Alice Clarke
@alicedkc.bsky.social
Multi-award winning freelance journalist specialising in technology, games, entertainment and opinion. Co-curator of the PAX Together area at PAX Aus.
The AIS has already gotten in contact with that kid who swam 4km to save his family, yeah?
February 4, 2026 at 12:44 AM
The AIS has already gotten in contact with that kid who swam 4km to save his family, yeah?
In this episode of 5 or 8, two beautiful storytellers use cards to weave fascinating tales. Then I, very sleep deprived at the time, am also in it.
Five or Eight play The Hollow Woods (Storytelling Card Game)
YouTube video by Five or Eight
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM
In this episode of 5 or 8, two beautiful storytellers use cards to weave fascinating tales. Then I, very sleep deprived at the time, am also in it.
I got to talk to some of the best in the business about the return of rhythm gaming and the second coming of plastic guitars:
CRKD x Gibson guitar marks a return to rhythm gaming | ScreenHub: Film, TV, Streaming and Games
The new controller, a collaboration between CRKD and Gibson, revives the glory days of games like Guitar Hero and Rockband.
www.screenhub.com.au
February 3, 2026 at 11:00 PM
I got to talk to some of the best in the business about the return of rhythm gaming and the second coming of plastic guitars:
Reposted by Alice Clarke
xAI is valued at $200 billion and burns through $1 billion/month in cash. The primary product development has been a chatbot that self-identified as "MechaHitler" then pivoted to production of nonconsensual porn, including of minors.
I do not consider this an optimal use of society's resources.
I do not consider this an optimal use of society's resources.
WaPo reports xAI deliberately loosened Grok's guardrails to boost popularity, sparking internal alarm. Employees had to pledge to work with "profane content." Even more disturbing, employees were listening to lurid audio conversations Tesla drivers had with Grok. Musk prioritized growth over safety.
Inside Musk’s bet to hook users that turned Grok into a porn generator
Under pressure to boost its popularity, Elon Musk’s xAI loosened guardrails and relaxed controls on sexual content, setting off internal concern.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
xAI is valued at $200 billion and burns through $1 billion/month in cash. The primary product development has been a chatbot that self-identified as "MechaHitler" then pivoted to production of nonconsensual porn, including of minors.
I do not consider this an optimal use of society's resources.
I do not consider this an optimal use of society's resources.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
The woke scolds are trying to make this about racism. But Musk is right. It's about historical and scientific integrity. When the God of Thunder disguises himself as a swan to seduce and fuck a queen and the resulting baby hatches from an egg, *of course* the baby will be white. It's just science.
Elon Musk claims Christopher Nolan has lost ‘integrity’ over The Odyssey casting
Lupita Nyong’o is reportedly set to play Helen of Troy in Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s epic poem
www.independent.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:59 PM
The woke scolds are trying to make this about racism. But Musk is right. It's about historical and scientific integrity. When the God of Thunder disguises himself as a swan to seduce and fuck a queen and the resulting baby hatches from an egg, *of course* the baby will be white. It's just science.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
Not the main point but reading some of these Epstein emails really makes you realise why so many of these guys love ChatGPT
February 2, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Not the main point but reading some of these Epstein emails really makes you realise why so many of these guys love ChatGPT
Reposted by Alice Clarke
Amazing coda here.
February 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Amazing coda here.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
This article from The Guardian has me really pissed off. It’s basically ‘What, you haven’t been paying extra on your mortgage? What are you — some sort of Poor?!’
February 2, 2026 at 6:58 AM
This article from The Guardian has me really pissed off. It’s basically ‘What, you haven’t been paying extra on your mortgage? What are you — some sort of Poor?!’
Press Any Button is back for 2026! You should read and subscribe if you like it. @timbiggs.bsky.social and I have a lot of fun writing it each week.
2026 is going to be a year
Maybe it will be good! Plus the year of the PC, hands on with the Lego Smart Brick, and the Nintendo consoles with lower back pain
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Press Any Button is back for 2026! You should read and subscribe if you like it. @timbiggs.bsky.social and I have a lot of fun writing it each week.
!!!THERE IS A FRESH GIRAFFE AT THE ZOO!!!
February 2, 2026 at 10:38 PM
!!!THERE IS A FRESH GIRAFFE AT THE ZOO!!!
After how many months can you just send this to an outlet with the reminder to pay an overdue invoice?
Bitch Better Have My Money
YouTube video by Rihanna - Topic
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:34 PM
After how many months can you just send this to an outlet with the reminder to pay an overdue invoice?
Reposted by Alice Clarke
we said all along that they wanted Gawker dead not because we embarrassed a pro wrestler but because the Epstein story is one Gawker was covering a decade before most other people caught up & was just one of many stories exposing powerful people and their misdeeds
Among the batch of newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein: Epstein telling Peter Thiel he would “gladly share…expenses for the Gawker suit.”
This was sent the day after @rmac.bsky.social and @mattdrange.bsky.social reported in Forbes that Thiel was behind the lawsuit that would bankrupt Gawker
This was sent the day after @rmac.bsky.social and @mattdrange.bsky.social reported in Forbes that Thiel was behind the lawsuit that would bankrupt Gawker
January 31, 2026 at 8:31 PM
we said all along that they wanted Gawker dead not because we embarrassed a pro wrestler but because the Epstein story is one Gawker was covering a decade before most other people caught up & was just one of many stories exposing powerful people and their misdeeds
I have had the song from the dragon disco at the zoo stuck in my head since Thursday. My thoughts and prayers are with the zoo employees whose office is located directly behind the building where that song is played on a loop from 9-5. Great song. Catchy song.
January 31, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I have had the song from the dragon disco at the zoo stuck in my head since Thursday. My thoughts and prayers are with the zoo employees whose office is located directly behind the building where that song is played on a loop from 9-5. Great song. Catchy song.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
www.youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
A video from board-certified ophthalmologist a @glaucomflecken.bsky.social - FYI if you ever get pepper spray somehow onto you, in some manner.
A video from board-certified ophthalmologist a @glaucomflecken.bsky.social - FYI if you ever get pepper spray somehow onto you, in some manner.
What To Do If You Get Pepper Sprayed
YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:04 AM
www.youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
A video from board-certified ophthalmologist a @glaucomflecken.bsky.social - FYI if you ever get pepper spray somehow onto you, in some manner.
A video from board-certified ophthalmologist a @glaucomflecken.bsky.social - FYI if you ever get pepper spray somehow onto you, in some manner.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
January 31, 2026 at 6:57 AM
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
My kingdom for a pair of purple core black jeans. Like the Naked and Famous purple core, but black.
January 31, 2026 at 8:10 AM
My kingdom for a pair of purple core black jeans. Like the Naked and Famous purple core, but black.
Just went to visit a relative from the silent generation who told me all about how Trump’s assets have been seized and his private plane grounded, but the mainstream media won’t report on it. Turns out his only news source is deepfaked AI YouTube videos.
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Just went to visit a relative from the silent generation who told me all about how Trump’s assets have been seized and his private plane grounded, but the mainstream media won’t report on it. Turns out his only news source is deepfaked AI YouTube videos.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
Reposted by Alice Clarke
At least today we'll get to enjoy some Melania reviews, and here's one of the first out the gate:
“As first lady, children will always remain my priority,” she coos, and you can almost picture her coaxing them into her little gingerbread house."
“As first lady, children will always remain my priority,” she coos, and you can almost picture her coaxing them into her little gingerbread house."
See Melania & almost die www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest
Dispiriting, deadly and unrevealing – there is a decent documentary to be made about the former model from Slovenia, but this one is unredeemable
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:19 PM
At least today we'll get to enjoy some Melania reviews, and here's one of the first out the gate:
“As first lady, children will always remain my priority,” she coos, and you can almost picture her coaxing them into her little gingerbread house."
“As first lady, children will always remain my priority,” she coos, and you can almost picture her coaxing them into her little gingerbread house."
Reposted by Alice Clarke
OK, so Musk was planning to go to Epstein's island, but it's not like he went there with the intent to go to a wild party or something, it was probably just some business. Excuse me, an email just came in.
*Reads:* "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?"
*Reads:* "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?"
January 30, 2026 at 7:28 PM
OK, so Musk was planning to go to Epstein's island, but it's not like he went there with the intent to go to a wild party or something, it was probably just some business. Excuse me, an email just came in.
*Reads:* "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?"
*Reads:* "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?"
Reposted by Alice Clarke
“Time and again, we see what happens when devices go to market without proper consideration of how they might be used to harm women and girls.”
Abusers using AI and digital tech to attack and control women, charity warns
Exclusive: Smartwatches, Oura rings, smart home devices and Fitbits being weaponised, says Refuge
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:00 AM
“Time and again, we see what happens when devices go to market without proper consideration of how they might be used to harm women and girls.”
Oh. So she’s a Republican AND she doesn’t understand the arts. Got it.
Cosmopolitan asks Sydney Sweeney if she ever intends to publicly state her political beliefs:
“No. I’m not a political person. I’m in the arts. I’m not here to speak on politics. That’s not an area I’ve ever even imagined getting into… but I don’t believe in hate in any form.”
“No. I’m not a political person. I’m in the arts. I’m not here to speak on politics. That’s not an area I’ve ever even imagined getting into… but I don’t believe in hate in any form.”
January 30, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Oh. So she’s a Republican AND she doesn’t understand the arts. Got it.
Reposted by Alice Clarke
Meanwhile, in Canada: One of the Heated Rivalry boys gave one of the show’s fabricated Team Canada Olympics fleeces to the prime minister and this happened
January 30, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Meanwhile, in Canada: One of the Heated Rivalry boys gave one of the show’s fabricated Team Canada Olympics fleeces to the prime minister and this happened
Reposted by Alice Clarke
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January 29, 2026 at 5:54 AM
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Start survey: meaa.io/freelance26
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