Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
@yarntheory.bsky.social
Math, history, science fiction, string theory, games with string.
yarntheory.net
yarntheory.net
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Really smart piece on how to think about democracy amidst the failure of shared knowledge.
November 13, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Really smart piece on how to think about democracy amidst the failure of shared knowledge.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Highlights from the Bundled Up on Broad auction opening tmow 11/13!! (Buys warm clothes for the families at my synagogue Rodeph Shalom Philly's food pantry, or give directly to our wishlist: bit.ly/bundled25)
I HAVE to start with Olivia Waite's beaded octopus www.32auctions.com/organization...
I HAVE to start with Olivia Waite's beaded octopus www.32auctions.com/organization...
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Highlights from the Bundled Up on Broad auction opening tmow 11/13!! (Buys warm clothes for the families at my synagogue Rodeph Shalom Philly's food pantry, or give directly to our wishlist: bit.ly/bundled25)
I HAVE to start with Olivia Waite's beaded octopus www.32auctions.com/organization...
I HAVE to start with Olivia Waite's beaded octopus www.32auctions.com/organization...
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Today's a great day to support some creators.
Writers and artists and creatives of all sorts: reply with a link to one of your works. And feel free to tell us about it.
Everyone: let's check through the replies and buy some creations and support some human beings.
Writers and artists and creatives of all sorts: reply with a link to one of your works. And feel free to tell us about it.
Everyone: let's check through the replies and buy some creations and support some human beings.
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Today's a great day to support some creators.
Writers and artists and creatives of all sorts: reply with a link to one of your works. And feel free to tell us about it.
Everyone: let's check through the replies and buy some creations and support some human beings.
Writers and artists and creatives of all sorts: reply with a link to one of your works. And feel free to tell us about it.
Everyone: let's check through the replies and buy some creations and support some human beings.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
My kingdom for a social media app that has ROT13 integrated
wish this place had spoiler tags so we could discuss it openly
November 10, 2025 at 2:59 PM
My kingdom for a social media app that has ROT13 integrated
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
This book is so damned good.
I just finished and absolutely loved North Continent Ribbon by @yarntheory.bsky.social. The fastest I’ve read a book in yonks. What a joy. Creative and dark and loving and hopeful all at once. Also with a beautiful cover by @treelet.bsky.social.
November 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
This book is so damned good.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
FINAL HOUR!! LAST CHAAANCE for late pledges!! Get a 2026/2027 subscription or sponsor a poem, story, or cover art! You can also add on community subscription copies if you want to gift a subscription to others 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
FINAL HOUR!! LAST CHAAANCE for late pledges!! Get a 2026/2027 subscription or sponsor a poem, story, or cover art! You can also add on community subscription copies if you want to gift a subscription to others 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
What a great idea! Thanks to @firedbutfighting.bsky.social, we can all support furloughed and fired federal employees who are offering a variety of services, including dog-walking, tutoring, graphic design, meal prep, and much more. For more information, visit firedbutfighting.org/talent-marke....
Talent Marketplace — Fired But Fighting
Welcome to the Talent Marketplace. You can help support federal workers during this difficult time. Furloughed and fired feds are available for services like dog-walking, tutoring, graphic design, mea...
firedbutfighting.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:03 PM
What a great idea! Thanks to @firedbutfighting.bsky.social, we can all support furloughed and fired federal employees who are offering a variety of services, including dog-walking, tutoring, graphic design, meal prep, and much more. For more information, visit firedbutfighting.org/talent-marke....
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
If you, like me, would prefer that airlines not sell your personal data to the government, here's how to fix that.
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out o...
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
If you, like me, would prefer that airlines not sell your personal data to the government, here's how to fix that.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Kind othersiders donated several community subscriptions during our Kickstarter!
If you want a sub but can’t afford it, reach out via our website form and say you want a community sub. No need to elaborate, no questions asked. We'll update when we run out! Enjoy!
othersidespec.com/contact/
If you want a sub but can’t afford it, reach out via our website form and say you want a community sub. No need to elaborate, no questions asked. We'll update when we run out! Enjoy!
othersidespec.com/contact/
Contact OTHERSIDE - OTHERSIDE
Contact OTHERSIDE, a quarterly literary magazine of speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.
othersidespec.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Kind othersiders donated several community subscriptions during our Kickstarter!
If you want a sub but can’t afford it, reach out via our website form and say you want a community sub. No need to elaborate, no questions asked. We'll update when we run out! Enjoy!
othersidespec.com/contact/
If you want a sub but can’t afford it, reach out via our website form and say you want a community sub. No need to elaborate, no questions asked. We'll update when we run out! Enjoy!
othersidespec.com/contact/
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
I just finished and absolutely loved North Continent Ribbon by @yarntheory.bsky.social. The fastest I’ve read a book in yonks. What a joy. Creative and dark and loving and hopeful all at once. Also with a beautiful cover by @treelet.bsky.social.
November 2, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I just finished and absolutely loved North Continent Ribbon by @yarntheory.bsky.social. The fastest I’ve read a book in yonks. What a joy. Creative and dark and loving and hopeful all at once. Also with a beautiful cover by @treelet.bsky.social.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
You have until Sunday SUNDAY Sunday to order a Biology is Bigger than Binaries shirt. I don't have room in my house for piles of shirts so our shirts are always time-limited.
Designed by @franzanth.bsky.social, supports @skypeascientist.bsky.social, looks cool as hell.
Get one: SquidFacts.net
Designed by @franzanth.bsky.social, supports @skypeascientist.bsky.social, looks cool as hell.
Get one: SquidFacts.net
I'm doing another print run of these "Biology is Bigger than Binaries" shirts!
Back, quite literally, by popular demand. Bullying works, sure, but so does a bunch of nice cutie patooties politely asking!
Order 'em now, I'll mail 'em in early November.
SquidFacts.net
Back, quite literally, by popular demand. Bullying works, sure, but so does a bunch of nice cutie patooties politely asking!
Order 'em now, I'll mail 'em in early November.
SquidFacts.net
October 30, 2025 at 12:59 AM
You have until Sunday SUNDAY Sunday to order a Biology is Bigger than Binaries shirt. I don't have room in my house for piles of shirts so our shirts are always time-limited.
Designed by @franzanth.bsky.social, supports @skypeascientist.bsky.social, looks cool as hell.
Get one: SquidFacts.net
Designed by @franzanth.bsky.social, supports @skypeascientist.bsky.social, looks cool as hell.
Get one: SquidFacts.net
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Because most social programs in the US are, unfortunately, means tested, sometimes providing direct financial assistance to someone can risk their benefits. This is an excellent guide on how to avoid that if there is anyone that you want to aid directly during this crisis.
I firmly believe, with every single atom of my being, that instead of amplifying unreliable information that discourages helping, our focus as 42 million Americans face hunger must be on providing factual information that enables people to help.
www.patreon.com/posts/142285...
www.patreon.com/posts/142285...
How To Help People Who Rely On SNAP While Minimizing Risk To Their Benefits | Matthew Cortland
Get more from Matthew Cortland on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Because most social programs in the US are, unfortunately, means tested, sometimes providing direct financial assistance to someone can risk their benefits. This is an excellent guide on how to avoid that if there is anyone that you want to aid directly during this crisis.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
IT'S THE FIIIINAL COUNTDOWN! If you're excited about OTHERSIDE and our plans to publish some incredible speculative fiction/nonfiction/poetry/art by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators... help us spread the word one last time?
24 HOURS LEFT IN OUR KICKSTARTER! Thank you for hitting so many stretch goals and allowing us to publish even more art, reprints, and nonfiction when we open in 2026!
It’s not too late to snag rewards (subs! crits! stickers!) and fund some issues of Year 3!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
It’s not too late to snag rewards (subs! crits! stickers!) and fund some issues of Year 3!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/hyb...
OTHERSIDE 2026: A New Magazine of Queer SFF!
A new queer-led literary magazine devoted to speculative fiction, poetry, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ authors and artists.
www.kickstarter.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
IT'S THE FIIIINAL COUNTDOWN! If you're excited about OTHERSIDE and our plans to publish some incredible speculative fiction/nonfiction/poetry/art by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators... help us spread the word one last time?
Hey #a2council folks, how are you thinking through the millage on this November's ballot?
October 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Hey #a2council folks, how are you thinking through the millage on this November's ballot?
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Chris Willrich @librariangoblin.bsky.social's story "A Random Walk through the Goblin Library" (Beneath Ceaseless Skies): a fantasy + math delight. I had the privilege of reading this in draft and I'm so happy I can shout about it now it's published!
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-ra...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-ra...
Beneath Ceaseless Skies - A Random Walk Through the Goblin Library by Chris Willrich
“Oh, no, not at all. I have not retired, and neither have my informants. My informants are dead. I am a necromancer, grandchild. The pool of possible spies is far larger among the dead than the living...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Chris Willrich @librariangoblin.bsky.social's story "A Random Walk through the Goblin Library" (Beneath Ceaseless Skies): a fantasy + math delight. I had the privilege of reading this in draft and I'm so happy I can shout about it now it's published!
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-ra...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-ra...
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
💀 Eight more days to send us your speculative novellas! 💀
Some recent fav reads to give you an idea of genres we'd enjoy:
COPPER SCRIPT by KJ Charles
LAST EXIT by Max Gladstone
HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson
THE SIEGE OF BURNING GRASS by Premee Mohamed
THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO by Zen Cho
Some recent fav reads to give you an idea of genres we'd enjoy:
COPPER SCRIPT by KJ Charles
LAST EXIT by Max Gladstone
HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson
THE SIEGE OF BURNING GRASS by Premee Mohamed
THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO by Zen Cho
whoa october is around the corner!
reminder that we'll be open again for novellas soon.
more info here: www.neonhemlock.com/submissions
reminder that we'll be open again for novellas soon.
more info here: www.neonhemlock.com/submissions
October 22, 2025 at 5:58 PM
💀 Eight more days to send us your speculative novellas! 💀
Some recent fav reads to give you an idea of genres we'd enjoy:
COPPER SCRIPT by KJ Charles
LAST EXIT by Max Gladstone
HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson
THE SIEGE OF BURNING GRASS by Premee Mohamed
THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO by Zen Cho
Some recent fav reads to give you an idea of genres we'd enjoy:
COPPER SCRIPT by KJ Charles
LAST EXIT by Max Gladstone
HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson
THE SIEGE OF BURNING GRASS by Premee Mohamed
THE PERILOUS LIFE OF JADE YEO by Zen Cho
Congratulations to @vajra.me , a shout out to @detroitjusticecen.bsky.social , a review of Iron Garden Sutra, a celebration of @othersidespec.bsky.social , and a cat:
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
falling rakes and iron gardens
Brave readers, The Le Guin foundation announced today that Vajra Chandrasekera’s novel Rakesfall has won the Ursula K. Le Guin prize. I've read that one of...
buttondown.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Congratulations to @vajra.me , a shout out to @detroitjusticecen.bsky.social , a review of Iron Garden Sutra, a celebration of @othersidespec.bsky.social , and a cat:
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
"There is nothing inherently liberatory in the imagination,but it must be made so." Please watch the Ursula K. Le Guin prize acceptance speech from @vajra.me and read his work, and support the Sameer Project.
2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction
YouTube video by Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation
youtu.be
October 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"There is nothing inherently liberatory in the imagination,but it must be made so." Please watch the Ursula K. Le Guin prize acceptance speech from @vajra.me and read his work, and support the Sameer Project.
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Every book on the le Guin prize shortlist is special in its own right.
Ursula Whitcher's ( @yarntheory.bsky.social) North Continent Ribbon is a collection of stories about the sometimes slow, sometimes immediate nature of revolution. It is a stunning book. Everyone should read it
Ursula Whitcher's ( @yarntheory.bsky.social) North Continent Ribbon is a collection of stories about the sometimes slow, sometimes immediate nature of revolution. It is a stunning book. Everyone should read it
October 22, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Every book on the le Guin prize shortlist is special in its own right.
Ursula Whitcher's ( @yarntheory.bsky.social) North Continent Ribbon is a collection of stories about the sometimes slow, sometimes immediate nature of revolution. It is a stunning book. Everyone should read it
Ursula Whitcher's ( @yarntheory.bsky.social) North Continent Ribbon is a collection of stories about the sometimes slow, sometimes immediate nature of revolution. It is a stunning book. Everyone should read it
Reposted by Dr. U. Whitcher (U. is for Bear)
Congratulations to @vajra.me for winning the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for his ferociously visionary RAKESFALL! & congratulations to all the finalists; I can confirm that this was an enormously challenging decision to make--because each novel in the shortlist was worthy of winning in its own way.
October 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Congratulations to @vajra.me for winning the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for his ferociously visionary RAKESFALL! & congratulations to all the finalists; I can confirm that this was an enormously challenging decision to make--because each novel in the shortlist was worthy of winning in its own way.
I'm so delighted for @vajra.me and for Rakesfall, which will break apart everything you thought you knew about novels and the universe and put them back in better pieces.
Congratulations to Vajra Chandrasekera (@vajra.me), recipient of the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for Rakesfall!
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
Chandrasekera's book was chosen by authors Matt Bell, Indra Das, Kelly Link, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Rebecca Roanhorse.
October 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I'm so delighted for @vajra.me and for Rakesfall, which will break apart everything you thought you knew about novels and the universe and put them back in better pieces.
Would an early nineteenth century classics nerd have known about the cult of Mithras?
October 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Would an early nineteenth century classics nerd have known about the cult of Mithras?