Erin Bern 2022-07-03T00:13:00.051781+00:00 erinbern hidden python-feedgen Here I will share my writings, random ramblings & thoughts. If you like what I've written, feel free to toast it! Eerily Quiet Internet 2022-01-16T00:00:00+00:00 erinbern hidden <p>It's Sunday evening; something feels aloof.</p> <p>Currently, the time is 19:16.</p> <p>And I'm performing my daily crawl of the inter-webs.</p> <p>Data is flowing, hundreds &amp; hundreds of terabytes are flowing.</p> <p>But something is off.</p> <p>Very off...</p> <p>Human-to-human interaction has slowed to a crawl.</p> <p>Twitter, Facebook, etc. Are still generating content of course.</p> <p>Whether that content is organic or artificial has yet to be determined.</p> <p>Tick~tock~tick~tock.</p> <p>Time still moves forward.</p> <p>Ultimately, the clock will strike 00:00.</p> <p>And again; the cycle will begin.</p> <p>Tick~tock~tick~tock.</p> <p>Perhaps the Dead Internet Theory is true.</p> <p>Perhaps we do live in a Potemkin Village.</p> <p>Perhaps... we'll never know.</p> <p>Many things were supposed to happen today.</p> <p>Are they happening right now?</p> <p>Have they happened?</p> <p>Will they happen?</p> <p>Who knows.</p> <p>The sun has already said goodbye.</p> <p>Nothing can be heard in the void.</p> <p>Not even a childs' cry.</p> 2022-01-16T00:00:00+00:00 Zines, Zines, ZINES! 2022-05-19T02:48:41.121802+00:00 erinbern hidden <p>Zines are small, unique, cute pamphlets/books.<br /> And I'm in love with them.</p> <p>I've acquired a modest collection.<br /> Some First Aid, Anarchism, Self-help &amp; Choose-your-own-adventure ones.</p> <p>There's one called 'Shit's Fucked, Still: Another Positivity Guide' by Gina Sarti from Oakland, California.</p> <p><img src="" alt="Shit's Fucked, Still: Another Positivity Guide" /></p> <p>It's a wonderful little zine about various activities to do when going through tough-times.</p> <hr /> <p>And another called 'Keeping Mold &amp; Mildew Away' by Resting Safe: A project of Right 2 Survive.</p> <p>From PDX, OR.</p> <p>Which is a fold-out zine with tons of info on how one can prevent mold &amp; mildew inside their tents.</p> <p><img src="" alt="Keeping Mold &amp; Mildew Away" /></p> <hr /> <p>If anyone enjoys short books, I recommend poking around in your city &amp; finding where zines are!</p> 2022-05-19T02:48:41.121802+00:00 Cutie Curios: Pusheen & More 2022-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 erinbern hidden <p>Growing up, I was never introduced to cutie-curios such as Pusheen, Simon's Cat, Hello Kitty, etc.</p> <p>Being from a *<strong>highly</strong>* religious household.<br /> At home, the only books available, consisted of the Bible &amp; religious literature.</p> <p>A few curios were available to me, however.<br /> Winnie-the-Pooh, The Land Before Time, Heathcliff<sup title="Link to official Heathcliff site.">(<a href="">?</a>)</sup> &amp; a few others.<br /> All of which, I was introduced to while in public school. Which wasn't often.</p> <p>Now that I'm an adult, free from the clutches of religious bigots &amp; forced readings of cultist literature… I can explore.</p> <p>Here are my current favourites so far:</p> <p>First up, <strong>Pusheen</strong>! =^･^=<br /> Pusheen is a heckin' cute kitty, born within the minds of Claire Belton &amp; Andrew Duff. Pusheen is a brown~ish cartoon &amp; chunky kitty. Stickers on many apps are available.<br /> My personal favourites are the animated ones.</p> <ul> <li><a href=""></a></li> </ul> <p>Secondly, <strong>Pepper &amp; Carrot</strong>!<br /> Made by David Revoy &amp; translated by the community.<br /> Pepper &amp; Carrot is a webcomic about Pepper &amp; her orange kitty Carrot.<br /> Whimsical adventures, magic, beautiful environments &amp; stubborn witches.<br /> The comic is a lovely read &amp; I'm always delighted when new episodes come out.</p> <ul> <li><a href=""></a></li> </ul> <p>Thirdly &amp; Finally, <strong>MicroSFF</strong>.<br /> Science Fiction in a short-story format.<br /> Usually, if not always, Tweet/Toot sized.<br /> These are heart-warming &amp; beautiful short-stories.<br /> Made by O. Westin; have helped me get through a lot.</p> <ul> <li><a href=""></a></li> </ul> 2022-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 Abyss Station : Arrival 2022-05-29T11:12:02.064635+00:00 erinbern hidden <p><img src="" alt="Abyss Station - Part One: Arrival Cover" /></p> <p><em><strong>Hello Human Subject #EUSA31-4320</strong></em>, <br /> It's 17:45, on a Sunday, the date is 3600-12-10.<br /> And you're one of the lucky few to acquire a ticket into the abyss.<br /> You are currently aboard a transfer shuttle; thousands of light-years from Earth.</p> <p><em><strong>For the past 500 years, you have been asleep.</strong></em><br /> Waking up from cryostasis has been awfully dreadful.<br /> You've lost, what seems to have been, half a millennium old lunch.<br /> But, ignoring the ringing in your ears and pounding migraine, you're alright.</p> <p><em><strong>Transfer shuttle #EUSA31 is preparing for docking.</strong></em><br /> You look out the view-port &amp; Abyss Station is in view.<br /> This station was constructed round a black-hole, who knows how.</p> <p><em><strong>#EUSA31 has docked.</strong></em><br /> You make your way towards the exit.<br /> Coming out of Gate <strong>#31USA</strong>, you enter a lobby.<br /> In your periphery you notice signs... warning signs.</p> <p><em><strong>Switching between hundreds of languages.</strong></em><br /> The most prominent one declares:</p> <blockquote> <p>Welcome to Abyss Station. Watch your step. We claim no responsibility for spaghettification of any being. <em><strong>Especially humans</strong></em>.</p> </blockquote> <p><em><strong>In the distance, you hear a voice shouting.</strong></em><br /> &quot;Subject #4320, Subject #4320; Your attendant is waiting.&quot;</p> <p><strong>To be continued…</strong></p> 2022-05-29T11:12:02.064635+00:00