Brenden Sparks
@brendensparks.bsky.social
Anti-fascist. Web and UX designer in #HigherEd and board member for Digital Collegium. Polyam, feminist, AuDHD. Hobbyist dev|editor|cartographer. Game enthusiast. Sometimes aka hafengrim.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
They see our words and art online and they think it’s gold because they recognize it’s free data. AI is the dirt they’re trying to sell you by pretending it’s food, or shelter, or air, or art. It’s none of those things, but billionaires will expect you to eat dirt after we accept the adoption of AI.
December 15, 2025 at 10:05 PM
They see our words and art online and they think it’s gold because they recognize it’s free data. AI is the dirt they’re trying to sell you by pretending it’s food, or shelter, or air, or art. It’s none of those things, but billionaires will expect you to eat dirt after we accept the adoption of AI.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
If there's anything AI has done for me this year, it's awakened a hunger for person-to-person connection. Hanging out with a baby, going to see live theatre, eating food someone made, appreciating art from 200 years ago, from 800 years ago, from 10,000 years ago... Human creation is so wonderful.
December 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
If there's anything AI has done for me this year, it's awakened a hunger for person-to-person connection. Hanging out with a baby, going to see live theatre, eating food someone made, appreciating art from 200 years ago, from 800 years ago, from 10,000 years ago... Human creation is so wonderful.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
It's so fucked up to have been a kid during the D&D is the devil freakout and the Tipper Gore dirty lyrics freakout and live to see the teen suicide machine get such a pass.
December 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
It's so fucked up to have been a kid during the D&D is the devil freakout and the Tipper Gore dirty lyrics freakout and live to see the teen suicide machine get such a pass.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
We forget this at the peril of our work, our connections, our relationships, and our health. Producing non-stop is a long-term disaster.
“One is not unoccupied because one is absorbed. There is visible labor and invisible labor. To contemplate is to labor, to think is to act. Folded arms toil, clasped hands work. A gaze fixed on heaven is a work. […] To meditate on the Shadow is a serious thing.”
[Hugo, Les Miserables VII.8]
[Hugo, Les Miserables VII.8]
December 13, 2025 at 3:57 AM
We forget this at the peril of our work, our connections, our relationships, and our health. Producing non-stop is a long-term disaster.
December 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
The internet is fast becoming so choked with this, it'll be unusable. We'll all be boats chugging blindly through the gloom and the muck, finding nothing, barely each other, uncertain what's true or even real anymore.
googled something and clicked a link to a website I'd never heard of that looked like a forum, read the discussion and realized the person asking a question and all of the answers were all LLM generated, the entire website was a fake forum pretending to be people asking/answering questions
December 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The internet is fast becoming so choked with this, it'll be unusable. We'll all be boats chugging blindly through the gloom and the muck, finding nothing, barely each other, uncertain what's true or even real anymore.
iHunt is a brilliant FATE hack and I'm really excited to see it explored in a different medium.
I don't want to get TOO ahead of myself here but:
#iHunt: The Feature Film is now in development. Officially. And we have a casting director, who was responsible for casting one of my all-time favorite indie movies, Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
#iHunt: The Feature Film is now in development. Officially. And we have a casting director, who was responsible for casting one of my all-time favorite indie movies, Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
December 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
iHunt is a brilliant FATE hack and I'm really excited to see it explored in a different medium.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
This is why hating and mocking AI relentlessly and publicly is vital work.
McDonald's has taken down a Christmas ad made with AI following online backlash
The company said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI"
The company said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI"
McDonald's pulls AI-generated Christmas advert following backlash
McDonald's said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI".
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This is why hating and mocking AI relentlessly and publicly is vital work.
Find a cohort to play tabletop roleplaying games with and you can turn listening exercises into fun, cooperative hangouts with your pals.
The first six months of introductory conditioning is just listening exercises.
Maybe to counter all this nonsense, we have to start something like the Conversation Gym, crossfit for actual human interaction.
You have to do the reps, bro.
You have to do the reps, bro.
December 11, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Find a cohort to play tabletop roleplaying games with and you can turn listening exercises into fun, cooperative hangouts with your pals.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
"recap your 2025 media consumption" brand-engagement moments feel wholesome to me in the same way a veggie-flavored chip tastes more wholesome than bbq chips
which is to say, not at all. we talk about ultra-processed foods, but can we talk about ultra-processed memories? ultra-processed identity?
which is to say, not at all. we talk about ultra-processed foods, but can we talk about ultra-processed memories? ultra-processed identity?
December 8, 2025 at 11:05 PM
"recap your 2025 media consumption" brand-engagement moments feel wholesome to me in the same way a veggie-flavored chip tastes more wholesome than bbq chips
which is to say, not at all. we talk about ultra-processed foods, but can we talk about ultra-processed memories? ultra-processed identity?
which is to say, not at all. we talk about ultra-processed foods, but can we talk about ultra-processed memories? ultra-processed identity?
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
Worth remembering that Trump is not just an authoritarian, but a fascist authoritarian.
Fascism boils down to the belief that there's a "natural" order where the physically strong violently dominate the weak.
If a fascist strongman's base perceives him as enfeebled, he is politically fucked
Fascism boils down to the belief that there's a "natural" order where the physically strong violently dominate the weak.
If a fascist strongman's base perceives him as enfeebled, he is politically fucked
…propagandize about Trump’s “stamina.” This is a taxpayer funded messaging operation aimed at propping up a sagging authoritarian cult of personality.
December 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Worth remembering that Trump is not just an authoritarian, but a fascist authoritarian.
Fascism boils down to the belief that there's a "natural" order where the physically strong violently dominate the weak.
If a fascist strongman's base perceives him as enfeebled, he is politically fucked
Fascism boils down to the belief that there's a "natural" order where the physically strong violently dominate the weak.
If a fascist strongman's base perceives him as enfeebled, he is politically fucked
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
hi i'm a billionaire my company, which will definitely not murder everyone, is named SauronMurdersEveryone Inc after the beloved jrr tolkien character sauron whom i have always admired for his disruptive use of world changing technology and for murdering everyone
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
hi i'm a billionaire my company, which will definitely not murder everyone, is named SauronMurdersEveryone Inc after the beloved jrr tolkien character sauron whom i have always admired for his disruptive use of world changing technology and for murdering everyone
This looks *very* interesting. Arcade/combo-style physics-based combat, swappable class-based character progression, a bit of building/crafting, and multiple movement abilities (grapple, triple jump, dash, et al), online co-op multiplayer. And a distinctive (and pleasant) art style.
🌥️CLOUDHEIM IS NOW AVAILABLE!🌥️
Jump into a vibrant world full of action-packed adventure in this new fantasy co-op experience!
You can play Cloudheim on:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2070270/Cloudheim/
Epic Games: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/cloudheim-9fdc70
Jump into a vibrant world full of action-packed adventure in this new fantasy co-op experience!
You can play Cloudheim on:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2070270/Cloudheim/
Epic Games: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/cloudheim-9fdc70
December 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This looks *very* interesting. Arcade/combo-style physics-based combat, swappable class-based character progression, a bit of building/crafting, and multiple movement abilities (grapple, triple jump, dash, et al), online co-op multiplayer. And a distinctive (and pleasant) art style.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
h/t @robertfreundlaw.bsky.social
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
December 3, 2025 at 7:51 PM
h/t @robertfreundlaw.bsky.social
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
Level design and information architecture are two big topics of interest for me and I've never seen anyone discuss the intersection of the two.
In 2023, like many people, I participated in Dungeon 23. The end result was a massive, Metroidvania-inspired dungeon called The Castle Automatic.
Here are three techniques I am using to structure the information architecture:
-Room names and numbers
-Landmark/hidden/secret
-Enemies last<>first
Here are three techniques I am using to structure the information architecture:
-Room names and numbers
-Landmark/hidden/secret
-Enemies last<>first
Information Architecture in The Castle Automatic
In 2023, like many people, I participated in Dungeon 23 . The end result was two dungeons - one based on the tarot (for His Majesty the Worm...
riseupcomus.blogspot.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Level design and information architecture are two big topics of interest for me and I've never seen anyone discuss the intersection of the two.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
Gianmarco Soresi and Anthony Misiano are apparently two different people.
This is not the first time I've confused one person for another similar-looking person who exists in the same contexts.
(In this case, NY actor / entertainer with an Italian name, angular facial features, and lanky build)
This is not the first time I've confused one person for another similar-looking person who exists in the same contexts.
(In this case, NY actor / entertainer with an Italian name, angular facial features, and lanky build)
December 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Gianmarco Soresi and Anthony Misiano are apparently two different people.
This is not the first time I've confused one person for another similar-looking person who exists in the same contexts.
(In this case, NY actor / entertainer with an Italian name, angular facial features, and lanky build)
This is not the first time I've confused one person for another similar-looking person who exists in the same contexts.
(In this case, NY actor / entertainer with an Italian name, angular facial features, and lanky build)
A computer can never be held accountable therefore a computer must never make a management decision.
“Humans get tired; some days are better than others. The AI does not get tired. It doesn’t get grumpy. It doesn’t have a bad day. The AI is consistent,” says Juan Espinoza, vice provost” demonstrating that humans can be profoundly ignorant and make vibe-based decisions.
Replace him with a chatbot
Replace him with a chatbot
Judging from the quotes in here, university admins are some of the least “ai literate” people in existence. No wonder they think students need to be taught how to use it.
December 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A computer can never be held accountable therefore a computer must never make a management decision.
On the eve of the end of this year, a wintertime gift:
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
On the eve of the end of this year, a wintertime gift:
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
I’ve played a lot of simcity but I didn’t know you could go pro
November 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I’ve played a lot of simcity but I didn’t know you could go pro
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
Let's get an indie ttrpg HYPE TRAIN going and recommend some cool games for people to buy/gift.
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Let's get an indie ttrpg HYPE TRAIN going and recommend some cool games for people to buy/gift.
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
I did exactly this one year. It was Extremely Good and a lot of work and I haven't done it again.
i used to make homemade green bean casserole from scratch (with bacon!) and it is, regrettably, Extremely Good
i say regrettably bc it’s a lot of work
i say regrettably bc it’s a lot of work
Another food take since many people are doing green bean casserole. Campbell's cream of mushroom soup is garbage, but better than the other versions.
Homemade is so much better, and you don't have wheat as a filler, but pureed mushrooms for bulk. It's not just a little but a lot better.
Homemade is so much better, and you don't have wheat as a filler, but pureed mushrooms for bulk. It's not just a little but a lot better.
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I did exactly this one year. It was Extremely Good and a lot of work and I haven't done it again.
Reposted by Brenden Sparks
i hope one day when i die they make a big hologram of me that makes people do property damage
Since Star Wars is trending today, a good time to rewatch this fantastic speech from Andor. Almost like it has some relevance to the current state of things.
youtu.be/TaKrm5txGCQ
youtu.be/TaKrm5txGCQ
Andor | Maarva Andor’s Monologue | Disney+
YouTube video by Star Wars
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
i hope one day when i die they make a big hologram of me that makes people do property damage