Kaine
@wolpers.bsky.social
writer of small things, wrangler of small to mid sized mammals, and reluctant academic. A michif puke in amiskwaciwâskahikan. sometimes i share NSFW stuff on here, just as a heads up.
I write here mostly every week: https://marginalia-musings.ghost.io/
I write here mostly every week: https://marginalia-musings.ghost.io/
Reposted by Kaine
"This is not what Albertans asked for, and it’s certainly not what Danielle Smith promised when she was running for Premier."
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi calls out Bill 11, arguing it's steering Alberta towards for-profit American-style health care to the province.
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi calls out Bill 11, arguing it's steering Alberta towards for-profit American-style health care to the province.
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
"This is not what Albertans asked for, and it’s certainly not what Danielle Smith promised when she was running for Premier."
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi calls out Bill 11, arguing it's steering Alberta towards for-profit American-style health care to the province.
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi calls out Bill 11, arguing it's steering Alberta towards for-profit American-style health care to the province.
Reposted by Kaine
The open secret that Thomas King is not Indigenous at all is finally verified, and honestly it's a relief. Having him just confess this instead of going out kicking and screaming like so many before him causes a LOT less harm to Indigenous communities.
It still sucks though.
It still sucks though.
November 24, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The open secret that Thomas King is not Indigenous at all is finally verified, and honestly it's a relief. Having him just confess this instead of going out kicking and screaming like so many before him causes a LOT less harm to Indigenous communities.
It still sucks though.
It still sucks though.
Reposted by Kaine
THIS. So much this! AI isn't opening doors for creativity, it's setting up a pay to play system. And part of it is building a narrative that real, living artists are "gatekeeping" art to vilify us. The only people that want to gatekeep art are the AI companies that want your cash.
It’s a bit funny to me when folks accuse anti-AI artists of “gatekeeping.” My dude, Midjourney charges you $60 a month for images, while real artists remind you that you can make it for free and experience the joy of the process. So who’s really gatekeeping?
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
THIS. So much this! AI isn't opening doors for creativity, it's setting up a pay to play system. And part of it is building a narrative that real, living artists are "gatekeeping" art to vilify us. The only people that want to gatekeep art are the AI companies that want your cash.
Reposted by Kaine
Spoke to my source familiar with internal workings at Mastercard. The holiday call campaign re payment processor censorship is working, there is a lot of pressure being felt from your calls. This is resulting in increased response times at a core moment for Mastercard due to the holiday season
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Spoke to my source familiar with internal workings at Mastercard. The holiday call campaign re payment processor censorship is working, there is a lot of pressure being felt from your calls. This is resulting in increased response times at a core moment for Mastercard due to the holiday season
Reposted by Kaine
Mastercard is bleeding, get in there. Make some calls. Get some cool family members in on it over thanksgiving
The lines are getting clogged from calls and Mastercard is feeling very pressured, they're looking into how to act in response. They're collecting information on callers to have a better understanding of who is calling in re the censorship issue
November 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Mastercard is bleeding, get in there. Make some calls. Get some cool family members in on it over thanksgiving
Reposted by Kaine
Whether or not this is technically illegal, the bosses at rockstar are little craven baby worms for this.
But we now believe Rockstar used a discussion centered around internal Slack policy changes within the studio as part of its justification to investigate the Discord and its members for breach of contract.
November 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Whether or not this is technically illegal, the bosses at rockstar are little craven baby worms for this.
Reposted by Kaine
In self-interest but also general interest, folks: Black Friday is coming up, and small publishers/independent creators will always be a better choice than megacorps.
When the sales drop, please remember that!
When the sales drop, please remember that!
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In self-interest but also general interest, folks: Black Friday is coming up, and small publishers/independent creators will always be a better choice than megacorps.
When the sales drop, please remember that!
When the sales drop, please remember that!
Reposted by Kaine
So a while back I was commissioned to do short bios of various rock stars, and they were just about universally total psychopaths, with the huge exception of Freddie Mercury. A lovely man who did good by his wife, his lovers, and his cats.
Today (24 November) marks the passing of Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen. He remains regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music.
📷 Getty
📷 Getty
November 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
So a while back I was commissioned to do short bios of various rock stars, and they were just about universally total psychopaths, with the huge exception of Freddie Mercury. A lovely man who did good by his wife, his lovers, and his cats.
Reposted by Kaine
GenAI has polluted image search results, especially for animal pics. It’s now basically impossible to find accurate art references.
Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.
Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.
Exotic Animal Photo Reference Repository
www.animal-photo-references.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
GenAI has polluted image search results, especially for animal pics. It’s now basically impossible to find accurate art references.
Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.
Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.
Reposted by Kaine
One of the only protest signs I ever carried said “raise my taxes”. Here in Alberta, I think we need to build a movement around it. Who’s paying for donuts for the organizing meeting?
And yes 100% we need to be yelling loud and proud- tax people (including me!) and use the money to do the good things that govt is often actually even better and cheaper at delivering!
November 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
One of the only protest signs I ever carried said “raise my taxes”. Here in Alberta, I think we need to build a movement around it. Who’s paying for donuts for the organizing meeting?
Reposted by Kaine
I will die for you, A 4-Hour Long Video Essay on A Theme Park.
March 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I will die for you, A 4-Hour Long Video Essay on A Theme Park.
Reposted by Kaine
"The lives of the Black artists who make up Black excellence were shaped by the institutions of the past century, which were rooted in a belief in a common public good and a deep appreciation for the history of artistic craft. We are living through the destruction of all that."
You all MUST READ this piece by Kaitlyn Greenidge about the power of art to “exist outside of a tech lord’s algorithm.”
www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-...
www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-...
The Artist Who Reminds Us that Another Way Is Possible
The late artist Abigail McGrath cultivated a creative life for herself filled with freedom, joy, and a commitment to beauty. In an age of authoritarianism and algorithms, it’s a kind of life worth pro...
www.harpersbazaar.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
"The lives of the Black artists who make up Black excellence were shaped by the institutions of the past century, which were rooted in a belief in a common public good and a deep appreciation for the history of artistic craft. We are living through the destruction of all that."
Reposted by Kaine
Yet when we warned you that he had all the warning signs of a dude who does not understand gender-based analysis, y'all squawked at us.
No more feminist foreign policy, Carney says
Prime Minister, who made the comments at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, has placed less emphasis on feminist policies than the Trudeau government
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Yet when we warned you that he had all the warning signs of a dude who does not understand gender-based analysis, y'all squawked at us.
Reposted by Kaine
It just occurred to me that the UCP has passed legislation against trans healthcare RIGHT before Trans Day of Remembrance, and they're now going to try to pass legislation against abortions right between November 25 and Dec 6 which are both days for eliminating violence against women.
#ableg
#ableg
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
It just occurred to me that the UCP has passed legislation against trans healthcare RIGHT before Trans Day of Remembrance, and they're now going to try to pass legislation against abortions right between November 25 and Dec 6 which are both days for eliminating violence against women.
#ableg
#ableg
Reposted by Kaine
Holiday shopping?
All my paper prints are 50% off right now.
Shipping in Canada, the UK & the EU is $25 so grab yourself a couple.
Sorry no US orders.
All my paper prints are 50% off right now.
Shipping in Canada, the UK & the EU is $25 so grab yourself a couple.
Sorry no US orders.
I'm an Alberta based artist who has a thing for storms & space.
I do commissions & have originals & 50 different canvas & paper prints available earthskyart.ca/shop
#art #painting
I do commissions & have originals & 50 different canvas & paper prints available earthskyart.ca/shop
#art #painting
November 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Holiday shopping?
All my paper prints are 50% off right now.
Shipping in Canada, the UK & the EU is $25 so grab yourself a couple.
Sorry no US orders.
All my paper prints are 50% off right now.
Shipping in Canada, the UK & the EU is $25 so grab yourself a couple.
Sorry no US orders.
Reposted by Kaine
Psychopomp is one of the best publishing teams on the planet and I love being a part of it.
They consistently put out amazing work. But most of all, they are such good people.
Please support The Deadlands if you're able. We can't lose another. ❤️❤️
They consistently put out amazing work. But most of all, they are such good people.
Please support The Deadlands if you're able. We can't lose another. ❤️❤️
a post about Psychopomp in 2026
please read and share
thank you very much
please read and share
thank you very much
what's next for Psychopomp - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
what to expect from Psychopomp (and The Deadlands and Fantasy Magazine) in 2026.
psychopomp.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Psychopomp is one of the best publishing teams on the planet and I love being a part of it.
They consistently put out amazing work. But most of all, they are such good people.
Please support The Deadlands if you're able. We can't lose another. ❤️❤️
They consistently put out amazing work. But most of all, they are such good people.
Please support The Deadlands if you're able. We can't lose another. ❤️❤️
Reposted by Kaine
putting this on your timeline again
September 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
putting this on your timeline again
Reposted by Kaine
the star wars jedi team is also hiring for a senior encounter designer w/AAA experience, DMs are open
the star wars jedi team is hiring: we're looking for a senior technical materials artist (3+ years experience w/ unreal materials). mutuals, my DMs are open
November 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
the star wars jedi team is also hiring for a senior encounter designer w/AAA experience, DMs are open
Reposted by Kaine
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
November 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
Reposted by Kaine
Bonedust Press in the news!✨
Her love of ‘what if’ stories turns into reality of publishing the way she and her friends kept talking about
Jasmine Walls is the owner of Bonedust Press, a new publishing company in San Diego focused on speculative fiction with a mission to pay creators from the very first sale.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Bonedust Press in the news!✨
Reposted by Kaine
Good afternoon friends and frenemies! I’m doing ExtraLife this weekend and if you had a few bucks to donate to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, well that would be just swell.
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
November 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Good afternoon friends and frenemies! I’m doing ExtraLife this weekend and if you had a few bucks to donate to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, well that would be just swell.
Reposted by Kaine
⚠️ Premier Danielle Smith announced the end of universal health care in Alberta this week.
On this week's episode of 'Whatever This Is', @zainvelji.bsky.social breaks down what it means — and why things will get much worse if she succeeds.
Follow us for more. #ableg #abpoli #canpoli
On this week's episode of 'Whatever This Is', @zainvelji.bsky.social breaks down what it means — and why things will get much worse if she succeeds.
Follow us for more. #ableg #abpoli #canpoli
November 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
⚠️ Premier Danielle Smith announced the end of universal health care in Alberta this week.
On this week's episode of 'Whatever This Is', @zainvelji.bsky.social breaks down what it means — and why things will get much worse if she succeeds.
Follow us for more. #ableg #abpoli #canpoli
On this week's episode of 'Whatever This Is', @zainvelji.bsky.social breaks down what it means — and why things will get much worse if she succeeds.
Follow us for more. #ableg #abpoli #canpoli
Reposted by Kaine
“AI workers said they distrust the models they work on because of a consistent emphasis on rapid turnaround time at the expense of quality.”
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
“AI workers said they distrust the models they work on because of a consistent emphasis on rapid turnaround time at the expense of quality.”
Reposted by Kaine
