Darius Baktash
@sol-cantus.blacksky.app
Formerly Clinical Research. Mod, Politics & Science, RA/QA Evangelist, MENA in B'more. Overthinking TTRPGs. A weird panoply 🏳️🌈, He/They.
No kings, no castes, no corruption.
If I'm wrong, call me out. Missed nuance? Hit me with it. Confused? Just ask.
No kings, no castes, no corruption.
If I'm wrong, call me out. Missed nuance? Hit me with it. Confused? Just ask.
There's a reason I don't watch 99% of anime. It's not that they're aren't good writers (both in narrative and being conscientious of abuses in culture and history), but because the fan culture itself is often happily ignorant and abusive when asked to acknowledge healthy criticism.
We are not a monolith.
If you want to make your space more welcoming for Asian Americans and mixed people in general, put me on your panel, talk, podcast, retreats, convention, Actual Play project, or what have you.
If you want to make your space more welcoming for Asian Americans and mixed people in general, put me on your panel, talk, podcast, retreats, convention, Actual Play project, or what have you.
November 27, 2025 at 2:41 AM
There's a reason I don't watch 99% of anime. It's not that they're aren't good writers (both in narrative and being conscientious of abuses in culture and history), but because the fan culture itself is often happily ignorant and abusive when asked to acknowledge healthy criticism.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
10000% this.
We can't be anticolonial if we're blind to the colonial storytelling of East Asia. Japan fully colonized Korea and did grevious harm to the people of Korea that is still being unpacked 70 years later.
Hyper-simplification of "Asianness" as Anime is why I stopped consuming Anime.
We can't be anticolonial if we're blind to the colonial storytelling of East Asia. Japan fully colonized Korea and did grevious harm to the people of Korea that is still being unpacked 70 years later.
Hyper-simplification of "Asianness" as Anime is why I stopped consuming Anime.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 AM
10000% this.
We can't be anticolonial if we're blind to the colonial storytelling of East Asia. Japan fully colonized Korea and did grevious harm to the people of Korea that is still being unpacked 70 years later.
Hyper-simplification of "Asianness" as Anime is why I stopped consuming Anime.
We can't be anticolonial if we're blind to the colonial storytelling of East Asia. Japan fully colonized Korea and did grevious harm to the people of Korea that is still being unpacked 70 years later.
Hyper-simplification of "Asianness" as Anime is why I stopped consuming Anime.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
But they are extra steps, and I think it's important to remember that sometimes those extra steps that are no big deal for one person, are why someone else might take longer to do a thing or might need additional help.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
But they are extra steps, and I think it's important to remember that sometimes those extra steps that are no big deal for one person, are why someone else might take longer to do a thing or might need additional help.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
You can code for 14 hours straight or write an entire novel in a weekend, but you can't remember to shower or call your mom back. Studies show ADHD hyperfocus can boost productivity and creativity, but
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
You can code for 14 hours straight or write an entire novel in a weekend, but you can't remember to shower or call your mom back. Studies show ADHD hyperfocus can boost productivity and creativity, but
Safou, at least from frozen, doesn't quite have the same description as I hear from others, but it's definitely delicious. Like using limoo omani in a tapenade. Personally, I love it, but it's an acquired taste.
I'll have to figure out how to budget trying fresh some day.
I'll have to figure out how to budget trying fresh some day.
November 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Safou, at least from frozen, doesn't quite have the same description as I hear from others, but it's definitely delicious. Like using limoo omani in a tapenade. Personally, I love it, but it's an acquired taste.
I'll have to figure out how to budget trying fresh some day.
I'll have to figure out how to budget trying fresh some day.
From one of your resident MENA folks, a PSA on Tahini
It's not pronounced Ta Hiney or Ta Hinny, it's Tah ini. Think closer to Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Disclaimer: This is still an imperfect description because Americans don't really have the glottal phonetics to do it right.
It's not pronounced Ta Hiney or Ta Hinny, it's Tah ini. Think closer to Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Disclaimer: This is still an imperfect description because Americans don't really have the glottal phonetics to do it right.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
From one of your resident MENA folks, a PSA on Tahini
It's not pronounced Ta Hiney or Ta Hinny, it's Tah ini. Think closer to Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Disclaimer: This is still an imperfect description because Americans don't really have the glottal phonetics to do it right.
It's not pronounced Ta Hiney or Ta Hinny, it's Tah ini. Think closer to Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Disclaimer: This is still an imperfect description because Americans don't really have the glottal phonetics to do it right.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Why does skunk spray smell so bad, and what are some science-backed methods for removing the stench? The latest edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social takes a look: cen.acs.org/biological-c...
#ChemSky 🧪
#ChemSky 🧪
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Why does skunk spray smell so bad, and what are some science-backed methods for removing the stench? The latest edition of #PeriodicGraphics in @cenmag.bsky.social takes a look: cen.acs.org/biological-c...
#ChemSky 🧪
#ChemSky 🧪
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Hi hi hi, I'm live on #Twitch and I've already forgotten how to stream.
Looking at Randomice and Greenhearth Necromancer today!
twitch.tv/urbanbohemian 💖
Looking at Randomice and Greenhearth Necromancer today!
twitch.tv/urbanbohemian 💖
urbanbohemian - Twitch
Did y'all miss me? Back from PAXU with Randomice and Greenhearth Necromancer | !donate !clip | @urbanbohemian 💖 🏳🌈 | !pronouns [CC]
twitch.tv
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Hi hi hi, I'm live on #Twitch and I've already forgotten how to stream.
Looking at Randomice and Greenhearth Necromancer today!
twitch.tv/urbanbohemian 💖
Looking at Randomice and Greenhearth Necromancer today!
twitch.tv/urbanbohemian 💖
Folks past the age of military recruitment, please go to any and every military recruiting station right now and explain to everyone walking in how we were all misled into war over the last 60 years, from Tonkin to Yellow Cake.
They have not been taught how much we've been lied to.
They have not been taught how much we've been lied to.
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Folks past the age of military recruitment, please go to any and every military recruiting station right now and explain to everyone walking in how we were all misled into war over the last 60 years, from Tonkin to Yellow Cake.
They have not been taught how much we've been lied to.
They have not been taught how much we've been lied to.
It's very telling how much biologists can skew your sense of how disturbing any given thing is. For me, as long as it's not intentionally, violently grotesque, I don't even think about most natural things as weird. For others, even a little peek into stranger bio can ruin their day.
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
It's very telling how much biologists can skew your sense of how disturbing any given thing is. For me, as long as it's not intentionally, violently grotesque, I don't even think about most natural things as weird. For others, even a little peek into stranger bio can ruin their day.
AISlop's Fables (read like Aesop) feels like it's going to be the best way to describe the current decade.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
AISlop's Fables (read like Aesop) feels like it's going to be the best way to describe the current decade.
The easiest way to deal with AI slop recipe content is to set search for anytime before 2022.
Or just buy some well regarded cookbooks.
Or just buy some well regarded cookbooks.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The easiest way to deal with AI slop recipe content is to set search for anytime before 2022.
Or just buy some well regarded cookbooks.
Or just buy some well regarded cookbooks.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Medieval peasants would get the equivalent of an office pizza party when their lord required them to do extra work (a boonwork day). They’d get good bread, ale, beef and fish like this 15th century recipe for Barbel Boylled. youtu.be/CFXuZAGEO5c?...
How to Eat Like a Medieval Peasant
YouTube video by Tasting History with Max Miller
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Medieval peasants would get the equivalent of an office pizza party when their lord required them to do extra work (a boonwork day). They’d get good bread, ale, beef and fish like this 15th century recipe for Barbel Boylled. youtu.be/CFXuZAGEO5c?...
www.adirondackexplorer.org/community-ne...
Across America this keeps happening. Developers see pristine land as an easy way to keep making absurd amounts of money via sub-par housing, and the result is always homelessness and environmental contamination.
Across America this keeps happening. Developers see pristine land as an easy way to keep making absurd amounts of money via sub-par housing, and the result is always homelessness and environmental contamination.
What’s going on in Loon Lake? - Adirondack Explorer
Members of historic Franklin County community gear up for development fight on Loon Lake in northern Adirondacks.
www.adirondackexplorer.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:04 AM
www.adirondackexplorer.org/community-ne...
Across America this keeps happening. Developers see pristine land as an easy way to keep making absurd amounts of money via sub-par housing, and the result is always homelessness and environmental contamination.
Across America this keeps happening. Developers see pristine land as an easy way to keep making absurd amounts of money via sub-par housing, and the result is always homelessness and environmental contamination.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
So the USA plans to fabricate their science going forward? If they do, they'll really be able to behave as if they fully don't need scientific evidence anymore. They can just pump out pseudoscience, like antivaxx articles "made by LLMs".
See doi.org/10.31234/osf... for the case in psychology.
1/n
See doi.org/10.31234/osf... for the case in psychology.
1/n
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 AM
So the USA plans to fabricate their science going forward? If they do, they'll really be able to behave as if they fully don't need scientific evidence anymore. They can just pump out pseudoscience, like antivaxx articles "made by LLMs".
See doi.org/10.31234/osf... for the case in psychology.
1/n
See doi.org/10.31234/osf... for the case in psychology.
1/n
She's a ten, but carries a Pomeranian and a martini.
I'm not used to folks flirting with me randomly, especially not very attractive ones, but physical traits only get you so far. I married my wife because she treats animals with respect and gets lost taking pictures of insects in the woods.
I'm not used to folks flirting with me randomly, especially not very attractive ones, but physical traits only get you so far. I married my wife because she treats animals with respect and gets lost taking pictures of insects in the woods.
November 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
She's a ten, but carries a Pomeranian and a martini.
I'm not used to folks flirting with me randomly, especially not very attractive ones, but physical traits only get you so far. I married my wife because she treats animals with respect and gets lost taking pictures of insects in the woods.
I'm not used to folks flirting with me randomly, especially not very attractive ones, but physical traits only get you so far. I married my wife because she treats animals with respect and gets lost taking pictures of insects in the woods.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Friend of mine was discussing her laissez faire choices in biking behavior in Germany, and our resident German cohort went full bore on teaching her why bicycles can, should, and must abide by stop signs. She very quickly saw the errors (most of which are US based behaviors).
November 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Friend of mine was discussing her laissez faire choices in biking behavior in Germany, and our resident German cohort went full bore on teaching her why bicycles can, should, and must abide by stop signs. She very quickly saw the errors (most of which are US based behaviors).
Reposted by Darius Baktash
As someone who survives by selling his wares online, trust that I understand the ramifications of what I'm about to say.
It's never been more important than now to shop local & prioritize small businesses. Keep your resources within your community, help them thrive.
Please. I'm begging.
It's never been more important than now to shop local & prioritize small businesses. Keep your resources within your community, help them thrive.
Please. I'm begging.
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
As someone who survives by selling his wares online, trust that I understand the ramifications of what I'm about to say.
It's never been more important than now to shop local & prioritize small businesses. Keep your resources within your community, help them thrive.
Please. I'm begging.
It's never been more important than now to shop local & prioritize small businesses. Keep your resources within your community, help them thrive.
Please. I'm begging.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Five people have now died in the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Ethiopia near the border with South Sudan.
A total of 53 suspected cases have been tested so far.
MVD is a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, with a case fatality rate that has been reported to range from 25% to 90%.
A total of 53 suspected cases have been tested so far.
MVD is a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, with a case fatality rate that has been reported to range from 25% to 90%.
Death toll from Ethiopia’s Marburg outbreak rises to 5 - Namibia Daily News
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 24 -- The death toll from Ethiopia's Marburg virus disease outbreak has risen to five, the country's Ministry of Health has said. In its latest update issued late Saturday, the minis...
namibiadailynews.info
November 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Five people have now died in the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Ethiopia near the border with South Sudan.
A total of 53 suspected cases have been tested so far.
MVD is a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, with a case fatality rate that has been reported to range from 25% to 90%.
A total of 53 suspected cases have been tested so far.
MVD is a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, with a case fatality rate that has been reported to range from 25% to 90%.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Dental calculus analysis (the identification of microparticles embedded in mineralized dental plaque!) has revealed clear evidence of ELS215's participation in cloth production. As she worked with wool, flax and, dye, fibres and plant material ended up in her mouth! Image callout 2 is dyer's madder!
November 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Dental calculus analysis (the identification of microparticles embedded in mineralized dental plaque!) has revealed clear evidence of ELS215's participation in cloth production. As she worked with wool, flax and, dye, fibres and plant material ended up in her mouth! Image callout 2 is dyer's madder!
A reminder as we begin to see the collapse of education in the US and biased, misused, and falsified science and history being spread, that truth is in our bones.
Never believe the lies that talk about a past, present, or future "superior race."
youtu.be/65MUZ6fcSzg?...
Never believe the lies that talk about a past, present, or future "superior race."
youtu.be/65MUZ6fcSzg?...
The Shaman Of Bad Dürrenberg, Used For Nazi Propaganda?!
YouTube video by History with Kayleigh
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
A reminder as we begin to see the collapse of education in the US and biased, misused, and falsified science and history being spread, that truth is in our bones.
Never believe the lies that talk about a past, present, or future "superior race."
youtu.be/65MUZ6fcSzg?...
Never believe the lies that talk about a past, present, or future "superior race."
youtu.be/65MUZ6fcSzg?...
My wife was very, very confused by recent news from MTG, the White House, Ukraine, Israel, and more. I don't blame her, she's being worked half to death by budget cuts and can't follow the news, but the short, short version is:
This is still, all part of a racist Project 2025 agenda.
This is still, all part of a racist Project 2025 agenda.
November 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
My wife was very, very confused by recent news from MTG, the White House, Ukraine, Israel, and more. I don't blame her, she's being worked half to death by budget cuts and can't follow the news, but the short, short version is:
This is still, all part of a racist Project 2025 agenda.
This is still, all part of a racist Project 2025 agenda.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Your periodic reminder that @radiofreetom.bsky.social who many of you like to follow, and who writes for the Atlantic, was pushing the great replacement theory before Trump and has never apologized for it. He's part of what got us here.
October 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Your periodic reminder that @radiofreetom.bsky.social who many of you like to follow, and who writes for the Atlantic, was pushing the great replacement theory before Trump and has never apologized for it. He's part of what got us here.
Reposted by Darius Baktash
Solid line up, I might give the windscribe one a try.
Bit of a reminder though to folks, since it wasn't mentioned, is that while the proton ecosystem IS well known, and they do seem determined to not have backdoors to their encryption, the CEO is uh...Well, he's a tech CEO alright.
Bit of a reminder though to folks, since it wasn't mentioned, is that while the proton ecosystem IS well known, and they do seem determined to not have backdoors to their encryption, the CEO is uh...Well, he's a tech CEO alright.
Seems like a good time to share this too...
Turning on a VPN, using a privacy-focused mobile browser, and adding an ad blocker can all help reduce the location data you leak during mobile browsing.
Turning on a VPN, using a privacy-focused mobile browser, and adding an ad blocker can all help reduce the location data you leak during mobile browsing.
I Tried Breaking the Best VPNs. Here Are the 5 That Survived
Every VPN says it’s the best, but only some of them are telling the truth.
www.wired.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Solid line up, I might give the windscribe one a try.
Bit of a reminder though to folks, since it wasn't mentioned, is that while the proton ecosystem IS well known, and they do seem determined to not have backdoors to their encryption, the CEO is uh...Well, he's a tech CEO alright.
Bit of a reminder though to folks, since it wasn't mentioned, is that while the proton ecosystem IS well known, and they do seem determined to not have backdoors to their encryption, the CEO is uh...Well, he's a tech CEO alright.