W. Dow Rieder
@riderius.bsky.social
Mathematician, writer, lover of books, rememberer of computers past.
Writing at Dreamwidth: https://riderius.dreamwidth.org/
My old writing tumblr: https://docfuture.tumblr.com/
Old Stories archive: https://docfuture.tumblr.com/post/62787551366/stories
Writing at Dreamwidth: https://riderius.dreamwidth.org/
My old writing tumblr: https://docfuture.tumblr.com/
Old Stories archive: https://docfuture.tumblr.com/post/62787551366/stories
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Society is a construct. You can just ask someone to do a ska cover of Faith of the Heart and they'll say "$300 please" and you give it to them and then you have it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Society is a construct. You can just ask someone to do a ska cover of Faith of the Heart and they'll say "$300 please" and you give it to them and then you have it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Everyone, give
@skatunenetwork.bsky.social
your money. They deserve it.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Short of a remaster of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, I don't think I've seen a program that I wanted 20 years ago more. I got ambitious and tried to use ArcGIS to do D&D maps/DM info tools. It went poorly.
@mightofmerchants.bsky.social is out there doing nice things.
@mightofmerchants.bsky.social is out there doing nice things.
Canvas of Kings on Steam
Canvas of Kings is a minimalistic mapmaking tool that focuses on randomness and auto-generated elements on user-definable and interactive paths, plots and rooms.
store.steampowered.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Short of a remaster of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, I don't think I've seen a program that I wanted 20 years ago more. I got ambitious and tried to use ArcGIS to do D&D maps/DM info tools. It went poorly.
@mightofmerchants.bsky.social is out there doing nice things.
@mightofmerchants.bsky.social is out there doing nice things.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
The Chotiner
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The Chotiner is out
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The Chotiner is out
A new kind of rapid Chotining. Please appreciate the alt-text.
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 AM
The Chotiner
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The Chotiner is out
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The Chotiner is out
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Look y'all, this is coming up on the end (560/571) I'm gonna need some of ya to re skeet this far and wide to keep the random pictures coming.
Okay. The people have spoken.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
November 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Look y'all, this is coming up on the end (560/571) I'm gonna need some of ya to re skeet this far and wide to keep the random pictures coming.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Funny story: Pandora's box was actually filled with chocolate. She just needed an explanation for why the gods would give her a now empty box.
November 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Funny story: Pandora's box was actually filled with chocolate. She just needed an explanation for why the gods would give her a now empty box.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Also, I'll throw in a bunch of neutrons... [wait for it]... free of charge!
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Also, I'll throw in a bunch of neutrons... [wait for it]... free of charge!
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Looks like everyone around in the Senate was like "This potato is so radioactive we should all hold the edges of the trampoline to bounce it out of here before it even slows down."
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Looks like everyone around in the Senate was like "This potato is so radioactive we should all hold the edges of the trampoline to bounce it out of here before it even slows down."
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
- Oops! Nuclear war--but funny
- You killed my father, prepare to die
- "This *is* Ceti Alpha V!"
- "We're on a mission from God."
- "Henry?" "Yes, Eleanor?" "I don't like our children."
- Oops! Nuclear war--but funny
- You killed my father, prepare to die
- "This *is* Ceti Alpha V!"
- "We're on a mission from God."
- "Henry?" "Yes, Eleanor?" "I don't like our children."
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
- Roaring rampage of revenge
- Reluctantly, I must resume my life of violence
- On reflection, the risk assessment on our giant monster facility and/or attraction could have been more thorough
- Girl survives
- Crime but make it quirky
- Roaring rampage of revenge
- Reluctantly, I must resume my life of violence
- On reflection, the risk assessment on our giant monster facility and/or attraction could have been more thorough
- Girl survives
- Crime but make it quirky
November 17, 2025 at 4:20 AM
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
- Oops! Nuclear war--but funny
- You killed my father, prepare to die
- "This *is* Ceti Alpha V!"
- "We're on a mission from God."
- "Henry?" "Yes, Eleanor?" "I don't like our children."
- Oops! Nuclear war--but funny
- You killed my father, prepare to die
- "This *is* Ceti Alpha V!"
- "We're on a mission from God."
- "Henry?" "Yes, Eleanor?" "I don't like our children."
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
People kept claiming AI will enable malware to automatically rewrite itself to avoid antivirus detections. So to make a point l spend 30 minutes building this joke application. It rewrites itself ever 0.5 second, except without using AI. Every variant simply just outputs "Hello World".
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
People kept claiming AI will enable malware to automatically rewrite itself to avoid antivirus detections. So to make a point l spend 30 minutes building this joke application. It rewrites itself ever 0.5 second, except without using AI. Every variant simply just outputs "Hello World".
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Here Alan Taylor shares @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social's recent picture, spoiled by someone #photobomb -ing the Sun.
Andrew McCarthy regularly makes wonderful photos of the cosmos, and, not infrequently, amazing photos of the cosmos.
With this carefully arranged picture, he may have topped himself.
Andrew McCarthy regularly makes wonderful photos of the cosmos, and, not infrequently, amazing photos of the cosmos.
With this carefully arranged picture, he may have topped himself.
This is an insanely cool (actual) photo taken by photographer Andrew McCarthy of a skydiver buddy seen in silhouette against the distant sun. Full story, videos, and more here: www.instagram.com/p/DRBAaqLkvy...
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Here Alan Taylor shares @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social's recent picture, spoiled by someone #photobomb -ing the Sun.
Andrew McCarthy regularly makes wonderful photos of the cosmos, and, not infrequently, amazing photos of the cosmos.
With this carefully arranged picture, he may have topped himself.
Andrew McCarthy regularly makes wonderful photos of the cosmos, and, not infrequently, amazing photos of the cosmos.
With this carefully arranged picture, he may have topped himself.
They now have two different flavors of vampire, a sumo nun of stone, a flying fox werewolf, and a junkbot with a raygun. These sessions spark so much joy 8-)
And we’re back! Time to visit the Wasteland Barter Town! www.extra-life.org/participants...
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
November 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
They now have two different flavors of vampire, a sumo nun of stone, a flying fox werewolf, and a junkbot with a raygun. These sessions spark so much joy 8-)
Here they go again! More fun times! They've already been ambushed from behind by a tank while fighting vampires...
And the twitch stream is live! Join Team SENSIBLE SHOES as we play and fundraiser for the kids for Extra Life. www.twitch.tv/blarkytopia?...
blarkytopia - Twitch
I play video games and board games badly, but usually for a good cause.
www.twitch.tv
November 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Here they go again! More fun times! They've already been ambushed from behind by a tank while fighting vampires...
Been watching this and con confirm is Best Stream
Basically, this game is going fantastically and I am ready to bite a tank.
November 15, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Been watching this and con confirm is Best Stream
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
AND WE’RE LIVE! The Team SENSIBLE SHOES Extra Life 2025 stream begins! Twitch steam is running on the page.
Let the games begin with the traditional introduction of the characters.
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Let the games begin with the traditional introduction of the characters.
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
AND WE’RE LIVE! The Team SENSIBLE SHOES Extra Life 2025 stream begins! Twitch steam is running on the page.
Let the games begin with the traditional introduction of the characters.
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Let the games begin with the traditional introduction of the characters.
www.extra-life.org/participants...
Start's in an hour! I will be watching and cheering. They are very skilled players but hoo boy do the incentives ramp things up.
While driving down, a FOURTH tank was purchased for us to fight. You people sure do love kids and tanks!
24hrs to game time! At 9am tomorrow morning, technical issues permitting, we fire up the stream and start playing with our customary introduction of the characters, abilities, and the many mutations kind donors have given us. And all the game day incentives go live.
November 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Start's in an hour! I will be watching and cheering. They are very skilled players but hoo boy do the incentives ramp things up.
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
What is the Name of This Book? by Raymond Smullyan
(read both multiple times)
What is the Name of This Book? by Raymond Smullyan
(read both multiple times)
alright let’s get something more pleasant going. what two books would you leave out on your coffee table so a reporter can mention you have them. doesn’t matter if you’ve read them. for me it’s Pale Fire (which I did read) and Ulysses (got like 15% of the way in)
November 15, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
What is the Name of This Book? by Raymond Smullyan
(read both multiple times)
What is the Name of This Book? by Raymond Smullyan
(read both multiple times)
This is gonna be great 8-)
24hrs to game time! At 9am tomorrow morning, technical issues permitting, we fire up the stream and start playing with our customary introduction of the characters, abilities, and the many mutations kind donors have given us. And all the game day incentives go live.
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This is gonna be great 8-)
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
The photos crossed our radar first and we genuinely thought they were faked but nope! The Pope hates Illinois Nazis! www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Tales of Pope Leo, the Blues Brothers fan ‘on a mission from God’
Friends and family of the young Robert Prevost share tales of his Chicago antics before he became head of the Catholic church
www.thetimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
The photos crossed our radar first and we genuinely thought they were faked but nope! The Pope hates Illinois Nazis! www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
As I get ready for Extra Life play on Saturday starting at 9am, it is also time to make another announcement:
THE DECEMBERING 2025 IS AT HAND!
That's right, the first officially designated holiday order of BBotE rolled in yesterday, so it's time to put this post up.
THE DECEMBERING 2025 IS AT HAND!
That's right, the first officially designated holiday order of BBotE rolled in yesterday, so it's time to put this post up.
The Decembering 2025 - Yes, It's That Time Again - Funranium Labs
One of the ways I mark the change of the seasons is when I get my first order designating it as a holiday gift. It’s my sign that I need to revise this post for a new year and gird my loins for the MA...
www.funraniumlabs.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
As I get ready for Extra Life play on Saturday starting at 9am, it is also time to make another announcement:
THE DECEMBERING 2025 IS AT HAND!
That's right, the first officially designated holiday order of BBotE rolled in yesterday, so it's time to put this post up.
THE DECEMBERING 2025 IS AT HAND!
That's right, the first officially designated holiday order of BBotE rolled in yesterday, so it's time to put this post up.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
Weird that we have a planet-wide magnetic defense system that self activates when the sun decides to attack but it is very pretty
November 12, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Weird that we have a planet-wide magnetic defense system that self activates when the sun decides to attack but it is very pretty
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
(If you’re unaware of this, Superior is so cold and the depths so anoxic that bodies do not decompose. Everyone who’s gone down in it is still there, barring heroic recovery efforts. Many of them may have saponified and become “soap mummies,” which can effectively preserve them forever.
November 11, 2025 at 6:50 AM
(If you’re unaware of this, Superior is so cold and the depths so anoxic that bodies do not decompose. Everyone who’s gone down in it is still there, barring heroic recovery efforts. Many of them may have saponified and become “soap mummies,” which can effectively preserve them forever.
Reposted by W. Dow Rieder
One more skeet for Edmund Fitzgerald Day. Behind this historical marker is the famed Whitefish Bay. Today the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., rang the recovered bell 31 times, 29 for the victims of the wreck, once for all Great Lakes shipwreck victims, and once for Gordon Lightfoot.
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 AM
One more skeet for Edmund Fitzgerald Day. Behind this historical marker is the famed Whitefish Bay. Today the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., rang the recovered bell 31 times, 29 for the victims of the wreck, once for all Great Lakes shipwreck victims, and once for Gordon Lightfoot.