Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
@merrillotter.com
34. She/he/they (🍳). SF Bay Area. North American river otter. Find me in a river. Or in bed. A riverbed. Could be 🔞
pfp: @ghostcabb.it
banner: @goatuna.bsky.social
pfp: @ghostcabb.it
banner: @goatuna.bsky.social
Pinned
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
Find a creative spark within yourself and fan the shit out of it. Obsess over the act of making, even if it's in tiny ways. Especially if it's in tiny ways. Embrace this miraculous, wondrously human behavior. It is the legacy of your entire goddamn species. Don't let anything take that from you.
I'm really excited for generative AI to crash and burn, actually. I hope it does so spectacularly. I hope the people who pushed it on us suffer great losses from it. I hope those who sold the masses on it are punished. I hope companies that drive it wither away and fade from memory. It deserves it.
November 12, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Find a creative spark within yourself and fan the shit out of it. Obsess over the act of making, even if it's in tiny ways. Especially if it's in tiny ways. Embrace this miraculous, wondrously human behavior. It is the legacy of your entire goddamn species. Don't let anything take that from you.
I'm really excited for generative AI to crash and burn, actually. I hope it does so spectacularly. I hope the people who pushed it on us suffer great losses from it. I hope those who sold the masses on it are punished. I hope companies that drive it wither away and fade from memory. It deserves it.
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
I'm really excited for generative AI to crash and burn, actually. I hope it does so spectacularly. I hope the people who pushed it on us suffer great losses from it. I hope those who sold the masses on it are punished. I hope companies that drive it wither away and fade from memory. It deserves it.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
Hobbies cost money. Nobody looks at Magic the Gathering players or Warhammer 40k players and think suspiciously wealthy gamers. It's when money is given to other people instead of corporations does the math change.
Furries have mutual enjoyment of the craft and with that comes mutual support.
Furries have mutual enjoyment of the craft and with that comes mutual support.
This fandom has a reputation for being "suspiciously wealthy" but the truth is most furries just love and value art and people so much that they want to use their money for art and supporting artists so they can make a living doing what they love. It's a cycle of genuine passion I think.
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Hobbies cost money. Nobody looks at Magic the Gathering players or Warhammer 40k players and think suspiciously wealthy gamers. It's when money is given to other people instead of corporations does the math change.
Furries have mutual enjoyment of the craft and with that comes mutual support.
Furries have mutual enjoyment of the craft and with that comes mutual support.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
this felt too informative not to share
October 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
this felt too informative not to share
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
There are 1,700 ballots that need signature confirmation. That is enough to change the election.
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
November 11, 2025 at 2:31 AM
There are 1,700 ballots that need signature confirmation. That is enough to change the election.
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
AUTHORS!!
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Homepage | Bartz v Anthropic Settlement Site
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
AUTHORS!!
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
PAWCon was such a wonderful time, thanks for everything, hope to see everyone again next year <3
“That’s so relatable honestly, like you just you want [sic] to get away from your American identity so hard, I empathize, I totally get it”
“That’s so relatable honestly, like you just you want [sic] to get away from your American identity so hard, I empathize, I totally get it”
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
PAWCon was such a wonderful time, thanks for everything, hope to see everyone again next year <3
“That’s so relatable honestly, like you just you want [sic] to get away from your American identity so hard, I empathize, I totally get it”
“That’s so relatable honestly, like you just you want [sic] to get away from your American identity so hard, I empathize, I totally get it”
PAW photos thread. What a time.
Not adding names because I don't know them all.
Not adding names because I don't know them all.
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 AM
PAW photos thread. What a time.
Not adding names because I don't know them all.
Not adding names because I don't know them all.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" refers to the fact that when a child is born, they are physically very close to their mother, usually within touching distance.
There's some irony in "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" being used to describe offspring when apples themselves have such extreme heterozygosity
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" refers to the fact that when a child is born, they are physically very close to their mother, usually within touching distance.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
Thank goodness it isn't one of those other kinds.
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Thank goodness it isn't one of those other kinds.
What a marvelous evening.
Oh PAW is gonna be real good.
November 8, 2025 at 10:57 AM
What a marvelous evening.
Oh PAW is gonna be real good.
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Oh PAW is gonna be real good.
fyi you're not seeing shit unless you only follow very polite accounts.
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 9:18 PM
fyi you're not seeing shit unless you only follow very polite accounts.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
This needs more attention: Zohran SPLIT the straights with Cuomo. ALL of his margin was from LGBTQ+ voters. Every Dem who ever said “we should abandon the transes” needs this shoved down their fucking throat with a ramrod.
November 5, 2025 at 5:39 AM
This needs more attention: Zohran SPLIT the straights with Cuomo. ALL of his margin was from LGBTQ+ voters. Every Dem who ever said “we should abandon the transes” needs this shoved down their fucking throat with a ramrod.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
I really could use more eyes on this (or the original commission thread), as I haven’t started any new work this week yet and the panic is starting to set in. Please repost and tell your friends that need art!
New month, more bills, and open slots as the Wheel of Fate continues to turn! I’m open for ref sheets, stickers, character scenes, etc. If you want art in time for the holidays, now’s the time to order! Prices and ordering instructions in OP. Reposts appreciated! #commsopen
November 5, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I really could use more eyes on this (or the original commission thread), as I haven’t started any new work this week yet and the panic is starting to set in. Please repost and tell your friends that need art!
Words to live by.
I was hoping there would be an effective yet still sexy solution
November 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Words to live by.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
What better way to celebrate the death of a war criminal than to support your local faggoat artist? I’m very close to broke and need several slots filled this week ASAP. My stickers start at $40, sketches start at $50, and ref sheets start at $175! Please review the linked form to order!
November 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
What better way to celebrate the death of a war criminal than to support your local faggoat artist? I’m very close to broke and need several slots filled this week ASAP. My stickers start at $40, sketches start at $50, and ref sheets start at $175! Please review the linked form to order!
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
It's official-- custom sleigh bell collar orders open TONIGHT (11/4) at 6pm eastern!! Slots are limited- orders will close on 11/14 and ship by 12/16!!
shop.cairosteele.com
#BSNM #handmade #leather #bondage #bdsm #TransArtist #QueerArtist #furryart #PupPlay #PetPlay
shop.cairosteele.com
#BSNM #handmade #leather #bondage #bdsm #TransArtist #QueerArtist #furryart #PupPlay #PetPlay
November 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's official-- custom sleigh bell collar orders open TONIGHT (11/4) at 6pm eastern!! Slots are limited- orders will close on 11/14 and ship by 12/16!!
shop.cairosteele.com
#BSNM #handmade #leather #bondage #bdsm #TransArtist #QueerArtist #furryart #PupPlay #PetPlay
shop.cairosteele.com
#BSNM #handmade #leather #bondage #bdsm #TransArtist #QueerArtist #furryart #PupPlay #PetPlay
Hyper-budget "Is it cake?" knockoff where, no, none of the things ever turn out to be cake.
November 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Hyper-budget "Is it cake?" knockoff where, no, none of the things ever turn out to be cake.
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
Reposted by Merrill Before and Sometimes After Dark
