John
@rulexero.bsky.social
TTRPG enthusiast, 3d artist/illustrator/graphic designer, digital art teacher. Bad cat apologist. He/him.
Reposted by John
Back when I worked at Time magazine I wrote a piece calling George R.R. Martin “the American Tolkien.” Is it true? Who knows. WHAT AFTER ALL IS TRUTH REALLY.
But in my house, when I was a kid, the American Tolkien was Fritz Leiber. substack.com/home/post/p-...
But in my house, when I was a kid, the American Tolkien was Fritz Leiber. substack.com/home/post/p-...
That Other American Tolkien
When I was a child, the novels of Fritz Leiber were way more important to me than The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. If anything Tolkien was the British Leiber
substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Back when I worked at Time magazine I wrote a piece calling George R.R. Martin “the American Tolkien.” Is it true? Who knows. WHAT AFTER ALL IS TRUTH REALLY.
But in my house, when I was a kid, the American Tolkien was Fritz Leiber. substack.com/home/post/p-...
But in my house, when I was a kid, the American Tolkien was Fritz Leiber. substack.com/home/post/p-...
Feels just like I'm
November 18, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Feels just like I'm
Reposted by John
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Rebecca Heineman - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:52 PM
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Reposted by John
Latest: A Missouri town will pay $500K to settle a lawsuit after a police officer shot and killed a man's 13-pound blind and deaf shih tzu.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it's one of the largest settlements for a police shooting of a dog reason.com/2025/11/17/m...
The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it's one of the largest settlements for a police shooting of a dog reason.com/2025/11/17/m...
Missouri town will pay $500k to settle lawsuit over deputy shooting blind and deaf dog
Sturgeon, Missouri will settle a lawsuit filed by a man whose 13-pound blind and deaf shih tzu dog was shot and killed by a police officer.
reason.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Latest: A Missouri town will pay $500K to settle a lawsuit after a police officer shot and killed a man's 13-pound blind and deaf shih tzu.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it's one of the largest settlements for a police shooting of a dog reason.com/2025/11/17/m...
The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it's one of the largest settlements for a police shooting of a dog reason.com/2025/11/17/m...
Reposted by John
This is a really remarkable video essay on contemporary film and the theories of Laura Marks. It's making me think about movies in a new way.
Why Movies Just Don't Feel "Real" Anymore
YouTube video by Like Stories of Old
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
This is a really remarkable video essay on contemporary film and the theories of Laura Marks. It's making me think about movies in a new way.
Reposted by John
Character/creature naming trick: Take 3 words you can see & use the first few letters of each.
"Mini notecards for all occasions" … Minofo, Nofo-al, Foalocca, Alloccami.
"Taste of India Restaurant" … Taofin, Taoin, Tastoin, Ofinree, Indreta.
"Sean K Reynolds Game Designer" … Sekreg, Regade, Krega.
"Mini notecards for all occasions" … Minofo, Nofo-al, Foalocca, Alloccami.
"Taste of India Restaurant" … Taofin, Taoin, Tastoin, Ofinree, Indreta.
"Sean K Reynolds Game Designer" … Sekreg, Regade, Krega.
November 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Character/creature naming trick: Take 3 words you can see & use the first few letters of each.
"Mini notecards for all occasions" … Minofo, Nofo-al, Foalocca, Alloccami.
"Taste of India Restaurant" … Taofin, Taoin, Tastoin, Ofinree, Indreta.
"Sean K Reynolds Game Designer" … Sekreg, Regade, Krega.
"Mini notecards for all occasions" … Minofo, Nofo-al, Foalocca, Alloccami.
"Taste of India Restaurant" … Taofin, Taoin, Tastoin, Ofinree, Indreta.
"Sean K Reynolds Game Designer" … Sekreg, Regade, Krega.
Reposted by John
A remake of the Tim Curry board game murder-comedy, only all the suspects and the victim were openly in one big consensual relationship unit, called Cule
November 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A remake of the Tim Curry board game murder-comedy, only all the suspects and the victim were openly in one big consensual relationship unit, called Cule
Reposted by John
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
Reposted by John
An excellent article, featuring quotes from @benriggs.bsky.social @bdavewalters.bsky.social & @aabria.bsky.social.
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
An excellent article, featuring quotes from @benriggs.bsky.social @bdavewalters.bsky.social & @aabria.bsky.social.
Reposted by John
My Go-To Technique for RPG Character Intros!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZm...
The character montage is my favorite character introduction technique for #DnD or any other #ttrpg . See examples, how to explain it to players, and even how to use it for travel, to resolve a scene, and much more!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZm...
The character montage is my favorite character introduction technique for #DnD or any other #ttrpg . See examples, how to explain it to players, and even how to use it for travel, to resolve a scene, and much more!
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
My Go-To Technique for RPG Character Intros!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZm...
The character montage is my favorite character introduction technique for #DnD or any other #ttrpg . See examples, how to explain it to players, and even how to use it for travel, to resolve a scene, and much more!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZm...
The character montage is my favorite character introduction technique for #DnD or any other #ttrpg . See examples, how to explain it to players, and even how to use it for travel, to resolve a scene, and much more!
Reposted by John
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"babies are born worshipping unknown gods" is one of the most incredible dwarf fortress bugs i have heard of. its poetry.
Don't tell the book police but reading Rice's Interview with the Vampire and Mercedes Lackey's Magic's Pawn when I was 12 did a LOT to knock me off the default path of southern-small-town-anti-gay bigotry.
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Don't tell the book police but reading Rice's Interview with the Vampire and Mercedes Lackey's Magic's Pawn when I was 12 did a LOT to knock me off the default path of southern-small-town-anti-gay bigotry.
Reposted by John
today at the dog park neighboring the public tennis courts I witnessed a dude putting a battery operated ball launcher inside his suv accidentally hit some sort of button on it, which caused the machine to start firing tennis balls inside of the vehicle, which ended up giving him a black eye
had an awful day. please reply with your favorite memory someone that totally ate shit in a physical way that isn’t a total bummer
November 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
today at the dog park neighboring the public tennis courts I witnessed a dude putting a battery operated ball launcher inside his suv accidentally hit some sort of button on it, which caused the machine to start firing tennis balls inside of the vehicle, which ended up giving him a black eye
Reposted by John
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
Reposted by John
The identity of Sarah Kendzior, researcher on authoritarian states, and Sarah Kendzior's content discussing authoritarian states are...not really easy to separate.
So I'm struggling to see this as a response.
So I'm struggling to see this as a response.
False attribution. If a person is suspended it is because of their identity? Could it not be because of their content? I wrote about it here aaron.leaflet.pub/3m52nqqmk322v
Moderating With Humans, For Humans - Trust Issues
aaron.leaflet.pub
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The identity of Sarah Kendzior, researcher on authoritarian states, and Sarah Kendzior's content discussing authoritarian states are...not really easy to separate.
So I'm struggling to see this as a response.
So I'm struggling to see this as a response.
Reposted by John
[movie studio]
ME: BUT HOW DOES THE INVISIBLE MAN KNOW WHEN TO STOP WIPING?
TOUR GUIDE: *into walkie talkie* code orange, he’s back.
ME: BUT HOW DOES THE INVISIBLE MAN KNOW WHEN TO STOP WIPING?
TOUR GUIDE: *into walkie talkie* code orange, he’s back.
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
[movie studio]
ME: BUT HOW DOES THE INVISIBLE MAN KNOW WHEN TO STOP WIPING?
TOUR GUIDE: *into walkie talkie* code orange, he’s back.
ME: BUT HOW DOES THE INVISIBLE MAN KNOW WHEN TO STOP WIPING?
TOUR GUIDE: *into walkie talkie* code orange, he’s back.
Lovely afternoon to leave a message. I did it! You can, too.
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Lovely afternoon to leave a message. I did it! You can, too.
Reposted by John
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by John
Mamdani is going to implement Shar Law. Everyone will have to bow down to the Mistress of the Night, the Lady of Loss, and devote themselves to bringing about a darkness that will smother her hated foe and sister Selûne
Mamdani is going to implement My Sharona law. Everyone will have to create songs with undeniable rock beats.
Mamdani is going to implement Shari Lewis law.
Everyone will be required to stick their fist up a lamb's a
Excuse me, there's someone at the door.
Everyone will be required to stick their fist up a lamb's a
Excuse me, there's someone at the door.
November 9, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Mamdani is going to implement Shar Law. Everyone will have to bow down to the Mistress of the Night, the Lady of Loss, and devote themselves to bringing about a darkness that will smother her hated foe and sister Selûne
Reposted by John
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
Reposted by John
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 AM
No matter how hard people try to convince us having empathy is wrong,
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
it is right.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that diversity is a weakness,
it is a strength.
No matter how hard people try to convince us that love is limited,
it is unlimited.
Reposted by John
Reposted by John
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out o...
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
Reposted by John
I am so upset.
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
To be asked to write about racism only to be racially aggressed in the editing process is a new level unlocked I have to say.
November 3, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I am so upset.
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
Reposted by John
November 4, 2025 at 12:45 PM