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MattBille

@mattbille

Writer, naturalist, historian. Space, zoology, marine life, cryptozoology, Dunkleosteus. 4 science/history books, 2 novels: Querying ecothriller Apex Predator mattsciwriter@protonmail.com www.mattbilleauthor.com https://mattbille.blogspot.com

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Latest posts by MattBille @mattbille

That depends on the orbits used, but I agree they may be a problem.

06.03.2026 17:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

P.S. this is not about Megalodon :)

06.03.2026 05:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Oh, no....

06.03.2026 05:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

For what it's worth, having been in and around commercial space for sone decades, I don't think they can make a case that will attract billions in investment for lighting up Earth even if they could solve the huge engineering and logistical challenges.

06.03.2026 05:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

We're still many years from being able to make use of H-3 on a large scale. Given the problematic nature of getting agreement among spacefaring powers on the rights of objects, a new push for the Moon Treaty might have a better chance and would at least create a regime.

06.03.2026 05:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It's interesting that Napoleon was desperate to match Britain at sea and was generally very open to new ideas, but dismissed Fulton's idea for steam-powered warships as "nonsense."

06.03.2026 00:28 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@whitenacklab.bsky.social We know some sharks adapted to fresh water. For fiction: Do you have a guess how many years/generations it would take for a large historically pelagic species (no prior adaptation) being pushed upriver towards a lake by competition to become a freshwater species? Thanks!

06.03.2026 00:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Bus dispatcher but lifelong Maine hunter, trapper, outdoorsman, VERY rugged: vs. merchant mariner who volunteered for war despite being over-age due to personal problems that eventually led to being shot by young mistress- evaluate that as you will.

04.03.2026 23:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Called the Vexis! Ray befriended it of course.

04.03.2026 04:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If you are petite like my wife (usually stated as under 5 feet 4 inches), she had to go petite shops in cities for nice dresses.

01.03.2026 23:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Public Domain Image Archive Explore our hand-picked collection of out-of-copyright works, free for all to browse, download, and reuse. This is a living database with new images added every week.

Question for #EarlyModern #Skystorians please! ๐Ÿ—ƒ๏ธ

What are your favourite online places to search for public domain images?

(free to use, out of copyright, cleared by copyright owner for public use etc)?

Example: Public Domain Image Archive pdimagearchive.org

24.02.2026 13:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 146 ๐Ÿ” 63 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 26 ๐Ÿ“Œ 14

A patriot doesn't close their eyes and say "My country is perfect." A real patriot says "My country is worth perfecting."

26.02.2026 02:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Weirdly (since this is a romance and I only read them when asked for feedback) I did read that. I borrowed the definitely-dead lover trick for my 2018 fantasy Raven's Quest.

25.02.2026 23:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Something involving a whole planet, many nations, and a long period of history. I know the political and technology levels and can explore it in my head, but it's really daunting.

23.02.2026 18:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I've recent experience if you want to talk about it. So far it looks like I and the consultants I found navigated the challenge successfully.

23.02.2026 17:56 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I've followed SpaceX since the earliest days, when I knew the core people and they really were amazing innovators who revolutionized launch. My view: the million figure was for impact. It isn't needed or feasible. It'll be cut several times in subsequent filings and tradeoffs, starting soon.

23.02.2026 05:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I can't understand that. Everything from an author should read like it's from that author. I've certainly not heard advice like that from an agent. Why would you? An editor knows what AI writing looks like.

23.02.2026 04:29 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is important, friends.

22.02.2026 17:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Knockers were one of several similar legends I combined into one real-life creature in last year's cryptozoological horror novel Death by Legend. Moral: if you're going to illegally import an entire dolmen from England for your private museum, you'd be wise to sift through the dirt.

22.02.2026 06:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'll grant that was off the cuff. It's the way my own thinking often works.

22.02.2026 06:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Don't these all essentially default to truth-seeking? That Earth orbits the sun is a truth long ago worked out. The reason it orbits there is another truth we now know. The reasons that orbit works, based on composition, density, and origins of Earth and sun, is a collection of truths, and so on.

21.02.2026 23:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Do you think the PEN/ALA standard of calling every restriction a ban is too broad? It seems to me it could soreadc media attention and other resources through too many different cases rather than focus on the actual bans.

21.02.2026 00:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Agreed

20.02.2026 21:34 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I read a bunch of these and took two shots at writing them, but the editors didn't think I ever got the tone right. They are still fun.

20.02.2026 20:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Weird thought: I feel sad for the people who've jumped into publishing books trying to make a career that's all AI-based. Some will make money. None will ever know the complex, frustrating, triumphant joy of going from blank page all the way through to finishing a good book.

20.02.2026 15:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That is likely a bigger problem in the US (it's been 15 years since I studied health care). Military care was more team-focused. Now that we have endless branching of specialists, teaming has to get smoother. some (orthos, neuros, pain docs, psych) seem to prefer small groups of their own specialty.

20.02.2026 02:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

And the Oscars.

19.02.2026 20:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"challenge in teams"

19.02.2026 20:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Agreed. Congratulations on your book! I'm sure most laypeople, like myself, have never heard of this breakthrough. The challenge in trans is that insurers may spread you over different practices: it takes time to reorganize.

19.02.2026 20:05 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I can't grasp the idea this guy will win a Presidential election. He has a chance with AOC, who has top media skills but no major accomplishments yet, but Shapiro, Kelly, Whitmer, etc would bury him. Of course I thought he'd lose DT the last election.

19.02.2026 19:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0