iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Karen Lord @drkarenlord.bsky.social · 2h

Available tomorrow!

Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 3h

I find it kinda wild to see people make the argument that the Lanterns finale confirms we should have always trusted Hal's gut, when I read it instead as a consistently paranoid clock still being right twice a day.

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Good news: @sfwa.bsky.social's Recommended Reading List once again lives! The general public and SFWA members can sort the list to see what SF/F novels, stories, poems, comics, scripts and games are receiving the most love and attention from the org's writers. 1/ www.patreon.com/jasonsanford...

patreon.com

Genre Grapevine: Good News as the SFWA Recommend Reading List Returns | Jason Sanford's Genre Grapevine

When Professor Farnsworth in Futurama says "Good news everyone!" it's rarely good news for his Planet Express crew. But in this case, the ne

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I feel so conflicted about the fact that k-os dropped some heat this week from a future album apparently being bankrolled by... {long, laborious sigh} Drake.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Another controversial opinion: a lot of the work men have to do to undo cultures of bad behaviour will definitely require good men to be Actually Good Friends to men who have harmed others. As in, weekly-D&D, Saturday-barbecue, yeah-I'll-help-you-move friends, who will also Take No Shit.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

ETA: yesterday I came across several videos making the very true and salient point that many young men have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lives—at the very least, nearly every man has been inappropriately touched at least once—and yet patriarchy normalises it.

facebook.com

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I think what recent news stories about the law and violent crime have revealed is that many people, especially those who have likely never experienced victimisation or systemic oppression, would be so content with simply seeing anyone punished that they'd gladly settle for historical scapegoating.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

tonight's tunes. I must definitely be watching too many Lanterns videos for YouTube to serve me this, but I ain't mad at it.

youtu.be

Ilan Stone (Aaron Pierre) - Staying

YouTube video by F W

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I remember now: it was @conjured.ink! They don't seem to have posted online in over six months, though, and the URL appears to be dead. Whether progress merely slowed or halted, IDK. A shame—it did seem like this would be a valuable project even if other spaces were to loosen their restrictions.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Humour my terrible brain: back when the Collective Shout adult games delisting began, some folks on Bluesky were floating the idea of launching a new storefront that was friendly to mature content and their creators. What was its name, if anyone remembers? Did they launch?

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

TIL both of the Batman Ninja movies were written by Nakashima Kazuki. I think that means I'm obligated to watch them now. 🤔

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

On a lark I rewatched Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi this week, and I want so badly to write *something* about it, but I have too many thoughts.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

One of the obvious and deeply upsetting ways in which AI has damaged my ability to consume media is that whenever a YouTube video features someone I don't know reading a script, I'm immediately guessing how it was written. I'm afraid to say stilted delivery has affected my assessments.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

TIL there's a custom Bluesky client called Witchsky that has masked links so I should be able to do stuff like this that I used to use deck(dot)blue for before plus it has keybinds, for all the people who want to... uh... optimise your ability to doomscroll I guess? but so far it's pretty neat

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Kathleen De Vere @kathleen.loadingreadyrun.com · 01/10/2026

I am going to be very annoying about this for the next two weeks, but only because this is a limited edition thing that you can only buy for the next week and a half, AND it raises money for charity and is also very funny.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Controversial opinion: men would stop learning to make the 'women send mixed signals' argument to counter women's real increased risk of sexual violence if more men taught more boys that consent is also for them, and refusing to accept doubt is also for their own physical and emotional safety.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

you know how long I waiting for a full trailer for this? Ritchson has been talking up how excited he is to be in this movie for nearly a year.

youtu.be

The Man With The Bag - Official Teaser Trailer (2026) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Ritchson

YouTube video by IGN

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Today in 'AI scam emails targeting writers are getting simultaneously dumber and creepier': did anyone else get BCC'd in an email that just says 'do you want to pay for a list of the people attending World Fantasy this year, including their real names, home states, and phone numbers?'?

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I'm not sure if this is new or not, but apparently now the Dramatica website does have a free AI-free mode that gives you the ability to store one story within it, and a limited-AI Essentials mode for $9 a month or $100 a year. I... still have concerns, I fear. platform.dramatica.com/pricing

platform.dramatica.com

Dramatica Plans and Pricing

Compare Dramatica Narrative Platform plans for Narrova, Storyform development, and deeper narrative work.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Tonight's tunes. Of the very few artists who appear in Can You Sign My Tentacle? who aren't rappers, there's a reason Sparrow is among them. (In my mind, I imagine he's now looking for Lord Melody trying to find out what mischief the two of them could cause in Heaven.) RIP.

youtu.be

Mighty Sparrow - Obeah Wedding (With Lyrics)

YouTube video by Marle de bakker

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

R.S.A. Garcia (BUY THE NIGHTWARD) @rsagarcia.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Mighty Sparrow played in my house & my grandparents' house my entire life. Like him, my grandparents were immigrants from Grenada who helped build Trinidad & Tobago. He was one of my first storytellers. RIP Calypso King of the World, gone at 91. We'll never forget you youtu.be/K872vZRTT5M?...

youtu.be

Mighty Sparrow - Slave

YouTube video by Remy Gumbs

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

IT'S PIZZAMAS SEASON YET AGAIN AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

So, on the introduction of @mrpoemguy.bsky.social, I just had a chat with THE COOLEST FOLKS who are working on what I think is a really robust and intriguing writing app, & they're eager for testers before their upcoming launch. I'm rarely as inspired by a product demo as I have been by this convo.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I think my only few hills I would actually die on includes the following hot-but-not-boiling take: "It is in fact an ill portent that the culture doesn't talk about Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi in the same way it does FLCL."

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Lynne Sargent @lynnesargent.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Sweet nectar, divine tea I'm sure your pistils know all secrets adorning fences only to welcome make bright our parties and our lips showy petals & delectable calyces filling cups until they overflow so the next guest may always join our table.

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

R.S.A. Garcia (BUY THE NIGHTWARD) @rsagarcia.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I know I haven't updated in a while. There's been a lot going on. - My calcium levels are still worrying. - My eye scans aren't good. - I have to get a CT scan soon. I need help to pay for everything to be done privately. Any amount would be helpful. Thanks. www.gofundme.com/f/help-r-s-a...

gofundme.com

Donate to Help R. S. A. Garcia Pay for Cancer Expenses, organized by Arula Ratnakar

Hi everyone, I'm Rhonda, also known as R. S. A. Garcia, a speculative … Arula Ratnakar needs your support for Help R. S. A. Garcia Pay for Cancer Expenses

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

J || Vampire Pyramid Scheme 🦇 🏳️‍⚧️ | ✨ Sleepiest Vamp🩸 @vampirepyramid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Still want more BIPOC Vampires? Check out our Itchio bundle for #BIPOCVampDay – 12 vampire projects for only $11! A collection of short stories, comics, artbooks, and games featuring BIPOC vampires. Bundle runs through 11/6. Get it here: itch.io/b/3910/bipoc-vampday-2026-bundle #vampires

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

At this point I'd give blood for a writing app with Obsidian StoryLine's scene kanban, plot grid and codex, but with the ability to markdown-wikilink back to the codex, a text editor that looks like spaced printed text, a comments tab, and useful stats that I don't have to open another menu to see.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

the last few weeks have been a mildly disheartening journey of: "that looks like a pretty neat writing app—doesn't do every thing I wish one would do, but does a lot of them!" —> "hey, wait a minute... how did they make this?" —> "now, THAT app also looks pretty neat..." —> "hey, hold on..."

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I was initially loath to join another RPG-specific platform, but RoleplayCafe intrigued me so far. But then I found what I think is my favourite part of the CoC—a gentle reminder that reporting tools are for upkeeping civility and security, and that escalation actually makes platforms less safe.

Report, Don't Retaliate

If someone crosses a line, mute, block, report, and move on — don't escalate.

• Take time to care for yourself before reacting or responding when you've been hurt or made uncomfortable.
• Use the reporting features rather than start a pile-on or counter-argument.
• File reports honestly — and when you're called for community service, judge others' cases with the same care you'd want for your own.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I was mostly just doing self-promo when I said that this remains worth reading. The Thélyson Orélien story makes at least four high-profile cases in a year of Black storytelling being distrusted and AI being the excuse. There are many other cases, and other excuses too. They're just excuses.

patreon.com

An Essay: 'beyond the margin-frame' | Brandon O'Brien

As I've been working on the other essay about LLMs in fiction, I've found myself considering the last few months of AI-related literary scan

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I wrote this essay quite a while ago but ICYMI I think it is still worth reading

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Balatro is actually hard as fuck and I’m kinda mad it’s so addicting. This message brought to you by my iCloud+ subscription now including Apple Arcade.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I wrote this essay quite a while ago but ICYMI I think it is still worth reading

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

The Old Ways @theoldways.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Gothic by Gaslight: Episode 3 In an effort to track Mr. Hyde, the Dreadfuls pay a visit to Dr. Jekyll's solicitor, Mr. Utterson. An encounter with one of Jekyll's former servants proves interesting. #callofcthulhu #actualplay #gothichorror

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Jacob Geller @jacobgeller.com · 23/09/2026

Some games use infection as an aesthetic. Others use it as a strategy. youtu.be/LWz7u1sf67U

thumbnail for video, "Gaming's Infectious Era" over a human head with floral/fungal growth within it

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

every few months we need to be reminded that these platforms inherently incentivise other people finding ways to make you angry for money, and that you should be even more wary not just when they're trying to disinform you but, as this video argues, when they don't even care about what angers you.

youtu.be

How to rage bait Americans

YouTube video by Christophe

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

TIL that the Mekhi Phifer-led Othello adaptation O was directed by... Tim Blake Nelson?

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Reposted by Brandon O’Brien

Tobias S. Buckell @tobiasbuckell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Re-posting with typo fix and re-boosting this for the US east coast time folks, I moved to Scotland and landed in an unlivable flat, so am offering 15 drm-free books of mine as a thank you for anything you offer as a way to get into a safe living space:

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I mean, my real hot take is that we don't need another R&J. High schoolers already got Luhrmann's R+J, & most millennials or older either already adore that or are too jaded for this played-straight tragedy anyway. PICK ANY OTHER PLAY. For my money, we don't adapt Othello as often as it deserves.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Eggers' Werwulf comes out in December, and is allegedly supposed to heavily employ (something approximating the most intelligible-to-new-ears form of) 13th-century Middle English. When The Hollywood Reporter first covered it, they made *the same error*: www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Eggers wrote Werwulf with Sjón, who co-wrote heady Viking saga The Northman with the filmmaker. While details are scarce, sources say the story is set in 13th century England. The script also features dialogue that was true to the time period and has translations and annotations for those uninitiated in Old English.

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

this video is turning my braincells into centrifuges not only because it makes me even more excited & curious about the evolution of tabletop reviews in this same sense but because it reminds me of my... trepidation? about the fact that Whether I Like A Thing is an uninteresting critical question

youtu.be

How the Internet Killed Criticism

YouTube video by Michael Burns

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Every time I learn about self-hosted cable imitation processes like these, it makes me want very badly to buy a NAS and set up a 24-hour Kamen Rider channel at home.

youtu.be

This Free App Singlehandedly Fixes Modern TV

YouTube video by Switch and Click

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm not even a One Piece fan, and I think I kinda hate the landscape of collection that PSA feeds into, but the fact that Mackenyu so unashamedly embraces that he is such a nerd for the TCG that he goes to tourneys while working makes him very cool

youtu.be

The ONE PIECE Star Who Actually Plays the Card Game

YouTube video by PSA Official

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Brandon O’Brien @therisingtithes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

everyone else is doing it so may as well i'm sure something will emerge from my memory and scramble this further but i am confident that at any moment these are spinning the hamster wheels that are my brain cells

A 3x3 collage of the anime cover art for:

Paranoia Agent
Summer Wars
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Kill la Kill
Tokyo Godfathers
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
Paprika
Gurren Lagann

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