Nostr notes by Jürgen Hubert

As the #Fediverse grows, the stress on the admins of the assorted ...

2026-10-30T13:01:43Z

As the #Fediverse grows, the stress on the admins of the assorted instances grows as well.

So I am curious: What do Fediverse admins wish for that might reduce their stress and workload?

Okay, that makes sense.

2026-10-26T12:26:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…njta
_________________________

Okay, that makes sense.

One of the things that irk me is that we don't really have a ...

2026-10-26T09:28:44Z

One of the things that irk me is that we don't really have a way of tracking the long-term growth and changes of the #Fediverse .

Yes, there is fedidb.com , but it only seems to track user statistics for the last 30 days. Currently, the "monthly user base" seems to over at slightly over 1.3 million, which seems more than it was last year - but we don't really have a good long-term data set.

How does the user base of the Fediverse grow? What are specific events that cause the Fediverse to grow? And what differentiates accounts that stay from accounts that eventually stop being active?

There are a _lot_ of scientific examinations of commercial social media platforms. One would think that the Fediverse, with its open architecture, would also make such analysis possible, but I am not aware of any.

#SocialMedia #Science #DataAnalysis
https://fedidb.com/

As others have pointed out, there could be an influx of newcomers ...

2026-10-26T08:16:39Z

As others have pointed out, there could be an influx of newcomers to the #Fediverse from #Brazil who are tired of #Meta 's latest shenanigans while meddling with politics.

If you see them, be friendly and welcoming, and under no circumstances start with "You are using the Fediverse wrong!"

I mean it. We have a serious "Reply Guy" problem around here, and we've already lost our big chance with Black Twitter. Let's not screw _this_ opportunity up, okay?

One of the problems I see with modern portrayals of old folk ...

2026-10-24T07:22:53Z

One of the problems I see with modern portrayals of old folk tales is that there is a tendency of turning into neat "packages" - one single, "definite" version of a story with a clear beginning and end for easy consumption of an audience that will not know the context of the original storytellers. The Brothers Grimm themselves were part of this trend, with their repeated "cleaning" of their fairy tales collection, but many of their successors hardly did better.

Real folk tales and real folklore is considerably messier, with countless variants and narratives mutating and merging into each other. A good example is the text I am currently translating, featuring a particular crumbling well in the #Aargau canton of #Switzerland . This well has an entire myth-cycle associated it, with variant tales in neighboring villages. These range from the Devil lurking down there as a treasure guardian, to the Wild Hunt, to a vast sunken Roman city. These tales are messy and confusing, but that's what makes them so fascinating to me.

In modern media and storytelling, the closest we come to this is #fanfiction . Published media - whether books, movies, or television/streaming series - have their own "canon" events and stories, and fans obsessing over canon. But fanfiction writers make all of this their own, and weave their own contradictory stories with their own lore out of this base - just like the oral folk storytellers of old.

I fear my current local #ttrpg group is nearing its end. While ...

2026-10-23T15:36:35Z

I fear my current local #ttrpg group is nearing its end. While one player is still enthusiastic, one couple - who also act as hosts - take forever to answer whether they have time for any given day. If, indeed, they answer at all. And as a GM, I am getting tired of running after people for appointments. I get enough of that at my day job.

I am also not happy with how the previous campaign with that group crashed and burned. Yes, I made GMing mistakes. But the relevant players could have talked to me directly, instead of rage-quitting the group chat and leaving me to wonder what went wrong.

I think I will focus on other things for the time being, such as my writing. And I still have the group from my old hometown, which plays regularly on (almost) every Sunday and where I participate remotely (except when I visit my father and attend in person).

RE: https://dice.camp/@smitty/117482367518456005 An interesting ...

2026-10-22T06:38:43Z

RE: https://dice.camp/@smitty/117482367518456005

An interesting idea, and one that I fully endorse.

I would also like to point out that all my translations of German folk tales are released under a #CreativeCommons Zero license, since I _want_ other people to share and retell them in their own voices.

#animation

quoting
note144v…s0fw

We need to find an animator to partner with [@juergen_hubert](https://mementomori.social/@juergen_hubert ) and make some really killer Youtube shorts. ’Cause… man, the Devil knows how to bring the fireworks.

Many of you have left #Facebook for very good reasons. But for ...

2026-10-19T03:01:39Z

Many of you have left #Facebook for very good reasons.

But for those who still have a presence there, could you _please_ tell the followers of #BernieSanders about the #Fediverse ?

The number of people there who think that founding "new platforms" or have similar takes in the wake of the #censorship of the #NoKings protests on #Instagram is... exhausting. 🤦‍♂️

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1711153667046770&id=100044564583792

To those who need to hear it: Be kind to yourself. Don't ...

2026-10-14T11:40:30Z

To those who need to hear it:

Be kind to yourself. Don't measure your current situation and problems against the heroic self-image and heady visions of your future you had when you were younger.

Life constantly throws curveballs at us, and we cannot possibly predict it all - indeed, even the attempt to do so can be harmful.

And just getting through the day can be "success" enough, at times.

So, I am a self-published author, and I wanted to diversify away ...

2026-10-13T08:39:12Z

So, I am a self-published author, and I wanted to diversify away from the #Amazon ecosystem for some time. However, I am hitting a snag with the Print on Demand options.

My paperback books are sold in a 6"x9" format, which is a standard format for paperbacks. With Amazon KDP, I sell my books for a standard price of $17.99, and I get about 5$ in royalties for each paperback sold.

Now I've used online calculators to calculate printing prices for a 384 page book on assorted Print on Demand platforms (this is the length of my current manuscript).

With Amazon KDP, I get the usual $5.19 in revenues.

With OneBookShelf (a platform that is primarily for #TTRPG, but which also sells fiction) I get US printing costs of $11.73, which should leave me revenues of about 4$. Still acceptable.

However, the biggest "alternative" Print on Demand platform is Draft2Digital, and there I would only get revenues of $1.11. Which is too low for my tastes.

So if I want to keep decent revenues for my print books, my options are:

- Increase the prices for my paperbacks. And I would have increase the price all the way to $24.49 if I want to get at least $4 in royalties.

- Skip Draft2Digital as a print publishing platform, and stick to Amazon KDP and OneBookShelf - although the latter only prints in the USA and the UK, which means customers in other countries will have to have to pay extra for shipping.

What are your thoughts what I should do? And what are some other Print on Demand platforms I should look into?

#amwriting #publishing

RE: https://mastodon.social/@keynotes/117431830919179621 I am in ...

2026-10-13T06:40:22Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@keynotes/117431830919179621

I am in this picture and I don't like it.

Ich habe gerade in der Bekanntschaft einen Notfall. Hat hier ...

2026-10-09T15:47:03Z

Ich habe gerade in der Bekanntschaft einen Notfall.

Hat hier jemand eine Ahnung, wer in #Düsseldorf und Umgebung unentgeltlich zum Thema #Visum beraten kann?

Bitte boosten!

I could use some book recommendations. I am looking for folk tale ...

2026-10-08T13:28:21Z

I could use some book recommendations. I am looking for folk tale collections which are

1. from cultures outside of Europe, and

2. were written by people _from_ that culture.

Ideally, they should also be translated into English (or German) by people from that culture as well.

It would also be a plus if they contain a lot of "local legends" which incorporate local geography and history (as opposed to "fairy tales" which take place at indeterminable places and times).

#folklore #AmReading #Bookstodon

Overcoming a night hag requires both quick reflexes and brute ...

2026-10-04T00:00:35Z

Overcoming a night hag requires both quick reflexes and brute strength.

#Germany #folktale #folklore
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Grappled_Walrider

I am looking for beta readers for "Old Goatfoot", my ...

2026-10-02T13:03:43Z

I am looking for beta readers for "Old Goatfoot", my upcoming collection of Devil-tales from German folklore. Beta readers are test readers for books who provide feedback from a fan perspective and help the author identify and fix problems before the book is released.

I will consider you qualified if you (a) have read one of my previous books, or (b) have read and enjoyed multiple folk tale collections by other people.

Since I am writing for an international audience, I am _particularly_ interested in beta readers from outside Europe and the Anglophone countries outside Europe (i.e. USA, Australia, New Zealand), since they might bring unique cultural perspectives to the table. This is not necessary to be a beta reader, but I consider it a bonus.

Beta readers are expected to read and provide feedback on the book manuscript (which currently has a word count of 109,000, although about 20% of that is the bibliography and indices) within four weeks. Beta readers who provide useful feedback will get a free copy of the paperback version of the finished book.

If you are interested, please send me a Direct Message with a short explanation for why you think you are a good fit.

Please boost for greater reach! #folklore #amwriting

I want the #Fediverse to grow. But out of curiosity, how well ...

2026-09-26T04:11:34Z

I want the #Fediverse to grow. But out of curiosity, how well would the Fediverse scale? What would happen if the current user base increased by a factor of 10, 100, or 1000?

And if the answer is "bad things", what would need to be done to make the Fediverse cope with such an expanded user base?

(For the purpose of this thought exercise, assume that each specific Fediverse software implementation would likewise multiply their user base by this factor, albeit spread out over more instances.)

#FediHelp

I've compiled the manuscript for "Old Goatfoot" in ...

2026-09-25T06:32:04Z

I've compiled the manuscript for "Old Goatfoot" in its intended final formatting, and it clocks in at 386 pages - 82 more than the previous volume.

This might change a bit after beta reading, but probably not by much.

#amwriting #folklore

I find it _interesting_ that most modern portrayals of fairy ...

2026-09-23T07:29:14Z

I find it _interesting_ that most modern portrayals of fairy tales involve kings, knights, princesses and so forth - the privileged aristocratic classes on top of the social pyramid. Even if the protagonist of such a tale is poor, they are still secretly from privileged parents, and their story tends to be about reclaiming their "rightful" (i.e. privileged) place in society.

Meanwhile, the _vast_ majority of German folk tales I have read feature peasant protagonists. Nobles _might_ appear, but they are the villains as often as they are a force for "good".

Reframing fairy tales to focus on protagonists of privileged birth and relegating low-born characters to sidekicks and background characters was a _choice_. It's so pervasive nowadays that most modern-day storytellers don't even realize that they are making this choice, since they have accepted this as "normal". But it is a choice nonetheless.

And if we are telling stories of our own, we need to ask ourselves what choices we are making when developing our protagonists.

#privilege #storytelling #AmWriting #ClassStruggle

RE: https://mastodon.social/@StopKillingGames/117305012378113374 ...

2026-09-21T14:30:01Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@StopKillingGames/117305012378113374

This is exactly what I was worried about, and I am afraid how this might impact the #FediVerse .

#EuropeanUnion

Some magical powers from German folklore would be very ...

2026-09-15T09:24:11Z

Some magical powers from German folklore would be very overpowered in an #ttrpg context.

Take the "Freischütz" legends: Magical bullets which never, ever miss unless actively warded against is not something you will want in the hands of the player characters. And you'd have to be careful with using NPCs who can use this power as well, since it's no fun if a player character gets target by such bullets.

Furthermore, magic that binds someone in place (a favorite for catching thieves) is brutal, since the binding will last until actively dispelled or released by the caster - there are accounts when a victim starves to death after being subjected to a binding curse in an alpine hut.

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Magic

Do not let small children go out of the house unwashed and ...

2026-09-15T08:01:35Z

Do not let small children go out of the house unwashed and unblessed - or else the Wildg'fahr will get them!

#Austria #folktale #folklore
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Wildg%27fahr_Abducts_a_Child

#WritersCoffeeClub #WritingCommunity 15th Sept 2026. What ...

2026-09-15T06:57:03Z

#WritersCoffeeClub #WritingCommunity
15th Sept 2026. What expertise are you happy to offer to your fellow writers for their research?

My expertise in German #folklore, obviously.

By this stage, I have probably read 15-20,000 German folk tales, and I have published two books on them.

So if you have any questions about German folklore - whether for writing purposes, for #ttrpg , or any other reason - feel free to drop me a line.

They are, but longer-running campaigns are more popular. And ...

2026-09-10T10:02:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…mr4f
_________________________

They are, but longer-running campaigns are more popular.

And perhaps more importantly, is this my personal preference as well.

I am still struggling with how to port German #folklore and folk ...

2026-09-10T09:45:32Z

I am still struggling with how to port German #folklore and folk tales into a good #ttrpg setting. Mechanical translation of the fantastic elements would be the easy part - the more difficult part would be to build a framework for long-running campaigns, since almost all folk tales are basically "one-shot" stories that don't care about further adventures of the protagonists.

Maybe it would be a good idea to develop a "#playtest version" of such a setting, and then develop it further based on player feedback. Such a "playtest version" would have to include:

- Description of supernatural elements in the setting, including creatures and their mechanical design (I am currently inclined towards #BRP as the rules)
- A guide to German culture in a specific time period (I'm currently inclined towards the year 1649)
- Player character options, including supernatural powers
- A "regional gazeteer" for a specific region that is particularly rich in adventuring potential, and which uses both real world history and local legends (any suggestions for which region?)

Once people have actually played with such a setting and came up with their own campaigns, then I could refine it further.

Your thoughts?

Old folk tales which are #Bible #fanfiction are amazing stuff. ...

2026-09-09T10:16:33Z

Old folk tales which are #Bible #fanfiction are amazing stuff.

"The noncanon adventures of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Peter"...

The progress on battery systems in the last decade- both in terms ...

2026-09-08T13:07:55Z

The progress on battery systems in the last decade- both in terms of technological advancement and spread - has been nothing short of amazing. Very soon, relying on fossil fuels will be a purely ideological rather than an economic choice.

There are still some edge cases where fossil fuels win out - battery systems cannot yet meet the energy density needed for most types of aviation. And we still need industrial-sized battery systems which can store energy with little loss for weeks rather than hours or days.

Still, we are making massive progress here, so there is no reason to lose hope.

When discussing fairy tales, be aware that there is a significant ...

2026-09-08T07:54:58Z

When discussing fairy tales, be aware that there is a significant distinction between

1. fairy tales as folk tales, and
2. fairy tales as a literary genre.

Tales in the first category have a raw, chaotic energy and reflect the mindset of the rural peasantry. Tales in the second category are more "polished" and reflect the mindset and values of the urban bourgeoisie.

And, in fact, tales can move from the first category into the second. The #BrothersGrimm provide a perfect example of this - in their first edition of their famous "Children's and Household Tales", they published the tales pretty much as they heard them. But when they found financial success, they rewrote the tales again and again over the course of six subsequent editions to reflect their own moral views as well as the tastes of the urban middle and upper classes.

The tale of Rapunzel showcases this. In the first edition, Rapunzel unwittingly reveals that she has received a male visitor to the tower when her clothes become too tight - i.e. the prince has knocked her up, although she does not understand that this is what happened. In the seventh edition, she explicitly blurts out that a prince has been visiting her.

https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm012a.html

#FairyTale #folklore

Important information on the "Knight in Shining Armor Saves ...

2026-09-07T10:31:30Z

Important information on the "Knight in Shining Armor Saves the Girl" trope:

This is actually pretty rare in actual folk tales - usually it is later addition when those tales were turned into literature in order to make them a better fit for bourgeois narrative tastes and preferences of gender roles.

In actual folk tales, whenever a girl marries a prince, she usually has to save _him_ first. Typically he has been cursed into an animal form, and she needs to throw him against the wall or bite his head off or things like that so that he is saved and they can Live Happily Ever After.

#folklore #GenderRoles

RE: https://eldritch.cafe/@sinituulia/117206812726004853 I ...

2026-09-04T11:33:24Z

RE: https://eldritch.cafe/@sinituulia/117206812726004853

I translate German folk tales. As a result, I get nervous when old ladies are watching me from the corner of the room.
nostr:note1u5p9cdkyexdug9xwv2y7ngm3clyc5v3c0ujl7kvkayhln9gesvmsldmvtx

The Nazis were famous for their vicious in-fighting too, but this ...

2026-09-03T11:35:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…mumx
_________________________

The Nazis were famous for their vicious in-fighting too, but this did not stop them from bringing much of Europe to ruin.

I haven't encountered that one yet, although I frequently get ...

2026-09-02T12:12:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…v0me
_________________________

I haven't encountered that one yet, although I frequently get hustlers on Bluesky who claim to offer "beta reading services" without actually knowing what genre I write in.

I am honestly astonished that the #dragon familiars from German ...

2026-08-31T18:31:55Z

I am honestly astonished that the #dragon familiars from German folklore apparently have never shown up in a #DnD monster manual (as far as I am aware, at least).

#ttrpg
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Drak

#WordWeavers 8/31 What's one thing you hope readers remember ...

2026-08-31T13:40:02Z

#WordWeavers 8/31 What's one thing you hope readers remember long after they finish your story?

That German folklore is weird as fuck.

Doctor Faust was the most infamous warlock of German folklore. ...

2026-08-31T08:01:15Z

Doctor Faust was the most infamous warlock of German folklore.

#Germany #folktale #folklore #magic
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Tales_of_Doctor_Faust

I suspect it's part of the pro-monarchy push that started ...

2026-08-30T06:24:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…xqal
_________________________

I suspect it's part of the pro-monarchy push that started when those folk tales were transformed into literature during the National Romantic period, and later on into other media.

I mean, using royalty as protagonists allows you to use fancier costumes, which would be a non-malicious explanation.

Still, I think that has done some real damage, leading to pervasive #monarchy worship in the modern day, and extremist movements like the #DarkEnlightenment .

I _really_ need to write that German folk tale collection where nobles are clear villains, as an antidote to all that.

Thought of the day: We need more product testing teams consisting ...

2026-08-29T18:41:59Z

Thought of the day:

We need more product testing teams consisting entirely of elderly people.

One of my pet peeves about #ttrpg fandom is when people say: ...

2026-08-29T07:34:25Z

One of my pet peeves about #ttrpg fandom is when people say:

"This RPG product is too expensive!"

No. The RPG industry has tiny, tiny margins, and only a minuscule portion of RPG authors are able to make a living from this - and only barely so, at that. In that context, I find the notion that they are somehow "price-gouging" to be borderline offensive.

Saying:

"I cannot afford this!"

or

"I cannot justify the expense!"

is entirely fine, however - what an RPG product is really worth to a reader is very subjective, after all.

Check out this link for a random German folk tale! What did you ...

2026-08-27T12:02:02Z

Check out this link for a random German folk tale!

What did you get?

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Special:Random/Folk_Tale

Presumably she knows all the pros and cons, but since there are ...

2026-08-26T05:00:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…ujpv
_________________________

Presumably she knows all the pros and cons, but since there are lawyers involved she will not answer the questions of Random Internet Strangers regarding all this.

You might like this electoral poster from Germany which could be ...

2026-08-25T05:32:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…xp45
_________________________

You might like this electoral poster from Germany which could be translated as either.

"Nazis kill."

or

"Kill Nazis."

I've seen a lot of talk about "generating #PassiveIncome ...

2026-08-24T15:59:22Z

I've seen a lot of talk about "generating #PassiveIncome ". To some degree, this is understandable - we all live in a late-stage Capitalist hellhole, which means that we must always live in fear of bankruptcy unless we are so rich that we can outsource all our risks to other people. Thus, extra income streams which we don't have to do much work is very, very appealing.

But ultimately, the real trick to getting passive income... is to have money to start with, which can then be invested in order to pay you dividends or all the other stuff the rentier class gets income from.

And if you _don't_ have that money for investment, you will not have those opportunities for passive income, and be _deeply_ suspicious of anyone who tells you otherwise - because they are trying to sell you "self-help courses" and the like which will not help you one bit.

As an example, some years ago - before the #AI / #LLM hype even broke loose - I saw people on Twitter flogging "writing books in order to generate passive income". And while I, as a published author, can confirm that there is indeed _some_ money to be earned by writing, there is nothing "passive" about it.. You have to write the book, you have to proofread it, you have to get others to read it and give you feedback, you have to go through the publishing process... and once you are done you will have to do it all over again, because the best advertising for a book is _another_ book.

Now, there is nothing wrong with contemplating some new money-making opportunities - again, we live in a late-stage Capitalist hellhole, and we need the money to survive. But be clear-eyed about the efforts involved versus the rewards you get, and don't trust people who try to sell you get-rich-quick schemes.

#amwriting

RE: https://noc.social/@AltAltNPS/117145638519928771 In my youth, ...

2026-08-24T05:30:57Z

RE: https://noc.social/@AltAltNPS/117145638519928771

In my youth, I watched the old "Captain Planet" cartoon, and thought that the villains were too over-the-top and unrealistic.

Little did I know...

quoting
note17q5…yzmd

You think Trump can’t possibly become any worse of a monster, and then you find out his administration is sending America’s wild horses to slaughterhouses. What the Trump administration is doing to our wild horses is absolutely disgusting. 🤮 There has to be a line.
https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3mtr5nf2p2k2b
-
From resistance team of US Natl Park Svc
500+ char posts not resent
Unaffiliated w/ AltNPS
-
#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Many German folk tales take strange twists and turns, but some ...

2026-08-17T07:11:24Z

Many German folk tales take strange twists and turns, but some are more messed up than others.

I've recently come across a particularly noteworthy example: "The Child Eater of the Untersberg". There are two variants of this tale, but both feature a knight who has committed a large number of sins which he feels he needs to atone for.

He does that by living as an hermit in a cave on Untersberg Mountain - and kidnapping small children from the area which he then raises in a "Christian manner", which he apparently thinks will make up for his own past sins.

But the distraught parents don't know what happened, and thus the rumor spreads that a "child eater" dwells somewhere on the mountain.

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_0iYWAAAAYAAJ/page/484/mode/2up

@npub1fdr…lvhs 's essay on how algorithmically enforced ...

2026-08-12T10:51:00Z

Cory Doctorow (npub1fdr…lvhs) 's essay on how algorithmically enforced homogenity harms is all is yet another reason why I prefer it on the #Fediverse : There is no algorithm that pushes the "safe" choices upon me in order to sell me things.

https://pluralistic.net/2026/08/12/insurance-value-of-biodiversity/

#WritersCoffeeClub 11 Aug—When were you last a student? Still ...

2026-08-12T03:48:49Z

#WritersCoffeeClub 11 Aug—When were you last a student?

Still am - I am currently taking evening classes for #Italian .

Part of my motivation is to learn more about the connections of #Venice to #mining as background research for my future book on the ultraterrestrial #Venetians from German #folklore .

(And if anyone knows of some useful books on this topic, I would greatly appreciate it!)

1/ #PSA for #writers : There is a new kind of #spam making the ...

2026-08-07T04:00:14Z

1/ #PSA for #writers : There is a new kind of #spam making the rounds on the #Fediverse.

Mention anywhere that you are working on a book, and these people will slide into your replies, feigning interest into your work while offering beta reading and editing services.

Report them.

#amwriting

There's a lot of great stuff in old folk tales that can be ...

2026-07-28T07:26:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…fywz
_________________________

There's a lot of great stuff in old folk tales that can be plundered for #ttrpg .

I don't know if #Vaesen will ever publish a Germany sourcebook. I certainly don't have the time to write it - but I _am_ available as a consultant.

Remember, kids: In proper scientific terms, an attempt to explain ...

2026-07-27T04:19:23Z

Remember, kids:

In proper scientific terms, an attempt to explain observable phenomena is called a "hypothesis".

It is called a "theory" when it fits all the observable facts, and there is no observable evidence to the contrary. We don't call it a "truth" because there's always a chance that it might be overturned by later evidence - but as far as science is concerned, a "theory" is as hard as it gets.

This is often confusing to people who dismiss science they don't like as "it's just a theory". But this distinction should be kept in mind when discussing things like the "Theory of Evolution", "Theory of Relativity", "Global Warming Theory", and "Dead Internet Theory".

#PSA #Evolution #GlobalWarming #DeadInternetTheory #Science #Theory

'Yang told Fortune that AI agents can’t fully participate ...

2026-07-27T04:11:04Z

'Yang told Fortune that AI agents can’t fully participate in the online economy yet because payments and liability aren’t solved.

“If we don’t have the infrastructure to do proper payments for agents, then agents aren’t buying and selling, and if agents aren’t buying and selling, then they aren’t generating economic activity,” Yang said.'

As usual, the Tech Industry sees the "Horrible Future Dystopia" as their next "Business Plan".

#AIBubble #AIScrapers #TormentNexus
https://fortune.com/2026/07/23/dead-internet-theory-bots-agents-majority-web-traffic/

There are quite a few German-language folk tales where a ...

2026-07-15T12:28:40Z

There are quite a few German-language folk tales where a "cursed maiden" can only be released if she is kissed - while she has a form that is half woman, half snake.

Inevitably, the young man who promised to kiss her recoils at the last moment, condemning her to wait another century until a new candidate becomes available.

I suspect such "cursed maidens" would have fewer problems in the modern day, as there are people who... are into that.

#folklore #snake
https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_0iYWAAAAYAAJ/page/234/mode/1up

It's not everyday that you see a double #rainbow with a full ...

2026-07-03T04:17:55Z

It's not everyday that you see a double #rainbow with a full arc right!

#photography

Suggestion: If any coder "saves time" by using AI to ...

2026-07-01T03:41:54Z

Suggestion:

If any coder "saves time" by using AI to write some of their code, then they need to spend that "saved time" with the code testing/reviewing team.

Huh. I wonder if the author was aware of the bizarre ...

2026-06-30T13:16:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…n00y
_________________________

Huh. I wonder if the author was aware of the bizarre Ultraterrestrial Venetians from German folklore.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walen

When strange women appear at your remote hunting lodge and want ...

2026-06-17T13:01:27Z

When strange women appear at your remote hunting lodge and want to stay for the night, you should probably be suspicious.

#WyrdWednesday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Seduction

One of my hopes for my translation work is that #ttrpg creators ...

2026-06-16T12:02:01Z

One of my hopes for my translation work is that #ttrpg creators will use it to have more diverse material for their representation of German folklore than just the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales collection.

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Main_Page

New poll: Who is the _5th_ worst person in Tech after: 1. Peter ...

2026-06-15T14:24:45Z

New poll: Who is the _5th_ worst person in Tech after:

1. Peter Thiel
2. Elon Musk
3. Mark Zuckerberg
4. Jeff Bezos

#WorstPersonsInTech

Okay, let's talk about #backup strategies for your critical ...

2026-06-15T07:30:19Z

Okay, let's talk about #backup strategies for your critical files.

A lot of people will tell you that the best way to back up your files is to do it yourself, using portable hard drives or NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives.

I do _not_ recommend storing these in your own home, unless one of your major use cases is: "I need to be able to destroy them in a hurry." Which I can understand, considering that #fascism might come for you.

Otherwise, you risk losing all your critical files in _addition_ to your physical belongings if there is a house fire or similar disaster.

I work in a "critical infrastructure" field. My company develops SCADA systems - the central control software for power and utility grids. And by German regulations, all such systems must have a backup system that can smoothly take over in case the primary system goes down and which must be located at _least_ 5 km away from the primary site.

So whatever approach you take, you should consider how you can preserve your files in just such a disaster.

New poll: Who is the _4th_ worst person in Tech after: 1. Peter ...

2026-06-14T14:12:14Z

New poll: Who is the _4th_ worst person in Tech after:

1. Peter Thiel
2. Elon Musk
3. Mark Zuckerberg

#WorstPersonsInTech

New poll: Who is the _3rd_ worst person in Tech after: 1. Peter ...

2026-06-13T14:03:10Z

New poll: Who is the _3rd_ worst person in Tech after:

1. Peter Thiel
2. Elon Musk

#WorstPersonsInTech

New poll: Who is the _second_ worst person in Tech after: 1. ...

2026-06-12T13:31:25Z

New poll: Who is the _second_ worst person in Tech after:

1. Peter Thiel

I decided I really need some new business cards for my upcoming ...

2026-06-07T19:12:36Z

I decided I really need some new business cards for my upcoming bicycle trip. Here is a quick mockup - what do you think?

I think I need a new "business email" address for my ...

2026-06-04T10:06:58Z

I think I need a new "business email" address for my folklore work that isn't #Gmail .

What #email provider can you recommend which (a) is big and respectable enough that they won't end up in spam filters, and (b) hasn't wholeheartedly embraced Evil like #Google has?

The Wild Man of Wildemann was one of the earlier examples of ...

2026-06-03T13:01:06Z

The Wild Man of Wildemann was one of the earlier examples of drop-out cultures.

#WyrdWednesday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Wild_Man

As a folklorist, this essay by @npub1fdr…lvhs resonated deeply ...

2026-06-03T06:48:31Z

As a folklorist, this essay by Cory Doctorow (npub1fdr…lvhs) resonated deeply with me.

For much of #folklore is basically about imbuing intent into elements of your environment where there is none.

Some classic examples:

"My cattle have fallen ill. A witch must have done it!"

"This rock formation is spectacular. This must be a petrified giant!"

"I suffer from sleep paralysis! A night hag is visiting me!"

Because we yearn for an ordered, just universe, we cannot accept that sometimes things just happen without conscious attempt. Folklore fills the gap.

(Conspiracy Fantasies are, of course, just another subset of folklore.)

https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/02/must-we-pretend/

#WritersCoffeeClub May 26: In what ways does your work defy ...

2026-05-27T11:09:41Z

#WritersCoffeeClub May 26: In what ways does your work defy expectation?

I would like to forward this question to my readers: How _did_ my translations of German folk tales defy your expectations?

Be as specific or generic as you want.

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Main_Page

“And, as you head out into the world, your fresh, meaty torsos ...

2026-05-25T02:53:59Z

“And, as you head out into the world, your fresh, meaty torsos will be ripped apart and roasted to feed your new alien overlords—wait, why are you all booing?”

#oligarchy #AIBubble #AI
https://www.newyorker.com/cartoon/a61987

Have you ever heard bagpipes up close? I did, in Scotland. ...

2026-05-21T06:56:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…hqnc
_________________________

Have you ever heard bagpipes up close?

I did, in Scotland. I'd give them a minimum safe distance of 30 meters.

Once, a musician had to play a bagpipe all night to keep a wolf ...

2026-05-20T15:01:13Z

Once, a musician had to play a bagpipe all night to keep a wolf at bay.

As someone who has heard a bagpipe up close, I can assure you that this is a valid tactic.

#WyrdWednesday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Bagpipe_Player_and_the_Wolf_at_Spandau

RE: https://wandering.shop/@swan_tower/116563682603682601 As a ...

2026-05-18T04:55:00Z

RE: https://wandering.shop/@swan_tower/116563682603682601

As a self-published author who doesn't pay for formal advertising, I can confirm.
nostr:note1j74vd9qlnk3n30flwcydklenqfuyarm4m275xky7n2fpe8lkg34qj4e0jk

The same is true if you are _not_ using money, at least until ...

2026-05-17T07:32:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…skrg
_________________________

The same is true if you are _not_ using money, at least until Late-Stage Capitalism collapses completely.

Obviously, the #AIBubble will burst sooner or later - but when? ...

2026-05-17T05:04:55Z

Obviously, the #AIBubble will burst sooner or later - but when? What are some key dates?

What I personally would watch out for are opportunities for the major players to "cash out" and leave smaller investors with the bill. A major #IPO in the Ai field would certainly fit - the stocks will rise to new heights during the IPO, but a few weeks or months later all pretense drops.

One important IPO will be that of #SpaceX , which will probably happen near the end of June. This includes #xAI , and #ElonMusk has been a major AI propaganda leader, so we can expect a lot of hype for that part of the business.

And then there is the big one - the #OpenAI IPO. The exact date is not clear yet, but most of the scammers will try to keep the hype up until that is done.

What other IPOs should I watch out for?

The #Fediverse is the real deal. ...

2026-05-08T03:26:58Z

The #Fediverse is the real deal.

https://matduggan.com/boy-i-was-wrong-about-the-fediverse/

I have never read any works of #MercedesLackey . What are your ...

2026-05-03T07:19:58Z

I have never read any works of #MercedesLackey . What are your thoughts on her works?

(Though if the ebooks in this bundle really are DRM-free EPUBs, I might have to buy them on general principle.)

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/mercedes-lackey-valdemar-and-beyond-daw-books-books

Well, have you checked whether they are not?

2026-04-29T15:37:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…uqv4
_________________________

Well, have you checked whether they are not?

One of the most common powers of a witch is the ability to make ...

2026-04-29T15:01:28Z

One of the most common powers of a witch is the ability to make butter in abundance.

#WyrdWednesday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Witches_Make_Butter

RE: https://sunny.garden/@hrast/116484002854513415 I am not much ...

2026-04-29T06:15:57Z

RE: https://sunny.garden/@hrast/116484002854513415

I am not much of a movie-watcher, so I will have to pass this question on.

What #folklore -themed #movies do you recommend that are fairly faithful to the folklore they are based on?

A question for my readers: I share German folk tales three times ...

2026-04-27T19:02:51Z

A question for my readers:

I share German folk tales three times a day or more, and I am curious how often you come across repeats of tales you have already read:

Peasants, rural laborers, and tenant farmers in Europe in ...

2026-04-21T04:33:11Z

Peasants, rural laborers, and tenant farmers in Europe in previous centuries were, of course, oppressed and exploited by nobles and owners of large farms alike.

But at least in the Catholic regions, they had an excuse for days off: "We must honor the feast day of this saint, or else terrible, terrible things will happen!"

These days, we no longer have such excuses - all we can do is to support strong unions who fight for us.

My stance on #LLM : 1. There _might_ be some useful use cases ...

2026-04-19T03:08:40Z

My stance on #LLM :

1. There _might_ be some useful use cases with this technology that could be worth exploring.

2. However, it is glaringly obvious that, as of now, their main purpose is to power the mother of all investments bubbles.

3. Which leads us to the present trillion dollar business case for "we must build energy- and water-wasting data centers everywhere so that we can scrape every single website a thousand times a month for new training data!"

4. Thus, there is currently pretty much no ethical way of using LLMs.

5. Any ethical exploration of LLM use cases will thus have to wait until the bubble has burst, the investors have moved on to the next scam, and we can sort through the rubble to check what is left.

I sure hope it doesn't, but I am not taking anything for ...

2026-04-17T05:24:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…3xu6
_________________________

I sure hope it doesn't, but I am not taking anything for granted.

Here is your usual reminder to regularly back up your #Mastodon ...

2026-04-17T04:43:23Z

Here is your usual reminder to regularly back up your #Mastodon user data (from settings/export).

This is particularly important for users of European instance - because if the #EuropeanUnion really makes age verification for social media mandatory, I suspect that a lot of admins will close their instances down rather than take on the legal risk.

#EUDIWallet

Magical methods of murder always have their downsides. #Germany ...

2026-04-16T00:00:46Z

Magical methods of murder always have their downsides.

#Germany #folktale #folklore #magic
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Blood_Bullets

The "scaling" will primarily be done by publishing more ...

2026-04-13T18:19:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…h39n
_________________________

The "scaling" will primarily be done by publishing more books. The niche "translations of German folk tales" is already specific enough, and as far as I know I am currently the only person who is filling it.

Since I work for myself and not for others, I don't really have "rates" as such. And I think my book prices and Patreon levels are fine as they are.

I've never tried to hide that I want to build up my side ...

2026-04-13T09:40:45Z

I've never tried to hide that I want to build up my side business of translating old German folk tales into a significant side income. "Quit your day job" levels are unrealistic, since my day job pays decently and I quite like the benefits, but maybe it will be possible to work reduced hours one day.

Currently, I earn about €200 per months. I do have some expenses - commissing cover illustrations, hiring a copywriter, and pay for domain and website maintenance (which has gotten more expensive as of late - thanks, #LLM scrapers!).

https://sunkencastles.com/the-books/

Right now, my books are primarily a marketing tool for my Patreon campaign, although I do get some money from them.

My sales per year are:

2020: 71 (Release of "Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles")
2021: 69
2022: 133 (Release of "Lurkers at the Threshold")
2023: 78
2024: 50
2025: 52

Even though I haven't released a new book since 2022, book sales haven't declined nearly as much as is usual for books. I assume that this means that knowledge of their existence is spread by word of mouth - thanks to everyone who has recommended them to others! Still, I really need to get "Old Goatfoot" out (the next book) - and I have enough material to start on the manuscripts for "Magic in Theory and Malpractice" and "Unnatural Taxonomies" as well (with "Spirits in Motion" not far behind). While publishing my weekly translations on Patreon remains the first priority, this is the second highest one.

https://graphtreon.com/creator/sunkencastles

Speaking of my Patreon campaign, it has generally plateaued since its high point in 2023. I suspect the reason for this, too, is the lack of new books, which are the visible representation of all the work I do. If my people see more of my books on the shelves, they will be more intrigued in the early release material I publish there.

And once my Patreon campaign grows big enough, I hope to use it to pay for custom illustrations for the tales - but alas, I am not there yet.

But of course, I do further marketing beyond selling books. After I abandoned/fled Twitter, I focused on #Mastodon as my primary marketing tool. I tried a #Facebook page for two years or so, but that was a waste of time - I never attracted even a hundred followers, and I refused to pay Meta for advertising. Better to stick to the #Fediverse, where there is no algorithm that hates you.

Still, even my Mastodon-based approach has seen some refinement. I used to share my tales as screenshots, but that was not ideal from an accessibility point of view. Thus, I spent seven months on building up a wiki repository, and now share invididual tales as links:

https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Main_Page

This required a lot of effort which distracted me from working on the book manuscripts. But now it is functionally complete, and I think the end result is worth it.

So here you have it: My focus for the rest of the year is to get my next book published, and hopefully this will bring me a further increase in revenue.

Does anyone have any further questions about my work as an independent author/translator, and my future goals?
#amwriting

#WritersCoffeeClub 13: What do you borrow from other fiction (or ...

2026-04-13T06:36:36Z

#WritersCoffeeClub 13: What do you borrow from other fiction (or nonfiction!) genres?

From Terry #Pratchett, the explanatory footnotes.

From academia, the extensive citations.

From #TTRPG , a perspective on oral storytelling conventions that many "traditional" folklore researchers lack.

Once, giants lived where the city of Heidelberg now stands. They ...

2026-04-12T16:01:40Z

Once, giants lived where the city of Heidelberg now stands.

They may be gone, but they still left their mark.

#Germany #folktale #folklore #giant #Heidelberg
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Giants%27_Stone

Drudes are malevolent spirits who feel an overwhelming need. The ...

2026-04-10T12:01:58Z

Drudes are malevolent spirits who feel an overwhelming need.

The need to squeeze.

#PhantomsFriday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Trudes

There are so, so many reasons why we cannot trust the #LLM hype. ...

2026-04-07T12:53:19Z

There are so, so many reasons why we cannot trust the #LLM hype. And a major one is that tech companies spend billions into keeping the hype going. If their products were really that great, then they wouldn't _need_ tho spend that much money on hyping their products.

I mean, consider battery systems, which are clearly more important to the world economy and human civilization as a whole. When was the last time you have seen an ad for _them"?

#AIBubble
https://slate.com/business/2026/04/openai-podcast-sam-altman-tbpn.html

Eine gute Nachricht: Die #COVID -Viruslast im #AMELAG ...

2026-04-06T06:18:15Z

Eine gute Nachricht: Die #COVID -Viruslast im #AMELAG -Wochenbericht für Deutschland ist auf dem niedrigsten Stand seit Beginn der Aufzeichnungen im September 2022 gefallen.

I don't want the #Fediverse to grow because I see ...

2026-04-04T19:21:52Z

I don't want the #Fediverse to grow because I see "growth" as an intrinsic good.

I want the Fediverse to grow because I see commercial social media as a major threat to the long-term survival of human civilization. Thus, we need to replace it - and right now, the Fediverse seems to be the best alternative we have.

I want this year to finally be the year where I get away from ...

2026-03-27T17:15:59Z

I want this year to finally be the year where I get away from #Amazon as the only marketplace for my books. So tell me: What platforms would you recommend for selling self-published English-language books on folklore?

I am looking for both Print On Demand and Ebook options.

Important: The platforms must allow non-exclusivity - that is, I must be able to sell the books on other platforms as well. This is non-negotiable.

#amwriting

Shipboard spirits are created when a murdered child is buried ...

2026-03-25T18:02:11Z

Shipboard spirits are created when a murdered child is buried beneath an oak tree, and that tree is then used for ship construction.

#WyrdWednesday
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Klabautermann

A house in Osterode was once haunted by an ambulatory wall clock. ...

2026-03-18T01:00:35Z

A house in Osterode was once haunted by an ambulatory wall clock.

It's probably for the best that no one started a song-and-dance routine while investigating this house.

#Germany #folktale #folklore #ghost #ghoststory
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Cursed_Officers

Yeah, I also only learned of them yesterday.

2026-03-03T07:42:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…eg00
_________________________

Yeah, I also only learned of them yesterday.

It's the latest iteration of "Watch this two-hour video, ...

2026-03-02T11:21:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…6t4g
_________________________

It's the latest iteration of "Watch this two-hour video, which will counter all your arguments!"

Flooding the zone with time-wasting bullshit, rather than actual engagement with the discussion.

The #Epstein clique didn't create everything horrible on ...

2026-02-26T10:10:19Z

The #Epstein clique didn't create everything horrible on Earth, but it sure seems like they were in the thick of it all.

Here is an article on how they promoted #sexism in #STEM .

https://19thnews.org/2026/02/epstein-files-academic-research-women-scientists/

I could use some suggestions for a public domain or Creative ...

2026-02-26T06:23:11Z

I could use some suggestions for a public domain or Creative Commons-licenced image representing #LLM processing data.

My initial idea was "trash compactor", but that might be a bit too unsubtle.

The living and the dead CAN co-exist, if everyone puts in just a ...

2026-02-24T09:01:08Z

The living and the dead CAN co-exist, if everyone puts in just a little bit effort.

#Germany #folktale #folklore #ghost #ghoststory
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Haunting_Housekeeper

I maintain a trio of fairly small websites. By my estimate, they ...

2026-02-24T04:16:02Z

I maintain a trio of fairly small websites.

By my estimate, they get at least 10,000 requests every day from #LLM scrapers.

And that's only those which announce themselves for what they are. There are a bunch of very suspicious requests from #Safari browsers with changing IP addresses which I suspect come from anonymous scrapers.

To the #VoteBlue people in the USA: Yes, voting for the ...

2026-02-19T12:41:35Z

To the #VoteBlue people in the USA: Yes, voting for the #Democrats _is_ necessary in all upcoming elections. But you also need to realize that the anger at the Democratic Party establishment is both real and entirely justified, and you should understand where that anger is coming from.

To quote the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail":

'First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.”'

https://letterfromjail.com/