Mandy J Watson
@mandyjwatson.bsky.social
Tech-culture journalist. Copy editor. Game dev. Hire me!
World expert in South African comics (#sacomics) published after 2000.
Words: https://brainwavez.org/
Tiny games: https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/
Masked up in Cape Town, South Africa.
World expert in South African comics (#sacomics) published after 2000.
Words: https://brainwavez.org/
Tiny games: https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/
Masked up in Cape Town, South Africa.
Pinned
The Mischievous Thievery Of Jessica The Cat by Mandy J Watson
Jessica the cat has been stealing people's things! A GGJ2021 narrative-puzzle prototype that's now a full game! Play in your browser
mandyjwatson.itch.io
To get the anxiety inducing first post out of the way:
something of mine you can read: https://www.brainwavez.org/screen/film/features/2019/20191128001-01.html
something I made for you to play (dev is ongoing - more to come):
https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/the-mischievous-thievery-of-jessica-the-cat
something of mine you can read: https://www.brainwavez.org/screen/film/features/2019/20191128001-01.html
something I made for you to play (dev is ongoing - more to come):
https://mandyjwatson.itch.io/the-mischievous-thievery-of-jessica-the-cat
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Today: Zapiro signing books at Exclusive Books in Sandton (Johannesburg), free event.
Monday: Zapiro's Johannesburg 30th annual launch with Suits & Sneakers, also free.
Ongoing: Cosmic Comics and Smallville Comics (both in Johannesburg) are having sales until the end of the month.
#SAComics
Monday: Zapiro's Johannesburg 30th annual launch with Suits & Sneakers, also free.
Ongoing: Cosmic Comics and Smallville Comics (both in Johannesburg) are having sales until the end of the month.
#SAComics
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Today: Zapiro signing books at Exclusive Books in Sandton (Johannesburg), free event.
Monday: Zapiro's Johannesburg 30th annual launch with Suits & Sneakers, also free.
Ongoing: Cosmic Comics and Smallville Comics (both in Johannesburg) are having sales until the end of the month.
#SAComics
Monday: Zapiro's Johannesburg 30th annual launch with Suits & Sneakers, also free.
Ongoing: Cosmic Comics and Smallville Comics (both in Johannesburg) are having sales until the end of the month.
#SAComics
The way these insidious companies have managed to get their evil little tendrils everywhere, and so quickly....
Governments really need ministers who understand technology (and who aren't chasing big tech $$$).
Governments really need ministers who understand technology (and who aren't chasing big tech $$$).
Greek secondary school teachers to be trained in using AI in classroom
Greek secondary school teachers to be trained in using AI in classroom
Some teachers and pupils voice concerns about pilot programme after government’s agreement with OpenAI
Secondary school teachers in Greece are set to go through an intensive course in using artificial intelligence tools as the country assumes a frontline role in incorporating AI into its education system.
Next week, staff in 20 schools will be trained in a specialised version of ChatGPT, custom-made for academic institutions, under a new agreement between the centre-right government and OpenAI. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
The way these insidious companies have managed to get their evil little tendrils everywhere, and so quickly....
Governments really need ministers who understand technology (and who aren't chasing big tech $$$).
Governments really need ministers who understand technology (and who aren't chasing big tech $$$).
I stopped watching Murder, She Wrote as a teenager when about seven minutes in to an episode I had figured out who both the murderer and the victim were and no one had even died yet.
I can always figure out who the killer in an episode of Columbo is within the first 10-15 minutes.
November 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I stopped watching Murder, She Wrote as a teenager when about seven minutes in to an episode I had figured out who both the murderer and the victim were and no one had even died yet.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
I am a fun weirdo who makes cool #zines abt kdramas, NYC, archives, libraries, kaiju monsters, women in STEM, enamel pins, bob's burgers, being kind/worried, homestar runner, internet cats, hobo codes, & molasses floods.
How about some weird zines for an end-of-year holiday treat! Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa?
How about some weird zines for an end-of-year holiday treat! Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa?
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 AM
I am a fun weirdo who makes cool #zines abt kdramas, NYC, archives, libraries, kaiju monsters, women in STEM, enamel pins, bob's burgers, being kind/worried, homestar runner, internet cats, hobo codes, & molasses floods.
How about some weird zines for an end-of-year holiday treat! Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa?
How about some weird zines for an end-of-year holiday treat! Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa?
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Love this so much. 💜
November 15, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Love this so much. 💜
Look at these awesome zines and stickers @janineveazue.bsky.social sent to me (includes equally awesome D&D stamps on the envelope!).
Thank you so much!
Find her zines here:
www.instagram.com/zinesbyjanine/
and here:
www.etsy.com/shop/Stitcha...
Thank you so much!
Find her zines here:
www.instagram.com/zinesbyjanine/
and here:
www.etsy.com/shop/Stitcha...
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Look at these awesome zines and stickers @janineveazue.bsky.social sent to me (includes equally awesome D&D stamps on the envelope!).
Thank you so much!
Find her zines here:
www.instagram.com/zinesbyjanine/
and here:
www.etsy.com/shop/Stitcha...
Thank you so much!
Find her zines here:
www.instagram.com/zinesbyjanine/
and here:
www.etsy.com/shop/Stitcha...
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Today: Carlos Amato launching his cartoon anthology at The Book Lounge in Cape Town (free event).
Tomorrow: Zapiro doing a cartoon showcase at Sacred Heart College, Marist Observatory in Johannesburg (free event).
#SAComics
Tomorrow: Zapiro doing a cartoon showcase at Sacred Heart College, Marist Observatory in Johannesburg (free event).
#SAComics
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Today: Carlos Amato launching his cartoon anthology at The Book Lounge in Cape Town (free event).
Tomorrow: Zapiro doing a cartoon showcase at Sacred Heart College, Marist Observatory in Johannesburg (free event).
#SAComics
Tomorrow: Zapiro doing a cartoon showcase at Sacred Heart College, Marist Observatory in Johannesburg (free event).
#SAComics
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Today is Trans Day Of Remembrance
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
November 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Today is Trans Day Of Remembrance
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
What a waste of public money, too. Who needs to see these? It's not as if the public is invited to the G20 (or has any input on its bullshit).
Could have spent this money on so many more worthy causes.
Could have spent this money on so many more worthy causes.
Bad enough hosting actual fascist leaders - did we really need to adopt the aesthetics too? #G20
November 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
What a waste of public money, too. Who needs to see these? It's not as if the public is invited to the G20 (or has any input on its bullshit).
Could have spent this money on so many more worthy causes.
Could have spent this money on so many more worthy causes.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
I think it's maybe not good that the dominant genre is now commentary and reaction videos that tell people how to respond to things so audiences never have to decide for themselves how they think or feel about them
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I think it's maybe not good that the dominant genre is now commentary and reaction videos that tell people how to respond to things so audiences never have to decide for themselves how they think or feel about them
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
A sleepy #tapir at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
After a night of grazing, Lola was taking a snooze in the grasses on a cool morning.
#bairdstapirs #nature #wildlife
After a night of grazing, Lola was taking a snooze in the grasses on a cool morning.
#bairdstapirs #nature #wildlife
November 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
A sleepy #tapir at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
After a night of grazing, Lola was taking a snooze in the grasses on a cool morning.
#bairdstapirs #nature #wildlife
After a night of grazing, Lola was taking a snooze in the grasses on a cool morning.
#bairdstapirs #nature #wildlife
Cartoonist Carlos Amato's This Is Wild book launch is tomorrow in Cape Town at The Book Lounge.
(That's his art in the middle of the picture.)
(That's his art in the middle of the picture.)
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Cartoonist Carlos Amato's This Is Wild book launch is tomorrow in Cape Town at The Book Lounge.
(That's his art in the middle of the picture.)
(That's his art in the middle of the picture.)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Billionaires handing money back and forth, no one creating anything except carbon in the air. Anthropic buys Nvidia chips; Nvidia gives Anthropic billions to buy even more chips; Microsoft gives Anthropic billions, which Anthropic spends on Microsoft Azure, run by Nvidia, etc. An ouroboros of shit.
New @axios: Anthropic lands $15 billion investment from Microsoft, Nvidia
Anthropic lands $15 billion investment from Microsoft, Nvidia
The move is the latest in a series of deals that sees all the big players partnering with one another.
www.axios.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Billionaires handing money back and forth, no one creating anything except carbon in the air. Anthropic buys Nvidia chips; Nvidia gives Anthropic billions to buy even more chips; Microsoft gives Anthropic billions, which Anthropic spends on Microsoft Azure, run by Nvidia, etc. An ouroboros of shit.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
(eyeroll) Yeah, have had a batch of these over the last couple weeks (though not yet the Anthropic one). Here’s yesterday’s one…
November 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
(eyeroll) Yeah, have had a batch of these over the last couple weeks (though not yet the Anthropic one). Here’s yesterday’s one…
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
First I've heard of the Anthropic scam (towards the end of the article).
annerallen.com/2025/11/upda...
annerallen.com/2025/11/upda...
Update on those flattering AI book marketing scams
Those AI book marketing scams are proliferating like Tribbles. Here are the new variations authors are getting now.
annerallen.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
First I've heard of the Anthropic scam (towards the end of the article).
annerallen.com/2025/11/upda...
annerallen.com/2025/11/upda...
I swore I'd never do calendar events again because it's too much work as so many places do such a bad job of collating the info for THEIR event and I have to scour* the Internet to find stuff sometimes and it wastes too much of my time but then I did one again. (With one more coming.)
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 19, 2025 at 6:53 AM
I swore I'd never do calendar events again because it's too much work as so many places do such a bad job of collating the info for THEIR event and I have to scour* the Internet to find stuff sometimes and it wastes too much of my time but then I did one again. (With one more coming.)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
November 19, 2025 at 6:47 AM
News: South African Comics Events Coming Up In November 2025
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
There are lots of #SAComics events coming up in the next six weeks. Here's the first roundup, for November. The second is in progress.
www.brainwavez.org/news/2025/20...
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
November 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
3 years ago today, Riot Games offered me a job making more money than I ever thought I’d make in my life. I had 19 interviews over 2.5 months to get it. Partner and I were moving to LA for it. I put in notice at my job and apartment.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
2 weeks later they rescinded the offer due to “headcount issues”.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
The font would appear to be English 111 Adagio CE, available for the highly presidential sum of just $39.75 USD
Note "The" is not kerned correctly
(see perspective-corrected still for reference)
Note "The" is not kerned correctly
(see perspective-corrected still for reference)
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 AM
The font would appear to be English 111 Adagio CE, available for the highly presidential sum of just $39.75 USD
Note "The" is not kerned correctly
(see perspective-corrected still for reference)
Note "The" is not kerned correctly
(see perspective-corrected still for reference)
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
So I try not to give too many gory details about life with long covid, but I also think it’s important to give a clear picture of what can happen to anyone.
Over the last yearish, I’ve become allergic to more than 70 foods. Today I lost soy. I’m not how long I can keep eating at all.
Over the last yearish, I’ve become allergic to more than 70 foods. Today I lost soy. I’m not how long I can keep eating at all.
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 AM
So I try not to give too many gory details about life with long covid, but I also think it’s important to give a clear picture of what can happen to anyone.
Over the last yearish, I’ve become allergic to more than 70 foods. Today I lost soy. I’m not how long I can keep eating at all.
Over the last yearish, I’ve become allergic to more than 70 foods. Today I lost soy. I’m not how long I can keep eating at all.
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Stop using AI for placeholder assets.
Use sketches. Use lorem ipsum. Use bright pink materials. Use programmer art for fucks sake, literally anything else.
If your studio is using AI even for temp, even if they think they've covered their tracks, SPEAK UP because people WILL FIND IT
Use sketches. Use lorem ipsum. Use bright pink materials. Use programmer art for fucks sake, literally anything else.
If your studio is using AI even for temp, even if they think they've covered their tracks, SPEAK UP because people WILL FIND IT
June 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Stop using AI for placeholder assets.
Use sketches. Use lorem ipsum. Use bright pink materials. Use programmer art for fucks sake, literally anything else.
If your studio is using AI even for temp, even if they think they've covered their tracks, SPEAK UP because people WILL FIND IT
Use sketches. Use lorem ipsum. Use bright pink materials. Use programmer art for fucks sake, literally anything else.
If your studio is using AI even for temp, even if they think they've covered their tracks, SPEAK UP because people WILL FIND IT
Reposted by Mandy J Watson
Despite the casting choice—which doesn't thrill me, to be honest—I look forward to seeing this film after watching "Predator: Killer of Killers."
Also, @mandyjwatson.bsky.social from @brainwavez.bsky.social writes some of the best film reviews around.
Also, @mandyjwatson.bsky.social from @brainwavez.bsky.social writes some of the best film reviews around.
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Despite the casting choice—which doesn't thrill me, to be honest—I look forward to seeing this film after watching "Predator: Killer of Killers."
Also, @mandyjwatson.bsky.social from @brainwavez.bsky.social writes some of the best film reviews around.
Also, @mandyjwatson.bsky.social from @brainwavez.bsky.social writes some of the best film reviews around.