Sign in

Charlie Sherpa

@fobhaiku.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.4K following 842 posts

Read my books: amzn.to/36pzbf9 Freelance editor, writer, poet, humorist. OEF veteran by way of BFE. Admin: The Aiming Circle. Opinions & jokes my own. linktr.ee/randysherpabrown

PostsRepliesMedia
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Looks like techs & mechs is back on the menu! What rhymes with "Pacific Rim"? Asking for a war-poet friend ...
041
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
404 Media @404media.co · 30/09/2026
BREAKING: The Trump administration is using a grant program from the 1980s to force cities around the US to funnel their ongoing collection of Flock, Axon, and other ALPR data into large federal surveillance centers that fall under the White House’s jurisdiction, 404 Media has learned
404media.co
How Cities Are Forced to Funnel License Plate Data to a Massive Federal Surveillance Program
How the federal government built a massive database of license plate reader data through an anti-drug trafficking program.
6213631078
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Task & Purpose @taskandpurpose.com · 30/09/2026
Airmen criticize Air Force’s use of AI in suicide prevention training as ‘uncomfortable and odd’ trib.al/KAYPs8X
trib.al
Airmen criticize Air Force's use of AI in suicide prevention training as 'uncomfortable and odd'
The Air Force says incorporating AI-generated imagery standardizes the training, but some airmen criticize it as being “cold and unnatural.”
36625
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My latest is a hard reality check about the absolute abyss between the gentry-marketed "recovered" Asheville and the actual, struggling city most of us live in. Evictions restarted before the water was even back on and city hall's far more obsessed with spying on locals than aiding them.
19541
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
The Trandalorian @charliejaneanders.com · 30/09/2026
I really do think tech crossed a line at some point between "helping you do the things you want to do" on the one hand, and "helping you do the things tech wants you to do" on the other. At this point, we're all contorting ourselves to live how the tech industry thinks we should be living.
411305342
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I think about this interview with the distinguished philosopher Conan O'Brien a lot. I actually think this is a healthy way to live your life! www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/a...
Is this how you want to go out, with a show that gets smaller and smaller until it’s gone?

Maybe that’s O.K. I think you have more of a problem with that than I do. [Laughs.] At this point in my career, I could go out with a grand, 21-gun salute, and climb into a rocket and the entire Supreme Court walks out and they jointly press a button, I’m shot up into the air and there’s an explosion and it’s orange and it spells, “Good night and God love.” In this culture? Two years later, it’s going to be, who’s Conan? This is going to sound grim, but eventually, all our graves go unattended.

You’re right, that does sound grim.

Sorry. Calvin Coolidge was a pretty popular president. I’ve been to his grave in Vermont. It has the presidential seal on it. Nobody was there. And by the way, I’m the only late-night host that has been to Calvin Coolidge’s grave. I think that’s what separates me from the other hosts.

I had a great conversation with Albert Brooks once. When I met him for the first time, I was kind of stammering. I said, you make movies, they live on forever. I just do these late-night shows, they get lost, they’re never seen again and who cares? And he looked at me and he said, [Albert Brooks voice] “What are you talking about? None of it matters.” None of it matters? “No, that’s the secret. In 1940, people said Clark Gable is the face of the 20th Century. Who [expletive] thinks about Clark Gable? It doesn’t matter. You’ll be forgotten. I’ll be forgotten. We’ll all be forgotten.” It’s so funny because you’d think that would depress me. I was walking on air after that.
162732596
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Check out the latest opportunities and markets in "veterans-lit" and mil-writing!!!
010
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My military career involved loading/unloading vehicles and traveling in order to write while sitting in tents. My civilian career has evolved to now include loading/unloading vehicles and traveling in order to sell my writing while sitting in tents. Time is a flat circle, and you are here.
062
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A pope from Chicago is the real Blues Brothers sequel.
35860102
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
As a "veterans lit" bonus, the Van Meter Visitor Festival was held at the Van Meter (Iowa) American Legion reception hall! Met a few writer-veterans who also share an interest in monstrous fiction and creative non-fiction!!!
040
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
JP Jordan @jpjordan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
On Final Order Cut-Off right now! DOG TAG #6! By @manruss.bsky.social, @pauljholden.com, @bertacious.bsky.social, Jon Moisan and me! OUR FINAL ISSUE! Very surreal to have finished all the colour work for this series. So goddamn rewarding to work on, especially with this team PRE-ORDER IT NOW!
2248
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Come hang out with me and my cryptid fiends Saturday at the Van Meter (Iowa) Veterans Reception Center!!!
030
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"RKF took money earmarked to provide health care for Black infants and spent it on his personal security detail" is a ludicrous headline. Comic book villainy.
wsj.com
Exclusive | RFK Jr.’s Enhanced Security Was Funded With Money From Minority Health Office
The cost of the health secretary’s security grew from roughly $10 million in fiscal year 2025 to $17 million in fiscal year 2026.
27574943148
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
I Scare You Like Sound Dog @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 25/09/2026
The reason they keep running the same play is they keep getting exactly what they want.
417355
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Pookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Reminder that in Canada upon becoming an engineer you get an iron ring made of a collapsed bridge, purposely designed to be uncomfortable, to remind you that your ethics demand you give a fuck even about the boring grudgework of such as double-checking your math. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
en.wikipedia.org
Iron Ring - Wikipedia
2073662301
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her) @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Which means "AI" systems don't "go rogue". Careless people who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves build rubbish, dangerous systems and use them harm people and infrastructure.
17219
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
ProPublica @propublica.org · 24/09/2026
NEW: For decades, the Smithsonian Institution, which draws some 15 million visitors every year to its assemblage of 21 museums, has managed to stay mostly above the political fray. But that institutional exceptionalism is now imperiled as never before.
propublica.org
How the Smithsonian Became the Latest Front in Trump’s Culture War
The Smithsonian — particularly its National Museum of American History — has faced withering pressure from the Trump administration. It’s the culmination of decades of criticism by conservatives and o...
9425191
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Anne Trubek @atrubek.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
a look back at when I used to schlep heavy cartons
notesfromasmallpress.substack.com
Physical Books
The first book Belt (then called Rust Belt Chic Press) published was basically self-published; I taught myself how to do it as I went.
183
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Looking forward to meeting up with other vendors & attendees this Saturday in Central Iowa! #vanmetervisitor #middlewestpress #cryptids #horrorpoetry #microflash
010
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22/09/2026
New in PN: Why Trump’s “ban on the free press” will go down in flames "This one isn’t hard at all. The govt disfavoring or restricting speech simply because it is critical of the govt is pretty much the sort of example they use in ninth-grade civics class as a textbook First Amendment violation."
publicnotice.co
Why Trump’s “ban on the free press” will go down in flames
Very illegal and very not cool.
351021219
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Middle West Press @middlewestpress.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
“Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn” Vol. 2—now featured as a Community of Literary Magazines & Presses (CLMP) September 2026 new release! @clmporg.bsky.social More info here: www.clmp.org/news/books-l... #middlewestpress #horrorpoetry #cryptids #midwestmonsters #scifipoetry #microflash #clmp
Slide text: "Featured on CLMP's list of new releases!" / "Books launching in September"

"Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" book cover image: Against a purple sky, a giant glowing red-orange moth attacks the Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier.
022
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Lightspeed Magazine @lightspeedmagazine.com · 21/09/2026
We've reached 40% of our funding goal & we added a bunch of new add-on rewards, including signed books by Chuck Wendig, Daniel H. Wilson, Ken Liu, Paul Tremblay, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, Veronica Roth, Victor LaValle, Olivie Blake, P. Djèlí Clark, Seanan McGuire & Martha Wells.
05629
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
MPR News @mprnews.org · 21/09/2026
Nicknamed the “lake killer," starry stonewort is a fast-growing algae that can form dense mats that choke out native plants and tangle around boat motors and swimmers’ legs. There’s still no long-term fix, but early detection and quick action can prevent a catastrophe and contain the species.
mprnews.org
A Minnesota ‘lake killer’ surfaced 11 years ago. There’s still no long-term fix.
If caught early, starry stonewort is no longer considered a death sentence for lakes. Still, a decade after it was first discovered in Minnesota, it remains a costly problem with no permanent cure.
2229
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
By @gregorydaddis.bsky.social and worth your consideration. www.salon.com/2026/09/20/p...
salon.com
Pete Hegseth declares war — on his own troops
The defense secretary's crusade is inflicting damage unlike any in history
0144
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Alex de Campi @alexdecampi.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Holy heck! You can get the 300 page hardback of my action/buddy comedy graphic novel BAD KARMA for just $6 on Amazon right now!!! Grab it: a.co/d/0aD7hQLa
13211
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Brandon Hundt @brandonhundt.com · 19/09/2026
I never noticed the Bathrobe Lady that February morning. A friend recently asked me, with State Fair Crop Art on his mind, if I had a photo of the photographer taking the photo. It turns out I was taking a video at the exact moment the iconic photo was taken by @leilanavidi.bsky.social 1/3
A screenshot from a video of a photographer taking a now iconic photo. In the foreground are observers wearing winter jackets and holding phones while filming ICE activity. An ICE agent walks through the middle wearing full combat gear with a rifle. There's a hint of a blue bathroom in the foreground.
1325
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Bopeep-Burton 💙🐓🏝🐈🏡🏖 🦋🇺🇦🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈🇫🇷🇵🇸🏳️‍⚧️🌎 @bopeep-burton.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
We need more of this!!💙
0115
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Kathryn Brightbill ✒️ @kebrightbill.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
"Small town mayor goes searching for missing religious art," sounds like the setup for a quirky movie
fox13news.com
Lost Tarpon Springs religious painting discovered in Greece after 103 years
A lost century-old religious painting from Tarpon Springs is one step closer to returning home after being discovered in a small town in Greece.
2324
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
J. D. Harlock @jdharlock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A sci-fi poem of mine was featured in Vol. 2 of "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn", put out by @middlewestpress.bsky.social! A thank you to editors @fobhaiku.bsky.social and @lisasticepoet.bsky.social! Amazon: amzn.to/4xDw1Bv #SciFi #SFF #WritingCommunity #PublishingNews #Poetry #Poems #Kaiju
184
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
ProPublica @propublica.org · 19/09/2026
For more than 40 years, the U.S. Arctic Research Commission has advised Congress and the president on what to study in the far north. Trump appointed a venture capitalist and MAGA influencer with no formal science background as its chair.
propublica.org
How a MAGA Influencer With Ties to Russia Became Trump’s Arctic Adviser
As head of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Thomas Dans has backed a takeover of Greenland and other items on President Donald Trump’s list. But it’s not always clear where the administration’s ag...
20506258
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Hoosier Homer is reading The Best & The Brightest by Halberstam @hoosierhomer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
have we tried giving less reason for people to hate us?
6182
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Maybe the most important political story of our time. People just want the bullshit to stop.
gizmodo.com
71% of Americans Say They're Completely Exhausted
A CDC report shows that people are not feeling relaxed and restful in the United States.
1401267026703
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Does this come in Chocolate Chip? Asking for a desert warlock friend of a certain age and era.
product shot depicts a witch's or wizard's cone-shaped hat constructed out of woodland camouflage fabric. the human model wears tactical clothing and a mix of camouflage patterns
080
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
The Volatile Mermaid @ohnoshetwitnt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
“That’s not funny!” Ok hear me out, maybe it actually is.
1359921
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 17/09/2026
The far-right ideologues and grifters running U.S. foreign policy are the vanguard of a movement that will alter not just America but the world, @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu reports.
bit.ly
Donald Trump’s Empire of Grift
Far-right ideologues have transformed American foreign policy into a tool of private gain and antidemocratic reaction.
12289116
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
“Langston Hughes’ literary estate now belongs to International Literary Properties, which says a Harlem Renaissance licensing program is next on its list.”
theankler.com
Private Equity Is Coming for Authors, Dead or Alive - The Ankler
Like music catalogs, literary estates are now targeted by investment firms and changing how Hollywood will deal with IP
58559338
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
NSF has reduced the research budget for all atmospheric, ocean, and earth sciences by ~80%. 80%! A lot of us will not be conducting new research or training new students for the foreseeable future.
201444722
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Rob from Chicago (Sleeper Service) @robfromchicago.com · 16/09/2026
When I finally die, I'm going to Norway for my afterlife.
youtube.com
The Life of Death and the Ensh*ttificator
YouTube video by Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council
064
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Johann Huntera @chattwjonathan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Okay but hear me out:
Protoss Carriers in the original Starcraft - which are obviously a good idea for use of a rugged airship since they can contain a huge drone swarm.
281
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Middle West Press @middlewestpress.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
ANOTHER REVIEW FOR “Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn” Vol. 2!!! Amazon series page: amzn.to/3SeHEPQ “A delightfully diverse mix of Midwest monster flash fiction and poetry sure to satisfy the reader’s hunger for cryptid and kaiju tidbits!” — @henryherz.bsky.social , co-editor of The Big Bad Book of Kaiju
Book cover image: Against a purple sky, a giant glowing red-orange moth attacks the Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier.
021
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 16/09/2026
This is why they wanted Pentagon reporters to sign an oath promising to seek approval before publishing anything. They wanted to lie without pushback. www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
aljazeera.com
Dozens of aircraft, hundreds of buildings: US loss to Iran attacks revealed
The Pentagon watchdog's report paints a picture of significant losses to US forces and facilities in the region.
13343144
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Adam J Schmidt @adamjschmidt.com · 16/09/2026
So many signs that House leadership has lost control. Reminds me of what I saw first hand during the lead up to the 2006 midterms... but turned up to 11 👀
094
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I scream, you scream, we all scream because our food is filled with rocks.
gizmodo.com
Check Your Ice Cream for Small Stones and Other Hard Objects
I scream, you scream, we all scream because our food is filled with rocks.
2420576
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Army supply sergeant math!!!
0121
Charlie Sherpa @fobhaiku.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
“Hormuz Season!” / “Testostewone Season!”
010
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Again, this is why I think Vision Zero needs to be an internal framework of designing a better system, not a public-facing PR campaign that includes pleas for people to do better. If you have cops parking on the sidewalk and blocking bike lanes just because they can, not a whole lot else matters.
016418
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Premee Mohamed @premeemohamed.com · 16/09/2026
@gianttourtiere.bsky.social Hey can I turn some of the crew into glowing, gelatinous creatures
1535
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
CoachN @coachn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“One of the teens, Luis Ochoa, told the agent he was a US citizen and the ICE agent’s response was, ‘I don’t give a damn. Your parents can’t help you now.’”
21400222
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A new study published this week found younger veterans are substantially more likely to have dangerous levels of toxic "forever chemicals" in their blood than non-veterans the same age. From Stars and Stripes' Matthew M. Burke:
stripes.com
Younger veterans more likely to have elevated levels of ‘forever chemicals,’ study finds
PFAS exposure has been associated with health problems including kidney and testicular cancers, as well as ulcerative colitis.
37637
Reposted by Charlie Sherpa
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 15/09/2026
In an unsigned ruling, the Supreme Court demonstrated that it is willing to limit Donald Trump’s agenda. www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
newyorker.com
Mail-In Voting Survives
In an unsigned ruling, the Supreme Court demonstrated that it is willing to limit Donald Trump’s agenda.
33611