Carl Rigney
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carlrigney.bsky.social
Carl Rigney
@carlrigney.bsky.social
230 followers 170 following 1.3K posts
Sysadmin & SF reader interested in OODA Cycles, 4GW, and role playing games. (he/him) Also at @cdr@dice.camp
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Reposted by Carl Rigney
edzitron.com
Tomorrow's premium: The Hater's Guide To Anthropic, a company burning $8 to $13 for every dollar it makes selling Claude Code and burning billions of dollars a year. It needs $283bn to survive the next 3 years.

Here's $10 off annual.
edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo...
Despite its positioning as the trustworthy, “nice” AI lab, Anthropic is as big, ugly and wasteful as OpenAI, and Dario Amodei is an even bigger bullshit artist than Sam Altman. It burns just as much of its revenue on inference (59% - or $2.79 billion on $4.5 billion of revenue, versus OpenAI’s $2.5 billion (62%) on $4.3 billion of revenue in the first half of 2025, if you use The Information’s numbers), and shows no sign of any “efficiency” or “cost-cutting.” Worse still, Anthropic continually abuses its users through varying rate limits to juice revenues and user numbers - along with Amodei’s gas-leak-esque proclamations - to mislead the media, the general public and investors about the financial condition of the company. Based on an analysis of many users’ actual token burn on Claude Code, I believe Anthropic is burning anywhere from $3 to $20 to make $1, and that the product that users are using (and the media is raving about) is not one that Anthropic can actually support long-term. I also see signs that Amodei himself is playing fast and loose with financial metrics in a way that will blow up in his face if Anthropic ever files its paperwork to go public. In simpler terms, Anthropic’s alleged “38% gross margins” may, if we are to believe Amodei’s own words, not the result of “revenue minus COGS” but “how much a model cost and how much revenue it’s generated.” Anthropic is also making promises it can’t keep. It’s promising to spend $30 billion on Microsoft Azure (and an additional "up to one gigawatt”), “tens of billions” on Google Cloud, $21 billion on Google TPUs with Broadcom, “$50 billion on American infrastructure,” as much as $3 billion on Hut8’s data center in Louisiana, and an unknowable (yet likely in the billions) amount of money with Amazon Web Services. Not to worry, Dario also adds that if you’re off by a couple of years on your projections of revenue and ability to pay for compute, it’ll be “ruinous.” I think that’s he’s right. Anthropic cann…
February 20, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
riadoodles.bsky.social
Heck yeaahhh!

I’m so grateful that I was given the opportunity to illustrate Adib’s sweet & heartwarming story! 😭🙏
adibkhorram.bsky.social Adib Khorram @adibkhorram.bsky.social · 8h
It's true!! @riadoodles.bsky.social and I are doing a graphic novel. It's got gay SPLASH vibes. Or gay LITTLE MERMAID vibes. Also I was listening to THE UNTAMED soundtrack a lot so there's plenty of pining and soulful gazes. And people, Ria's illustrations are SO GOOD. You are not ready!
Top left, a deal announcement. "Dana Chidiac while at Dial acquired world rights to Kiss the Boy by Adib Khorram (l) in his graphic novel debut, illustrated by debut illustrator Ria Martinez, a romantic tale of soul-binding love between a half-human, half-merfolk boy and the handsome, all-too-human stranger whose life is accidentally interwoven with his. Ellen Cormier will edit; publication is scheduled for spring 2027. Molly O'Neill represented the author, and the illustrator represented themself." L: Adib, a bald man smiling at the camera; R, Ria, non-binary with black hair gazing at the camera. Bottom right, an illustration of Dylan, a merfolk with a blue and yellow tail hanging out of a bathtub filled with bubbles; he is listening to headphones, and more music notes in bubbles float toward the sky. Text reads KISS THE BOY COMING SPRING 2027.
February 20, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
scottjshapiro.bsky.social
UK: Prince Andrew arrested.

South Korea: Former President Yoon sentenced for life.

Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro serving a 27-year sentence.

USA: President Trump demands $10 billion payout from taxpayers.
February 19, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
bencollins.bsky.social
look at my country man, we’re getting out-No Kings’d by the fuckin’ british
phillewis.bsky.social Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 17h
King Charles has issued a statement following his brother Andrew’s arrest
ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS Thursday, 19th February 2026 A STATEMENT FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R.
February 19, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
anxiousmimicrpgs.bsky.social
medium.com/@isabellerue... looking at a bunch of different PbtA and Belonging Outside Belonging games and discussing how they handle setting up PC bonds. I think this one is pretty good #pbta
PC Bonds: Looking at PbtA & Descendants
Player Character (PC) Bonds are a common staple in Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) games, and Belonging Outside Belonging (BOB) by…
medium.com
February 19, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
diane.dianeduane.com
Meanwhile, back at the Pennsylvania Railroad Dining Car manual: There are four pages of very concise potato recipes. Here's the recipe for potatoes au gratin.
"AU GRATIN: 1 quart of cold boiled, finely chopped potatoes, seasoned with salt only. Place in small saucepan, cover with cream. Add 2 pieces of table butter, bring to boil, then simmer until of creamy consistency. PREPARATION: Now place potatoes in ramekin or shirred egg dish, sprinkle evenly with grated cheese and fresh bread crumbs mixed together, dust with paprika, a few drops of melted butter on top and brown evenly in hot oven." NOTE: Do not chop the potatoes with a can or biscuit cutter, as this tends to smash them, use a French knife at all times.
February 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
bergamax.bsky.social
Trinity College Library 📚 in Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪

Photographies by The Dusty Valise @thedustyvalise [IG]

#libraries #architecture #history #oldtimes #photography
February 19, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
alexpaknadel.bsky.social
Wow, what a novel idea.
www.bbc.com/news/live/cq...
Yoon Suk Yeol: South Korea’s ex-president jailed for life for masterminding an insurrection
Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and indicted for declaring martial law in 2024.
www.bbc.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
sslee.bsky.social
The sentencing trial for Yoon Suk-yeol will begin in 10 minutes.
February 19, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
cottageinwood.bsky.social
🦉
meme: Tired of the rat race? Sick of the daily grind? Are you ready for a more fulfilling life? Then Being Carried Away By Owls might be right for you!
February 19, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
bighippoart.bsky.social
Today is my birthday and if you wanted to get me a gift, feel free to share my work 😊 🦊 🐟
February 18, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
screamerjim.bsky.social
Was trying to remember a Will Forte quote from Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie and accidentally figured out how to make Google’s AI tool shut up
February 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
andreapitzer.bsky.social
In the concentration camp universe, this is what's known as a filtration camp. A government preemptively takes a whole class of people to interrogate and detain extrajudicially in order to inflict duress on them while arbitrarily assessing their (supposed) culpability.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d
This is a truly horrifying memo. It says that the policy of the US government will now be to proactively seek out and arrest likely tens of thousands of refugees who entered legally under Biden and subject them to detention, where they will be interrogated about their status.
February 19, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
innocence.com
This post sold me on @charity.wtf’s new book. If there’s one thing I know after 20 years of working as a director in high tech, it’s that my success depends on how well I can communicate with execs who don’t know my field. That means it’s my job to find common ground. charity.wtf/2026/02/19/f...
First I wrote the wrong book, then I wrote the right book (xpost)
I’m not sure whether to say “thank you” or “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME”, but this one goes out to all the people who sent me advice on buying software last fall. This…
charity.wtf
February 19, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
courtneymilan.com
So Bree hinted at this story a few days ago, but I want to circle back now that I have permission to share it.

WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
mostlybree.kitrocha.com Mostly Leftist Supply Depot Bree @mostlybree.kitrocha.com · 4d
and the lady in our inbox who caused us to go into a Whistles Out: a Benoit Blanc Mystery spiral for half the day because she had rallied so many people to request whistles to the same town that we thought it was a scam, but no she just convinced like 700 people to mobilize and we love her so much
February 19, 2026 at 2:37 AM
carlrigney.bsky.social
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
February 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
rustysellsword.com
My copy of VOIDHEART SYMPATHY arrived today! Really nice production values, cool cover treatment, excellent art. It’s sort of like Persona 5? Only a PbtA game? Super lefty politics and snappy writing.

Not sure when I’ll get to try it out but I’m always happy to support games like this.
February 19, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
popovaprof.bsky.social
No surprise there. Ru wants Ukraine to surrender but can’t compel them. Ukraine isn’t losing on the battlefield and they don’t want to submit to Ru occupation. The US is not an honest broker but trying to help Ru achieve its goals diplomatically. US has stopped aid to Ukr so it has little leverage.
February 18, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
ericumansky.bsky.social
So after Trump pardoned Honduras's narco-president, the admin didn't just let him out--they canceled an immigration hold and sent a specialized team to **chauffeur him to the $1k/night Waldorf Astoria.**

“It's "absolutely fucking nuts,” said one official

www.propublica.org/article/trum...
February 18, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
catfi9ht.bsky.social
You can completely uninstall/disable copilot on Windows. Your system and local search will run faster afterward. www.howtogeek.com/how-to-rip-o...
February 17, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
shannonappelcline.bsky.social
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.
eynowd.bsky.social eynowd.bsky.social @eynowd.bsky.social · Jul 5
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
Reposted by Carl Rigney
cstross.bsky.social
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.
wiswell.bsky.social John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 2d
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.
midnightmasseffect.bsky.social jessica jonestown @midnightmasseffect.bsky.social · 6d
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
aliettedebodard.com
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
aliettedebodard.com Aliette de Bodard @aliettedebodard.com · 5d
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)
Cover of Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders, showing a man steepling his fingers on a background of Vietnamese temples. The mood is vaguely sinister Cover of Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances, showing a very sexy Vietnamese man with antlers, holding a book open and staring straight at the viewer
February 18, 2026 at 7:43 AM
carlrigney.bsky.social
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Quarter to Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?

There was a very nice rain! Very pleasant to listen to.
February 18, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Reposted by Carl Rigney
emilylhauser.bsky.social
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