Balka
@balkaurse.bsky.social
Reposted by Balka
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder
“The ‘early ideation stages’, when worlds are being fleshed out by writers and artists, are literally crucial to the development of a game’s vision,” said one artist.
thisweekinvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Reposted by Balka
oh, so there it is: the blatant proclamation that the current administration is intending to literally target trans people to exterminate them
the mussolini treatment would be far too compassionate for these ghouls abusing their positions of power
the mussolini treatment would be far too compassionate for these ghouls abusing their positions of power
meanwhile, the US attorney general also wants to categorize trans equality activists as belonging to “designated terrorist organizations”.
a leaked Justice Department memo from December 9th added “radical gender ideology” as part of its definition of “domestic terrorism”.
a leaked Justice Department memo from December 9th added “radical gender ideology” as part of its definition of “domestic terrorism”.
December 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
oh, so there it is: the blatant proclamation that the current administration is intending to literally target trans people to exterminate them
the mussolini treatment would be far too compassionate for these ghouls abusing their positions of power
the mussolini treatment would be far too compassionate for these ghouls abusing their positions of power
Reposted by Balka
When I say making is anti-fascist, I do not mean in a hearts and flowers being a shining example of good in the world way. Breaking chains of disease transmission that can permanently disable someone is keeping people out of the reach of fascist. Excellent explainer below.
December 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
When I say making is anti-fascist, I do not mean in a hearts and flowers being a shining example of good in the world way. Breaking chains of disease transmission that can permanently disable someone is keeping people out of the reach of fascist. Excellent explainer below.
Reposted by Balka
I am convinced in the future we will look back and realise the sheer unimaginable folly of letting a virus that can cause immune dysregulation and cognitive dysfunction in humans infect and re-infect the global population over and over again. Worse still, that we encouraged it.
December 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I am convinced in the future we will look back and realise the sheer unimaginable folly of letting a virus that can cause immune dysregulation and cognitive dysfunction in humans infect and re-infect the global population over and over again. Worse still, that we encouraged it.
Reposted by Balka
Coming soon -- Dimension 20: Gladlands! ☀️😃
Join Brennan Lee Mulligan and the Dusty Do-gooders (Ally Beardsley, Kimia Behpoornia, Vic Michaelis, Oscar Montoya, Zac Oyama, Jacob Wysocki) for a feel-good apocalypse adventure!
Dimension 20: Gladlands premieres Jan. 7th, 2026!
Join Brennan Lee Mulligan and the Dusty Do-gooders (Ally Beardsley, Kimia Behpoornia, Vic Michaelis, Oscar Montoya, Zac Oyama, Jacob Wysocki) for a feel-good apocalypse adventure!
Dimension 20: Gladlands premieres Jan. 7th, 2026!
December 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Coming soon -- Dimension 20: Gladlands! ☀️😃
Join Brennan Lee Mulligan and the Dusty Do-gooders (Ally Beardsley, Kimia Behpoornia, Vic Michaelis, Oscar Montoya, Zac Oyama, Jacob Wysocki) for a feel-good apocalypse adventure!
Dimension 20: Gladlands premieres Jan. 7th, 2026!
Join Brennan Lee Mulligan and the Dusty Do-gooders (Ally Beardsley, Kimia Behpoornia, Vic Michaelis, Oscar Montoya, Zac Oyama, Jacob Wysocki) for a feel-good apocalypse adventure!
Dimension 20: Gladlands premieres Jan. 7th, 2026!
Reposted by Balka
It is pretty fucked up that disabled people can't even have one day of mourning one of our advocates without random condescension from people who are oh so tired of hearing us correctly state COVID isn't over bc "you've gotta live your lives."
Bitch, that's exactly what we do while wearing a mask.
Bitch, that's exactly what we do while wearing a mask.
November 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
It is pretty fucked up that disabled people can't even have one day of mourning one of our advocates without random condescension from people who are oh so tired of hearing us correctly state COVID isn't over bc "you've gotta live your lives."
Bitch, that's exactly what we do while wearing a mask.
Bitch, that's exactly what we do while wearing a mask.
Reposted by Balka
Kingsley Bimpong deserved care. Racism is why police didn't show him any.
Every guard who neglected him, the officer who refused to assess his condition, and the arresting officer who put him in a cell to die should all lose their jobs and be charged with both negligent homicide and manslaughter.
Every guard who neglected him, the officer who refused to assess his condition, and the arresting officer who put him in a cell to die should all lose their jobs and be charged with both negligent homicide and manslaughter.
A lawsuit alleges a Black postal worker died after officers ignored clear signs he was suffering from a massive stroke, believing his medical emergency was drugs
The suit says guards left him helpless on a jail cell floor in his own urine for hours
The suit says guards left him helpless on a jail cell floor in his own urine for hours
KARE 11 Investigates: Postal worker died after police mistook stroke for drug impairment
Kingsley Bimpong was jailed instead of hospitalized; video shows guards ignored his suffering for hours.
www.kare11.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Kingsley Bimpong deserved care. Racism is why police didn't show him any.
Every guard who neglected him, the officer who refused to assess his condition, and the arresting officer who put him in a cell to die should all lose their jobs and be charged with both negligent homicide and manslaughter.
Every guard who neglected him, the officer who refused to assess his condition, and the arresting officer who put him in a cell to die should all lose their jobs and be charged with both negligent homicide and manslaughter.
Reposted by Balka
Historically, and despite being paid in dollars and food for marketing work, I've been abysmally bad at self-promotion. I'd like to break that habit now by inviting folks to subscribe to my free newsletter, where I'll share my creative writing, nerdy things that inspire me, and the art that I make.
October 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Historically, and despite being paid in dollars and food for marketing work, I've been abysmally bad at self-promotion. I'd like to break that habit now by inviting folks to subscribe to my free newsletter, where I'll share my creative writing, nerdy things that inspire me, and the art that I make.
Reposted by Balka
UPDATE: I'm still looking for work, and I'll be vulnerable and admit it — I'm starting to feel scared. I only have two weeks of unemployment insurance remaining, after which point we won't have income to cover our essential bills.
So, I'm adjusting a bit and made this:
🆕 virtuistic.beehiiv.com ✨🧵
So, I'm adjusting a bit and made this:
🆕 virtuistic.beehiiv.com ✨🧵
October 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
UPDATE: I'm still looking for work, and I'll be vulnerable and admit it — I'm starting to feel scared. I only have two weeks of unemployment insurance remaining, after which point we won't have income to cover our essential bills.
So, I'm adjusting a bit and made this:
🆕 virtuistic.beehiiv.com ✨🧵
So, I'm adjusting a bit and made this:
🆕 virtuistic.beehiiv.com ✨🧵
Reposted by Balka
at their core, trans rights, abortion rights, and vaccine rights are actually all the same issue: they’re all about bodily autonomy, and the willingness to concede any of them puts the others at risk.
I’ve seen a lot of cishet allies who are also confused by all the prominent Dem voices suddenly acting like having trans rights means we can’t also have vaccines and schools and national parks, and that’s because some of the “why” is happening at a pitch only queer and trans people can hear
September 1, 2025 at 12:16 AM
at their core, trans rights, abortion rights, and vaccine rights are actually all the same issue: they’re all about bodily autonomy, and the willingness to concede any of them puts the others at risk.
Reposted by Balka
Is it Aroden’s fault? Almost always. #pathfinder
September 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Is it Aroden’s fault? Almost always. #pathfinder
Reposted by Balka
People who don’t like AI aren’t in denial about how useful it is. People who like AI are in denial about how useful it is
June 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
People who don’t like AI aren’t in denial about how useful it is. People who like AI are in denial about how useful it is
Reposted by Balka
Reposted by Balka
March 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Balka
We're hosting another giveaway for the Closed Beta!
To enter the drawing:
🔞 Be +18 of age
🦋 Follow us on Bsky
🔁 Repost and like this message
📝 Complete the Beta Player survey
Winners will be contacted via DM next week. Check our forum post for more information: forums.funcom.com/t/271124
To enter the drawing:
🔞 Be +18 of age
🦋 Follow us on Bsky
🔁 Repost and like this message
📝 Complete the Beta Player survey
Winners will be contacted via DM next week. Check our forum post for more information: forums.funcom.com/t/271124
January 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
We're hosting another giveaway for the Closed Beta!
To enter the drawing:
🔞 Be +18 of age
🦋 Follow us on Bsky
🔁 Repost and like this message
📝 Complete the Beta Player survey
Winners will be contacted via DM next week. Check our forum post for more information: forums.funcom.com/t/271124
To enter the drawing:
🔞 Be +18 of age
🦋 Follow us on Bsky
🔁 Repost and like this message
📝 Complete the Beta Player survey
Winners will be contacted via DM next week. Check our forum post for more information: forums.funcom.com/t/271124
Reposted by Balka
"ME/CFS is a diagnosable sequela that develops at an increased rate following SARS-CoV-2 infection."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study - Journal of General Internal Medicine
Background Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may occur after infection. How often people develop ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown. Objective To determine the inci...
link.springer.com
January 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
"ME/CFS is a diagnosable sequela that develops at an increased rate following SARS-CoV-2 infection."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Balka
November 10, 2023 at 6:07 AM
Reposted by Balka
And that's before we factor in capitalism. In this paradigm, we value money over all life on earth, including our own.
When we 'protect the economy', we're choosing to protect the rich over our own life.
There's next to no support to look after ourselves after covid infection.
It's work or die.
When we 'protect the economy', we're choosing to protect the rich over our own life.
There's next to no support to look after ourselves after covid infection.
It's work or die.
November 10, 2023 at 6:44 AM
And that's before we factor in capitalism. In this paradigm, we value money over all life on earth, including our own.
When we 'protect the economy', we're choosing to protect the rich over our own life.
There's next to no support to look after ourselves after covid infection.
It's work or die.
When we 'protect the economy', we're choosing to protect the rich over our own life.
There's next to no support to look after ourselves after covid infection.
It's work or die.
Reposted by Balka
Lots of useful info on the link 👇 about indoor air quality
Improving Home Indoor Air Quality | by Joey Fox | It’s Airborne itsairborne.com/improving-ho...
#IndoorAirQuality #IAQ #Covid #LongCovid
Improving Home Indoor Air Quality | by Joey Fox | It’s Airborne itsairborne.com/improving-ho...
#IndoorAirQuality #IAQ #Covid #LongCovid
Improving Home Indoor Air Quality
How to improve home IAQ with source control, ventilation and filtration and how to stop airborne diseases.
itsairborne.com
November 9, 2023 at 1:57 AM
Lots of useful info on the link 👇 about indoor air quality
Improving Home Indoor Air Quality | by Joey Fox | It’s Airborne itsairborne.com/improving-ho...
#IndoorAirQuality #IAQ #Covid #LongCovid
Improving Home Indoor Air Quality | by Joey Fox | It’s Airborne itsairborne.com/improving-ho...
#IndoorAirQuality #IAQ #Covid #LongCovid
Reposted by Balka
'The long COVID figure for those at the lowest income levels was a staggering 50%, versus a 29% average for all adults and 22% for those at the highest income levels.'
Class had tremendous influence on who got COVID in the first place, and now it's long-term outcomes. Best health care in the world!
Class had tremendous influence on who got COVID in the first place, and now it's long-term outcomes. Best health care in the world!
Poverty and Long COVID Go Together
The lowest income Californians are more likely to have lingering symptoms, and more likely to lose jobs.
capitalandmain.com
November 2, 2023 at 5:02 PM
'The long COVID figure for those at the lowest income levels was a staggering 50%, versus a 29% average for all adults and 22% for those at the highest income levels.'
Class had tremendous influence on who got COVID in the first place, and now it's long-term outcomes. Best health care in the world!
Class had tremendous influence on who got COVID in the first place, and now it's long-term outcomes. Best health care in the world!
Reposted by Balka
Second Infection Hikes Long COVID Risk: Expert Q&A
"People infected multiple times with COVID-19 are more likely to develop long COVID, and most never fully recover from the condition."
"People infected multiple times with COVID-19 are more likely to develop long COVID, and most never fully recover from the condition."
Second Infection Hikes Long COVID Risk: Expert Q&A
Lead researcher Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, spoke with Medscape about his team’s findings, what we know — and don’t — about long COVID, and what it means for physicians treating patients with the condit...
www.medscape.com
November 10, 2023 at 2:44 AM
Second Infection Hikes Long COVID Risk: Expert Q&A
"People infected multiple times with COVID-19 are more likely to develop long COVID, and most never fully recover from the condition."
"People infected multiple times with COVID-19 are more likely to develop long COVID, and most never fully recover from the condition."
Reposted by Balka
For humanity's health, please take action if you are a U.S. citizen or resident by calling for serious effort to tackle Long Covid through an ambitious research program. Advances may help solve many other post-infection conditions as well, such as ME/CFS. longcovidmoonshot.com
November 10, 2023 at 1:24 AM
For humanity's health, please take action if you are a U.S. citizen or resident by calling for serious effort to tackle Long Covid through an ambitious research program. Advances may help solve many other post-infection conditions as well, such as ME/CFS. longcovidmoonshot.com
Reposted by Balka
Long Covid needs more funding, research, and support.
My wonderful friend @mildtin.bsky.social & co have organised longcovidmoonshot.com
Please join in if you’re in the US ❤️🩹
My wonderful friend @mildtin.bsky.social & co have organised longcovidmoonshot.com
Please join in if you’re in the US ❤️🩹
Long Covid Moonshot
longcovidmoonshot.com
November 10, 2023 at 12:34 AM
Long Covid needs more funding, research, and support.
My wonderful friend @mildtin.bsky.social & co have organised longcovidmoonshot.com
Please join in if you’re in the US ❤️🩹
My wonderful friend @mildtin.bsky.social & co have organised longcovidmoonshot.com
Please join in if you’re in the US ❤️🩹
Reposted by Balka
Despite the end of the Public Health Emergency, C*vid remains a pandemic by definition. Yet the media has uncritically advanced the idea that if the public appears to be tired, bored, or noncompliant w public health measures, then the pandemic must be over
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Coronavirus Still Doesn’t Care About Your Feelings
The Covid-19 pandemic is not a state of mind—and telling us not to panic isn’t healthcare.
www.thenation.com
October 13, 2023 at 5:40 PM
Despite the end of the Public Health Emergency, C*vid remains a pandemic by definition. Yet the media has uncritically advanced the idea that if the public appears to be tired, bored, or noncompliant w public health measures, then the pandemic must be over
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Balka
take this stuffed crust, for it is my body. and this garlic sauce, for it is my blood.
in the name of the Papa, the John, and the Better Ingredients, amen
in the name of the Papa, the John, and the Better Ingredients, amen
October 14, 2023 at 10:15 PM
take this stuffed crust, for it is my body. and this garlic sauce, for it is my blood.
in the name of the Papa, the John, and the Better Ingredients, amen
in the name of the Papa, the John, and the Better Ingredients, amen