Ian Evenden
@ievenden.wtf
Magazine guy. Often mistaken for an adult. Freelance games, tech & science journalist writing articles in all sorts of places and editing them in others. Views mine not theirs. evenden(at)gmail, pixelfed.social/ianev
Reposted by Ian Evenden
Update: Google has now made a statement that aligns with what I found reported: you have not been automatically opted-in to letting its AI read your emails as those viral posts claimed
(please do not use this as a reason to reply with everything else you hate about google)
(please do not use this as a reason to reply with everything else you hate about google)
November 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Update: Google has now made a statement that aligns with what I found reported: you have not been automatically opted-in to letting its AI read your emails as those viral posts claimed
(please do not use this as a reason to reply with everything else you hate about google)
(please do not use this as a reason to reply with everything else you hate about google)
Reposted by Ian Evenden
"The researchers explained that formulating hostile prompts as poetry 'achieved an average jailbreak success rate of 62% for hand-crafted poems and approximately 43% for meta-prompt conversions (compared to non-poetic baselines).'"
www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
Poets are now cybersecurity threats: Researchers used 'adversarial poetry' to jailbreak AI and it worked 62% of the time
Hacking the planet with florid verse.
www.pcgamer.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
"The researchers explained that formulating hostile prompts as poetry 'achieved an average jailbreak success rate of 62% for hand-crafted poems and approximately 43% for meta-prompt conversions (compared to non-poetic baselines).'"
www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/...
The new APWOT arrived yesterday and it's simply marvelous to hold and read. I may be a touch biased having worked on multiple issues, but @cazwis.bsky.social produces a wonderful product and you should totally check out the Kickstarter for the next issue: @apwot.bsky.social. Print ain't dead.
November 21, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The new APWOT arrived yesterday and it's simply marvelous to hold and read. I may be a touch biased having worked on multiple issues, but @cazwis.bsky.social produces a wonderful product and you should totally check out the Kickstarter for the next issue: @apwot.bsky.social. Print ain't dead.
This is exquisite bullshit from Google because turning it off also disables inbox tabs, so every junk email you would automatically file away in Promotions or Updates now makes your phone buzz.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 21, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This is exquisite bullshit from Google because turning it off also disables inbox tabs, so every junk email you would automatically file away in Promotions or Updates now makes your phone buzz.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
I spotted this on Mastodon and I find it horrible, not least for the speed with which this has happened.
November 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I spotted this on Mastodon and I find it horrible, not least for the speed with which this has happened.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
🤖🌟 Issue 6 of APWOT is live on Kickstarter! 🌟🤖
Featuring a beautiful lenticular cover of Astro Bot marking both our feature interview with the game’s director, Nicolas Doucet, and the 30th anniversary of PlayStation.
Get in there!
💫 kck.st/4i1GAHT 💫
Featuring a beautiful lenticular cover of Astro Bot marking both our feature interview with the game’s director, Nicolas Doucet, and the 30th anniversary of PlayStation.
Get in there!
💫 kck.st/4i1GAHT 💫
November 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
🤖🌟 Issue 6 of APWOT is live on Kickstarter! 🌟🤖
Featuring a beautiful lenticular cover of Astro Bot marking both our feature interview with the game’s director, Nicolas Doucet, and the 30th anniversary of PlayStation.
Get in there!
💫 kck.st/4i1GAHT 💫
Featuring a beautiful lenticular cover of Astro Bot marking both our feature interview with the game’s director, Nicolas Doucet, and the 30th anniversary of PlayStation.
Get in there!
💫 kck.st/4i1GAHT 💫
Reposted by Ian Evenden
Quite an unfortunate place to drift off into an ellipsis.
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Quite an unfortunate place to drift off into an ellipsis.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
🚨 It's that time of year again! Please sign up for the upcoming ISSUE 6 campaign! 🙌🙏
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
Coming soon: A Profound Waste of Time: Issue 6
The sixth issue of A Profound Waste of Time. Kickstarter coming late 2025.
www.kickstarter.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🚨 It's that time of year again! Please sign up for the upcoming ISSUE 6 campaign! 🙌🙏
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/caz...
Reposted by Ian Evenden
I have time to help, free, with content strategy, production and storytelling. Message for a consult!
If you’re minded to help me, I would love you to:
① Introduce me to folks who’d value my skills
② Let me know of any roles you see
③ Retain me for freelance
More: www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisp...
If you’re minded to help me, I would love you to:
① Introduce me to folks who’d value my skills
② Let me know of any roles you see
③ Retain me for freelance
More: www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisp...
October 22, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I have time to help, free, with content strategy, production and storytelling. Message for a consult!
If you’re minded to help me, I would love you to:
① Introduce me to folks who’d value my skills
② Let me know of any roles you see
③ Retain me for freelance
More: www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisp...
If you’re minded to help me, I would love you to:
① Introduce me to folks who’d value my skills
② Let me know of any roles you see
③ Retain me for freelance
More: www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisp...
So one thing I'v elearned today is that if you're going to take photos of a laptop with the Windows 11 news screen visible, it's important not to have the face of Ian Watkins staring back at you while you're doing it. Pro tip, there.
October 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM
So one thing I'v elearned today is that if you're going to take photos of a laptop with the Windows 11 news screen visible, it's important not to have the face of Ian Watkins staring back at you while you're doing it. Pro tip, there.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
feels like yet again time to mention that the *videogames* industry (that's a creative industry, which people do creative degrees in) brings in more than twice the amount to the British economy as the fishing and steel industries *combined*
I cannot understand what these people think the purpose of human life is?
It is *not* "pursue joy, deal justly, love well, try to understand as much and see as much of this beautiful world and of the deepness, richness and variety of human culture and experience as you can before you die"?
It is *not* "pursue joy, deal justly, love well, try to understand as much and see as much of this beautiful world and of the deepness, richness and variety of human culture and experience as you can before you die"?
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
October 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
feels like yet again time to mention that the *videogames* industry (that's a creative industry, which people do creative degrees in) brings in more than twice the amount to the British economy as the fishing and steel industries *combined*
The blood pressure anecdote at the start of this piece by @jamesrball.com is almost identical to what I went through when I was 39. It's not something to be messed with and when I eventually got on GLP-1 it changed my life, though I challenge anyone to say I look like a weedy nerd.
When judgy people like to judge Ozempic users, I always cite my pal James who was *not well* and now is. (Also he thinks he looks hot, no question) www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...
I’ve lost 4 stone on Wegovy. Now I look like a weedy nerd
At 38 James Ball was overweight, suffering from sky-high blood pressure. Fifteen months later, he’s buying a new wardrobe — and has no plans to give up his jabs
www.thetimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The blood pressure anecdote at the start of this piece by @jamesrball.com is almost identical to what I went through when I was 39. It's not something to be messed with and when I eventually got on GLP-1 it changed my life, though I challenge anyone to say I look like a weedy nerd.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
IMPORTANT
All freelancers, self-employed, creatives
This is the first I've heard of this, but the Department for Business and Trade is running a consultation on the scourge of late payments, they want to introduce new legislation to tackle poor practices
Deadline to respond is 23 October
1/2
All freelancers, self-employed, creatives
This is the first I've heard of this, but the Department for Business and Trade is running a consultation on the scourge of late payments, they want to introduce new legislation to tackle poor practices
Deadline to respond is 23 October
1/2
October 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
IMPORTANT
All freelancers, self-employed, creatives
This is the first I've heard of this, but the Department for Business and Trade is running a consultation on the scourge of late payments, they want to introduce new legislation to tackle poor practices
Deadline to respond is 23 October
1/2
All freelancers, self-employed, creatives
This is the first I've heard of this, but the Department for Business and Trade is running a consultation on the scourge of late payments, they want to introduce new legislation to tackle poor practices
Deadline to respond is 23 October
1/2
Reposted by Ian Evenden
I quite like immigration.
September 22, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I quite like immigration.
Made the mistake of logging into Facebook and found its chatbot asking the big questions.
September 16, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Made the mistake of logging into Facebook and found its chatbot asking the big questions.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
The latest @pcgamer.com magazine is out now, with world exclusive access to IO Interactive's exciting new James Bond action-adventure, 007 First Light. Plus, Titan Quest II, Aether & Iron, Phantom Blade Zero, Grounded 2, Raw Fury, PCIe 5.0 SSDs rated, and much more, too. 💥 tinyurl.com/mpjfn63d
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: 007 First Light
Plus, Titan Quest II, Aether & Iron, Phantom Blade Zero, Grounded 2, Raw Fury, Drakan: Order of the Flame, PCIe 5.0 SSDs rated, and much more, too.
tinyurl.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The latest @pcgamer.com magazine is out now, with world exclusive access to IO Interactive's exciting new James Bond action-adventure, 007 First Light. Plus, Titan Quest II, Aether & Iron, Phantom Blade Zero, Grounded 2, Raw Fury, PCIe 5.0 SSDs rated, and much more, too. 💥 tinyurl.com/mpjfn63d
I love getting emails like this. Your mind immediately jumps to aliens but really it's a new rock.
September 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I love getting emails like this. Your mind immediately jumps to aliens but really it's a new rock.
The Guardian's automatic image overlay is having a nightmare, surely no one's looking at these before they're sent out.
September 9, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The Guardian's automatic image overlay is having a nightmare, surely no one's looking at these before they're sent out.
Got a new phone, and what the HELL is going on with that WhatsApp icon?
September 8, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Got a new phone, and what the HELL is going on with that WhatsApp icon?
Important news, everybody.
September 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Important news, everybody.
Spotted an Amazon van pulling into the cemetery, which raises questions about who was ordering what, and how.
August 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Spotted an Amazon van pulling into the cemetery, which raises questions about who was ordering what, and how.
Reposted by Ian Evenden
LOL, journalists. (A small handful earn decent money. Everyone else is scratching along earning bugger all, especially if they're freelance.)
Which jobs do Britons think are overpaid?
Most overpaid (of those polled)
Male footballers: 93%
Company directors: 78%
MPs: 76%
Bankers: 76%
Actors: 57%
Barristers: 51%
Accountants: 47%
Train drivers: 43%
Civil servants: 35%
Journalists: 34%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
Most overpaid (of those polled)
Male footballers: 93%
Company directors: 78%
MPs: 76%
Bankers: 76%
Actors: 57%
Barristers: 51%
Accountants: 47%
Train drivers: 43%
Civil servants: 35%
Journalists: 34%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
August 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
LOL, journalists. (A small handful earn decent money. Everyone else is scratching along earning bugger all, especially if they're freelance.)
Reposted by Ian Evenden
This is NOW in early HUMAN trials.
• www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
• www.livescience.com/health/cance...
The study has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪🧵⬇️
• www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
• www.livescience.com/health/cance...
The study has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪🧵⬇️
August 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This is NOW in early HUMAN trials.
• www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
• www.livescience.com/health/cance...
The study has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪🧵⬇️
• www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
• www.livescience.com/health/cance...
The study has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED.
• www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪🧵⬇️
Well it was the one my parents gave me.
August 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Well it was the one my parents gave me.