Tor
@ccxvii.bsky.social
I made rally-the-troops.com, mupdf, gargoyle, and some other stuff.
Reposted by Tor
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 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Tor
Today, a friend involved in the Esna restoration project has shared with me his latest stunning photos of the restored ceiling and columns of the Temple of Khnum in Esna, Upper #Egypt. During a multi-year restoration project, the dirt and soot that had obscured the ...🧵1/3
📷 D. v. Recklinghausen
🏺
📷 D. v. Recklinghausen
🏺
November 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Today, a friend involved in the Esna restoration project has shared with me his latest stunning photos of the restored ceiling and columns of the Temple of Khnum in Esna, Upper #Egypt. During a multi-year restoration project, the dirt and soot that had obscured the ...🧵1/3
📷 D. v. Recklinghausen
🏺
📷 D. v. Recklinghausen
🏺
Rally the Troops has added yet another World War I game to the line up: Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno. This is a CDG about the trench warfare around Verdun during World War I, designed by Walter Vejdo, with illustrations by Tardi.
rally-the-troops.com/verdun
rally-the-troops.com/verdun
October 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Rally the Troops has added yet another World War I game to the line up: Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno. This is a CDG about the trench warfare around Verdun during World War I, designed by Walter Vejdo, with illustrations by Tardi.
rally-the-troops.com/verdun
rally-the-troops.com/verdun
Reposted by Tor
If I see you posting AI slop, it's an instant block. Even if you think it's cute or says a lot about society. If you are purporting that some AI slop is real news, I will report you for misinformation, and then block you. Sloppers should be marginalised.
October 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
If I see you posting AI slop, it's an instant block. Even if you think it's cute or says a lot about society. If you are purporting that some AI slop is real news, I will report you for misinformation, and then block you. Sloppers should be marginalised.
Reposted by Tor
The Terran Trade Authority series were science fiction art books published in the late 1970s & early 80s, created by British author Stewart Cowley using previously published paintings from sci-fi artists of the era, weaving elaborate fictional histories around the imagery. 1/3
October 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The Terran Trade Authority series were science fiction art books published in the late 1970s & early 80s, created by British author Stewart Cowley using previously published paintings from sci-fi artists of the era, weaving elaborate fictional histories around the imagery. 1/3
Reposted by Tor
The Mediocre wargame companies really are embracing GenAI quite vigorously.
For people who claim to care about history, they sure love depicting faceless mutant handed soldiers carrying deformed weapons, fighting alongside magical choppers that float, but don't disturb smoke.
For people who claim to care about history, they sure love depicting faceless mutant handed soldiers carrying deformed weapons, fighting alongside magical choppers that float, but don't disturb smoke.
September 14, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The Mediocre wargame companies really are embracing GenAI quite vigorously.
For people who claim to care about history, they sure love depicting faceless mutant handed soldiers carrying deformed weapons, fighting alongside magical choppers that float, but don't disturb smoke.
For people who claim to care about history, they sure love depicting faceless mutant handed soldiers carrying deformed weapons, fighting alongside magical choppers that float, but don't disturb smoke.
Reposted by Tor
The art of Chris Moore (1947 - 2025)
September 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The art of Chris Moore (1947 - 2025)
Thanks to Nathan Forget, you can finally play Paths of Glory on Rally the Troops!
rally-the-troops.com/paths-of-glory
rally-the-troops.com/paths-of-glory
September 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Thanks to Nathan Forget, you can finally play Paths of Glory on Rally the Troops!
rally-the-troops.com/paths-of-glory
rally-the-troops.com/paths-of-glory
Reposted by Tor
To my friends in Estonia, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Romania please call your MEPs.
Ireland has been a lost cause, giving into the lies around Chat Control not being a privacy-invading nightmare.
But other governments are still debating and they need to be given accurate info.
Ireland has been a lost cause, giving into the lies around Chat Control not being a privacy-invading nightmare.
But other governments are still debating and they need to be given accurate info.
🚨Our governments are about to decide whether 450M Europeans deserve privacy - or not.
Help ensure your country says NO to Chat Control: Call you local representatives!
Privacy is not negotiable. Speak up now. ✊ #privacy
👉 More on how to stop Chat Control: tuta.com/blog/chat-co...
Help ensure your country says NO to Chat Control: Call you local representatives!
Privacy is not negotiable. Speak up now. ✊ #privacy
👉 More on how to stop Chat Control: tuta.com/blog/chat-co...
September 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
To my friends in Estonia, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Romania please call your MEPs.
Ireland has been a lost cause, giving into the lies around Chat Control not being a privacy-invading nightmare.
But other governments are still debating and they need to be given accurate info.
Ireland has been a lost cause, giving into the lies around Chat Control not being a privacy-invading nightmare.
But other governments are still debating and they need to be given accurate info.
Reposted by Tor
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
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
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
Reposted by Tor
Early concept art by Chris Foss for Alien (1979)
July 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Early concept art by Chris Foss for Alien (1979)
Reposted by Tor
This is a truly fascinating thread, and discusses an implied cooperation in every game, not matter how competitive. I hadn't thought of it that way and now I am.
16 years ago, I found myself in the back garden of a couple I'd just met, as they showed me their pillow fighting arena. The lesson they taught me about games - especially competitive ones - has stayed with me ever since, but I forgot to mention it in interviews when asked if competition is bad. So:
July 2, 2025 at 12:11 AM
This is a truly fascinating thread, and discusses an implied cooperation in every game, not matter how competitive. I hadn't thought of it that way and now I am.
Reposted by Tor
Look what just set sail on Rally the Troops ...
a poster for murdoch mysteries shows a sailboat
ALT: a poster for murdoch mysteries shows a sailboat
media.tenor.com
June 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Look what just set sail on Rally the Troops ...
Reposted by Tor
Wikimedia Foundation backing off of this after user outcry is good, but IMO not good enough to offset the horrificness of making the decision originally, and the fact that it's "paused" not "cancelled" and they're "still interested in AI-generated summaries" ain't great either.
Fuhhhhhhhhhhck.
Fuhhhhhhhhhhck.
Wikipedia wanted to use AI summaries at the top of article pages. Editors said please please don't www.404media.co/wikipedia-pa...
Wikipedia Pauses AI-Generated Summaries After Editor Backlash
“This would do immediate and irreversible harm to our readers and to our reputation as a decently trustworthy and serious source,” one Wikipedia editor said.
www.404media.co
June 12, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Wikimedia Foundation backing off of this after user outcry is good, but IMO not good enough to offset the horrificness of making the decision originally, and the fact that it's "paused" not "cancelled" and they're "still interested in AI-generated summaries" ain't great either.
Fuhhhhhhhhhhck.
Fuhhhhhhhhhhck.
Reposted by Tor
Scavengers Reign (2023)
The best recent sci-fi show that almost no one has seen.
The best recent sci-fi show that almost no one has seen.
May 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Scavengers Reign (2023)
The best recent sci-fi show that almost no one has seen.
The best recent sci-fi show that almost no one has seen.
Reposted by Tor
All of Tim Kirk’s art from the 1975 Tolkien Calendar 1/3
May 23, 2025 at 12:18 AM
All of Tim Kirk’s art from the 1975 Tolkien Calendar 1/3
Reposted by Tor
This is so ridiculously harmful and has nothing to do with protecting women. It is about social hygiene and the fact that some people think sex work is gross. And it has massive knock on effects.
Sweden has gone ahead and passed their draconian "Nordic Model" bill criminalizing online creator content.
As of July 1, consumers who purchase an OnlyFans clip, a cam show or other creator content will be subject to arrest and a year in prison
All in order to "protect" women from exploitation.
As of July 1, consumers who purchase an OnlyFans clip, a cam show or other creator content will be subject to arrest and a year in prison
All in order to "protect" women from exploitation.
Sweden bans buying OnlyFans content - Euractiv
The new law criminalises paid online sexual services, including cam shows and sex chats.
www.euractiv.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This is so ridiculously harmful and has nothing to do with protecting women. It is about social hygiene and the fact that some people think sex work is gross. And it has massive knock on effects.
Reposted by Tor
A recent @newscientist.com cartoon #fungi
May 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A recent @newscientist.com cartoon #fungi
Reposted by Tor
Good things can grow in the soil of bad things:
The tariff crisis seems to be sparking a creative surge in me.
For a decade, my game design life has split between work and personal projects.
🎲✂️(1/9)
The tariff crisis seems to be sparking a creative surge in me.
For a decade, my game design life has split between work and personal projects.
🎲✂️(1/9)
April 28, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Good things can grow in the soil of bad things:
The tariff crisis seems to be sparking a creative surge in me.
For a decade, my game design life has split between work and personal projects.
🎲✂️(1/9)
The tariff crisis seems to be sparking a creative surge in me.
For a decade, my game design life has split between work and personal projects.
🎲✂️(1/9)
Reposted by Tor
The follow-on volume to Coast Watchers - this one set on the Western Front in World War I - has hit GMT's P500.
www.gmtgames.com/p-1162-drach...
www.gmtgames.com/p-1162-drach...
GMT Games - Drachen
Drachen
www.gmtgames.com
April 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The follow-on volume to Coast Watchers - this one set on the Western Front in World War I - has hit GMT's P500.
www.gmtgames.com/p-1162-drach...
www.gmtgames.com/p-1162-drach...
Reposted by Tor
One of the most powerful pieces of creative advice I've ever come across:
Hang out with people who are better than you at things that matter to you.
My dad used to say: "Your goal should be to be the dumbest person in the room."
In my own life, wow has that turned out to be good advice.
🎲✂️
Hang out with people who are better than you at things that matter to you.
My dad used to say: "Your goal should be to be the dumbest person in the room."
In my own life, wow has that turned out to be good advice.
🎲✂️
April 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
One of the most powerful pieces of creative advice I've ever come across:
Hang out with people who are better than you at things that matter to you.
My dad used to say: "Your goal should be to be the dumbest person in the room."
In my own life, wow has that turned out to be good advice.
🎲✂️
Hang out with people who are better than you at things that matter to you.
My dad used to say: "Your goal should be to be the dumbest person in the room."
In my own life, wow has that turned out to be good advice.
🎲✂️
Reposted by Tor
Great to see The Guardian recycling an article of mine from 2023 without attribution:
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html
as
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/the-big-idea-will-sci-fi-end-up-destroying-the-world
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html
as
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/the-big-idea-will-sci-fi-end-up-destroying-the-world
April 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Great to see The Guardian recycling an article of mine from 2023 without attribution:
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html
as
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/the-big-idea-will-sci-fi-end-up-destroying-the-world
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html
as
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/the-big-idea-will-sci-fi-end-up-destroying-the-world
Reposted by Tor
my HORRIFYING cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books
April 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
my HORRIFYING cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books
Reposted by Tor
also also AI art is theft and ecologically unviable and normalizing it only gives it the continued power to destroy our knowledge & institutions
it is soulless and always, always inexcusable, and some people really should know better but I thought I was pretty diplomatic about it frankly
it is soulless and always, always inexcusable, and some people really should know better but I thought I was pretty diplomatic about it frankly
April 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
also also AI art is theft and ecologically unviable and normalizing it only gives it the continued power to destroy our knowledge & institutions
it is soulless and always, always inexcusable, and some people really should know better but I thought I was pretty diplomatic about it frankly
it is soulless and always, always inexcusable, and some people really should know better but I thought I was pretty diplomatic about it frankly