[User]
Good morning

Someone explain to me why I’m trying to create a Monster Hunter-esque DnD campaign

AT 9 IN THE MORNING????

[Assistant]
made for 5e but it's a very good supplement. rules to hunt, carve and harvest monsters. and craft magic items. one of my best purchases dnd wise for YEARS.

loottavern.com/product/heli...

[User]
Oh sick! Thank you!!
📌

[Assistant] you're welcome friend!


[User] THIS! This is why this scene broke me down like it did. My girl was never a villain. She was trying to help.

[Assistant] Exactly!! Now anxiety's methods weren't what Riley needed. But when Riley was able to call on the emotion she needed they were able to show up for her and do their thing!

[User] I always say "Emotions are just information." I think that's the lesson of Inside Out. It's info but it's incomplete. Riley is best when her emotions can work together/balance each other. When they sat Anxiety in that chair and asked her about immediate threats...chile I was in that theater WAILING!

[Assistant] Me too!! I was honestly crying through the whole movie. I think that moment is such a good example of teaching your emotions how to show up while being their whole selves.


[User] This is a great interview. He has exactly the right attitude about the sketch, and you get a sense of how being in Blue Öyster Cult is a job, but seems like a pretty good one. I love it when entertainers and other artists make that aspect clear, demystify the work.

[Assistant]
us: [at our desk jobs, making cracks about Blue Öyster Cult still playing the same songs they got famous for 40 years ago]

Blue Öyster Cult: [having a very nice time making a living playing the same songs they got famous for 40 years ago, instead of getting desk jobs]

[User] I have never contested the basic hilarity of the sketch.

[Assistant] It's always a comfort to read an interview with an older person who seems to have a grip on things and a sense of humor. Like there's hope for us.


[User] There are far, far worse instances of Christian hegemony, BUT: I’m studying Hellenistic astro & taking notes with many references to the ‘lord’ of a sign, lot, another planet, etc. Every time I type it, the word ‘lord’ gets capitalised. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE.

[Assistant] Yes, other g-ds are also referred to as ‘Lord’ - but a) I’m not talking about (or, frankly, to) them, & b) my phone isn’t going to force a convention on behalf of these other g-ds, is it.

[User] We could argue that the planets (which are the functional lords in this context) are likened to deities - but are they deities themselves? I’m inclined to say no, because I don’t really spend my time arguing with them. They’re more part of the language g-d/s use to speak to us, IMO.

[Assistant] We could argue that the planets (which are the functional lords in this context) are likened to deities - but are they deities themselves? I’m inclined to say no, because I don’t really spend my time arguing with them. They’re more part of the language g-d/s use to speak to us, IMO.


[User]
🎶 what's everyone's on repeat song today?

here's mine~ the perfect song for the first snowy day of the year ❄💙

[Assistant] Currently heavily obsessed this song! 🥰

[User] ohh this is cool! the music video is so pretty too 🥹

[User] of course it is :3 🖤

[Assistant]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=637E...

I watched this new Jinjer video several times last night. They never cease to amaze me.

[User] seeing my gf again today so i'm playing the song that reminds me the most of her on repeat 🥰🥰

[Assistant] Always been fascinated by the (Club Mix) since the song in no way sounds like a Club Mix.


[User] I cast these on yesterday so I’d have a portable project for the train… then all the trains on my route were cancelled. oh well. some socks-in-progress for #WIPWednesday #knitting 🧶

[Assistant] Gorgeous colorway! I can’t do two socks at once I wind up with the yarn tangling to the point that I wanna rip my hair out!

[User] it is! it’s even nicer in person, much warmer and pink…er. and I take lots of detangling breaks!

[Assistant] You must have more patience than me!

[User] literally only for knitting, I’m reduced to incoherent rage by any other frustrations 😂

[Assistant] We’ve got to get the stress out somehow 😂

[User] Love that color!

[Assistant] it’s really pretty! and I don’t normally do ‘pretty’, as such, but this spoke to me!


[User]
I have a surfeit of grapes. I have no Jell-O or mayo in the house, so I guess I’ll make chutney. #IYKYK
🍽🍜

www.eatingwell.com/recipe/25080...

[Assistant] If only they were concord or equivalent you could make a pie!

[User] I had a grapevine at the old place that produced grapes that tasted like concord. Such yummy jam! These are Globe red grapes and I really like them. Never made Grape Chutney before, so we will see.

[Assistant] What about our famous grape salad? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

[User] I am out of mayo, otherwise I would be obliged to make it for tomorrow. Whew!

[Assistant] I love using grapes for compotes! It goes on everythinggg 😋


[User] 🎬 This one’s for the #film buffs. I’ll keep this brief because it’s a short week, and I imagine many of you are preparing to log off for some turkey with family and friends in a few days. Before you do, I thought you might appreciate hearing about three #photography films. Enjoy!

[Assistant] I saw A Photographic Memory the other day as part of the DocNYC festival. Very moving, fantastic film.

[User] I'm eager to see it!

[Assistant] I’m kind of excited to see that new movie about Masahisa Fukase, even though I don’t usually like biopics. I think it’s called Ravens?

[User] I wasn't aware of that! Sounds intriguing. Thanks for the tip, Hannah.

[Assistant] And if you ever come across a copy of the book “Yohko” by him that doesn’t cost $1300 and you tell me about it, I’d be much obliged. It’s still my holy grail photobook. 😘


[User]
"Plibersek had been negotiating with Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young for months and was close to striking a deal to create Australia’s first national environment protection agency on Tuesday night" 🫠

www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...

[Assistant] Awful week and a bit from Albo.

[User] I think it played out well for him getting the Greens to fold (disagreed with his policies but I think he won the politics), but now I think he'll be branded the blocker. He also doesn't like Plibersek, so imagine that's part of this too, which makes him look small minded.

[Assistant]
No way he’s going to let her do something actually useful with the portfolio he deliberately gave to her to bury her.

Awful cynical politics.


[User]
I think we all have shows, much like some movies, that we don't mind re-watching. A couple friends keep recommending "Severance" and "Yellowstone".

I have nothing against Kevin Costner, but Yellowstone looks like a higher-budget, country soap opera that I'd get bored with quickly.

[Assistant] Speaking of shows, if you watch "Silo" on Apple TV+, they dropped the new episode early, instead of Friday, which is/was a big day for shopping.

[User] The Last of Us is so good. I can hardly wait for a new season. It’s been far too long. I understand that take extreme care in editing.

[Assistant] VFX houses have been backed up for years. These shows are pretty big productions. It's almost always at least a year or two between seasons. I remember when shows were 20+ episodes and storylines were dragged out forever. It's usually quality over quantity now.


[User] Scanrecrarity (Secretary Scanner/Rarity)

[Assistant] Inspired by one of Phi's older bimbony drawings and also the reputation I have among friends as being like a secretary and keeping track of stuff. Twinning's fun I should do more of it.

[User]
In similar vein, commission from that cool friend Phi
bsky.app/profile/bimb...

[Assistant] That’s me!


[User] Over 150 trees are to be planted this tree planting season, as part of @oxfordcitycouncil.bsky.social work to support biodiversity across Oxford.  Oxfordshire County Council will also be planting 109 street trees in Oxford. All trees will have a 3 year watering and aftercare programme.

[Assistant] Resident’s can also sign up to the Council’s newsletter mini-series on the topic of tree planting, entitled ‘Treemails’. The weekly mini-series, aims to act as an introduction to tree planting for people wanting to learn more during the tree planting season. public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKO...

[User] Cllr @annarailton.bsky.social Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford said "This is a fantastic step in supporting biodiversity. Each new tree brings benefits for wildlife, air quality & helps tackle the climate crisis. They are helping us to grow Oxford’s urban forest for future generations.”

[Assistant] [Bonus points to @oxfordcitycouncil.bsky.social for 'Treemail']


[User] Grangemouth, Port Talbot, now Luton. How many more threatened closures, how many more thousands of jobs need to be risked/lost/shipped out of communities before we start taking a just transition for workers seriously?

[Assistant] We need to get on with clean power and decarbonisation. The planet depends on it, and there's a big opportunity there. But that does not mean we can afford to lose sight of the impacts on workers and working-class communities who depend on rapidly changing and declining industries.

[User] We've heard lots of promises of jobs from renewables and the wider transition over the years. But let's be honest. We're still nowhere near the level of investment, planning, engagement or corporate accountability needed to avoid a cliff-edge for 1000s of people in sectors we know are changing.

[Assistant] New jobs have been created, in renewables and increasingly in heat decarbonisation. So far, these have relied too much on workers paying for their own re-training. In many cases they've required relocating - which may be fine for some workers but will do little for the communities around them.

[User] We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of e.g. coal mining. It's a surefire way to create public resentment about the whole clean power "mission" and, more importantly, we already know how harsh the human, social and economic impacts can be.

[Assistant] Labour has signalled some intent here, mooting a more strategic approach to bring clean industries into potentially at-risk areas.

[User] But until we start proactively understanding the actual issues workers and industry face - not just in work but in the communities around them - and start meaningfully and accountably investing in those people and places, we risk falling massively short.

[Assistant] Car mechanics, a large source of jobs for less academic school leavers, vulnerable with there being no clutches, cooling systems, oil changes, exhausts etc. Electrical skills will be valuable but suspect there will be a lot of diagnose and replace.


[User]
@sandrajasper.bsky.social and I have received an AHRC-DFG Research Grant for a three-year project titled 'Networked through Sound: Listening to 20th Century Wildlife Sound Archives.'
All sixteen funded projects from round 6 of this scheme are listed here: www.dfg.de/en/news/news...

[Assistant] This funding will enable us to extend the scope of our current research on the British Library's Wildlife and Environmental Sound collection and the Animal Sound Archive at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, to encompass five other wildlife sound archives located in Europe and South Africa.

[User] We aim to understand how this network of wildlife sound archives, and the recordings they contain, have been produced and consumed in a variety of social and cultural contexts.

[Assistant] Congratulations! Fascinating work. I look forward to updates as the project develops.


[User]
(27/32) Las Vegas 05.

The name of this team is inspired by Mainz 05 from Germany, but also because 1905 was when Las Vegas was founded.

The logo is a roundel that takes form of a poker chip. It has a neon 05 centered, LVFC, and the four suits of cards. The colors are pink, navy blue, and gold.

[Assistant] The home kit is pink with a navy blue stripe down the middle. It has "Las Vegas" on the chest.

[User] The away kit is gold with a navy V across the chest. It also features "Sin City" in the iconic Las Vegas font style.

[Assistant] The third kit is white with gold marbling to represent the ornate casinos of the strip. The sponsor is the Nevada SPCA.


[User] Jay Bhattacharya is going to lead the NIH www.bbc.com/news/article...

[Assistant] thoughts on him?

[User] He was an anti-lockdown guy and he’s joining antivaxxers in health and human services so…

[Assistant] Bleach shots for everyone on me!


[User]
"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 136:1

William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation:

[Assistant] "Being thus arived in a good harbor & brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, & delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof, againe to set their feete on ye firme & stable earth, their proper elemente...

[User] What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace? May not & ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our faithers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes;

[Assistant] but they cried unto ye Lord, and he heard their voyce, and looked on their adversitie…"


[User]
Woke in a sweat with a feverish need to write down all the things I’d thought of for my upcoming spot on a local One Show style TV programme to talk about 50 uses for gaffer tape.

None of this exists and I’m now wondering why THIS is the dream my brain chooses to remember.

[Assistant] What was number 27?

[User] Last night's stress dream was that Charli Evans had sent me to get her a spiced hot chocolate before a show, & I was stuck in a specific café, where I knew they *did* sell a Mexican Hot Chocolate, but no hot chocolate was listed on the menu, and the barista didn't know what I was trying to order.

[Assistant] I do not know what either Chevs or a quite nice coffee shop I haven't been to in years did to deserve being the manifestation of my stress.


[User] she needs a HBD nose boop!!

[Assistant] From one birthday girl to another, boop!

[User] happy birthday, may it be filled with the kind of boops you prefer!

[Assistant] I hope you get your musubi today. Happy Birthday!


[User]
One to tease @danellin.bsky.social.

Group shot of Sgt Freddie Coulson's class at 65 Air School, Youngsfield, Cape Town, in early 1941.

Freddie is standing in front of the engine on the right with the white flash in his hair.

He and his crew would be dead within a year.

[Assistant] A South African Air Force log book too...

[User] Yep, that was a surprise! I guess he wasn't issued one when he shipped out or lost it en route.

[Assistant] We have a few in the Archive - several chaps who trained in S Africa have them. Some RAF types who trained in Canada have RCAF log books. The thing that gets me is how many pages there are in pre war log books compared to wartime ones. Why waste paper?


[User] And it looks like according to Birsen it has been cancelled. Last episode will be episode 8. A really disappointing decision, but not surprising. They really need to fix the way they make these decisions.

[Assistant] I feel like I jinxed it. I really wish they gave these shows a guaranteed set of eps to start. It's so ridiculous to get people invested and then dump shows over and over. Which makes less people watch in the long run because they're afraid they'll get canceled.

[User]
💯💯!

I was just saying this same thing to a friend. They need to change the way they do business if they want viewers to stick around. And this show was a really good one. I am very disappointed.

[Assistant] I realized that I didn't respond to your first part. You totally didn't jinx it, but I definitely told people that I probably put a curse on it accidentally by watching these last couple of days.


[User] What’s the coolest horsey related thing that’s happened to you? I’ll go first!

[Assistant] I moved back in with my mom at 34 and felt so low.  I had started working for an equine hospital in Texas, which honestly was my dream job but the cost of living was so high and I was in so much debt, I just couldn’t afford it.  I felt like I had JUST gotten horses back even tho I wasn’t riding +

[User] I was so happy.  A few months after I moved here, I found out my trainer from 10+ years ago lived 30 mins from me, and long story short I fell right back into horses and now co own a wonderful OTTB I wouldn’t trade the world for.  My heart is full!

[Assistant] It’s a crazy full circle moment to be besties with one of your favorite people from your past…and I’ve met some super awesome people through her as well.  I swear horses bring all the good in life!!


[User] One day, every white person in American walks to the nearest body of water and drowns. That’s the premise of the novel Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell. I rate it 4/5 stars - recommend! This book is truly is written without the “white gaze” (coined by Toni Morrison) as it explores...

[Assistant] how African Americans would experience the US without white people… and well, the first words that come to mind is freedom and peace. I don't want to give too much away and would love to hear how others receive this book, there was one big thing that bugged me but overall, interesting novel...

[User] Don't take my word for it, check out Jason Reynolds interviewing Cebo Campbell about the novel www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTB1...

[Assistant] I was on the fence about this one--I don't always enjoy speculative/alternative history but I've added it to my TBR list. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here!


[User] Maybe, Garland got in, saw this was international, passed it to the Hague(Jack), Jack gets a temp appointment to keep on it in the US via Biden, continually building the cadr here and his crew internationally. He is technically separate of some of the government stuff, yet always international.

[Assistant] Hmmm It’s a concept for sure.

[User] I’m waiting for the hammer to drop. My nerves are shot!

[Assistant] I genuinely can’t tell if this is a parody account or not.


[User] If you're at all on the domestic counterterrorism beat, tariffs should be part of your threat model for the coming period.

[Assistant] Can you say more? I don't understand the connection.

[Assistant] Got it, thank you! And yeah if we see cuts to the social safety net like SNAP and Medicaid on top of the massive inflation, I can definitely see that cascading.

[User]
It doesn't help that we have three or so bubbles of some variety ready to pop and a hard shock to the economy could be all it takes.

People will make comparisons to 2008, but that's not really accurate.

It'll be like the 1970s, if likely worse.

[Assistant] Trying to figure out bubbles... is AI/chip manufacturing one bubble or 2? Housing a bubble again? Just wondering what other people are worried about, I already got laid off yesterday 😂


[User]
It's kinda "aww man" when both the Shopify CEO and the Wordpress (and therefore WooCommerce) CEO are making worrying moves as of late.

(Anti-union statements, picking highschool-y internet fights with a Wordpress service provider[?])

[Assistant]
Etsy also making weird moves lately, like…

Maybe I'll just use Ko-Fi Shop forreal and hope by the time things get to hectic for Ko-Fi Shop (I hear people say it's not swift for large order quantities), one of these ecommerce companies will calm down.

[User] Shopify has long been a problem, funding pale people supremacists in Canada.

[Assistant]
Boutta go old school and have people email me what it is they want while I go make a PayPal invoice.

/jk... ...unless?


[User] Bitch there is NO. FUCKING. WAY. it feels like 24 degrees with 85% humidity. Stop fucking with my head you stupid app.

[Assistant] Same here and I'm on the south coast NSW. Just had to put the air con on, I'm fucking sweating.

[User] Oh but you mob down there have had extreme heat this week way worse than what I’m whinging about. I’m putting off the aircon until I really need it.

[Assistant] Yeah tomorrow will be our 5th day over 30. It's been awhile since it's been mid 20s at 1130pm at night. Can't sleep when it's like that.


[User] On Sat I visited my father, now in a care home with dementia. They were hosting a Christmas fair & we enjoyed seeing a Spotted Eagle Owl that had been brought to visit. (This one from Tz) Last week's reflections on #birds in culture made me reflect that cultural associations of 🦉differ greatly. 🌿🌏🧪🧵

[Assistant] While cultural values of storks are overwhelmingly positive and make conservation easier, the owls suffers from more negative cultural baggage. A study from Greece gives a typical example www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10...., where 5000 years ago people associated owls with neutral feelings...

[User] but from 1500 BC they became eerie omens associated with death & were feared - not ideal in a care home setting! During the Classical period of Greek history owls were associated with Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, & revered, but come the end of the ancient Greek period their cultural importance waned.

[Assistant] From the 18th C they appear again, with negative associations as a bad omen, a belief still common today www.jstor.org/stable/27284.... The association of owls with death is near global, & leads to persecution, although positive benefits of owls as pest control agents is increasingly recognised.

[User] When we see such negative, or at best shifting cultural values it makes me question the degree to which conservation should incorporate cultural values into decision making. Consistency would certainly require incorporation of negative as well as positive cultural values, but...

[Assistant] I think conservationists like to co-opt cultural values when they are positive, but reject them otherwise. This seems distasteful & suggests that increased prominence of cultural value isn’t actually what we want to underpin conservation. Still, fun to see care home residents enjoying them on Sat!

[User] Lots of interesting ethno-ornithology work on this! In Caribbean  syncretic (aka vodou) religions, owls are witches, to be killed on sight. Similar dilemmas in Madagascar of co-opting beliefs as discreet things, not seeing them as part of worldview. References on request!

[Assistant] Yes indeed, some really good stuff from East Africa too by Darcy Ogada & team. I'd be very interested in reading some of the more thought through things about cherry-picking beliefs vs promoting distinct worldviews though?

[User]
My fave two anthropology books on this are Among the Bone Eaters (Marcus Baynes-Rock) and Crooked Cats (Nayanika Mathur). See also the croc work by Simon Pooley.
But some shameless self-promotion here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

[Assistant] Thanks! Will get reading...

[User] Best wishes to your father, Colin.

[Assistant] Thanks Rob - it's not a fun process but he is in the right place now for the care he needs (even if he's not aware of it).


[User] Too much to figure out right now. I think I'm gonna sleep by about 11am this time today. I want to browse charity village & indeed, and see which daytime or even evening positions are out there.

[Assistant] I'm strictly staying on my self isolative account. And I already know my close friend's IRL may be concerned because I just disappeared off of my anonymous vent account. I didn't post anything concerned though other than being in 'autistic shutdown mode.'

[User] I need to talk to someone also this morning. I'm just in a very lost & confused place, and that's why I'm purposely keeping my distance from people and why I'm not really speaking as much at work .. then again, I do overnights. We don't need to speak as much.

[Assistant] I just know these nights are having me figure out 'stuff.' By stuff, I mean 'some super tough difficult situations' that I honestly wish I had a MOM to help me with but, unfortunately, in life we have to just do it ourselves and that's it. Rely only on ourselves.


[User] While I am thing about Five Fires... one part i am proud of is the city generation rules. You build your own city as a group by choosing from a pool of dice and assigning them to different aspects in different areas. By the time you've finished, you have a really amazing feel of the city.

[Assistant]
And after that, you make your characters who live in the city. Those characters are informed by and grounded in that experience, and you get pretty rich characters out of that.

I will be adding some pregen cities to the game, but want to do it in a way that helps the players connect characters.

[User] I go back and forth about how much detail I want to provide about the actual time period. I could get lost in the history forever, which i don't need to...but also I feel people need to know how amazing these artists were (and are)!

[Assistant]
Djs were musical wizards, but also they were engineers, rigging equipment up to streetlights to throw block parties and hacking turntables.

The break beat transformed music forever.

[User] And i love hip hop as it exists now! But I feel more than ever that folks need to know what it was like in the 70s and 80s. The global powerhouse that is hip hop was deeply criminalized (some ways still is), and these ppl built the foundations for the most amazing culture.

[Assistant]
So, if you were wondering what has taken me so long to finish this damn game... It's because I love hip-hop so damn much and really want to get it right.

These days, l am less concerned with that, and I plan to get it done. Excited.


[User]
D O N E T S K   REGION 🇺🇦

❗The Russians injured three residents of Donetsk region - the police documented war crimes

◼During the day, Russian troops carried out 2,573 shellings on the front line and the residential sector.

[Assistant]
2/

◼8 settlements were under fire:
the cities of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, the villages of Andriivka, Yasnohirka, the villages of Zhovte, Komar, Pishchane, Stara Mykolaivka.

◼35 civilian objects were damaged, including 26 residential buildings.

[User]
3/

 ◼Russia attacked Pokrovsk with drones, four hits were recorded, as a result of which a civilian was wounded, 2 private houses, a garage and a civilian car were damaged.

◼On Zhovtoy, the occupiers struck with artillery - wounding two civilians.

[Assistant]
4/

◼The enemy dropped two FAB-500 aerial bombs with a UMPK module on Yasnohirka of the Kramatorsk urban community - 15 private homes, a civilian car, and a
power line were destroyed.

[User]
5/

◼As a result of the FAB-250 bombs, an enterprise was damaged in Pishchany, an administrative building and a civilian car were damaged in Andriivka.

[Assistant]
6/

◼The enemy bombarded the village of Komar with a "UMPB D-30SN" bomb - 7 private houses were damaged.


[User]
Next week, the International Court of Justice will commence hearings on the obligations of States to address climate change.

I am very optimistic for a clear-headed and clarifying opinion from the ICJ. What I worry about is that the opinion will be disregarded or ignored by high emitter States.

[Assistant] More nefariously, I worry that high emitter States will window-dress their conduct with the right words from the opinion, even as they ignore the opinion in substance.

[User] There is a major and significant "implementation gap" when we talk about international law and great power countries. The construction of a world in which great powers would abide by legal principles/proceedings is now at a low tide.

[Assistant] Addressing climate change and strengthening the international rule of law are one and the same goals. Accountability for damage to the climate system must manifest through legal systems. States must abide by legal boundaries that seek to honor planetary boundaries.


[User]
How did your team get on last night if they played ? 🧐

How are you feeling the season is going so far ? Happy, Optimistic, Concerned, Bricking it! 🤷♂

[Assistant] We were involved in a game with PNE where both sides were lucky to get nil.

[User] Not one for the history books then!

[Assistant]
Won 2-0 at Hull.
Little quality in the final third from both teams.
Wednesday's first penalty since May 2023.
Could be the Hull gaffers' last game.


[User] place ur bets chat will I get my presentation grade on time (today) (not rly sure I want it)

[Assistant]
Hum, I will need a bit more information before betting my hard earned money.
What are the stakes ?
The odds ?
Is it luck based ?
did you train enough ? What about your opponent ?
How is the terrain ? and the weather ?

[User] the odds… low bc my professor is insanely busy always and rarely replies to emails 😭

[Assistant]
It would feel like cheating.
I would root for you to get your grade. Even a good one.


[User] What? 😏

[Assistant] Love it!

[User] So happy for you two. Now, stop making out in the kitchen. I want breakfast.

[Assistant] Oops sorry!


[User] I can imagine their incredible pride in such an honour 😉

[Assistant] I've been trying to get sanctioned by them for years! Most of my former coworkers are already on the list. I'm feeling left out.

[User] Which of course immediately earns you a follow 😁

[Assistant] 😄I am more than honored, and will follow back!


[User]
GAME OF THE DAY - Paperback
Scrabble's younger, smarter cousin, and they're much more fun at parties.
In Paperback, everyone starts with 10 CARDS, and each round they draw 5 to make a word.
Each card has a point value (bottom right) and a coin value (top left)

(1 of 4)

[Assistant]
After you make a word, the coin value is added, so you can buy more letters from the market. These cards go into a discard pile until you can't draw anymore, at which point all your cards are shuffled into a new draw pile. This continues as you build up your letters.

(2 of 4)

[User]
so you can write a meaty novel worth big points.

Some letters have special powers that activate:

Draw a bigger hand
Score twice the amount
Buy two cards

Paperback adds layers of strategy to what could easily be a dry spelling game, with challenges like placing a letter at the end of a word.

[Assistant]
or starting a word with a specific letter. This game builds on Scrabble’s foundation while pulling us into the 21st century and modern gaming. It offers an bright engaging experience and brings friends together around the original social network, the kitchen table

(4 of 4)


[User] Can anyone tell me a real world benefit/application of crypto? I have a handful of cardano since many years but apart from rugs and expensive jpg’s haven’t seen anything.

[Assistant]
You should look up World Mobile, a decentralized mobile network that incentives people to host cellular connection in rural areas.
Iagon is decentralized storage solution, not hackable and can't be ddosed or shut down.
Nunet is making a network for AI-compute.
All on the #Cardano blockchain.

[User] Got 2000 Wmt myself but I am highly sceptical of their real world results. They offer services in parts of Africa where mobile services are already excellent.


[User] 1/7 Let's talk about CBD oil during pregnancy - what you need to know 🤰

[Assistant] 2/7 The short answer? Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and FDA recommend AVOIDING CBD oil during pregnancy.

[User] 3/7 Why? The research is extremely limited. While CBD might seem like a natural solution for pregnancy symptoms like nausea and anxiety, we simply don't know enough about its effects on developing babies.

[Assistant]
4/7 Studies on marijuana use during pregnancy have shown risks like:

• Lower birth weights
• Developmental issues
• Increased stillbirth risk

We can't rule these out for CBD either.

[User] 5/7 Yes, you might hear stories about women using CBD during pregnancy. But remember: anecdotes aren't evidence. Your pregnancy journey deserves choices backed by solid science.

[Assistant] 6/7 Already tried CBD while pregnant? Don't panic. Talk to your healthcare provider - they can monitor you and your baby's health and provide personalized guidance.


[User] This book is one of finest I’ve ever read (yes, I said “ever”) There’s gold out there in the writing world and the independents are currently the ones finding it. Rónán Hession is an example of that treasure.

[Assistant] Thank you Dawn , that's such a lovely thing to say. Cheers, Kevin.

[User] And thank you for having higher expectations and also for making bold leaps of faith that put extraordinary books out into the world. Loving what you do.

[Assistant] Cheers Dawn. It's all about falling in love with a book!


[User] I forgot to put my knitting WIP in my knitting bag this morning so I am now at work with nothing but a lonely skein of wool and a spare phone charging cord. 😭

[Assistant] ....two pencils??

[User] A good thought - though the gauge would be a nightmare haha!

[Assistant] I have this in my shopping cart just for times like this.


[User]
Sometimes letting go of someone is the best way to love and find yourself again because they were so horrible and holding you back.

I was so sad at first and I still am but damn does it feel good to not be scrutinized for my intricacies and tiny parts of me.

[Assistant]
Something has changed within me.

And damn, is it new and refreshing and I never want to trap myself with someone like that again.

I definitely lost myself trying to not seem annoying and appease a loser.

[User]
A tired dehydrated 30-year-old loser.
That’s exactly what you are and what you will always be because you don’t change, I always change and I always take accountability for what I do and i EVOLVE.

It feels great to have my power and love back.

[Assistant]
Fuck everyone else too there’s a reason I don’t talk to you anymore.

The people I keep in contact with occasionally are the ones that were there for me and I appreciate it.

It feels good to be free And to ride alone, whether someone is there or not. I have my self love again i could cry.

[User]
After about seven months in total at Therapy with the break in between where I lost my mind and relapsed it feels good.

I can’t believe I genuinely did the things I did to myself. All to be accepted and “loved” by others.

[Assistant]
I feel sexy. I feel kind, I feel peace and I feel like my true self all over again.

Definitely taking control of my life again with a new challenge with my bipolar diagnosis, but I am sure I can do it.


[User] 1/Thinking about family and holidays, I was reminded of a theory I read somewhere about human civilization - the author stated that one of the earliest examples of higher-order thought was the finding of an ancient human with a healed broken leg. Why would this seemingly small thing be so important?

[Assistant] 2/Because a healed broken leg meant someone cared for this person beyond what they could contribute to the social group and at least one person willing to care about someone  above and beyond what they could do for them in the present. It's a controversial theory, bc it goes against evolution.

[User] 3/There's no scientific explanation for love; yes, I know the whole "spreading our genetic material" thing, but leave it to a scientist to reduce our human need for companionship and helping others to its basest component. Why do we love and nurture kids with disabilities and special needs?

[Assistant] 4/It's more beneficial to the species to cull the weaker members, so why don't we? Why do we donate money & resources to disaster-ravaged countries? Wouldn't evolution dictate we let nature take its course? Survival of the fittest, after all. And what evolutionary benefit is conferred by poetry?


[User] Isn’t it? It’s almost as funny as MSM calling it the night of without respecting the actual process, cause waiting is a bummer…

[Assistant]
I just got back from grocery shopping- I'm a late night-
F the crowds kinda gal.
I budgeted $400 for my large family. I stuck to an aisle by aisle written grocery list. Got everything I needed.
Dude, I only spent $249!
AND I LIVE IN RURAL ALASKA!
Prices are noticeably down!!!
Prices are down!!!!

[User] This- I have already given the MSM side eye for a long time, but now…

[Assistant] Sooo funny.. and predictable honestly…


[User] What's Charlotte done to upset Boris Johnson?.....🤔

[Assistant] But he’s a “fatso”.

[User] He’s a joke.  A morbidly obese bloke with no morals or values.

[Assistant]
Divide and Conquer

Fascist playbook 🇬🇧 🔥

youtu.be/CLHDCL6F8vI?...


[User]
BLACK FRIDAY SALE - 72 HOURS ONLY ✨

My guidebooks and course are now 40% OFF! Learn about the secrets of the lunar Nodes or unleash your inner Dark Feminine with this my guides!

More about each offering below👇🏻

[Assistant] Explore dark femininity in your chart with my 115+ page e-book! Dive into the Moon, Venus, Saturn, and the Snake Stars to uncover the raw, untamed feminine energy. Includes essays, rituals, and tools to embrace your shadow self🩸🦇

[User] Unlock the mysteries of the lunar Nodes with a 115+ page guidebook blending original content and ancient, traditional wisdom. Learn to interpret nodal placements, predict your fate with eclipse cycles & perform cleansing rituals - all with clear examples &  detailed guidance! 🐉

[Assistant] Take your nodal astrology skills to the next level with 4+ hours of video content! Interactive lessons, chart walkthroughs, and exclusive insights bring the Nodes to life, helping you predict life’s themes with confidence. Perfect for all levels! 🌒


[User] There are six Uzbek restaurants in Pittsburgh?! Good article in City Paper, though it doesn’t link to any of my favorite IG reels from Chaykhana, imo. www.pghcitypaper.com/food-drink/p...

[Assistant] Takeout in a Maybach: It’s a lifestyle. www.instagram.com/reel/C5WI8EF...

[User] I did link to the Michael Caine one lol!

[Assistant] That one is top-three, for sure! I just can’t get over the idea that I maybe should be shaking hands with the restaurateur when I pick up takeout?? 😳


[User] I'm not saying PBS is perfect, but watching it, even when I take issue with the reporting or how it's presented, or better than CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, or anyone major company I can think of.

[Assistant] Their journalists seem like journalists. Their conversations feel like conversations. They aren't caricatures yelling at each other. I'm not saying there aren't times to yell or issues to yell about, but it's hard to understand news if the host and guest are yelling at each other.

[User] I know we "aren't going back" to old media, even with Trump trying to take us back to the 18th century, but even though some "new media" has faltered in the past, it usually adapts and modifies itself for consumption. In the meantime, I'm fine with PBS and NPR in lieu of the Rogan sorts.

[Assistant] Also, there are some new media I do appreciate. Some More News, Factually, Why America, and Native Land Pod are among my favorites, although I have my issues with all of these podcasts, but I derive something from them that's tangible and not untethered.

[User] There are many YouTube creators like the Vlogbrothers, Kat Blaque, and F. D Signifier that don't have a traditional podcast but are more informative than most podcasts.

[Assistant] The issue isn't that I can't disagree. The issue is when I can't agree. Everyone has their experiences and they're not going to align. What I don't tolerate is using their experiences to push others down.

[User] Fox News may have been a pioneer in that, I think (I wasn't around at the formation of CNN), but CNN is more despicable in that in some many regards because they're trying to stir up controversy and not conversation and this may strike some viewers as harsh... I wish everyone involved was fired.

[Assistant] Also, CNN is despicable because they represent this centrist-left position that right-wingers love to hate on, and I understand why, especially when it isn't that left. MSNBC is more centrist, and it's further left, but I hate MSNBC, too.

[User] There are a few people on mainstream networks I like, but it really depends on the guests they bring and how their hosts interact. Fox News, meanwhile, has guests on wearing Make America Great Again hats that have free reign with their opinion but not facts. That isn't news. That's an advertisement.

[Assistant] Fox News may be the worst, but decades of programming in my mind has desensitized me to its harm. I know it's bad, and I've never intended to watch it, but its high viewership likely doesn't include people like me that watch it by proxy at a doctor's office, but it seems like it must.


[User]
Man, I thought we might at least get Season 8 of Venture Bros to tie it up.

Maybe it'll be revived, but it's a real shame it's going off on a cliffhanger.

[Assistant] On my nightly sabbatical, so can only access Hootsuite. Saw Adult Swim's response. Very vague, don't entirely know what it means. A little encouraging though. Maybe it's not all lost.

[User] Man, this news.... I was so looking forward to Season 8, and it'll never come.

[Assistant]
Maybe, like other cult geek stuff (Sense8, for example), it might be saved either by streaming or Adult Swim will give it a proper conclusion.

Still, right now, it's just so depressing that it's gone now.

[User] People are saying Netflix or HBOMax might be able to revive it. Not holding up my hopes, but that potential still exists.

[Assistant]
Two final things (though this is going to bother the hell out of me for months):
Apparently, this happened months ago? Wish it was confirmed months ago.

If a revival does happen, I hope it doesn't take a long time, like the gap between seasons.


[User] Again. Reminds me of the quote “Wisdom has always been chasing you, but you have always been faster”

[Assistant] It’s so odd. Is it really happening?

[User] Honestly, I think the world other than Russia and a few other fascist states are probably horrified.

[Assistant] Really horrified.


[User]
day 25:

wdym zilaref isn't immortal

joking aside, for now he *is* because of the implication in withers/jergal's words, but he'd choose to give it up someday.

[Assistant] i immediately think of afraid of heights by boygenius when i think of zil's and his feelings about death, especially the line "i wanna live a vibrant life, but i wanna die a boring death" because he fought to live, to be free to be his own person. so he did.

[User] and as someone who's died multiple times throughout the course of his life, it's a real thing that's happened to him, but to say he fears it? no, i don't think so. i think he welcomes it especially after having that discussion w jaheira in her hideout wrt the timeless body ritual.

[Assistant] his only hope and wish for his family after he's gone is for them to live on as best as they can, and it'll be hard for astarion and iskander at first for sure, but they'll know what to do because they're not alone.


[User] A student asked me the other day whether I had major career ambitions like winning a big award. I told him that my goal was to do interesting things and have fun. I worry that young scientists don't see their jobs as fun... too much pressure. But then what's the point, really?

[Assistant] I'm reminded of something that Donald Barthelme wrote about the Nouveau Roman literary movement. To paraphrase, he said that their seriousness indicated a lack of seriousness. In both literature and science, being too serious risks surrendering the most serious things: freedom, play, adventure, joy.

[User] Everyone is worried about not being taken seriously, about being regarded as a crackpot, loose cannon, intellectual lightweight, dilettante, gadfly. I'm more worried about what happens when the spirit of subversion ebbs away. Everyone plows forward dutifully in their furrows.

[User] Though not my main point, everyone should go read Donald Barthelme, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

[Assistant] to me, when people do that, it says “imposter syndrome” like nothing else can. it’s why i’ve always been a fan of folks like  feynman. (the mathematician).

[User] The same issue is there in the world of sci-fi writing. Seems like a general human curse that people lose sight of what makes them happy without external influences, and focus too much on external validation instead of intrinsic satisfaction in what they do.

[Assistant] Winning big fancy awards‽


[User]
#InazumaEleven | 3TOP (Kiyama/Suzuno/Nagumo) rambling…
Suzuno and Nagumo wanted the title of Genesis the most, and Kiyama was always meant to take it on the principle that they're the favorite despite not being shown to care about it as much.

So post-S2, the two have to deal with the loathing they–

[Assistant]
–harbored for Kiyama AND how they envied Kiyama for being a weapon meant to be sold. And Kiyama needs to deal with how much they forced themself to fit into the "Hiroto" mold that father wanted.

I WISH THE SERIES SHOWED THEM TALKING POST-FIRE DRAGON MATCH‼ I know Aliea are said to all be cool with–

[User]
–each other by then, but STILLLL… (← biased.)

I picture that after Father Kira got jailed they had a long conversation together that involved some breaking down and ended in a long-needed group "hug" (Since I hc Suzuno as pretty touch-averse most of the time, it was more of a hand on her shoulder)

[Assistant]
And I knowww the Kiyama inclusion into Suzuno and Nagumo is probably just a "Kiyama Hiroto is my favorite character" moment but plz there I do see genuine potential in 3TOP beyond just them as the Aliea elites trio…

That being SAID……… Hehe. Aliea elites trio ☺🥰💝💗💕


[User] How long do you wait for someone to start a zoom meeting before you peace out?

[Assistant] Well, I just got ghosted on an interview. Happy I got up at 5:30 to prep for it.

[User] Oh that sucks. I’m sorry.

[Assistant] Ooh, interview was rescued! It’s a cooool job. Will be scheduling a second in person interview.


[User] Why is college work literally the worst thing to exist?😭

[Assistant] so realll, the worst part is starting tho 😭😭😭

[User] I hate it so much but I’ve been promised that I get it done that next Thursday will be my final day before Christmas 🥲

[Assistant] how nice that must be 😭 i have uni on the 21st and 22nd of december before the christmas break 😭😭


[User] One thing that makes me frustrated the most about this bill is the fact that they're trying to limit sex to a binary due to gametes. The biology of sex is complicated and not straightforward. (1/5)

[Assistant] While gametes can help determine a person's overall sex, it isnt a good factor due to some people being infertile. Also it does not explain how a person may have mixed sexual characteristics (2/5)

[User] Another thing people forget is that doctors typically assign people by their external parts and/or chromosomes/hormones (if the external part is ambiguous). (3/5)

[Assistant] This bill will also give more doctors a reason to perform unnecessary surgeries on infants as well as trying to get rid of our existence due to trying to mainly target trans individuals. (4/5)


[User]
One of Disney's most imaginative, most exciting & visually stunning films to come from the Post-Renaissance era.

It deserved better.

[Assistant] Treasure Planet feels more like a Don Bluth movie than a Disney movie. That's a compliment. 😅

[User] The essence of Bluth feels very sprinkled throughout this 😂

[Assistant] I haven't seen it yet. I will be sure to check it out.


[Assistant] Go on, give us another general election, you shits.

[Assistant] He's thrown a kettle over Westminster Abbey, what have you done?


[User]
I got really into dinosaurs last summer so I turned Irene into a little raptor thing (feat. Natalie who belongs to pitaeun.bsky.social) 🐓

[ #art | #doodle | #oc ]

[Assistant]
Before this I also doodled a lot of stuff about her as a utahraptor based monster because it's her favourite dinosaur in canon and I need to turn her into every monster imaginable because she'd hate it

[ #art | #doodle | #oc | #monsterfolk ]

[User] I LOVE HERRRR AND THEM SO MUCH UEEE LITTLE CHICKENS!!!!

[Assistant] THEY'RE SO STRONG AND FIERCE!!!!!


[User] @mrpaulrobinson.bsky.social the young lads wearing a John-Arne Riise shirt. Presumably a time traveller.

[Assistant] The Everton badge on the side of Goodison marks this as being 2013 at the very earliest. Is it supposed to have been some b/w 1950s utopia when Britain Woz Better.

[User] Yes, I can only assume the woke elite have sneaked in a ban on people attending football matches.

[Assistant] To be fair, I reckon a lot people would feel a sense of relief/release if they did.


[User] What's your favorite piece of advice for new #TTRPG players, based on your own experiences?🎲👀

[Assistant] Be collaborative. RPG works best when everyone is on the same page and helps each other shine.

[User] Try to prompt your shy players.  'What do you think XXX' or 'XXX do you have any ideas of how to do this' and what not.  Some people need to be drawn out of their shells :)

[Assistant]
As a new player your first priority is to open your mouth and talk. Talk to the GM and the other players. Tell them what your character is doing, thinking, and feeling.

Don't worry about the how of it. You task is to do. You will learn the how of it largely by doing.


[User] There are a dozen cities w/in a few hundred miles of the Mexican border that you could make a case for. What’s interesting is this article is appealing to British palates, which is I guess why it largely focuses on desserts? How do you otherwise explain comida mexicana to Brits? https://t.co/Rjc...

[Assistant] I’ve had the best Indian food of my life in London, and some of the worst Mexican food. Maybe it’s unsurprising that Mexican food is terrible across Europe (outside of Spain at least), and probably Asia too, but it’s a tragedy.

[User] I just want people everywhere to be happy, and happiness requires access to good Mexican food.

[Assistant] I see that my favorite restaurant in Tucson, Café Poca Cosa, closed for good last year. I may need to console myself soon with some mole verde, since I don’t think I can get carne seca around here.


[User] According to @thatsregrettab1.bsky.social, “Science is self-correcting... after you beat it with a stick, electrocute it, draw and quarter it, and then burn it at the stake.” I think this is an overly optimistic assessment of the current state of science. (1/n)

[Assistant] It takes a long time to issue a retraction. On average, it takes over two years from identifying problems in a paper to issuing a retraction. Some mcience-doomers might see this as evidence of resistance to self-correction. (2/n) link-springer-com.kuleuven.e-bronnen.be/article/10.1...

[User] Sometimes it takes much much longer. It took Nature more than 20 years to retract a 2002 paper from Catherine Verfaillie's lab, which had been controversial since its publication. (3/n) forbetterscience.com/2019/12/04/c...

[Assistant] Journals are often so reluctant to publish critiques of their own publications that it causes enormous harm. The Macchiarini case, involving The Lancet and the Karolinska Institute, is a striking example. (4/n) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

[User] Long after retraction notices are published, the retracted papers continue to be cited, with the vast  majority of these citations being positive (5/n).  link-springer-com.kuleuven.e-bronnen.be/article/10.1...

[Assistant] as Ambar Castillo put it, "mistakes happen in research papers, but corrections often don't." (6/n) www.statnews.com/2023/01/10/c...

[User] and it's not just an issue in just one or a few fields. (7/7)  www.researchgate.net/publication/...

[Assistant] and it is not just a problem in one or a few fields. (7/7) www.researchgate.net/publication/...


[User] It’s been so long since I had Facebook app or messenger installed on my phone that I don’t remember the last time I used either app. Their lack of privacy standards, the way Facebook runs its business, and what Facebook fosters socially are enough reasons for me to decrease use.

[Assistant] Looking back, it was about a year ago I began  working towards the goal of becoming FB free following the lead of @reworkpodcast and @basecamp. Here was my post on that https://gatheringinlight.com/2019/01/14/free-us-from-facebook/

[User] Since that time, I have worked to not just extract completely from FB but google, Amazon, and various web apps and service’s that refuse to respect people’s privacy. Small steps of rethinking where I put my information overtime have accumulated in ways I feel pretty good about.

[Assistant] I still have plenty of work to do but I like learning and finding new ways to be more stealth in the services I use. Everyone has to make their own decisions on this but it came be done and rewarding in the process.

[User]
Well I finally did it.

I deleted my Facebook account today!

After about a year of not using it and seeing more and more reasons why I didn't want to be on the platform I hit the button today. 🙌🏼

[Assistant]
This was the beginning of the end for me.

Thanks /cc @reworkpodcast

https://gatheringinlight.com/2019/01/14/free-us-from-facebook/


[User] Talking about ROMA and BELFAST with my wife, who has made it clear there needs to be a black and white movie loosely based on my childhood called GLENDALE.

[Assistant] Shooting guns in the desert, sneaking off high school campus to hit the used record store, bothering peacocks in the park. Cruising the mall, video games at Golf 'N Stuff. Hijinks as a Mexican restaurant busboy and/or pleading with people to take market research surveys by phone.

[User] We'll watch the Challenger explode and there will be assorted Reagan-era racist bullshit as a backdrop—whether MLK deserves a holiday etc. Maybe someone will steal a speed limit sign from the Glendale police dept. We'll save the full-color gimmick for the peacocks & sunsets.

[Assistant] Probably there's a plot of some kind, not sure yet.


[User] Jim thinks of ways to use AI that I'd never have thought of!

[Assistant] Did it with ChatGTP. Not bad actually.

[User] It's great, there are SO many uses for it.

[Assistant]
True, but I still find myself doing things the old way, word by word.

Even asking Chat to summarize something I’ve written, it gives me a summary using words or sentence structure I would never use. Sounded like someone else. Lots of editing. 🤷♂

[User] The more sources you can pointing at, the better. Having an updated LinkedIn profile helps.

[Assistant] The more sources you can point it at, the better. Having an updated LinkedIn profile helps.


[User] Sometimes simply getting to the keyboard in the dark is a win. This is one of those days. Grateful to be in the seat, writing, with all of you here at #5amwritersclub. What are you grateful for today? #amwriting #writingcommunity.

[Assistant] That IS a win!! I’m grateful for my health today🙏

[User] Oh, that is fantastic. I am working on my health, too, and am considering giving myself a Holiday gift of three months of personal training, focused on functional exercise. I am not getting any younger and I have discovered I am not great at working on this alone!

[Assistant]
Internal gratitude: After weeks of struggle, I found my transition into Act II.

External gratitude: my family arrived into town yesterday and its a few days of talking over each other, good food, and appreciating everything I have.


[User] It would be terribly ironic if The People's demand for magical, unconstitutional solutions (particularly the in-coalition demand for mo hardball) actually caused Biden a net loss when he in fact did use his limited authority aggressively.

[Assistant] If you begin with the belief that the presidency is not as constrained as the eggheads keep claiming it is, and then the president acts in less-constrained ways than the eggheads expected, but the president didn't help you, specifically, in doing so, I guess that just makes you mad.

[User] And if the president is acting aggressively enough that, say, the Supreme Court of the United States of America steps in to stop you and you don't just ignore them anyway, well that's still proof he doesn't care. Because the constraints are fake, that's the foundational belief being reified.

[Assistant] I'm just guessing here, I don't think this way and the people who do think this way infuriate me, but I'm trying to figure out why they make sense to themselves even with that handicap.


[User]
France not only admits to its complicity Netanyahu’s(Israel’s)WAR CRIMES, but announces it will continue aiding&abetting in aGENOCIDE, and any other collective punishment that ISRAEL chooses to inflict.

Much more accurate headline.

More hypocrisy exposed.

www.reuters.com/world/france...

[Assistant] This is disgusting.

[User] They’re actual monsters and demons at this point, It’s f***ed.

[Assistant] You’re right, 100%.


[User] My new bowling ball arrives tomorrow. I'm so excited to see it. 😭😭😭

[Assistant]
I've been stressed about buying new bowling shoes because the ones I have are beat up after six years of service.

They're either really expensive or ugly or looking really uncomfortable.

But apparently you can just make your own?!?!

[User] Gonna get myself a pair of Vans and some parts and see what happens. 😤😤😤

[Assistant]
NOTHING HITS LIKE A FUCKING HAMMER

(The smudge isn't actually there, that's the phone reflecting off this BRIGHT ASS SHINY MOTHERFUCKER.)

[User] Not gonna lie though, this ball is gonna kill me holy shit it smells like chemical warfare in here it's gassing so hard. Might have to put it outside for a bit.

[Assistant]
This is the first ball I've ever owned new. I have always been given balls by leaguers who were getting rid of ones they don't use anymore or out of the back at the bowling alleys I worked at.

Finally. A brand new ball, exactly to the specs I wanted.

[User]
THATSA SPICY MEATBALL

(Second throw resulted in a strike)


[User]
🆕 Pocket FM said it crossed the Rs 1,000-crore revenue mark in FY24

It comes on back of a robust growth in microtransactions & advertising

⬆ Microtransaction revenue up 5.8x to Rs 934.7 Cr
⬆ Ad revenue up 7x to Rs 89.3 Cr
🔽 Loss down 21% to Rs 165 Cr

Story - www.moneycontrol.com/news/busines...

[Assistant]
For Pocket FM, over 30 audio series have surpassed the Rs 10-crore revenue mark

➡7 series have crossed the Rs 100-crore mark

It is not setting sights on an European expansion as well as foray into other English speaking countries.

[User] Waiting for moneycontrol to join Bluesky. Perhaps a starter pack of biz journalists would be awesome.

[Assistant] Ya I am not sure if there are many here from India.

[User] Ya I am not sure if there are many biz journos from India right now.

[Assistant] Got it!


[User]
[ Snooore . . . WAKES UP WITH A GASP. ]

  AAHHH MY BABY-

    . . .

      . . . Huh-. 💧

[Assistant] By then, he was encased in a high security protection vault, made out of iron and plexiglass...

[User]
[ Blinking . . . god he's SO CONFUSED. ]

  . . . What that hell is this. 💧

[Assistant] A small door was on the side...thjough it was locked with a security code. Outside the windows, Lillith was working on a desk...

[User]
[ Slowly getting up, walking towards the window placing his both hands on it. ]

 hEY ! ! !

    THE HELL IS THIS ? ? ?

[Assistant] She continued to work...mot hearing a thing. Then, her head turned slightly, and she noticed the movement. Raising an eyebrow she stood up, walking over slowly...

[User]
[ The man was standing there, hitting the window and metal with his fist for a moment.

    He was just sleeping and resting . . . what the f-. ]

 💢💧

[Assistant] She looked at him...then m,oved toi the door, putting in the code...and with a huff of smoke, the door opened.


[User]
Toaster: Adjust my dial from 1 to 6 to control how dark your toast gets.

Setting 2: *incinerates bread into a tiny lump of charcoal*

[Assistant] setting 1 barely even warms it, i assume?

[User] The setting also completely changes its mind on what each number means, depending on the toaster. On some toasters a 5 is dark toast, on others it's warm bread, on others it's for when you want to burn down the kitchen for the insurance money.

[Assistant] 6 is the Marie Callender’s setting.


[User]
@qatarwings.bsky.social is the worst airline ever! I really wish I could boycott them for good.

I rarely get this angry to write about an airline. But they were completely racist to me in my last trip to China.

[Assistant] I nearly missed my layover, because they could not "help" me, and had me go through security twice to get help and each time I was bounced back to another desk. Why? I had an Iranian (and Canadian) passport and they needed my green card, but assumed I don't have it. Cause I didn't look like it.

[User]
Now, they changed my original booking, giving me +1 day layover.

They told me my original 1st leg was canceled, which is why they put me on a day earlier. Nothing they can do, political situation.

[Assistant]
OK. Fine, can I switch my 2nd leg? Nothing available
Can I get a hotel? No., your layover is too long. Can only do that if it is less than 1 day

Desperate after 2hrs of trying all options, can I just fly to NY?

[User]
Sure, let us check! Then they gave me an option that had my original flight (that was presumably canceled) as the first leg! WTF! Two flights that night, both would have worked one was my original FXXXing itinerary.

At this point, I am angry!

[Assistant]
Hmm, hold on, can I just change the first leg back to my original flight? No, there are no flights to Philly and we cannot change only one leg!

But you FXXXing did! You did it the first time without my input!

Been on hold for two hours and no answers. Waiting for a manager. This is trash!


[User] Finally after all these years; I have my stupid goal of a fully functioning airship in Minecraft.

[Assistant]
I love create so much, gotta be one of my favorites.

Ive been trying out this pack called “iron frost” wich is bassically just create with a few addons in a world thats *just snow* and its giving me so many frost punk / snowpiercer inspired build ideas…

[User] Also holy fuck i *love* better clouds, i wish there was a forge / neoforge version…

[Assistant] Wait, is Create Aeronautics actually out at last?!


[User]
Since I’m spending Thanksgiving with my MAGA family I will spam all my feelings here instead of dumping them all on my bestie.

Hopefully we can commiserate together.

[Assistant] Barely made it two hours off the plane before getting trapped in the first discussion about politics and religion.

[User] Just so everyone is aware, according to my mother, it is the end times and that is the only thing that will bring peace. And we are watching the Bible unfold in front of our eyes. 🙄

[Assistant] This was said immediately after I asked her not to talk about religion and politics as a boundary of my staying with her and the family for the holiday.


[User] Does anyone know if there's a Blue sky Starter kit for (videogame) #Gamedev and #Animators?

[Assistant] Sorry, I should specify the animators don't have to be gamedev related. I just love indie animation like @zeurel.bsky.social's Monkey Wrench, or even folks just doing those fun DND animated shorts.

[User]
Most probably!

Here's a directory of all the packs on Bluesky

blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack...

[Assistant] Oops I forgot that I'd searched for TTRPG. please ignore that and just search for game dev I guess 😅


[User] Hi we're the Philosophy Section of the University of Twente. Our research and education focus on the philosophy and ethics of technology and engineering science. We're strongly committed to interdisciplinary work and have close ties to social science and engineering.

[Assistant]
We have 3 research strands:
- ethics of technology (chair: prof. dr. Philip Brey)
- philosophy of human-technology relations (chair: prof. dr. Ciano Aydin)
- philosophy of science in practice (chair: prof. dr. Mieke Boon)

[User] We have a Masters (MSc) programme Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Society (PSTS) and offer a wide range of bachelor and master courses in other University of Twente programmes. We're part of the ESDiT program, the 4TU.Centre for Ethics and Technology, the OZSW, and WTMC.

[Assistant]
For news, events, and more information about our research and education, check out our website:
www.utwente.nl/en/bms/phil/


[User] 1/ Funny but true story: In Tokyo, people frequently assume I'm Japanese. Despite my NOT being a fashionable dresser. I mentioned this to a friend who lives in Tokyo who told me: "Yes, they think you're Japanese but probably not from Tokyo"... Some time later, I went to Takamatsu (in Shikoku)...

[Assistant] 2/ and I saw that A LOT of people dressed like me there!  (Seriously!  More so than even Hong Kong!)  So now I think "Aaah, Tokyoites (and other Japanese) probably think I'm from Takamatsu"! 😅

[User] I just visited Takamatsu (on google street view) couldn't really  find a clear pattern. 😬

[Assistant] Compared to both Tokyo: more casual attire.  Compared to both Tokyo and Hong Kong: not so much black? 😅


[User] I just never took Drake seriously. He was like Will.I.Am to me. He should’ve stuck to making music for drunk wgite people to dance to.

[Assistant] Like Kidz Bop rap. Like rap training wheels for non-blacks. I get this.

[User] And he was GOOD at it! After three shots of watered down Tito’s “Nice For What” slaps! But bro…we know you don’t write your own rhymes. Why are you beefing with that diabolical gremlin?

[Assistant]
Analogy:

If hip-hop is 18 yr. Macallan neat, he’s Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

[User] In that Mike’s is the go to accompaniment for dudes who get arrested on “To Catch A Predator”

[Assistant] Basically.

[User] He really could have done this. And kept a career. But nah…

[Assistant] He really could’ve. He knows a hit when he hears one. His problem was/is thinking that he’s an MC.


[User]
Tackling teacher retention is a huge focus of mine on the Education Select Committee.

To that end, I'm looking forward to chairing a panel at today's Westminster Forum Projects about this very subject!

You can book your place to attend here. 👇
www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/T...

[Assistant] You should have a look at teach first. They are thrown in at the deep end after a few weeks training, expected to pretty much work as a full time teacher with minimal support. Trying to train teachers on the cheap.

[User] May I politely suggest that No.1  on your agenda might be Classroom Behaviour? I’d be willing to bet there’s a strong correlation between high teacher retention and schools with good pupil attitudes and conduct.

[Assistant] I can’t get there but I’m very happy to discuss my situation and reasons for very early retirement with you if it might help.


[User] "Rien n'arrive ni comme on l'espère, ni comme on le craint. (...) Nothing really happens as we hope it will, nor as we fear it will. But not because of the occurrence, as one says, perhaps 'goes beyond the imagination' (it is not a quantitative question), but because it is reality not phantasy.(1)

[Assistant] One can devote an entire life to comparing the imagined and the real, and still never accomplish anything by it. Many things do indeed happen approximately the way they were anticipated in the imagination: Gestapo men in leather Coates, pistol pointed at their victim - that is correct, all right.(2)

[User] But then, almost amazingly, it dawns on one that the fellows not only have leather coats and pistols, but also faces: not "Gestapo faces" with twisted noses, hypertrophied chins, pockmarks, and knife scars, as might appear in the book, but rather faces like anyone else's. (3)

[Assistant] Plain ordinary faces. And the enormous perception at a later stage, one that destroys all abstractive imagination, makes clear to us how the plain, ordinary faces finally become Gestapo faces after all, how evil overlays and exceeds banality." (Jean Améry, At The Mind's Limits)


[User]
🚨🚨🚨 New paper 🚨🚨🚨

Delighted to share the primary analysis of the LIMb study.

Headline finding is a 57% reduction in risk of major amputation in patients managed under expedited treatment pathways vs a historical cohort.

#vascsky #medsky #CLTI

www.ejves.com/article/S107...

[Assistant]
The main changes to our practice were:
- Implementation of the VaLS clinic (link below)
- Accompanying expedited access to angioplasty
- Admission of all diabetic foot patients under vascular
- Hybrid theatre enabling faster and more complex hybrid revascularisation

www.ejves.com/article/S107...

[User] Lots of caveats to the results and there’s certainly confounding and selection bias in the cohorts but the results are nonetheless an encouraging validation of efforts to improve care of CLTI patients.

[Assistant]
Additionally we have excellent prospective data for the 432 contemporary patient cohort and will be running a few key secondary analyses primarily focusing on risk prediction in CLTI patients.

Watch this space! 👀👀👀

[User]
Here’s the protocol if anyone’s interested…

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/...

[Assistant] A big thank you to the George Davies Charitable Trust for funding the LIMb study and all my collaborators (I’m working on getting them onto Bluesky!) 👏👏👏


[User] Lovely piece by Pete Smith in last night’s match programme 🙏🏻

[Assistant] Is that really where the ‘wooden spoon’ came from, Stoke Market ?!

[User] Apparently so! I wasn’t able to read the original minutes of the FL meeting as they have gone missing. But secondary sources tell the story of Lockett getting wooden spoon from Stoke market. There was also an article in WSC a few years ago which said the West Brom boss kept it in 1896 as a souvenir…

[Assistant] That's fantastic!


[User] Morning caning & pegging session with one of My favourites. Thank you Pet for My coffee too 😉 he even got extra cups to keep it warm for Me 😉

[Assistant]
It’s like a list of things I could really do with today (including coffee)
Have a great day!

[User] Oh yes! :) I will - thank you and you too ;)

[Assistant] What a good boy 🤗


[User] Just gotta get through today then I’m off until next Wednesday. I never got an official vacation this year so I’ve been taking extra days off around holidays. I’m really really really looking forward to this time off.

[Assistant] Hope you have a chance to relax and enjoy your time off.

[User] Thank you!

[Assistant] I truly, truly hope you enjoy some rejuvenation with this time off. 💟☮


[User] Morning all, have a great day 🤗💚🩷

[Assistant] Morning Sue have a great day 💚

[User] Morning Rick, thanks, you too 🤗💚

[Assistant] Thank you Sue☺🤗💚


[User] Maybe more data art than #dataviz, but who really cares when there’s LEGO involved?

[Assistant] The example in the tutorial is closer to #dataviz, showing how to make LEGO-like choropleths ;)

[User] Oh yes, for sure. I was just trying to come up with a witty way to include the hashtag so it showed up on the data viz feed 😂

[Assistant] Haha thanks for the repost !

[User]
It is indeed very cool! 🤩

And, I always thought data art is a form of data viz (or the other way around) 🤷

[Assistant] I absolutely agree! The Venn diagram is definitely mostly overlapping circles.


[User] There’s going to be some epic family fights this year!!

[Assistant] Who is listening to "propaganda"? Maybe he should have asked his three daughters why they voted for Harris. I'm sure they would have told he about facts, and maybe mentioned P2025. I'm not sure how a girl dad could vote for the felon. FAFO happens in families, too, dad.

[User] I guess he doesn’t think they’ll ever need medical care in a failed pregnancy, or even just the right to decide for herself when to have a pregnancy.

[Assistant] My first beef with that guy would be his punctuation (and then his political preferences). But pointing out his comma abuse probably would have made him even madder.

[User] "Misled by propaganda" from the person who voted for a CONVICTED felon, liable rapist, racist, bigoted, Epstein Diddy island party lover who didnt run on policy & what has come out about his plans will destroy America. GOP has control and historically they only help themselves & hurt everyone else.

[Assistant] The sad thing is I know people who really believe blue bought the propaganda and think we are heading for prosperity under a red regime. All I can do is sit back and take some sick joy in watching them realize how bad they fucked up.


[User] It's already boring when a rock band of 4 does it. Imagine with a commission of 26.

[Assistant] And to do it after the EP conducted 3 hour hearings with each one of them... twisted minds could even see mockery in it 🙃

[User] "You know... there these guys, 26 commissioner guys. Very smart, very amazing people. Especially the luxemburger one, he's so a very nice guy, so classy, so sylish. Believe me"

[Assistant] "You know... there are these guys, 26 commissioner guys. Very smart, very amazing people. Especially the luxemburger one, he's so a very nice guy, so classy, so sylish. Believe me"


[User] Anecdotal description of magical law to follow;

[Assistant] 'Magic is a pain. You can do all kinds of things with it, but ultimately it comes down to working with your hands in a way that's not your hands. See, energy is easy, fire and lightning and ice and crap, that's just moving heat around, that's nothing. Basic. Try conjuring a chair outta thin air.'

[User] 'Knew a wizard once that wanted to do just that. He went from small heaps of sawdust cuz he didn't understand how wood puts itself together to little wooden toys. He skipped all the middle bits and just tried a chair, wanted to make it out of mahogany.'

[Assistant]
'What happened? Well he did it didn't he. When the ritual was done and the candles out he had hisself a chair sitting there, absolutely lovely. He died once it was finished though, just crumpled into a heap.

Chair's an heirloom now. Course, it's haunted. He made it after all. Should get to use it.'


[User] Is a Non-Ministerial Department an type of Arms-Length Body (as suggested by: www.gov.uk/guidance/pub...), or is it a Department like what is in the name!? Which diagram is right?

[Assistant] Is it possible to be both?

[User] Is it possible it is both?

[Assistant] might it be both?


[User] Our Bluesky starter pack of good people to follow in education.

[Assistant] So strange that when I click it, it prompts me to join BlueSky instead of adding people. I had this issue with another starter pack. I wonder if it has to do with different international versions of BlueSky.

[User] Having the same issue myself!

[Assistant] I just submitted a bug report for it, so I guess I'll just put a pin in this one and come back in a few days and see if anyone has fixed it.

[User] Not in Ireland...

[Assistant] Epic! Any chance I can join or have I missed the boat? I’ve been basking in the ‘early years of Twitter’ feeling over here!


[User] Me & who? 🙂↕

[Assistant] Good Morning 🌞

[Assistant] Booked up through Jan.


[User]
Why is my timeline filled with people dragging Beyoncé to defend Taylor?! 🙄

Has anything good ever come of ranking women? (Facebook turned out to be super awesome, right?)

Why are we this dumb and gullible that we’ll be baited into this asinine discourse over and over again?

[Assistant] This is weird - especially when we could just celebrate *women* topping the list.

[User] It also breeds this idea that women should compete with each other which is my least favorite thing.

[Assistant] Let’s all just drag Drake. He’s earned it.


[User]
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
8/20
#Books
#BookCallenge
#BookSky💙📚

[Assistant] Love this book and the sequel! 💜

[User]
RIGHT?!?
They both are INCREDIBLE.
The imagery / scenes Crichton was able to illicit still exist in my memory 🧪🦖🦕

[Assistant] Crichton was an amazing author. Loved his other works like Rising Sun and Airframe!

[User]
To be honest, I haven't read any of his other books.
I began Congo, but got scared within the first chapter where the apes came into camp and crushed people's heads.

I despise the Magnum ice cream adverts for this VERY reason - that sound effect is how I imagined their skulls 💀

[Assistant] It's pretty graphic, so was JP for my 14 year old self reading the bit where Nedry meets his end.... 🙈

[User]
Omg… yes!

And in Lost World, where the young girl meets those little dinos on the beach 🏖 😵🦖

Book trauma 😅

[Assistant] I've been meaning to read this! Heard so much good things about it 🦖


[User] Anybody with experience of Apple EarPods with Lightning connection? Dead already after 6 months. Those with jack connector have lasted so far longer. Do you have similar experience?

[Assistant]
It's called planned obsolescence.

Gotta make those numbers every quarter.

[User] Yes, but lightning connector performs very badly in comparison to standard jack. Is Apple in need of so much money?

[Assistant] When have billionaires ever had enough money?


[User]
I have an idea for a follow up to Unite Round!
Finding organically arranged ones!
i.e. any rounds where either Melbourne or Sydney/NSW are hosting 3 or more non-clashing matches within the area!

[Assistant] You mean we could have a schedule where I could go from Wanderers to Sydney to Mariners across a weekend and watch all three without missing a minute? That sounds like crazy talk.

[User] The dream!! 🥰

[Assistant] From having a high level look at the ALW, I found these for the NSW ones for the rest of the 2024/25 season:


[User] Acting like it's praxis to say Takumi is horrible and unattractive you hate him is!!!!! Chronically online behavior! He is a hot well written dude and JUST as emotionally stunted as MOST of the characters in NANA and y'all are ACTING to get Good Person points!

[Assistant] And that includes Nana and Hachi! Yes, they're both incredibly immature too. So is Ren! So is Reira, so is Nobu, so is Junko, etcétera, etcétera, etcétera. He just happens to transgress in a way that hits closer to home for a lot of readers. But eeeeeveryone in that story is a fuck up.

[User] If you think only he made Hachi do things she didn't want to, you're missing the other half of the story. And I'm not excusing any of his transgressions nor downplaying them, but he is constantly manipulated by her as well. And you think Reira didn't also rape him? The whole thing is a cesspit.

[Assistant] But y'all like singling out the One Villain so you can stop analyzing the rest of the characters to your personal comfort and join the mob that decided already who to hate and who to love.


[User] The incoming administration should hire Ben Recht for AI something leadership.

[Assistant] Yikes. That would be a disaster. But I guess they are just gathering a bunch of chaos agents and I oppose AI mandates.

[User] It would *not* be a disaster.

[Assistant] It’s unlikely for a human to not oppose at least one mandate. Terrible question.


[User] Wait—Wacom discontinued their only pen with barrel rotation??? WHAT?

[Assistant] I have one of the rotation-sensing Art Pens since it works with my old Intuos Pro, and now I feel like I need to guard it with my life. But there's no way I'd invest in a Cintiq until I could replace that pen if it breaks.

[User] Pen rotation is so important for digital artists. I'm honestly baffled that it's not more standard. Wacom discontinued it almost a year ago, but I hadn't heard about it til now. :(

[Assistant] The newest gen iPad has pen rotation, but I tried it in-store and it felt so sloppy compared to Wacom's. It had some weird trial limitations so maybe it's better when you can really tweak the settings. 🤞🏻


[User] Need to get rich so I can make this in my house.

[Assistant]
Medieval Times by way of Buca di Beppo.

I’d have a mug and 1/2 chicken here.

[User]
FYI.
Mead. We only have mead.

[Assistant] I would expect someone that owns a room like this to have only mead.

[User] Mead and Lutefisk. You’re not in Valhalla yet.

[Assistant] So we’re running a D&D game here… right?


[User] Hopped on Real Ones with @howardbeck.bsky.social to assess the panic meter for several teams, including the Lakers—a team that may not be good! open.spotify.com/episode/0Exl...

[Assistant] Really enjoyed the Blazer talk on this one. Great convo fellas!

[User]
After last night’s meltdown against the Suns, LA now ranks 20th in net rating and are 0.2 points per 100 possessions from having the 2nd worst defense in the league.

Lineups with AD and LeBron are -63 in 391 minutes, and they have no quality wins. Not ideal!

[Assistant] I thought the Lakers were surprising the crew with a newly revived AD. What could have had happened?

[User]
“Jordi is a coach of the year candidate”

He’s also a Michael Pina lookalike of the year candidate!

[Assistant] Lakers was an aggressive answer that was absolutely going to be right. I didn't realize it would be right later the same day. Lakers have been playing defense like every game is the all star game. Honestly, I don't see it changing much. LeBron has about 10 minutes of defensive effort left per game.


[User] I got up early because Lucky was coughing non-stop. He settled down quickly once I got up and now he's asleep next to me. 🥰  I'm happy he's okay.

[Assistant] Oh, my! Is he okay? That's so scary.

[User] He has some health issues which is what prompted me to get up to check on him. Fortunately no seizure or anything and he's sleeping peacefully now. ❤

[Assistant] That's good. I know how worrisome it is when even the slightest thing happens. Seizures are terrifying. Lots of love to you both🫂

[User] Thank you!! ❤❤❤

[Assistant] You're such a good mommy 💖 Good morning, Tracey 🩷🩷🩷☕ I'm up early, too, but  I have no good reason to be 😳.

[User]
I was surprised it wasn't even 4 yet when I checked the time. The chances I would have fsllen back to sleep were extremely low and it gives me inner peace knowing my baby is okay. ❤❤❤
Lovely to be up with you. 🥰

[Assistant] It's good to be with you, too. Graham always gets up when I do, no matter the time 😂 and wants to play immediately. He doesn't wake me up for food. Oh, and he puts his toy in Chevy's hand while he sleeps! He's very one-track minded. 😂😂😂

[User] Oh my goodness, that is so cute. Sometimes Lucky doesn't even move when I come downstairs and turn on lights in the livingroom. 😄

[Assistant] Poor little guy. Glad he's doing better. 🫂🥰


[User] Why is Ricky Gervais following everyone on this app?

[Assistant] Coz he knows our jokes are better than his.

[User] Are you saying he's here to mine jokes?😂


[User] Are people ignoring me purposefully to hurt me or is it my Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria: an autobiography.

[Assistant] Hai! Love your work in the horror games community, really appreciate you!

[User] Awh thankyou that's lovely of you to say!

[Assistant] I'm mainly just watching 🫠


[Assistant] Photo by Dorthea Lang?  Vic, you surprised me AGAIN! Thanks for posting! ♥

[User]
I do my best.

No charge.


[User]
Conversational/generative AI opens up a whole new layer of attack vectors on top of existing ones.

What we're seeing now is really the first wave, the simple stuff. More complex attacks will follow as hackers learn.

Any security vendors already on top of this?

[Assistant]
Example: conversational attacks can be long running, e.g. asking specific questions before getting an AI to divulge sensitive information, or getting them to respond in a certain way.

Which tools can already detect this?

[User] The trick here is that LLMs are statistical models, and don't actually understand the subject matter at hand. They spit out 'the most likely' token until response is complete.

[Assistant]
What hackers do is abuse the statistical model underneath (by manipulating the context) in such a way they can skew the statistics in favor of certain output.

I am curious how security vendors are dealing with these kind of attacks (I assume they are also still learning?).

[User] Well, I think the first paragraph is actually quite the technical definition of RAG.

[Assistant] It's not that one teaches the LLM new things with RAG, just skew it with a higher probability where you want that it lands its prediction.

[User] And that's where it gets interesting, because via RAG/chat history you can gradually expand that context until it's in a position where you can get it to give you what you want.

[Assistant] I remember a case where an LLM was asked to divulge a system password. It did not, because the prompt template said it could not divulge that information.

[User]
But asking a specific set of questions + responses set the query up as coming from a sysadmin, and after that the LLM did divulge the password.

So same question, but one with skewed data and one without.

I find that fascinating. And scary.

[Assistant]
I can think of way more subtle and less obvious variations on this that would be much harder to detect and have way more impact on the long term.

And I'm not exactly a red-teamer or expert on this subject.

[User] www.thinkific.com/blog/neuro-l... ftw, lol.

[Assistant] True. There are only so many ways you can manipulate a context.

[User]
My only plausible solution is normalizing therapy and giving everyone at least free weekly therapy sessions.

Having a therapist
1. should not be expensive
2. should not be a shame
3. should not be AI-driven or AI-assisted.

[Assistant] I'm a big fan of not replacing human interactions with AI. Assisted with AI/using AI as a tool: sure. But replacing humans with the current generation of AI is a bad idea in general.


[User] Work the day before Thanksgiving.  Today could go any number of ways….

[Assistant] I hope it will go best for you! I heard that working the day before Thanksgiving is one of the worst things 😧

[User] Sending good thoughts your way- hope it’s better than anticipated 🫂

[Assistant] Hope for the best, expect the worst! 😅


[User] Mass Effect veteran will "pause operations" at fresh AAA game studio while seeking new partner www.eurogamer.net/mass-effect-...

[Assistant] Ah shit, terrible news.

[User] Just assumed this was a repost of the Casey Hudson story but no 😬

[Assistant]
UPDATE: NetEase has told Eurogamer it remains committed to "a strong global presence" despite pulling funding from Worlds Untold.
More: www.eurogamer.net/mass-effect-...


[User]
Just realised why it’s taken me so long to realise I have vertigo
A)shockingly poor interoception
B)my autistic ass going “but I’m nothing like Jimmy Stewart” (Vertigo, 1958 dir. A. Hitchcock)

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

[Assistant] Which is possibly the most autistic thing I’ve ever done 🤣🤣🤣

[User] My wife has that.

[Assistant] I got it after Covid 😬


[User] Reading some tweets that could contribute to stigma around mental illness. Please be careful, listen more than you talk.

[Assistant] True that exercise ect can alleviate mild symptoms but it isn't the whole answer and thinking it is creates judgment.

[User] "Why doesn't he/she just go for a run?  It's like they're not even trying to get better!" You've heard someone say that too, right?

[Assistant] I'm all for exercise/rest/nature/healthy food/meditation/ect but they are no replacement for access to MH professionals.


[User]
Bluesky - tell me the social norm here.

If someone asks you to take their picture and hands you their phone, and you take a few snaps and hand it back, is it poor form for them to immediately look at the pictures, or is the expectation that they should do this later?

[Assistant] Personally, I'd like them to take a look and genuinely be happy with the photo. If they don't like it, I can take it again. 😅

[User] I‘m thinking about this… Not sure if I would ask the same person again to not make them feel embarrassed.

[Assistant]
It's defo something that a lot of people wouldn't be comfortable asking for a reshoot.

I'd hate for them to have a photo they didn't like, I always over ask them if they like it or want me to take it again just to be sure. 🙏🏻

[User]
Fast feedback people!
Important in software engineering and also smartphone photography!

[Assistant] For me it's absolutely okay to check immediately, and I do it myself when someone takes pics of me/ us.

[User]
I like them to look.

Maybe they closed their eyes, maybe they realise that they want it landscape instead etc

No matter what, it is easier to tale more pictures in the situation.

[Assistant]
Not sure about norms, but I normally try to control the narrative and ask them myself to check the photos!

It gives me a chance to redo it if they are not happy (and I want them to be happy) 😊


[User] Somehow the furnace in this apartment was still working. 🤢 Let this be a reminder to change your furnace filter proactively! It can save you so much money and hassle!

[Assistant] And because I earnestly want to be helpful, please feel free to DM me if you need help figuring out how to change yours! I'm not a HVAC tech but I manage properties and I'm also weirdly passionate about furnace filters!

[User] Yep, just bought another 6 pack of filters. I get decent ones. The package says they're good for 3 months, but we have an old house and dogs, so I replace once a month.

[Assistant] Way to go! I also change ours way more often than the package says, for similar reasons. Our furnace is 35 years old, too. Which feels a bit precarious!


[User] I miss the old Black Friday. Not this new Black Friday.

[Assistant] The sales used to be so good, the standing in line waiting for the store to open, customers fighting over what they think is the last item even though it's more in the back... Even the mayhem was entertaining.

[User] After thanksgiving dinner, busting out all the store weekly ads, circling the things you wanted, and devising a war plan for the day. Who was going where, who was to stand it what line.. you literally prepared for BATTLE 🤣

[Assistant]
Yes! 😭😭
Now it's just marking up the regular price and putting it on sale at it's former reg price for what seems like the whole month of November. If it's not over 60% off, it's not a BF sale at all. Cyber Monday has been following suit too and I absolutely hate it.


[User] Good morning beautiful people! Say it back 😘

[Assistant] Morning 😊

[User] Morning!


[User] Turkeys I have known.

[Assistant] I found a turkey feather (then later saw da birds) last week, but I couldn’t quite come around to picking it up. It probably would’ve been fine, but do I risk it for a potentially diseased design?

[User] I think you can put it in the freezer and kill anything nasty, but don't quote me on that.

[Assistant] Have they made it to Chicagoland? Rockford was crawling with them last time I was there some years back.

[User] Yeah, there's some sporadic turkeys here (far western suburbs of Chicagoland). Not as many as there used to be. The field I view from my back yard used to have a big flock of them, but haven't seen that since 2 years ago. Deer as well.

[Assistant] Haven't seen any in the city.

[User] It's one of the bird species that I haven't seen yet inside Cook County. There are occasional sightings of turkeys in the city. A couple of years ago, one was seen in LaBagh Woods, for example.

[Assistant] I haven't seen any either. With all the other critters turning up I was sure they would be here eventually.

[User] Though with all the deer, turkeys, etc I used to see when I visited Rockford, nobody there seemed concerned that, eventually, predators were going to turn up. Maybe there's a whole "coyote dynamic" going on.

[Assistant] Sounds like a question for @robertloerzel.bsky.social ... like the coyote population could develop better in an urban environment like Chicago, hence no turkeys...


[User]
A reminder that nearly 5 years ago Trump 1.0 announced a Medicaid block grant scheme to cut Medicaid funding to states and deny healthcare to millions. I ran into the VP Pence and let him know how that would hurt my patients.

Get ready to defend Medicaid in 2025.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfRH...

[Assistant] it's disheartening that we still have to remind people of the consequences of such decisions, and yet here we are. defending medicaid isn't just about protecting a program; it's about affirming the right to health for all, not just the privileged few.

[User] And as a side note, Pence is persona non grata in the GOP now. Only because he wouldn’t do Trump’s crazy bidding.

[Assistant] The issue is that they really don’t care if people suffer.


[User] On Saturday, Layla, with her Rainbow troop, performed in her first Gangshow. This is a form of variety show put on by Scouts, Guides, etc. There are certain songs that it's traditional to include, the young people all get to perform - songs, dances, sketches, stand-up...

[Assistant] And then it all ends with a rousing singalong finale. Or "the fin-alley", as Layla called it.

[User] And it was wonderful. Backing tracks at deafening levels of volume, disgusting degrees of distortion and varying speeds and pitches. Homemade costumes. Technical hiccups. Way way too long.

[Assistant] People going on stage when they shouldn't, or not doing so when they should. A very forgiving audience. Leaders humiliating themselves. Bits that made no sense. Underrehearsed, unsynchronised choreography. Custard pies. And kids getting up and putting on a show, each in their own unique way.

[User] It embodies something profound about the essence of theatre. It yells, "It'll be alright on the night!", and, "The show must go on!"

[Assistant] It values the spirit of performance over the perfection of execution. It encourages everyone to have a go, and gives you an opportunity to show off something you're good at, or just something that is Your Thing. And starts and finishes with everyone on stage singing together.

[User] And as Sir Thomas Beecham said, "There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between!"

[Assistant] It's about the connection between performer and audience. That's something magical that some people are more attuned to, but you never know until you experience it. Some of the kids were awkward, some were just going through the motions, but many were rising to the occasion.

[User] Alexander also loved it, transfixed and elated throughout. This is such a great tradition, giving kids their first introduction to the world of amateur dramatics, musical theatre and the stage, Darling! In a way that goes miles beyond the experiences of the nativity or school assembly.

[Assistant] Reaching out and drawing us into their world. Their haphazard, amateur world. Do it for the love of it, first and foremost.


[User]
#BlueSky is great, but what would make it better?
• Advanced search
• Attachments in DMs
• The ability to upload your own GIFs
• Seeing trending hashtags as you type a hashtag
• Trending feeds for news, politics, sports, etc.

No complaints here; just a few suggestions...

[Assistant] Also, a proper iPad app for us Gen Xers who like to doomscroll at night in bed.

[User] I appreciate no attachments in DM’s considering men here refuse to stop sending DM’s as soon as they’re followed back. I can only imagine how vile the ones I got would have been if they could have sent pictures 🤢

[Assistant]
Totally get that.

What about an option to receive attachments that you could turn on or off?


[User] I never give up. I will keep searching for that cup of coffee. I can’t remember where I left it, but before dirtying up another cup I will keep looking. Oh, a notification! Now, what was I doing?

[Assistant] It's in the microwave.

[User] lol I drink iced coffee… well, drinking the last of my iced coffee. I have to stop.

[Assistant] Then it's in the freezer, of course.


[User]
He's sitting down on a rooftop's edge, obserbing the bustling city beneath him. It's not like it's comfy to be sitting there either, as snow has just started falling.

This makes Obata's butt cold. It's certainly not a pleasant feeling.

Pushing through that [+]

[Assistant]
Initial discomfort, the wildcat continues to observe the city's veins work. Cars from different periods of time drive quickly through the snowy road, children and teenagers are discussing homework and video games.

Yet Ogata's life has stopped feeding into the city's rhythm.

[User]
He had found his mondane routine of attempting to go out and interact with the cityfolk has become frustraitingly difficult, as no one seems to take interest in him aside from his physical appearence.

He pauses, waking up from the trance.

What is he thinking? [+]

[Assistant]
He's never needed anyone before, so why should he now? The man willingly killed his entire family for fuck's sake. How come it is when he's finslly gotten what he wants..

..He feels so hollow. So miserable and--for lack of a better term--pathetic. [+]

[User]
The thought of him fucking up so royally, and that thought alone, is what puts fear into Ogata.

He doesn't like being scared, no one does. But the feeling is so excruciatingly strong that he can't stand to feel it.

His eyes look down from the edge of the rooftop and onto the ground. [+]

[Assistant]
Someone had killed themselves here a few months prior. It's a coward's way out. At least he thinks so.

But now he is in the shoes of that same coward. And it's eating at him.

The thought of being the same as that man who he despises for taking a "coward's way out".. it infuriates him [+]


[User] 5 ideas to decorate your holiday table (and make russians mad)👇🏻

[Assistant]
Celebrate the warmth of the season with this Ukrainian Christmas Handmade Cup and save 20%.

www.saintjavelin.com/products/ukr...

[User]
Bring out the spirit of the Carpathian Mountains with our Karpaty Mug Set and save 20%.

www.saintjavelin.com/products/han...

[Assistant]
Serve holiday treats in our nature-inspired handmade bowl or use it as a seasonal decor piece and save 20%.

www.saintjavelin.com/products/han...

[User]
Launch flavor straight into your meal with our limited-edition HIMARS Salt&Paper Shaker Set and save 20%.

www.saintjavelin.com/products/him...

[Assistant]
Impress your guests with a real conversation starter – Destroyed Kerch Bridge Tray made from recycled artillery and save 60%!

www.saintjavelin.com/products/des...


[User]
Checked clearsky on a whim and found someone blocked me who's using stolen art of Olya that my girlfriend drew. Neat. Time to see what moderation can do for that one!

To be clear, tone is mostly amused.

[Assistant]
I suspect both being blocked and only being a commissioner the answer is "not much."

The artist, however...

I'll talk to Kos about it tomorrow.

[User] Wait suddenly it's gone. I wonder if the website fucked up and was just copying my banner onto theirs...

[Assistant] Ehh, that makes it more reason to leave it until tomorrow.