wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Current me agrees, especially in regards to Revolver. 000
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Not real grief; teenage me would have railed on about the later material showing growth and a willingness to experiment, and that the earlier material was covers, or highly derivative of said covered material. Teenage me also would level the same comments towards the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. 100
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 08/10/2026"at the time," saves you a lot of (metaphorical) grief. When I was young, the Blue Greatest Hits was my preference. (Still is, but perhaps not by as large a margin.) 100
Reposted by @wesm.bsky.socialThe Booooobarienne @thebarbarienne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Since I'm feeling alt-texty and this is a beautifully written letter, gonna help you out here (I've had A DAY and it makes me happy to do this). 212241
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I haven't thought of OMSI camps in ages. (Kiwanilong one summer, Hancock the next.) Neither unlocks a tangent to a horror story. <sigh> 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026But I love all the words! I’m especially looking forward to Holiday words. 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I really liked your author comments re: Mary Sue characters. I hope the jerks didn't get too reactionary. 200
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Also seen at the Art Institute today: Why Yes, Please Mansplain Something to Me 000
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 19/08/2026seen at the Art Institute today: Bene Gesserit Mother waiting to present the Gom Jabar to an initiate 100
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 06/08/2026I thought the Zay talk was just hyperbole; I just saw a photo - and take away the ink, and he looks like he could slot into my local school’s JV team. 000
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 27/07/2026I had never clocked that that was them. Holy Easter Egg! Batman 011
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 16/07/2026static.klipy.comIt'S Funny Because It'S True HomerAlt: Homer from the Simpsons shaking his head and laughing. White text along the bottom reads, “IT’S FUNNY COZ IT’S TRUE!!” 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 14/07/2026And I will support the Kickstarter for this Graphic Novel. 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 14/07/2026MOODY PALADINS: Converting people to, (the protagonists eventually, we promise, getting around to,) kissing books since 2017! 030
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Went to the Art Institute today. Made the mistake of walking one block northwards on Wabash. 0/10 Do not recommend. 000
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 25/06/2026While I am, overall, neutral on reaction videos; the subset I do enjoy is people listening to, “Killing in the Name,” and seeing the moment they understand the lyric(s) 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 24/06/2026youtu.be/V6CLumsir34?...youtu.beThe Exploding Whale: An infamous moment in Oregon history creates a strangely beloved iconYouTube video by KATU News 060
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 24/06/2026Is it part of the bit that no one is posting the clip? ‘Cause I don’t want to ruin the bit. 140
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 17/06/2026static.klipy.comMad Max: Fury Road - That's BaitAlt: Mad Max: Fury Road - That's Bait Male character in car with women in the backseat, he points out the windshield and says, "That's bait." 020
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 21/05/2026It appears to be from a show called “Tires,”(never seen.) youtube.com/shorts/ebZyt...youtube.comA large inaccuracy in Tires Season 2, Episode 8 #shanegillisYouTube video by PunishedVenomDeat 110
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Okay, having just finished Danzig (again,) I feel compelled to share my favorite McClintock mashup: Danzig and the Temptations, Mother was a Rolling Stone. youtu.be/Dz7RGARtAgc?...youtu.beDanzig and The Temptations - Mother Was a Rolling StoneYouTube video by Bill McClintock 041
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Totes agree. The Twins are an 8/9 depending on my mood. The Danzig’s an easy 10. 131
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 15/05/2026That Parton album was so good - much more rockabilly than I was expecting. 141
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 15/05/2026True, but DIFFERENT TRAINS wasn't exactly a traditional classical piece, whereas SAARIAHO, despite occasional experimental bits, pretty much is. 121
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 15/05/2026The two Amers pieces on SAARIAHO: Etc are just as compositionally daring as anything on ENDLESS SUMMER; it is truly a shame that more people didn't throw Saariaho a seeding vote - this could have been a classical album seeded in the 70's that scored an upset. 141
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Yes or no, <General Akbar> It's a trap! </General Akbar> 020
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Which, is ironic, considering I didn't find the opener as abrasive as many. I had never heard of either project before, and had no priors - and I found PAUSE's earthier electronica more pleasing than SUMMER's glitch/fuzz affect. Ultimately, either album was going to lose to AALIYAH anyway. 031
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 14/05/2026PAUSE received a low 6 from me, while ENDLESS SUMMER a low 5. Both in middle range of, "okay, leave it on." Part of which was that I "noped" out during the ten minute bleep and bloop fest which was 'technically' SUMMER's closing song. 111
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 09/05/2026One of my favorite CRG areas is just across the river, the Catherine Creek complex. 000
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 08/05/2026static.klipy.comBonjovi - Livin' on a PrayerAlt: A short black and white .gif from Bonjovi - Livin' on a Prayer. Text line at the bottom is, "Whoa oh I'm halfway there." Jon is making a finger gun motion. 020
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 06/05/2026This sentence from Adams' Wikipedia page is, something: " In August 2017, Adams singled out Father John Misty for criticism,[84][85] while a month earlier he made derogatory remarks about The Strokes through social media.[86][87][88]" 131
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 01/05/2026@spannersready.bsky.social AppleTV/ F1TV have gone with the correct nomenclature of “rotisserie wing.” 020
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 01/05/2026I will, eventually, finish WORD OF MOUF, but I have reached my limit for “ho.” Which is a shame, because based on music and Ludacris’ ability to vary his flow, would have given this album a chance to beat out THE ARGUMENT. (Which has three songs that sound *way to much* like RHCP for my taste) 131
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 27/04/202699% of the time, skits count against an album. For an example of the 1%, see: THE GREAT WHITE NORTH, (1981) (Hey, this album features Geddy Lee's highest charting single on the Billboard Top 100.) 010
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 22/04/2026I probably should agree with you 100%, but, (speaking of preferences,) I found the vocals on THE KNIFE to be too Björk-like for my liking. 031
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 21/04/2026I’ve been expecting Gary Glitter. I have been waiting for Gary Glitter. I *still* audibly gasped at the clip. 050
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 20/04/2026Thanks to both @nanette.bsky.social and @onetrueposter.bsky.social for writing great DC's. If one was reflexively voting against Blink 182 for "reasons," whatever they are, these two pieces of writing will hopefully inspire an open minded listening to of TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS AND JACKET. 091
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 18/04/2026It’s not like APPETITE … had pc lyrics, but hearing “One in a Million,” turned me off of all future GnR albums. 030
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 18/04/2026I wish I had paid attention to the future schedule. I could have gotten ahead for next week, while giving myself palate cleansers from the whiny white boy slog that was last week. 041
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 16/04/2026And this is why I wanted to break the pattern. 2002 - 2005 are going to be the end of me. 110
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 15/04/2026I like to make sure I've listened to both albums "recently." And by Wednesday I 've usually fallen behind - thus, I'd be lumped in as a "newsletter" voter - but I read, (and sometimes participate,) almost all of the discourse. And our international contingent also votes later. 041
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Well. I'm one third of the way through DRUKQS. Hopefully I will finish it in time to vote April 14th. 161
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 12/04/2026No true match, but I’m probably closest to Purple Worm 120
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Check out the Yeah Yeah Yeah's self titled debut, (in this tournament,) for an implied answer. 131
wesm.bsky.social @wesm.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Well worth the read for those of you who weren't around for March Badness! 131
![MEMO FROM JOHN PICACIO TO MUST READ MAGAZINES • OCTOBER 8, 2026
Thank you for the reply. I'm passing on the Asimov's 50th Anniversary cover art opportunity.
Although changes to the contract have been offered, I'm still expected to surrender Moral Rights to my Work and waive my Copyright. This will not happen. The truth is the Company's original boilerplate clauses expecting waivers of Moral Rights (amongst other demands) should have never existed.
I appreciate the offer to negotiate further, and perhaps even arrive at a unique set of contractual conditions just for me. But even if we landed upon suitable terms, there's no guarantee an up-and-coming artist would not be presented the original, overly-aggressive boilerplate terms, instead of those offered to me. I'm a 30-year veteran artist of the SFF publishing field. I just won my fourth Hugo Award. I care about the future of this field, and the future of my fellow writers and artists. I care about their rights, just as much as my own.
There's no way I want them waiving their Moral Rights to their work either.
A final thought -- the SFF literary and arts community is tight-knit. The recent history of Must Read Magazine's contractual dealings is not positive. Yes, some creators have reportedly received better deals than others, and Must Read has been willing to negotiate in certain cases. But the fact is -- none of these professionals should spend weeks and months fighting for basic creative rights that encroach upon their livelihoods and futures. Must Read's policy choices are tarnishing the proud assets that they purchased, and that's a great shame.
Thank you for your time, and I wish better days ahead for Asimov's and her sister magazines,
[John's logo]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bs4rj36q3e5hxloilgamn3t3/bafkreihtivcobcsihiweitxtva53oe2imqmzeudtrnt2q6xnaf5fceggdm)
