Carl Rigney
@carlrigney.bsky.social
Sysadmin & SF reader interested in OODA Cycles, 4GW, and role playing games. (he/him) Also at @cdr@dice.camp
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Sometimes you give Dancey the benefit of the doubt because OGL created an industry boom in the '00s.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
I think the damage was largely done back in 2000 when Ryan Dancey (then in charge of RPG development in WotC) came up with the OGL, with the explicit intention of driving all other systems out of the market. By opening up D&D, it enticed other publishers to support D20, and forget their own stuff.
February 18, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Sometimes you give Dancey the benefit of the doubt because OGL created an industry boom in the '00s.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
But you have to remember he did it for Machiavellian reasons, and successfully killed any number of young RPG publishers.
Late-era capitalism is probably the theme the runs through his history.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Same. I only lived to my 2nd birthday because of antibiotics, probably only made it to 5 because of vaccines, would have been blind by 25 and dead by 40 for different reasons (survived both crises because of modern medical interventions).
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
People always ask, "What would you do if you were born in another time period?"
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
With my health the answer is almost always, "Die before kindergarten."
Medical progress is the real deal, buddies.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Same. I only lived to my 2nd birthday because of antibiotics, probably only made it to 5 because of vaccines, would have been blind by 25 and dead by 40 for different reasons (survived both crises because of modern medical interventions).
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
Fuck that RFK Jr. shitheel. I hope he dies of cysticercosis.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
This Lunar New Year you too can get the shenanigans of a dragon prince and his murderous husband heading home for New Year.
Other people enjoy candied fruit and caramel pork; Thuan and Asmodeus find themselves drawn into deadly politics...
Comedies of manners and murders
Other people enjoy candied fruit and caramel pork; Thuan and Asmodeus find themselves drawn into deadly politics...
Comedies of manners and murders
Also, if you want more Gothic shenanigans with a cozy queer vibe, here are some books about murder husbands trying to solve murders without incurring more murders
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
February 18, 2026 at 7:43 AM
This Lunar New Year you too can get the shenanigans of a dragon prince and his murderous husband heading home for New Year.
Other people enjoy candied fruit and caramel pork; Thuan and Asmodeus find themselves drawn into deadly politics...
Comedies of manners and murders
Other people enjoy candied fruit and caramel pork; Thuan and Asmodeus find themselves drawn into deadly politics...
Comedies of manners and murders
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Quarter to Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
There was a very nice rain! Very pleasant to listen to.
There was a very nice rain! Very pleasant to listen to.
February 18, 2026 at 7:44 AM
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Quarter to Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
There was a very nice rain! Very pleasant to listen to.
There was a very nice rain! Very pleasant to listen to.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
I am going to sleep, and you should too, but if you're not quite ready and would like a little joy to help you toggle between The Living Nightmare and Sweet Dreams, I cannot possibly recommend this video highly enough:
John Oliver & Cookie Monster Out-Takes
YouTube video by Mashable
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 5:17 AM
I am going to sleep, and you should too, but if you're not quite ready and would like a little joy to help you toggle between The Living Nightmare and Sweet Dreams, I cannot possibly recommend this video highly enough:
Reposted by Carl Rigney
I just got my annual Public Lending Right cheque for Because Internet from the Canada Council for the Arts, so permit me a thread about what the public lending right is and why you should request books you love from public libraries!
February 18, 2026 at 2:56 AM
I just got my annual Public Lending Right cheque for Because Internet from the Canada Council for the Arts, so permit me a thread about what the public lending right is and why you should request books you love from public libraries!
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Working on this week's premium: The Hater's Guide To Anthropic, or "DarioWare: Get It Together." I'll have a huge free intro (3k words or so) to go with it. Out Friday. Full preview Thursday.
February 18, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Working on this week's premium: The Hater's Guide To Anthropic, or "DarioWare: Get It Together." I'll have a huge free intro (3k words or so) to go with it. Out Friday. Full preview Thursday.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Molly White (of Citation Needed and Web3 Is Going Just Great) put it together. www.mollywhite.net/micro/entry/...
Newsletter platform cost comparisons, August 2025 update
I've updated my past newsletter platform cost comparison to incorporate Ghost's recent pricing changes for Ghost Pro. (Note that past Ghost users are grandfathered in.)
www.mollywhite.net
February 17, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Molly White (of Citation Needed and Web3 Is Going Just Great) put it together. www.mollywhite.net/micro/entry/...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Creatives who use AI to replace the work of other creatives are class traitors without souls. You are not entitled to have things just because you want them, especially when those things you want put other people in the poorhouse. I'd rather die.
Writers if you could drop your novel or short story into an AI and have it make a great and watchable movie out of your story, and you could sell that movie, would you do it? #writers #WritingCommunity
February 17, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Creatives who use AI to replace the work of other creatives are class traitors without souls. You are not entitled to have things just because you want them, especially when those things you want put other people in the poorhouse. I'd rather die.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
How is it possible that Kristi Noem still has this job. Imagine if you’re a family member or a shipmate of this guardsman.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
February 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
How is it possible that Kristi Noem still has this job. Imagine if you’re a family member or a shipmate of this guardsman.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
In honor of Lunar New Year, one of my all-time favorite maps:
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
February 17, 2026 at 4:32 PM
In honor of Lunar New Year, one of my all-time favorite maps:
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
How dumplings spread around the world
(tl;dr: It was largely, though not exclusively, the Mongol invasions!)
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Reupping this today
A Dem that runs as pro trans gets a SIXTY ONE POINT BUMP WITH DEM VOTERS and a NINE POINT BUMP WITH INDIES over ones that go silent.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
The failure to get this is a prior beliefs/incentives problem but it's also a research problem. The current establishment's understanding of voters is utterly cooked.
Relevant to that is another finding in the poll. A theoretical officeholder that speaks up about these issues is preferred by:
ICE raids D+72 I+40
Trans D+61 I+9
Gaza genocide D+33 I-24
Guessing that Gaza one was a question wording effect, but if you're running a a Dem, those are your voters.
ICE raids D+72 I+40
Trans D+61 I+9
Gaza genocide D+33 I-24
Guessing that Gaza one was a question wording effect, but if you're running a a Dem, those are your voters.
February 17, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reupping this today
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has passed away at the age of 84. My thoughts are with his family.
I wanted to share this clip from his appearance on Sesame Street in 1971. His important words ring just as true today as they did back then.
I wanted to share this clip from his appearance on Sesame Street in 1971. His important words ring just as true today as they did back then.
February 17, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has passed away at the age of 84. My thoughts are with his family.
I wanted to share this clip from his appearance on Sesame Street in 1971. His important words ring just as true today as they did back then.
I wanted to share this clip from his appearance on Sesame Street in 1971. His important words ring just as true today as they did back then.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
So. This is what separates a good translator from a mediocre one.
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
The same line is in 2199 and the 2199 Manga.
The original Star Blazers translated the line as "Idiots," which always made perfect sense to me.
However, 2199 and its manga translated it as "Nuts," which doesn't make sense to me and lessens the impact.
Anyone know why this change was made?
The original Star Blazers translated the line as "Idiots," which always made perfect sense to me.
However, 2199 and its manga translated it as "Nuts," which doesn't make sense to me and lessens the impact.
Anyone know why this change was made?
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 PM
So. This is what separates a good translator from a mediocre one.
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Computer supported translations have gotten very robust. I use translate.google whenever I'm trying to extract information on roleplaying history from a foreign source. It's sub-adequate, but useful.
Zack Davisson brilliantly explains why computers can never match humans, using Star Blazers.
Zack Davisson brilliantly explains why computers can never match humans, using Star Blazers.
So. This is what separates a good translator from a mediocre one.
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
A mediocre translator looks at the word. Then translates the word. They have no knowledge of context beyond the word.
A good translator knows that words carry information. The word itself is not important. What is important is (1)
The same line is in 2199 and the 2199 Manga.
The original Star Blazers translated the line as "Idiots," which always made perfect sense to me.
However, 2199 and its manga translated it as "Nuts," which doesn't make sense to me and lessens the impact.
Anyone know why this change was made?
The original Star Blazers translated the line as "Idiots," which always made perfect sense to me.
However, 2199 and its manga translated it as "Nuts," which doesn't make sense to me and lessens the impact.
Anyone know why this change was made?
February 17, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Computer supported translations have gotten very robust. I use translate.google whenever I'm trying to extract information on roleplaying history from a foreign source. It's sub-adequate, but useful.
Zack Davisson brilliantly explains why computers can never match humans, using Star Blazers.
Zack Davisson brilliantly explains why computers can never match humans, using Star Blazers.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Looking for your next read? Read STORYTELLER: A TANITH LEE TRIBUTE ANTHOLOGY edited by Julie C. Day, featured on the 2025 Recommended Reading List! tanithleestoryteller...
February 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Looking for your next read? Read STORYTELLER: A TANITH LEE TRIBUTE ANTHOLOGY edited by Julie C. Day, featured on the 2025 Recommended Reading List! tanithleestoryteller...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
YOU GUYS WE’RE ALMOST 25% FUNDED!! 🎉
Go back SLEEPING WIZARDS! It’s a high-octane dungeon crawler fantasy comic, with SO many awesome add-ons and perks, including CHARACTER COMMISSIONS BY ME!! 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/iro...
Go back SLEEPING WIZARDS! It’s a high-octane dungeon crawler fantasy comic, with SO many awesome add-ons and perks, including CHARACTER COMMISSIONS BY ME!! 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/iro...
February 17, 2026 at 5:45 PM
YOU GUYS WE’RE ALMOST 25% FUNDED!! 🎉
Go back SLEEPING WIZARDS! It’s a high-octane dungeon crawler fantasy comic, with SO many awesome add-ons and perks, including CHARACTER COMMISSIONS BY ME!! 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/iro...
Go back SLEEPING WIZARDS! It’s a high-octane dungeon crawler fantasy comic, with SO many awesome add-ons and perks, including CHARACTER COMMISSIONS BY ME!! 👀
www.kickstarter.com/projects/iro...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
In case you missed it (w/apologies for self-promo, ugh)...there's a new edition of CINDERWICH available at Amazon! So if you'd like to buy a version with (a). no unfortunate dialect *as intended,* and (b). that I definitely get paid for, here you go: www.cheriepriest.com/blog/excitin...
Exciting Firsts and Second Chances — The Haunt*
Here we go, right? My very first indie/self-produced book* is finally out in the world - or on Amazon, where you’ll now find the author’s cut of Cinderwich in ebook…and now paperback!…formats. That’...
www.cheriepriest.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:28 PM
In case you missed it (w/apologies for self-promo, ugh)...there's a new edition of CINDERWICH available at Amazon! So if you'd like to buy a version with (a). no unfortunate dialect *as intended,* and (b). that I definitely get paid for, here you go: www.cheriepriest.com/blog/excitin...
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Quarter Past Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
February 17, 2026 at 8:17 AM
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Quarter Past Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
Reposted by Carl Rigney
I don’t know how to express how extremely gross it was to see the machine make my friend speak English against his will using his own voice.
February 17, 2026 at 1:58 AM
I don’t know how to express how extremely gross it was to see the machine make my friend speak English against his will using his own voice.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Discovered today that Instagram had turned on (without my opt-in) automatic AUDIO translation of any reel that shows up in my feed not in English USING AI TO MIMIC THE SPEAKER’S VOICE and WOW it was creepy and upsetting.
You can turn it off in “Language & Translations” in Settings. 🙅🏻♀️
You can turn it off in “Language & Translations” in Settings. 🙅🏻♀️
February 17, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Discovered today that Instagram had turned on (without my opt-in) automatic AUDIO translation of any reel that shows up in my feed not in English USING AI TO MIMIC THE SPEAKER’S VOICE and WOW it was creepy and upsetting.
You can turn it off in “Language & Translations” in Settings. 🙅🏻♀️
You can turn it off in “Language & Translations” in Settings. 🙅🏻♀️
I backed Extra Ordinary TTRPG Softcover Print Run on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/jaz...
Extra Ordinary TTRPG Softcover Print Run
Physical copies of Extra Ordinary, a TTRPG about kids with extraordinary powers on the run from danger in the ordinary world!
www.kickstarter.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:58 AM
I backed Extra Ordinary TTRPG Softcover Print Run on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/jaz...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
ICYMI, Congratulations to Caroline M. Yoachim! Yochim's short story “Unfinished Architectures of the Human-Fae War” is tied for 4th Place in the Uncanny Magazine 2025 Favorite Fiction Reader Poll! You can read it here! buff.ly/lQjWZ4y
February 17, 2026 at 1:35 AM
ICYMI, Congratulations to Caroline M. Yoachim! Yochim's short story “Unfinished Architectures of the Human-Fae War” is tied for 4th Place in the Uncanny Magazine 2025 Favorite Fiction Reader Poll! You can read it here! buff.ly/lQjWZ4y
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Along these lines: if you live in Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Attorney we elect this fall is going to be the lawyer in charge of prosecuting ICE agents for the murders and atrocities they committed against us. That's why I'm supporting Cedrick Frazier.
I was at a campaign event yesterday & a politician friend made this very important point to me: we can talk about all the different MN elections in Nov, but none of them is as close and crucial to fighting fascism than reelecting Keith Ellison
February 16, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Along these lines: if you live in Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Attorney we elect this fall is going to be the lawyer in charge of prosecuting ICE agents for the murders and atrocities they committed against us. That's why I'm supporting Cedrick Frazier.