@bhalpin@better.boston
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

bhalpin

@bhalpin@better.boston

Bostonian, writer, teacher, parent, spouse. Fan of public libraries, public transit, horror movies, punk rock, and bikes.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Another fun part of the US healthcare system is how the insurance companies periodically waste your time by asking you to prove you don't have any other insurance they don't know about. I can't even afford THIS insurance! How the hell could I have two different insurances? And why?

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Just saw a bottle of water bearing the brand "Oregon Trail." Wondering what marketing genius decided that a phrase an entire generation associates with dysentery would be a good brand name for water

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Great bargains from a lefty independent publisher. (No affiliation--just a happy customer) https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_list&c=186&show=50

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

I think my electricity provider's new marketing slogan could use some work

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

You think the guy from Foreigner is bitter that he'll be forever known as "no, not THAT Mick Jones!" ?

universalhub, to soccer
@universalhub@mastodon.online avatar

Park group sues to block conversion of White Stadium into a professional arena

https://www.universalhub.com/2024/park-group-sues-block-conversion-white-stadium

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@universalhub I'd have a lot more sympathy with this if the Emerald Necklace Conservancy had ever demonstrated any interest in Franklin Park before this

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@n1vux @universalhub It's all the city. The city runs the golf course and the stadium. The ENC has been remarkably silent about XC teams trashing the wilderness every year, unsafe conditions at the bear cages, etc.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Ugh, okay, I gotta get off Spotify. Not using Google or Amazon, so what do I go with? Tidal? Deezer? (Yes, I do also support artists I like by buying their music on bandcamp).

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Happy "grocery stores are empty after 4PM" day to all who celebrate

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

All the conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and not one is "the NFL has her on the payroll to distract people from CTE and make the sport appeal to women so moms will continue to allow their sons to play football and sacrifice their bodies and minds to enrich NFL owners"?

BlackAzizAnansi, to random
@BlackAzizAnansi@mas.to avatar

What's the most unhinged children's television show that you grew up watching?

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@BlackAzizAnansi Really anything by the Krofft brothers. Pufnstuf? Land of the Lost? Sigmund and the Sea Monsters? Those dudes were COOKED.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Mastodon folks tend to be pretty tech-savvy, but it's come to my attention that simply not knowing how to get ebooks not purchased from a big retailer onto their e-reader stops some people from getting books that way. So I wrote a helpful guide! Share it with someone who wants to support DIY authors and small presses! https://write.as/brendanhalpin/how-to-load-downloaded-books-onto-your-e-reader

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

This is some dystopian shit. Never would I ever. https://youtu.be/BV9Xy6L_rlM?si=L2HGM5anBOjXMFG9

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

If you're looking for an that's not locked in to one bookseller, they're out there. I've owned 2! Here's my review: https://write.as/brendanhalpin/e-reader-reviews-boox-nova-and-bigme-read

bhalpin, to books
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

I've noticed this stumbling block to my whole "pay what you want for my work" strategy: if you give something away, people assume that it sucks. Would I be better off setting an affordable price, like say, 2 bucks a book?

skaeth, to indieauthors
@skaeth@writing.exchange avatar

Hey bookish folks, I'd love your help! How do you find new-to-you books to read?

I'm trying to figure out where to advertise my books now that I have a fourth book out ( https://buy.bookfunnel.com/vxvlyi6b0v ). I'm rather unknown so can't spend big $$ but it's hard to know where is best to find readers. And yet, it's hard to have a budget without readers, too!

@bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@skaeth @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy

Forgive me if you're doing this already, but I'd recommend focusing your energy on your email list. Your readers are your best advertisers. I'll often read a book because someone says they liked it. All I can say definitively is don't buy facebook ads. They broke those years ago. If you've got the money, you can buy a Kirkus review that will help you stand out, but only if it's good.

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@skaeth @bookstodon @sffbookclub @fantasy I think it's more of a seal of approval. Also, the free account at emailictopus goes up to 2500 subscribers.(I have no monetary interest in that, or, for that matter any, company 😁)

_L1vY_, to tea
@_L1vY_@mstdn.social avatar

😂
Via U.S. Embassy London
7:41 AM · Jan 24, 2024:

"An important statement on the latest controversy. 🇺🇸🇬🇧"

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@ColesStreetPothole @_L1vY_ USian here. Electric kettles are a niche item here. Most folks, when they want hot water, put a cup in the microwave and heat it that way. (I use a kettle, but I'm definitely in the minority.)

NicoleCRust, to random
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

Worst word (pronunciation)?

My vote: Colonel = “ker-nal”. How does one justify the ghost R to anyone?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-colonel-pronounced-r-and-more-questions-our-readers-180953036/

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@NicoleCRust I'd like to add a vote for Wednesday.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Some hard-earned wisdom: buying a thing in hopes of becoming the kind of person who uses that thing almost never works.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

The media hasn't learned anything since 2016, but we don't have to be quite so dumb. The only reason anyone supports Trump is because they believe he will cause the most harm to those they wish to see harmed. They will have other justifications. They might believe those justifications. But we don't have to.

bhalpin, to random
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

Honest question: will I, a music lover who owns no high-end equipment, ever really notice the difference between and MP3 and a FLAC? (Unearthed my old CD collection and am digitizing)

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Could you be in an Open/Poly Relationship?

P.S. This is a place to discuss your own personal opinions about yourself and your choices, or ask earnest questions of others if they wish to answer. If you've come here to preach or degrade other's choices, that is a block from me.

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@RickiTarr nope. I know this kind of arrangement wouldn't work for me for emotional reasons, but also? The scheduling!

dilmandila, to books
@dilmandila@mograph.social avatar

Oh my God! Oh fck! I wake up to this big news and all I can say is fck! I went to bed having read something about Philip K Dick Awards (I can't even remember what I read about it!) and I wake up to learn that my book, Where Rivers Go To Die, has been nominated for this and its a big deal to me and all I can day is f*ck! What a way to start the year!

https://www.norwescon.org/2024/01/09/2024-philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced/

@bookstodon #books #sff #book #writing #writingcommunity

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@HistoPol @dilmandila @bookstodon
“Everybody knows that Aristotelian two-value logic is fucked.”
― Philip K. Dick, VALIS

hawksquill, to bookstodon
@hawksquill@writing.exchange avatar

My 2024 reading thread is below!

Book 1: On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

5 stars

Stunning art, lovely found family, and a fun sci fi setting, all while managing to strike the perfect balance between cozy and yearning.

@bookstodon

bhalpin,
@bhalpin@better.boston avatar

@hawksquill @bookstodon such a great book!

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • JUstTest
  • mdbf
  • ngwrru68w68
  • tester
  • magazineikmin
  • thenastyranch
  • rosin
  • khanakhh
  • InstantRegret
  • Youngstown
  • slotface
  • Durango
  • kavyap
  • DreamBathrooms
  • megavids
  • tacticalgear
  • osvaldo12
  • normalnudes
  • cubers
  • cisconetworking
  • everett
  • GTA5RPClips
  • ethstaker
  • Leos
  • provamag3
  • anitta
  • modclub
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •