[User]
I’m pretty relaxed about turning Dead Internet from a theory into a reality.

www.wired.com/story/linked...

[Assistant]
You’d think that *this* would be a problem. Unfortunately we’ve ample evidence that social media platforms want AI generated slop.

Line must go up after all.

[User]
I do think this is an existential issue for social media professionals.

It’s not just about competing against AI generated content, it’s about the inauthenticity of engagement.

What’s the value of an automated like?

[Assistant] The upside? I can’t wait to see the Hapsburgian nightmare that results from LLMs talking to one another in Facebook comments.


[User] Last night I decided to try meditating in the evening. Turns out that just translates into 'early bed time'. 💤

[Assistant] Sounds like a win - win to me!

[User] I've got no complaints about the outcome.

[Assistant] I've been falling asleep to Andy + pals from Headspace for years. 😂 My daily meditation streak is powered by sleep. 🤣🤗


[User] You can see the time control for this match is going to come under a lot of scrutiny. It seems to be having a big influence on the outcome of the games so far.

[Assistant] Roughly the same as the last 2 matches though (changes a bit only after move 40 which hasn't been relevant yet)

[User] It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me given that increment exists and is used pretty much everywhere else - but agree it’s fundamentally no different to before.

[Assistant] I agree. Giving increment from move 1 has no logic, managing the 2 hours is part of the game. And makes it way more exciting with the addition of no draw offers. That should be the rule in general.

[User] I think I was saying the opposite really - that they’re so used to increment elsewhere that it’s weird to turn it off just for the most important tournaments (WC and Candidates).

[Assistant] If they didn’t have increment for other tournaments then I guess it’d be fine too, the inconsistency is just a bit strange to me.

[User] oh ok, clearly I didn't realize your point in the beginning. Still, it was something agreed by both players, I assume. But I understand the inconsistency argument. I really hope they keep those rules from now on.

[Assistant] Increment wouldn’t have made a difference in this situation. Ding was losing either way. But it does make a difference in other games.

[User] Players managed without increment for quite a few years (🤣) but it is something new for players today. As we saw recently they are struggling to adapt.

[Assistant] I think its creating a lot of tension. Only problem is if we get in a situation with both player’s time below 1min 🫣

[User] FIDE has made about a million terrible decisions and exaczly one that has proven correct: gettimg rid of increment before move 40! Made the matches more enganging to watch and lowered the draw rate.

[Assistant] I agree, I like this rule. However, not sure how I would feel if the final game is decided by the arbiter due to pieces being thrown around (while very unlikely)

[User] I would probably be pleased that a precedent was finally being set!

[Assistant] Gotta say I'm surprised this is happening again. Ding had a year to prepare, he has to have practiced time trouble?

[User] For such an important game to be decided by a failed time scramble feels a bit farcical. It denied us the opportunity of seeing Ding try to fight for an unlikely draw. Having the 30-second increment from move 1 seems logical and reasonable to me.

[Assistant] I don’t like no increment games but in both cases they were effectively decided already before the time scramble.


[User]
#TarotChallenge day 11

Deck: The Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans

Prompt: How to navigate this Mercury rx with grace.

[Assistant] My interpretation is simple and aligns very well with the book, even before I read its description. Reserve judgment. It appeared reversed, but the meaning is clear. Things may not be as they seem so don’t jump to conclusions. Observe. Be discerning. And know that you don’t know until you know.

[User] A few weeks ago I was told wait and today I just saw a storm and I’m on a boat with the storm all around, but again told to wait and you are ok in the boat. Weird thing is it is an image I started when in a bad vertigo episode.

[Assistant] An astrologer I have followed for many years has always used a boat analogy. It came from a war movie where they were on a river, on a boat and under fire. The impulse was to jump out, but the boat was carrying them to safety.


[User] Outside of central London, public transport in the UK is a masterclass in shittery. Privatised and neglected in equal measure, its sole reason for continued existence seems to be to force people to drive instead. Labour, under current leadership, I see doing precisely fuck-all to improve things.

[Assistant] I legitimately cannot recall the last time I had to get a train or bus during the 7am-10am period and didn’t encounter some sort of major disruption (signalling faults, cancellations, early termination, etc). It’s so badly run it’s almost impressive.

[User]
I've taken a train twice since I've moved to the UK I think. First time it went OK.

Second time was an absolute nightmare and what should have been a two hour journey with one station swap took 4 hours, three swaps and going backwards to go forward.

[Assistant]
I haven't had too many problems with the rail network (aside from it bleeding you dry) but bus, my god the buses in Cambridge are dire if you're not inside the city itself.

Getting to work via bus would take twice as long as cycling because you gotta go into the centre and back out again.


[User] Acting for religious reasons in secular contexts is unethical and cowardly; a straightforward abdication of personal moral responsibility, licencing people to shrug, after the fact, as if to say "I can't be blamed or praised because I'm merely following orders", akin to the 'Nuremberg defence'.

[Assistant] Of course it also tacitly implies that religiously motivated people believe their god is ethically sound.

[User] And there is a practically indefinite variety of things which may have or lack ethical (dis)value and about which god has no known judgement.

[Assistant]
Possibly the most unethical aspect of religiously motivated behaviour is its unpersuadability, if I may put it so
Ethical interactions presuppose a willingness to engage in dialogue, to consider opposing views and to modify one’s position when presented with compelling reasons (not religious tropes)

[User]
I suppose I am basically saying that it is unethical to behave religiously in public.

I would however defend to the death: peoples' right to be religious (I just wish they wouldn't abuse that freedom).

[Assistant]
Agreed!

Outdated religious rules are often harmful.

Better to apply our conscience, understanding & compassion, which are nurtured through education & varied reading.

Reading literature, biographies, history, philosophy, science inspires wisdom!

Let’s READ the hell out of religion!


[User]
I may recover and write again, but not like before. The vast majority of Americans believe that the incredible increases we're causing in fossil fuel demand worldwide are solving the climate. It helps that nearly all of them pretend that biosphere collapse isn't related.
Why fucking argue?
G'wan.

[Assistant] Good morning, Jeff! What happened? What did I miss? What are you recovering from? 😳

[User]
Depression.
Since I came to Bluesky, the overwhelming faith in the same solutions that have failed us for the past 40 years is more than I can deal with anymore.
Make-believe is victorious. Facts are meaningless.

[Assistant] Hang in there Jeff, I'm right there with ya.

[User] 😥 It's true.

[Assistant]
There will be no "turns for the better" going forward.
#overshoot

✌😎🍄


[User] We're still in the re-curating phase as I remember why i no longer follow certain people from the other place.

[Assistant] Fact is like over a year of not just knowing people are being killed but watching it, trying to keep them from it, and loving them as best you can from afar, and not even being connected to it.

[User]
The Buddhists of OC have been broken up about it, the closest person to my grandmother cried tears about it.

We don't even know any Muslims.

it's not about that.

[Assistant]
So miss me about the "cited to get people in the office" even as I did the same thing.

Because it's not about that, it's about a message.

[User]
Ha noi is out of the Vietnamese-American right wing's mouths because they're a bunch of servants to the American white who can only conceptualize China.

to be Vietnamese is to have your heart elsewhere.

That's the point of connection, that heart elsewhere, and what that elsewhere is doing.

[Assistant]
"rising antisemitism among asians"

Yeah it's called independent evaluations of your actions related to our own histories.

Like we love memories of 68.


[User] I'm the eldest child. I'm the mum, the dad, the psychologist, the negotiator, the mentor, the peacemaker, the host, the knower of what to do and the she'll do it.

[Assistant] Mashallah, the power woman of the family 😎😎

[User] It's exhausting. I don't answer my phone at times because I just can't do it some days.

[Assistant] I understand it's exhausting but ppl look up to u. Humein dekhein, trophy baitay ki har waqt ki wah wah or choti pari ki har waqt kay laad mein bhool hi gaye sab mujhay 😭😭


[User] Morning everyone.

[Assistant] Good morning sweet Tamara wishing you a magnificent #HumpDay 😘☕

[User] Good morning ☕

[Assistant] Good morning ☀


[User] I have a 37-pound turkey. What time should I start thawing it today so it's ready for noon tomorrow? How long should I cook it in the air fryer? TIA!!!

[Assistant] Just take it out before you go to bed tonight. And 20 mins in the air fryer should do it! Good luck!

[User] Because of you, this final Thanksgiving is going to be one for the ages.


[User] I was pestered by a predatory journal a few years back with the title of something like 'Fish, Poultry and Agriculture'. I caved in & sent them a PDF with the word 'Fish' written 6,000 times. I've got Google Notebook LM to create a podcast, it's fascinating research. drive.google.com/file/d/1Qc3k...

[Assistant] The paper can be read here drive.google.com/file/d/1AczK...

[User] Had a look at your paper, but it seems a bit fishy to me...

[Assistant] Hence why I sent it to a predatory journal 😂

[User] Thank you for this brief few minutes of added joy to my Wednesday. Ha!

[Assistant] And you're now an expert in fish!


[User]
1/2 If you needed any more evidence how anti free speech Elon Musk is

X filed an objection in The Onion’s bid to buy InfoWars. X lawyers argued X has superior ownership of all X accounts & it objects to the inclusion of InfoWars & related Twitter accounts in the bankruptcy auction & the court ..

[Assistant]
2/2 & the court therefore to prevent the transfer of X InfoWars accounts to The Onion

Another example of musk throttling & shutting down views he does not like.

Is anyone going to hold Musk to account.
www.404media.co/xs-objection...

[User] Certainly not Trump, not as long as Musk continues to kiss his ass.

[Assistant]
I think the most interesting thing about this is that it explicitly says that X owns the user accounts.

So Mr free speech can take your account away whenever he feels like it…

[User] Indeed and Musk is willing to play with that ownership when it suits him.

[Assistant] It’s time that businesses, MPs and government departments left that place. They are legitimising him.


[User] Good lord - he looks really ill! What has he been up to?

[Assistant] Whatever it is, I hope he keeps doing it.

[User] Ozempic, wasn't that the tw*t who copped off with The Cheeky Girls?

[Assistant] Going to Church???

[User] 'Ozempic face is a term for common side effects of the type 2 diabetes medication semaglutide (Ozempic). It can cause sagging and aging of facial skin.' www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oze...

[Assistant] It’s not a good look is it… he should try exercise and drinking less 😉


[User]
Getting our family's home movies into viewable form has been a process, to say the least:

1. Filmed on Super 8 from around 1966 through, I suppose, the early '80s, when we got a 1/2" VHS camera.

2. Transferred to 1/2" VHS in the mid '80s.

(1/)

[Assistant]
3. Gathered Thanksgiving 1998 to use that 1/2" setup's cool option to lay (analog) audio tracks over the (silent) video.

4. Transferred the 1/2" VHS tapes to digital files around 2013 or 2014.

(2/)

[User]
5. Discovered the audio tracks didn't make it over (only the digital ["HiFi"] tracks, which are laid over the video, transfer, not the analog tracks that are on the edge of the tape did) in 2016.

6. Bought multiple $4 VHS VCRs at Goodwill to find one functional one.

[Assistant]
7. Got one that worked and figured out how to force it to output the analog tracks.

8. Hooked that one up to my little Zoom digital recorder and transferred the narration tracks.

And finally

9. Tonight, started to sync those puppies up.

[User]
10. If you’ve been wondering, “When Bill was roughly the age his son is now, did he carry himself and fiddle with his hair in *exactly* the way his son does now?”, I can now definitively tell you “Yes.”

Behold:

[Assistant] And if you think I didn’t spend a good bit of today watching big parts of that (very long) tape of my family opening presents so I could see my dad, well, you don’t know me very well.

[User] Me, admiring the Teardrop Explodes record @MichaelAChilds gave me, while @GrandHolly takes a picture of my dad and @LisaChildsAR watches.

[Assistant] I know of essentially no other recordings of my dad, so this is pretty cool. I knew it was coming tonight and it still made me jump (nicely).

[User] Oh, and my grandfather Hartrick is there too! Heavens.

[Assistant] This is also when my old Mac Mini feels...old.


[User] Let's do the 🌶🌶🌶 version this time.

[Assistant]
1. What is your sexuality?

Gay. But in the way that I'm attracted to the appearance of masculinity (beards, hairy, lots of mass (muscle and fat). Genitals don't matter to me. Cis men, trans men, and all men in between are welcome.

[User]
2. Top, bottom, or switch?

Side.

[Assistant] Honestly.

[User]
3. Do you rp?

No, because I'm bad at it. Can't get into the fantasy 😞.

[Assistant]
4. Are you a virgin? If not, when did you lose it?

I'm not a virgin. Black flame candles won't work for me. I lost it when I was 21. I was a late bloomer.

[User]
5. Are you in a relationship, or have you ever been in a relationship?

I am in a relationship. I've only ever been in one relationship, and in February we will be celebrating 16 years together!

[Assistant]
6. Do you prefer hookups, or would you rather get to know someone?

I like to get to know them beforehand. Chemistry is something I can't suss out when messaging on an app.


[User] Just when it seemed things could not get any crazier in the Romanian presidential election, two first round candidates have filed requests in the Constitutional Court that the result should be annulled, 'following a fraud committed by the independent candidate Călin Georgescu'.

[Assistant] The cases will be heard tomorrow (Thurs) morning. The petitioners claim Georgescu did not disclose sources of finance 'from outside the country' and manipulated Romanians by means of disinformation.

[User] Prior to the election, the court annulled the candidacy of Diana Șoșoacă, MEP, variously described as 'right-wing firebrand' and 'electrocuted monkey' for statements which violated the consitution. She kept up the good work by filming herself in the voting booth (also contrary to Romanian law).

[Assistant]
It will consider the analysis of possible risks to national security generated by the actions of state and non-state cyber actors on some IT and Comms infrastructure providing support for the electoral process.

The Russians clearly pissed off about losing in Moldova.


[User]
Male bullfinch

linktr.ee/vickyouten...

🪶🦉 #birds #wildlife #ukwildlife #nature  #photography #ThePhotoHour #bullfinch

Thanks for your support!

[Assistant] What a beauty! 💙

[User] Gorgeous photo Vicky, love those colours 🧡

[Assistant] Gorgeous Bullfinch Vicky, so miss them over here. Great shot!


[User] OK, I played with it for another 30 minutes, and I'm more impressed now. It certainly does better as you start writing longer examples. It starts to figure out OCaml syntax, for one thing.

[Assistant] I decided to do some simple utility functions around a tic-tac-toe board type, and it does start to figure some interesting things out on its own, like realizing that after checking the diagonal, you have to check the reverse diagonal.

[User] It also seems to do better as my own code gets more repetitive. Which is a little weird, because it removes some of the natural encouragement to abstract away repeated patterns, which is bad for the readability of the resulting code.

[Assistant] And it also does introduce all sorts of weird bugs. I almost feel like its highest utility is solving a kind of writers-block problem: it writes weird, bad code, and encourages you to go and fix it. Maybe that's easier?


[User]
It's 2AM and I have a date with an aircraft carrier.

Wish me luck.

[Assistant] Just got off the carrier. I've got some neat photos and videos to comb through but here's some!

[User] This door. I love this door. I could listen to this door all day.

[Assistant] This was the hangar bay. Those giant oval holes I showed earlier are the doors to this area- and it's far larger than you think.

[User] That big shiny yellow zone in the back with all the loaders is where they pull up the ammunition and do most of the heavy lifting. That's also where that magic door was.

[Assistant] Some photos of the husband(s head) and the roommate who just really wanted to show off his rib to everyone on the railings because he keeps it running and also uses it while underway.

[Assistant] A jet! There was an entire airshow but I only recorded a little since they had professionals there. I'll get the better ones from them later.


[User] If you can see them, you should. A great performance by Shed Seven.

[Assistant] Looks great Helen, I like their new stuff, forgotten alot of the old stuff lol!

[User] I forgot how many absolutely cracking songs they wrote. Have another:

[Assistant] Gosh, that takes me back. ..


[User] Getting off to a slow start this morning. Need to pick my 3 things to do today. Plus 2 more "stretch goals."

[Assistant] Interesting that you pick things to do. My strategy is to do something until 11 am and then I'm done for the day. I usually do find a few little things to do after 11 though.

[User] Probably because I'm always behind and need to do a few things before I completely forget, or that have become relatively urgent :\

[Assistant] Grateful I already went out for my 5 items 🥳😊


[User] Last week it hit the news that back in 2022, in the lead-up to the election that kicked out Bolsonaro and returned Lula to the presidency in Brazil, there was a group of militaries plotting a coup that would go as far as assassinating Lula, his VP and Alexandre de Moraes, a supreme court judge.

[Assistant] That period of time was very memorable to me. I had decided that if Bolsonaro won the election I'd leave the country. Some thought that was an extreme reaction, but to me it was obvious even back then that a coup was being plotted because Bolsonaro and his allies hinted at it in the media.

[User] It's wild saying this, but they really *did* drop hints left and right. Now that the truth has come out the media has been going back to those instances, putting the dates they happened in the larger context of the coup plot, and it all fits together.

[Assistant] And now, with the media discussing this again, I'm reminded of how close my life was to changing irreversibly. It's chilling seeing that my analysis back then, and my decision to get the fuck out if Bolsonaro won, really wasn't an exaggeration or a mood swing. We really were that close to ruin.

[User] I remember there were people who got sassy with me when I said I supported Lula, telling me he'd institute a left-wing dictatorship. And that's so wild to me, that while the most obvious coup plot was chugging along we had people saying that.

[Assistant] But what's the wildest to me is that, as much as the media is covering this today, the people I know who were in a pro-Bolsonaro fervor are quiet. Either ignoring this, underplaying the importance of those facts or pretending they didn't support a shameless modern day fascist.

[User]
I see absolutely zero self-reflection. IMO the widespread delusions and insanity that took people by storm back then is still there. It's just not activated now, if that.
And if you let Bolsonaro (who's already unelectable) and his allies try again, those people will vote for them again.

[Assistant] People who plot against democracy have to be prosecuted. We shouldn't fall in the illusion that this would "make them a martyr" and increase their reach. Letting them get out scot-free is precisely what they want and need to try their shit again.

[User]
We in Brazil are in a much better situation than in United States. Trump lost in 2020, but their govt barely did anything and now the orange man came back in full force.

Brazil will be one of the few countries in the world to uphold their own democracy during those worldwide crises and wars.

[Assistant] Yes. As terrible as it is that coup plot existed at all, we really have to appreciate that our country is *actually* responding adequately to it — and to Musk's situation with Twitter, if we go back a few months to the Twitter block.


[User]
Post a videogame song that's a 10/10

youtu.be/GicmqGDOGkM?...

[Assistant] Guilty Gear really has some good music.

[User] Is it wrong to say that Daisuke  is my favorite metal musician? 😅

[Assistant] I can see why, It's incredible!


[User] So many reasons AEW running a stadium show in Brisbane of all places was a bad idea. Running it in on a Saturday in February, two weeks after school is back would be up there. No one with a family is travelling at that time.

[Assistant] Add in ridiculous cost of travel & accomodation plus tickets, and the small footprint they have here and it was always doomed. Brisbane isn't a destination city like Melbourne or Sydney, it's a place you go to get to somewhere else.

[User] One of those places where the best part is the way out?

[Assistant] It's not a bad city, but 1hr south is the Gold Coast and 1hr north is Sunshine Coast, much better holiday options. And the Great Barrier Reef is a short flight away.

[User] Yeah I'm guessing QLD gov footing a lot of the bill, otherwise it makes no sense. If it was in Melb I would def go with my son, Syd would depend on the card, QLD zero chance.

[Assistant] Yeah it's govt supported so they're not losing money. I'd have gone for Sydney and thought about Melbourne but timing is just terrible. Outdoors in Brisbane heat/humidity in mid Feb? No thanks.


[User] My 25th wedding anniversary today, going out for a meal. My wife said we will be back for the football, that’s part of her present for me. 😂

[Assistant]
Happy anniversary!
Is the other part of the present where she leaves you alone while the football is on? 😁

[User] Thanks, I got a bottle of wine to keep her occupied 😂

[Assistant] Happy anniversary to you both. My wife had a BIG birthday when we played RM in 2014, I couldn't get out of the family meal 🤦♂, hoping the result is different this time around. #UTFR 🍷


[User] Does anyone actually have access to read this and know what "strip colleges of federal funding" actually entails? What funds will be withheld? And thru what mechanisms?

[Assistant] Or is that not known yet?

[User] The article does not mention the mechanisms that Rufo wants to use. I think at least one likely attack on DEI is through accreditation, either legislation or rule that forbids accreditors from enforcing a DEI standard. But that is different than withholding $$.

[Assistant] Thank you! I'm curious if they would try to do things like withhold grant funding, which would impact salaries of many workers. Not that removing accreditation is good...


[User] So honored to have won second place in this amazing @notquitewrite.bsky.social  competition. Congrats to all the short listers and long listers, and to the winner @taurenelle.bsky.social  for an amazing story!

[Assistant] Congrats Emily! (See, you do win every flash comp ever!)

[User] Well done, Emily. It's a chilling story that moved me to tears! Let's hope America sees sense one day ... soon! 🤞

[Assistant] Thank you, Robert. And I agree!


[User]
Happy #LancashireDay 🌹

Take our quiz to test your knowledge of the county!

www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/2475300...

[Assistant]
Then, maybe try this one!
Happy ##LancashireDay!

[User] *Burns records which show I grew up near Sheffield*

[Assistant] Thankfully, we now live in more enlightened times!


[User] Really hope snow doesn't prevent me from getting to Mom's tomorrow. The amount of effort she put into making me comfortable for Thanksgiving including uninviting her trump supporting brother very vocally still makes me feel loved.

[Assistant]
wow. That's a THING, that is.
Good luck getting there.

My aunts/uncles are all NAZIs. As is my dad, and my mom I haven't spoken to in yrs.

I have a sister nearby. She's my person.

[User]
I'm glad you have your sister.

I know a lot of queer folks without family.

We gotta hold onto what we have and what we've found.

If I had more local queer friends I would love to host my own.

[Assistant] That rules, hope you're able to make the trip!


[User]
If you're going to be at ICFP, come and talk to one of the Jane Street folk there! One new thing to talk about is our Visiting Researcher Program.

https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/programs-and-events/visiting-researcher/

[Assistant] The idea is to provide an opportunity for academic researchers to come and work with us for a bounded period (maybe during a sabbatical), and to collaborate. There are a lot of potential areas, but a few stick out, like...

[User] Type system features for giving better control over memory and resources. We're actively working on modal types for locality (for stack allocation) and uniqueness (for being able to safely reuse pure objects). The locality mode is already in production internally.

[Assistant] We're also working on unboxed types, which involves adding a kind system to OCaml in order to keep track of layouts. And effect systems are in our sights too!

[User] Another area of interest is incremental and graph-structured programming. That shows up in our build systems (Jenga and Dune), but other areas as well.

[Assistant] Also, languages and abstractions for hardware synthesis, and for design and analysis of networks.


[User]
Em huffed, kicking their legs as they climbed back into their bedroom window. There was a brief squeak as they laid upside down, legs hanging over.

"Pourquoi c'était plus facile d'sortir qu'de r'entrer, hein?" They hissed, rolling over and standing back up to grab a few of their things.》

[Assistant]
《 They carefully made their way into one of the halls, backpack over their shoulder while heading for the kitchen, hoping @remylabeau.bsky.social wasn't around, or at least was busy elsewhere.

Their hands stuffed in their pockets until they froze, staring. "Mon Dieu.."》

[User] 《 Em panicked, staring at tiny @jameswolverine.bsky.social , @victorcreed.bsky.social , and @throughrubyredeyes.bsky.social . Quickly they covered their mouth and attempted to turn around, heading back to their room before they were spotted.

[Assistant]
His eyes lit up when he spotted Em, his stubby little legs wobbled as he bolted forward, arms outstretched.

“EMMMM!” he cried, his voice high-pitched and excited, he stumbled a bit on the way, nearly falling, but managed to catch himself before throwing himself at Em’s legs, clinging tightly.

[User]
Victor crossed his arms, scowling, his tiny fangs peeked out as he growled low, clearly unimpressed with James's display.

"Jimmy! Quit clingin' like a baby!" he snapped, stomping closer, but his protective glare darted to Em.

"What’re you sneakin’ ‘round for, huh?"

[Assistant]
*To late Scott already saw them.*

Em!!


[User] When I started playing magic the gathering in the mid 90s I could not have imagined a day when I would utter "the second doctor asks if you'd be so civil as to not attack me this turn?" In a game.

[Assistant] My buddy played this and ended up killing me because he just kept saying, "play, you can draw a card..." And my pavlovian brain just drew Everytime. Dog +bell=me+card draw🤣

[User] I'm running it in a Ms Bumbleflower deck. You can have all the cards you like 😁

[Assistant] My only weakness 😭


[User]
その1
open.spotify.com/playlist/4Jn...

[Assistant]
その2
open.spotify.com/playlist/4w5...

[User]
その3
open.spotify.com/playlist/4MH...

[Assistant]
その4
open.spotify.com/playlist/6Yo...


[User]
Some great person at an Ohio public library ordered the Miki Berenyi book, and I'm about halfway through it right now, and of course revisiting the Lush back catalog yet again.

This Wire cover was one of my favorites when I did college radio.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nG0...

[Assistant] The first half is pretty harrowing in a very dysfunctional family way. I did skip ahead to the Lollapalooza part and am pleased to see that yet again no one has anything bad to say about the dudes in Soundgarden.

[User] I bought it but haven’t started it yet. How are we the same person?

[Assistant] It's kind of incredible how many people I've connected with on Twitter and now here that I end up having lots of things in common with!


[User] One year, huh 😆

[Assistant] I started this account because the SJ brainrot was literally eating me alive (I'd only been lurking until then) and I felt like no one else was writing the stuff I wanted to see, so I might as well yell into the void at least 🤣

[User] Now SJ's little fandom grows stronger every day and I'm so glad I met all the other wonderful jiudus out there 🫡🫡🫡

[Assistant] Incidentally I feel like at the same time there's been a huge influx of cute, fluffy and uwu SJ stuff, which makes me very happy haha. I like all SJ content but there's a much greater variety of flavour than before, you know? 🥳


[User] Drop something BLUE 🔵🖤


[User] How's Bluesky going to monetize? They collected 56M or even more, so they need to keep investors investing...

[Assistant] This is the big question imho. Call me a pessimist but I've seen more than 0 companies over the last few decades change course while under $$$ pressure.

[User] "Oh, you want more investment? What's your plan to make us money? You have a decentralised setup that gives you zero moat from competitors? No ads? No paid accounts?". I hope this isn't how it plays out but I wonder.

[Assistant] Exactly. We are going to see how it evolves 👀


[User] It’s worth reading this thread, and we do know the answer to this. Millions of gallons of raw milk are dumped every year. I brought this up months ago on Threads. A farmer came by and “reassured” me that he doesn’t dump raw milk. He feeds it to his pigs, H5N1 and all. Nobody was paying attention.

[Assistant]
It's before. As someone who's done the work, albeit years ago, some of it gets dumped daily.
Modern pumping & processing practices have greatly reduced the waste, but yeah, it's just part of the process.

[User] Of course. Why would they spend the money to pasteurize milk they are dumping?

[Assistant]
I'm thankful for your efforts to raise awareness on Vaccines & illnesses.
What the anti-vax community has done to this country is....omg.
I'm hoping people like you can bring sanity back...instead of polio.
If you haven't read it already- pick up a copy of "We Want Them Infected" the receipts!

[User] Unfortunately at this point it is all but assured that a major outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease is the only thing that will change what is happening.

[Assistant]
I fear ur 100% correct. Whooping cough is here. Measles popping up with regularity. With the nomination of RFK,Jr polio is all but assured.
I'm not old enough to remember polio, but up until 5 yrs ago, I had an extended family member who was in an iron lung from the age of 5.
It's about to get REAL.


[User] Remember when we had a global pandemic and the tories' first thought was "how can we make as much money as possible from this", then they clapped NHS workers and gave them little badges rather than a pay rise.

[Assistant] Ah come on, I even got a (very generic) certificate of thanks.

[User] Jesus, I didn't know they'd given out certificates too. Shower of shit the lot of them.❤

[Assistant] I got one of them too, and a real terms pay cut.

[User] These inspired me to write a track for a semi-famous protest band. Sadly the lyrics were watered down before release cos they were scared of getting sued. Would’ve been a banger if they’d have left it alone 😒

[Assistant] They didn't even give them badges, they had to pay for them.


[User]
Sharing where I stand with the kink community on multiple platforms:
I think locally I'm in a good place and found my footing with a lot of folks
I think the social media environment has too many experience gaps, oversaturation of content creation and just generally impersonal.

[Assistant] What I'm saying is with the online environment it's a LOT of HAVEs and HAVE NOTs with not enough sharing of information, mentoring and truly encouraging a community. You have to have the resources, funds and social aptitude to fit in and play with specific folks.

[User] Mind you, this isn't everyone but it seems the current generation of folks have made the online space their whole personality or at least showing off the most self indulgent side of it. Which has honestly...bore me a bit.

[Assistant] It all just seems so superficial now and overly validation seeking. Sometimes I even think certain folks popularity leaves them overly guarded about casual interactions and rather cynical about anytype of positive contributions to the community.


[User]
Stop asking people for money upfront. Despite what you see on Dragons Den, it's not how money is raised in the real world.

You need to build their trust and interest first.

One framework that works is the CASE pitch.

[Assistant]
C.A.S.E. Framework

1. Context: Set the scene with a relevant, engaging scenario.

• “Yesterday I had lunch with 8 incredible aerospace investors.”

[User]
2. Authority: Highlight credibility or network to build trust.

• “Between them, they control $X billion in assets.”

[Assistant]
3. Shared Insight: Share an interesting or valuable insight.

• “One discussion we had was about potentially setting up a VC firm to handle all the opportunities coming their way.”

[User]
4. Engage: Directly invite specific action or participation.

• “I’m hosting a follow-up conversation next week with a few key people in this space. Let me know if you’d like to be included.”

[Assistant] You might think it takes longer to take the time to build interest and relationships, but I guarantee it's quicker and less soul destroying then being rejected a thousand times because you don't understand investors.


[User]
Desperately want to buy the Mass Effect tree topper in the sale. Know I shouldn't because I don't have an income.

Ahhh I hate having to be an adult.😭🤭

[Assistant] How much is it?

[User] Reduced to about £8. But I saw some other things on sale so I've got my basket to £32. But then it's almost £20 postage.😭😭😭

[Assistant] I can go up to 32 with shipping as it's going to be $41 on my end or close enough.


[User]
Out of the TOP FIVE KEY MOMENTS of the debate  ‘The Kanturk Incident’ is one and it’s FIRST.

Listen I love a meme and a gaff as much as the next person but jfc, people are dying on the streets.

[Assistant] The media everywhere are completely unprepared to report on actual policy stuff.

[User] Except tax cuts and more landlord subsidies, of course.

[Assistant] Please send a small donation and repost and quote my latest post to save my family in Gaza💔🇵🇸🍉🎁


[User]
Ariel has a fish tail, no gills, no webbed fingers, no protection for her eyes from salt water, talking fish and crab friends, & she learned the word “dinglehopper” from a seagull — all before an octopus lady gave her legs.

But yeah, the hard-to-believe part is if she’s Black.

[Assistant] I really cannot believe there are people upset about this casting. I mean — I can believe it, because anti-blackness; but, still, really?

[User] So if we’re talking scientific accuracy on mermaids: Ariel should maybe have scales or slimy layer to protect her skin from being constantly immersed in water, subcutaneous fat to keep her warm, a snout-like face and recessed ears and shoulders to reduce drag while swimming...

[Assistant] ... gills to extract oxygen from the water (or maybe a blowhole and the ability to hold her breath a long time), enlarged eyes to help her see, and long webbed fingers to help her swim.

[User] The least concerning aspect I see with regard to scientific accuracy and a frickin’ mermaid is that she might have darker pigmented skin — something MANY ocean-dwelling animals have for a variety of reasons including as camouflage against the ocean floor.

[Assistant] So please stop with the pseudoscientific nonsense. Let’s at least be real that this isn’t about scientific accuracy and all about anti-blackness.


[User]
Older, Budweiser... Reflections on aging and thirst traps 🧵

As of yesterday, I'm 53 years old. My goal has always been to make it to 100, and that means I have fewer years ahead of me than I do behind me.  A few thoughts on Technology, Mortality, Thirst Traps, and why old folks need to share more.

[Assistant]
Technology

Ray Kurzweil says we are close to reversing aging in the near future. Franky, while I see the possibility, money will gate it. Like some of the most effective healthcare discoveries, it's not likely to help me much.

I'm OK with that, and I think it will help me hit 100, maybe.

[User]
Mortality

As a younger man, I couldn't ever understand people who could say "I'm ready." at the end. I am not ready, but I do find the notion of death to be calming and focusing.

I will die; what should I spend my time on? My best answer is a variable, but not novel - a good life.

[Assistant]
Thirst Traps (

One fun learning comes from Reddit and r/50something

I picked it up as an abandoned subreddit, hoping for mid-life conversation friends. Instead, everyone wants to post selfies, flirt, and please the libido. I don't judge. I like all that, too - but I feel there's more to share.

[User]
Thirst  Traps II

Gen X (50 something) straddles the modern world and the pre-tech one that came first. We saw the Internet happen and were old enough not to need parental permission.

We watched the Cold War end and the current rise of Facism... one would think being #50something could be deeper.

[Assistant]
Thirst Traps III

What's the point, Craig?

I don't know. I'm just thinking freely, fueled by coffee. I feel uneasy about the notion that all we (still) are is a continuation of the thirst trap culture. Yes, women still make me tingle, but there's more. I'll leave it there.

Are you 50+? Thoughts?


[User] Alternatively, "When the revolution comes, where will you hide?"

[Assistant] I'm so glad we don't do Thanksgiving in this country. I would have a full menty b.

[User] I’m spending it writing alone in my apartment and sleeping in. Maybe drive out to the river if I’m feeling saucy. I’m preparing for New Years. Going to visit my Republican family in a very conservative state then. I have a hard rule of no discussing politics.

[Assistant] Yeah, that sounds very sensible. I think I'd hide in a cave until January.

[User] But January is when the regime takes over. These are our last few months of freedom.

[Assistant] I have one + a bottle of wine every year when I call home to my mom. One year she kept me on video chat for 6 hours with the time difference and had me hysterical and contemplating suicide by the time I managed to hang up. She has much less of a hold on me now and I can grey rock and distract but -


[User]
Follow These 7 Steps to Explode Your Instagram Growth in 2024 📈

🚀 Ready to blow up your Instagram in 2024? Here’s a step-by-step game plan you can start today:

[Assistant]
Step 1: Optimize Your Bio
 - Define your niche clearly. Use a CTA that drives traffic (e.g., “Download my free growth guide”).

Step 2: Batch Create Content
 - Plan and schedule 1 month of content in advance to stay consistent and reduce overwhelm.

[User]
Step 3: Use Data-Driven Hashtags
 - Find niche hashtags using tools like Hashtagify or Flick. Mix in high-volume and low-competition tags.

Step 4: Master Instagram SEO
 - Use keywords related to your niche in your profile and captions to appear in search results.

[Assistant]
Step 5: Post High-Engagement Reels
 - Create Reels using trending sounds and hooks. Aim to hook your audience in the first 3 seconds.

 Step 6: Engage Meaningfully
 - Spend 30 minutes daily interacting with accounts in your niche — like, comment, and share posts.


[User]
Basically, gross mis-management by TV executives/commissioners/heads of broadcasters.
You did not build the future. You pandered to fads. You allowed broadcasting to turn into a conduit for crap.

www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-r...

[Assistant]
Reality TV filler - that's the endless crap on TV.

“After the boom of 2022, the channels ran out of money for 2023 and 2024 and now only want high-end drama or low-budget reality filler. They don’t want the rest — what they call ‘the middle’.”

[User] "a drop of about £400 million in revenue, independent production companies are folding every week, while, according to the latest figures from the Bectu trade union, 68 per cent of freelance TV workers (the thousands of researchers, editors, producers & directors who make the shows) are unemployed"

[Assistant]
The high-ups are utterly fucking useless, lazy, greedy, clique.

"Money is at the heart of this — but so is poor management. Inexperienced, timid commissioners have no knowledge of how risk-taking makes for hit formats — or, crucially, how megahits don’t always appear that way at first."


[User] Ok sue me but I’m ready to get out my Santa paintings, whimsical and vintage. Which one do you like?

[Assistant] Oh, I like the one with all the gifts! 🎁

[User] Thank you.

[Assistant] I like them both, but am partial to the one with the wreath.

[User] Thank you.

[Assistant] The one with the big shoes on the left. Both are very nice.

[User] Thank you. I like him as well.

[Assistant] St. Whimsy, of course!


[User] Oh come on. The strongest sign yet that Trump will pursue a policy of foreign policy restraint is his SecDef nominee writing *checks notes* “We don’t want to fight, but, like our fellow Christians a thousand years ago, we must. We need an American crusade.”

[Assistant] For sure. But shouldn’t we anticipate that he will be sitting in confirmation hearings downplaying those sections of his book and statements, along with trumpy senators, nodding their heads and grinning?

[User] Unclear what Dan means. Will Hegseth’s neo-crusader views help or hinder his prospects of confirmation? With the GOP in its current state, it’s hard to predict.

[Assistant] Lot of normies having normals in the upcoming admin.

[User] His defenders will just gaslight while the media nods along 🤬

[Assistant] the media has been gone for some time, after Fox Changed the model to care about ratings over the truth. News should be non for profit.


[User]
Low-paid, untrained workers were introduced to long-term care in 2021 as an emergency stopgap.

Now, the Ford government is making them permanent.

[Assistant] Can't hit the like button on this one.

[User] Thank you for reporting on this.

[Assistant]
Thanks for reading 🙏
Sleeper issue.


[User] Do you ever have someone you do not trust or even like that much INSIST on being your friend and being all up in your business? I seriously cannot handle her insistence on being my "friend" when what she considers friendship is so abrasive and borderline toxic to me.

[Assistant] Yes, I'm talking about my dang neighbour again. She went through a six month depression, which is really sad and terrible for her but truthfully was nice for me because she wasn't barging into my space and driving me insane every few hours. I want to be compassionate, and kind.

[User] But at the same time, she is really abrasive and just takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, and will promise the moon but never gives anything at all. But lord you give her a inch and she takes it all. She is such a toxic human. I just can't handle it. GAH!!!

[Assistant] Also, because she is a neighbour I don't want to have a bad thing going... but her "friendship" is not friendly. Or kind. Or compassionate to me. It's just bleeding you of your things Not only that, but she schemes ways to think of why you owe her favours, and it's just awful.

[User] I wish I could just say fuck off, honestly, but I can't. And SOMETIMES she's helpful, for moments. Like, she may actually have found a reasonably charged lady to do my hair. Like, she has some good in her, but she's not someone I want to be around often and she's always around!

[Assistant] I was doing work and she's at the front door and says, "I know you're busy busy busy but can I ask you something?" and I very reluctantly say okay, and she comes into my bedroom and tells me all about her recent doctor visits and all this random stuff.

[User] Like SHE KNEW I was working. She just doesn't seem to care. WHY IS SHE TELLING ME ALL THIS ANYWAY. Basically said she will come back at 5 to talk to me again because that's when I'm off work (which was the question she wanted to ask--when I'm off work). HONESTLY. Might loose it.

[Assistant] Her just coming into the house earlier definitely threw me off as well, and probably helped push the "move the onion plate" task off my running queue of things I must finish right away which caused that blasted emergency run anyway. Wish my brain was better in that sort of thing.


[User] Tiny needle felt Christmas dinos!

[Assistant] They are adorably cute!

[User] I'm glad you like them 😊

[Assistant] They are so sweet.


[User]
Canadians are on to something. Let’s move U.S. Thanksgiving to October.

www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...

[Assistant]
Seriously.

Also let’s move Christmas to when it’s nice out.

[User] Oh that’s easy. Just celebrate closer to equator or in the southern hemisphere 😄

[Assistant] I’ll get right on that 🙄


[User]
VueUse v12.0.0 just landed with no feature changes - only for dropping Vue 2 support and related handling! 💚

github.com/vueuse/vueus...

[Assistant]
Spend all day trying to implement something. Go to bed kinda frustrated.

Wake up, brain is bothering me about something. Wait, does VueUse already have something for this?

Oh yeah, there it is. They already created it in a simpler and more robust way.

The cycle continues.

[User] Will VueUse implement option to handle useTemplateRef in such functions like a useElementSize? Recently I tried to use this new function from Vue 3.5 and it only accepts old method :/

[Assistant] There are too many functions to maintain, and sometimes we might lose track of a few - this sounds like one of those. You can search for an existing PR; if not, we are open to PRs. Thanks!


[User]
🏆2024 Platinum Trophy Thread🏆

Hey there! When I’m not busy with video game events, you can find me hunting for platinum trophies! Here’s the list of games for 2024!

[Assistant]
Platinum 123

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII: Reunion

Started off 2024 strong after finished the previous year with Remake and Intergrade.

[User]
Platinum 124

Untitled Goose Game

Very fun to start but after a few hour of trying to finish up it was insufferable.

[Assistant]
#125

Onimusha Warlords

A classic for me, it transported me back to the PS2 era. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! I just wish they would release 2 and 3.


[User] Spending my morning talking to fraud teams and submitting police reports because people are opening credit card accounts in my name - how's your day going?

[Assistant] Been there! It’s the worst, sorry ya gotta deal with it!

[User]
Can you blame them for wanting to be "Gemma Cooper" when we've been establishing how great you are over in the UKGI Slack? 😂

That really sucks though, sorry to hear you're going through all that...

[Assistant] Such a shame it didn’t make topic of the week, eh?!


[User]
We want to see what you got!

Picked up some games through our links and they've shown up already? Let's see!

We want to see your #BlackFridayHaul!

[Assistant]
People are getting deck builders for Christmas (star realms is popular already). The still falling Star Wars DBG for my son and Red Rising for me. Oh and a last minute splurge on Camel Up for the fam (we don’t have racing games).

Thanks for the posting.

[User] Great choices!

[Assistant] Round one!

[User]
Awesome!

Star Wars TDBG is so good!

My wife and I love Fox in the Forest and Potion Explosion is super popular around here.

Don't know the Stitch game but my kids are older.

[Assistant] Our kids are older too, but one is a HUGE Stitch fan so anything with that goofy alien face tends to end up in her collection.


[User] Tier 5 John Carlson to No Tier John Carlson www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

[Assistant]
I can get behind the fact that he’s go only 1 year left and then he’ll be aggressively old.
No Strome? No Protas?

[User] You really wanna go nuts - how many teams sell the farm to get Ovechkin goal chase ticket revenue?

[Assistant] the argument we'll be having forever is that if they put tom wilson on the market tomorrow, just about every single team in the Lig is trying to get him.

[User] A few years ago, when they traded Orlov at the deadline, Tarik said the same thing. Along the lines “if you really want to jumpstart a rebuild, 31 other teams would be very interested in Wilson.”

[Assistant] Ottawa would’ve gone NUTS over him.

[User] what gets me is that they had Carlson at 4th in their to-date Norris ballot yesterday.

[Assistant] How is Leon not “Tier 1”? 🥴🥴🥴


[User]
I worked it out during the election. The last time the Lib Dems or Liberals ran an election campaign with no losses at all was 1955 - when they held all six seats won in 1951.

Holding them all in 2024 was either a miracle, or incredible work on the ground. Both?

[User] There was some good groundwork, but the sad truth is that (I think) all the held seats were Tory facing, and people everywhere were voting against the Tories. Some of them might have been voting "for the LibDems" but they were helped along by a mass of anti Tory votes.

[Assistant] I was fairly sure that we’d win the 8 notionally LibDem seats and that we’d win back two of the ones that had notionally flipped back to SNP or Con. I felt the by-election seats would be difficult but by mid 2023 was becoming less concerned about North Shropshire.

[User] I deliberately kept my expectations low because of the pain of the previous four elections but I was confident of some gains and more confident as the election went on but 72 was stunning.

[Assistant] Same! I felt like I was being very cautious estimating ~30-40 seats, while losing maybe Honiton & Glastonbury. I thought the best night imaginable was 65.

[User] I tend to agree, that was how I was feeling watching the polling leading up to the election. I thought we'd win back the 2019 core wins, Caithness was the one that worried me. I was probably more worried about Honiton than North Shropshire but I thought on a good night it could work out.

[Assistant] Yes, Caithness was my main worry as it was notionally SNP and votes are very personal. I was worried more about Chesham and Amersham than Honiton. I’d been assured that North Shropshire was in the bag and that Stratford was pretty certain but we all know how things change.

[User]
Same.

Interesting, I saw enough focus in London on getting people to the Sutton seats that I figured Chesham was secure. Agree, it felt movable esp leading into that last week. And we've been burnt before!

[Assistant] As an aside on Stephen's point, I fully expect us to fall back in some seats next election and take losses. But if we can hold 50-60 of these and make some new gains, that's a fantastic new baseline.


[User] If someone constantly promises to do things and never delivers, how many times do you believe they will deliver before you lose trust?

[Assistant] I’m a 2 strike person. After that, I’m not opposed to helping or whatever, but you have to meet me 100% of the way.

[User] That’s fair. Once seems like jumping the gun but two is definitely a pattern.

[Assistant] I give you three, one was me not expressing my boundary most likely, two maybe you didn’t understand the boundary. Third was blatant at the point, peace.


[User] I wish I had never dated anyone. Invalidated so many times by someone who pretended to love me.


[User]
I was wondering why I was getting fewer responses this week and spent the last two days thinking it was a me problem.

I forgot it's days before Thanksgiving.

Cognitive distortions man.

[Assistant] better cognitive distortion than testicular torsion!

[User] I fall into that trap so easily.  I’m always afraid if there’s a lull in discussion that I did something wrong or I assume the worst.

[Assistant] I forgot the context to refer to the job search, but I def see how that feeling can apply (and does, to me) socially sometimes.


[User] Good Morning, have a wonderful Wednesday 🤗🥰☕☕

[Assistant] Good morning Kevin!!

[User] Good Morning Patricia 🤗🥰☕☕

[Assistant] Good morning Kevin!🇨🇦😊🫶🏻

[User] Good morning, Kevin! Have a wonderful day! It’s a wet day in Victoria! 😜

[Assistant]
Good Morning Kevin 🌤☕☕
The Hotter the Better 😉
Have a great day 😍😘🫶🏼💞


[User]
SPIDER-MAN 2099
This is the 2001 Toy Biz reprint of the 1992 first full appearance of Spider-man 2099, Miguel O’Hara.
💥
In 2001, Toy Biz packaged a comic with the action figure, based on this character. Many were disposed of. As time went on, we learned only few were well kept.
Rare!
💫

[Assistant] I remember when I first saw the 2099 Spidey costume – it totally blew my mind. So futuristic, out-of-this-world, way ahead of its time.

[User] It reminds me of the mid-80’s, when She-Ra came along with Hordak and all the cool red symbology. Then came Spider-man 2099 & Batman Beyond and I thought, “more of this, please!”

[Assistant] When I was a kid, one of my unfulfilled dreams was to own a Hordak action figure :) Growing up in communist Poland, getting imported toys was nearly impossible. My parents did everything they could to find MotU toys, but Hordak remained out of reach. At least I had the Battle Armor He-Man ;)


[User] I hope Nancy Mace gets home from work today and realizes she's missing a critical ingredient for her Thanksgiving dinner, so she has to go to the store to get it on the busiest grocery shopping night of the year, and they've run out of her favorite brand so she has to get an obscure off-brand.

[Assistant] I hope she's making bread rolls, and her yeast fails. 😁

[User] That’s very complex but karmic.

[Assistant] I hope that they are completely out of it, and she has to go to another store (also out), and finally walks into Walmart, just to watch someone else take the last of it.


[User] BlueSky needs a poll feature.

[Assistant] But....oh wow! I just notice you can easily make a thread in BlueSky in ONE PLACE.

[User] See what this screen shot is showing? I'm creating all the skeets at one time.

[Assistant] Just click the "+" at the lower right. I love this!


[User]
 "Romanian far-right presidential candidate says he does not want to leave NATO"
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/europe...

[Assistant] Of course not. Wouldn't be a very useful Russian asset...

[User] If course not. He wants to play the same game like Orban.

[Assistant] Of course not. He wants to play the same games like Orban.


[User] The other day I commished @coffinberry.bsky.social on a whim of @duckdraw.bsky.social 's Charlie bein' lovely as usual. Please check these amazing artists out.

[Assistant] Awesome work. Thank you for this. Charlie came out lovely.

[User] Thank you!!

[Assistant] Well, you have a lovely & diverse roster with a few characters there I consider my personal favorites among folks I follow(which is very few); despite that I gotta give my appreciation for one of your finest somehow. For that, thank Coffinberry, this amazing work wouldn't be possible without her 🙂


[User] See… on the day before I take time off I’m always of this mindset - “Better ask your questions now because at exactly 3:30:00pm my phone is being turned off.” 🤣🤣

[Assistant] Listen, i learned my lesson…I also wfh & I am THANKFUL today is not my in office day, but next year??? I’m gone from Tuesday - Friday lol 😂

[User] I always take off the day before I go on a trip & the day after I return. I’ve learned my peace of mind is EVERYTHING.

[Assistant] Usually I do the same thing, but I know that nothing is going to be going on today so I decided why not still work haha 🤣


[User] A fuel cell bus? Haven’t seen one of those before. I know the Japanese car manufacturers hate EVs so yea this makes sense, doesn’t it.

[Assistant] reminds me that the EV busses here in Ithaca were a financial BUST! constant problems, cracked frames and builder went bust, no support. Back to diesel...

[User] The bus manufacturing scene in the US overall is awful. Very few left.

[Assistant] Not economically.

[User] It’s one of the only cases where hydrogen works well. The buses all return to a central depot so the lack of infrastructure isn’t a problem…

[Assistant] Quite a lot of them in the UK, along with battery electric buses.


[User] Where's my next tattoo going to be?🤔

[Assistant] Hmmm 🤔 I have one on my foot lol I didn’t think it was overly painful lol 😂

[User] I'm thinking finish my right arm🫡

[Assistant] Nice! Does your right arm have a theme?

[User] Lovely, Buddy!

[Assistant] On your dick🥵😈


[User]
Dragonmeet looms. It's my first time attending so I'm taking it easy with just one meetup and a lot of browsing and nodding sagely.

I've tried to attend every year since it first started. I'm looking forward to saying hello to plenty of folks I only ever interact with digitally.

[Assistant]
Well, I will also be attending. Haven't been able to do so for the last fifteen years due to lots of different reasons.

Hope to get a change to say hello.

[User] Come browsing by the Podcast Zone in the morning and of course the Free League stand … where we will not safely with you.

[Assistant] Good luck with the nodding sagely. Really we know you'll be like a kid with the free run of a sweetshop.

[User] I'll be wandering around too. Say hi if you spot me!!

[Assistant] You too are invite to come and. I’d sagely in the Podcast Zone and Free League stand.

[User] Sadly cobblepath wont be there but.. royal mail willing... our games will be?

[Assistant]
It's hectic but fun. I'd advise finding a little stall upstairs and having a deep chat with a creator about a project they love, that's the gold.

We are downstairs and we like chats too, but just giving my "low pressure high niceness" tip!


[User]
Their relationship is so toxic that I feel like it's messing with my mind too... i need to see something cute, peaceful, and warm...
Fyi, my another OTP is truly peaceful... I will protect those pookies from crazy hunter and angel.

[Assistant] my other otps are worse, so deancas is the peaceful and sweet one to me... it's part of why i was so drawn to them in the first place 😂

[User] It’s kind of funny how deancas is darkness on my list of OTPs but light on yours🤭 either way those two have to be together...

[Assistant] It’s kind of interesting how deancas is darkness on my list of OTPs but light on yours🤭 either way those two have to be together...


[User] Just to illustrate how you detach a quote post - this one is for you @fellafranca.fellas.social🫡 so first this I am reposting your post with a quote.

[Assistant] Then if you click on the three dots in the pop up menu you'll see 'detach quote'  - take a look now and detach my quote.

[User] yes this worked, thank you - but doesn't work with normal RT.

[Assistant] No - this is for quotes.


[User]
Question:

Why will I willingly embrace a three hour film or musical, but the moment I hear "three hours with an interval" for a stage play it cuts my chances of going to see it in half.....?

(I don't have an answer by the way).

[Assistant]
At least with films you can sidle off to the bathroom in the middle if needed...

(Though for me it's that I find I get far more into the theatre when I'm there. Tires me out and increases the need for the interval drink...)

[User] Intervals are horrible. Either get stuck in a massive scrum at the bar/toilet or stay in your seat with your legs tucked up to your ears so people can walk past.

[Assistant] I think theatre demands a lot more attention than film, because your visual attention is not directed/focused in the same way, making it more tiring, could it be that?

[User]
I don’t know - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that needed to be three hours long and it would really put me off going.

Only the occasional theatre piece either for that matter but I have seen a couple.

[Assistant] I love the "interval!" The mad dash to get a drink at the bar, buy some merch, or stand in line for the bathroom discussing the play with other enthusiasts or skeptics is often the best part.

[User] Maybe the inclusion of an interval triggers a suspicion that the exhibitors believe it’s heavy-enough going for patrons to need a break…?

[Assistant] Well my presumption was always that intervals were just a way to sell booze..... :-)


[User] I still haven’t caught up on my writing schedule since I had an unscheduled visit a few weeks ago and I think I’ma be salty about it for a while. 😆

[Assistant] I hate when this happens! Dealing with the same thing.

[User] I gotta pull myself out of it or I won’t finish this revision until February. 😩

[Assistant] Let’s claim it now that we’re both gonna get back on track!


[User]
Eve "Lazy Cat" music video solo directed/animated by japanese indie artist Off Script.
Full video >> www.catsuka.com/news/2024-11...

[Assistant]
Notes :
- not solo animated, but co-animated with Resh.
www.instagram.com/reshanimates/
(thanks to Off Script for giving me this info, which is not available anywhere in credits / YT description etc)
- "Off Script" = 1 artist but also mainly 1 character + 1 cat ;-]

[User] Another correction / very little known information : "Off Script" is canadian, not japanese ;-]

[Assistant] So proud of them. I've been following their Tiktoks for a while now, it's awesome to see them get the recognition they deserve.


[User] Saw some idiot on reddit just now say that Astro Bot is overhyped because it's too much like a Mario game. 1) that's the point and 2) Mario games are typically best of the best, so if a game gets close to one of them, that's a pretty good fucking game by any metric.

[Assistant] is it legit close to as good as a mario game?

[User] I liked it more than Odyssey lol. I think the length is the only real issue with buying it, as it's rather short(but still quite a bit longer than Mario Wonder). It's also a big playstation history jerk off, so the more history you have with their stuff, the more you get out of it.

[Assistant] Also, Aigis is in there lol.

[User] odyssey was good but forgettable imo. short is actually a plus for me since i don’t get much time for gaming these days (big problem since my fav genre is jrpgs)

[Assistant] Yeah, most of the games I've played this year have been 60+ hours. Even Ys X was close to 40 hours and that's a Ys game, so something short is nice after all that. The only issue really is being ok with spending over 70 bucks(it was on sale too...) for 12 hours, but that depends on the person.


[User] @godpod.bsky.social you cruel bastard. Knowing that someone in the U.K. won £177m on the Euromillions last night, I get this.

[Assistant] Followed by this:

[User] Look on the bright side. That's one six pack of McCoys Crisps you couldn't afford last night.

[Assistant] That’s true. Or maybe a small Costa coffee. The ticket cost me £2.50, and I won £2.60, so I’m up 10p, so it’s not all bad. That’s 10p going back into the U.K. economy too, so I’m doing my bit.

[User] I had to brush away a single tear as I read that. You are a humbling example to us all.

[Assistant] This is me now:


[User]
An online petition championed by the likes of Elon Musk. It's basically not worth the storage space it is using.

Yet this total moron who is some how leader of the opposition, seems to think it holds so much value it warrants a resignation.

What an idiot Kemi BadEnoch is.

[Assistant]
Did the online petition require ID like voting?

Or was it full of anonymous votes from anywhere in the world, like the internet research agency located in Russia, for example?

[User]
Nah, just a postcode I believe, some have been giving suggestion of postcodes to use on Twitter apparently. So between bots, Musk advertising it etc, it's just worthless crap.

Any actual person who is an apparent politician who's trying to use it, should be treated as a crayon eating imbecile.

[Assistant]
I’m just contrasting it to the argument for voter ID.

Can’t have it both ways (hard stare at Kemi).


[User] 1/11 How Children Reveal the Nature of Humanity, Case No. 35952: My 11-year-old son came back from school and I asked him how it went. "There was a war." "Oh? What kind of war? How did it happen?" I assumed it was some sort of playground issue, etc.

[Assistant] 2/11 Breathless, he explained how the wellness services group (German "Hafen" in his school) came to work with them on "personal boundaries."

[User] 3/11 The kids were instructed to think of a "safe place", what they would have in it with them. My son said indoor plumbing and a toilet first, so he has his priorities straight.

[Assistant] 4/11 Then they were to mark out boundaries. Here the fun began.

[User] 5/11 Going completely off lesson plan, the kids started marking their areas and quickly noticing other kinds had more "territory." Then began an entire process by which they defined areas, how to get more, alliances.

[Assistant] 6/11 He even described how his group has made secret alliances and used that to install double agents in other alliances (and fake double agents to cause chaos in opposing alliances), etc.

[User] 7/11 My son came home clueless about the "boundaries" work the Hafen were trying to do and totally obsessed with the inter-territorial conflicts ongoing. They quickly set up chat groups and he furiously texted them for war plans while ignoring the meal I set out for him.

[Assistant] 8/11 Plans for invasions, territory swaps to set up favorable geometric setups to thwart invasions and facilitate trade (classroom chairs, other items) were ongoing.

[User] 9/11 I'm leaving out the detailed territorial map he drew for me as it has children's names on it, and with German Datenschutz, not sure what is ok to share. He hasn't thought about homework.

[Assistant] 10/11 All to say, perhaps we worry too much about fixing the world. It seems human nature is irrepressible. And I now come to consider that the entire structure of civilization set up for 10,000 years was actually established by 11-year-olds in pre-history.

[User] 11/11 I have no idea what the poor Hafen folks thought, or even if they had any idea of what was transpiring in front of them.

[Assistant] That's pretty it Erec, sry your son had to experience that🫶

[User] Well, I can't pretend he wasn't into it! But he's 11, of course. One hopes he will obtain significant moral and emotional maturity in the coming years. Unlike most of our world leaders and their followers. 😐

[Assistant] Sounds like he has a great dad, I have 6 adult children & most of them are minamalists✌🏼💙


[User]
Malik & Daniel!
Two of my favorite performers!

[Assistant] Delgaty is such a stud! And I love him in the stories they create with the script, such fun!

[User]
Yes, he is! He has that very tough, macho Russian attitude, and it looks really good on him!

He's like:
"You want to do porn?"
"I get you in porn!"

Like it's already decided! No problem.  Wish I had that kind of confidence!

[Assistant] Well, the physique he displays helps a lot with that 🥵🥵

[User] 💯 Definitely!  The man is simply gorgeous!  The word Stud, fits him like a velvet glove!

[Assistant] Hunk stud, I would say 😜


[User]
Good morning, my favorite guests.

Happy hump day! Nothing exciting to report today, though I'm sk happy to see everyone like my png :3 I hope you're all having an amazing week and have a great holiday (for those who celebrate it)

I love you all 💜💚

[Assistant] Nothing exciting huh? Not that it needs to be reported bit still 😑💗

[User] Do not take this seriously! I'm not mad or anything honey! 💗

[Assistant] Same to you Dice! 😄


[User] Mischief happened on "Truth"Social 🤣

[Assistant] No way! Who'd ever do such a thing over there? 😂

[User] I may or may not have done a shit over there....

[User] Nice! Is it a secret?

[Assistant] We'll see if it gets a reaction....


[User] I wonder how many other “they do X better in Y” comparisons to the US just come down to those last three words.

[Assistant] (This is where I mention I have lived in two other countries on two other continents that yes, did many things better by virtue of being dense, walkable cities.)

[User] We're too dense to have walkable neighborhoods in the US.

[Assistant] Yes, yes we are.


[User] I love the day before a major holiday. People are so checked out and focused on fun. I have a client meeting this morning and a witness interview but otherwise I’m thinking about turkey and pumpkin pie. What are you guys doing today?

[Assistant] Prepping for tomorrow, finishing up some cleaning because we’re hosting this year.

[User] Scrolling on here. 😂😂

[Assistant] I love it!


[User] One of my favourite poets; I must go here to see his grave www.theguardian.com/culture/2018...

[Assistant] The newly discovered grave is about 10 metres from the original gravestone. Our picture was on his birthday after the new stone was placed there 🙂

[User] Thanks. My daughter works a stone's throw from the graveyard and we've said we'll go together -- very soon. I will no doubt take a few pictures to remember WB and the day.

[Assistant]
Same. I had lunch with him most summer days for years

In the photo in the Guardian article of the old gravestone, to the left you will see a London Plane tree immediately behind the corner fence. William sleeps there 🙂


[User]
I believe ttrpgs as a whole would benefit greatly from large websites like Polygon, CBR etc not linking to fucking Amazon for every product guide ever.

Want to support the little guy? Recommending a cool indie game?
LINK TO AN INDIE STORE THEN.

[Assistant]
You're 100% right.

However, how would the poor large sites then earn their commission money? /S

At this point I almost always feel like sites with direct links weren't written to benefit the reader but the purse of the site owner ...

[User] Totally agree. But bet its cause they benefit from affiliate pay back from purchases from those links.

[Assistant]
Which makes sense for small websites. But polygon?
Then again never thought dicebreaker would fall apart.

[User]
Oh it's bc of affiliate links fo' sure. But that doesn't make it any less sucky. Everyone seems to expect indies to keep surviving off vibes, sunshine and pats on the head.
Can't eat vibes though or pay rent with pats.

[Assistant]
100%; even if it went to places like itch would be better.
Will try and keep this in mind to remember to comment on their stories with indie links.

[User] At risk of stating the obvious, indie stores don't offer kickbacks, and online advertising revenue has never really recovered.

[Assistant] Oh I'm fully aware of the 'why', doesn't make it any less shitty.


[User] For those who have been following my journey the last few months, here's a not so brief update:

[Assistant]
After everything that happened this spring with the company and my personal life, I took the summer off. This included fully disconnecting from social media and a full month abroad in Europe.

This was my first time doing something like that, and a really healing experience.

[User] I moved! I now live in a sweet high rise in downtown Raleigh with a gorgeous view and a pretty cool community.

[Assistant]
I spent time figuring out what to do next with Lightforge. While Project ORCS is canceled, we're not done yet.

I can't seem to stop trying experimental games involving talking, so now I'm playing around with LLMs and how they can be utilized for new game experiences beyond just "NPCs talk better".

[User]
I've also had a ton of fun being a programmer again and learning new domains.

Being a startup CEO was a unique and fulfilling experience, but my roots are in code. Learning a new tech stack makes me feel like a student again, with all the fun emotions and possibilities that brings.

[Assistant] Also most don't know this but my college job in the early 00s was as a sysadmin for a tiny ISP, but I've hardly touched that since. Deploying an Ubuntu AWS instance to run my model is bringing back a lot of fun memories, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how the muscle memory is coming back!

[User] Speaking of muscle memory and pleasant memories, I've also gotten back into StarCraft 2 and play nearly daily trying to do the "Bronze to GM" climb. Just hit plat, although that might stand for "plateau" in my case...

[Assistant] Anyway, now that Bluesky is a viable alternative to Twitter, I hope to share more thoughts as I explore game design and game tech around LLMs!


[User] SB: P5, person to whom $ is given or to whom a check is made out (–EE suffix).

[Assistant] P6: 24–hr. calendar unit when you receive salary, or peanut caramel candy bar; compound noun.

[User]
Genius with Y6, barked like a small dog, or talked incessantly; past verb.
All letters used except O so far. I'll continue thinking of them.

[Assistant] D4/D5: Two spellings of "1 of the 7 Dwarfs. Dulled by alcohol or a narcotic, or stupid." Shorter 1 is missing an E.

[User]
Obscure E5 (unless you're an English major).
Form of lyric poem written in couplets, in which a long line is followed by a shorter one, from Greek.

[Assistant] P6 compound: Outer shell of small green spherical veggies; usually 2 words.

[User] P8: Study of the theory & practice of teaching & learning, pangram.

[Assistant]
QB no hints with P4 head of the RC Church, currently Francis.
No debuts, no O word, 1 A- prefix of a word today (which we also had recently), some slang spellings of Dad or Grandfather.


[User]
In the space of 3 months we have turned our household into a demand-side flexibility node - heat-pump, batteries and now a EV that we can run & charge flexible.

This is out energy usage yesterday, included running all heating/hot-water, daytime household/office energy and added 16m range to our EV.

[Assistant]
Total cost was £2.73.

The heat-pump generated 48kWh of heat and 10kWh of hot water.  This would have cost £4.64 with our old Gas combi-boiler.

16 miles in our Diesel would have cost £1.76.

10kWh of electricity without batteries+tariff would have £2.60.

Total previous cost would have been £9.00.

[User]
So we saved £6.27 in just one day.  In 2 weeks Octopus Energy will be removing our gas meter so we'll save 26p/day on standing charge so an equivalent day will become £6.53 saving.

We aren't the only benefices of this transition.  Quieter, less local pollution, far far less CO2, no peak grid usage.

[Assistant]
We've achieved this remarkable transition with just £39k investment in upgrading the house and car.

That's about 15% the value of our house.

In the grand scheme of things this is really small investment to decarbonize and improve quality of life while lowering bills.


[User] The country’s response to the growing threat of another pandemic.

[User]
I caught some sort of ick this weekend.  Fucking miserable.
Not COVID but damn.

[Assistant] I’m sorry to hear! It seems like a lot of bad stuff is currently going around, and I hope you’re able to rest up and feel better ASAP.

[User]
Thank you 💙
I’m a hot mess.

[Assistant] I hope you’re not forcing yourself to do stuff you’re not feeling up to doing.


[User] @hcrichardson.bsky.social Heather, I was there, at the beginning, and 6(ish) years later, NEVER miss a post!

[Assistant] Thank you, Paul! It’s been quite a ride, huh? Thanks for being part of the community’s bedrock. We’ve built something extraordinary.

[User]
It's hard to imagine that you began so long ago, yet you're having such an impact in the world.

Oh, it's been a ride....!!!!

[Assistant] WE’RE having an impact. A writer makes no difference without readers. 🙂


[User]
Good Morning Friends...
💗☕

[Assistant] Good morning, beautiful soul! 💕

[User] Right back my sweet friend!  Have a fabulous day!  Let's get this day started!  But first, COFFEE!  ☺💗☕🫶🙏

[Assistant] Yes, coffee ☕ 🙏🏼💕😊

[User] Good morning!

[Assistant]
Beautiful Wednesday to you my friend...
☺🫶🙏💕☕

[User] Good Morning!! 💗☕🥰

[Assistant]
Beautiful morning to you my friend!
Happy Wednesday!  🤗🙏🫶🌸💕


[User] Ah yes, the classic “CTR means I’m winning” argument. Keep dreaming, buddy. You could have a CTR of 200%, but if you’re not selling, it’s just a fancy way to say “I’m broke.”

[Assistant] Startups usually talk about society's current problems that's why they have better ctr but doesn't mean that they are winning at sales.

[User] So where's the ROI then if there is no conversion?!

[Assistant]
The app is your store and ads are for getting people into the store, now you have to invest in the store to make people buy.

Investment is all the money put into business including ads, item cost and team cost.

We calculate ROI at the end to check business efficiency, for ads we calculate CAC.


[User] I've been mulling over what I want to do for a solo music project over the next few months while the band takes a much deserved winter break, and I still haven't decided on a specific idea, but the list is getting shorter and some of the themes are coming into focus, so that's good.

[Assistant] One thing I definitely want is for it to be different somehow than what I've been doing for the last several years. I want to break some of the old rules I've imposed on myself. A big one is only 1 of each instrument - maybe we'll have 2 guitars on a song 😱

[User]
I've definitely settled on it being a solo record where I'll play all the instruments because that's really important to me.

I also want it to have big mood times. Big instrumental sections that make you feel something. Not just solo breaks but crafted sections that dive deep into the groove.

[Assistant] Gonna have to actually start writing some shit or I'm never gonna get this thing done!


[User]
They think they can lullaby white people into forgetting what happened to brown people after seeing those numbers.

"Oh, come on guys, let's make nice. yall aren't really them. WE can be friends in Whitelandia, and then YOU dont have to suffer with THEM"

[Assistant]
Bollocks to the lot of em . Bunch of idiots.
Hello beautiful 😍

[User] Word! Hello how are ya? 😁

[Assistant] I'm good beautiful. 🥰


[User]
You know, "just in case" 👀

Let's hope for the best and hope Trump can walk things back in January.

[Assistant]
So these leftie criminals are gonna really try to burn it all down before 1/20?

Christmas day?

[User] Biden's already giving them a head start 🤷

[Assistant] He’s one of the leftie criminals i referred to. 🤓


[User]
Oh dear 🤣

Rouble in the rubble 🤣

[Assistant] You post too slowly, 112,50 now www.google.com/search?q=eur...

[User] Sorry dollar is here www.google.com/search?q=eur...

[Assistant] Wow. It's screwed 🤣


[User] Day 13, today we saw France backtrack on its willingness to uphold international law and claim Netenyahu has immunity, we've been seeing western papers basically declare that IHL doesn't apply to superior races/people. They don't say it quite like that but they may as well.

[Assistant] Yesterday we saw clips of Israel's extremist finance minister openly declare his plans for ethnic cleansing and "reducing the population" of Palestinians. Yet our western leaders, media and many coverers of extremism/fascism pretend like they don't see what's happening.

[User] I also learned yesterday that a particular 'anti-hate' group that I was wondering about may have an actual motivation to not cover the increasing Israel related fascism & disinfo. So not just an oversight.

[Assistant] Again, if we can't rely on the anti fascists and extremism coverers in a time where international law is falling apart, the most powerful country in the world (the US) is bullying countries to not adhere to it, to protect an ethnostate.. we're truly fkd.


[User] I always treat Week 9 (of 11) as the last week of new content in my modules and honestly, it's been the best choice. I get a full week for revision + integrative exercises, and another for discussion of the final assignment and Q&A (and have a bit of a buffer if I'd left something pending).

[Assistant] Back in my home country, almost all my modules ran all year round, so coming from c. 28 week-long modules to fitting in full modules in 11 weeks has been a bit of an adaptation, I won't lie. I miss the flexibility and the greater opportunities for *real* student-centredness that my old life allowed.

[User]
THIS
I suddenly remembered how at my school we'd have a whole month for revision/resits before failing (=having to sit for December exams) and i tried it this year with my primary students and it worked 👀

Full schedule by October.
They're too tired by November... We'll just go over things and rest.

[Assistant] That makes good sense! Love it when things work 💪!


[User] I’ve got some free books to share. These can be accessed at www.percivalconstantine.com/subscribe/. You’ll get them all in short order, but the form determines which books you get first.

[Assistant] First up is for urban fantasy fans. The Dark Crossroads Sampler contains two novellas and four short stories and serve as lead-ins to my Luther Cross and Morningstar series.

[User] Next is for mystery fans. Hopeless is a short story that introduces Kyoko Nakamura, the star of a two-book mystery series set in Osaka.

[Assistant] Third is The Myth Hunter Short Stories. These are two pulp adventure short stories set in the world of my Myth Hunter series.

[User] And finally, Omega Knights: Fire & Lightning. A prequel to my upcoming Power Rangers-inspired serial.

[Assistant] Again, all these are at www.percivalconstantine.com/subscribe/. If you sign up, all of them will arrive eventually. The selection is just for which you get first.


[User]
Ex hub thought animals should be outside bcus they were “messy”.

This coming from a guy who couldn’t control his urine stream well-enough to not pee on the floor & seat. Since I was the one who cleaned house every Saturday, I’ve always suspected it was intentional.

[Assistant] I would have put a medical dog cone in the toilet bowl as a funnel.

[User] He probably wouldn’t like this 😂🤣

[Assistant] Animals are family. They belong where the family is. Also, dogs are pack animals. They have no idea why their pack leader separates from them. Better for physical and mental animal health to be inside.


[User] For your toebean poking pleasure.

[User] Omgl Carrot has fluffy paws! I bet they are soft. 🥹

[Assistant] Now I know why people who can see get caught up in pics of cats for like 10 minutes at a time. This Bluesky alt text is such a step up from Elon's hellscape. Thank you both.


[User] Territory isn't the primary issue in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, it's whether Ukraine's security is guaranteed for the future. That's what Ukraine needs and Russia opposes. Focusing on territory is a smokescreen to cover up this main contradiction and shift the blame on Ukraine.

[Assistant] The guarantee also cannot depend on the moods and elections of western democracies. Guarantee from russian-side is completely not trustworthy. It needs to be something ironclad.

[User] Literally what Zelensky was asking for even before February 24, 2022!!!

[Assistant] Teritory first! Security from who? Who can guarantiee anything! Ever!


[User] A most excellent review of Yara Asmar’s new album…

[Assistant] Woah. Hadn't see that there was a new Yara Asmar album. ✨

[User]
Yep, it’s gorgeous and out now on Lebanese label, Ruptured:

yaraasmar.bandcamp.com/album/stutte...

[Assistant] Goin' in...


[User] Wake up kids, a new episode of @pstrophyroom.bsky.social is here 🥳

[Assistant] Always a great way to start my Thursday mornings!

[User] But it’s still only Wednesday 😭

[Assistant] Sorry was meant to say Wednesday. I got my days mixed up 🤣🤣🤣

[User] I really really wish it was Thursday lol 😂

[Assistant] An early Turkey Day episode!!!


[User] This is why God created journalists. www.theguardian.com/media/2024/n...

[Assistant] Yes, then He created billionaire owners and paywalls.

[User] Do you work for free? Asking for a friend who happens to write and do expensive research for a living.

[Assistant] I do not. And I would not. I also believe that the average “working class” person who journalists keep saying wasn’t reached last election, will not pay to read articles.

[User] This might sound like a crazy idea but hear me out. What if we had University programs where students could learn to collect and evaluate information and then write about it in a way that the general public could understand and have some confidence in?

[Assistant] But many journalists stopped fact checking! We couldn’t stand to keep watching and reading as they pretended Donald was an alleged crook, not a convicted felon (for one example). It’s been exhausting, infuriating, and destructive of our trust.


[User]
This is why what a company does or doesn't towards AIs, matter more on a moral level and almost nothing else, if they keep their API open and free (or low cost).
As OP says, good research and good services using APIs are the ones paying when companies then close/monetize their API to avoid this.

[Assistant]
Blolook (a Japan service) just closed on twt due to API fees. It was 8 yrs old and I used it since the beginning, to check how many ppl blocked me. But it lived on donations.
Here ClearSky and Sky Follower Bridge are "good uses of API", however it keeps open the door for these things.

[User]
People who don't give half a fuck about anything and do things just bc they can.
Don't even know if "public posts" here means only those (like me) who allow not-logged ppl to see the posts or whoever is "not private", considering that bsky has not (yet?) a private account feature.

[Assistant]
Anyway it seems they removed it, but don't know if and how many ppl already got it.
And pretty sure they did it and apologized just bc of the backlash. Otherwise, if good morals were on them, they'd have never done sth like this in first place 🙃
Apologizing AFTER sth already so clear means nothing.


[User] The Invaders 25• Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins & Frank Springer,John Costanza, George Roussos original colours, Archie Goodwin🙂

[Assistant] I assume the Scarlett Scarab is a wink and nod to Blue Beetle?

[User] Knowing Roy, I think it has to be🙂

[Assistant] I don't really know Frank Robbins too well, but this looks fantastic, and I've thought the same of his Batman work that I've seen.

[User] those are some unnecessary arrows on that second page.

[Assistant] (at least to my eyes, maybe early comic readers needed them?)

[User] You see directional arrows used quite a bit in comics from the 50’s and 60’s, but I can’t recall them being used that often in the 70’s🙂

[Assistant] Oh yeah seen a lot but often for very confusing layouts, this one seems obvious but who knows maybe editorial thought anything that wasn’t super simple needed a helping arrow.

[User] I agree! Totally redundant 🙂

[Assistant] Frank Robbins grew on me over time.  Some of the body contortions he drew were crazy.  Seemed fitting for 1940s set comic.  I believe he was a wwii buff and would draw very accurate aircraft in Invaders.  I think he also designed Union Jack.  Invaders Omnibus is a must have.

[User] He was a perfect choice for that comic, something teenage me didn’t fully understand at the time🙂..

[Assistant] In these panels Namor’s heels look like they have stylized fins, not wings. Perhaps there was a misinterpretation along the way? And they were originally fins?


[User]
Asia Overland, by Mark Elliott and Wil Klass

This was a classic mid-90s guidebook that gained a bit of a cult following over the years.

[Assistant] It had a particular emphasis on the ex-Soviet republics given that they had just recently opened up to independent travel, but generally focused on what were, at that time, considered more out of the way countries and regions.

[User] Obviously much has changed since - for example the book urges caution when visiting Cambodia, still dealing with a Khmer Rouge insurgency.

[Assistant] By the time a fellow traveler gifted me a copy in 2005 most of the practical information was redundant, but the spirit of the book certainly helped inspire a certain approach to my travels during the 00s. The pics attached should give a taste of the style adopted by the authors.


[User] Rachel Reeves seems to have no clue, cutting this, that and the other without looking at the likely long term effect of those cuts. How does this cut to environmental grants to farmers fit with targets for restoring nature? She needs to junk her fiscal rules fast. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

[Assistant] Needs must Pauline, 22 billion can’t be found without pain. Put the Tory creators of our difficulty in the stocks and sling your mud at them… the guilty.

[User] Tory austerity is certainly why many of our public services lie in ruins. But since we know spending cuts have led to the current misery why on earth carry on doing the same and expect different results? It's a lie that there is no money - it can always be found when really needed & we need it now.

[Assistant] Yes and no . The grit in the cogs being the response of markets  as lettuce Truss discovered. Got to play  carefully or we are all toast.

[User] There were other factors at work in the Truss meltdown,  including over leveraged pension funds and the BoE announcing quantitative tightening, which it had to postpone for a month or two. We are not hostages to bond vigilantes unless we choose to be.

[Assistant] I would love to believe it is that easy . Do you believe that Rachel and Keir are part of a conspiracy  ?… or is it that they know the job from the inside and are doing it right ? I go for the second option.


[User]
Of course you would support jihadists in Chechnya who wanted to create an Islamic khaliphate on northern side of Caucasus mountains

Americans and supporting terrorism are best buddies.

[Assistant] That is what you think the Chechnyans were fighting for? Holy shit dude. Stop drinking the koolaid.

[User] just wanted to say i appreciate your perspective on history, it's like you said: we dont know whats going on on the other side of the world. Plus there's so much propaganda about Russia. Anyway, thank you.

[Assistant] Awww thank you ♥


[User] 🧵 I’ve been listening to #DuneProphecy podcasts, and apparently a few podcasters think that it was inappropriate that Lady Shannon Richese used sex to get information from Constantine.

[Assistant] To them I ask: Have you ever read or watched Dune? (they have). She was probably trained by the Sisterhood, and sent by one of her parents or their Truthsayer to do exactly that.

[User] Having said that, the sexposition went on a bit too long for my taste. I get it, it’s HBO, but that could have been done without being so graphic.

[Assistant]
Wait, wut?? Are you telling me people are mad because a woman used sex for something other than providing pleasure??

quelle surprise!


[User] Someone’s having fish and chips for lunch in the office and it stinks, I’m now looking at my soup and really wanting fish and chips!!

[Assistant] I work 3 doors from an excellent chippy, it kills me! 🤐

[User]
I can imagine, nothing beats a good chippy.

The smell is just lingering in the office and my mouth is watering 🤤

Taking all my willpower to be good and not go for one 😂

[Assistant] We allow ourselves 1 work chippy a year at Xmas! 🐷

[User] Once a year, I’d probably be there once a week if it was that close 😂🤣

[Assistant]
With mushy peas, curry sauce, slice of white bread covered in lurpak

Oh and cup of tea.


[User] The Nova Scotia PCs had a very good night as expected. But perhaps more interesting is the NDP's leap to official opposition in the province, eclipsing the Liberals.

[Assistant] Canadian politics is becoming much more of a blue / orange business. There are now six provinces where the NDP is government with a Con opposition, or an NDP official opposition is facing a Con government.

[User]
This story is as much about the good work of today's NDP machine as it is a stalled Liberal operation. As Gerald Butts said recently, “I think the Liberal brand nationwide is weaker today than it ever has been, and certainly in my lifetime.”

A realignment in federal politics now feels inevitable.

[Assistant] Most recent polling has the NDP in a strong second in the Yukon, with the next election coming sometime next year:


[User] Every now and then I push my Louis Tomlinson button (heeeey, this is a family show… or is it?!) to see if anything new happens. Anyone else?

[Assistant] LMFAO the button 😆

[Assistant] more often❤❤🌹🎸


[User]
A BeMyEyes AI session in which all of the humor is drained out of one of the greatest cartoons ever penned.

If I had had no prior knowledge of this image from when I could see, I would NOT have been able to ultimately obtain an accurate description.

share.bemyeyes.com/chat/G6kGbNL...

[Assistant] And I bet if you ask it to provide a description of the same cartoon tomorrow, there's a good chance it will make the same mistakes...

[User] I will have to dig up the transcripts where I have had arguments with Be My Eyes' engine over it's inability to learn. It has told me explicitly it's not its job to learn, preserve information, nor to recognize individuals although it routinely does under some circumstances.

[Assistant] And yes, I have returned to BME AI with several unsatisfactory results, only to obtain new, novel unsatisfactory results.


[User]
You know about Glaze and Nightshade

Introducing Parrot. Parrot uses innovative fractal mathematics to produce images that induce debilitating trigeminal neuralgia in genAI bros who see them.

For the low low cost, your art will be impossible to steal.

[Assistant] But in this scenario I want them to steal it.

[User] It works if the artwork is printed too. It's shared on billboards, weaponised. A full page and in the San Francisco Chronicle takes out whole blocks...

[Assistant] I’d fund that❤


[User]
Thankfully im off work until Dec 2nd
And only 3 day work weeks until January
(I have soooooo much pto to burn before the new year or I lose it)
CHECK UR PTO AND USE IT BEFORE U LOSE IT.
My job only lets me carry 40 over into the new year so I have like 50 to burn right now😩

[Assistant] Shiiid lemme get some of them.  Sharing is caring. 💫

[User] Yeah, I’m done for the year after next week (with a little wiggle room for consulting emergencies.) Usually plan better, but this year went sideways.

[Assistant] (Also, not telling how much I have left after. Everybody’d be mad at me. I have really generous vacay.)


[User] House of Lords reform would have the huge benefit of lessening the impact of geriatric nonentities like Balfe.

[Assistant]
Abolishment would be best.

Elect a smaller number of cross-party people who are younger and on fixed time terms. Re-elect every 5 or 7 years.

[User] Unlike many politicians in their 80 and 90s (such as Dick Taverne, Heseltine, Bill Rodgers & Kenneth Baker), the reaction on hearing Balfe's name is not "I'm glad he's still with us". He was a useless MEP who walked off in a huff because he'd been denied a gong he thought he was entitled to, IIRC.

[Assistant] These hereditary peers mostly old men have no idea about our lives.  It has to be disbanded we are not living in the dark ages.


[User]
Not long now until I head down to give my Tech Noir Nights talk on the liminal nightclub in genre film for @miskatonicihs.bsky.social so come with me if you want to live…

(Ticket details below 👇)

[Assistant] Tickets are available here, unless you already have a lecture season pass - billetto.co.uk/e/tech-noir-...

[User]
You can get an idea of what I’ll be talking about through this earlier essay

pietersender.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/t...

[Assistant] Tickets are available here, unless you already have a lecture season pass - billetto.co.uk/e/tech-noir-...


[User] I went to my first in-person conference in ages last week, and it was so much more rewarding than online. And that's with me being easily exhausted by being among people. I just can't take in online presentations, and most of the really good stuff happens during the coffee breaks.

[Assistant] Organisers of hybrid/online conferences should do some serious thinking about what can replace the coffee break talk for those at home. Encouraging use of the chat is a good first step.

[User] I saw one conference (can’t remember which) that sent its online attendees a selection of teabags in the post, specifically for use during the breaks. (Mind you, this was peak pandemic, so this may have been funded from savings on in-person bursaries …)

[Assistant] Absolutely agree, by the way! It’s really hard to do hybrid well without one or the other feeling like an afterthought.

[User] Yes, you can't beat in-person for community building, which is what conferences really are. And the rich know this, which is why they spend half their lives in jet planes to meet each other in person.

[Assistant] Are you familiar with the Bar Camp format? It works on the principle that the breaks in conferences are where the interesting stuff happens. There's no set panels: people just write their topics on post-its and choose a time and location. It's incredibly fun.


[User] Just listened to all the 2024 best songs and got them into some sort of order. Takeaways: A-listers did good this year, a few nugus but not as many as previous years. Female domination as usual, very few boy groups. Rock is in, a lot of bands and guitar sounds. Rap is mostly out. Good year overall.

[Assistant] I look forward to yet again failing to guess your top songs of the year. I haven't been on the ball since N.O.M Mega Punch.

[User] When is k-rap ever in? Korean rapper need to shower first.

[Assistant] When is k-rap ever in? Korean rappers need to shower first.