Cook Maarten
@maartenbrands.bsky.social
Founder Cook and Becker. Games, Art, Literature, Film, Politics, Memes.
Ah, yes. The kind of people we want to build the future.
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
Instagram’s former head of safety and well-being Vaishnavi Jayakumar testified the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the trafficking of humans for sex.
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
7 Allegations Against Meta in Newly Unsealed Filings
Court filings allege Meta tolerated sex trafficking, hid harms to teens, and prioritized growth over user safety for years.
time.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Ah, yes. The kind of people we want to build the future.
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
The Germans do a real journalism and actually ask Ukrainians what they think.
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
So blicken die Menschen in Kiew auf den US-Plan zum Krieg
Selenskyj schwört sein Volk auf eine schmerzhafte Vereinbarung ein. Doch wie blicken die Menschen in Kiew auf die 28 Punkte? Und wie auf ihren eigenen Präsidenten?
www.faz.net
November 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
The Germans do a real journalism and actually ask Ukrainians what they think.
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...
Reposted by Cook Maarten
Reskeeting with alt text
Yeah this has become the utter pain of what we once had. Used to be you'd run to Google for a trusted and quick search and now I try to avoid it when I can
Legit ruined their own product to the point of being unrecognizable
Yeah this has become the utter pain of what we once had. Used to be you'd run to Google for a trusted and quick search and now I try to avoid it when I can
Legit ruined their own product to the point of being unrecognizable
November 23, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reskeeting with alt text
Yeah this has become the utter pain of what we once had. Used to be you'd run to Google for a trusted and quick search and now I try to avoid it when I can
Legit ruined their own product to the point of being unrecognizable
Yeah this has become the utter pain of what we once had. Used to be you'd run to Google for a trusted and quick search and now I try to avoid it when I can
Legit ruined their own product to the point of being unrecognizable
Reposted by Cook Maarten
This isn’t a “peace plan.” It’s a blueprint for Ukraine’s capitulation. If implemented, it would turn this pro-Western, democratic nation, which has been courageously resisting Russian aggression since 2014, into a Kremlin colony. wapo.st/3XcRot6
Opinion | Ukraine needs Russia’s frozen $200 billion immediately, Europe
With Trump seeking Kyiv’s capitulation to Russia, now is the moment for decisive European action.
wapo.st
November 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This isn’t a “peace plan.” It’s a blueprint for Ukraine’s capitulation. If implemented, it would turn this pro-Western, democratic nation, which has been courageously resisting Russian aggression since 2014, into a Kremlin colony. wapo.st/3XcRot6
Why does 'a game that made you cry' keep being heralded as something of significance or artistic merit? Making you feel sad is baby art. Not too long ago you were sad because you dropped your ice cream.
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Why does 'a game that made you cry' keep being heralded as something of significance or artistic merit? Making you feel sad is baby art. Not too long ago you were sad because you dropped your ice cream.
Apparently the dreadful modern-day sections have been removed. Suddenly I'm interested.
It looks like we could be seeing Ubisoft's long-rumoured Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Remake set sail really rather soon. https://bit.ly/4o90guu
November 22, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Apparently the dreadful modern-day sections have been removed. Suddenly I'm interested.
Security guarantees from the Chief of Lies. Nothing he says can be trusted. Europe needs to unfreeze those Russian funds and step up!
November 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Security guarantees from the Chief of Lies. Nothing he says can be trusted. Europe needs to unfreeze those Russian funds and step up!
I saw the new Running Man and ooff... Starts out mildly entertaining, but goes completely off the rails halfway through. One of the worst third-acts I can remember seeing. Feels like a bunch of hasty reshoots and re-edits, actors phoning it in etc.
November 20, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I saw the new Running Man and ooff... Starts out mildly entertaining, but goes completely off the rails halfway through. One of the worst third-acts I can remember seeing. Feels like a bunch of hasty reshoots and re-edits, actors phoning it in etc.
The Doll, our newest Bloodborne art print @cookandbecker.bsky.social
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
November 19, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The Doll, our newest Bloodborne art print @cookandbecker.bsky.social
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
In the 2000's we still expected good things from tech, now we've seen who are running these companies and their business practices.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-...
The Most Joyless Tech Revolution Ever: AI Is Making Us Rich and Unhappy
Discomfort around artificial intelligence helps explain the disconnect between a solid economy and an anxious public.
www.wsj.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM
In the 2000's we still expected good things from tech, now we've seen who are running these companies and their business practices.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-...
Reposted by Cook Maarten
Extremely happy with this new BLOODBORNE screenprint by @cookandbecker.bsky.social
We're thrilled to unveil The Doll, an exclusive, officially licensed BLOODBORNE artwork made by artist 'Saprophial'.
This artwork is available as a limited-edition screen print in both large and small size editions.
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
#Bloodborne #fromsoftware
This artwork is available as a limited-edition screen print in both large and small size editions.
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
#Bloodborne #fromsoftware
November 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Extremely happy with this new BLOODBORNE screenprint by @cookandbecker.bsky.social
Extremely happy with this new BLOODBORNE screenprint by @cookandbecker.bsky.social
We're thrilled to unveil The Doll, an exclusive, officially licensed BLOODBORNE artwork made by artist 'Saprophial'.
This artwork is available as a limited-edition screen print in both large and small size editions.
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
#Bloodborne #fromsoftware
This artwork is available as a limited-edition screen print in both large and small size editions.
www.cookandbecker.com/en/artwork/3...
#Bloodborne #fromsoftware
November 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Extremely happy with this new BLOODBORNE screenprint by @cookandbecker.bsky.social
The “winner takes all” mentality also pervades game awards now. Awards were the last opportunity to lift up a the lesser well-known.
The most this, the most that. Otherwise it has no merit. This barren culture of quantifying art by statistics that must always go up.
The most this, the most that. Otherwise it has no merit. This barren culture of quantifying art by statistics that must always go up.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 makes Game Awards history as most nominated game ever www.eurogamer.net/clair-obscur...
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The “winner takes all” mentality also pervades game awards now. Awards were the last opportunity to lift up a the lesser well-known.
The most this, the most that. Otherwise it has no merit. This barren culture of quantifying art by statistics that must always go up.
The most this, the most that. Otherwise it has no merit. This barren culture of quantifying art by statistics that must always go up.
Russia planted a bomb for a railway line in Poland (NATO country). In case you weren't worried yet, and deluded yourself into thinking that we're not in open conflict with Russia.
November 17, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Russia planted a bomb for a railway line in Poland (NATO country). In case you weren't worried yet, and deluded yourself into thinking that we're not in open conflict with Russia.
Happy that we can finally launch reveal it tomorrow 🙂#bloodborne
This special limited edition art print drops tomorrow, Tuesday 17th!
November 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Happy that we can finally launch reveal it tomorrow 🙂#bloodborne
Reposted by Cook Maarten
This special limited edition art print drops tomorrow, Tuesday 17th!
November 17, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This special limited edition art print drops tomorrow, Tuesday 17th!
Michael Shannon and fellow actors are the highlight in 'Death by Lighting'. The show itself is very shallow though in both it's exploration of the history, and the human psychology. As usual it's too long and @netflix ugly too.
November 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Michael Shannon and fellow actors are the highlight in 'Death by Lighting'. The show itself is very shallow though in both it's exploration of the history, and the human psychology. As usual it's too long and @netflix ugly too.
Wild statistic. The net worth held by the top 0.1% of households is $23.3 trillion. The amount held by the bottom 50% is $4.2 trillion.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
The Ultrarich Are Spending a Fortune to Live in Extreme Privacy
In Miami and elsewhere, the wealthy are moving in increasingly private spheres, shelling out big money to bypass the indignities of public life.
www.wsj.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Wild statistic. The net worth held by the top 0.1% of households is $23.3 trillion. The amount held by the bottom 50% is $4.2 trillion.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
A hallmark of quality writing is a character vocalizing everything I'm already seeing on screen...
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
November 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A hallmark of quality writing is a character vocalizing everything I'm already seeing on screen...
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
"I'm now walking through a door!"
#metroidprime
Reposted by Cook Maarten
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
Can flawed people build flawless tools? Look at how the internet is now, and the paragons of morality at the top building it. Are these the architects you want to give free reign to build an all encompassing digital universe?
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
November 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Can flawed people build flawless tools? Look at how the internet is now, and the paragons of morality at the top building it. Are these the architects you want to give free reign to build an all encompassing digital universe?
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
I wouldn't trust myself to build A.I. tools.
What's happening on, or with consoles is just really boring? It's just infrastructure now. I also don't get excited about an upgrade of my broadband connection from 500MB to 1GB. It's a meaningless difference to my actual use. Now games on the other hand...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
Five years from launch the PS5 is a roaring success, so why doesn't it feel like it? The answer is surprisingly simple
Chasing a reason for the slight apathy towards a hugely successful generation, we compare Sony's PS5 exclusives to the PS4s - and get a pretty clear answer.
www.eurogamer.net
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 AM
What's happening on, or with consoles is just really boring? It's just infrastructure now. I also don't get excited about an upgrade of my broadband connection from 500MB to 1GB. It's a meaningless difference to my actual use. Now games on the other hand...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
www.eurogamer.net/five-years-f...
I'm very interested in the Steam Frame! I love VR, but I never upgraded from the PSVR, as I don't want to buy anything from that awful, stain-on-humanity company META.
November 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I'm very interested in the Steam Frame! I love VR, but I never upgraded from the PSVR, as I don't want to buy anything from that awful, stain-on-humanity company META.
Reposted by Cook Maarten
no matter what you think about valve we are unfortunately at a stage of capitalism when it is extremely refreshing when a company comes up with a product for you to simply exchange money for
November 13, 2025 at 3:10 AM
no matter what you think about valve we are unfortunately at a stage of capitalism when it is extremely refreshing when a company comes up with a product for you to simply exchange money for