Anndra
@anndra.bsky.social
Gael, writer, translator, communist, mapgame obsessive. Glasgow-based
He/him/e
He/him/e
Chaidh mi air cuairt ann an Aiginis an-diugh
December 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Chaidh mi air cuairt ann an Aiginis an-diugh
Reposted by Anndra
Whenever people want to justify the de facto single state reality of the occupied Palestinian territory I just show them maps like this and ask them what it means
![occupied Palestinian territory: Jordan Valley and Dead Sea Area - February 2012 [EN/AR]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vlpy6zuqqum5tumv7b6dw5fp/bafkreihj66x3xh6hfule67tkre2y43xuwovzy5miwmyvqk7heultril7qm@jpeg)
December 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Whenever people want to justify the de facto single state reality of the occupied Palestinian territory I just show them maps like this and ask them what it means
this is all true but the corollary is how funny it is on an audio-only podcast like Boonta Vista when it becomes obvious that @aynrandy.boontavista.com is once again eating a giant plate of bolognese on video call with the other hosts purely from their incredulous reactions
Like every other podcast has an awkward segment where they say “if you’re watching on YouTube you’ll see [invariably a reaction that you can infer from the context]”, which is redundant for viewers & tells listeners (who are *way* more valuable for ad $) that they’re missing something. It’s dumb af
December 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
this is all true but the corollary is how funny it is on an audio-only podcast like Boonta Vista when it becomes obvious that @aynrandy.boontavista.com is once again eating a giant plate of bolognese on video call with the other hosts purely from their incredulous reactions
Reposted by Anndra
Again we have to ask the question, does this act justify him having a substantial amount of control over society?
Should public health experts be having to humour his "just askin questions" and suck up to him for the slight chance of American healthcare improving because of this?
Should public health experts be having to humour his "just askin questions" and suck up to him for the slight chance of American healthcare improving because of this?
I will never get over that Mark Cuban became a billionaire because he sold his company in Yahoo’s most expensive acquisition at the height of the dot com bubble
This man made his fortune in the dot com bubble btw. Selling Broadcast.com to yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999. The service was discontinued in 2002
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadca...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadca...
December 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Again we have to ask the question, does this act justify him having a substantial amount of control over society?
Should public health experts be having to humour his "just askin questions" and suck up to him for the slight chance of American healthcare improving because of this?
Should public health experts be having to humour his "just askin questions" and suck up to him for the slight chance of American healthcare improving because of this?
Rostit (amb pollastre fals)
December 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Rostit (amb pollastre fals)
Reposted by Anndra
Happy holidays everyone.
I really love Soviet space race Christmas cards
I really love Soviet space race Christmas cards
December 25, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Happy holidays everyone.
I really love Soviet space race Christmas cards
I really love Soviet space race Christmas cards
December 25, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uile / bon nadal a tothom
December 25, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uile / bon nadal a tothom
Reposted by Anndra
speaking of which, what a profound failure that this image has not become a 'sure Jan' style meme
December 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
speaking of which, what a profound failure that this image has not become a 'sure Jan' style meme
Reposted by Anndra
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Playing Sorry We're Closed and it seems pretty cool. Lot of fun things going on. But also finding out that everyone in London is either a demon or in league with demons was just like "yeah I know already"
December 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Playing Sorry We're Closed and it seems pretty cool. Lot of fun things going on. But also finding out that everyone in London is either a demon or in league with demons was just like "yeah I know already"
finally bit the bullet and uninstalled Hades 2 after realising I had last played it on the 14th of November and felt no compulsion to play it again since. I don't want to say it's bad but it does feel like an incredibly lavish, well-made swing and a miss for me
December 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
finally bit the bullet and uninstalled Hades 2 after realising I had last played it on the 14th of November and felt no compulsion to play it again since. I don't want to say it's bad but it does feel like an incredibly lavish, well-made swing and a miss for me
Reposted by Anndra
chòrd an t-ainm Oidche nan Seachd Suipearan rium mar-tha, agus fiu 's nas motha nuair a dh'ionnsaich mi gur e àrdachadh a th' ann air Oidche nan Trì Suipearan. Feumaidh sinn fàs gu prìomh àireamhan eile de shuipeirean
December 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
chòrd an t-ainm Oidche nan Seachd Suipearan rium mar-tha, agus fiu 's nas motha nuair a dh'ionnsaich mi gur e àrdachadh a th' ann air Oidche nan Trì Suipearan. Feumaidh sinn fàs gu prìomh àireamhan eile de shuipeirean
Reposted by Anndra
I say this with zero irony: if you are even tangentially a part of a retro video game community, it is your civic duty to push back against this company and shun anyone who doesn't. This is fascism tapping gently at the door and as soon as you let it in, it's going to invite its friends.
December 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I say this with zero irony: if you are even tangentially a part of a retro video game community, it is your civic duty to push back against this company and shun anyone who doesn't. This is fascism tapping gently at the door and as soon as you let it in, it's going to invite its friends.
Reposted by Anndra
'Step into Christmas' by Elton John but all the lyrics are 'welcome to my christmas song'
Step Into Christmas by Elton John but all the lyrics are 'Welcome to my Christmas song'
YouTube video by Michael M
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
'Step into Christmas' by Elton John but all the lyrics are 'welcome to my christmas song'
Reposted by Anndra
For trans people who see this and feel their heart rate rise: it's good. Click through. It's positive, short and direct.
The BMA has published an updated policy position on the rights of transgender and non-binary people in healthcare settings.
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-s...
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-s...
Policy position on the rights of transgender and non-binary people in healthcare settings
Our policy position is centred around the need to advocate for equitable access to healthcare, create safe and inclusive workplaces for trans and non-binary people working in healthcare settings, and ...
www.bma.org.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
For trans people who see this and feel their heart rate rise: it's good. Click through. It's positive, short and direct.
Reposted by Anndra
fascinated by the simultaneous disrespect for small details and obligation to have them... they're not important enough to put care into, yet they are apparently necessary for an "epic game"
![“Wouldn’t it be nice if you could ask anyone anything in an RPG?” he asked. “Like, maybe [ask] someone for the road directions? Or what they think of their neighbours? We already have tools (11labs can do it) where you script a NPC, their character, their knowledge and opinions and then they talk to you about anything.
“For non-story stuff, this is an absolutely revolutionary development from a player’s point of view. And you can’t record it with an actor because it has infinite variations. But what you can record are cutscenes and story dialogue. You don’t need an Oscar-level performance when ordering a sausage in a pub or when asking how to get to the castle.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:voku7qdq24izjab7pgdzhq6i/bafkreigrxsvdlakrmhmdttpcb3cdrd2cpddkxp5capabgo6lpqniokmo3y@jpeg)
December 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
fascinated by the simultaneous disrespect for small details and obligation to have them... they're not important enough to put care into, yet they are apparently necessary for an "epic game"
Reposted by Anndra
USAID has been an arm of the CIA, training death squads, torture regimes, and sterilized indigenous women at frightening rates. The “aid” given to countries is not given straight to people but to right wing governments which agree to bust unions and privatize resources in exchange for foodstuffs
December 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM
USAID has been an arm of the CIA, training death squads, torture regimes, and sterilized indigenous women at frightening rates. The “aid” given to countries is not given straight to people but to right wing governments which agree to bust unions and privatize resources in exchange for foodstuffs
Reposted by Anndra
Wrapping your head around what USAID is as an imperial project (and honestly the source of great evils in the global south) can be hard given its purported relief mission; a couple things I’ll recommend on this is “Killing Hope” by William Blum and the film State of Seige by Costa-Garvas.
Reminder that this is a byproduct of imperialism. Most of these countries are so dependent on western aid because of actions and policies enacted by the west.
USAID was at best a band aid on a gaping wound that needs surgery, crises deliberately created by interference on behalf of capital.
USAID was at best a band aid on a gaping wound that needs surgery, crises deliberately created by interference on behalf of capital.
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Wrapping your head around what USAID is as an imperial project (and honestly the source of great evils in the global south) can be hard given its purported relief mission; a couple things I’ll recommend on this is “Killing Hope” by William Blum and the film State of Seige by Costa-Garvas.
Reposted by Anndra
Look man I don’t think the people being poisoned by data centers really care if you remove the generated assets before shipping, and I don’t really care if you “only” use the machine that stole my shit and convinced teens to off themselves for internal PowerPoints.
Cool motive. Still bullshit tho.
Cool motive. Still bullshit tho.
December 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Look man I don’t think the people being poisoned by data centers really care if you remove the generated assets before shipping, and I don’t really care if you “only” use the machine that stole my shit and convinced teens to off themselves for internal PowerPoints.
Cool motive. Still bullshit tho.
Cool motive. Still bullshit tho.
Unfortunately I can't bring myself to play this - in spite of thinking the game is incredible and being excited to try out these new features - because of the flood of AI generated imagery for 2D art and icons in the game now, which isn't disclosed on the steam page or admitted in the update blog
ATTENTION, COMRADES.
The Horse Update™ has arrived for Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic. 🐴
We're talking full horse support. Horse hospitals. Horse construction offices. Horse farms. Horse logistics.
Glory to the Horse Republic!
store.steampowered.com/news/app/784...
The Horse Update™ has arrived for Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic. 🐴
We're talking full horse support. Horse hospitals. Horse construction offices. Horse farms. Horse logistics.
Glory to the Horse Republic!
store.steampowered.com/news/app/784...
December 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Unfortunately I can't bring myself to play this - in spite of thinking the game is incredible and being excited to try out these new features - because of the flood of AI generated imagery for 2D art and icons in the game now, which isn't disclosed on the steam page or admitted in the update blog
Reposted by Anndra
It's awesome how there's a McDonald's behind it
WATCH: Replica of the Statue of Liberty topples due to strong winds in Guaíba, Brazil
December 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
It's awesome how there's a McDonald's behind it
watched the Del Toro Frankenstein tonight. I was forewarned so the disappointment was lessened but yeah that's not great. Watchable enough, some good imagery and moments (and some terrible of each too). so unsubtle and in a bad way to boot
December 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
watched the Del Toro Frankenstein tonight. I was forewarned so the disappointment was lessened but yeah that's not great. Watchable enough, some good imagery and moments (and some terrible of each too). so unsubtle and in a bad way to boot
Reposted by Anndra
I am so proud of them. the kids did it. they made a new stupid number to say. they may now take their place in history.
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I am so proud of them. the kids did it. they made a new stupid number to say. they may now take their place in history.