Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
@btravern.bsky.social
Mastodon rider, here due to FOMO. Holder of 5 unused invite codes. Posting #TTRPG sundries here and on dice.camp
🧵 On top of the historical problems discussed below, this LLM-created slop is of course being fed into Facebook's genAI project as training data, errors and all.
Over on Facebook there's lately been a barrage of extremely long best-designer posts that contain extensive histories of the designers. A few of the designers have said they're great.
But the one I went over had incorrect details and implied things that weren't right.
Yes, it was AI slop.
🧵1
But the one I went over had incorrect details and implied things that weren't right.
Yes, it was AI slop.
🧵1
I've written on this a bit, the point is that ai can make a simulacrum of historical knowledge at the behest of some very malicious actors, and then it can propagate that vision ad infinitum and tirelessly.
February 12, 2026 at 2:42 AM
🧵 On top of the historical problems discussed below, this LLM-created slop is of course being fed into Facebook's genAI project as training data, errors and all.
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Borders Books, Radio Shack, and Tower Records
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Borders Books, Radio Shack, and Tower Records
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
In yet another example of how the RPG and comics industries abandon their creators, longtime designer Ross Issacs is in serious financial straits due to sudden medical issues.
I've backed his campaign. Can you help?
If nothing else, please spread the word.
Thanks!
gofund.me/067554463
I've backed his campaign. Can you help?
If nothing else, please spread the word.
Thanks!
gofund.me/067554463
Donate to Support Ross Isaacs' Recovery and Living Expenses, organized by John Kasab
Hi, I'm John Kasab and I'm organizing a new fundraiser for Ross Isaacs to… John Kasab needs your support for Support Ross Isaacs' Recovery and Living Expenses
gofund.me
February 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
In yet another example of how the RPG and comics industries abandon their creators, longtime designer Ross Issacs is in serious financial straits due to sudden medical issues.
I've backed his campaign. Can you help?
If nothing else, please spread the word.
Thanks!
gofund.me/067554463
I've backed his campaign. Can you help?
If nothing else, please spread the word.
Thanks!
gofund.me/067554463
This is what Charlie Stross calls "Barnum's Law of CEOs"
February 10, 2026 at 4:35 PM
This is what Charlie Stross calls "Barnum's Law of CEOs"
Do you want a Quatermass?! Because that's how you get a Quatermass!!
Sporophytes from moss can survive in the vacuum of space. The sporophytes were affixed to the exterior of the ISS for over nine months; 80% survived, and 89% of the surviving population was able to germinate back in the lab. buff.ly/xe85lJ2
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Moss in space: spores survive nine-month ride on outside of ISS
Scientists say plant’s resilience suggests it could help with oxygen generation or soil formation on space missions
buff.ly
February 9, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Do you want a Quatermass?! Because that's how you get a Quatermass!!
This would be a neat project if its community labels/associations weren't generated by an LLM. "Fine-grained detail" = obtuse miscategorization and weird hallucinations.
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io
February 9, 2026 at 5:16 PM
This would be a neat project if its community labels/associations weren't generated by an LLM. "Fine-grained detail" = obtuse miscategorization and weird hallucinations.
Normally, I'd start with researching who the age verification vendors are and investigating who's funding them in their push to create a "demand" where none exists.
I think we can cut to the chase, though. Larry Ellison has been on this bullshit for a long, long time.
I think we can cut to the chase, though. Larry Ellison has been on this bullshit for a long, long time.
February 9, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Normally, I'd start with researching who the age verification vendors are and investigating who's funding them in their push to create a "demand" where none exists.
I think we can cut to the chase, though. Larry Ellison has been on this bullshit for a long, long time.
I think we can cut to the chase, though. Larry Ellison has been on this bullshit for a long, long time.
Hey, @discord.com – this is a fantastically stupid idea that will drive away users. Drop this foolishness.
Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally
Discord is announcing enhanced teen safety features rolling out globally that reinforce its long-standing commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive experience for users over the age of 13.
discord.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Hey, @discord.com – this is a fantastically stupid idea that will drive away users. Drop this foolishness.
If you see this, quote with a robot that isn’t from “Star Wars”, “Star Trek”, “Dr. Who”, or “Transformers.”
February 6, 2026 at 11:55 PM
If you see this, quote with a robot that isn’t from “Star Wars”, “Star Trek”, “Dr. Who”, or “Transformers.”
I get my news from a reliable source 🗞️
February 6, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I get my news from a reliable source 🗞️
New #TTRPG exhibit at the Detroit Historical Society: "Worlds of Palladium explores the rise of tabletop gaming in Detroit, the birth of Palladium, the impact of the Satanic Panic, and how tabletop gaming went mainstream."
Worlds of Palladium
www.detroithistorical.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:11 PM
New #TTRPG exhibit at the Detroit Historical Society: "Worlds of Palladium explores the rise of tabletop gaming in Detroit, the birth of Palladium, the impact of the Satanic Panic, and how tabletop gaming went mainstream."
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
Riddles of steel in the dark
February 6, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Riddles of steel in the dark
This is not the cool cyberpunk dystopia we were promised.
It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines
During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.
futurism.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:04 PM
This is not the cool cyberpunk dystopia we were promised.
On that note, Night's Black Agents desperately needs either a second edition or a supplement to bring its current events up to date. 2027 will be its 15th anniversary. <hint hint>
White House Maid Shrieks After Spotting Melania On Ceiling
WASHINGTON—Expressing horror as an unidentified slimy substance dripped on her shoulder from above, White House maid Carla Ovares reportedly shrieked Tuesday after spotting first lady Melania Trump on...
theonion.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:19 PM
On that note, Night's Black Agents desperately needs either a second edition or a supplement to bring its current events up to date. 2027 will be its 15th anniversary. <hint hint>
"You Are The Generation Who Bought More Shoes And You Get What Deserve" (Johnny Boy)
February 4, 2026 at 10:37 PM
"You Are The Generation Who Bought More Shoes And You Get What Deserve" (Johnny Boy)
Here's a Millennial Youtuber's attempt to understand the psychology of the mysterious and elusive Generation-X.
If the "past is a foreign country" ("they do things differently there"), this treats Gen-Xers as immigrants who have only partially acculturated to the present.
If the "past is a foreign country" ("they do things differently there"), this treats Gen-Xers as immigrants who have only partially acculturated to the present.
Psychology of Gen X
YouTube video by Psychology Simplified
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Here's a Millennial Youtuber's attempt to understand the psychology of the mysterious and elusive Generation-X.
If the "past is a foreign country" ("they do things differently there"), this treats Gen-Xers as immigrants who have only partially acculturated to the present.
If the "past is a foreign country" ("they do things differently there"), this treats Gen-Xers as immigrants who have only partially acculturated to the present.
This is because Amazon doesn't need or even want book sections, which might publish unfavorable reviews that would otherwise dissuade impulse purchases of bad titles. (Bezos already has the bot-ridden Goodreads to pump out fan "reviews".)
The guy who owns Amazon shutting down the books section of the Washington Post is beyond parody
WaPo also closing Books section and downsizing International and Metro sections
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
This is because Amazon doesn't need or even want book sections, which might publish unfavorable reviews that would otherwise dissuade impulse purchases of bad titles. (Bezos already has the bot-ridden Goodreads to pump out fan "reviews".)
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
Pelgrane Press seeks Customer and Platform Relationship Manager
Pelgrane Press seeks Customer and Platform Relationship Manager
Pelgrane Press, one of the UK’s leading publishers of RPGs, are currently recruiting for a Customer and Platform Relationship Manager to work remotely buildin
pelgranepress.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Pelgrane Press seeks Customer and Platform Relationship Manager
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
In a few weeks, I'll crowdfund the 20th Anniversary Edition of Play Unsafe, my book about improvisation, story and roleplay.
Go here and follow the Kickstarter. (And please repost this, it really helps!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gra... #kickstarter #ttrpg
Go here and follow the Kickstarter. (And please repost this, it really helps!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gra... #kickstarter #ttrpg
February 2, 2026 at 11:56 AM
In a few weeks, I'll crowdfund the 20th Anniversary Edition of Play Unsafe, my book about improvisation, story and roleplay.
Go here and follow the Kickstarter. (And please repost this, it really helps!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gra... #kickstarter #ttrpg
Go here and follow the Kickstarter. (And please repost this, it really helps!)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gra... #kickstarter #ttrpg
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Archaeology (the World)
Latin American Novels (Contemporary)
Physics (the Fundamentals)
Psychology (Abnormal)
Shakespeare (the Plays)
Archaeology (the World)
Latin American Novels (Contemporary)
Physics (the Fundamentals)
Psychology (Abnormal)
Shakespeare (the Plays)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Artificial Intelligence[*]
2. Pharmacognosy
3. Microbiology
4. Software Engineering
5. Human physiology
[*] State of the art in 1990, deep in the AI Winter
1. Artificial Intelligence[*]
2. Pharmacognosy
3. Microbiology
4. Software Engineering
5. Human physiology
[*] State of the art in 1990, deep in the AI Winter
January 31, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Archaeology (the World)
Latin American Novels (Contemporary)
Physics (the Fundamentals)
Psychology (Abnormal)
Shakespeare (the Plays)
Archaeology (the World)
Latin American Novels (Contemporary)
Physics (the Fundamentals)
Psychology (Abnormal)
Shakespeare (the Plays)
PSA (better late than never): With new restrictions on posting/commenting, English-language LiveJournal accounts need to backup their posts ASAP.
ru-news.livejournal.com/80899.html
ru-news.livejournal.com/80899.html
![[Google translation]
What exactly is changing?
Starting December 29, 2025, users who meet at least one of the following conditions will be able to publish new public posts, leave comments, and upload photos and videos:
• the " Professional " package is connected;
• Sber ID authorization is linked to the account ;
• the value of social capital is not less than 500;
• The blog is registered in the Roskomnadzor blogger registry or has verified status .](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xpa5fydwordwuynzypidsd4y/bafkreifs6gcpdsglunjfqcxwolo4wlkfrhtqcv4uwooh2tjtokz3mw4swi@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 5:09 PM
PSA (better late than never): With new restrictions on posting/commenting, English-language LiveJournal accounts need to backup their posts ASAP.
ru-news.livejournal.com/80899.html
ru-news.livejournal.com/80899.html
Reposted by Tʀᴀᴠᴇʀɴ
The Crazification Factor strikes again! (h/t @johnrogers.bsky.social)
Pew has Trump's approval at 37%. And:
"Only about a quarter of Americans today (27%) say they support all or most of Trump’s policies and plans, down from 35% when he returned to office last year. That change has come entirely among Republicans."
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
"Only about a quarter of Americans today (27%) say they support all or most of Trump’s policies and plans, down from 35% when he returned to office last year. That change has come entirely among Republicans."
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Confidence in Trump Dips, and Fewer Now Say They Support His Policies and Plans
Only 27% of Americans say they support all or most of Trump's policies – down since last year, with the change coming entirely among Republicans.
www.pewresearch.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:51 PM
The Crazification Factor strikes again! (h/t @johnrogers.bsky.social)