thomas @trappleton@wandering.shop

my intro toot is sincere but i sure do sound like a big eager dork lol

#introduction Hi, I'm Thomas. I write and host The Episodic Table Of Elements, a podcast that looks at the fascinating stories behind every element on the periodic table, at http://episodictable.com

I also love tabletop games, especially D&D and MtG. I'm looking forward to learning what Mastodon is all about!

For the past several months I've felt like my voice isn't one that's worth hearing on social media. Recently I've had the occasional inclination to post a brief thought, usually inconsequential, but it feels awkward and still kind of wrong to start posting again after so long. Maybe I'm trying to break that pattern by writing this, or maybe this post will just stay up to explain the silence that precedes and follows it

Holmium was fun to put together. We're hitting the home stretch of lanthanides! https://episodictable.com/holmium/

Have a minute? The latest episode is especially short. http://episodictable.com/dysprosium/

one only tells the truth, one only lies

I have troubling news, friends... you know all those creationists who said "I didn't descend from some kinda monkey!!!" and you scoff because we're descended from *apes*?

Well uh turns out that humans, and apes in general, are descended from monkeys. So in a sense, they kinda had it not entirely wrong!!!

as a DM, how would you rule it if your party had a druid who Wild Shaped into a sheep and got sheared. Would the shorn wool stay behind after reverting back to human form? Could the druid start manufacturing socks on a grand scale?

At Saturday's protest, I heard a guy saying, "I don't want to go too far. If someone breaks into your apartment, who's going to find the guy who did it?" And it almost totally took the wind out of my sails. Also saw a CNN article today (lol) saying, "Well, Defund the Police doesn't *really* mean DEFUND the police, it just means cut their budgets a little."

We're moving in the right direction, but the resistance is infuriating.

Also, I think there's significance in the act of paying a penny even if that *didn't* count towards bestseller status, but in my experience, a lot of people aren't aware of how meaningful one copper piece can be for creators.

Today, somebody paid only one single penny for my latest pay-what-you-want supplement.

I was *ecstatic* to see it. Obviously I can't know that person's intent, but what I take away is that they saw something valuable in the act of paying.

And they're right!! Even if it's just one cent, that changes the transaction from a "download" to a "purchase" in the DM's Guild's books, which brings it one tick closer to becoming a bestseller.

So, thank you, whoever you are.

https://www.dmsguild.com/product/313524/The-Hand-Youre-Dealt-Determining-Ability-Scores-by-Playing-Cards

When the "disciplinary action" actually happens, what do you think the conversation is like? Is it, "what were you thinking" or "sorry but we gotta do this" or "you should've shot the cameraman first" ???
https://news.wbfo.org/post/graphic-video-two-buffalo-police-officers-suspended-after-violently-shoving-man-ground

Apparently the show's producers are exclusively white women, which, again, shocking but not surprising.

The Real is a nice little show but it became something actually great when they hired Amanda Seales. I was so happy to see her voice on national television. I'm depressed but not surprised that she's gone after only one season.

Our 12-year-old 32" TV finally went kaput. Did you know you can buy a 32" TV with no spyware or bloatware for only $100? That's what we got.

The difference in size and weight is amazing. They're functionally identical TVs, but the one is like an overheated wrought-iron furnace, and the other is like a dainty little bird.

I have a doctor's appointment on the Upper East Side at 1:30. I learned that there's going to be a gathering at Gracie Mansion at 2:30. Couldn't be more perfect.