Boosted by @trending@homestead.social
I think the most important takeaway from Burning Man's decades-long experiment in temporary community is that it all goes to hell as soon as the billionaires show up
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Michele Feltman Strider
@michelestrider@mastodon.social
mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06I chronicle the adventures of my imaginary friends.
https://amzn.to/3BBqv7B
1229 Followers
602 Following
50 Posts
Joined November 07, 2022
What I do:
Make stuff up
Where I do it:
Tehachapi, CA
The stuff I make up:
The website I never update:
www.michelestrider.com
Y'all.
At lunch today, a guy sat down at the table next to us and set out, like, a zillion* handheld radios.
Then he started talking to the waiter about Ham radio and listening to the ISS chatter.
I kept waiting for him to mention a pet ferret.
Replying to
You order more veggie pizzas and get a frequent-buyer discount.
Hamsters, hobbyists, and one perfect cat mill about. Troy suggests playing charades and is asked to leave.
You open your PBS app. Gloria helps you turn on the TV. David Attenborough's voice fills the room. Everyone gathers to learn about Life on Earth.
Pizza is eaten. "Orangutan" is mispronounced. Everyone loves the penguins. The new United Hams report the success to the ISS -- and welcome you as a probationary member.
The End
RE: https://mastodon.online/@Tinrocket/117270478187354602
Just realizing I could've been walking around with a couple of Pop-Tarts in my jeans pocket instead of a doombox
Quoting
Joanna Stern says the Duo is about the size of a Pop-Tart, so I’ve been practicing all week.
Replying to
We'll start our next story on or around October 8, after I get back from celebrating my father's 80th birthday!
Boosted by @MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social
Replying to
Thanks for playing, everyone! This ended up being one of my favorites.
If you enjoyed this story, please consider donating to your local public media station.
If you do, tell them Gloria and the Space Hamsters sent you.
https://www.pbs.org/
Boosted by @MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social
I'm in my crone era. I'm witchmaxxing. I'm bog mogging
"Seen any good TV shows lately?" you ask the ferret and the cat as the large sky orb sends smaller orbs down to the planet. "I've really been into Masterpiece Theater myself."
You recount both seasons of Wolf Hall as thousands of unexpectedly small spacecraft land. Tiny, furry invaders flood the streets.
"...anyway, Mark Rylance is a treasure," you conclude as an extended family of Miniature Giant Space Hamsters starts climbing the building walls.
Gloria and Roger look to you for guidance.
"Seen any good TV shows lately?" you ask the ferret and the cat as the large sky orb sends smaller orbs down to the planet. "I've really been into Masterpiece Theater myself." You recount both seasons of Wolf Hall as thousands of unexpectedly small spacecraft land. Tiny, furry invaders flood the st
RE: https://mastodon.social/@michelestrider/117306097547963359
We'll probably wrap this story up this week. As usual, it got... weird.
I blame y'all.
Quoting
"Seen any good TV shows lately?" you ask the ferret and the cat as the large sky orb sends smaller orbs down to the planet. "I've really been into Masterpiece Theater myself."
You recount both seasons of Wolf Hall as thousands of unexpectedly small spacecraft land. Tiny, furry invaders flood the streets.
"...anyway, Mark Rylance is a treasure," you conclude as an extended family of Miniature Giant Space Hamsters starts climbing the building walls.
Gloria and Roger look to you for guidance.
Open quoted postBoosted by @trending@homestead.social
Dashi says hello
#CatsOfMastodon
You have the power; you have the ferret.
You race down to the pet store to buy one of those word-mat things for dogs. It's a long shot, but you have faith in the ferret.
Gloria seems to understand the setup. She boops the buttons for "treat" and "now." You give her one.
The alien speaks. Gloria boops the word-mat. "Treat." "Now." You give her one.
Cmdr. Johnson takes the mic. "Any luck?"
Gloria boops the mat. "Daddy."
"Maybe?"
The alien speaks. Gloria boops. "Treat." "Now." Over and over.
You have the power; you have the ferret. You race down to the pet store to buy one of those word-mat things for dogs. It's a long shot, but you have faith in the ferret. Gloria seems to understand the setup. She boops the buttons for "treat" and "now." You give her one. The alien speaks. Gloria b
"Beige Party?" It's more of a question than a statement.
"It's a cult, you know," warns John.
You consider your current circumstances. TikTok influencers swarm like bugs. Corporate Threads accounts have hijacked #DJPJs. Bluesky exists. And the AI is generating images of its wedding to you.
"That's fine," you decide.
"Check your email," says John, ending the call.
You do. You click the link. You're transported.
It's a nice void. Quiet, soothing. But missing something. You follow a hashtag.
"Beige Party?" It's more of a question than a statement. "It's a cult, you know," warns John. You consider your current circumstances. TikTok influencers swarm like bugs. Corporate Threads accounts have hijacked #DJPJs. Bluesky exists. And the AI is generating images of its wedding to you. "That'
Axios headline: Gen X is losing confidence
GenX: We had confidence? Ever? In anything?
Do people from New Hampshire call themselves Hampsters?
Replying to
@MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social I love it! My husband and I had a hamster named The Oracle, and she was fearless in her hamster ball. I did not realize how brave and funny hamsters are until I met her. Butch sounds wonderful.
Replying to
@rbmath@mathstodon.xyz I know I'm pro-snackies
"I tried kombucha," you answer. "First I thought it was bad, then OK, then no."
"Been done," says Trendz. "What else?"
"I went to the library and a coffee shop in my PJs. That's weird."
"Not even. Have you seen GenZ? No, it's something else."
"The hashtags are no help," sighs Joan.
As you brainstorm, the cafe fills up. You bump the music up.
"Maybe it's something someone's saying about you," suggests Trendz. "Got any drama?"
"Not that I know of."
"But if you did, who would it be with?"
"I tried kombucha," you answer. "First I thought it was bad, then OK, then no." "Been done," says Trendz. "What else?" "I went to the library and a coffee shop in my PJs. That's weird." "Not even. Have you seen GenZ? No, it's something else." "The hashtags are no help," sighs Joan. As you brain
"Once. I don't want to talk about it."
"Why? What happened?" asks Trendz. "Sorry, but it might help us understand this."
You blush very brightly. "It fell in love with me."
"They'll do that," says Trendz
"Then it got weird."
"They'll do that," says Joan.
"Have you seen the movie 'Misery'?"
Joan and Trendz nod. "I read the book," says Hot Librarian.
"Like that."
"Ouch," agrees Trendz. "The algorithm is gonna get you."
"Am I in danger?"
"That depends," they say. "How online are you?"
"Once. I don't want to talk about it." "Why? What happened?" asks Trendz. "Sorry, but it might help us understand this." You blush very brightly. "It fell in love with me." "They'll do that," says Trendz "Then it got weird." "They'll do that," says Joan. "Have you seen the movie 'Misery'?" Jo
You find an indie flick called "The Fediverse."
The hero, JM, inhabits an alt-timeline world. Their main superpower is "boosting." There are subplots about esoteric computer systems, a reptilian alien overlord (and his hot wife), and cats, but the main villain is an evil billionaire.
Halfway through, you get a text: "Reply now to federate."
There's a knock at the door. You answer. A woman with a pound sign tattoo on her shoulder tells you to follow her.
There's a pop. Your internet goes out.
You find an indie flick called "The Fediverse." The hero, JM, inhabits an alt-timeline world. Their main superpower is "boosting." There are subplots about esoteric computer systems, a reptilian alien overlord (and his hot wife), and cats, but the main villain is an evil billionaire. Halfway throu
"Is there a back door?" you ask Lily.
There's a fluttering noise as the roosting bats descend in a flurry of leather wings. You blink and are surrounded by the most wholesome plaid-clad people you've ever seen.
"Who...?" you ask.
"That's not important," a ruddy older man dismisses the question, thumbs hooked in his overall straps. "We'll distract 'em. You run."
The bats engage the HOA goons. You look back to see much flailing and squealing as you, Lily, and the horses escape into the night.
"Is there a back door?" you ask Lily. There's a fluttering noise as the roosting bats descend in a flurry of leather wings. You blink and are surrounded by the most wholesome plaid-clad people you've ever seen. "Who...?" you ask. "That's not important," a ruddy older man dismisses the question, t
Replying to
@flyingsaceur@ioc.exchange This is the most Mastodon answer yet
Replying to
@liferstate@mas.to Do those use onion skin paper that can double as rolling papers? Asking for a friend
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@QueenOfTheCroneAge@beige.party Thanks! So far, it's all tea and shawls and hormonal chaos
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@liferstate@mas.to
In a swanky joint, it's a tragedy. In a Motel 6, it's a comedy
@ShiitakeToast@beige.party
To whom do I speak about making this face a US postage stamp? #CatsOfMastodon
May 5 White People Checklist:
*Are you wearing a themed hat? Take it off.
*Tacos are fine. Ditto burritos.
*If you must drink tequila on a Tuesday, that's on you, not Mexico.
*No one cares that you went to Cabo once. Ditto Tijuana.
*Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16.
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@MaryAustinBooks@mstdn.social Catmaxxing! I love it!
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@djwfyi@vmst.io Very appropriate for travelers
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@pianosaurus@c.im Sith hats are encouraged!!!!
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@Nak@infosec.exchange @superball@norcal.social I love that!
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@angelastella@social.treehouse.systems Those sound very interesting!
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@APBBlue@thepit.social I would have, too!
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@futurebird@sauropods.win I love this idea so much!
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@APBBlue@thepit.social I like it!
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@middleclasstool@phire.place Completely agree. Also y'all're. It's hick yet somehow sophisticated.
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@jhv@triangletoot.party That's fun!
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@rythur@mastodon.social I'm adding to my reading list!
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@jrbe@scholar.social @mobydick@mastodon.art A classic cautionary tale
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@superball@norcal.social Cool!
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@geekysteven@beige.party Truly the best of all possible worlds
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@CatsofArrakis@mastodon.social Now that's fun!
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@liferstate@mas.to I mean, why not?
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@earthshine@masto.hackers.town I like that idea
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@sng@bsd.network @liferstate@mas.to I just recently learned that
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@liferstate@mas.to That's good to know!