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
The sentencing trial for Yoon Suk-yeol will begin in 10 minutes.
February 19, 2026 at 5:49 AM
The sentencing trial for Yoon Suk-yeol will begin in 10 minutes.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
Today is my birthday and if you wanted to get me a gift, feel free to share my work 😊 🦊 🐟
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
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
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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.
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
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.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
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...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
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
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
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
February 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM
@sporadicerratic.bsky.social Midnight hydration check! Have you had tea today?
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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.
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
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.
Not sure when I’ll get to try it out but I’m always happy to support games like this.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
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.
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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...
“It's "absolutely fucking nuts,” said one official
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
February 18, 2026 at 1:21 PM
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...
“It's "absolutely fucking nuts,” said one official
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Carl Rigney
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
You can completely uninstall/disable copilot on Windows. Your system and local search will run faster afterward. www.howtogeek.com/how-to-rip-o...
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