedy. The Spike Lee-esque epilogue hammers its underlying theme home, the only time it explicitly tips its hand that it's written to be accessible to younger teens, too.
#bookstodon #comics
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781684972791
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/149/611/886/858/375/original/cf616454e35ec708.jpg

2025-03-06 12:52:33 GMT

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Context matters, but by most reasonable definitions, you're absolutely an independent publisher, regardless of scale or acclaim. Self-publishers muddied the waters a bit with "indie publishing," and small presses are a distinct group that might understandably bristle at your inclusion.

2025-03-06 12:00:36 GMT

"I'm actually a wargamer rather than a role-player."
On objectivity, VOI, digital infrastructure, “democratizing” art, and game mechanics.
https://loudpoet.com/2025/03/06/five-things-march-6-2025/

2025-03-01 04:21:56 GMT

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2025 Book 11: Daemonifuge by Jim Campbell, et al
Tracked down the full collection on eBay and, while entertaining, it wasn't as cohesive as I hoped. Books 2 and 3 are a series of loosely connected vignettes and set pieces hinting at a larger story, vs. the first book's tighter narrative.
Nevertheless, Ephrael Stern remains a fave, and I want more!
#bookstodon #comics #warhammer40k
https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Daemonifuge_(Graphic_Novel_Series)
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/085/231/065/665/590/original/a24079c558c8b6b0.jpg

2025-02-27 04:07:39 GMT

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2025 Book 10: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years 1-5 by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, et al
Solid prequel to the unexpectedly great Last Ronin, which was the first time I'd read any TMNT in decades. Michelangelo's journey is surprisingly intense, balanced by the more light-hearted tale of his pre-teen successors. Curious to see which direction they take with the newcomers.
#bookstodon #comics
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9798887240107
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/073/872/093/425/454/original/242e7d6b9540fdb9.jpg

2025-02-19 02:23:09 GMT

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They look great online, they must look amazing on your wall!

2025-02-14 03:10:33 GMT

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2025 Book 9: The Triumph of Saint Katherine by Danie Ware (Saints and Martyrs Omnibus)
Competent fluff on steroids. The Dread Pirate Roberts angle has potential, but Ware spends too much time explaining the Sisters' humanity rather than showing it, so the story lacks any real emotional weight. The weakest of the three novellas by far; not great, not terrible.
#warhammer40k #bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781804075364
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/000/034/586/506/298/original/98aa5e71e5240589.jpg

2025-02-08 20:50:48 GMT

Why keep blogging in 2025?
If you've known me for a while, you know a #Cluetrain quote is coming!
#SocialReboot #blogging
https://loudpoet.com/2025/02/08/why-keep-blogging-in-2025/

2025-02-07 03:54:05 GMT

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2025 Book 8: Daemonifuge Book I: The Screaming Cage by Jim Campbell and Kev Walker
An entertaining intro to Ephrael Stern that holds up pretty well 25 years later, although I didn't realize this was only the first chapter of a larger story. Now I have to track down the full collection on eBay!
#bookstodon #comics #warhammer40k
https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Daemonifuge_(Graphic_Novel_Series)
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/960/570/784/294/589/original/e56c1681a987ccac.jpg

2025-02-05 04:55:03 GMT

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2025 Book 7: Ephrael Stern: Heretic Saint by David Annandale (Saints and Martyrs Omnibus)
Move over Eisenhorn, I might have a new favorite 40k character! Annandale delivers an exciting origin story that cuts to the chase, featuring a couple of intriguing characters in Stern and Inquisitor Dagover, starring my favorite faction, the Adepta Sororitas. More Stern, please!
#bookstodon #Warhammer40k
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781804075364
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/949/488/270/017/047/original/5558f8e78f2b9d5b.jpg

2025-01-30 03:42:44 GMT

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2025 Book 6: Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 3 by Naoya Matsumoto
The plot thickens, but the core story and characters remain fun and engaging.
#bookstodon #manga
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781974728992
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/915/234/804/109/210/original/e1a04666cf3f00c3.jpg

2025-01-29 03:02:58 GMT

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2025 Book 5: Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Harms Our Health and the Environment by Grant Ennis
Ennis does an excellent job of breaking down and illustrating the various ways corporations successfully manipulate and misdirect us, no matter how savvy we might individually think we are. His call for collective action is inspiring and pragmatic, but it's honestly hard not to think it might be too late. 😞
#bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781990263484
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/909/414/986/436/511/original/6d07d3fb66057a95.jpg

2025-01-23 12:01:26 GMT

"I'm an incremental work in progress!"
On pragmatic meliorism, my digital twin, card games, improv, and the grim dark future.
https://loudpoet.com/2025/01/23/five-things-january-23-2025/

2025-01-16 04:05:52 GMT

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2025 Book 4: Celestine: The Living Saint by Andy Clark (Saints and Martyrs Omnibus)
Definitely not an entry point, but between Eisenhorn and tons of lore, I had enough background to make Clark's story of war and faith familiar and compelling, mostly thanks to an intriguing cast and solid use of genre tropes. Celestine herself was a frustrating enigma, until she became a fascinating one. The Emperor provides! (Maybe?)
#bookstodon #Warhammer40k
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781804075364
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/836/042/951/100/124/original/9d364ad4a987dfe7.jpg

2025-01-14 13:42:43 GMT

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Haven't you heard? THIS TIME they're telling the truth! 🙃

2025-01-13 15:02:03 GMT

"The fact that so many people still, in January 2025, are painting one of the wealthiest white men on the planet as a powerless victim is telling, and not a coincidence." @npub1qcu…nz3l
Just one important point in a long, thoughtful post full of them. 🔥
#SocialReboot
https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2025/01/13/intension-intent-as-intention-and-language-choices/

2025-01-11 18:50:48 GMT

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This feels like something some libraries could support, but also yet another thing they shouldn't have to support?

2025-01-11 13:52:57 GMT

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2025 Book 3: Resisting AI: An Anti-Fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence by Dan McQuillan
Enlightening at times, but overwhelmingly academic, it reads like an AI and Politics 401 textbook. Published before ChatGPT was unleashed and AI being aggressively pushed into everything, some of its proposed solutions seem a little outdated or inadequate in 2025, but are still worth examining.
#bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9781529213508
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/810/044/197/582/035/original/f7e44ef1b2131b91.jpg

2025-01-11 04:03:13 GMT

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2025 Book 2: Clock Striker, Volume 2: The Sharing Society by Frederick L. Jones, Issaka Galadima
A little darker than I remember the first volume being, but also fun and engaging. A good balance of world building and character development, the setting itself is as interesting as the main story, but it's the characters and dynamic art that... make it... tick. 🙂‍↕️
#FridayReads #bookstodon #manga
https://bookshop.org/a/100022/9780760389232
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/807/723/854/255/848/original/c1fac64d69770796.jpg

2025-01-08 20:19:19 GMT

"This is what economists who say that the economy is great miss. Many people are in jobs where they are underpaid for their skills - and many middle class people fear losing the job that they have because they expect that the next job will pay worse. Fear is powerful... Welcome to being conscripted into modern day warfare, brought to you by late stage capitalism." @npub1u2k…nxuj 🔥
https://made-not-found-by-danah-boyd.ghost.io/the-ministry-of-empowerment/

2025-01-06 18:10:56 GMT

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“like Ed Zitron’s, but much less fun”
Counterpoint: Zitron is taking the showman approach, creating signal and noise equally because he's chasing scale. His excessive podcast ads are a perfect example, as is his firehose of a Bluesky feed.
A measured voice like yours is still necessary, IMO, although I totally get not wanting to BE that voice, esp if the business/financial outcome doesn't justify the effort.
Beyond that, +1 to writing for pleasure. Sign me up for THAT newsletter!

2025-01-04 02:47:23 GMT

2025 Book 1: 12 Days by June Kim
Re-reading the first manga I ever read back in 2006. A suitably messy slice of life told in vignettes weaving past and present, as several characters grapple with the untimely death of a loved one. The drinking ashes hook is both literal and metaphorical, but the heart of the story is what's said, and not said, throughout. Holds up well.
#bookstodon #FridayReads #manga
https://tokyopop.com/products/9781598166910_12-days
https://gardenstate.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/767/794/807/872/967/original/7191afbe7da05139.jpg

2024-12-24 21:22:27 GMT

I've been using (self-hosted) WordPress for too long to know what being a new user is like, but is there something I'm missing about their newsletter offering (through a .com site or their standalone version) that I never see them mentioned as a Subs!ack alternative for free newsletters?
https://wordpress.com/newsletter/

2024-12-23 21:38:18 GMT

It's been too many years since I had a blogroll on my site, but I think it's an important addition for anyone serious about wanting blogs to make a comeback.
These 9 are my current favorites that are still relatively active (a few masquerading as newsletters), and I highly recommend them all for the reasons noted.
#blogroll #blogging
https://loudpoet.com/blogroll/

2024-12-22 13:09:10 GMT

Testing out @npub1ekk…vy6m
Created a Comics Feed and sharing it from their app: surf-social://feed/surf%2Fcustom%2F01jfq4q1kmk7ywvbq2yjb53c5v
(Not sure how this share link is supposed to work. Nothing to click here, and pasting it into search on their app doesn't do anything. Is discovery only through keywords in the app itself right now?)

2024-12-21 01:17:05 GMT

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I've been encouraged by Flipboard's embracing the Fediverse, and while their main platform still doesn't work for me, they've played a huge role in Mastodon not being a news and media desert.
First with curation (eg, @npub1ucs…khzn ), and then bringing in direct feeds like [@NJcom](https://flipboard.com/@NJcom ) , [@polygon](https://flipboard.com/@polygon ) , [@Kotaku](https://flipboard.com/@Kotaku ) , etc.
If there's anyone who might pull something like @npub1ekk…vy6m off, I'd bet on them.

2024-12-21 01:10:19 GMT

I don't want social feeds in my Inoreader (or Feedly), and Flipboard has never clicked for me, but @npub1ekk…vy6m is intriguing.
I'm not sure there's a big enough audience to scale, but if they get the UX right, I can see it being an appealing paid service for power users who don't care as much about *engaging* across platforms and aren't well served by existing RSS-based readers.
If they give curators a cut for creating and managing feeds, that'd be interesting, too.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/18/24323903/flipboard-surf-fediverse-social-web-app

2024-12-20 17:15:28 GMT

"This creates a tension between textual forms that borrow from books – such as newsletters and essayist blogs – and the primary modes of distribution for these texts. No matter how sensible, well-argued, and structured your essay is, once placed in a social media context both its context and frame of reference will be erased." @npub1hr7…jxyc
Come for the Amusing Ourselves to Death connection, stay for the thoughtful insights about current challenges.
https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/notes/2024/interim-3/

2024-12-13 14:12:32 GMT

The AI hype train is reaching predictably ridiculous extremes in a desperate attempt to force acceptance of its “inevitable” narrative, and it’s partly because credulous journalists who should absolutely know better by now happily platform the worst of this nonsense.
https://loudpoet.com/2024/12/13/the-ai-in-publishing-hype-train-needs-to-be-derailed/

2024-12-09 18:29:14 GMT

“I’m incredibly proud to have signed it, but also acknowledge that America — and this is yet another good example — is becoming a patchwork quilt country. It really matters where you live.”
NJ to prohibit book bans, while Murphy lowkey admits a civil war is brewing.
#NewJersey #libraries #bookbans
https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-ban-on-book-bans-269234b5f19dcdbbc21a6cf658b760db

2024-12-07 14:35:48 GMT

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I thought of you when reading that nonsense, but even the guy he used as his straw man didn't fit the lazy caricature he presented. Every time he stretches from reporting to editorializing, he makes himself look like an easy mark. Or worse, a true believer pretending to be objective.

2024-12-05 17:44:14 GMT

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"such as my short foray into writing fiction that next to nobody read" I read and enjoyed it!
I can relate to your situation, although my site/blog hasn't had an explicitly professional angle since I shifted that energy to DBW (also in 2010 🤔) and never really came back to it afterwards.
I'm not really your primary audience in professional terms, but you're one of a handful of voices I value, so I look forward to the next evolution. 👊

2024-11-27 17:48:11 GMT

The first edition of The Intelligence Illusion was my favorite read last year and I'm glad @npub1hr7…jxyc has revisited it for an update.
If you have any interest in AI — whether as a skeptic, believer, or mark — this is an absolute must-read!
https://www.baldurbjarnason.com/2024/intelligence-illusion-2nd-ed-launch-black-friday/

2024-11-27 17:37:45 GMT

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🙌🏽 Thrilled to see this!

2024-11-21 12:00:43 GMT

"Gladwell has always been an overrated hack." On EV marketing, Gladwell vs. Anderson, subordination, enshittification, and preservation.
Five Things: November 21, 2024
https://loudpoet.com/2024/11/21/five-things-november-21-2024/

2024-11-19 14:44:30 GMT

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Kudos to @npub1fd2…f2f9 for this great tool!
It was surprisingly easy to use, took less than 15 minutes total to get it live.
https://tinysubversions.com/twitter-archive/make-your-own/

2024-11-19 14:42:28 GMT

It worked!
https://loudpoet.com/glecharles-tweetarchive/

2024-11-15 19:30:56 GMT

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Take it easy, we have a long road ahead. 👊🏽

2024-11-12 20:22:38 GMT

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I like the idea of them, but if people are blindly clicking Follow All rather than using them as a starting point to find individuals of interest, Bluesky users really are rushing headlong into replicating the worst of Twitter as fast as possible.

2024-11-11 16:23:40 GMT

Watching the latest wave hit Bluesky, realizing I'm going to have to take it more seriously for the day job as it's crystal clear neither comics nor libraries are going to widely embrace Mastodon.
Disappointing, but not really surprising.
On the bright side, it hopefully means I can continue to avoid Threads.
#SocialReboot

2024-10-31 11:01:33 GMT

"Nothing good in tech lasts forever."
On #SocialReboot, radical RSS, content strategy, publishing tech, and the truth about snake oil.
https://loudpoet.com/2024/10/31/five-things-october-31-2024/

2024-10-16 14:29:35 GMT

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I have three phases of writing: multiple edits before posting; several edits within 48 hours after posting; at least one more edit weeks/month later when I go to reference it in a future post.

2024-10-15 15:30:29 GMT

What had started as a fun side gig helping a friend out with strategy and messaging, slowly evolved into a mission that became personal on several levels; most importantly, an opportunity to be the change I wanted to see in the market.
Happy 4th Anniversary to Me, @npub1q8y…sgky, and #ReadAllTheComics
https://loudpoet.com/2024/10/15/happy-4th-anniversary-to-me-librarypass-and-reading-all-the-comics/

2024-10-10 22:55:57 GMT

I've been a fan of @npub1sac…kcpe's work ever since I first saw her speak at SXSW 2010, but I wasn't expecting this XOXO presentation to be such a surprisingly emotional must-watch.
Mainly about her work with the Covid Tracking Project, but more importantly, it's a bracing reminder of how critical the social internet really is, and how much we've lost to capitalism's purposeful poisoning of it.
We deserve better, but we have to be willing to fix it ourselves. 👊🏽
https://youtu.be/0FwM8HdOY-A?si=E3eEzlfCXyflS-lN