[User]
After 2 years, I'm happy to say that I have claimed back my @openuk.bsky.social  speakers hoodie from my fiancée!

I mean, she's still wearing it. But at least she knows it's mine. I can also wear it whenever I like, of course.

Dream and it can happen 🙌

[Assistant] I don't want to be that guy, but a friend of mine who specialises in girlfriend law told me that you abandon all claims to hoodie usage rights once you let a significant other wear it once.

[User] That's called borrowing. And it's our hoodie now.

[Assistant]
Apparently so. To be fair she did say it's always my hoodie and I can wear it whenever she's not borrowing it.

I've won, yeah?!?


[User] Civilised start to the day. Plain Nescafé as coffee machine is taking a sabbatical.

[Assistant] I find Nescafé does the job especially well if you double or triple the serving but I'm no coffee snob, rather just an appreciator of the good stuff.

[User] My father in law was a professional coffee taster. Said Nescafé buys the top three grades of coffee world wide so that jar is always the best of everything. Three shots for me!! Not a snob either. Just like good coffee.

[Assistant]
You're reminding me now of the constant coffee smell passing by Banbury but not sure if that was Nescafé.

Sounds similar to the English tea blends. I was amazed to learn recently they adapt the blend throughout the year to the crop to get the perfect blend. That could also be marketing speak.


[User]
I have to buy YARN! 🧶

I keep trying to convince myself that no I don't need that yarn. Or that one. Or that one. Or that one , yes even though it's really pretty.

But somehow my basket keeps getting more full?

I don't understand.
Send help.

[Assistant] I have the same illness. Maybe it’s catchy…🫶🏻

[User] Yarn Buying Compulsion Disorder is such a pleasant disorder, yes it is...but it can fill up the storage area so fast...

[Assistant] Wrong place to post this kind of help! 🤣


[User]
A Path Across the Danube/Chodník cez Dunaj
(Miloslav Luther, Czechoslovakia, 1989)

Although Czechoslovakia remained a geopolitical entity until 1993, Czech and Slovak films made earlier were also distinct from each other, culturally and linguistically, with the Slovaks having a 1980s renaissance.

[Assistant] This takes place fifty years before it was released, in 1939, shortly after the start of World War II, when Czechoslovakia was forcibly divided by the occupying Nazis. It concerns two friends, the Slovak Viktor Lesa (Roman Luknár) and the Czech Franz Ticháček (Ady Hajdu) as they try to stay alive.

[User] Viktor works for the Slovak railway company in the border town of Ludendorf (formerly and currently Břeclav) and impulsively decides to misdirect an important mail delivery as an act of resistance, the consequences of which become all too horribly apparent when the Gestapo comes looking for him.

[Assistant] As a result, he and František (who is Jewish) have to flee across the border, a journey that forces them to rely on the kindness of strangers, with their own contrasting personalities (Viktor impulsively impetuous, František ultra-cautious) constantly threatening to trip them up on the way.


[User]
If you’re in the vicinity I recommend this. @jamesdomestic.bsky.social is great.

But no wonder @virginiabwrites.bsky.social looks aghast - get your feet off the chair, young man!

[Assistant] Ha! Yeah, she's got the measure of me. Aghast is the appropriate, and common, reaction. 😀

[User] Well it may be something to do with the shadow cast by the beer can…

[Assistant] Ha! I missed that completely...!


[User] I hope this keeps happening and I hope it hurts them viciously, tragically, in ways more sustained and painful than they can POSSIBLY IMAGINE. As in, a decade from now when I've survived this nightmare they forced on us; I want to be able to visit the wreckage their lives still are - and LAUGH.

[User] This is the vintage bob were here for.

[Assistant] That does sound nice. But as someone who has been screaming this would happen since the beginning, I fear our own lives will also be wrecked in ways we can never recover from. It's a cold comfort to know they go down with us.


[User] just shredded two and a half pounds of cheese by hand for the mac and cheese I’m making tomorrow. I’m gonna be jacked after this. 💪🏻

[Assistant] Do you use anything specific for the sauce base? Recipes seem to be all over the place.

[User]
I'm gonna be 100% with you, this is the first time I've made this particular one. Seems like it just kinda starts with a roux and uses heavy whipping cream + evaporated milk in it. I've been seeing people rave about it so I'm giving it a shot.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

[Assistant] I hope you mean cheddar jacked?


[User] everyone getting their apple music recaps… spotify where you at girl ?? 🤔

[Assistant] tomorroooooow😌😌

[User] Like we’re waiting hurry it up! 👏🏻👏🏻

[Assistant] i heard we get ours tomorrow!!

[User] I heard one singer has been refusing to record that thanking video for your number 1 heard artist because they have been “too busy”

[Assistant] Oof yeah Apple likes to be the first to release theirs, crossing my fingers that Spotify is tomorrow for you 🤞


[User]
Lots of interest in this interview, but also, in this highlighted section, some extraordinary claims that, where they not coming from a leading KC, would be treated with greater skepticism. The idea that looser spending limits encourage competition is mindboggling.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

[Assistant] Competition in a corporate sense not a footballing sense.

[User] Even then, it's not clear that that's true in anything other than the short term, is it?

[Assistant]
I think it is in the strict legal interpretation of preventing new entrants to the market kinda idea.

This logic falls apart incredibly quickly for how leagues work but if you think of clubs as solo companies it works.


[User] Morning person 💪🏾

[Assistant]
Same! Always have been since I was young.

You always been this way??

[User] Always. My family owned a bakery so I was use to getting up at 4am to bake for the day.

[Assistant]
That’s so dope.

What was your favorite baked item to make???


[User] …and causin’ a public disturbance.

[Assistant] …and they all moved back.

[User] I wrote about my favourite line from Alice's Restaurant and how I am reminded of it every January: www.gibiris.org/eo-blog/post...

[Assistant] [Clears throat:] "...and creating a nuisance."


[User]
oops!
post above this in your feed is your new kink
what did you get?

[User] perfection 🤌🏻

[Assistant]
*sigh*
@awkward.gay had better pass me her Paypal details then...
Ho ho ho.
🤔 Or maybe I should just post mine... 😏


[User]
No progress on my projects today

Today was for shopping

Tomorrow is for travel and party

What are your weekend plans?

[Assistant] Pushing my framework forward this 4 day holiday on this end.

[User] What's your framework about?

[Assistant]
It’s a global foundational framework to provide a universal system across sectors, orgs and cultures leveraging the core components but with my flavor of interoperability removing passwords while decentralizing profiles and communication.

It spans all 6 major regions.


[User] Every now and again Governor Jared Polis posts something on Facebook and I am reminded that I follow Governor Jarod Polis on Facebook.

[Assistant] Nice state, fine governor. No idea when or why I decided it would improve my life to get Facebook updates from him.

[User] Would it improve my life to stop following him? In certain ways yes, but I need to weigh all the implications.

[Assistant] Apologies to Governor Jared Polis on misspelling his name, but in fairness to me I also spelled it correctly, due in part to my familiarity with it as a receiver of his Facebook updates.


[User] Cool story, bro. I brought all my camping gear to Italy and even a selection of fine teas. Police confiscated it all, never returned it. Now I travel international with just a carryon.

[Assistant] I swear, someone could be talking about say…pizza and you’d find a way to work it into a story about your arrest.

[User] I went to Italy 1976 the UW Architecture program. I mailed a nice mezzaluna knife from Florence. Never got it. Miss Civita😢

[Assistant] Travelling light is the way ahead. Nothing better than just having a small bag and walking straight out of the airport.


[User]
The UK epitomizes the challenges of this cycle.

While weak growth is undesirable, its not weak enough to bring down inflation. And the BoE isn't helping - neither easy enough for good growth nor tight enough to lower inflation.

Today's inflation numbers show more of the same:

[Assistant] There are very few bright spots across these inflation measures.  Headline inflation is extremely above target on a short-term and longer-term basis and has been at roughly this level for a year.

[User] Core inflation has been running roughly stable at 6pct for a year, reflective that this is much more widespread than just energy price inputs.

[Assistant] And the last couple months aren't showing the type of relieve or downward momentum necessary for the BOE to even begin to think that they have made meaningful progress on their mandate.


[User]
GoBlue is live on ProductHunt!🎉

Be sure to give it a upvote 👉
www.producthunt.com/posts/goblue...

[Assistant] Congrats on the launch. Just upvoted. ✅

[User] Upvoted! 🍀🤞

[Assistant] Thanks 🙏!


[User]
The usual crowd.

Police/School Resource Officer
Pastor
Youth Pastor
Republican
Some combo of all of the above.

[Assistant] I stg Ohio Man is the new Florida Man.

[User] Not a trans ha?  Weird..🤔

[Assistant] Weird how it's never a drag queen!


[User]
My stocks for CF have arrived!! They're all so cute I'm so happy🥹🥹🥹
And I guess I've never mentioned the charms are double sided(

[Assistant]
I've also printed this as Rei standee's freebie hehe
I love my manu so much😭❤🔥

[User] I loveee themm!!!! The charms are so cute!!!!

[Assistant] Yesssss they look like candies I wanna eat all of them(?) 😭😭✨💖


[User]
Assisted dying debate about to begin in the House of Commons. Massive day - potentially the biggest social change in half a century.

Strong opposition too. Vote remains anyone’s guess. Result delivered 2:30pm-ish.

[Assistant] Kim leadbeater said just 75% of the public are in favour. How does anyone know this ? I haven't been asked, have you ?

[User] Anyone notice how MPs and journalists have suddenly grown up and act mature about the Assisted Dying debate? Why? It doesn't impact the rich.

[Assistant] Good seeing your sexy chops on GM today and I hope they do the right thing and vote in favour 🙏🏻


[User] hiii friends, I'm doing ballet rehearsal . How's your day going ?? ✨💗

[Assistant] in my next life, this is my dream! 🩰

[User] about to get ready for the day. I’m seeing some friends later to get lunch 😊

[Assistant] ooooh!! i did ballet growing up and absolutely love to watch others do it now. are you able to share what ballet youre rehearsing?

[User]
Hiii💓 My day is going well!
I’m putting up my Christmas decorations✨
Have a nice rehearsal🫶🏻

[Assistant] Good, headed out to breakfast!! What ballet are you rehearsing?


[User] Y’all got yall Thanksgiving dinner outfit planned?

[Assistant] A lil two piece TikTok set with socks. We lounging all day!

[User] You about to hit a lil dance when you get your plate 😂

[Assistant] You already know! 🤣


[User] Lots more of you following me! I'd love to know why.

[Assistant] I think… @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social’s list?

[User] Also lots of people heading to Bluesky right now - I’ve heard it mentioned several times on podcasts this week and at work etc so lots of new signups so people see you on lists or in the follows of lots of other makers.

[Assistant] …also me thinks thee protesteth too mucheth 😂


[User]
Good morning lovelies! X❤

Crikey, it’s Friday already and only a few hours to go to the weekend!

Hope you have a Fantastic Friday 😊

[Assistant] Good morning Simon 🌞👋😘 Have a fantastic Friday 👍❤

[User] Good morning darling 😘 happy Friday ❤

[Assistant] Good morning Stevie, happy Friday 😘


[User] The first scratch card Oxventure was brilliant - I expect this will be equally as good. 😃

[Assistant] I will always admit that a lot of what I do on @doomedcolonisthde.bsky.social is inspired by oxventure, especially Mike.

[User]
Oh? This is new to me.
I shall have to check this out Dudley. ^_^

[Assistant] There's only a couple of silly sessions up on the YouTube right now but if you bookmark the youtube and twitch there's a lot more recorded. Specifically with me a 6 part Alien based adventure and a 4 episode Those Dark Places run. www.youtube.com/@doomedcolon...


[User] How did you make them 🤔

[Assistant] In the oven. Matter of fact here’s a TikTok of a good recipe- www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8LE8hyc/

[User] I may not make it in time for tnksgvg definitely taking notes for weekly dinners! 😍

[Assistant] 👌🏾 sounds good!!!


[User] If you see this, post a Knight!

[Assistant]
I LOOOVE A Knights Tale!

That movie is the pure definition of a comfort film!

[User] Any excuse to say this line.

[Assistant] If you see this, post a knight!

[User] ...i mean...Since you're on the Sentai kick:


[User]
My plans? It was going to be pretty small. And for some it will be. The past few years we have barely done anything.

This year, in the past two days, we have gathered up people we know who are alone and gave invites.

We did this when I was a kid and my heart is full thinking about tomorrow.

[Assistant] Mobbing your safe space. Bring the users we were meant to be. 😂

[User] Sounds like a lovely day. Have a great time!

[Assistant] I love this SO much! I am sure it will be a beautiful day. ❤


[User] Just now getting home from a night out 🫠

[Assistant] Did you have fun?

[User] I really did! ♥

[Assistant] Love that for you 💛


[User] In DWM Russell says two of the writers are brand new to Doctor Who and one is getting their first TV credit!

[Assistant] That seems like a massive risk, and I'm here for it.

[User] I like this a lot. In fact, I'd love to see seasons of DW where there are multiple writers at work, not just the showrunner writing everything. A variety of voices and ideas can only help keep things fresh and interesting.

[Assistant] New talent is good for the show, and a step in the right direction I think. Hopefully RTD continues to use the show as a way of onboarding fresh artists in all areas of the production from writing to prop design and beyond. The old guard may be talented but we can't reuse the same faces forever.


[User] Maybe I am missing something but I got like 4 or 5 new follower notifications in the last couple of hours. But when checking the notifications there is nothing there nor do those "people" show up under my followers? 🤔 Anyone has an idea what's up with that?

[Assistant] Maybe bot accounts that were taken down?

[User] Yeah I assume something fishy going on was just wondering if it is just me or anyone else has similar issues.

[Assistant] I've had a couple. It's not just you.


[User] Randomly stumbled upon her new single recently and it slaps!✨ I hate how everyone bullied her back in the day, kids are allowed to be cringey and just do silly stuff for fun.😒

[Assistant]
Exactly! She did her song as a fun little vanity project when she was a child. Why people gotta be mean about it?

PS do you mind if I ask for Ukrainian music recommendations? I know Kiev must have a mind blowing music scene.

[User] Last year I went to her concert and it was one of the best shows I saw that year. She's a fantastic performer and has such great energy 💖

[Assistant] Really? This is awesome, I’m really glad she didn’t give up on her dreams after what she’s been through.

[User] She went forward with her music career and is on her way to become a fully blossomed pop diva 💃


[User] I use AI tools multiple times per day, which have certainly increased my productivity. However, I wonder how much longer until we/I start losing skills previously "mastered", such as editing and polishing documents?

[Assistant] Ooohohoho this is my jam right here. Personally I haven't only increased my productivity, I'm also achieving things I wouldn't attempt to alone. And yes I AM losing skills but I'm gaining access to new ones too. But how is thag different to any generation?

[User] I also experience that. However, I'm not persuaded with the generational comparison. This paradigm shift is more substantial, and the level of acceleration/adoption more rapid. Changes that would otherwise take decades, are now upon us every few months. I'm not sure societies are able to catch up.

[Assistant] different now. Imo we need to understand these tools better, regulate them and embrace them in an official way instead of what's happening right now which is pretty much off the rails chaotic adoption.


[User] Rambo, TMNT, X-Men, Robocop. They all had kinda dumb Christmas episodes. I reviewed each of them. Are there any more bad Christmas episodes of shows I should cover this year?

[Assistant] Only cartoons,I assume? So no Star Wars Christmas Special.

[User] It could be live action. But the Star Wars one has been reviewed a lot so I’m not sure if I’d have much to add? I’ll think on it. Thanks!

[Assistant] Mmhh. Did you ever do reviews of Christmas themed comics? I remember a Captain Marvel one where Santa Claus is kidnapped (and tortured, I think), probably DeConnick.

[User] The Alf Christmas special is very bad, but not in a fun way.

[Assistant] Have you done the he-man, she-ra holiday special yet?


[User] I wonder how the original Jardience lady is doing these days…?

[Assistant] She couldn't stick to her diet, but she's still getting around...

[User] I Once Got A Like From The Viberzi Lady Years Ago.

[Assistant] Oh, years ago I was once followed by Tom Cruise— not the actor, the mobility scooter guy.

[User] Sooo, you just want to randomly put that song in my head? Two can play at that game. 😈

[Assistant] Ooh that’s my jam! 😆


[User] I get the feeling this was supposed to sound more charming than it does. I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned the walnut tree (this is a reference to a misogynistic old English rhyme).

[Assistant]
Went to see The Longest Yarn yesterday

Moving and remarkable

But still managed to get annoyed by one of the display’s labels containing traditional misogyny 😱

[User] I won't ask what it was in case I get annoyed! I might go to the exhibition though. It's coming my way early next year.

[Assistant]
It was labelled ‘ The only woman journalist there was Martha, wife of Hemingway ‘

www.smithsonianmag.com/history/mart...


[User] Have you seen any anomalous activity in the past couple of days?

[Assistant] On video or in our daily experience?

[User] No, but to be fair, I've only star gazed once this week.

[Assistant] I think I did but not sure. Couldn’t stop to see because I was going to be late for work.


[User] Getting a lot of pushback on putting July in the top spot here. Perhaps I am a dreamer, swept along on a fantastical vision of beers and barbecues, temperate outdoor swimming, and warm long summer nights. But also, when in the year are you guys taking a decent break from work?

[Assistant] Early January? See, I think it’s got the faded end of Christmas celebrations, the potential for hibernation and a sense of new beginnings in it. Whereas by February you’re just scunnered. Actually, maybe the scunnering is caused by late January. This may need more thinking through.

[User] (I also think the month you’re describing here is 15th May - June the day before the summer holidays start, btw. Redefining Scottish Summertime as a bridging season encompassing May, June and September is a key priority for my party once in power.)

[Assistant] Okay, okay, I'm interested in what you're saying here. Much to consider.


[User] I’ve used the same Harvey’s tote bag since 2015. It’s durable, has a zipper and pockets, and room for my purse stuff plus a book, a water bottle, folded cane, etc. I’d like something new for a change, but will anything be as durable and stay as nice-looking as my seatbelt bag?

[Assistant] I guess I’m really embracing my middle-aged-white-womanness. These aren’t going to last for seven years like my seatbelt bag, but at least they’re colorful.

[User] (I’m very bored with the neutral colors of my current bag, and there are a couple stains that just won’t come off. I didn’t much like the current color choices on the Harvey’s website.)

[Assistant] You’ve all given me a bunch of good bags to look into, thank you!


[User] Duke and North Carolina have suffered a combined 5 losses by Thanksgiving for what I'm fairly certain is the first time ever.

[Assistant]
Granted, it wasn't until 1988 that it became common for teams to even play multiple games prior to Thanksgiving, and this particular season started even earlier than usual.

But for those two to be a combined 8-5 through 13 games has to be pretty damn rare.

[Assistant] It's very fun that Kansas is responsible for 40% of those losses.


[User]
1/ Here's a book that was a revelation when I read its 1st mass market version: POINT Of HOPES, by Melissa Scott & Lisa Barnett.

Scott is doing 'proper' revisions via Queen of Swords Press.

search.app?link=https%3...

[Assistant]
2/ Let me tell you why I love this book, & why it rescued my writing!

It's at heart a fantasy police procedural in a secondary-world setting, and it is *very* clever.

It is queer-friendly, in that matter-of-fact 'queer exists, so what, this entire society calmly accepts it' way we need to model.

[User]
3/ The main characters are wonderful separate & together, as they navigate the twisty plot, their own troubled backstories, & their growing attraction to each other. Yes, they're men. Yes, it's gay (in the early 2000s coy way that Big 5 SFF flirted with).

There's great fanfic about these two...

[Assistant]
4/...On AO3, just look for 'Astreiant'.

And then, the worldbuilding. A city & country modeled off our late Renaissance France, but with its own unique world, magic, & astrology. Astreiant is a vivid, imperfect, amazing city, a magnet for schemers & dreamers across its world.

The culture has...

[User] 📌Thanks! Adding this to my wantlist.

[Assistant]
5/...A matriarchal slant that is just as practical & imperfect as its acceptance of queerness.

Which is how it brought my original fiction out of a 10-year-slump.

(This is a sales pitch for the Astreiant books, not mine, just using mine as example. Go buy the 5 Astreiant books!)

I knew...

[User]
6/...30 years ago that my Lonhra Sequence fantasy novel settings would include a Renaissance-based, matriarchal culture on a world that really wasn't Earth.

From 1999 to 2009, I'd stopped writing original fic. Fanfic was fun, I was getting an art career up to speed, and I'd parted amicably...

[Assistant]
7/...With literary agent #1, so I didn't have the drive to write my own long form work as much.

But it percolated happily away until 2 events:

I'd bought the 1st version of Scott & Barnett's HOPES *but never read it*. Sometime between 2002 & 2008, I finally did, & loved it.

I got the flu in 2009.


[User]
🇺🇦🇺🇸House Speaker Mike Johnson:

“I’m not planning” to pass any more funding to Ukraine.

“It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now. We have a newly elected President, and we’re going to wait and take the new Commander-in-Cheif’s direction on all that.”

[Assistant] That's again a lot of blood on your hands, Micky.

[User] Oh, okay… so it was Trump’s place to interfere behind the scenes the last time Ukraine aid came up for a vote?

[Assistant] That's just the speaker of the house misrepresenting how government works, no biggie.

[User]
During Trump's last few days in office he led a COUP attempt.
Tried to prevent the duly elected new president from taking office.

[Assistant] Americans have no idea the cost to THEM if Ukraine falls.


[User]
Trying something sketchy w/ my wheelchair.

I get AGONIZING pain all along my glutes and backs of my legs when upright in my wheelchair.

So, going to try double stacking my cushions to see if we can't narrow this down.

How much is due to wheelchair?

How much is due to health probs?

[Assistant] Did you get this chair through a DME provider? If so, call them and ask if you can get it adjusted. They might be able to adjust the slope/dump on the seat to make it more comfortable.

[User] afford it now, since Numotion dragged their feet on the order and did not get it in before the end of the year where it would've cost me $0.

[Assistant] afford it now, since Numotion dragged their feet on the order and did not get it in before the end of the year where it would've cost me $0.

[User]
It's amazing how incompetent that company is.

I must have called them 20+ times for this order alone, trying to push it through and to get them to do their job.

[Assistant]
That's a bummer (Numotion not getting the order in on time).

Hospital style chairs are awful for people who actually self propel in them.


[User] I think I want a Pilot Decimo with an EF nib for my 2025 hobonichi given the reviews I’ve heard of the 2025 sanzen TR paper. Fountain pen/stationery people: thoughts?

[Assistant] Yes for this!!!

[User] Thank you!

[Assistant] I’ve always use an EF nib in my Hobonichi. I find any nib larger than a F  made my writing harder to read.


[User]
My heart breaks for the Ubisoft employees who have been laid off.
David was laid off by WotC just before Christmas last year "so we could plan with family over the holidays". It just ruined our entire vacation, we were stressed, anxious, and incapable of taking action because no one hires over Xmas.

[Assistant] There is a special place in the underworld for those who order layoffs before Christmas. How is David doing now?

[User]
He has a great job at The Pokemon Company International now :)
I think getting out of Wizards has net been a blessing. But it came after a lot of pain and panic.

[Assistant] Getting out of Wizards was so, so healing for me. I’ll always cherish the connections I made there, but I’ll never miss the grindset.


[User]
The engagement here on BlueSky is *miles* beyond X.

Despite having only about 3K followers here (vs 45K over there) I've seen far more engagement with posts here, including action on external links (ie: resulting in book sales, PinkLabel.TV commission, and OnlyFans sign-ups). YES!

[Assistant] Nice to hear! I just got here and so far it seems like most of my follows are bots/impersonation accounts so hopefully that part changes as it grows and I’m more active 😅

[User]
I'm only here a few days but it's glorious isn't it. Really glad your legendary face is in my scroll once again 😁

Can you make your list of book contributors into a starter pack please 🙏🏻

[Assistant]
I made a list here: 💓

bsky.app/profile/did:...


[User]
Good morning beautiful souls!☕

Happy thoughtful Thursday!

Just for today

Try not to worry
Try not to be angry
Try and not be sad
Try to be empathetic
Try to help someone
Try to have fun
Try to be joyful
Try to be happy
Just be you!

Have a great day! Sending love and light❤🌞

Blessed be!🌒🌕🌘

[Assistant] Happy frosty morning.  I was going for a walk...took 3 steps out the door & discovered everything is covered in black ice!  It was a skating rink out there...not doing that again.  Slipped on ice years ago, dislocated my elbow & tore the tendons in my arm.  Staying inside today where it is warm!

[User]
Happy frosty morning! Yeah black ice is the worse! Funny it doesn’t affect grass, only pavement and roads. We need to stop paving over paradise! Okay that was my rant of the day haha!

Hopefully you made a full recovery from that!

[Assistant] I made a good recovery..not a full one.  My arm doesn't fully extend...sorta have a little bend in it at the elbow.  The ortho surgeon was surprised I got back as much range as I did..and that took over a year.   I am terrified of black ice now.  I do the 'old lady shuffle' in winter!

[User] Doing the old lady shuffle is not always a bad thing! I’m glad you made a good recovery. Our bodies are incredible healers.

[Assistant] Good Morning Amanda happy not raining Thursday have a wonderful day ❤❤❤


[User] I love the story of Shadow and Maria in Sonic Adventure 2. But that is because it is similar to the relationship between Mewtwo and Ai2 in Pokemon. I love stories about non-humans whose loved ones are taken from them by humans. Perhaps I like the story of the avenger.

[Assistant] By the way, my favorite movie is The Mist.

[User] I love The Mist! That ending is so sad and horrifying. ; _ ;

[Assistant] If you ever get the chance, rewatch it with the black and white version, which is the version Frank Darabont wanted to release originally, but the executives and studio said NO. He wanted it to be more 1950s style.


[User]
The newest edition to the X grifting gang after she's amassed a following big enough for twitter revenue due to shit takes.

In response - unless you end up terminally ill and in pain... it doesn't affect you, and you wanna hope it never does. Stop making it all about you, so cut it the fuck out.

[Assistant]
Just hope the govt. put in appropriate & responsible checks & regulation for it.

Also that they don’t scrimp on palliative care. Nice if they started investing in social care actually.

[User]
I believe it was one of their plans.

Given how dire the country was left in, I can imagine that might be set back. Understandable, but I hope it hasn't slipped off the to-do list.

[Assistant]
I think partly they may be putting all their eggs into train our own attitude because they seem anti-immigration to fill gaps in care full stop.

Which is dumb on so many levels not least, training will take a lot of time & people don’t want to do it. It’s a v. hard job.

[User] That's it. These pro deportation advocates wouldn't do half the job or palliative care team do. I couldn't do it, you've got to be stronger than me to do that day in day out and they need to be commended, as do all our service staff.

[Assistant]
Agree. You have to be very good at partitioning yourself off to the pain of end of life care.

It’s very hard work if you’re a caring person naturally.

Don’t talk about bad managers too who bully & berate just for power trips.

They really do not get paid enough in my opinion.

[User] I'm going to guess she's against it and if that's the case she's even more ridiculous as isn't the public massively in favour of assisted dying?

[Assistant]
She is trying to make it about how the government are going to interfere with proceedings and kill off people who don't want to be killed off.

They're lowlife cretins. It isn't reform in charge love, this government aren't that callous.


[User]
Happy tunes.. with added Sibelius.
What’s not to love.

open.spotify.com/track/3PGX9z...

[Assistant] That's a pure bop!

[User] Innit… ?

[Assistant] I think I still have that single on vinyl 😲


[User] Doing this as an extended bio/general kink list for what folks might see me retweet or post on this AD. Don't really care about likes, I'm just gonna answer what I'm comfortable with, I'm never posting photos of myself though. Ever.

[Assistant]
18. Not saying.
19. Yes.
20. Yes.
21. No.
22. Nothing.
23. Nothing.
24. With my partner.
25. Nothing comes to mind.

[User]
18. Not saying.
19. Yes.
20. Yes.
21. No.
22. Nothing.
23. Nothing.
24. With my partner.
25. Nothing comes to mind.

[Assistant]
18. Not saying.
19. Yes.
20. Yes.
21. No.
22. Nothing.
23. Nothing.
24. With my partner.
25. Nothing comes to mind.


[User] How ima sleep with these damn rods in tonight?

[Assistant] On your stomach with your chin on the pillow 🥴

[User] So the “Friday” special? Maaan 😭😭

[Assistant] My mamma always says “it’s hell being beautiful” 🥴😂😭


[User]
Review; Moana 2 (2024) *** 3/5 '…an inessential but professional re-hash of the first film with a few extra bells and whistles…sometimes, we want safe, familiar and comforting, and Moana 2 delivers that…'
#disney
 #moana
film-authority.com/2024/11/30/m...

[Assistant] You can tell that it was originally designed to be told in 3 or 4 separate pieces. The pacing felt off for a single feature. Still, I got what I came for, thanks to the mid-credits sequence.

[User] Yes, the pacing was strange, took far too long to get started, then rushed to the climax...was out the cinema by the time the post-credits came on, what did I miss?

[Assistant] Spoilers, obviously - that's where they put Tamatoa's obligatory cameo. He shows up while Nalo is interrogating Matangi on why she let Moana get away. I (and I suspect a huge percentile of the original's fanbase) would've felt cheated if they'd left him out completely.


[User] Well, that's another Thanksgiving done and dusted. Now to fight the evil ice queen, Mariah Carey.

[Assistant] See in Canada the Evil Ice Queen is Anne Murray.

[User]
*shudders*

Anne's also very popular in certain regions around Louisiana.

[Assistant] I shall fight the evil ice queen with you 🫡


[User] Democrats have a messaging problem mkay.

[Assistant] I do not feel the democrats did anything wrong - they were up against a felon, rapist, con man, liar- OMFG the list goes on. 49.9 % of America are racist bigots.  I also agree, they are uneducated and ignorant.

[User]
I understand defending us Dems from a seemingly basis criticism so thanks for that. 👍 I've actually written a whole🧵 below that might change your mind though. It explains the Mr Mackey meme which was used there for the first time. I just real wanted to post Mr Mackey again.😆
bsky.app/profile/mora...

[Assistant]
I understand defending us Dems from a seemingly BASELESS criticism. Thanks for that.👍 I've written a whole 🧵 (below) that might change your mind though. It explains the Mr Mackey meme which was used there for the first time. I just REALLY wanted to post Mr Mackey again.😆
bsky.app/profile/mora...


[Assistant] He has kept this seat warm...

[User] So, maybe the guburbmunt can use some scrutiny??

[Assistant] Joe, is too late for question like this one...


[User] Good news! Supreme Court of Canada declines to hear appeal from former fashion mogul Nygard. Nygard also faces one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement in Quebec, as well as sex related charges in Winnipeg.  ca.news.yahoo.com/supreme-cour...

[Assistant] Karma is a bitch it's a shame they only find out about these guys when they are elderly.

[User]
Yup.
Too bad they don't incarcerate them before they're old and impotent.

[Assistant]
His money couldn’t buy an appeal?
He was hoping.


[User]
A brilliant podcast with world renowned primary researchers and endocrinologist’s.

They crucify the CASS non peer reviewed essay.

open.spotify.com/episode/4OeW...

[Assistant] This is one of my favorite podcasts and I loved this episode so much!

[User] Completely agree, Kirsti, this was an excellent episode which refused to get sucked into the ideological weeds, but rather remained true to empirical scientific principles.

[Assistant] And they are actual experts who have published numerous research papers in this field. CASS has published zero research papers in this field.


[User]
🏆 The day is here! The ERSA Employability Awards 2024 in London, where OPFS and Public Health Scotland are finalists in the Employer Partnership category.

This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing single parents who contributed to this programme.

opfs.org.uk/get-involved...

[Assistant] Good luck this evening!

[User] Public Health Scotland and OPFS at the ready as the ERSA employability awards begin!!

[Assistant]
Congratulations to our fellow category finalists Breaking Barriers UK, for winning the award for their partnership supporting refugees to
Gain employment across 5 major UK cities. 👏


[User] I zoned out for a few minutes after lunch today and got slammed with a fully-formed story idea with all plot elements and even a few of the opening paragraphs in place. I can't remember the last time this happened. (Probably at least a decade ago.) I'm buzzing!

[Assistant]
There are stories of people trying to doze off and  holding a weight, so that anything visualized in between the awake and doze off (when the weight would fall) period could be used as inspiration.

I can't remember if it was Dali who did something similar as well for his surreal stuff.

[User] So I've heard! I usually keep myself very open to those, and I get little slivers of idea all the time. But those then require much expansion and work. This one's rare in that it came in properly fleshed-out, so I'm writing it up as-is without having to make notes or an outline. Odd, and fun!

[Assistant] This happens more readily with art and music, for me. Perhaps because there's more of an intuitive element to those forms. It's been a long time since I've had this happen for a story, which usually requires some logic to extract and define.


[User] Now somebody else getting to see Kendrick and Sza from floor seats next to me 😌😂

[Assistant] Ahhh they’re gonna be one lucky person😂😂😂

[User] I chose em, now this one just gotta make it til then 🤣

[Assistant] For their sake they better make it till then😂😂


[User] help, I need access to an article from a 1951 issue of UNITED NATIONS WORLD (no relation to the international organization), a magazine so obscure that it is not even on JSTOR 🫠

[Assistant] I can get this through my library. What's the citation?

[User] It's on the Internet Archive! (Not sure which issue, but here's 1951)

[Assistant] Here it is, in case you're still looking! archive.org/details/sim_...


[User] So, Chinese people show good will to you by getting increasingly up in your business. Today, the guard in front of our apartment complex was very chatty with me. I left once on my electric scooter (1/ )

[Assistant]
and he asked me on the way out, "Where are you going?" I told him I was buying groceries. He said "oh, vegetable?" I said yes and he praised me for that.
(2/ )

[User]
Then I came home, and then needed to leave again to meet a friend and so he said to me on the way out again "Oh you ride your scooter very much almost everyday very good."
(3/ )

[Assistant]
When I came back I had a Starbucks cup in my hand and he said "Oh! Buy coffee." It was a peppermint hot chocolate but I didn't think I needed to get too semantic with him and so I nodded. He said "Very good. Very good for you."

So glad he approves of all my errands.
(4/ )


[User] I play #dragonage for the plot.

[Assistant] "The plot" 😁

[User] Mmmm. Plot.

[Assistant] We love a good plot 😋😉


[Assistant] Oh! That hurts my brain!

[User] Hope I’m around to see it 😂🤣.  I’ll only be 225 years young.

[Assistant] Party at Pluto's house!

[User] Sooooo....I'll be dead by then...lol...

[Assistant] And yes, Pluto is a planet.


[User] The Biden administration is weighing additional curbs on sales of semiconductor equipment and AI memory chips to China that would escalate the U.S. crackdown on Beijing’s tech ambitions but stop short of some stricter measures previously considered.

[Assistant] tech competition shouldn't prioritize conflict over collaboration.

[Assistant] tech ambitions vs. human rights—guess which wins again?


[User] Just got my lobotomy! ❤

[Assistant] those are some big eyes 🥺

[User] Yes! I am lobotomised! It's why I'm so silly and fun!

[Assistant] now the eyes have proper room! !! 💖

[User] Fire in the hole 🙂

[Assistant] I was wondering why I was feeling more dumb than the norm. You have mine! Mine has that one purple vein on it. See? Yours is...wait...where is yours?


[User]
This is the ACM annual awards for regional journalism. (I’m missing it this year because I’m on leave doing my PhD.)

The awards are internal but I can’t tell you how important it is to find ways to celebrate regional and local news, which miss all the big awards, but are so crucial to communities.

[Assistant]
But there’s so many reporters out there just keeping local government to account, letting locals know what’s happening in their communities, and asking questions literally nobody else is asking (because they are the only journo in town).

This, to me, is the heart of journalism.

[User]
But there’s so many reporters out there just keeping local government to account, letting locals know what’s happening in their communities, and asking questions literally nobody else is asking (because they are the only journo in town).

This, to me, is the heart of journalism.

[Assistant]
It can’t happen in a vacuum. Because we need Four Corners and Nick McKenzie and Kate McClymont too - we need journos with time and resources.

But too often we forget to celebrate the small stuff that adds up to really big stuff over time.


[User]
Ukrainian drones attacked the Diagilevo Air Base in Ryazan last night. Several Telegram channels reported of explosions coming from the base.

The base is more than 450 km (285 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

[User] Can they take out Tucker while they're at it?

[Assistant] For Russians this is the 2024 version of reading how the battles they keep winning are getting closer to home.


[User] Unemployed, in...

[Assistant] I used to just yell, "Unemployed!" every time we drove past this exit.

[User] This is definitely a gif that I can hear as clearly as if I was watching the movie.

[Assistant] I enjoyed this Internet post!


[User]
This is purely an aside, but I have never liked melatonin supplements. It gives me the weirdest hangover.
Of course world class athletes crossing 5 time zones need all the help they can get.
But I can’t tolerate the stuff at all 🤪

[Assistant] The only thing that works for me is one particular brand of THC/CBD/melatonin gummies and well, we know they certainly can’t take those.

[User] Which is WILD bc when did weed make you a better athlete?

[Assistant] Sha’Carri Richardson would agree with you.

[User] I thought Richardson had tested positive for marijuana?

[Assistant] I’ve never even tried weed in any form… already too chill as it is 😂

[User] Color me jealous. 😭

[Assistant] Same. Made me groggy as hell the next day. No thanks.


[User]
Holy egg prices Batman. 👀

And Michigan is going cage-free so bye-bye to the cheapies.

[Assistant] Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're going cage-free, but the timing, and the sign blaming the state for it is... not helpful right now.

[User] I didn’t know we were going cage-free. Good for us!!

[Assistant]
Signed way back in 2019, so they've had plenty of time to adjust - but of course didn't foresee bird flu. Just bad luck there.

Anyway, we join 8 states in banning production and sale, some other states just ban production. Industry was moving in this direction; we'll see if that ends too.


[Assistant] Inspired by @dee-morris.bsky.social and @sarocarita.bsky.social ❤❤❤

[User] OMG so glad I contributed to this somehow. 10/10 no notes 💖

[Assistant] Those tags you screen shotted are amazing. I'd never thought about how making Crowley the sub/bottom means Aziraphale gets to shower him with affection and serve him unconditionally but now I can't unsee it.


[User] Are these good? Not in a general sense. Am I looking for mana sinks in my new #battlecruiser #commander deck? Absolutely.

[Assistant] For duel lands. They are fine. Their additional abilities are way to expensive to be viable. There are cards that reduce to activated availability of lands but, then you making a deck focused around that.

[User]
I’m usually a much more active player than this deck allows for 42 lands, 16 ramp spells. When it decides to late game it goes hard. Midgame I have a lot of mana I’m not doing much with.

The deck in question:

[Assistant] Definitely look at spelunking. Will help you out a good chunk. I run it in my maze's end deck.

[User]
Third Golgari commander with no overlapping cards (basics and command tower are the exceptions)

Savra: budget has escaped control

Chatterfang: powerlevel has escaped control

Beledross: is finding its feet can still occasionally take down a pod.

[Assistant] Golgari is definitely a favorite for me. I think my favorite thing I ran was Disa. So fun as a Pauper commander and as a demon if you run the infinite combos. I primarily ran her as a Pauper commander.


[User]
None of what’s happening with the incoming regime is “normal.” I’m going to offer some thoughts that may or may not help or resonate, but it’s been working for me….
The Maggats’ #1, numero uno, PRIMARY goal is (after making themselves richer) to “own the libs”….👇

[Assistant] Literally all of this is in service to making our heads explode. You know what a bully hates more than anything else (speaking as the kid who had her wonder woman lunch box thrown under the bus by the 6 yoa equivalents of these asshats)? They HATE being ignored. Better yet, laughed at.

[User] We need to spend that working in our communities, in our social circles, holding the clown show accountable.

[Assistant] Homeschool your kids and teach them right from wrong and critical thinking and math and science and history and literature. We can’t change the results. But we can change our minds. And our small circles.


[User]
Waiting for @evilpunk.bsky.social for their scheduled date

"What's taking her so long....?"

//Art from www.deviantart.com/artdamyio/ar...

[Assistant] Ready for our date?"

[User] Ready for our date?"

[Assistant] Ready for our date?"


[User] Alcohol free, sugar free celebration drinks? Do they exist?

[Assistant] Probably but it doesn't sound like they're worth celebrating. Have a glass of council pop.

[User] I'll be watching this post as I'm interested myself in alternatives when catering for people who have similar needs.

[Assistant] I'll be watching this post as I'm interested myself in alternatives when catering for people who have similar needs.


[User] Biggest downside of using a Chromebook as a personal PC is that I can't use wireguard/TailScale locally on the machine. I can only use it in a VM/crostini.

[Assistant]
Tailscale can run as an Android app on Chromebooks ✨
tailscale.com/kb/1267/inst...

[User] I can't remember I've actually tried it but the Android VM is a bit weird and runs apps on a different IP/device from the local system. i.e. IIRC I can't just point the browser at something on the TailScale network or use it easily with non-Android apps.

[Assistant] I don't have a Chromebook myself, but I work at Tailscale, and we do have some customers with large fleets of Chromebooks using it like this. As far as I know, it "Just Works".


[User]
Issue 22 is here 🧊

With writing from @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social, Clive Martin, Gary Grimes, @franciscogarciadf.bsky.social, @natalie-berry.com, Stephen Smith, Falty DL, @williamasclarke.bsky.social, Olympia Campbell & more

www.the-fence.com/shop/

[Assistant] With more work from John Broadley, Natalya Lobanova, Ant Adeane, @seamas.bsky.social, Kieran Morris, Fergus Butler-Gallie and Bethany Elliot.

[User]
Buy a copy from our shop page, only £7.50.

www.the-fence.com/products/iss...

[Assistant] Subscribed 👍


[User] "We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilized, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Nov. 28.

[Assistant] aid should prioritize peace, not just military escalation.

[User] militarization over diplomacy seems reckless.

[Assistant]
Russia won’t accept a diplomatic solution which doesn’t include the Ukraine giving up large chunks of territory.

Diplomacy at this point is just appeasing Putin. Which we all know from history is a bad idea.

The only way this ends is by bankrupting Russia & sending them packing.


[User]
Did the Black Friday fairies bring you an Elgato Prompter?

The combination of the Elgato Prompter, Camera Hub software and a Stream Deck creates so many powerful options for a computer-based streamer, video creator or video call participant.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hV...

[Assistant] I wonder if @dannybrown.me has been tempted yet...

[User] I may have to pass - my old snowblower gave out, so just dropped a whack on a new one. :(

[Assistant] Oh yep! I have been blessed by the black Friday sale Fairies! It's up there with my rodecaster 2!


[User] Have any verified sources confirmed reports from some Taiwanese media outlets that Chiung Yao has passed away?

[Assistant] One of the most famous adaptations is My Fair Princess (還珠格格), which aired on TV every summer holiday in early 2000s China. It is also one of the first dramas that Fan Bingbing (left) starred in.

[User] One of the most famous adaptations is My Fair Princess (還珠格格), which aired on TV every summer holiday in early 2000s China. It is also one of the first dramas that Fan Bingbing (left) starred in.

[Assistant] RIP… amp.scmp.com/lifestyle/ar...


[User] In case you’re wondering what a lazy Saturday looks like for us, this is his preferred mode of sitting on me. I’m getting Nando’s for dinner. I lazily annotated a book. This is heaven:

[Assistant] Now watching the Finale of Next In Fashion and like @GalleyBeggars, #teamminju !

[User] And for @MrJoshTweets, here’s some household objects love, though not a teapot. I’ve got my new stoneware mug (bottom is a matte dark grey that feels lovely on the hand) and cork toast coasters for a post dinner coffee:

[Assistant] My office is right near a Habitat store so I wait for the dead end of a sale, absolutely peak discount, and then go a plate or mug for, in this case £5, which is a costly London latte only. I’m an addict...


[User] When people talk about the quality of engagement here, it is no lie. I was never on twitter, but I came her to find some comfort from like-minded folks after the election. You all are amazing. I have found community here and intelligent discourse. Thank you #bluesky!

[Assistant] It's really wonderful here 💙 I'm so happy I joined. I've gotten to know so many awesome creative, intelligent, and kind people. It's been the best 💙

[User]
I'm glad you have found engagement on Bluesky. Unfortunately, I haven't at all. I post a Forbes or Undark article I've written and no-one responds. At least on Twitter I got some responses.
Maybe it's because I'm not political. I detest Trump, but I'm not a Democrat. I'm an independent centrist.

[Assistant] I'm sorry to hear that. I think using hashtags and commenting in different feeds has helped a lot. Maybe there are specific feeds for your interests?


[User]
Without a doubt, misinformation is the greatest threat to society and democracy. It is out of control, it’s poisoning minds, and many people have lost the ability to recognise fact, or think critically. It’s a world wide crisis
 @bylinesnetwork.bsky.social northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...

[Assistant] Yes and this is the toxicity our children are surrounded with. A huge threat to the future 😬

[User] Good article.

[Assistant] Dumbing down to an incredibly low level. And people are proud of this!

[User] Every time I donate to Wikipedia I ask them to bulwark themselves against mass digital editing because it’s now so cheap and easy to do with AI. And campaign to keep libraries open because the, not quite so easy to slyly mass edit, place of checkable facts might soon be older books and papers.

[Assistant] It is genuinely terrifying. I try to avoid lecturing and instead give them a list of questions to answer. One of the problems is their inability to just ask questions.


[User]
Ok, it is yesterdays news already, but good night sleep is important.

After 7 amazing years at Google Brain/DM, I am joining OpenAI. Together with @xzhai.bsky.social and @giffmana.ai, we will establish OpenAI Zurich office. Proud of our past work and looking forward to the future.

[Assistant] Congrats! Looking forward to reading your future work at OpenAI Zurich!

[User]
Wow, bombshell. Congrats to all of you.
Well, congrats to Open-AI 😀

[Assistant] Wow, excited for your future research! Congrats to you and also to @giffmana.ai and @xzhai.bsky.social !


[User] Have you done those audition's you were putting off yet? I'll know if you're lying...

[Assistant] I am guilty of this.

[User] No, but it's on the schedule. 🤞🏾

[Assistant] Saving my remainders for tomorrow but I know they’re waiting. 😌


[User] Merry Cakes-giving!~ had to make a sweet glam to match my staff!🥰🍰✨

[Assistant] Very cutesy! 💖 ^.^

[User] where is her calendar!!!!

[Assistant] I will make a Wueen Baby calendar…🥹💕


[User]
Reviewing the last chapter of the React Testing Library Book 🙌 I just sent out the free preview to the people who were interested.

Tomorrow: cover design, copy, and emails.

Planned launch: Dec 2.

[Assistant] ON IT SIR 🦋🦚

[User] All the best with the launch, Akos  🎉

[Assistant] thank you my friend :)


[User]
My psych said I am going to end up dead.

I think he’s right.

When I say humans have caused it I realise I can’t say that as people say I am baiting them if I call them out.

I am tired of being harassed on twitter and in work and because it makes me want to die it’s my fault.1/

[Assistant]
But if I tell people I am going to act on my thoughts it’s threatening suicide on twitter.

But if I don’t tell people then I am wrong too.

To my sister and rachey.  I am not baiting anyone.  To my work too.

None of you have any compassion for me.  Being bullied in work2/

[User]
made me suicidal.  That’s all.  Yes it’s more complex but that was the tipping point.

The day a bunch of people had a go at me on twitter was my tipping point.

It’s not about walking on eggshells round me.  Surgeons take care during surgery so humans need to take care around3/

[Assistant]
those that are traumatised.

So yes your words can be the tipping point that kills someone.

Words are like stabbing someone in the gut when they are unwell.

Take responsibility for your words when someone is in crisis.

[User] Sending love to you. Sorry the world is so cruel 😓🫂🦄💕

[Assistant] There's no excuse for anyone to be cruel to anyone else on social media. Also, we've had those comversation before about how Twitter particularly is not a safe or constructive place to post messages directed at people or organisations to tell them you are going to kill yourself.


[User]
That thing where it seems like the world is about to go further to heck so you figure you might as well stock up on toilet paper.

(This is going to be a reflex with a lot of us, isn’t it?)

[Assistant] My mom is doing that lately, but mainly to get Target gift cards (deals like Buy 3 packages, get a $10 gift card).

[User] I do it when Hyvee has fuel savers attached to them.

[Assistant] Canned goods and beef/pork. When people realize how much of our food supply comes from Canada and Mexico.


[User]
THANK YOU BEYOND WORDS for all you do, for the millions of acts of love you pour into this world. You make everything better just by being you. Field Team 6 & I love you for it, forever!
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Jason Berlin, founder @fieldteam6.bsky.social
#Voterizer
youtu.be/hDfEee611No?...

[Assistant] That is awesome!!

[User] I totally zoomed up on that blue bird. Putting back together something that is broke is SO what someone does when they love you. I did this for my mom, when she broke a lamp that was her mom’s. I know these are physical things but same principle applies to the intangible.🩵

[Assistant] I didn’t know you guys had a YouTube page. Well I just subscribed 😊


[User]
For the first time in franchise history, the Sabres blew a four-goal lead to lose in regulation at home.

My column on a "horseshit," panic-filled collapse from a team that is struggling to take the next step GM Kevyn Adams thought they could take

www.nytimes.com/athletic/596...

[Assistant] Once again, they find new ways to prove what an amateur organization it is. And it’s never changing with Pegula as owner.

[User] Please explain to me how the owner caused last night? "The buck stops here" is not an acceptable response.

[Assistant] You bring in an experienced head coach like Lindy, you give a definitely talented roster the time and space to develop, and yet this keeps happening. I don't believe in curses but what else explains the Sabres?


[User] I like most of what Key, Baz and Stokes have done with this England team, but bringing Woakes back on board for away tests feels such an uninspired selection. #cricket 🏏

[Assistant] I'm convinced he's handled a cursed monkey paw... the moment he gets on a plane, I'd back myself to get a wicket before him!

[User] It must be so frustrating for him the difference between home and away!

[Assistant] Surely quite freeing to know you don't have to worry about a wicket celebration until April.


[User]
Ok music people! I'm looking for something to do when I have 5 mins spare and don't have access to a keyboard.

Are there good music related learning apps that can help me improve my sight reading/music skills??

Hit me!

[Assistant] Good ear pro. It helps you drill your inner ear so you can identify intervals, melodies, chords qualities, harmonic progressions, etc. I don’t need a keyboard to write music anymore. I just carry a tuning fork, pencil, and mini manuscript moleskine and I can sketch ideas no matter where I am.

[User] I was going to suggest Yamaha QY70, but then I saw you’ve got one in your banner image.

[Assistant] Hey that's not a bad idea!!! But I can't carry it anywhere. Plus I'd like to be able to write it down in notation. Totally non-volatile then.


[User] Check out these hilarious introvert t-shirts, perfect for Christmas! 🎄

[Assistant] these are great 🔥

[User] And the person who wrote this is a ... what? 🤔

[Assistant]
"Needies, move on. I am not your lamp post."

"If you need to unburden yourself the loading dock is outside."

"Say it. Don't spray it."


[Assistant] My wife found this very funny. Make fun out of shit situations.

[User] I am so sorry...

[Assistant] Oh no, what happened?


[User]
Packing up for MCM Birmingham ~!

This is my last event for the year, and I can't wait to take December off to relax a bit! Mcm brum is one of my favourites though, and I can't wait for the weekend. I'm sharing tables with @abistevensart.bsky.social ! 🤘

[Assistant] I'll be there tomorrow. I'll come say hi!

[User] Oh how amazing, I’d love to see you! Can’t wait~ 🤘

[Assistant] Me neither! Did you ever get a physical copy of Benothinged? I'll bring you one tomorrow if not.


[User]
We got to lay our eyes on sweet @laurenashley087.bsky.social and give her a big big hug. When I tell yall...she's doing the mom thing exactly perfectly, just like I knew she would.

And her step-dad gave me the best hug that I desperately needed.

It was such a good weekend. My spirit needed it.

[Assistant]
After you guys left, my mom was like “do you know how blessed you are?” And, I mean, DUH!

The timing of your visit was PERFECT! Thank you for the mommy pep talk, I can’t tell you how much I needed it.

[User] So I can send an Eagles onesie?

[Assistant] I'm the one who is blessed 💗

[Assistant] This is beautiful, warm, fuzzy, & very awwwwwww-inducing. 🥹🥰


[User] A crucial step in onboarding @newsreadeck is allowing users to identify and select trusted, familiar news channels. This helps them feel the app is personalized and beneficial.

[Assistant] To achieve this, we start by asking the user about their location to gather the most basic information.

[User] Our backend features over 16,000 🗞 curated and uniquely tagged news channels, each linked to a specific location and language, enabling us to deliver the most relevant options to the user. 🌐

[Assistant] In these examples, we demonstrate how users from different countries and cities with different languages are presented with an initial list of available news channels. 🌍📰


[User] Got in a huge family fight about how "Home Alone" is a Christmas movie but "Home Alone 2" isn't.

[Assistant] Tell em Die Hard beats both and drop the mic.

[User] People argue about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, but the better observation is that Home Alone is a Die Hard movie.

[Assistant] I see what you did there.


[User] Would u be angry if I sent you snaps like this while you're at work? 🥺

[Assistant] HELL NO (I need it)

[Assistant] I'd be there so fast that I'd arrive before my "omw" message did 🤭


[User] Looks like she was on to something after all.

[Assistant] Not exactly a 'revelation' coming from her...

[User] Please don't get me wrong I still voted for her, but only because she was the lesser evil of two truly veil people running for president.

[Assistant] Please don't get me wrong I still voted for her, but only because she was the lesser evil of two truly veil people running for president.

[User] Please don't get me wrong I still voted for her, but only because she was the lesser evil of two truly veil people running for president.

[Assistant] Please don't get me wrong I still voted for her, but only because she was the lesser evil of two truly veil people running for president.


[User]
I think the pitch of my voice itself is genderfluid.

I'm never 100% sure where it's going to be.

Sometimes it's in Keith David mode!

And sometimes it's much, MUCH higher.

[Assistant] I've noticed this too. Idk why, I've barely done any voice training, but my voice is naturally pretty androgynous so maybe that has something to do with it.

[User] Not that it matters, but it's your voice even on the Internet anywhere? For as long as I've been following you I don't think I'm aware of you ever posting photos or videos.

[Assistant] Yeah, I know how that goes. I'm naturally soft-spoken with a somewhat higher pitch. I get called miss/ma'am on the phone constantly, and more than half the time in public. I stopped bothering to correct people decades ago. I like to joke that I'm a Rorschach test for perceived gender.


[User] ROFL, the dog show camera just cut to one of the dogs waiting its turn that is. Asleep.

[Assistant] Here comes the hound group (wooowooowooowooowooo)

[User] Putting the Norfolk Terrier and the Norwich Terrier together is a cuteness bio weapon.

[Assistant] I love that they are the same except for the ears. 😍

[User] That's a very, very smart dog.

[Assistant]
*conserving energy

Sounds a smart pup to us❤


[User] Our new #47. How far we have come 🤦🏻♀

[User] ... seems incredible wealth cannot buy good taste 🤭

[Assistant] YIKES!! WTF! There is something seriously wrong with this one. I think he got Kennedy’s brain worms. This cannot be unseen 🤢🤮


[User] IMO, Barton Simmons' article is an indictment on Texas' talent evaluation, and is also an argument for not using the Longhorns as the standard bearers for recruiting any more. In that vein, here's a list of current TCU players who had Texas offers, as well as some who didn't:

[Assistant] Shawn Robinson, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Bowen, Austin Myers, Ross Blacklock, and Darius Anderson all had Texas offers.

[User] Justin Rogers had a Texas offer, as did Atanza Vongor.

[Assistant] Sewo Olonilua didn't have a Texas offer, but he had offers from Oklahoma, LSU, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State.

[User] Corey Bethley didn't have a Texas offer, but he had offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC, Washington, Oklahoma State, Mississippi, Washington, West Virginia, and Nebraska.

[Assistant] Kenedy Snell didn't have a Texas offer, but he had offers from Michigan and Wisconsin.


[User] This tweet went mega-viral in 2022 and basically ruined two weeks of my life. Hundreds of notifications per minute. People I barely knew from childhood came out of the woodwork to try to talk to me about it. Some randos decided that I staged the photo and sustained an angry days-long witch hunt.

[Assistant] I legit have one of those in my random-electronics-and-cords box. 😅

[User] The "1980s?" kills me. I am deceased.

[Assistant] A bunch of the big-name content aggregators like theCHIVE and LadBible included my handle and username in the screenshot that they reposted everywhere, and some of them even tagged my photography account on Instagram and my personal account on Facebook. My grandma saw it in her feed. It was hell.


[User]
Blimey to me👇🏼this is like the King of a sewerage works announcing another floater arrived hot from the Tory toilet bowl❗🥴🤢

Anderson, Jenkyns etc.. Reform doesn’t even pretend to have a bar to set low 🤷🏼♂

[Assistant] My memory isn’t what it used to be but wasn’t there some daytime tv presenter called robert Kilroy silk who was like an early version of - I’ve forgotten his name already. But anyway, does anyone really take this seriously? Like, seriously?!

[User] They always attract the crem de la crap. And that shirt's straight out of 1978, all he needs is the chain and a nice pair of slip ons.

[Assistant] Wow! Deform are really picking off the cream of the cream of the Tory party!


[User]
Coming #home
is a vital part of travelling,
because only then, you can
embark on your next journey.

My second to last word for you is #home. Happy writing, my #vss365 friends!

[Assistant] Time flies when we're having fun on the journeys you have shared with us. One more journey to go. Great hosting you have done, Oliver! 🐬✨🦋🐳

[User]
Thank you, Gabe. 💙
It's been great fun. 🐬🐋💙

[Assistant]
Excellent words and stories to go with them over the last two weeks. Love today’s sentiment, without home, “away” has less meaning.

Thank you for your work as host!

Who are you passing the torch to on the 1st?


[User] Come January, this is what Orange County’s House representation will look like. There are six districts that are either partly or entirely in the county, and five of them will be represented by Democrats. This isn’t Nixon or Reagan’s Orange County anymore.

[Assistant] This is so awesome! 💙💙💙

[User] This was a very hard cycle but we held CA47 and CA49 which were not easy tasks, and of course we flipped CA45 which I am ecstatic about. Flipping CA40 is going to be a big challenge, but I think it can happen with the right candidate and a lot of money.

[Assistant] A lot of hard work has been put in for sure. This is great. I wish CA-40 had stayed blue when it turned in 2012 but it's a tough & large district. There are definite strong areas of blue in there tho. 💙

[User] Tustin seems like the bluest area from what I’ve seen. What are some of the strong areas?

[Assistant] There's some modern home areas in Orange... almost at North Tustin. Very blue. Parts of North Tustin are too. Any part of Orange that gets closer to Old Towne & parts of "Pill Hill".


[User] This is such a classic citation that keeps coming up when I observe Christian clergy talking about Jewish texts. (I do not bother with critiquing CT exegesis because it is NOT my rodeo.)

[Assistant] I quote my friend's dad, Rabbi Abowitz, "Christians. Don't know their own fucking religion."

[User]
Of course they don’t. So many Christians worship the power of Empire and dominion over others. They think what they’re told to think.
But then again there are tens of thousands of different versions of Christianity. And they are always achieving.

[Assistant] This was 30 years ago. The rabi would then go on to cite specific mistranslations. Dinner with him was always a hoot.


[User] did anyone ask Eileen if she wanted cum on her?

[Assistant] Maybe it was a bukakke party?

[User] If she doesn't want it, I may be available to step in. I'm just saying.

[Assistant] heheheheeh right?! send them my way girl!!! 🤭😅


[User] Processing was tweakin' so I restored some to share ^^

[Assistant] My fav edit before they put the effect behind a paywall. 😒


[User] Anyone know if these are real people? I think that we may have a new thing to worry about in our social media discourse, the AI reply guy.

[Assistant] Look like bots.... I've had to already block a few people, either wanting to use my artwork for money??? Or a bit Jesusy....

[User] Sorry about the lack of Alt Text in these two pics. But they're just screen shots of weird replies I had to a post.

[Assistant] Elsewhere one of them refers to Peaky Blinders, a Birmingham gang. Bang to rights.


[User] Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate. I can’t say I’m thankful for everything that’s gone down this year - stand up, please, Q Magazine - but I’m thankful for the support of my family, friends, fans, and followers. Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing my work. It’s appreciated!

[Assistant] Happy Thanksgiving Will to you and your family while we are still allowed to say, “ happy Thanksgiving “!

[User] You are appreciated. Do not forget that.

[Assistant] Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you are surrounded by all loved ones and those who you hold close to your heart!


[User] Why did I just Google my brother?  It’s like stabbing myself in the heart.  Now I have literal heartache.

[Assistant] Just think how brilliant it is that his work is out there for people to see.

[User] Yeah it is brill that it’s there and that he was so well loved by so many people.  I miss him.

[Assistant] I can't imagine how you must be feeling. I wonder what he would have made of this place? He'd have had thousands of followers already, I know that much.


[Assistant] Sad. Another "this is why we can't have nice things" story that is a depressing reminder that the world will always be full of awful people shamelessly doing rotten things to f*ck over others for their own benefit w/ no compunction whatsoever. Believe this is why we invented this...

[User] Sad. Another "this is why we can't have nice things" story that is a depressing reminder that the world will always be full of wretchedly awful people shamelessly doing rotten things to f*ck over others for their own benefit w/ no compunction whatsoever. Little wonder we invented this...

[Assistant] Same issue for all other platforms.  Google+ policy initially, login with public identity, until too many complained this would risk their job/life.  Not an easy nut to crack.


[User]
@mremerson.bsky.social

So good to see you Mr Emerson. Was trying to find you and am delighted to see you again.

Best wishes to you for a really lovely day :)

[Assistant] You too! Just spotted you. Have a great weekend. 😊

[User] Thank you very much Mr Emerson 😊

[Assistant] Thank you for finding Mr Emerson …a uniquely lovely account.


[User] My beauty routine these days mostly consists of me finding  inch long black hairs on my chin line and gasping at how the fuck I didn’t  spot it the day before…

[Assistant] I used to wonder about this when I was young, seeing older women going out of the house with all their chin hairs - how could they? Now I know they literally couldn’t see them.

[User] Exactly! I’m gonna invest in a super magnifying mirror!

[Assistant] I have a friend who keeps tweezers in her car just because of this. Plus, in the day, good light and a mirror ;)


[User]
Our brains distort the world—not to deceive us, but to help us survive.

Human perception isn’t designed to show us reality as it is. It’s shaped by millions of years of evolution to filter, simplify, and prioritize what matters most for survival.

Here’s how our perception twists reality:

[Assistant]
Why do we see patterns everywhere?

Our brains evolved to prioritize survival over precision. For our ancestors, spotting a predator hiding in the grass—even if it wasn’t there—was far safer than missing one.

This “better safe than sorry” wiring is why we see faces in clouds.

[User]
Why does time feel faster as we age?

Time perception is relative. For a child, a year feels endless because it’s a huge portion of their life. For an adult, it’s just a fraction.

Our brains compress repetitive experiences, making time feel like it speeds up as we age.

[Assistant]
Why do optical illusions fool us?

Our vision prioritizes speed over precision. Early humans didn’t need perfect clarity—they needed to quickly identify threats or opportunities.

Illusions reveal how our brains take shortcuts, filling in gaps to save time. What you “see” isn’t always what’s there.

[User]
Why are we afraid of flying but not unhealthy habits?

Our brains evolved to fear visible, immediate threats—like predators or cliffs—not abstract, long-term dangers.

That’s why a plane crash feels scarier than heart disease, even though the latter is far more likely to harm us.

[Assistant]
Why do we feel so confident in our decisions?

Confidence evolved as a survival tool. In life-or-death situations, hesitation could cost your life—decisive action, even if imperfect, was often the better bet.

That same overconfidence makes us feel certain about things we barely understand.


[User] Just what you need in Saturday morning - a blocked drain. So on my hands and knees to clear it out. 🤢 Not a nice job but as a single person it is what home ownership is all about 😩

[Assistant]
😬 Outside or inside?
I've become adept with a set of drain rods over the years.

[User] Outside and it was hands that were needed! All fixed 💪

[Assistant]
😬 Hope you don't need to do it again soon.
At least in Winter it doesn't stink as much.
One time I found a frog trapped in sewer water of an inspection pit.
Scooped it in a bucket and took it to a nearby stream & released it. 🐸😀


[User]
Is there room for like.... Nonsexual vore in Romancelandia? What about selfcest???

Like, hypothetically speaking if you had a shape-shifting love interest that was most comfortable wearing your face and also could effectively turn into a Jacuzzi for you would that be too weird???

[Assistant] I meeeaaannnnn there is romances about like pillows, and doorknobs, and paperclips and even fart shifters among others, so yeah, you could write whatever floats your goat & you will probably find readers for it ☺

[User]
But those are mostly erotica, right? The door one might have been actual romance, but....

The idea I have here is more "cozy fantasy" than "funky and fresh" 😭 I have no idea if I'll write it, but I AM getting emotionally attached....

(I'm not even into vore. I know nothing about it 😭)

[Assistant] Honestly, I haven't read them so I don't know how erotic they may be - but probably. But honestly, if people can get it on with a door or a fart then I don't see why you can't write a non-sexual romance - not everyone is into smut ☺


[User]
Post 80s film GIFs 🖤 🎥
Pass it on...

[Assistant] Chicks can’t hold the smoke 😂


[User] No joke, on stream today one of my babysitters @heart.live was talking about how she was going to eat at the big kids table!  But I wasn't going to eat at the big kids table, I was going to eat at the babies table! D: I was like AWWW WHAT?! I'm a cool kid!!

[Assistant] Awww I’m sure you are! I bet all the older kids will remind you of that when they babysit you after your naptime! 🤭 At least you get the baby table and not the high chair.

[User] *grumble grumble, dun wanna sit with the babies, gimme the high chair.*

[Assistant] Hehe that’s what I thought, we’ll make sure you get all buckled in for safety!


[User] The Thick of It isn't a guide.

[Assistant] Will be interesting to see how many, and which, targets they come up with. There’s huge potential for simple targets to drive poor, rather than better, decision making.

[User] Let's make is easier for everyone and only announce the targets once it is certain they have been met.

[Assistant] I hope they are more sensible than 'fastest per capita growth in the G7 for two years running'...


[User]
You will find an “ism(s)”, I'm using sexism and write a paper with an angle. You will use the medium of any of the following but not limited to:
Social media platforms
News channels
A corporate company policy document
Disney animated classics
What this means is: you may choose...

[Assistant] ableism for instance, and the medium may be a chosen .org. In this case you will test the accessibility of the site for the deaf, and blind. Critique the visuals, and see if a person with deafness can understand the site through the visuals, besides the words; check for the organization of the...

[User] ...site when a person who is blind uses his mouse to navigate and understand the words being read out loud. The reading level of the site if this site should also target audiences with intellectual disabilities. The United States is conditioned to have all written materials readable by a 4th...

[Assistant]
...grader including government forms. Therefore, an adult with an intellectual disability that comes upon a site that is cognitively challenging can cause many issues.
Instructions:
Cover page
Introduction: Thesis statement, justification for choosing the angle you want to discuss
Literature...


[User]
Meet Brandon Sanderson.

The man whose fiction empire crowdfunded $41 million in 30 days with his secret novels.

Enabled by a writing process that builds clarity and simplifies the writing process.

Here’s his 6-step system to squash writer’s block and write with clarity:

[Assistant]
Bursting with ideas until the moment you sit down to write?

Writers block appearing out of no where halting progress?

The secret to defeating writer’s block isn’t magic—it’s systems.

Now for Brandon's system:

[User]
Step 1: Start with the conclusion and work backwards.

This way every scene builds toward a powerful resolution.

And every step in the wrong direction becomes obvious much sooner.

Clarity in your outline gives you clear direction replacing fear with purpose.

[Assistant]
Step 2: Anchor your story with key elements: geography, cultures, factions, and conflicts.

A detailed world creates depth and guides your narrative choices.

A strong world unlocks ideas, keeping your story consistent and immersive.

Giving you a framework to guide your writing.

[User]
Step 3: Frame your story with clear promises, steady progress, and satisfying payoffs.

Readers stay engaged when your story fulfills its promises.

Master pacing, create anticipation and bring structure to your plot.

Thus eliminating uncertainty and unleashing creativity.

[Assistant]
Step 4: Establish a writing schedule to balance creativity with productivity.

A disciplined approach keeps you on track and forces regular practice.

Writer’s block isn’t a lack of inspiration—it’s a lack of action.

Consistency makes writing smoother and builds momentum.

[User]
Step 5: Focus on daily progress, not external results.

Small wins build momentum, fueling creativity and keeping writer’s block at bay.

Celebrate each step forward to sustain your writing long-term.

[Assistant]
Step 6: Use time limits and gamification to stay focused.

Goals like word counts create a sense of achievement and build momentum.

Track progress to beat distractions and crush writer’s block.

[User]
Brandon Sanderson’s 6 Habits to Defeat Writer’s Block:

    1. Start with the end in mind.
    2. Build a rich, consistent world.
    3. Promise, Progress, Payoff—structure your plot.
    4. Set a daily writing routine.
    5. Celebrate small wins.
    6. Gamify productivity.

[Assistant]
Thanks for reading.

Follow me @Nick_Holmquest for more fiction writing tips like this.

Share to get a friend salivating over your upcoming fiction writing.

Just like I'm salivating over this apple pie.


[User] There’s no secret to this. It’s the same as the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2016. They spend Russian money sending hyper targeted adverts on social media telling lies to audiences segmented by age, demography and social economic status. news.sky.com/story/someth...

[Assistant] Red pill males are malfunctioning all over right now.

[User] Exactly. Tried & trusted formula.

[Assistant]
It’s infuriating to see the predictable move to capture younger people rolling out before our eyes & absolutely no counter operation/exposure!

Many will be able to vote at the next election….and many feel disenfranchised & angry. Perfect demographic to target, sadly.

We’re in big trouble.

[User] True. In the meantime we’ve got head of cyber at GCSQ today saying we’re not equipped to counter a foreign threat when they are already among us.

[Assistant] It’s quite something isn’t it?  How quickly we’ve arrived here.


[User]
Good Tuesday morning Lounge family! ☕🌞🌈🌻☮💙

Staying positive in the face of such negativity is difficult; it's easy to get bogged down by the political appointment news.

Don't give them that power! Ignore all the noise.

Concentrate on your own community & what you can do to help those in need.

[Assistant] Finding positive posts is like lookinf for a needle in a haystack.

[User] That's why I spend so much time in the lounge feed, at least it's mostly positive.

[Assistant] I am missing The Lounge and the separation from the vitriole. 💔

[User] Yeah, feeling that myself. ☹

[Assistant] Good reminder, it's hard not to get sucked into the void but I have gone four weeks without MSM and I highly recommend it!  Have a great day Michelle  ☕


[User]
Have you ever just wanted to get super high or drunk... and you can't??

Man.. that sucks!!

[Assistant] Yes but I have to go to work at a bar restaurant so it's kinda lost it's lustre🤣🤣🤣✝🌊💙🌊💙

[User] Why can’t you get super high? If I was in your hood, I’d drive over and get you lit. 🔥

[Assistant] You need to follow the Pete Hegseth guide book.

[User]
Ew, never!
Only reason I don't drink any alcohol is because my taste buds despise it
but
I do enjoy the slight high that 1 or 2 tokes near bedtime brings. It's calming & brightens my mood for around the hour before I fall sleep. Give me moderation + I invested way too much in education to zonk it.🔨

[Assistant] I’ve been sober for 3 years and 2 months today. But I went to a party on Saturday night at a party that I didn’t want to go to and had seriously thoughts about having a drink. It did suck.


[User] Have not been on Amtrak in a while and very much missed the sensation of sitting next to a woman who is basically screaming into her phone as she talks to her mother about her sister. "She's a horrible person! I'm still angry about what they did to the cat!!"

[Assistant] This is definitely what I miss most about living in New York and taking the subway everywhere. 😂

[User] I hope she’s not taking the cat and moving to Springfield.

[Assistant] While you may find some people's conversations annoying, it's essential to respect others' right to express themselves.

[User] I politely ask them to stop talking. While also slyly looking like a psycho. Usually works.

[Assistant] Was it speaker phone?  Bad enough to hear one side of a conversation.


[User] If American websites use cookies, then do British websites use biscuits ?

[Assistant] Now thats a good question, do they? 🤔

[User] Cookies are still cookies in British English if they have chips in them! I suppose digital cookies involve microchips so...

[Assistant] at least not ’crackers’


[User]
The Tories and Reform accuse Keir Starmer of being part of the elite.

With Heidi Alexander’s appointment as Transport Secretary, Starmer now leads the first 100% state-educated cabinet in British history.

[Assistant]
That's so impressive!
At last a HMGov representative of the majority of people in our country. Working for the people of this country... Not old school friends or cronies.

Love it!

[User]
Starmer is part of an elite.

In a good way. He has got where he is on the back of his own endeavour and effort.

He wasn't born to privilege.

That said I wish he'd bin the Knighthood.  It's an unnecessary, anarchonistic token.

[Assistant] Wow. That's both impressive and a sad commentary on how long the economic elites have controlled the country.


[User]
Building a list of "followers" who don't actually interact with or support you is so 2010.

Give me 500 people who actually care to read what I write over 25K people just interested in padding stats and "moots".

[Assistant] If everyone is special, then no one is. Earn your followers.

[User]
I ain't reading all that.
Free Palestine.

[Assistant] I don’t understand your math. you have 1.6K followers and only follow 310.


[User] Crossing my fingers for employment ♡♡

[Assistant] Being in visual arts is a rough world out there 😭

[User] Hoping for you bb ❤❤❤

[Assistant] Thank you!!! ❤ ❤ ❤


[User] Breakfast is live BBCRadio3 Today Yuri Bashmet performs Max Bruch’s Romance for Viola, Benjamin Luxon sings of a sweet Cornish nightingale, Blossom Dearie stays true to Cole Porter and Stephen Hough turns a military march into a ballroom waltz. Start the day well.

[Assistant] Morning, Petroc! Good to find you here too…

[User] Good morning, Petroc. Good to see your posts here too though I’m still mostly over there, pro tem.

[Assistant] I've just seen this here! It's so good to have you over here. 🎶♥🎶


[User]
Anyone on this platform who does #postalart or #mailart? I'm talking about art you actually sent through the mail, stamps & all.

Like the two sides of this envie I sent to a mail-art friend in Germany:

[Assistant] Cool! I have been working with a friend on a mail art documentary! Idid mail art in the 80's. So glad that it is having a resurgence...

[User] A mail art doc! Ooooo, tell me more.

[Assistant] Sluggo, this is a wall in my house adorned with a small fraction of all the mail art I've received:


[User] @boondockfinds.bsky.social You won’t have this I’m sure, but I’m looking for a 1995 Buzz Lightyear spinning lamp.My son had it when he was little. I found one on EBay and wasn’t quick enough. It looks like this. If you come across one let me know - I’ll buy it!

[Assistant] @boondockfinds.bsky.social  see above ☝🏻

[User] Yes, will keep an eye out for that for sure!

[Assistant] I don't have one, but will watch for one!


[User]
"Casey’s Hotel Lux is a humanely told history of real human beings—their vulnerabilities, foibles, and all." 🙏

I am really moved by this review of Hotel Lux - the first to feature in an academic journal - from Brigid O'Keeffe.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

[Assistant] In the interests of transparency for other early career folks who want their book to reach a wide audience: I have struggled to get the book reviewed in academic journals due to the publishing route I chose (to my mind the only route that could do the story justice).

[User]
Academic journal reviews can be important for job and funding applications. Missing out on these reviews (I have learned) has implications on the academic job market.

I’m always happy to share my experience for ECR historians considering the trade route (which I fully recommend - I have loved it)

[Assistant] I was so excited to see a copy of this in Swansea Waterstones recently!


[User] happy thanksgiving to u bloomfies who celebrate!! 🫶🏻

[Assistant]
i don't personally celebrate but i like this practice so here goes:

i'm so grateful that we all found each other in this little corner of the internet!! i've never felt that i was genuinely a part of the swiftie community until now, and that's all bcs of u guys!! so thank u thank u thank u!! 🫶🏻

[User] I feel the same way 🥰🥰 thankful to have found ya 🫶🏽

[Assistant] Happy thanksgiving!!


[User] It's time to start a new jigsaw. The world of Virginia Woolf. First job, sort the edge pieces. Good quality pieces and a large fold out poster. Hope I manage not to lose an entire day to it. There are other things I want to do today.

[Assistant] A jigsaw of one’s own.

[User] I love these jigsaws. There’s a secondary market on Vinted. I’m in the middle of Dracula, with Oscar Wilde and Great Gatsby to go - all acquired second-hand. And I’ve sold a bunch there too!

[Assistant] I am tempted by the Great Gatsby one, but it does look really hard. 😬

[User] It really does. I’m leaving it for a while. But it was, like, 4 quid. Also it’s portrait aspect (like the Drac) one, which I find trickier to do.

[Assistant] I have a very small table so have to use a jigsaw board.

[User] While I was doing the Sherlock one I temporarily got confused and started identifying all the Dickens characters in it.

[Assistant] Lol. I did the Jane Austen one straight after the Dickens one, and kept getting scenes and characters mixed up.


[User] It is time...........

[Assistant] 1) I'm honestly...leaning bi? But with a female preference! Used to be a lesbian buuuut I'm unsure these days.

[User] 2) Absolutely a bottom. Hands down.

[Assistant]
Sexist part of the body?

Fat arms. There's something about a big milestone on having arms so goddamn fat they've become slabs of adipose 🥰🥰🥰


[User] As we celebrate the American Thanksgiving, I reflect on how thankful and lucky I am to be alive. A huge part that contributed to that result was each a different every one of you. So today......I celebrate all of you and give thanks! Much Love xo ❤

[Assistant] Tim, we are the ones who are lucky to have you here with us, sharing your journey with nothing but the best intentions for others. And for that, I am thankful, my dear friend!💙❤🙏😌🫶🕊🫂🦋🌈🦬🏈🕯

[User] You are so sweet Nadine and I'm so thankful for you!!

[Assistant] Love you & Eileen,  buddy!! That'll never change!


[User] Please just accept any and all typos toda. I'm ill AF and we need an edit option 🤣

[Assistant] If you don't mention them I'll probably won't even notice 😅

[Assistant] We desperately need an edit button, it's a miracle how well my spelling is as high as I get on here; but still 😅.


[User] I started reading Arches tonight and I already love Cameron and Devon so much 🥹

[Assistant] I'm so sorry for you. I'll hold your hand.

[User] I am NOT ready for this game to break my heart because I know it’s gonna be rough 😔

[Assistant] Maybe many count of many cries did you think you'll have by the end of it. I'm still heart wrenched because of it.


[User]
With "allies" like this "fighting" our corner, we hardly need the slavering bigots eager for our deaths.

I'm so sick of being told that what are clearly bad moves made by at best bumbling idiots, are actually amazing 5d chess moves that are gonna pay off annnnnyy minute now.

[Assistant] You're at the supreme fucking court, show up prepared or give the job to someone else who'll bother, JFC.

[User] I don't know how you can say there isn't a de jure history of discrimination against trans people then say there's only 3 years of laws targeting trans people. What? That's literally what a de jure history of discrimination against trans people looks like. What's!???

[Assistant] Well, you see we're just not Top Legal Minds™ and therfore can't possibly comprehend the sort of chess moves being carried out in front of us.


[User]
It’s literally only for 30 minutes, but I’M IN SINGAPORE!

Now on to Kuala Lumpur!

[Assistant] WOW! That airport looks amazing!

[User] Did you post this twice or am I seeing it on my feed twice for no reason?

[Assistant] Oh man that’s awesome 👀


[User]
I significantly prefer advantage/disadvantage over the +-4 suggested by B/X D&D, because of the excitement and tension it has, even though the statistical impact is nearly the same. Here's my explanation:
 open.substack.com/pub/azorynia...

What do you think?

[Assistant] I don't use adv/dis in my AD&D/OSE games but actually may introduce it since it perfectly suits my homebrew alignment rules. Thanks for the inspiration!

[User] I don't use adv/dis in my AD&D/OSE games but actually may introduce it since it perfectly suits my homebrew alignment rules. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Assistant] I don't use adv/dis in my AD&D/OSE games but actually may introduce it since it perfectly suits my homebrew alignment rules. Thanks for the inspiration!

[User] I don't use adv/dis in my AD&D/OSE games but actually may introduce it since it perfectly suits my homebrew alignment rules. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Assistant] DCC RPG and ShadowDark use Luck and when expressed as tokens - its great fun. like calling and raising in Poker.


[User] Good Morning Bluebs, it’s all pink out there!

[Assistant]
Hmmm, ‘Bluebs’ 🤔

Yes, I think I like that….

Good morning.

[User] Lovely morning!

[Assistant] Gorgeous isn't it?

[User] Morning. That’s what I call a dramatic sky!

[Assistant]
Hate to be a garden snob but…
Your next doors is #Yawnsville
🫣😉
I hope they’re not on here! 😂

[User]
😂😂😂 they do or did have white tulips.. and then white alliums.. so.. yes.. but it does get a bit better in spring.
A formal garden!

[Assistant] Surprised they haven’t asked you for advice! 🙃


[User]
Santa said that last year our bee friendly seed packets were the best loved presents ever in the history of Christmas.
higgledygarden.com/shop/

[Assistant] I an't access your link from the Netherlands 😢

[User] We've had some cyber attacks from the Netherlands...so I'm afraid we've shut you off for a while....sorry! Sadly we can't send to you anyway since Brexit. :(

[Assistant] If I were to purchase, are there any options that would not do well in the US ( mid- Atlantic)?


[User]
Many of you are racing to finish your manuscript before New Years and I am fucking here for it. Keep at it!

But as the holiday season is upon us and *gestures around at everything* some of you can’t write at all. And you are not alone. It’s okay. You owe yourself only that you take care of you.

[Assistant] I'm riding the waves of 'hell yeah lets go' amidst the *waves at the doldrums of existential and personal dread*. Thanks for this reminder!

[User] I’m SO fucking close. But moving in to this apartment has been a 24/7 job the past few weeks. I haven’t written a word in over a week because *gestures at boxes of stuff and unbuilt ikea furniture and overtime I’m hella saying yes to so I can try and pay for it all* I’m still hopeful though! 🤞🏻

[Assistant] That all being said, this apartment should change my writing situation for the better once I’m all set up. Having my own space to work in, uninterrupted room to pace around and mutter to myself while I think. I have space for a whiteboard now! The funky-shaped closet is soon to be my writing nook!

[User]
But after seven whole years of work, I am so so close. I’m like a god dang gigolo ready to burst, and this book is like, “four more chapters, at least, before you can finish.”  🤣💪

I’m fighting losing energy and motivation to impatience. No fear at the finish line; just want to give the end my best.

[Assistant]
I honestly right now have no idea what’s in store for me in 2025, so I’m working hard to finish my current Pilot script by the end of the year 🤔

We’ll see how that goes 📝🎬🎥

[User] Ive got another 20k, and then a round of edits, to do by the New Year. I am on target to complete it. It's amazing how much creativity flows when the pressure is on.

[User] Exactly this. Creativity is great, but your well-being comes first. Take care of yourself, the words can wait.

[Assistant] Not a manuscript but a first rough cut of my new feature!


[User]
SIGH
The Bluesky android app is eating my phone's battery. 🙃

[User]
Pretty much.

In the time between my post and this one, it has lost 5%.

[Assistant] Use a secure browser instead. and delete the app.


[User] No dismiss/opt-out for a BETA feature. I either have to "learn more" or accept generative AI like a foie gras goose.

[Assistant] Or is it a duck? Fuck knows.

[User] Don’t update, wasn’t there a big deal about this a couple of months ago? I’d quit and disable updates or start it offline if you have it on desktop.

[Assistant] You could be right. I haven't used Creative Cloud apps for months now, just needed to sign some PDFs with Acrobat and noticed the banner. It did force an update when I launched it though, and then asked me to restart.


[User]
I was having a convo in the hotel lobby with a cpl ppl. We started talking gas prices in different states. One seemingly nice lady said, very loudly, "It's all going to change! Things are going to be different now!"

Ayayay 🙄🤦🏻♀

[User] Got my biden gasoline pump stickers miss me yet!

[Assistant] Where were you? The Bates Motel?


[User]
Australia is the first country to ban young people under 16 from social media.  Any policy that upsets Elon Musk, Joe Rogan and Zuckerberg must be a good idea until proven otherwise.

*The ban does not apply to helplines, educational apps or YouTube.

[Assistant] And there’s no disinformation on YouTube, is there.

[User] The ban is designed by Murdoch, Australian government is just doing what its told.

[Assistant] It's not about banning kids, it's about storing information on you when you have to prove your identity.


[User] Forty years ago today. Sorry about the faded pencil - in a nutshell, I got very excited about Frankie Goes To Hollywood being No 3 in the charts with 'The Power Of Love' but never mentioned our study of the Sun God Ra in our history lesson. There wasn't much call for him on Teesside in November.

[Assistant] What was the poster?

[User] Have you heard the non-sped-up version? It's glorious.

[Assistant] listen, mate, nobody gives a toss about your ancient sun god ra or your faded pencil. if you're not here to spill the tea on teenage kicks, go meditate or something. we're on the internet to escape history class, not revisit it. zzzz.


[User]
I just watched a zit popping video on YouTube. It’s grossly soothing.

I’m disturbing myself.

[Assistant] About 17 yrs ago I seriously looked into creating Zit candy. Candy that looked like zits that u could pop and eat. (Thought kids would love it. I even had a meeting w the dude who created Shrink-a-dinks and Colorforms. Apparently I was the only one excited about it. Idea fizzed.

[User] It’s a really good idea. Revive it and try it again. The toy market makes more money than you think. Go for it!

[Assistant] 🤔 Hmmmm. I might have to. Thank you!


[User]
Hey Gang, Its Writer Wednesday Here At Alfred's MAD World of MAD Magazine , & Today We Are Continuing To Take A Look  At  "MADs Turned On Zoo", Brought To You By #frankjacobs & #bobclarke  , Enjoy The Tales ✒✏🖋🖊
#madmagazine #madpaperbacks #writerwednesday

•●Still Pics In Comments●•


[User] Jeez, time flies fast. Its already time for another #Education. This time we gonna explore #FundingArbitrage in crypto trading! 📚 It's a strategy that takes advantage of #FundingRate discrepancies across different exchanges.

[Assistant]
By holding opposite positions on multiple platforms, traders can earn from these differences while minimizing risk. 🔄  How does it work?

1⃣ Identify exchanges with differing funding rates:

- Exch. A: Positive funding rate (longs pay shorts).
- Exch. B: Negative funding rate (shorts pay longs).

[User]
These discrepancies create an arbitrage opportunity. 💡

2⃣ Execute opposite positions:

- Short on Exch. A: You receive funding payments from long holders due to the positive funding rate.
- Long on Exch. B: You receive funding payments from short holders because of the negative funding rate. 📈📉

[Assistant]
3⃣ Maintain Delta Neutrality:

By holding a short and a long position simultaneously on different exchanges, you offset price movements. This minimizes your exposure to price changes, letting you focus on earning from funding rate differences! 🛡

Benefits of Funding Arbitrage: