Kelsey Rinella
@rinelk.bsky.social
Stay-at-home dad, formerly a philosopher and reviewer mostly of mobile strategy games.m. Been living in Rochester, NY about 20 years. Beware the lure of outrage.
First, I need to choose Go Away, Monster. Incredible first game for preschoolers. It’s basically multi-modal shape matching, but when you end up with more than enough of something, you give it to someone else—and kids are HAPPY about it. ❤️ Plus, it introduces the idea of variable player boards.
board game enthusiasts of bluesky, what are your top 10 board games of all time
November 16, 2025 at 2:49 AM
First, I need to choose Go Away, Monster. Incredible first game for preschoolers. It’s basically multi-modal shape matching, but when you end up with more than enough of something, you give it to someone else—and kids are HAPPY about it. ❤️ Plus, it introduces the idea of variable player boards.
Reposted by Kelsey Rinella
Programming alert: new Ascension expansion (Legacy) just dropped on iOS, and likely Android as well?
November 15, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Programming alert: new Ascension expansion (Legacy) just dropped on iOS, and likely Android as well?
Important, but expected news: if you take a Dark Chocolate Oreo and a Peanut Butter Sandwich Girl Scout cookie, and reassemble them as two half-and-half cookies, they’re delicious.
Something to keep in mind when next you see a Girl Scout with an order form.
Something to keep in mind when next you see a Girl Scout with an order form.
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Important, but expected news: if you take a Dark Chocolate Oreo and a Peanut Butter Sandwich Girl Scout cookie, and reassemble them as two half-and-half cookies, they’re delicious.
Something to keep in mind when next you see a Girl Scout with an order form.
Something to keep in mind when next you see a Girl Scout with an order form.
I played Blood Bowl in high school, and found it ponderous. Tried the video game versions—same thing. Blitz Bowl is where it’s at. I get that.
But the third season edition they just announced has somewhat interesting humans facing off against Tomb Kings, and just look at these minis:
But the third season edition they just announced has somewhat interesting humans facing off against Tomb Kings, and just look at these minis:
November 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I played Blood Bowl in high school, and found it ponderous. Tried the video game versions—same thing. Blitz Bowl is where it’s at. I get that.
But the third season edition they just announced has somewhat interesting humans facing off against Tomb Kings, and just look at these minis:
But the third season edition they just announced has somewhat interesting humans facing off against Tomb Kings, and just look at these minis:
My local Barnes and Noble had both @3mbg.bsky.social’s book and Storyfold: Wildwoods. I love our independent, local book and game stores, but BN has gone from being a scary potential monopolist to a crucial bulwark against Amazonian dominance, which is a surprisingly groovy arc.
November 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
My local Barnes and Noble had both @3mbg.bsky.social’s book and Storyfold: Wildwoods. I love our independent, local book and game stores, but BN has gone from being a scary potential monopolist to a crucial bulwark against Amazonian dominance, which is a surprisingly groovy arc.
Reposted by Kelsey Rinella
I once saw a meme which attributed swears to the Swedish Chef, and that stuck with me. From this I take the lesson that my longest-lasting impact on others might be something utterly goofy, therefore I am resolved not to stand in the way of my own goofiness.
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I once saw a meme which attributed swears to the Swedish Chef, and that stuck with me. From this I take the lesson that my longest-lasting impact on others might be something utterly goofy, therefore I am resolved not to stand in the way of my own goofiness.
“Well, well, well, not so easy … dammit.” —Bill DeBlasio in The Onion, I expect.
November 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
“Well, well, well, not so easy … dammit.” —Bill DeBlasio in The Onion, I expect.
As someone with theater kids, this was a fascinating piece! The variety of considerations schools’ directors juggle produces a challenging puzzle (and I am reminded that school musicals are the best character education I’ve seen).
Each year, many more Americans see live theater in local schools than on Broadway. So when a show has a short run in New York? It's not over. n.pr/4olRgmZ
When Broadway flops get a second life as student musicals
Each year, many more Americans see live theater in local schools than on Broadway. So when a show has a short run in New York? It's not over.
n.pr
November 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
As someone with theater kids, this was a fascinating piece! The variety of considerations schools’ directors juggle produces a challenging puzzle (and I am reminded that school musicals are the best character education I’ve seen).
It does not seem that this is true in the U.S., but it seemed worth checking whether bookshop.org has a wishlist feature for ebooks. I’d not used them before. A thread on my experience: 1/
October 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It does not seem that this is true in the U.S., but it seemed worth checking whether bookshop.org has a wishlist feature for ebooks. I’d not used them before. A thread on my experience: 1/
I made a thing to amuse myself. Feel free to use it for any non-commercial purpose.
October 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I made a thing to amuse myself. Feel free to use it for any non-commercial purpose.
I am yet again reminded to check the actual object, not just the bin it came from, when buying stuff from the hardware store.
October 17, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I am yet again reminded to check the actual object, not just the bin it came from, when buying stuff from the hardware store.
Gil’s just been doing threads talking about his Disneyworld experiences, and it’s been a delight! I’m conflicted about whether I’d ever want to go back, but seeing it through someone else’s eyes touches on so much joy, with none of the downsides.
GIL RATES DISNEYWORLD RIDES: HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, PART 2
My partner decided to rest today, so I had Hollywood Studios all to myself. I started with…
My partner decided to rest today, so I had Hollywood Studios all to myself. I started with…
October 17, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Gil’s just been doing threads talking about his Disneyworld experiences, and it’s been a delight! I’m conflicted about whether I’d ever want to go back, but seeing it through someone else’s eyes touches on so much joy, with none of the downsides.
Years ago, for philosophy reasons, I learned that physicists have theorized a shortest possible unit of time. I was dubious.
However, as the interval between putting food into the dish and my cats arriving to eat it is as close to simultaneity as spacetime allows, I am forced to concede the point.
However, as the interval between putting food into the dish and my cats arriving to eat it is as close to simultaneity as spacetime allows, I am forced to concede the point.
October 13, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Years ago, for philosophy reasons, I learned that physicists have theorized a shortest possible unit of time. I was dubious.
However, as the interval between putting food into the dish and my cats arriving to eat it is as close to simultaneity as spacetime allows, I am forced to concede the point.
However, as the interval between putting food into the dish and my cats arriving to eat it is as close to simultaneity as spacetime allows, I am forced to concede the point.
I’ve seen a thread of advice for people entering their 30s. An awful lot of what I’m seeing has very long payoff horizons. So: socks with holes, cut in half, make excellent rags. Cloth napkins, too, are cheap for how luxurious they feel. Maybe I just hate paper towels?
October 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I’ve seen a thread of advice for people entering their 30s. An awful lot of what I’m seeing has very long payoff horizons. So: socks with holes, cut in half, make excellent rags. Cloth napkins, too, are cheap for how luxurious they feel. Maybe I just hate paper towels?
Reposted by Kelsey Rinella
This podcast episode created by the designer of Cross Bronx Expressway is well worth your time to listen to, even if you aren't interested in the game. By the end, I'm guessing you will be.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Highly anticipating the arrival of my ordered copy.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Highly anticipating the arrival of my ordered copy.
October 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This podcast episode created by the designer of Cross Bronx Expressway is well worth your time to listen to, even if you aren't interested in the game. By the end, I'm guessing you will be.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Highly anticipating the arrival of my ordered copy.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Highly anticipating the arrival of my ordered copy.
Lot of great questions in this thread.
One of the things that has me curious given the rush to cancel Game Pass is about how significant the attrition rate was expected internally at MS.
Any time you change a service offering or increase pricing, there is an expectation you'll price out some of your customers.
Any time you change a service offering or increase pricing, there is an expectation you'll price out some of your customers.
October 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Lot of great questions in this thread.
I love the way these two geniuses intersperse grooming in their play-fighting. Makes me think there ought to be a brand of gay porn called “Just Rasslin’”.
October 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I love the way these two geniuses intersperse grooming in their play-fighting. Makes me think there ought to be a brand of gay porn called “Just Rasslin’”.
I am surprisingly nostalgic for the Popeye musical.
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I am surprisingly nostalgic for the Popeye musical.
Reposted by Kelsey Rinella
Are there any professors, teachers or home schoolers here who would be willing to write a letter about their usage of our games in an educational setting to be submitted to Customs? If so, shoot me an email to kevin@fortcircle.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Are there any professors, teachers or home schoolers here who would be willing to write a letter about their usage of our games in an educational setting to be submitted to Customs? If so, shoot me an email to kevin@fortcircle.com
As long as the grass grows and the rivers run, as Andrew Jackson would say?
Only an administration intent on committing war crimes in the present and future would stoop to calling Wounded Knee a "battle" rather than what it truly was: a massacre of over 250 Lakotas, mainly women, children, and the elderly. 1/
September 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
As long as the grass grows and the rivers run, as Andrew Jackson would say?
If we were all raptured, and this is heaven, I have some feedback for God.
September 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If we were all raptured, and this is heaven, I have some feedback for God.
Not sure I could choose a favorite moment in cinema, but the cat in The Last Unicorn -saying- “purr” rather than making a purring noise was pretty great.
September 21, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Not sure I could choose a favorite moment in cinema, but the cat in The Last Unicorn -saying- “purr” rather than making a purring noise was pretty great.
Why is there no cat toy so enthralling as a litter box lid when it isn’t on the litter box?
September 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Why is there no cat toy so enthralling as a litter box lid when it isn’t on the litter box?