Cook Maarten
@maartenbrands.bsky.social
Founder Cook and Becker. Games, Art, Literature, Film, Politics, Memes.
Michael Shannon and fellow actors are the highlight in 'Death by Lighting'. The show itself is very shallow though in both it's exploration of the history, and the human psychology. As usual it's too long and @netflix ugly too.
November 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Michael Shannon and fellow actors are the highlight in 'Death by Lighting'. The show itself is very shallow though in both it's exploration of the history, and the human psychology. As usual it's too long and @netflix ugly too.
Wild statistic. The net worth held by the top 0.1% of households is $23.3 trillion. The amount held by the bottom 50% is $4.2 trillion.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
The Ultrarich Are Spending a Fortune to Live in Extreme Privacy
In Miami and elsewhere, the wealthy are moving in increasingly private spheres, shelling out big money to bypass the indignities of public life.
www.wsj.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Wild statistic. The net worth held by the top 0.1% of households is $23.3 trillion. The amount held by the bottom 50% is $4.2 trillion.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
A hallmark of quality writing is a character vocalizing everything I'm already seeing on screen...
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
November 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A hallmark of quality writing is a character vocalizing everything I'm already seeing on screen...
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
Reposted by Cook Maarten
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
Can flawed people build flawless tools? Look at how the internet is now, and the paragons of morality at the top building it. Are these the architects you want to give free reign to build an all encompassing digital universe?
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
November 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Can flawed people build flawless tools? Look at how the internet is now, and the paragons of morality at the top building it. Are these the architects you want to give free reign to build an all encompassing digital universe?
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
What's happening on, or with consoles is just really boring? It's just infrastructure now. I also don't get excited about an upgrade of my broadband connection from 500MB to 1GB. It's a meaningless difference to my actual use. Now games on the other hand...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
Five years from launch the PS5 is a roaring success, so why doesn't it feel like it? The answer is surprisingly simple
Chasing a reason for the slight apathy towards a hugely successful generation, we compare Sony's PS5 exclusives to the PS4s - and get a pretty clear answer.
www.eurogamer.net
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 AM
What's happening on, or with consoles is just really boring? It's just infrastructure now. I also don't get excited about an upgrade of my broadband connection from 500MB to 1GB. It's a meaningless difference to my actual use. Now games on the other hand...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
I'm very interested in the Steam Frame! I love VR, but I never upgraded from the PSVR, as I don't want to buy anything from that awful, stain-on-humanity company META.
November 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I'm very interested in the Steam Frame! I love VR, but I never upgraded from the PSVR, as I don't want to buy anything from that awful, stain-on-humanity company META.
Reposted by Cook Maarten
no matter what you think about valve we are unfortunately at a stage of capitalism when it is extremely refreshing when a company comes up with a product for you to simply exchange money for
November 13, 2025 at 3:10 AM
no matter what you think about valve we are unfortunately at a stage of capitalism when it is extremely refreshing when a company comes up with a product for you to simply exchange money for
Reposted by Cook Maarten
" Lagen de Europese pakhuizen vol met deze essentiële onderdelen? Kon Europa overschakelen naar andere aanbieders? Welnee! Binnen een week moesten autofabrieken de productie al verlagen..."
fd.nl/opinie/15773...
fd.nl/opinie/15773...
Nog net zo kwetsbaar
Westerse bedrijven hebben niet veel geleerd van corona, leert de Nexperia-crisis ons.
fd.nl
November 12, 2025 at 7:52 AM
" Lagen de Europese pakhuizen vol met deze essentiële onderdelen? Kon Europa overschakelen naar andere aanbieders? Welnee! Binnen een week moesten autofabrieken de productie al verlagen..."
fd.nl/opinie/15773...
fd.nl/opinie/15773...
Reposted by Cook Maarten
"For Trump, the US has just been a merger and acquisition with Trump Enterprises...
He's engaging in the same kind of wheeling and dealing on foreign policy that he would have done in his business."
Fiona Hill on what drives Trump's foreign policy
Catch up here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/OW_LTnR...
He's engaging in the same kind of wheeling and dealing on foreign policy that he would have done in his business."
Fiona Hill on what drives Trump's foreign policy
Catch up here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/OW_LTnR...
November 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"For Trump, the US has just been a merger and acquisition with Trump Enterprises...
He's engaging in the same kind of wheeling and dealing on foreign policy that he would have done in his business."
Fiona Hill on what drives Trump's foreign policy
Catch up here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/OW_LTnR...
He's engaging in the same kind of wheeling and dealing on foreign policy that he would have done in his business."
Fiona Hill on what drives Trump's foreign policy
Catch up here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/OW_LTnR...
Reposted by Cook Maarten
PlayStation State of Play today? If there is no new BLOODBORNE 🩸 announcement, at least we got you covered next week! 🎨
November 11, 2025 at 12:15 PM
PlayStation State of Play today? If there is no new BLOODBORNE 🩸 announcement, at least we got you covered next week! 🎨
Blessed Saint Maarten. Give to the poor (many have a GoFundMe).
November 11, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Blessed Saint Maarten. Give to the poor (many have a GoFundMe).
Because the video game industry failed to humanize game creation to the public, it’s no surprise this is the art form where A.I. adoption is most easily accepted.
To most, games already come automagically “from the computer.” The idea that artists, writers, or actors are involved?
To most, games already come automagically “from the computer.” The idea that artists, writers, or actors are involved?
November 11, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Because the video game industry failed to humanize game creation to the public, it’s no surprise this is the art form where A.I. adoption is most easily accepted.
To most, games already come automagically “from the computer.” The idea that artists, writers, or actors are involved?
To most, games already come automagically “from the computer.” The idea that artists, writers, or actors are involved?
I'm super impressed by how smooth a launch ARC Raiders had. 700,000 concurrent players in the opening week, and it just works? I play on PC. Smooth, polished, cross play, everything.
Really impressive compared to some multi-billon dollar jank fests I know...
Really impressive compared to some multi-billon dollar jank fests I know...
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 AM
I'm super impressed by how smooth a launch ARC Raiders had. 700,000 concurrent players in the opening week, and it just works? I play on PC. Smooth, polished, cross play, everything.
Really impressive compared to some multi-billon dollar jank fests I know...
Really impressive compared to some multi-billon dollar jank fests I know...
Other countries are paying the tariffs! But also, here's some money to compensate you for the tariffs you are now paying!
www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
Opinion | Trump’s Tariff Rebate Contradictions
He’s floating a $2,000 rebate to blunt the harm from his border taxes.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Other countries are paying the tariffs! But also, here's some money to compensate you for the tariffs you are now paying!
www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
I saw a video of Zuckerberg's yacht. I suppose it was meant to impress, but it just reinforced my belief that becoming a (multi)billionaire is a curse. Ivory tower shit.
The sun is free. Roasting a fish on the beach, at peace, unhurried, with friends and loved ones. Give me that.
The sun is free. Roasting a fish on the beach, at peace, unhurried, with friends and loved ones. Give me that.
November 9, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I saw a video of Zuckerberg's yacht. I suppose it was meant to impress, but it just reinforced my belief that becoming a (multi)billionaire is a curse. Ivory tower shit.
The sun is free. Roasting a fish on the beach, at peace, unhurried, with friends and loved ones. Give me that.
The sun is free. Roasting a fish on the beach, at peace, unhurried, with friends and loved ones. Give me that.
I've watched a few Yorgos Lanthimos films now, most recently Poor Things. At best, I find them style over substance. At worst, just tedious and shallow. I think I'll be giving Bugonia a pass as a result.
November 9, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I've watched a few Yorgos Lanthimos films now, most recently Poor Things. At best, I find them style over substance. At worst, just tedious and shallow. I think I'll be giving Bugonia a pass as a result.
Cool game. Playing it on PC without a hitch straight out the gate.
ARC Raiders reviewed on PC - excellent performance from UE5 by omitting the use of Lumen, Nanite and virtual shadow maps. What are the pros and cons of this approach? @Dachsjaeger takes a look: youtu.be/jCWtIIlFXHA
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Cool game. Playing it on PC without a hitch straight out the gate.
Can a bad tree bear good fruit? That's usually what pops in my head when I see the people building this 'A.I. revolution'
November 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Can a bad tree bear good fruit? That's usually what pops in my head when I see the people building this 'A.I. revolution'
"In the internal documents, Meta weighs the costs of beefing up its enforcement of scam ads against the toll of financial penalties from governments for failing to protect its users."
It's more lucrative for them let fraud fester. So they do.
It's more lucrative for them let fraud fester. So they do.
Meta verdiende in 2024 15 miljard dollar aan scams en desinformatie... @marietjeschaake.bsky.social
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"In the internal documents, Meta weighs the costs of beefing up its enforcement of scam ads against the toll of financial penalties from governments for failing to protect its users."
It's more lucrative for them let fraud fester. So they do.
It's more lucrative for them let fraud fester. So they do.
The elites cares about air travel, as that impacts them directly. The poor not having enough to eat? Shrug.
www.wsj.com/opinion/air-...
www.wsj.com/opinion/air-...
Opinion | Free the Air-Traffic Controllers
Spin the system off from government, so flights won’t be hostage to D.C.
www.wsj.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The elites cares about air travel, as that impacts them directly. The poor not having enough to eat? Shrug.
www.wsj.com/opinion/air-...
www.wsj.com/opinion/air-...
Remodeling your ballroom while your people go hungry is some of the most Marie Antoinette shit I've seen in a while.
November 6, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Remodeling your ballroom while your people go hungry is some of the most Marie Antoinette shit I've seen in a while.
Reposted by Cook Maarten
If anyone was looking for solid evidence that a crash is imminent, here it is:
BREAKING: OpenAI is requesting US government support to help guarantee financing for the massive investments in AI chips and data centers it needs for expansion, per Bloomberg.
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 AM
If anyone was looking for solid evidence that a crash is imminent, here it is: