Dan
@danw3000.bsky.social
Assistant Librarian in an Academic Support Team in a Scottish University. Always learning, so much to learn, never an expert but enthusiastic.
Keen walker, dog father, gamer and GM. 🎲
Keen walker, dog father, gamer and GM. 🎲
In our #DCCRPG game our lv1 wizard wanted to enlarge our warrior before a fight. The warrior was shrunk down to the form of a tiny baby before growing back to 10% more than his previous size &the wizard was bathed in holy light while a blue star burned on his forehead. This game is weird. ❤️
October 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
In our #DCCRPG game our lv1 wizard wanted to enlarge our warrior before a fight. The warrior was shrunk down to the form of a tiny baby before growing back to 10% more than his previous size &the wizard was bathed in holy light while a blue star burned on his forehead. This game is weird. ❤️
"Weeding Is Fundamental" an episode from the podcast 99% Invisible. It's about the practice of weeding books, and how an earthquake in the late '80s sparked a furore around the practice of weeding. Really good stuff, if you're into books or libraries LISTEN. 99percentinvisible.org/episode/weed...
Weeding is Fundamental - 99% Invisible
On October 17th, 1989, the Oakland A’s were playing the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, but just as the game was kicking off—the television broadcast cut out. When the signal came back, it w...
99percentinvisible.org
October 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
"Weeding Is Fundamental" an episode from the podcast 99% Invisible. It's about the practice of weeding books, and how an earthquake in the late '80s sparked a furore around the practice of weeding. Really good stuff, if you're into books or libraries LISTEN. 99percentinvisible.org/episode/weed...
Experimenting with smelling nice... just a little bit for myself, not for anyone else... not trying to be obnoxious or make anyone gag. A little bit of CKin2U and I'm feeling real nice.
October 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Experimenting with smelling nice... just a little bit for myself, not for anyone else... not trying to be obnoxious or make anyone gag. A little bit of CKin2U and I'm feeling real nice.
Our hacker character was the star of the show during a recent #BeamSaber game. Turning the tide and evening the odds. Hacks, counter hacks, databombs and taking control of enemy turret systems. She's not often available for the sessions but this time she SHINED.
September 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Our hacker character was the star of the show during a recent #BeamSaber game. Turning the tide and evening the odds. Hacks, counter hacks, databombs and taking control of enemy turret systems. She's not often available for the sessions but this time she SHINED.
Primo Research Assistant was something we trialled at RGU, though I must admit I didn't attempt any "controversial" searches. Such a thing shouldn't really be a barrier in academia. We SHOULD be researching such things. What's going on.
The AI powered Library Search That Refused to Search
(resharing since this was in today's Library Link of the Day feed)
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
(resharing since this was in today's Library Link of the Day feed)
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
The AI powered Library Search That Refused to Search
From Clarivate's Summon to Primo Research Assistant, content‑moderation layers meant mostly for chatbots are "quietly" blocking controversial topics from being searched
aarontay.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Primo Research Assistant was something we trialled at RGU, though I must admit I didn't attempt any "controversial" searches. Such a thing shouldn't really be a barrier in academia. We SHOULD be researching such things. What's going on.
Reading the Dying Earth book by Jack Vance (my intro to the author) and just finished the chapter/short story “Ulan Dhor”. Wow!! 🤯
September 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reading the Dying Earth book by Jack Vance (my intro to the author) and just finished the chapter/short story “Ulan Dhor”. Wow!! 🤯
One of my favourite things to do as an adult is to obsessively research a future purchase and make spreadsheets comparing all the variations, models and alternatives. Conditional formatting, colour schemes, and scores. ALWAYS at the expense of a more important task. Is there anything better??
September 8, 2025 at 8:37 AM
One of my favourite things to do as an adult is to obsessively research a future purchase and make spreadsheets comparing all the variations, models and alternatives. Conditional formatting, colour schemes, and scores. ALWAYS at the expense of a more important task. Is there anything better??
Next week my lunchtime #DungeonCrawlClassics game will finish our first funnel (Portal Under The Stars) and we will level up our level 0 characters!! Then I’m hoping to get the gang together for a night out so we can blast through Sailors On The Starless Sea in a pub, with cold beers and hot snacks.
September 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Next week my lunchtime #DungeonCrawlClassics game will finish our first funnel (Portal Under The Stars) and we will level up our level 0 characters!! Then I’m hoping to get the gang together for a night out so we can blast through Sailors On The Starless Sea in a pub, with cold beers and hot snacks.
In the UK legit protest groups are being criminalised. Surveillance is omnipresent and the online safety act is forcing people to give their data to untrustworthy sources. If that isn’t enough to steer you towards a VPN know this…. A VPN allows you to watch Project Runway season 21 on Disney+.
September 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
In the UK legit protest groups are being criminalised. Surveillance is omnipresent and the online safety act is forcing people to give their data to untrustworthy sources. If that isn’t enough to steer you towards a VPN know this…. A VPN allows you to watch Project Runway season 21 on Disney+.
Going through a brief but intense phase of really wanting to buy and build a mechanical keyboard for using at work. They are so pretty.
September 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Going through a brief but intense phase of really wanting to buy and build a mechanical keyboard for using at work. They are so pretty.
Everyone is talking about The Life of Chuck and until this minute I assumed that the Dane Cook movie “Good Luck Chuck” was having some kind of unexpected resurgence. Can we talk about how uncanny and weird this poster is though?
August 24, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Everyone is talking about The Life of Chuck and until this minute I assumed that the Dane Cook movie “Good Luck Chuck” was having some kind of unexpected resurgence. Can we talk about how uncanny and weird this poster is though?
Wow, #DungeonCrawlClassics is great. I’ve landed here on my TTRPG journey, having travelled the probably familiar road of #DnD, #pbta, #fitd… I think I’m going to stay here a little while (not forever of course)! I’m curious - what systems have u got wonderfully stuck in? Which did u drop quickly?
August 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Wow, #DungeonCrawlClassics is great. I’ve landed here on my TTRPG journey, having travelled the probably familiar road of #DnD, #pbta, #fitd… I think I’m going to stay here a little while (not forever of course)! I’m curious - what systems have u got wonderfully stuck in? Which did u drop quickly?
I did it! I fixed the faded and blue LEDs from my TV by replacing them with spares on eBay and watching a lot of YouTube. No specialist tools, just a screwdriver, a credit card, a table with a blanket on it and a cup of tea.
August 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I did it! I fixed the faded and blue LEDs from my TV by replacing them with spares on eBay and watching a lot of YouTube. No specialist tools, just a screwdriver, a credit card, a table with a blanket on it and a cup of tea.
My old second hand LG TV has turned blue as the LED backlights have gradually died. In January I bought replacement LED strips but I’ve been too scared to do it. Mustering up some courage to try it today. Wish me luck.
August 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
My old second hand LG TV has turned blue as the LED backlights have gradually died. In January I bought replacement LED strips but I’ve been too scared to do it. Mustering up some courage to try it today. Wish me luck.
Fantastic 1hour #DungeonCrawlClassics session today, our 2nd hour in the funnel "Portal Under The Stars". Two more level 0 characters met grisly ends, and as the hour ended, we rolled initiative... seven determined peasants wielding rusty swords and pitchforks piling in on a gigantic snake demon.
August 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Fantastic 1hour #DungeonCrawlClassics session today, our 2nd hour in the funnel "Portal Under The Stars". Two more level 0 characters met grisly ends, and as the hour ended, we rolled initiative... seven determined peasants wielding rusty swords and pitchforks piling in on a gigantic snake demon.
I’m now running 2 lunchtime games at work. I’m running my library team (mostly newcomers) through #ChasingAdventure. I’m also running a #DungeonCrawlClassics level 0 funnel for a library/research office combo. We play DCC today and I can’t wait to slaughter more PCs!! The body count is high!!
a man with long white hair and a beard says `` so you have chosen death . ''
Alt: Christopher Lee playing Sauraman from the Lord Of The Rings movies, saying ``so you have chosen death .''
media.tenor.com
August 13, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I’m now running 2 lunchtime games at work. I’m running my library team (mostly newcomers) through #ChasingAdventure. I’m also running a #DungeonCrawlClassics level 0 funnel for a library/research office combo. We play DCC today and I can’t wait to slaughter more PCs!! The body count is high!!
If you play TTRPGs online and don't want to use Zoom/Teams, try kSuite by Infomaniak, it's free, it has it's own online conference tool (Kmeet), it also allows you to save and host the video recordings. You get access to an online drive. www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/my...
my kSuite – The ethical solution to protect your personal data
Simplify your life with my kSuite: a personal, confidential and secure space for your emails, files and photos. Get organised with total peace of mind.
www.infomaniak.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
If you play TTRPGs online and don't want to use Zoom/Teams, try kSuite by Infomaniak, it's free, it has it's own online conference tool (Kmeet), it also allows you to save and host the video recordings. You get access to an online drive. www.infomaniak.com/en/ksuite/my...
1/2 🧵 I'm GMing Beam Saber. An entanglement involves a PC's loved one becoming enlisted alongside us. I've had my players give me a brief outline of an NPC and I will roll to see who has been enlisted. A simple prompt has led to some fantastic world building and PC development. I ❤️ #BeamSaber!
August 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
1/2 🧵 I'm GMing Beam Saber. An entanglement involves a PC's loved one becoming enlisted alongside us. I've had my players give me a brief outline of an NPC and I will roll to see who has been enlisted. A simple prompt has led to some fantastic world building and PC development. I ❤️ #BeamSaber!
Friends last night I made dinner from a recipe in a BOOK rather than on my phone. What a delight. It never went blank or rejected my wet thumbprint. No ads. No pop ups. This is new tech I can get behind. What a time to be alive.
August 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Friends last night I made dinner from a recipe in a BOOK rather than on my phone. What a delight. It never went blank or rejected my wet thumbprint. No ads. No pop ups. This is new tech I can get behind. What a time to be alive.
Brilliant piece from Simon about the OSA, why it’s bad news and how to work around it.
New newsletter post on circumventing the commercial age verification services that the UK's Online Safety Act 2023 has required of certain online platforms (including this one). The Government can't make me use a commercial company's services and they can't make you either.
getting around the Online Safety Act 2023
The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023’s age verification requirements went into effect on 25 July 2025. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
The Act, intended t...
opensauce.simonxix.com
August 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Brilliant piece from Simon about the OSA, why it’s bad news and how to work around it.
They've tackled the Alien and Jurassic Park franchises, now they are tackling the Mission Impossible franchise. Hitting a real sweet spot between film criticism and just being humans who love fun movies. I'm really enjoying this run. Highly recommend you give this a listen.
The Impossipod is back! @simonxix.com & @jimgr.bsky.social hail GHOST PROTOCOL as the possible M:I zenith with spot-on tone that was carried forward, the intent to replace Cruise that wasn't, how it addresses Cruise's aging body, & how Hollywood desperately wanted to make Jeremy Renner happen:
The Impossipod | Podcasts | TAKE ONE | Episode 4: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
Simon and Jim discuss Brad Bird’s live-action feature directorial debut, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL, a zenith of the Mission: Impossible franchise. They get into how this film finally…
buff.ly
July 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
They've tackled the Alien and Jurassic Park franchises, now they are tackling the Mission Impossible franchise. Hitting a real sweet spot between film criticism and just being humans who love fun movies. I'm really enjoying this run. Highly recommend you give this a listen.
To all the students that laugh at my little jokes during a referencing presentation or literature searching refresher... thank you. You literally give me life. To the students who stare blankly - no hard feelings honestly, I get it, I really do!!
July 17, 2025 at 9:47 AM
To all the students that laugh at my little jokes during a referencing presentation or literature searching refresher... thank you. You literally give me life. To the students who stare blankly - no hard feelings honestly, I get it, I really do!!
SocTalk has a new episode out, their first live recording! JNAB & the Sundance Kid (both, among many other things, current RGU lecturers from the School of Computing, Engineering and Technology) discuss Artificial Intelligence and the concept of Who is Teaching Who? open.spotify.com/show/6vrFPiG...
SocTalk
Podcast · Jamie Sundance · Soctalk with JNAB and The Sundance Kid dives into the confluence of technology, art, and human experiences. Hosted by Jamie Sundance (The Sundance Kid) and John na Brown (JN...
open.spotify.com
July 3, 2025 at 8:42 AM
SocTalk has a new episode out, their first live recording! JNAB & the Sundance Kid (both, among many other things, current RGU lecturers from the School of Computing, Engineering and Technology) discuss Artificial Intelligence and the concept of Who is Teaching Who? open.spotify.com/show/6vrFPiG...
Fads on YouTube has put together a video that anyone interested in academic integrity, referencing, AI and US politics will find very interesting. AI generated fake citations in American policy. youtu.be/YWI4qm9gLMU?...
MAGA is using completely fake science to destroy american healthcare
YouTube video by Fads
youtu.be
July 2, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Fads on YouTube has put together a video that anyone interested in academic integrity, referencing, AI and US politics will find very interesting. AI generated fake citations in American policy. youtu.be/YWI4qm9gLMU?...