Ken Burnside
@kenburnside.bsky.social
Game designer @adastragames.com, writer, monkey servant of Theoden Cat, discusser of certain varieties of politics.
Pinned
Ken Burnside
@kenburnside.bsky.social
· Sep 19
@diane.dianeduane.com @robtomshany.bsky.social @owlinautumn.bsky.social @cobrabay.bsky.social @technomuse.bsky.social @spicedrum.bsky.social @doctorscience.bsky.social
Tagging you in for Recounting of the Arizona Minutemen Militia Girl Scout Cookie Burglary.
You may now prepare popcorn.
Tagging you in for Recounting of the Arizona Minutemen Militia Girl Scout Cookie Burglary.
You may now prepare popcorn.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
We have published the following update to our article following an email response from the New York Times.
Trans News Network has a policy against platforming bigotry. As such, we have declined to publish the Times' statement which included blatant transphobia.
Trans News Network has a policy against platforming bigotry. As such, we have declined to publish the Times' statement which included blatant transphobia.
January 5, 2026 at 2:05 AM
We have published the following update to our article following an email response from the New York Times.
Trans News Network has a policy against platforming bigotry. As such, we have declined to publish the Times' statement which included blatant transphobia.
Trans News Network has a policy against platforming bigotry. As such, we have declined to publish the Times' statement which included blatant transphobia.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
January 5, 2026 at 6:50 AM
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
Reposted by Ken Burnside
They need to put the onus for impeachment squarely on the Republicans: this was a dangerous, illegal, unconstitutional act, and only the Republicans can do something about it. If they won’t fulfill their Constitutional obligations, we need Democratic majorities that will.
January 3, 2026 at 8:19 PM
They need to put the onus for impeachment squarely on the Republicans: this was a dangerous, illegal, unconstitutional act, and only the Republicans can do something about it. If they won’t fulfill their Constitutional obligations, we need Democratic majorities that will.
The "billionaires with bunker" clique really think they can survive a mass due off of 7 billion people, and that their kids will be the aristocracy ruling over the immiserated serfs.
Maybe it's clear now why I've described the Broligarchs' political project as "the New Colonialism."
They're dead serious & mask off.
They're not colonizing in the name of any country or corporation: they're divvying up the Earth among themselves, as warlords.
brookeharrington.com/books/offsho...
They're dead serious & mask off.
They're not colonizing in the name of any country or corporation: they're divvying up the Earth among themselves, as warlords.
brookeharrington.com/books/offsho...
January 5, 2026 at 7:46 AM
The "billionaires with bunker" clique really think they can survive a mass due off of 7 billion people, and that their kids will be the aristocracy ruling over the immiserated serfs.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
From Washington to Europe, the same organisations keep appearing – Heritage, Heartland, Koch-linked groups – pushing identical anti-net zero scripts & climate change scepticism.
It’s a coordinated, well-funded project of fossil fuel money, think tanks, tech giants & political operatives
It’s a coordinated, well-funded project of fossil fuel money, think tanks, tech giants & political operatives
Inside MAGA’s worldwide campaign to undermine climate science
What began as US culture war politics has become a well-funded, coordinated global campaign to undermine climate science and democracy
eastangliabylines.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 6:41 AM
From Washington to Europe, the same organisations keep appearing – Heritage, Heartland, Koch-linked groups – pushing identical anti-net zero scripts & climate change scepticism.
It’s a coordinated, well-funded project of fossil fuel money, think tanks, tech giants & political operatives
It’s a coordinated, well-funded project of fossil fuel money, think tanks, tech giants & political operatives
Reposted by Ken Burnside
#ResistanceRoots
“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
January 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
#ResistanceRoots
“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Reposted by Ken Burnside
Brave woman, brave Russian. Important to acknowledge there are other currents in Russia.
"I did what I considered necessary"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
"I did what I considered necessary"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
The weightlifting champion jailed by Russia for ‘plotting sabotage and assassinations’
Yulia Lemeshchenko was defiant and did not deny the accusations, saying she had decided to fight against Russian military aggression
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Brave woman, brave Russian. Important to acknowledge there are other currents in Russia.
"I did what I considered necessary"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
"I did what I considered necessary"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Ken Burnside
Hasbro needed to add vector movement, fuel tracking and thermodynamics to this, right @nyrath.bsky.social?
Also, stealth in space doesn't work...
Also, stealth in space doesn't work...
Battleship: Outer Space
A 3-layer game of Battleship that's out of this world!
boardgamegeek.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Hasbro needed to add vector movement, fuel tracking and thermodynamics to this, right @nyrath.bsky.social?
Also, stealth in space doesn't work...
Also, stealth in space doesn't work...
Reposted by Ken Burnside
Investigating odd behavior at a retirement home takes several twists in Dead Internet Theory for #CY_BORG!
Writing: @proton31.bsky.social
Art: @roqueromero.bsky.social
Layout: @jaguartony.bsky.social
Editing: Me!
Follow to learn more during #ZineMonth, when it drops for BackerKit's #Zinetopia.
Writing: @proton31.bsky.social
Art: @roqueromero.bsky.social
Layout: @jaguartony.bsky.social
Editing: Me!
Follow to learn more during #ZineMonth, when it drops for BackerKit's #Zinetopia.
Dead Internet Theory is a Cy_borg adventure module that pits pvnks against an eldritch cult festering at the heart of a megachurch financial institution. Promises of digital rapture are betrayed by reports of disturbing fates met by unlucky customers.
Coming soon to Zinetopia!
#OSR #TTRPG
Coming soon to Zinetopia!
#OSR #TTRPG
Get Ready for Dead Internet Theory, an adventure module for Cy-borg
From David H. K. Jackson - Get Ready for Dead Internet Theory, an adventure module for Cy-borg
www.backerkit.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Investigating odd behavior at a retirement home takes several twists in Dead Internet Theory for #CY_BORG!
Writing: @proton31.bsky.social
Art: @roqueromero.bsky.social
Layout: @jaguartony.bsky.social
Editing: Me!
Follow to learn more during #ZineMonth, when it drops for BackerKit's #Zinetopia.
Writing: @proton31.bsky.social
Art: @roqueromero.bsky.social
Layout: @jaguartony.bsky.social
Editing: Me!
Follow to learn more during #ZineMonth, when it drops for BackerKit's #Zinetopia.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
“If a woman dares to show herself in public in any way, then she can and will be sexually harassed with the aid of genAI-driven tools that can easily turn her face into highly realistic pornography” is an absolute red-alarm human rights disaster
The end goal of Grok sexual harassment is to make women afraid to be visible. It’s a punishment for daring to exist in a way the perpetrators can’t control. There’s no one solution to this, because the problem isn’t just technological. It’s cultural. It’s misogyny. This is just one expression of it.
January 5, 2026 at 3:02 AM
“If a woman dares to show herself in public in any way, then she can and will be sexually harassed with the aid of genAI-driven tools that can easily turn her face into highly realistic pornography” is an absolute red-alarm human rights disaster
Reposted by Ken Burnside
With that being said, Grok and other AI image generators should be destroyed. If we had a just society, it never would have gotten this far.
January 5, 2026 at 1:11 AM
With that being said, Grok and other AI image generators should be destroyed. If we had a just society, it never would have gotten this far.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
pass the word
Someone asked me for suggestions on how we can work together to leave X behind and bring our clients over to Bluesky. I wrote a few ideas below.
Please feel free to repost, and reshare on any social media platforms:
Please feel free to repost, and reshare on any social media platforms:
January 5, 2026 at 2:35 AM
pass the word
Houston-Seattle Superb Owl:
Ends in a 6-6 tie in OT.
Ends in a 6-6 tie in OT.
January 5, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Houston-Seattle Superb Owl:
Ends in a 6-6 tie in OT.
Ends in a 6-6 tie in OT.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
No. No. No.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
January 4, 2026 at 8:48 PM
No. No. No.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
New mass graves of unidentified people are appearing in Mariupol. A new wave of exhumations is linked to russia's ongoing housing construction — meant to accommodate illegal settlers brought into the city. Also, the mortality rate in Mariupol is high too.
Photos Petro Andriushchenko
Photos Petro Andriushchenko
January 4, 2026 at 2:18 PM
New mass graves of unidentified people are appearing in Mariupol. A new wave of exhumations is linked to russia's ongoing housing construction — meant to accommodate illegal settlers brought into the city. Also, the mortality rate in Mariupol is high too.
Photos Petro Andriushchenko
Photos Petro Andriushchenko
Reposted by Ken Burnside
It’s interesting how Grok’s “Apology” was covered uncritically by the press while Grok saying the nude images it produces are “just pure, unfiltered fun” is shrugged off. Literally the exact same source.
January 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
It’s interesting how Grok’s “Apology” was covered uncritically by the press while Grok saying the nude images it produces are “just pure, unfiltered fun” is shrugged off. Literally the exact same source.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK
READ THIS BOOK
FEEL ALIVE AND FULL OF POETRY AND WONDER AGAIN
READ THIS BOOK
FEEL ALIVE AND FULL OF POETRY AND WONDER AGAIN
Oh hey, Indigo has Mercutio among its "most anticipated books of 2026", so it is 30% off until Jan. 11. ($18.89 CAD for the paperback, which comes out in August). I'd love this novel to find its readers, and pre-orders help, so Canadians, please check it out if you can www.indigo.ca/en-ca/mercut...
January 5, 2026 at 1:33 AM
PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK
READ THIS BOOK
FEEL ALIVE AND FULL OF POETRY AND WONDER AGAIN
READ THIS BOOK
FEEL ALIVE AND FULL OF POETRY AND WONDER AGAIN
Reposted by Ken Burnside
i want to stress again that every time i try to explain this shit to normal people i sound like i have to be institutionalized
January 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
i want to stress again that every time i try to explain this shit to normal people i sound like i have to be institutionalized
Reposted by Ken Burnside
A dear friend is Sbux union leader through Workers United and she clued me into 3 things.
Starbucks has not signed a contract with the workers for 4 years.
Starbucks has more union violations than any other company in the US.
Shareholders are demanding they settle.
Keep boycotting.
Starbucks has not signed a contract with the workers for 4 years.
Starbucks has more union violations than any other company in the US.
Shareholders are demanding they settle.
Keep boycotting.
53 DAYS INTO THE LONGEST NATIONAL ULP STRIKE IN STARBUCKS' HISTORY! 🔥
Remind your friends and family: Don't buy Starbucks for the duration of our strike!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
Remind your friends and family: Don't buy Starbucks for the duration of our strike!
bsky.app/profile/sbwo...
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
January 4, 2026 at 11:45 PM
A dear friend is Sbux union leader through Workers United and she clued me into 3 things.
Starbucks has not signed a contract with the workers for 4 years.
Starbucks has more union violations than any other company in the US.
Shareholders are demanding they settle.
Keep boycotting.
Starbucks has not signed a contract with the workers for 4 years.
Starbucks has more union violations than any other company in the US.
Shareholders are demanding they settle.
Keep boycotting.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
Not sure how bad the deepfake problem is? Read Stella's farewell thread.
This is an extreme form of remote sexual harassment that can now be used to target anyone, regardless of platform, in seconds. Despite news stories focusing mostly on CSAM it's still unchecked and rampant on Twitter.
This is an extreme form of remote sexual harassment that can now be used to target anyone, regardless of platform, in seconds. Despite news stories focusing mostly on CSAM it's still unchecked and rampant on Twitter.
I‘m discontinuing my social media use for the foreseeable future and I want to explain why.
I woke up in the new year to discover that some guy on here had saved photos I took on New Year’s Eve and used Grok to remove my clothes. I know this because he showed me.
I woke up in the new year to discover that some guy on here had saved photos I took on New Year’s Eve and used Grok to remove my clothes. I know this because he showed me.
January 4, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Not sure how bad the deepfake problem is? Read Stella's farewell thread.
This is an extreme form of remote sexual harassment that can now be used to target anyone, regardless of platform, in seconds. Despite news stories focusing mostly on CSAM it's still unchecked and rampant on Twitter.
This is an extreme form of remote sexual harassment that can now be used to target anyone, regardless of platform, in seconds. Despite news stories focusing mostly on CSAM it's still unchecked and rampant on Twitter.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
A major use-case for AI is reality destabilization.
This video, viewed millions of times on TikTok, Facebook and X, claims to show Venezuelans taking to the street to thank the US for detaining Maduro.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
But the video is a combination of four AI-generated clips and was first posted on TikTok by a user who frequently shares AI videos. It's not real.
January 4, 2026 at 11:00 PM
A major use-case for AI is reality destabilization.
"Someday, John Schneider is going to call you, offering a starting QB who's made the Pro Bowl. And if you're wise, you'll hang up before he starts talking. SOMEONE is going to get fleeced. It doesn't have to be you."
January 4, 2026 at 9:46 PM
"Someday, John Schneider is going to call you, offering a starting QB who's made the Pro Bowl. And if you're wise, you'll hang up before he starts talking. SOMEONE is going to get fleeced. It doesn't have to be you."
Reposted by Ken Burnside
There's significant evidence from state legislative term limits that they do, in fact, empower both lobbyists and state executive branches.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
I disagree with the suggestion that term limits would further empower lobbyists and therefore we shouldn't consider them as a viable path forward. The current system of federal elected officials who are financially incentivized to become insider traders until they choose to retire isn't working.
January 4, 2026 at 1:56 PM
There's significant evidence from state legislative term limits that they do, in fact, empower both lobbyists and state executive branches.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
Reposted by Ken Burnside
Nixon insisted the bombing of Cambodia was just targeting Viet Cong outposts there and not meant to undermine its government, but the bombings destabilized the Lon Nol government and paved the way for the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields and the massacre of more than a million people.
NBC's sources said that "the potential mission in Mexico is not designed to undermine the Mexican government." But that's what it will do if the US is doing CIA drone strikes on Mexican soil over the objections of the president.
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Nixon insisted the bombing of Cambodia was just targeting Viet Cong outposts there and not meant to undermine its government, but the bombings destabilized the Lon Nol government and paved the way for the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields and the massacre of more than a million people.
Masquerade masks that incorporate sunglasses and have "drop tables" SQL code for fucking up text recognition are next.
NYC Wegmans is storing biometric data on shopper's eyes, voices, and faces. People are shopping elsewhere.
NYC Wegmans is storing biometric data on shoppers' eyes, voices and faces
The supermarket chain says it’s a move to ensure shopper safety. Surveillance experts warn of privacy risks.
gothamist.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Masquerade masks that incorporate sunglasses and have "drop tables" SQL code for fucking up text recognition are next.