Mike Murphy-Burton
@mikemurphyburton.bsky.social
Your friendly neighborhood tech-creative ADHD magpie.
I can both believe that ICE are murdering criminals and also that drawing them as morbidly obese is a shitty sideswipe of people who don't need the extra smoke. It's very possible.
February 8, 2026 at 1:04 AM
I can both believe that ICE are murdering criminals and also that drawing them as morbidly obese is a shitty sideswipe of people who don't need the extra smoke. It's very possible.
Doing some exploratory writing here tonight. Managed to throw 744 words at my WIP's first inciting incident. Lots more to do, but it's a start. #amwriting
February 7, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Doing some exploratory writing here tonight. Managed to throw 744 words at my WIP's first inciting incident. Lots more to do, but it's a start. #amwriting
Can confirm. Also, if you have a family history of colon cancer you might have Lynch syndrome or another genetic susceptibility, so talk to your doctor!
Hello Bluesky user—are you, yes you, approaching 50?
Well, I have some bad news and some good news: you are at increased risk of dying a horrible painful death from colon cancer—BUT—there is something you can do to prevent it!
Yes, you should schedule your colonoscopy today!
Well, I have some bad news and some good news: you are at increased risk of dying a horrible painful death from colon cancer—BUT—there is something you can do to prevent it!
Yes, you should schedule your colonoscopy today!
February 6, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Can confirm. Also, if you have a family history of colon cancer you might have Lynch syndrome or another genetic susceptibility, so talk to your doctor!
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
To everyone just now finding out Isaac Asimov was rather famously a sex pest: He's been gone 34 years now, you can handle this truth, I believe in you
February 5, 2026 at 10:54 PM
To everyone just now finding out Isaac Asimov was rather famously a sex pest: He's been gone 34 years now, you can handle this truth, I believe in you
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
To build great TTRPGs requires the creation of evocative spaces that spark the imagination of those engaging with it, so that when you point the players to your white space, they are primed to take next actions and go deeper.
TTRPGs can be easy to make, but this is difficult to do well.
TTRPGs can be easy to make, but this is difficult to do well.
February 6, 2026 at 1:05 PM
To build great TTRPGs requires the creation of evocative spaces that spark the imagination of those engaging with it, so that when you point the players to your white space, they are primed to take next actions and go deeper.
TTRPGs can be easy to make, but this is difficult to do well.
TTRPGs can be easy to make, but this is difficult to do well.
I have found my people.
We prefer to be called Magpies
February 5, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I have found my people.
People obsessing over trans athletes, meanwhile dudes out there dissolving their dicks to get more airtime.
‘Penis injection’ doping claims in Winter Olympics ski jumping investigated by Wada
‘Penis injection’ doping claims in Winter Olympics ski jumping investigated by Wada
*
Bild claims acid injections used to alter suit measurements
*
Wada: ‘If anything was to come to the surface we would look at it’
During its 26-year history, the World Anti-Doping Agency has faced thousands of questions about athletes using illicit substances. Thursday, however, surely marked the first time it was asked whether ski jumpers were injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid in order to fly further.
The Wada president Witold Banka’s reaction? “Ski jumping is very popular in Poland [Banka’s home country] so I promise you I’m going to look at it,” he said, with a wry smile. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:14 PM
People obsessing over trans athletes, meanwhile dudes out there dissolving their dicks to get more airtime.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
You can't use AI to do AI policy research and write AI policy recommendations. Evan Solomon and his entire senior staff should be summarily dismissed for this.
Canada did a consultation on a new national AI strategy, formed an expert task force to write 32 reports, then used AI to analyze the responses & reports. The result is a summary that strings together 100s of vague action items & flattens nuance and policy trade-offs into false consensus
February 5, 2026 at 2:06 PM
You can't use AI to do AI policy research and write AI policy recommendations. Evan Solomon and his entire senior staff should be summarily dismissed for this.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
February 4, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
I am apparently quite annoyed at the world this morning. Sorry about that.
February 5, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I am apparently quite annoyed at the world this morning. Sorry about that.
"I believe in market solutions"
Buddy, markets have fucking failed us for a hundred years on any number of fronts. You're telling me you believe in fairy dust, and I really wish you wouldn't.
Buddy, markets have fucking failed us for a hundred years on any number of fronts. You're telling me you believe in fairy dust, and I really wish you wouldn't.
February 5, 2026 at 2:02 PM
"I believe in market solutions"
Buddy, markets have fucking failed us for a hundred years on any number of fronts. You're telling me you believe in fairy dust, and I really wish you wouldn't.
Buddy, markets have fucking failed us for a hundred years on any number of fronts. You're telling me you believe in fairy dust, and I really wish you wouldn't.
GODDAMMIT
A disappointing outcome which will only serve to twist dagger into a US auto industry unwilling, incapable of following the global race towards EVs.
Making Cdns hostages to a dying segment of cars.
If this holds, PM Carney’s cap on Chinese cars will hurt us.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Making Cdns hostages to a dying segment of cars.
If this holds, PM Carney’s cap on Chinese cars will hurt us.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Federal government set to scrap zero-emissions vehicle mandate
Ottawa will replace policy with tailpipe emissions regulations and bring back EV purchase rebates, sources say
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM
GODDAMMIT
Any fuckin day on that Universal Basic Income utopia AI CEOs love to point at as the eventual outcome of their bullshit...
February 5, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Any fuckin day on that Universal Basic Income utopia AI CEOs love to point at as the eventual outcome of their bullshit...
Normalize subject matter experts speaking up about their subject. Lawyers should be talking about unjust and illegal actions. Doctors should be talking about bad health policy. Engineers should be talking about unethical and unsound infrastructure initiatives.
February 5, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Normalize subject matter experts speaking up about their subject. Lawyers should be talking about unjust and illegal actions. Doctors should be talking about bad health policy. Engineers should be talking about unethical and unsound infrastructure initiatives.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
good morning, never die on this hill
February 5, 2026 at 12:43 PM
good morning, never die on this hill
Core memory. Holy cow that hurt, and I have no connection to the religion or region. Just the sheer violence against human history.
I remember when the Taliban first took power and blew up those images of the Buddha, thousands of years old, part of the heritage of humanity.
When a government destroys its own treasures, be very afraid.
When a government destroys its own treasures, be very afraid.
February 5, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Core memory. Holy cow that hurt, and I have no connection to the religion or region. Just the sheer violence against human history.
Stephen Colbert low-key suggesting a political run was not on my 2026 bingo card, but it would certainly be interesting. The guy isn't perfect, but he seems smart and human.
February 5, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Stephen Colbert low-key suggesting a political run was not on my 2026 bingo card, but it would certainly be interesting. The guy isn't perfect, but he seems smart and human.
This makes me realize there's a huge Asshole Possibility Space in which someone actually takes over the vast majority of the hosting and traffic routing business and enshittifies it. It would be capital-intensive, but I'm sure there's a big enough asshole in private equity to make the attempt.
Use platforms to build an audience if you can, but always-ALWAYS make sure your personal website is what you promote from the start.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
I just got this notification from this trial Meta is conducting. For art to be seen, fees are required. No more likes because your work is interesting to ppl, it is all just paid access to huge audiences. And these are just starting fees, they go up after a month. 👎😬😭
February 5, 2026 at 12:54 PM
This makes me realize there's a huge Asshole Possibility Space in which someone actually takes over the vast majority of the hosting and traffic routing business and enshittifies it. It would be capital-intensive, but I'm sure there's a big enough asshole in private equity to make the attempt.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
Use platforms to build an audience if you can, but always-ALWAYS make sure your personal website is what you promote from the start.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
I just got this notification from this trial Meta is conducting. For art to be seen, fees are required. No more likes because your work is interesting to ppl, it is all just paid access to huge audiences. And these are just starting fees, they go up after a month. 👎😬😭
February 5, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Use platforms to build an audience if you can, but always-ALWAYS make sure your personal website is what you promote from the start.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
That way, when they enshittify (and don't fool yourself, they will), you are able to leave the platform and carry on.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
If I had billions in my bank account? I'd want to immediately start building houses and public transport and museums and libraries and theaters, start a movie studio, buy up so many of our derelict properties and restore them...
But you don't get billions in the first place with that thinking.
But you don't get billions in the first place with that thinking.
February 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
If I had billions in my bank account? I'd want to immediately start building houses and public transport and museums and libraries and theaters, start a movie studio, buy up so many of our derelict properties and restore them...
But you don't get billions in the first place with that thinking.
But you don't get billions in the first place with that thinking.
Listening to The Signal's conversation about Memorial, and I am struck by how unspecific the President and board member are in their discussion of impacts. And how St. John's-centric the conversation is. I know these folks don't make the funding decisions but they feel detached from the consequences
February 5, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Listening to The Signal's conversation about Memorial, and I am struck by how unspecific the President and board member are in their discussion of impacts. And how St. John's-centric the conversation is. I know these folks don't make the funding decisions but they feel detached from the consequences
Rad books by a rad dude.
It was two years ago today I published the first in my Leguin-inspired Speaker Origins #fantasy series. Looking back on it now, about to publish a standalone & write the third in this series, it seems mad that I was so anxious at the time.
💙📚🪐👀 🔥
lsb337.itch.io/the-lion
books2read.com/u/bWAzpY
💙📚🪐👀 🔥
lsb337.itch.io/the-lion
books2read.com/u/bWAzpY
February 5, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Rad books by a rad dude.
Reposted by Mike Murphy-Burton
Ocean's Edge is booking developmental and copy & line edits for March and April.
▪︎ Trad & #Indie bestselling clients
▪︎ Fourteen years editing indies
▪︎ Invoices in CAD
Friendly queries always encouraged.
#writingcommunity #amediting #good #books 💙📚
www.oceansedgeediting.com
▪︎ Trad & #Indie bestselling clients
▪︎ Fourteen years editing indies
▪︎ Invoices in CAD
Friendly queries always encouraged.
#writingcommunity #amediting #good #books 💙📚
www.oceansedgeediting.com
January 10, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Ocean's Edge is booking developmental and copy & line edits for March and April.
▪︎ Trad & #Indie bestselling clients
▪︎ Fourteen years editing indies
▪︎ Invoices in CAD
Friendly queries always encouraged.
#writingcommunity #amediting #good #books 💙📚
www.oceansedgeediting.com
▪︎ Trad & #Indie bestselling clients
▪︎ Fourteen years editing indies
▪︎ Invoices in CAD
Friendly queries always encouraged.
#writingcommunity #amediting #good #books 💙📚
www.oceansedgeediting.com
The National Post getting an entire article from an explicitly pro-Israel "charity" which goes on to shit on the CBC for its biased Gaza reporting is Peak NatPo Bullshit.
February 4, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The National Post getting an entire article from an explicitly pro-Israel "charity" which goes on to shit on the CBC for its biased Gaza reporting is Peak NatPo Bullshit.