Jaym Gates
@jaymgates.bsky.social
Wearer of many hats. TTRPG, video game, and fiction writer & editor. Co-editor of Strategy Strikes Back, War Stories, co-founder of Falstaff Books & Project Lodestar, etc. No kings. Abolish ICE.
The fastest way for a piece of music to win my heart is to take a sudden dip into a minor key.
November 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The fastest way for a piece of music to win my heart is to take a sudden dip into a minor key.
It's also useful to tell it that it's wrong and prompt that it has missed an item which does not exist, bc it will flat-out apologize for missing this non-existent item and include it. Which makes for fun conversations in workplaces which have high accuracy reqs.
Like mine.
Like mine.
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It's also useful to tell it that it's wrong and prompt that it has missed an item which does not exist, bc it will flat-out apologize for missing this non-existent item and include it. Which makes for fun conversations in workplaces which have high accuracy reqs.
Like mine.
Like mine.
However, since work wants me to show them how to use AI, I'm having a delightful time using it to build a case against itself.
Malicious compliance ftw.
Malicious compliance ftw.
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
However, since work wants me to show them how to use AI, I'm having a delightful time using it to build a case against itself.
Malicious compliance ftw.
Malicious compliance ftw.
AI: because why use your actual brain when you can use something slower, more prone to error, and which is destroying the planet?
November 10, 2025 at 10:39 PM
AI: because why use your actual brain when you can use something slower, more prone to error, and which is destroying the planet?
Currently fighting with Lowes over a defective brand new fridge, which is obliterating what little patience and resilience I have right now, so the sheer satisfaction I felt when I was the reason their Google ranking went down a star can perhaps be forgiven.
November 9, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Currently fighting with Lowes over a defective brand new fridge, which is obliterating what little patience and resilience I have right now, so the sheer satisfaction I felt when I was the reason their Google ranking went down a star can perhaps be forgiven.
You know, I have like 100 things AI could actually do to improve my job, and yet I am consistently scraping the barrel for ideas when the CEO tells me to find ways to incorporate AI.
*AI IS NOT FUNCTIONAL ENOUGH TO REPLACE A SINGLE HUMAN*. I can't even use it to reliably check broken links.
*AI IS NOT FUNCTIONAL ENOUGH TO REPLACE A SINGLE HUMAN*. I can't even use it to reliably check broken links.
November 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
You know, I have like 100 things AI could actually do to improve my job, and yet I am consistently scraping the barrel for ideas when the CEO tells me to find ways to incorporate AI.
*AI IS NOT FUNCTIONAL ENOUGH TO REPLACE A SINGLE HUMAN*. I can't even use it to reliably check broken links.
*AI IS NOT FUNCTIONAL ENOUGH TO REPLACE A SINGLE HUMAN*. I can't even use it to reliably check broken links.
I took tomorrow off from work but I keep forgetting that and getting nice little mental and emotional surprises.
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I took tomorrow off from work but I keep forgetting that and getting nice little mental and emotional surprises.
I made muffins and took them to work. My skip-level manager messaged today and was apologizing for not saying thanks because "I thought they came from a store! Like, a high-end bakery. I didn't know you made them!"
I will take "I thought these came from a high-end bakery", that's very affirming.
I will take "I thought these came from a high-end bakery", that's very affirming.
October 31, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I made muffins and took them to work. My skip-level manager messaged today and was apologizing for not saying thanks because "I thought they came from a store! Like, a high-end bakery. I didn't know you made them!"
I will take "I thought these came from a high-end bakery", that's very affirming.
I will take "I thought these came from a high-end bakery", that's very affirming.
Reposted by Jaym Gates
The sheer volume of people showing signs of mania, psychosis, and suicidal ideation each and every week on ChatGPT is staggering, alarming, awful, all of it. from @lmatsakis.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/chatgp...
OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week
OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The sheer volume of people showing signs of mania, psychosis, and suicidal ideation each and every week on ChatGPT is staggering, alarming, awful, all of it. from @lmatsakis.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/chatgp...
Reposted by Jaym Gates
Until SNAP is funded, here’s an ongoing list of Bay Area restaurants where SNAP recipients can receive free food. Just bring your EBT card!
While the feds continue to play stupid games, SNAP recipients are set to lose food aid for the next month. In the Bay Area, a growing number of restaurants are stepping up to help, and we're maintaining the list. Share with anyone who needs it. www.coyotemedia.org/these-bay-ar...
These Bay Area Restaurants Are Offering Free Food to SNAP Recipients
Amid a government shutdown that will cut off aid for 42 million Americans, local food scene folks plan to pick up the slack.
www.coyotemedia.org
October 28, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Until SNAP is funded, here’s an ongoing list of Bay Area restaurants where SNAP recipients can receive free food. Just bring your EBT card!
Reposted by Jaym Gates
October 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
There is something so satisfying about snuggling into a pile of blankets in a very cold room.
Granted, some of this is definitely learned from growing up sleeping in a building without heat, but I'm also definitely at least a bit cave mammal.
Granted, some of this is definitely learned from growing up sleeping in a building without heat, but I'm also definitely at least a bit cave mammal.
October 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
There is something so satisfying about snuggling into a pile of blankets in a very cold room.
Granted, some of this is definitely learned from growing up sleeping in a building without heat, but I'm also definitely at least a bit cave mammal.
Granted, some of this is definitely learned from growing up sleeping in a building without heat, but I'm also definitely at least a bit cave mammal.
Reposted by Jaym Gates
🌟Exciting Astra Fauna news!🌟
Getting the last bit of writing done today for the Astra Fauna solo ttrpg and then it's off to @jaymgates.bsky.social for editing!
I'm so excited to have Jaym on the team and SO excited to have reached these stage in the process.
It's gonna be good friends.
Getting the last bit of writing done today for the Astra Fauna solo ttrpg and then it's off to @jaymgates.bsky.social for editing!
I'm so excited to have Jaym on the team and SO excited to have reached these stage in the process.
It's gonna be good friends.
October 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🌟Exciting Astra Fauna news!🌟
Getting the last bit of writing done today for the Astra Fauna solo ttrpg and then it's off to @jaymgates.bsky.social for editing!
I'm so excited to have Jaym on the team and SO excited to have reached these stage in the process.
It's gonna be good friends.
Getting the last bit of writing done today for the Astra Fauna solo ttrpg and then it's off to @jaymgates.bsky.social for editing!
I'm so excited to have Jaym on the team and SO excited to have reached these stage in the process.
It's gonna be good friends.
We're about to get walloped with big winds and an atmospheric river, so I spent my morning finishing the flood mitigation project in front of the garage, ran errands, got the dogs outside, and let the horses graze.
Unfortunately, I'm spending my weekend outside...
Unfortunately, I'm spending my weekend outside...
October 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
We're about to get walloped with big winds and an atmospheric river, so I spent my morning finishing the flood mitigation project in front of the garage, ran errands, got the dogs outside, and let the horses graze.
Unfortunately, I'm spending my weekend outside...
Unfortunately, I'm spending my weekend outside...
I'm participating in the big annual animal search and rescue training exercise this weekend and just signed up to be in charge of cleaning gear and putting it away.
Which is going to be extra fun on a day we're supposed to be getting an atmospheric river and 40+ mph winds.
Which is going to be extra fun on a day we're supposed to be getting an atmospheric river and 40+ mph winds.
October 23, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I'm participating in the big annual animal search and rescue training exercise this weekend and just signed up to be in charge of cleaning gear and putting it away.
Which is going to be extra fun on a day we're supposed to be getting an atmospheric river and 40+ mph winds.
Which is going to be extra fun on a day we're supposed to be getting an atmospheric river and 40+ mph winds.
The IT team at work has a robust schedule of phishing tests to see if we're being smart about our clicks*.
Unfortunately for them, it's just trained us to report anything and everything. Which means half our emails now are "THIS THING WE SENT OUT IS NOT PHISHING OLS DON'T REPORT IT."
Unfortunately for them, it's just trained us to report anything and everything. Which means half our emails now are "THIS THING WE SENT OUT IS NOT PHISHING OLS DON'T REPORT IT."
October 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The IT team at work has a robust schedule of phishing tests to see if we're being smart about our clicks*.
Unfortunately for them, it's just trained us to report anything and everything. Which means half our emails now are "THIS THING WE SENT OUT IS NOT PHISHING OLS DON'T REPORT IT."
Unfortunately for them, it's just trained us to report anything and everything. Which means half our emails now are "THIS THING WE SENT OUT IS NOT PHISHING OLS DON'T REPORT IT."
You know it's windy when the dog gets blown over while peeing.
(Magni. He's fine.)
(Magni. He's fine.)
October 20, 2025 at 4:12 AM
You know it's windy when the dog gets blown over while peeing.
(Magni. He's fine.)
(Magni. He's fine.)
Reposted by Jaym Gates
Also in Ireland, although it's also referred to there as 'a fine soft day', which always makes me happy. And at times surprisingly damp, as the penetrating power of the mizzle over a few hours is more than one expects.
October 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Also in Ireland, although it's also referred to there as 'a fine soft day', which always makes me happy. And at times surprisingly damp, as the penetrating power of the mizzle over a few hours is more than one expects.
Reposted by Jaym Gates
Also Gamergate brain.
I suspect the MAGA government decided to launch all these Bluesky accounts tonight to try to bait people in advance of No Kings.
These people have incurable 4chan brain and this is how they operate.
Block them. Do not engage. Do not give them what they want.
These people have incurable 4chan brain and this is how they operate.
Block them. Do not engage. Do not give them what they want.
October 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Also Gamergate brain.
Reposted by Jaym Gates
In Connecticut, the health care advocate office — whose services are free — has been able to resolve or overturn insurance denials in the patient’s favor about 80% of the time.
Check to see if your state has a similar consumer assistance program:
Check to see if your state has a similar consumer assistance program:
This Little-Known Appeal Could Force Your Insurer to Pay for Lifesaving Care. Here’s How to File It.
When a health insurer refuses to pay for your treatment, you may have the right to have the denial reviewed — and potentially overturned — by an independent provider. Here are six steps experts sugges...
www.propublica.org
October 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM
In Connecticut, the health care advocate office — whose services are free — has been able to resolve or overturn insurance denials in the patient’s favor about 80% of the time.
Check to see if your state has a similar consumer assistance program:
Check to see if your state has a similar consumer assistance program:
Magni and Baldr got excited that I was heading for the door and ran around opposite sides of the island...and ran headlong into each other at the end because both were so busy looking at me.
October 16, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Magni and Baldr got excited that I was heading for the door and ran around opposite sides of the island...and ran headlong into each other at the end because both were so busy looking at me.
My great-great uncle was a medic on a ship in Pearl Harbor. He survived because he was in sick bay that day, his ship didn't. Two others were at Iwo Jima as medics (due to the Seventh Day Adventist religious rules that forbade them to commit violence, all my relatives in that era were medics).
October 14, 2025 at 2:46 AM
My great-great uncle was a medic on a ship in Pearl Harbor. He survived because he was in sick bay that day, his ship didn't. Two others were at Iwo Jima as medics (due to the Seventh Day Adventist religious rules that forbade them to commit violence, all my relatives in that era were medics).
Is it super dramatized and inaccurate? Yes? Does watching gorgeous people wittily doing terrible things to Nazis cheer me up immensely? Yes. Therefore, I am watching The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Again.
(In case you wondered where I stood on the issue of that particular scum...)
(In case you wondered where I stood on the issue of that particular scum...)
October 14, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Is it super dramatized and inaccurate? Yes? Does watching gorgeous people wittily doing terrible things to Nazis cheer me up immensely? Yes. Therefore, I am watching The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Again.
(In case you wondered where I stood on the issue of that particular scum...)
(In case you wondered where I stood on the issue of that particular scum...)
I'm really excited to see this project, which includes someone I've worked with many times. It's smart, timely, and from the voices of firsthand experience.
www.instagram.com/p/DPKQ-upCsvJ/
www.instagram.com/p/DPKQ-upCsvJ/
frmrfedsnfriends on Instagram: "📡 At the end of Andor’s Ghorman Massacre, the distress call sounds brutally real. That’s because it is. This is how people sound w…"
📡 At the end of Andor’s Ghorman Massacre, the distress call sounds brutally real. That’s because it is. This is how people sound when subjected to mass violence.The hardest part of atrocity prevention is managing the emotional weight — without becoming desensitized.💔 Painful doesn’t mean pointless.✨ We’re fortunate to be part of prevention work that can save lives.🎥 Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izJR7hXoOs8&t=303s☕ Support: https://ko-fi.com/frmrfedsnfriends#andor #starwars #ghormanmassacre #atrocityprevention #neveragain
www.instagram.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:07 AM
I'm really excited to see this project, which includes someone I've worked with many times. It's smart, timely, and from the voices of firsthand experience.
www.instagram.com/p/DPKQ-upCsvJ/
www.instagram.com/p/DPKQ-upCsvJ/
Reposted by Jaym Gates
Turning Point USA running Mark Bray out of the country is in and of itself an act of political violence.
Solidarity with @mark-bray.bsky.social, a fantastic, thoughtful, and generous scholar whose work about antifa is so important in this moment.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Rutgers professor moving to Europe after threats over antifa accusations
Mark Bray says threats intensified after a Turning Point USA petition accused him of promoting political violence
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Turning Point USA running Mark Bray out of the country is in and of itself an act of political violence.