JoshVarela
jvarela.bsky.social
JoshVarela
@jvarela.bsky.social
Impulsive reader, boardgamer, ttrpg enthusiast, and forever GM. Will spend too long typing about how little time I have to waste.
Reposted by JoshVarela
I'm so tired of measles.

I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.

Show what measles looks like.
December 2, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
As we gather with friends and family to reflect, here’s what I’m grateful for — and why I fight for it every day.
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
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Hey! I have no idea how to do this, I’ve never made a List or Starter Pack before, but:

⭐️ If you’re a Games Writer/Narrative Designer looking for work, and you’d like to be added to my Starter Pack, lmk!
⭐️ If you’re looking to hire a Games Writer/Narrative Designer, check out this Starter Pack!
September 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Today marks the glorious beginning of another Hispanic Heritage Month! Instead of making a single post about the amazing people out there, I am going to make a post every day (of the month) that spotlights some of the cool creatives from across the industry. Let's get started!
September 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Xinis: And with that, I wish you all a great weekend

And we're done. Finally.

Thanks to all who followed along.

If you appreciate our live coverage, I hope you'll consider supporting our work!

givebutter.com/journalism
Lawfare's Nonpartisan Journalism and Expert Analysis
Support the impactful and trustworthy coverage of Lawfare
givebutter.com
July 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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At long last, you get one of the points-of-view that never made it into the final book! I give you...the Blood General herself--General Cantic!
The Unbroken: Deleted Scenes 2 – Cantic
Hello, again, beloveds! I've just spent a week and a half at the residency for the Vermont College for Fine Arts (in California--I know), where I'm now part of the writing MFA faculty. I'm pleasantly wrung out and simultaneously sodden and heavy as a sponge. It was great sharing a space with so many creatives from so many disciplines, and I'm full of ideas and possibility.
clclarkwrites.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
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You wanted stickers, you got stickers! And a dollar from each purchase goes to Trans Lifeline! topatoco.com/collections/...
June 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
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Doing a thing for a Pride thing
June 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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I love DnD and I will love it until the day I die
June 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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For folks who enjoy archival photos, Texas Highways did a nice #Juneteenth piece documenting celebrations over the past 160 years. #TexasHistory #BlackHistory #BlackTexasHistory

texashighways.com/travel-news/...
The History of Juneteenth in Photos
Junteenth commemorates the issuance of General Order No. 3 in Galveston, informing enslaved people of their freedom and the end of the Civil War.
texashighways.com
June 19, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
This is incredibly harmful BUT I want to make sure people understand that the Trevor Project’s own hotline will still exist & anyone (including queer youth) can still call 988, they just won’t be able to be connected to TP via 988. It’s hateful & cruel but there are still resources.
Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.
June 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Well, fuck the Roberts Court for upholding Tennessee's ban on transgender care and setting the stage for similar bans: Trans right are human rights and we will NEVER abandon our trans community members. The queer community has won this fight before and we will again, however many times it takes. 🏳️‍⚧️
June 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
SCOTUS decision upholding the ban of gender affirming care for trans kids (but allowing cis minors to get the exact same treatment) is one of the most poorly reasoned decisions I've ever read. Roberts unbelievably says that trans youth lacks the "maturity" to get this care and may regret it - while
June 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
a foul, cruel decision by a bunch of smug bigots, driven entirely by their animus towards trans people

absolute nightmare outcome on every level
🚨By a 6–3 vote, the Supreme Court UPHOLDS Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, concluding that it does NOT discriminate on the basis of sex, is not subject to heightened scrutiny, and survives rational basis review. All three liberals dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
June 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Okay, all.

My honest advice, as someone who has to keep constant tabs on the news for work + also has multiple graduate degrees in global security/intelligence?

Step away from social media tonight. Take a break and plan. Whether it's calling your reps, finding a protest, or -
June 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
They're traumatic for everyone but I know my Latino friends are finding these ICE raids over the last week extra traumatic.

I spoke to therapists who work with in Latino communities about collective trauma and how to process the anxiety, sadness and fear that's so pervasive right now.
There's A Name For The Sadness And Guilt Latinos Feel While Watching ICE Raids
If you're an immigrant — and most of us in this country are — it's hard not to feel anxiety and sadness about what's happening. We asked therapists for self-care advice.
www.huffpost.com
June 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
The Recording Academy has added a “traditional country” category following Beyoncé’s historic “Cowboy Carter” win
Grammys add ‘traditional country’ category following Beyoncé's win
The Recording Academy has made a distinct change to its Country Album category — a change that is raising eyebrows online among Beyoncé fans.
www.whatimreading.net
June 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Platinum! Congrats to Miskatonic Repository creator Heinrich Moore, former Head Shoggoth of the Miskatonic Repository Convention, and a massive supporter of the community content program. This is an epic solo campaign exploring the mysteries of Dim Carcosa!
Heinrich's Call of Cthulhu Guide to Carcosa - Chaosium | Miskatonic Repository | DriveThruRPG
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Come fall with us.  In Heinrich’s Call of Cthulhu Guide to Carcosa you will discover not only a replayable solo campaign for Call of Cth...
www.drivethrurpg.com
June 13, 2025 at 2:32 AM
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unrelatedly, apparently judge breyer enjoys victorian novels
June 13, 2025 at 1:33 AM
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first spell
June 12, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
I've talked a good bit over the years about the challenges of being a "successful" game designer & editor. We're doing amazing things at Wildmage Press, but times are hard and your support is what makes it possible! Grab a subscription, tell a friend, repost—every bit helps and is so appreciated. 💚
June 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
Reminder that I AM LATINA AND PROUD. I am the product of immigration - my grandmother was undocumented and entered the country from Mexico as a baby. My mother was a fierce, gorgeous Latina woman of Mexican and Spanish descent.
June 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by JoshVarela
There is an organization in LA called Jail Support that help protesters get out of jail, get them medical/legal referrals, provide food/water.

Tis a good time to donate as they are very busy. www.instagram.com/jailsupportla/
UPDATE: David Huerta was just released from custody!
June 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
ICYMI: @garnethenderson.com and I teamed up to create a worker-owned publication where we’re doing original reporting and a weekly news roundup. Follow and subscribe to @autonomynews.co ➡️➡️➡️
www.autonomynews.co/support/
Here’s our cheat sheet of reproductive rights and justice news you may have missed.

Our work is always free to read and you can support us with a paid subscription or by dropping a little something in our tip jar
Emergency Abortions, $100K Bounties, and Fetus Plaintiffs: June 9 News Roundup
Plus, what you missed on Autonomy News last week.
www.autonomynews.co
June 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by JoshVarela
More information tomorrow about the No ICE in California Itch Charity Bundle. But for now, here is the game jam. All games on itch are welcome, please spread the word.

itch.io/jam/no-ice-i...
June 9, 2025 at 2:42 AM