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kaelmcdonaldart.bsky.social
Esotericrow
@kaelmcdonaldart.bsky.social
410 followers 1.2K following 72 posts
Just a totally normal, non-eldritch crow fighting burnout through belief in the power of art and storytelling. Art | Comics | TTRPG
Read my comic, VIGILANTE 2890: http://ko-fi.com/s/c270fba613
My Carrd: https://kaelmcdonald.carrd.co/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Esotericrow
tiny.baby
no offends if this is you but if you're thinking "this is going to make the right do fascism" they're already there. they blew up a boat with 11 people on it for being immigrants. they're kidnapping US citizens and trying to rendition them to Uganda. do you think we're on a trajectory to peace
September 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
kaelmcdonaldart.bsky.social
Hey Bluesky I actually don't care to see the hand-wringing calls for politeness from centrists that I sure as shit don't follow, thanks.
September 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
avantris.bsky.social
Premiering Now: A Special One-Shot of @beadleandgrimms.com's Skullduggery featuring @ogmatthewlillard.bsky.social!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJO6...

The 5E urban fantasy companion is also now on Kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/bea...

#dnd #dnd5e #kickstarter #skullduggery
Urban Fantasy D&D One-Shot with Matthew Lillard | Skullduggery
YouTube video by Legends of Avantris
www.youtube.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
tammdraws.bsky.social
This isn't like the average online petition btw, this is one of those things where if it gets enough signatures, the HOC absolutely must bring it to the floor for discussion. Incredibly important to get on this if you're Canadian.
jmkeep.bsky.social Michelle Keep @jmkeep.bsky.social · Sep 3
Canadians! There is a petition to sign to protest Mastercard and Visa's control over the purchase of legal adult content. This is specifically about the Steam & itchio situation, but language protects adult creators.

www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

#nsfw #censorship #canpoli

@acvalens.net
Petition e-6695 - Petitions
www.ourcommons.ca
September 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
louistonehill.bsky.social
Very interesting algorithm analysis, which explains the repeated problems with content moderation getting in the way of social justice

tldr: it's always good to block a TERF or a white supremacist or any other type of fascist

original post: www.tumblr.com/chiptrillino...
Screenshot of the Advocate article headline showing an image of bluesky's logo and JKR, with the title "Outcry grows after multiple trans uers were targeted for mild criticisms of the anti-trans billionaire" Screenshot of tumblr text post by fourohfourlifenotfound August 24 part 1/3: "If we are ever going to stop this, then you guys need to start learning why this happens. And it's not always because some executive made a decision to favor a TERF. It's because the technology is broken in a way TERFs have learned to use to their advantage. So content moderation is a HUGE task. It is incredibly inefficient to manually monitor all user reports-- when you "flag" something as spam or inappropriate or 'inciting harm' (what Blueskye is saying the banned users had in their posts). So what actually happens is that the bulk of it is reviewed by machine. The precise "how" is a bit of a black box (if you say exactly, it makes it more vulnerable to being bypasses), but we generally know it's a bit of machine learning ("ai", but not he chatgpt kind) and a bit of automation. Generically this gets referred to as an "algorithm" (which is a meaningless word I don't have time to unpack here). The TERFs have a formula. A battle plan, if you will. I've been watching them use it for almost a decade. And they play social media sites like a fiddle every single time." Text post part 2/3: "The way it works is that they coordinate attacks on targets they dislike. (Usually trans people, but ace discourse is a notable example of targets not necessarily fitting that demographic.) They send links to each other of posts to report. They'll flag it for whatever the nearest thing they can is. The blueskye users were wishing ill to JK Rowling, so "inciting harm" was the excuse selected. "Inappropriate or sexually explicit content" is a common selection for other trans content. Then what happens is the content moderation "algorithm" sees a huge influx of reports for a certain post or user. And instead of making a human manually review all of that, it automatically initiates a ban or takedown. And if the "algorithm" has word censorship built in, it will begin to auto-flag for things containing words in posts frequently flagged, so it begins to auto-flag the word trans itself. This has been happening for almost a decade. There was a trans youtuber who proved TERF hater group chats flagged his videos so much that it started auto-demonitizing identical videos with the word trans in the title, but leaving ones without the word alone. I strongly suspect this is why we see huge amounts of trans women banned for no reason on tumblr. And this is clearly what is happening now." Text post part 3/3: "How do we fix it? There's no easy solution. All the things about the "algorithm" that make moderation easier for the social media platforms are the exact reasons it's so difficult to defeat. It's hard to teach a machine what's a genuine flag and a malicious one. Again, it's been almost a decade since the issue was raised with youtube, and there has yet to be a solution for rooting out malicious coordinated flagging. But here's one thing that can help: get TERFs off of social media. Stop letting them bait you into petty fights. Learn how to identify them. Block and report them. " Response by drtanner: "Blocking TERFs and other assorted bigots is especially effective on bsky, because the block function there is nuclear. In short, if you block someone, not only can they not view your account or any of your posts, but any replies they made on your posts will no longer be viewable by others, even if they haven't personally blocked that user themselves. If they quote you, you can even decouple your post from their quote. In short, blocking someone on bsky produces mutual hiding of content, and it's extremely effective at starving these cunts of oxygen. Bigots who can't convince people to fight with them and whose posts don't gain any traction because they're blocked by everyone and their dog leave the platform, i.e. Jesse Singal. It works, people just need to remember to do it more. Preemptive blocking of dickheads before they start shit with you is the best way to prevent things like this from happening. "
September 2, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
courtneymilan.com
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
arstechnica.com Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Aug 27
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
daxaeterna.ink
Oh my gosh, getting in touch with the BBB WORKED. PayPal is restoring my account and I should have access to my money again.

If you are in the US or deal with the US PayPal and your account is randomly, without warning, and without explanation closed down, file a complaint with the BBB!
August 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
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radiantlightxx.bsky.social
Sever the head of the serpent ⚔️
Close ups & notes below!
#EldenRing #RykardLordofBlasphemy #EldenRingArt #myart
An illustration depicting the final moments of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, in Elden Ring. The Tarnished knight wields the serpent hunter weapon as she struggles against the many bloody hands holding her aloft before the God-Devouring Serpent's jaws. In one last desperate strike, she has swung the serpent hunter spear, from which a golden arc trails, severing both the God-Devouring Serpent's head and Rykard's head from its body. The background is a gradient of orange and red, reminiscent of fire and lava. The border is in the style of an illuminated manuscript. The bottom left features the lost runes of Grace, pointing upwards to curling Erdleaf flowers. A letter of invitation to Volcano Manor is nestled within curling Sacramental Bud and Arteria leaves, which lead to gothic-style windows and a profile of Rya. The upper border features golden rowa and smoldering butterflies, and the skulls and flames of Rykard's Rancor spell. The upper right features a portrait of Tanith, Proprietress of Volcano Manor. More sacramental buds and arteria leaves lead to a golden depiction of the serpent hunter sword, more fallen runes, and a curving snake. Finally, more erdleaf flowers and Altus blooms point towards Rykard's Great Rune in the center of the bottom border.
August 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
awalrusdarkly.bsky.social
People are shouting "LOOK HE'S THE BEST WE CAN DO" about the Governor of California, meanwhile the Governor of Illinois is out here talking like John Wick while *also* standing up for trans people.
adamjschwarz.bsky.social Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · Aug 25
Illinois Gov. Pritzker vows to pursue Trump officials who participate in an illegal National Guard deployment to Chicago:

"If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me - not time or political circumstance - from making sure that you face justice under our constitutional rule of law."
August 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
ani-obsessive.bsky.social
Once, Sesame Street was a lifeline for indie animators. It offered money and incredible freedom to create.

This built an indie animation boom that powered MTV, Nickelodeon and much more. We explore:
animationobsessive.substack.com/p/the-golden...
August 25, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
raynegrimm.bsky.social
So the big thing, imo, is trying to use it to reinforce the themes your after in The game

Arr you aiming for whimsy, action, drama etc then have vinnetes or moments happen during travel that emphasize this

Most folks default to combat but this is a bandaid option (though combat can work in places)
kroden.bsky.social Kroden @kroden.bsky.social · Aug 22
I've never been able to get my head around how to make travel fun in #dnd. Any suggestions?
August 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
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dieselbrain.bsky.social
if you havent made any calls, or shipped any letters or sent any emails yet, and you feel like its "too late":

dont. its not too late. now is literally a perfect time to start joining in and contacting legislators and paypros in whatever way works best for you.

its a marathon, not a race!
taylortitmouse.bsky.social the haver of it🔞 @taylortitmouse.bsky.social · Aug 20
for those of you that have somehow made it this long without ever calling: you literally just have to list the bills. you don't have to give a reason. if you get a person, they won't ask you why. if you get a voicemail, just say your address at the beginning. it took me less than 5 minutes to call 3
August 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
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taylortitmouse.bsky.social
for those of you that have somehow made it this long without ever calling: you literally just have to list the bills. you don't have to give a reason. if you get a person, they won't ask you why. if you get a voicemail, just say your address at the beginning. it took me less than 5 minutes to call 3
August 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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evcurvefuturist.com
🚨 IEA now says renewables will be the world’s #1 power source by 2026 (possibly as soon as 2025). Wind & solar already supply >90% of demand growth, coal’s decline is baked in. The tipping point is here—clean energy isn’t the future, it’s the present. ⚡🌞 #Renewables #EnergyTransition #BESS
IEA: Renewables Will Be World’s Top Power Source "by 2026" - CleanTechnica
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Renewable energy will overtake coal to become the world’s top source of electricity “by 2026 at the latest”, according to new...
cleantechnica.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
chessyborder.bsky.social
Been doing lots of character outfit designs lately! Might do some illustrations next or maybe more designs! Who knows ✌️
A woman dressed ready to go hunting. She has her bow and arrows ready. She has her hair in large chunky thick twin braids. The right side of her face is scarred from a serious attack. She has on a blue coat A reference art of the Matron of Tales, a Warlock Patron who pacts with artists and storytellers of all forms. She has a pallid skin tone, deep sunken bright orange eyes, and dark black hair tied in a braid. She wears a long orange scarf, a while dress with a light orange-yellow overdress. On her head is a pair of wings that act as her familiar. The piece shows her transition from her friendlier appearance to her shadowy patron appearance. Her shadowy god-like form shows only her eyes among a mass of feathery inky shadows where he head used to be. A drawing of a woman holding a wine glass and looking irritated at something. There are two versions of her, one in a dress and the other wearing pants. The outfit consists of a top with puffy sleeves, a seperate bodice, a sheer thin top worn under the outfit, and a sheer overskirt. The jewelry she wears are all very sharp looking with silver metal claws/nail guards on her fingers.
August 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Esotericrow
zacharyberger.bsky.social
Friends (esp if you live in CA) we REALLY need signatures on this petition supporting Bill AB412 - the AI Copyright Transparency Act.

TLDR = this will require AI corps to be transparent about what is in their datasets!

Signing takes 1 min. Once you sign, PLEASE SHARE!! tinyurl.com/4uxbp963
August 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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kaiserneko.bsky.social
"Dude. A.I. is inevitable. Get over it."

1. No it isn't.

2. Even if it were? I'd still say "Fuck A.I." and refuse to interact with it. I will lock myself off to modern media in a heartbeat if it becomes truly unsvoidable. I have YEARS of shit to catch up on.

3. Grow a fucking backbone.
August 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
kaelmcdonaldart.bsky.social
If you see this, post a bad woman you love.

This majestic art by @ryuuna.bsky.social
Fanart by Ryuuna of Ianthe Tridentarius from the novel series The Locked Tomb, by Tamsyn Muir. Ianthe is a pale, runway-model-esque woman with long blonde hair draping past her waist and scheming violet eyes. She wears an extremely deep cut, sleeveless white top tucked into black trousers, and an ornate gold choker alongside dangling earrings. She wields a rapier in one hand, upheld in a casual stance near low guard. Her other hand - skeletal, completely golden up to the shoulder, softly drags across her face, smearing small streaks of blood from her nose and lip. A word balloon in the same violet of her eyes reads, "Boo, you whore."
August 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
kaelmcdonaldart.bsky.social
I also wish all the ills on JK Rowling - an extra heaping serving of ills for transphobes in general please and thanks
clairewillett.bsky.social Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · Aug 16
it appears that @bsky.app have suspended the account of @jessiegender because a trans person saying "I wish ill on JK Rowling" is against the rules, so let me say with my loud cis voice that I too wish ill on all perpetrators of hate speech against trans people

reinstate Jessie, this is ridiculous
August 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
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filamena.bsky.social
I cannot BELIEVE I’m not seeing this posted around. One-shot based on Sinners and southern gothic. Some really incredible players at the table. Daggerheart. Like. What?! youtu.be/mTXDdFEGeVA?...
Playing DAGGERHEART! Gilded Nights | CAMPAIGN FRAMES Actual Play | Episode 2
YouTube video by Darrington Press
youtu.be
August 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
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jjaron.bsky.social
I believe they call this "finding out" arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
August 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
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malachitetiger.bsky.social
This is not how corporations respond to an ineffective protest. This is how they respond to a protest that they would like to have go away.

So don't let it go away. Keep it going.

In fact, Streissand Effect this shit. Call attention to how much they want this to go away.
August 8, 2025 at 8:35 PM