Rikarirang⁷
@commanderrika.blacksky.app
Writer+Illustrator. She/Her.
💜 Blackness 💜 Books 💜 BTS 💜
Stories in Lightspeed, FIYAH, Strange Horizons, Fantasy, and Apparitions
Portfolio: commanderrika.com
Commissions OPEN: marikawrites589@gmail.com
💜 Blackness 💜 Books 💜 BTS 💜
Stories in Lightspeed, FIYAH, Strange Horizons, Fantasy, and Apparitions
Portfolio: commanderrika.com
Commissions OPEN: marikawrites589@gmail.com
Pinned
Happy #portfolioday!
I'm Marika, a Black illustrator and designer. I'd love to work on more book covers, book-adjacent work, and science fiction and fantasy projects.
www.commanderrika.com/illustrator
marikawrites589(at)gmail.com
I'm Marika, a Black illustrator and designer. I'd love to work on more book covers, book-adjacent work, and science fiction and fantasy projects.
www.commanderrika.com/illustrator
marikawrites589(at)gmail.com
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
In his 1998 interview with Guitar World, Prince spoke directly about one of the reasons why he was seeking ownership of his work: to have artistic control so there couldn't be unauthorized digital manipulation of his work after his death. sites.google.com/site/prninte...
![GW: With digital editing, it is now possible to create a situation where you could jam with any artist from the past. Would you ever consider doing something like that?
O(+>: Certainly not. That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing... it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song ["Free As a Bird"], manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave... that'lI never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:sg2e2kqdsdp2q2zl44txadbp/bafkreihknqisorpvu2x3yb2fqblcct5ut73vmv5cpwnklojfkgika3qvpi@jpeg)
February 11, 2026 at 3:22 AM
In his 1998 interview with Guitar World, Prince spoke directly about one of the reasons why he was seeking ownership of his work: to have artistic control so there couldn't be unauthorized digital manipulation of his work after his death. sites.google.com/site/prninte...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
"In 1999, I interviewed Prince for TIME and he told me to leave my tape recorder off because he didn’t trust what future technology might do with unauthorized recordings of his voice.
At the time, I thought Prince was being paranoid..."
time.com/7338205/rage...
At the time, I thought Prince was being paranoid..."
time.com/7338205/rage...
It's Time to Rage Against the AI Music Machine
If AI music takes over "humans will begin to echo the machines, and there will be a downward spiral into slop."
time.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:07 AM
"In 1999, I interviewed Prince for TIME and he told me to leave my tape recorder off because he didn’t trust what future technology might do with unauthorized recordings of his voice.
At the time, I thought Prince was being paranoid..."
time.com/7338205/rage...
At the time, I thought Prince was being paranoid..."
time.com/7338205/rage...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I just came from a deeply-informed talk about these supposed guardrails. They’re nonsense.
Saying it doesn’t make it so. www.theverge.com/tech/876866/...
February 11, 2026 at 2:26 AM
I just came from a deeply-informed talk about these supposed guardrails. They’re nonsense.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I don’t believe this and even if I did, it just means they’ll go terrorize people in another state who ARE STILL MY NEIGHBORS
Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday said that he expects the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota to wind down soon.
Gov. Walz says he expects ‘Operation Metro Surge’ to wind down soon • Minnesota Reformer
Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday said that he expects the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota to wind down soon. During a press conference intended to highlight the adverse impacts of President...
minnesotareformer.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 AM
I don’t believe this and even if I did, it just means they’ll go terrorize people in another state who ARE STILL MY NEIGHBORS
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
This is exactly what I'm talking about wrt YA. Knock out MMPB and paperback first at $15 or so instead of hardcovers that cost $18-24. You're gonna gain so many more young adult readers, not just teens who can afford to buy them but libraries who can purchase more titles.
bsky.app/profile/alix...
bsky.app/profile/alix...
i think a lot about how 19th century mass literacy was fueled by cheap reading material (penny papers) which made fiction affordable even for children. im sure every book being $30 will be fine and have no consequences.
February 11, 2026 at 2:12 AM
This is exactly what I'm talking about wrt YA. Knock out MMPB and paperback first at $15 or so instead of hardcovers that cost $18-24. You're gonna gain so many more young adult readers, not just teens who can afford to buy them but libraries who can purchase more titles.
bsky.app/profile/alix...
bsky.app/profile/alix...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I've said this before but I truly believe we could revitalize YA and kidlit overnight by switching to MMPB and paperback first. Kids want paperbacks! It is by far the biggest request I get from teen readers.
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 AM
I've said this before but I truly believe we could revitalize YA and kidlit overnight by switching to MMPB and paperback first. Kids want paperbacks! It is by far the biggest request I get from teen readers.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
No son, they are not "magically delicious." The workers made them delicious. This is a slogan meant to mystify the social conditions of labor
February 11, 2026 at 1:46 AM
No son, they are not "magically delicious." The workers made them delicious. This is a slogan meant to mystify the social conditions of labor
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
(Media) SCOOP: Weeks ago, the owner of the Washington City Paper had offered to purchase The Washington Post's sports and local sections, keeping their desks alive.
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
Bezos could have saved WaPo’s sports and local journalists. He laid them off instead.
“The equation isn’t adding up.”
www.theverge.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:39 PM
(Media) SCOOP: Weeks ago, the owner of the Washington City Paper had offered to purchase The Washington Post's sports and local sections, keeping their desks alive.
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
“We’re ending the advance of human knowledge and understanding, for efficiency!”
February 11, 2026 at 1:23 AM
“We’re ending the advance of human knowledge and understanding, for efficiency!”
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
While there are pro bono resources available for habeas petitions, the private bar is still necessary to close the gap right now. Please help bring a father home, if you can.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-by...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-by...
A parent at my kids’ school was abducted a few hours ago.
Please help us help the family with legal expenses and care for their elementary school son (who doesn’t even know his dad was taken yet 💔):
gofund.me/20a5b26ab
Please help us help the family with legal expenses and care for their elementary school son (who doesn’t even know his dad was taken yet 💔):
gofund.me/20a5b26ab
Donate to Support Byron Cabrera's Legal Defense and Son's Care, organized by Luz Riofrio
Hello everyone, I'm asking for your support for Byron Cabrera, who h… Luz Riofrio needs your support for Support Byron Cabrera's Legal Defense and Son's Care
gofund.me
February 10, 2026 at 11:36 PM
While there are pro bono resources available for habeas petitions, the private bar is still necessary to close the gap right now. Please help bring a father home, if you can.
www.gofundme.com/f/support-by...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-by...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
Mahalo to Hawaiian and Polynesian readers. This story was one of my favorites in the slush. :)
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fi...
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fi...
A Night with Hui ‘Enehana ‘Ike
“I’ve never actually visited the pā before,” she said out loud. “Is this where they gather lāʻī to make the pūʻolo?” she asked. “Yes,” Benny responded, glancing to see where Nanea was pointing. “He…
strangehorizons.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Mahalo to Hawaiian and Polynesian readers. This story was one of my favorites in the slush. :)
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fi...
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fi...
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
just an update from when we talked to the reporter: we’ve now successfully connected over 100 families for direct, peer to peer rent adoption. we’ve collected and immediately distributed…a lot.
it is a drop in the bucket, but all of this is. everyone is just doing what they can.
it is a drop in the bucket, but all of this is. everyone is just doing what they can.
February 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
just an update from when we talked to the reporter: we’ve now successfully connected over 100 families for direct, peer to peer rent adoption. we’ve collected and immediately distributed…a lot.
it is a drop in the bucket, but all of this is. everyone is just doing what they can.
it is a drop in the bucket, but all of this is. everyone is just doing what they can.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
everyone with an IQ above paste could have predicted this would happen: anyway; these Meta glasses are ontologically evil and anyone who wears them is a creeping blood-worm who should be chased from society with stones and sharp sticks
Social media is awash with videos of men filming themselves approaching women in public spaces and attempting to flirt. In many cases, the videos are filmed and uploaded without the women’s consent. https://cnn.it/4qtIsvB
February 11, 2026 at 1:01 AM
everyone with an IQ above paste could have predicted this would happen: anyway; these Meta glasses are ontologically evil and anyone who wears them is a creeping blood-worm who should be chased from society with stones and sharp sticks
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
Which does NOT mean the SAVE Act isn't bad.
It just means all of this shit was always bad and instead of just stopping it, the goal should be undoing the parts we already live under, too.
It just means all of this shit was always bad and instead of just stopping it, the goal should be undoing the parts we already live under, too.
February 10, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Which does NOT mean the SAVE Act isn't bad.
It just means all of this shit was always bad and instead of just stopping it, the goal should be undoing the parts we already live under, too.
It just means all of this shit was always bad and instead of just stopping it, the goal should be undoing the parts we already live under, too.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I do want to remind folks today that I would guess at least half of the horrors people are posting about in the SAVE Act?
Already law in the much of south. They know it works because they did it to Black communities & everyone shrugged and made jokes about how we voted for every natural disaster.
Already law in the much of south. They know it works because they did it to Black communities & everyone shrugged and made jokes about how we voted for every natural disaster.
February 10, 2026 at 10:55 PM
I do want to remind folks today that I would guess at least half of the horrors people are posting about in the SAVE Act?
Already law in the much of south. They know it works because they did it to Black communities & everyone shrugged and made jokes about how we voted for every natural disaster.
Already law in the much of south. They know it works because they did it to Black communities & everyone shrugged and made jokes about how we voted for every natural disaster.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
This piece is so wonderful, but this part made me cry a little bit not gonna lie
February 10, 2026 at 11:26 PM
This piece is so wonderful, but this part made me cry a little bit not gonna lie
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I keep rereading this paragraph expecting the words to change
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 AM
I keep rereading this paragraph expecting the words to change
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
Cannot believe that I got to profile an extraordinary filmmaker, who happens to be the mother of NYC’s new mayor, and think about intersections of art and politics, and how familial love might produce a buffer against the corrosive politics and cynicism of our time. My story about Mira Nair:
What Mira Nair Taught Zohran Mamdani
The mayor’s famous filmmaker mother reveals the origins of his ferocious ambition.
www.vulture.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Cannot believe that I got to profile an extraordinary filmmaker, who happens to be the mother of NYC’s new mayor, and think about intersections of art and politics, and how familial love might produce a buffer against the corrosive politics and cynicism of our time. My story about Mira Nair:
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
i think a lot about how 19th century mass literacy was fueled by cheap reading material (penny papers) which made fiction affordable even for children. im sure every book being $30 will be fine and have no consequences.
February 11, 2026 at 12:42 AM
i think a lot about how 19th century mass literacy was fueled by cheap reading material (penny papers) which made fiction affordable even for children. im sure every book being $30 will be fine and have no consequences.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
I kinda love how the Blacksky team just kind of nodded in response to the racist attack over the weekend, and then just started releasing MORE features LOL
The blacksky.community web app has been updated to support OAuth login. This means we have gotten rid of the "Hosting Provider" field when signing into our app, making it more straightforward to use our app even if you aren't yet hosted on our PDS (e.g. if you have a *.bsky.social handle)
February 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I kinda love how the Blacksky team just kind of nodded in response to the racist attack over the weekend, and then just started releasing MORE features LOL
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
This isn’t a setback. This is deliberately thwarting the research and development of safe and effective medicine.
The FDA has refused to accept an application from Moderna to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine, the company said, in another setback for the technology that’s been a target of some Trump administration health officials. https://cnn.it/4kt8iyn
February 10, 2026 at 11:46 PM
This isn’t a setback. This is deliberately thwarting the research and development of safe and effective medicine.
Reposted by Rikarirang⁷
When we get out the other side of this, we should think seriously about making signs like this permanent, like the plaques in Paris that tell you that you're standing on the exact spot where a resistance fighter was shot down by the Nazis in 1944.
seen in my neighborhood in south Minneapolis
February 10, 2026 at 11:56 PM
When we get out the other side of this, we should think seriously about making signs like this permanent, like the plaques in Paris that tell you that you're standing on the exact spot where a resistance fighter was shot down by the Nazis in 1944.