There is much speculation as to WTF they're thinking, and who knows what the actual answer is. But none of the proposed explanations make them look good: it's more "evil, incompetent, or both?"

And then I stop drinking them after Thanksgiving, when the Christmas teas come out.

Calendar/astronomy -- I'm not allowed to break them out until after the autumnal equinox/start of October/somewhere in that ballpark when I remember they're on the top shelf of the cabinet.

(See also why GDI Christmas does NOT get to start before Thanksgiving; that's how you wear all the sparkle off it)

Me, remembering: Oh! I can drink my autumn teas now! My husband: You know you can drink those whenever you want. Me: But then they won't be my autumn teas and I won't be as excited about them.

Heee! I'm game for this.

This is also a reminder that several SFF mags *with* author-and-artist-friendly contracts are Kickstarting RIGHT NOW and backing/supporting THEM is a great way to show MRM that they will lose this argument.

I certainly hope that none of the companies working on AI ever succeed in creating actual machine consciousness, because none of those companies has any idea how to treat the humans who work for them in an ethical, moral, compassionate manner. Those companies will do far worse to conscious machines.

My profound sympathy. I only managed one short story in F&SF (plus a poem acceptance I wound up later declining because of this b.s.), and it still makes me angry.

An all-too-necessary reminder that the new owners of Asimov's, Analog, and F&SF are not to be trusted. They are still, after all this time, trying to get away with predatory contracts anywhere they can, and making surprised Pikachu face any time somebody points out the problems.

Imagine outsourcing the best parts of parenting to a machine? I wouldn’t have traded those moments for anything. Even when the kids got distracted and I’d end up reading to the cat, they’re all good memories we cherish, and core memories for the kids.

Do people like those videos where people show you how the design came together? If so, here ya go. I started the viperfish and barreleye in my sketch book at Teen Art Club last night.

Things you can do instead of using generative AI: - Literally anything else

“GOTTA LEARN AI OR BE LEFT BEHIND.” Good. Fuck off! Leave me behind! Enjoy your artbarf rapture, your janky Temu future. I’ll be back here looking at real birds and writing weird, also real, books.