Pete M
@gripecat.bsky.social
250 followers 840 following 240 posts
Personal - books, comics, music, guitars, art, astronomy, games. Booze. Professional - pensions specialist.
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Reposted by Pete M
holboldoart.bsky.social
🎂 It's my special cake and candles day you all have to be nice to me because it's been QUITE the year 🎂

So share some of my paintings??
In the pew-lined interior of a dim medieval church lit by rows of candles on tall staffs and pale sunlight coming through a window, a tall humanoid crow figure with flowing black robes and a glowing yellow eye stands beneath an ornately carved semicircular arch in Norman Romanesque style. On the wall surrounding the arch are many colourful murals depicting more humanoid crow figures with halos, carrying various items including swords, spears, harps, and chalices.
A painting set in a cosy shady woodland clearing on a sunny summer's day. In the centre of the frame, two figures sit on a fallen log mostly hidden by vegetation. The figure on the right has wavy blonde hair down past her shoulders, and wears a flowing white floor-length dress with long sleeves, with delicate lacework around the cuffs and neckline. She looks into the distance with a contemplative, sad expression. On her lap rests a small green book, covered by both of her hands. 
The figure on the left sits leaning with her head against shoulder of the other figure. She wears a similar dress but simpler, and in a dark slate grey. Her hair is dark and straight, and flows down her tilted face, and she looks off towards a nightingale bird perched on a nearby branch. She raises a hand towards the other figure as if to get her attention.

Both figures are surrounded by various flowers. On the left of the frame are many spires of foxglove flowers in vivid pink and white, interspersed among green stinging nettles.  On the right are the purple flowers of monkshood/wolfsbane. 

Wrapping around the figures is a clear stream flowing from a distant pond that descends in a series of steps. Around the stream are many small mossy rocks, and shoots of dark green dog's mercury.

Above and behind the figures and flowers are two trees; on the left is a weeping willow with dangling dark green leaves. On the right are the branches of an old ash tree. A snowy scene in which a humanoid figure in long black robes with the head of a rook stands in a churchyard holding a long spear. By its feet is a red fox. Both are flecked with fallen snow. Around them are many weathered snow-covered graves. In the background is a medieval church of warm coloured stone with large rectangular windows and a battlemented parapet topped with pinnacles. Behind the main body of the church is the tower with clock face and belfry. Behind the church are tall but bare trees dusted with snow. More snow falls in the air. A snowy scene in which a humanoid figure in long black robes with the head of a rook stands in a churchyard holding a long spear. By its feet is a red fox. Both are flecked with fallen snow. Around them are many weathered snow-covered graves. In the background is a medieval church of warm coloured stone with large rectangular windows and a battlemented parapet topped with pinnacles. Behind the main body of the church is the tower with clock face and belfry. Behind the church are tall but bare trees dusted with snow. More snow falls in the air.
Reposted by Pete M
purserhallard.com
It occurs to me that the Doctor's polyethnic identity in recent times recontextualises Peter Davison's casting in quite an interesting way.
(For context, although you'd be unlikely to guess it by looking at him, Davison's paternal family is Guyanese. He has close relatives who are visibly Black.)
Peter Davison, a fair-skinned blond man, as the fifth Doctor, circa 1982.
gripecat.bsky.social
7th edition is one I don’t yet have, but it’s always on the list (and as you say, things are adaptable for earlier versions).
gripecat.bsky.social
Ah, got it. I think I saw “Classic CoC” in the FAQs and assumed that meant first edition rather than ‘not Pulp’ :)

But thank you for all the answers, I really appreciate your kindness.
Reposted by Pete M
abigaillarson.com
In honor of Edgar Allan Poe's 176th deathday, here are a few of my recent pieces inspired by Poe's works 🫀
Illustration by Abigail Larson depicting a scene from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee". Two lovers embrace at the edge of the sea, water splashes around them and the surrounding rocks. A full moon shines over them, and storm clouds loom.
Published in "Sticker Jigsaw: The Edgar Allan Poe Collection" 2024 Macmillan illustration by Abigail Larson of a raven perched on a skull with a teal curtain backdrop illustration by Abigail Larson depicting a scene from Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" showing a man restrained as a pendulum blade swings close to him. Rats have swarmed around him, chewing the ropes that hold him down. This illustration is featured in "Sticker Jigsaw: The Edgar Allan Poe Collection" for Macmillan Books. Illustration by Abigail Larson for Macmillan's "Edgar Allan Poe Sticker Jigsaw" book. The illustration is a scene from Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven". The narrator is at the center of the image looking up at at raven perched above an open doorway. Behind the narrator is a tall window with red curtains, and the ghost of Lenore lurks nearby. A black cat is watching the scene from the lower right corner.
gripecat.bsky.social
@hplhs.bsky.social Hi! Quick questions about The Spark Devil. It’s for first edition CoC, right? It should work with the original box set that was Kickstarted a couple of years ago (or my GW hardback)?

Secondly, could be be run with a keeper and one player (plus NPCs)? Don’t have a local group :(
Reposted by Pete M
alexvont.bsky.social
I agree with every word Zelda Williams says. And this at the end from OpenAI makes me want to go full Ned Ludd. Creators can’t have a blanket opt-out on copyright infringement of their work and have to fill out a form appealing to OpenAI’s mercy every time? Fuck off into the sun
OpenAI told the Guardian that content owners can flag copyright infringement using a “copyright disputes form” but that individual artists or studios cannot have a blanket opt-out. Varun Shetty, OpenAI’s head of media partnerships, said: “We’ll work with rights holders to block characters from Sora at their request and respond to takedown requests.”
Reposted by Pete M
franubis.bsky.social
Spotify has the WORST audio quality out of every other streaming platform

It is also the most expensive

They support Joe Rogan

Apple and amazon let you upload your own files to the library.

Tidal and Apple have spatial audio even on PC (need atmos+AC3)

There is no reason to use spotify
culturecrave.co
Spotify is partnering with ChatGPT

• Will personalize music and podcast recommendations

• Available on an opt-in basis
Reposted by Pete M
colemandesign.bsky.social
WIN a set of postcards of TV crime series as Penguin book covers. Simply guess which series is depicted on each cover. The earliest was broadcast in 1969. All originated on TV (so no Morse, Marple etc). Email [email protected] & I'll pick three from a digital deerstalker. Deadline: 10 Oct.
gripecat.bsky.social
Credit is due! I bought the issue without even knowing who was doing the art, and I’m not sure I’ve been exposed to your work before, but glad I have now as it’s great!
Reposted by Pete M
helleborezine.bsky.social
Exciting news! HELLEBORE’s first short story anthology is here! 9 new tales of the supernatural and the strange by Ramsey Campbell, Ally Wilkes, Reggie Oliver, Helen Grant and more, set in some of the most beguiling locations of Occult Britain.

👉🏼 Pre-order now to secure your copy: helleborezine.com
Tales of Occult Britain - edited by Maria J Pérez Cuervo- cover art by Isabella Mazzanti, design by Sam Freeman. Cover shows a skull with a crown, a witch, a faerie, a toad and the moon.
Reposted by Pete M
adamchristopher.me
I don't know how many times this needs to be posted, but clearly it is MANY TIMES.

Sigh.
Reposted by Pete M
lordravenscraft.bsky.social
the most uncanny aspect of the 21st century is how many stories we have about charlatan showmen who conned the world—from PT Barnum to Andrew Wakefield—and yet we still take grandiose, provably false claims from tech CEOs as though they are harmless or, at worst, true
politico.com
“This was the year, I think, that the AI got smarter than us.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman gets candid about the promises and perils of AI in the premiere episode of MD Meets — a new podcast from POLITICO's parent company Axel Springer.

🎧 Listen and subscribe: mdmeets.com
Reposted by Pete M
karlkerschl.bsky.social
It’s NEW GOTHAM ACADEMY DAY!!
marcoferrarink.bsky.social
I’m happy

My ‘grazie’ go to
@karlkerschl.bsky.social
@brendenfletcher.bsky.social
@beckycloonan.bsky.social
Eva de la Cruz
Steve Wands
Sara Miller
@duss005.bsky.social
@sweeneyboo.bsky.social

a special thanks to the readers that gonna give it a chance!
Reposted by Pete M
swansonian.bsky.social
I was reminded yesterday that Bill Burr once did a bit in his stand up, a long time ago admittedly, calling Beyoncé out for doing gigs in Saudi Arabia. What I’m liking about this situation is all these men can just shut the fuck up if they ever mention “woke” ever again.
gripecat.bsky.social
And all the names! Boy Kavalier, Joe Hermit, Dame Sylvia, Atom Eins - a cross between Sprawl era William Gibson and 70s Springsteen characters.

But it’s always great to see Ade Edmondson in dramatic roles.
gripecat.bsky.social
The alien was something that couldn’t be understood. It was linked to the Space Jockey - and the biomechanical environment. And psychosexual fears.

The series had some great characters though - the sheep, Timothy Olyphant, and Nibs, the psychotic child.
gripecat.bsky.social
truly beyond anything humanity could comprehend. It was a predator, but there was so much more to it - just the intricacy of its body design - it’s not a simple beast. The size of its head - it’s much more intelligent than humans. If you wanted a basic primal force, you had Jaws.
gripecat.bsky.social
But for a horror series, I was never unsettled. The alien doesn’t belong in daylight.

I was obsessed with Alien as a child - I read so many things about it without ever seeing the film until it premiered on ITV. For me, the alien was Lovecraftian - something ancient and
gripecat.bsky.social
I got around to watching the rest of the series. I enjoyed it without liking it much (if that makes sense). I think there was a good story there that didn’t need to be attached to the Alien franchise. The children, the synths and the android could have worked fine with the other aliens.
Reposted by Pete M
antlamb.bsky.social
⚡ Cyberman art prints available now! ⚡

‘A Shocking Defeat’ – Available in A4

Seven Cyber portraits – available in A5

Bundle deal – pick any 5 A5 portraits for £20 (save £10!)

Link below!
anthonyflamb656e.myportfolio.com/cgi
A montage of eight cyberman pictures against a blue metal background