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Cassandra

@joedabucket.bsky.social
157 followers 130 following 663 posts

Writer. Sometimes breaker of games. Formerly of Inflexion Games, Beamdog, and BioWare. She/her cassandrawriter.wordpress.com

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wintertorta🍰 @wintertorta.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
a reminder 🪄 #illustration
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Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I think the most “adult who was in a gifted and talented program as a kid” thing I could have done to myself was become an author. Just giving myself endless homework and a need for people to be proud of me forever.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Just sent my latest novel to some beta readers so now it's time to panic (work on the next thing). #amwriting
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Forget spring cleaning, it’s time for fall cleaning. Gotta get the habitat ready for hibernation.
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Will Quinn @willquinnart.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Daily bunny no.3446 is not left-handed
Bunnies re-enact the duel between Inigo and Wesley in "The Princess Bride", with a masked bunny fighting against a dashing shaggy bunny with a gold sword. The masked bunny is cornered, near the edge of a rocky cliffside, but still has a trick up his sleeve
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
An extended family member of my partner passed away today. He rapidly deteriorated after being diagnosed with cancer, so this is your reminder to do your recommended age related screenings.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Current WIP novel is a hot mess, but I am just enjoying it so much that I don't even care. Future me can figure out if this actually works as a story, for now, I'm just seeing where it goes
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Gretchen McCulloch @gretchenmcculloch.com · 08/09/2026
I have received news of a perfectly named cafe located on the waterfront of Nova Scotia's capital, if you know what I mean
"Broken Man cafe" sign on a big plate glass window, through which one can see cafe tables and chairs and backs of people's heads. In the distance, a sign indicates that this is Pier 22 on the Halifax waterfront
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daryl "rupert pumpkin" b 🏳️‍⚧️ @hypercubexl.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
GDT's reddit AMA spitting fire www.reddit.com/r/movies/com...
reddit comment: 

Hello! Did you intend the ending of Pan’s labyrinth to be real or in Ofelia’s mind?

Guillermo Del Toro's reply: 

My interpretation, and it's exclusively mine, is that it's real.

Because there's two things. One is what people call “The Shining Question.” The Shining Question is, Who opens the door for Jack to get out of the fridge? And Ofelia is in an attic with a guard outside her door, and she draws the door with the magic chalk, and she shows up in the labyrinth. So, the only way she could have gone into the labyrinth is the magic chalk. And the flower is real at the end. The flower that blooms in the dead tree. And the reason I think it’s real is because—and this is why I'm in favor of the human factor in art—I think that art does transform the world. You know?

Think about it for a second. One of the goals, with all this movement, is to make you believe that art is vulgar. That art is nothing special, and anybody can do art. That is like me telling you that I'm faster at running than Usain Bolt but I “run” in my motorcycle. Well, that's not the same. That’s not the same at all.

Art is important, and they want you to believe it isn't. It's part of the idea of control. The goal is not to have artificial intelligence. The goal is to foster natural stupidity. The goal is to foster you not looking for answers, and to trust yourself entirely to an engine. Look at the way we are dipping our toes into these things. We are starting to ask the machine, Is this true? For now, there's a correlation between reality and what the answers of the machine are. For now. But soon, we won't even investigate further. We will be told it's true. And if the machine is in the hands of somebody who should not be trusted, then your reality has been completely and utterly fucked. Because your intelligence ends at the question. You don't seek the answer. It's given to you.Q: You recently mentioned that AI creates 'semi-compelling screensavers' and that you'd 'rather die' than use it. As a filmmaker who relies heavily on practical effects and creature design, what do you think is the biggest thing lost when a computer generates an image instead of a human hand?

GDT:

The three quarters of the process that gave you the chance to think of the idea that people don't think about without that process. Meaning, AI can get you to the middle really fast, but there's a dialectic with the process that gets you to that top 10%. I'll give you an example with the Pale Man.

We sculpted it as an old man, with a face. And then I said, Let's take out the face. This happened because I saw a photo of a manta ray and the poster for Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm. That combination, which happened at two different times during a week or a month, are not permutations that are chemically part of an equation. They are alchemy. And then I said, Take out the face, and then I said, Let's put the eyes on the hands. This triangulation happens because I spent a month or two months living with the idea of this creature. And it's not linear.

AI is like a super-fast engine that makes semi-sentient permutations of things that are already done. Creation is things that have never been done. Coming to exist.

And the second thing is the loss of the apprenticeship that one has as an artist. You're never a master; you're always an apprentice. This is a kinship I have with, for example, Chris Nolan. When he showed me The Odyssey, there’s a scene when Matt Damon is floating in the stormy ocean and I asked him—because we were talking about practical effects, and how great it is and that we both always use a maquette or a model—and I asked him, How did you do it? He said, “We put him in a storm in the ocean.”

And you're gonna find that 30% of a great image occurs accidentally. You know, either a drop of water hits the lens, or the camera shakes. I remember when in 1993, '94, Jim…
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
One cat has a vet appointment this morning. We needed to limit litter box access which means we’ve been dealing with cat pee all morning from the other cat. At least I hope it’s the other cat. 🙄
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
So proud of my friend Meg Pennerson! She had her book launch for her first novel, Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans last night! Super excited to start reading it.
A woman with brown hair stands at a podium in front of shelves of books. There is a navy blue banner hanging from the podium. It says Meg Pennerson, followed below by the silhouette of a cat with wings atop H&D. Below that is Hornsboggle & Dodge.On the right hand side is a book. It says Meg Pennerson on top, with a small green dragon on the M. Behind the title is a large, orangey pink dragon and below that is a small house nestled among two balls of yarn. The title of the book is Dragons, Heists, and other Retirement Plans. 

On the left hand side are three items on top is a cookie with the cover of the book on it. Below that is a white sticker with a cat with wings sitting atop an ampersand. The sticker said H&D and below that is a banner with Hornsdoggle & Dodge. The last item is a navy blue sticker featuring the same logo and text as the other sticker.A table display featuring the stickers mentioned in the other image, as well as bookmarks featuring the cover of the book. There is a picture of the first book, Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans, and the second book in the series, Wizards, Heists, and Other Ways to Steal a Spellbook
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Trick Weekes @trickweekes.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
In a recent gaming session, I had the burly badass villain growl, "Well, isn't that just ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife?" in response to a plot development, and in retrospect that was not a great way to get the players to take said villain seriously.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Tried to go outside for the peak of the eclipse but the moon was missing and there was distant lightning. The lightning is less distant now
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Hexxus terrified me as a child, but Tim Curry was always amazing. What a true loss.
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Miss May @genevrael.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Not a lot of people look at the world and think 'you know what, I'm gonna save it' - AND THEN DO. Y'know?
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Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com
NASHVILLE, TN (August 25, 2026) – Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

 

Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). 

 

A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.

 

At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com.         

 

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
How truly sad
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Started working on a new novel this week and I am so looking forward to getting to know these characters. They seem like they'll be fun! It will be sad to kill one of them off!
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
It’s really not fair to be allergic to bandaids that I need to cover a wound
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Trick Weekes @trickweekes.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Read to the end.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Sitting in my hotel room. There's a big thunderstorm outside. Kiss - I was Made For Loving You is wafting up from...somewhere.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Heading to When Words Collide this weekend! I‘m not particularly prepared for it but looking forward to it all the same
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Chadwick Ginther @chadwickginther.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Congrats to the 2026 Aurora Award winners!
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Trevor Henderson 🍉 (commissions closed) @slimyswampghost.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
buddy i have never used it. i don't know how to use it. i don't know if it's an app or what. i will never use it. if it disappeared today i'd go out and celebrate because it being gone would be instantly great for the planet and humanity
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Went to the zoo today and it was a very good day for seeing the red panda
A red panda walking across a wooden bridge covered in a wire mesh. His head is slightly down and his tail stretches behind himThe same red panda walking across the bridge with the mesh around it. The same red panda, this time walking down a tree branch towards a larger tree on the left side of the photo
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Trick Weekes @trickweekes.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Excited beyond words to have a story in DC’s Hawk-Girl Summer! Let’s hit the beach! Writer: Me Art: @nikolacizmesija.bsky.social Colors: @francescosegala.bsky.social Letters: @droog811.bsky.social Thanks to editor Katie Kubert for making it happen.
Panel from a comic book showing Shining Knight (Ystin), a hero in gold armor with a sword, and Kid Quick (Jess Chambers, Earth-11), a hero in red and black, introducing themselves to one another. Comic book cover showing Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) spiking a volleyball on a beach with the title “Hawk-Girl Summer”
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Studio Reset @studioresetgames.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
We're so excited to finally announce: The Eventide! A single-player supernatural mystery adventure game set in a neon-noir Canadian cityscape, you investigate with a team of detectives who each see the truth a little differently... 🇨🇦👻 Follow us for more and wishlist now!
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Signs I must be getting close to finishing this draft of the WIP: I'm starting to think about a different project #amwriting
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Sorrowscopes @sorrowscopes.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Cancer: With long work hours, romantic relationships, and getting 8 hours of sleep, it’s hard to find time to take a moment to remember that life is meaningless.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I’m getting close to the end of this draft of the WIP and it might actually be good? Needs more work but I’m actually enjoying this part of the story and what’s to come.
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Eric Ansley Díaz 🏳️‍🌈 @geekboyeric.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
RIP Bonnie Tyler. And RIP Tandi Iman Dupree. This remains the best stage entrance by a drag queen of all time, even some 25 years later, and the best use of Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” ever. youtu.be/IHQA5vqn6rw?...
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Writing is such a weird thing but I just got a personalized rejection and I’m stoked.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Fellow authors: without any context, what's the first line of your current WIP? "Corinne sat alone at a wrought iron table, tucked into the corner on the patio of her favourite café."
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
I am not a very good gardener but I love to try. Spent the afternoon wedding and trying to replace a few seeds that didn’t sprout and reorganizing the planters. It was nice to be outside and soon I will ever have some tomatoes!
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Highly recommend getting a critique by @trickweekes.bsky.social! They’re wonderful and helpful and if I had disposable income I would be seriously debating it!
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Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Heads up. Alberta's Privacy Commissioner has shared new guidance for anyone getting a new provincial ID/health care card. Diane McLeod says the cards will create new risks for Albertans and their private information. oipc.ab.ca/guidance-pub...
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
There are so many mosquitoes that I’m afraid to leave my house
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Got a fancy cake today!
A round layer cale with very light purple icing and swipes of darker purple up all over it.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I awkwardly mumble it but also do my best to downplay it. I don't currently have a day job to deflect with.
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
I made pavlovas earlier this week, which meant I had leftover egg yolks. Found a recipe for key lime pie, which is now in my oven. #bakerproblems
Five white pavlovas on a black cooling rack.
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Trick Weekes @trickweekes.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
It has been such an honor to work with the amazing team at @innersloth.com. I can’t wait for folks to see what we’ve put together!
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Oh, that's so sad! Going to go listen to the Repo! The Genetic Opera soundtrack now
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Tyche Books 🇨🇦 @tychebooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Gooood morning! ICYMI
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Studio Reset @studioresetgames.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Meet the team, part 3/3! As Co-Founder and Art Director, Francis is at the helm of Studio Reset's visual direction. With a wealth of experience (from dragons to aliens), he delivers an aesthetically unique and captivating look! Prev. work: Dragon Age series, Anthem, and more!
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Studio Reset @studioresetgames.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Meet the team, part 2/3! Co-founder and Design Director, Kris leads systems and narrative efforts at Studio Reset. Her current focus is on designing and prototyping new and unique storytelling mechanics. Prev. work: Dragon Age series, Mass Effect series, and more!
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Cassandra @joedabucket.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Got a good email today so celebrated with milkshakes from the local coffee shop.
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Krista D Ball is Canada's Spooky Potato @kristadb1.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Albertan author Rhonda Parrish has a new kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/rho...
kickstarter.com
Gods & Giants: Norse Mythology-Inspired Urban Fantasy Series
Autumn can deal with learning that she shares the world with gods & giants - but when she grows wings things start to get REALLY weird.
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Studio Reset @studioresetgames.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Meet the team, part 1/3! Kaelin is a writer, narrative designer, and worldbuilder. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Studio Reset, where he crafts original worlds shaped by mythology, folklore, and the unknown. Prev. work: Dragon Age series, The Long Dark, and more!
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Minovsky @minovskyarticle.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Also a useful PSA for those who would like to block him now.
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rudetuesday @rudetuesday.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
ALT text:
A Boze post: 


Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing a text, writing an email, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can't do things we've been doing since the dawn of time.

Big Tech is offering you a Faustian bargain. It promises to remove all the friction from life, to keep you from having to think or study, and the result is your brain will become pudding, you'll become incapable of creativity or communication. They want to make you a non-person.
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