Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
@stephens.website
Self-published author, mostly sci-fi and fantasy with occasional forays into other fields. I also offer editing and beta-reading services. If you share A.I.-generated content, I'll Mute you; if you *create* it, I'll Block you. #ActuallyAutistic He/Him/His
Pinned
I've been thinking of how to say this, how to explain my choice of how to move forward. I've tried anger; it doesn't work for me. I believe it's important and useful and even effective, and I won't suppress or ignore it when there's reason to feel it; nor will I stand in the way of anyone...
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
As it happens though, the framers of the US constitution did say it: in the 4th amendment, the 5th, the 10th, etc.
What they didn’t provide for is federal immigration enforcement of any kind, only “a uniform rule of naturalization.” Nor did they give the federal government a plenary police power.
What they didn’t provide for is federal immigration enforcement of any kind, only “a uniform rule of naturalization.” Nor did they give the federal government a plenary police power.
It goes without saying that in the US you’re not supposed to have a masked secret police that snatches people off the streets without knowing if they’ve committed a crime. That’s about as basic a requirement for a democracy as exists.
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
January 14, 2026 at 5:12 PM
As it happens though, the framers of the US constitution did say it: in the 4th amendment, the 5th, the 10th, etc.
What they didn’t provide for is federal immigration enforcement of any kind, only “a uniform rule of naturalization.” Nor did they give the federal government a plenary police power.
What they didn’t provide for is federal immigration enforcement of any kind, only “a uniform rule of naturalization.” Nor did they give the federal government a plenary police power.
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
A long time ago on this very day was born a dragon, and peasants have never been able to sleep safely in their thatch-roofed cottages since.
#Trogdor #HomestarRunner
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90X5...
#Trogdor #HomestarRunner
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90X5...
Strong Bad Email #58 - Dragon
YouTube video by homestarrunnerdotcom
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:40 PM
A long time ago on this very day was born a dragon, and peasants have never been able to sleep safely in their thatch-roofed cottages since.
#Trogdor #HomestarRunner
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90X5...
#Trogdor #HomestarRunner
www.youtube.com/watch?v=90X5...
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
NEW: Top DOJ officials quit after their division refused to probe Minnesota ICE shooting - At least four leaders of the Civil Rights Division resigned because the section's head, Harmeet Dhillon, decided not to investigate shooting of Renee Good.
www.ms.now/news/doj-civ...
www.ms.now/news/doj-civ...
A new spate of Justice Department officials quit because their section didn't want to probe Renee Good's shooting
At least four leaders of the Civil Rights Division resigned because the section's head, Harmeet Dhillon, decided not to investigate shooting of Renee Good.
www.ms.now
January 13, 2026 at 4:15 AM
NEW: Top DOJ officials quit after their division refused to probe Minnesota ICE shooting - At least four leaders of the Civil Rights Division resigned because the section's head, Harmeet Dhillon, decided not to investigate shooting of Renee Good.
www.ms.now/news/doj-civ...
www.ms.now/news/doj-civ...
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
These are absolutely monstrous people
"Mr. Thompson’s resignation came after senior DOJ officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Nicole Good, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent"
"Mr. Thompson’s resignation came after senior DOJ officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Nicole Good, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent"
3 Prosecutors Quit After Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:04 PM
These are absolutely monstrous people
"Mr. Thompson’s resignation came after senior DOJ officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Nicole Good, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent"
"Mr. Thompson’s resignation came after senior DOJ officials pressed for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of Renee Nicole Good, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent"
Tear gas should be illegal. Calling it "tear" gas really undersells how much that stuff *burns*. It's a chemical weapon.
Tensions flare in Minnesota as protesters and federal agents repeatedly square off trib.al/U4AyhqK
Tensions flare in Minnesota as protesters and federal agents repeatedly square off
Federal authorities used tear gas on Monday to break up crowds.
trib.al
January 13, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Tear gas should be illegal. Calling it "tear" gas really undersells how much that stuff *burns*. It's a chemical weapon.
I know some of you use Storygraph, and I've thought about using it, myself; but I won't use it so long as this feature is part of it.
January 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I know some of you use Storygraph, and I've thought about using it, myself; but I won't use it so long as this feature is part of it.
Thank you for providing clarity. You cannot deny complicity, though, by claiming you merely allow others to make those choices while you adhere to societal standards. You set your *own* standards. And I set mine. I will not use your app if reading A.I. books is permissible through it.
Our official policy provides clarity on our AI usage and the broader impact of AI on the book industry as a whole. Read OverDrive's full policy here: https://bit.ly/4be33jB
January 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Thank you for providing clarity. You cannot deny complicity, though, by claiming you merely allow others to make those choices while you adhere to societal standards. You set your *own* standards. And I set mine. I will not use your app if reading A.I. books is permissible through it.
"Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls?" Tolkien knew there was nothing wrong with living a better world in our minds while fighting for this one.
January 13, 2026 at 4:58 AM
"Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls?" Tolkien knew there was nothing wrong with living a better world in our minds while fighting for this one.
I love going for runs/walks at the oceanfront, even when it's 40F. The sky and the ocean were both so blue.
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 AM
I love going for runs/walks at the oceanfront, even when it's 40F. The sky and the ocean were both so blue.
In case you wonder why this is a war crime, it's because it gives "the enemy" justification to fire on any civilian transport of any kind. They're putting lives in danger. There's no way SecDef did this on his own, and there's no way the Pentagon would do it unless ordered by the Commander-in-Chief.
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 AM
In case you wonder why this is a war crime, it's because it gives "the enemy" justification to fire on any civilian transport of any kind. They're putting lives in danger. There's no way SecDef did this on his own, and there's no way the Pentagon would do it unless ordered by the Commander-in-Chief.
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
When you find out an author you’ve been following has a new book and it’s got an AI cover …
a man in a white shirt says heavy sigh in front of a group of people
Alt: Oscar Isaac sighing heavily
media.tenor.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:37 PM
When you find out an author you’ve been following has a new book and it’s got an AI cover …
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
Re my #podcast, which I'm hoping to start up in earnest soon: Can anyone tell me a podcast host that pays out directly to your bank account? I currently use @spreaker.com, but they only pay through PayPal, which I no longer use for a variety of reasons. Anyone from #PodcastSky know of a better site?
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Re my #podcast, which I'm hoping to start up in earnest soon: Can anyone tell me a podcast host that pays out directly to your bank account? I currently use @spreaker.com, but they only pay through PayPal, which I no longer use for a variety of reasons. Anyone from #PodcastSky know of a better site?
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
Does a bow or a head nod count as a "gesture"? When I see or hear the word "gesture", I tend to think more of hand movements.
January 12, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Does a bow or a head nod count as a "gesture"? When I see or hear the word "gesture", I tend to think more of hand movements.
You could say this boy's...loaded with dough. [YEEEAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!]
January 13, 2026 at 12:54 AM
You could say this boy's...loaded with dough. [YEEEAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!]
In the last six and a half hours, I've added over 3,200 words to the first novella in my fantasy series "The Trials of Seffin Phel", concluding the major editing for that book, leaving one more new section to be added to Book Three and some minor editing across all three books before republishing.
January 12, 2026 at 8:24 AM
In the last six and a half hours, I've added over 3,200 words to the first novella in my fantasy series "The Trials of Seffin Phel", concluding the major editing for that book, leaving one more new section to be added to Book Three and some minor editing across all three books before republishing.
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
the plague, as he called it, was at his sole command
January 12, 2026 at 5:47 AM
the plague, as he called it, was at his sole command
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
I will never be funnier than when someone told me they mixed club soda with limeade, and I said "Now, let me get this straight: You put the limeade in the club soda, you drank them both up?"
August 7, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I will never be funnier than when someone told me they mixed club soda with limeade, and I said "Now, let me get this straight: You put the limeade in the club soda, you drank them both up?"
Does a bow or a head nod count as a "gesture"? When I see or hear the word "gesture", I tend to think more of hand movements.
January 12, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Does a bow or a head nod count as a "gesture"? When I see or hear the word "gesture", I tend to think more of hand movements.
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
Chaz Bono, American writer, actor, and son of entertainers Sonny Bono and Cher, talked about what really happens after someone comes out and chooses to live authentically as themselves.
📷 Getty
📷 Getty
January 12, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Chaz Bono, American writer, actor, and son of entertainers Sonny Bono and Cher, talked about what really happens after someone comes out and chooses to live authentically as themselves.
📷 Getty
📷 Getty
I was listening to some music while writing, and almost out of nowhere, I heard Mike Nelson's voice in my head saying "I would actually welcome a drum solo at this point". I can't remember what movie he was riffing, but I suspect it was in his @rifftrax.com years. Anyone know what made him say it?
January 12, 2026 at 2:19 AM
I was listening to some music while writing, and almost out of nowhere, I heard Mike Nelson's voice in my head saying "I would actually welcome a drum solo at this point". I can't remember what movie he was riffing, but I suspect it was in his @rifftrax.com years. Anyone know what made him say it?
Re my #podcast, which I'm hoping to start up in earnest soon: Can anyone tell me a podcast host that pays out directly to your bank account? I currently use @spreaker.com, but they only pay through PayPal, which I no longer use for a variety of reasons. Anyone from #PodcastSky know of a better site?
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Re my #podcast, which I'm hoping to start up in earnest soon: Can anyone tell me a podcast host that pays out directly to your bank account? I currently use @spreaker.com, but they only pay through PayPal, which I no longer use for a variety of reasons. Anyone from #PodcastSky know of a better site?
So, I'm close to my website's "grand reopening". I just need to finish revisions on my Trials series of fantasy novellas, and I need to find a podcast host that pays through some method other than PayPal. My podcast will, at the start at least, be devoted entirely to discussing worldbuilding...
January 11, 2026 at 10:23 PM
So, I'm close to my website's "grand reopening". I just need to finish revisions on my Trials series of fantasy novellas, and I need to find a podcast host that pays through some method other than PayPal. My podcast will, at the start at least, be devoted entirely to discussing worldbuilding...
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming.
January 11, 2026 at 8:08 PM
After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming.
Reposted by Stephen Monteith, World's Greatest Secret Author
What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.
January 11, 2026 at 1:47 PM
What is best let alone, that accursed thing is not always what least allures.