Kurtis McCathern
@kurtismcc.bsky.social
Husband to @othesharon.bsky.social. Dad. Christian. Engineer. Currently at Magic Soup Games, Previously at Blizzard. Owner of expressed opinions. He/him. Black lives matter. pfp by Eric Browning
Pinned
Updating my pinned post.
Hi, I'm Kurtis. Late to game dev: started at 35. Barreling towards 50. Most of my career as server engineer on World of Warcraft, but done other things - last 21 months or so at Magic Soup Games working on [redacted].
Probably a 3d printing stan account for a while.
Hi, I'm Kurtis. Late to game dev: started at 35. Barreling towards 50. Most of my career as server engineer on World of Warcraft, but done other things - last 21 months or so at Magic Soup Games working on [redacted].
Probably a 3d printing stan account for a while.
“Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.” Romans 7:7-8
At least once a month, Anthropic puts out an alignment paper d AI behavior where, if you saw it in a science fiction film, you‘d be screaming at the idiot scientists onscreen to stop development
www.anthropic.com/research/eme...
www.anthropic.com/research/eme...
From shortcuts to sabotage: natural emergent misalignment from reward hacking
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
www.anthropic.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM
“Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.” Romans 7:7-8
I've fried a turkey in over 20 Thanksgivings. Make sure the bird is thawed, dry, go slow, and do it outside and you'll be fine. This example is a worst case scenario - frozen bird (not thawed, not dry) inside, and lowered all the way in despite a lot of bubbling. Also too much oil.
Be safe!
Be safe!
There is a post circulating on Bluesky encouraging the moving of a frozen turkey straight into a pot of hot oil. We are combating this misinformation the best way we know how - through the power of dance music.
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I've fried a turkey in over 20 Thanksgivings. Make sure the bird is thawed, dry, go slow, and do it outside and you'll be fine. This example is a worst case scenario - frozen bird (not thawed, not dry) inside, and lowered all the way in despite a lot of bubbling. Also too much oil.
Be safe!
Be safe!
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
A funny part of getting older is that while time does pass faster, you also forget how little of it has to pass for younger people to start getting nostalgic about something so you’ll see someone opining about 2021 and look at them like they just waxed poetic about this morning’s breakfast
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
A funny part of getting older is that while time does pass faster, you also forget how little of it has to pass for younger people to start getting nostalgic about something so you’ll see someone opining about 2021 and look at them like they just waxed poetic about this morning’s breakfast
Pretty accurate. If I won $100 million pile in game dev friends - we’re making a game.
"If you won $100 million, would you still work?"
Absolutely. I would work every day, as I do now, only I would get to exclusively work on my things. I would set up a publishing company and sign all the writer friends I have who are struggling to do the same thing.
Absolutely. I would work every day, as I do now, only I would get to exclusively work on my things. I would set up a publishing company and sign all the writer friends I have who are struggling to do the same thing.
"If you won $100 million, would you still work?"
Hell no, I would not. I would do whatever the fuck I wanted.
Appropos of...
GRRM got what $100 million? 200? from HBO for Game of Thrones etc. Dude won the lottery. Why would he work? Those last two books are not coming. Ever.
Hell no, I would not. I would do whatever the fuck I wanted.
Appropos of...
GRRM got what $100 million? 200? from HBO for Game of Thrones etc. Dude won the lottery. Why would he work? Those last two books are not coming. Ever.
November 23, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Pretty accurate. If I won $100 million pile in game dev friends - we’re making a game.
Tron (1982)
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Tron (1982)
Me writing python.
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Me writing python.
So I tried a larger experiment on a personal project, and this is the result: github.com/kurtismcc/Ce...
All that code was written AI assisted. I don't have any particular desire to help train Microsoft's next model with my actual personal code.
All that code was written AI assisted. I don't have any particular desire to help train Microsoft's next model with my actual personal code.
November 16, 2025 at 4:39 AM
So I tried a larger experiment on a personal project, and this is the result: github.com/kurtismcc/Ce...
All that code was written AI assisted. I don't have any particular desire to help train Microsoft's next model with my actual personal code.
All that code was written AI assisted. I don't have any particular desire to help train Microsoft's next model with my actual personal code.
Check the thread if you don't know what this is about.
Actually I've thought about it for a bit and the correct joke here is:
He prayed for her
She'd never tell
Secretly she prayed for him as well
He prayed for her
She'd never tell
Secretly she prayed for him as well
November 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Check the thread if you don't know what this is about.
Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds... how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?... Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. -1 Cor 14:7-9
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds... how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?... Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. -1 Cor 14:7-9
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Can none of these millionaires sex criminals write in full sentences? Have you heard of paragraphs? Punctuation? No wonder ChatGPT sounds like a genius to these clowns.
November 13, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Can none of these millionaires sex criminals write in full sentences? Have you heard of paragraphs? Punctuation? No wonder ChatGPT sounds like a genius to these clowns.
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Help. So my youngest missed the white Keyon the corpse near the First Shrine. Don’t worry, the internet says, you can buy it off the vendor when you unlock her.
How do you unlock her? Double jump up into the Memoriam.
How do you get double jump? Use the clawline.
Clawline? White key.
Help.
How do you unlock her? Double jump up into the Memoriam.
How do you get double jump? Use the clawline.
Clawline? White key.
Help.
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Help. So my youngest missed the white Keyon the corpse near the First Shrine. Don’t worry, the internet says, you can buy it off the vendor when you unlock her.
How do you unlock her? Double jump up into the Memoriam.
How do you get double jump? Use the clawline.
Clawline? White key.
Help.
How do you unlock her? Double jump up into the Memoriam.
How do you get double jump? Use the clawline.
Clawline? White key.
Help.
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
i suspect there’s some truth to this and also why we should be EXTREMELY skeptical that senate dems as currently constituted would ditch the filibuster should they ever have a trifecta again
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
i suspect there’s some truth to this and also why we should be EXTREMELY skeptical that senate dems as currently constituted would ditch the filibuster should they ever have a trifecta again
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Yeah, but that was before air travel was in trouble and the senators were personally affected, see
if they were going to cave anyway they should’ve done it a week ago to spare SNAP recipients the agony.
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Yeah, but that was before air travel was in trouble and the senators were personally affected, see
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Proud of myself? You bet I am.
November 10, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Proud of myself? You bet I am.
That vote on ACA subsidies is gonna include restructuring that the GOP can pitch to their base and donors as a win.
The RIF thing sounds interesting, but I’m not sure that moved the needle.
Really feel like this was “people wanna go home for Thanksgiving - we gotta blow up the filibuster.”
The RIF thing sounds interesting, but I’m not sure that moved the needle.
Really feel like this was “people wanna go home for Thanksgiving - we gotta blow up the filibuster.”
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 AM
That vote on ACA subsidies is gonna include restructuring that the GOP can pitch to their base and donors as a win.
The RIF thing sounds interesting, but I’m not sure that moved the needle.
Really feel like this was “people wanna go home for Thanksgiving - we gotta blow up the filibuster.”
The RIF thing sounds interesting, but I’m not sure that moved the needle.
Really feel like this was “people wanna go home for Thanksgiving - we gotta blow up the filibuster.”
You don’t suddenly get this kind of pressure to deal unless something changed.
It was last Tuesday, so what was it?
My guess? They actually threatened to follow through on blowing up the filibuster.
It’s a bluff - but that’s the play.
Be sure to say “don’t cave to try to save the filibuster.”
It was last Tuesday, so what was it?
My guess? They actually threatened to follow through on blowing up the filibuster.
It’s a bluff - but that’s the play.
Be sure to say “don’t cave to try to save the filibuster.”
November 10, 2025 at 12:05 AM
You don’t suddenly get this kind of pressure to deal unless something changed.
It was last Tuesday, so what was it?
My guess? They actually threatened to follow through on blowing up the filibuster.
It’s a bluff - but that’s the play.
Be sure to say “don’t cave to try to save the filibuster.”
It was last Tuesday, so what was it?
My guess? They actually threatened to follow through on blowing up the filibuster.
It’s a bluff - but that’s the play.
Be sure to say “don’t cave to try to save the filibuster.”
My pastor this morning - “When faith props up power it ceases to be good news.”
November 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
My pastor this morning - “When faith props up power it ceases to be good news.”
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
“individual employees asked to change behavior in response to catastrophic mistakes made by their high-level leadership over the past 3-7 years” really feels like the overarching story of the current times
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
“individual employees asked to change behavior in response to catastrophic mistakes made by their high-level leadership over the past 3-7 years” really feels like the overarching story of the current times
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
So after a couple of weeks of using Claude Code - I think it’s very good at some things, mediocre at most, and a little dangerous if you don’t understand some of how it works.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
November 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
So after a couple of weeks of using Claude Code - I think it’s very good at some things, mediocre at most, and a little dangerous if you don’t understand some of how it works.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
This whole thread is great! I put about half of this in my "How to Talk Good" talk about how to give talks.
Especially the part about reading your slides.
Embrace modern presentation tricks. Ignore old speech hacks who could count on audience attention being longer than a Tiktok.
Especially the part about reading your slides.
Embrace modern presentation tricks. Ignore old speech hacks who could count on audience attention being longer than a Tiktok.
one of my coworkers once asked me how i made good slideshows. i have two main rules:
1. content is king
2. readability is queen
everything in your slideshow should be content or improve readability, and readability is attention engineering.
some (opinionated) practical tips based on those rules:
1. content is king
2. readability is queen
everything in your slideshow should be content or improve readability, and readability is attention engineering.
some (opinionated) practical tips based on those rules:
November 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This whole thread is great! I put about half of this in my "How to Talk Good" talk about how to give talks.
Especially the part about reading your slides.
Embrace modern presentation tricks. Ignore old speech hacks who could count on audience attention being longer than a Tiktok.
Especially the part about reading your slides.
Embrace modern presentation tricks. Ignore old speech hacks who could count on audience attention being longer than a Tiktok.
Reposted by Kurtis McCathern
Small note: it's a plagiarism machine whether or not the training data is legally obtained. Right now it's a plagiarism machine powered by massive-scale theft.
November 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Small note: it's a plagiarism machine whether or not the training data is legally obtained. Right now it's a plagiarism machine powered by massive-scale theft.
So after a couple of weeks of using Claude Code - I think it’s very good at some things, mediocre at most, and a little dangerous if you don’t understand some of how it works.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
November 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
So after a couple of weeks of using Claude Code - I think it’s very good at some things, mediocre at most, and a little dangerous if you don’t understand some of how it works.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.
I’m really at a bit of a moral quandary here. Long thread incoming. Spicy topic, so block button readied.