I haven't seen anyone else use AI this way for creative work. The attribution on the title page is "Ex Dialogo cum Machina": from dialogue with a machine. Because the dialogue was the substance, not the method. The cognitive engagement wasn't optional: it was the entire mechanism.
marenonnostrum.com
Lou Zocchi with his ventriloquism dummy, Woody.
The legendary game designer, distributor, and publisher Louis Zocchi has left us at the age of 91. He founded Zocchi Distribution (the first distributor dedicated exclusively to hobby games) and Gamescience (which made games and polyhedral dice).
“Sure, I believe in censorship. I’ve made a fortune from it.”
~Mae West.
99 years ago today-4/19/1927-actress Mae West was sentenced to 10 days in jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” charges stemming from her Broadway play “Sex,” which she wrote and starred in.
Image: Public domain.
Only ever encountered Lou a few times at Gen Con, but this photo captures his enthusiasm. His effect on the gaming community will remain a lasting legacy.
Goat Lymph Feeds Nerve Cells: an ad from Sept. 2, 1905
Can't believe RFK Jr hasn't yet brought back goat lymph as definitive treatment for all neurological problems
"Fireproof" homes becoming cheaper than wood frame; Minnesota forests all being cut down; future wood use in homebuilding will only be trim and flooring.
Wood-frame housing is going away, predicts 1905 Pioneer Press editorial
Hudson River Institute for sale, asking $18,000 in 1905
Here's a real estate listing for you. Its probably sold by now though.
Evans Vacuum Cap Co. Ad for a device to cure baldness, Literary Digest, 7/8/1905
Hair Club for Men, 1905 style
At least I got it right in the alt text
Oops I blame autocorrect! 1905
Cadillac ad from Literary Digest, 11/25/1905
Cadillac ad, 1995. Suitable for driving even in Minnesota and North Dakota.
The Star Trek Battle Manual by Lou Zocchi from 1972, later withdrawn for legal reasons, would become the basis for the long-running Star Fleet Battles tabletop wargame.
Space Patrol, a sci-fi tabletop roleplaying game published by Lou Zocchi's GameScience in 1977, heavily influenced by Star Trek.
RIP Lou Zocchi, master of weird dice & creator of the d100 Zocchihedron; also a key figure in #StarTrek games history, writer of the 1st (unlicensed) ST tabletop wargame that evolved into Star Fleet Battles + publisher of Space Patrol, arguably the roleplaying game that set the tone for ST RPGs. 🖖
When simulation becomes the norm, it weakens the human capacity for discernment. As a result, our social bonds close in upon themselves, forming self-referential circuits that no longer expose us to reality. We thus come to live within bubbles, impermeable to one another. Feeling threatened by anyone who is different, we grow unaccustomed to encounter and dialogue. In this way, polarization, conflict, fear and violence spread. What is at stake is not merely the risk of error, but a transformation in our very relationship with truth.
pope tweets good
Appears Iran has closed the the SoH again:
This was the blog post with our final tally, and a link to a Google sheet with a list of where we donated: www.atlas-games.com/news/post?s=...
I was just going to suggest the same site -- it's where I was going to find suggestions for our Fork Ice fundraiser month.
HAPAG-LLOYD ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ: PROBABLY WE WILL PASS SOON, BUT TOO EARLY TO CONFIRM
Now I kinda want some.
The authentic kind made from a package with dehydrated sliced potatoes.
A tweet from Representative Thomas Massie that reads: I just viewed 2 Top Secret FISA docs. 1) FISA Court opinion that raises serious concerns about FBI implementation of FISA 702. 2) letter by Senator Wyden describing a secret government interpretation of FISA law. The Constitution requires I vote No on FISA 702 reauthorization.
I sent a classified letter to House and Senate colleagues about a secret interpretation of surveillance law that every American should be concerned about.
Representative Massie is right. The Constitution requires EVERY member to vote against a clean reauthorization.
Exactly one year ago today:
Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is now in effect.
Not only did the sons probably call ICE on her, the day after her husband died they took their dad's cars, leaving her housebound. Then they rerouted mail, causing her to miss a visa appointment & the utilities to be turned off. Tony and Gary Ross are going to hell.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/u...
![Comic. [Person and person with white hat facing two boxes stacked with $80 price tag and sale tag on each box.] PERSON 1: They want $80 for this? I could make one myself for $10 in parts, an hour of work, a trip to the hardware store, another $30 in parts, another few hours of work, two more trips to the store for $20 more in parts, another hour of work to redo the first hour of work because I messed up, and $80 to buy this when the one I made breaks.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifdsd32pjwefxji33c5eferlek4o6kkadoosqisb5uatqjmrq4q4q)
Comic. [Person and person with white hat facing two boxes stacked with $80 price tag and sale tag on each box.] PERSON 1: They want $80 for this? I could make one myself for $10 in parts, an hour of work, a trip to the hardware store, another $30 in parts, another few hours of work, two more trips to the store for $20 more in parts, another hour of work to redo the first hour of work because I messed up, and $80 to buy this when the one I made breaks.
Make It Myself
xkcd.com/3233/
A killer 1940s robot zapping two large domes with eye-lasers; trapped under the domes are two children, taken from 1910s photos of child laborers; one, a little girl in a straw hat, is holding two heavy buckets. The other, a newsie with a shoulder bag, is picking his nose. The background is the collapsing pillars seen in Dore's engraving of The Death of Solomon.
Lest anyone accuse me of bargaining in bad faith here, let me start with this admission: I don't think AI is intelligent; nor do I think that the current (admittedly impressive) statistical techniques will lead to intelligence.
1/
My pal Sean Lashgari (formerly with Ultra Pro, AEG, and Hidden City Games) needs your help. He's gone through countless surgeries at this point and is facing new ones soon. Please chip in if you can, and share around either way. Thanks much!
gofund.me/ae056c4ff
Well shit. It’s @adapalmer.bsky.social and Bruce Schneier on language and LLMs. So here’s today must read for me.
Japanese sci-fi: two robots in space, yearning
American sci-fi: man gets the author's beliefs on polygamy confirmed by the aliens of ramalama IV
french sci-fi: two horny bounty hunters visit the Galaxy of Breasts
British sci-fi: nuclear war. Everyone dead. America's fault
Trump is demonstrating the importance of credibility in international relations.
He is not credible. He’s shown that others can’t trust what he says, and can’t act as if his stance will be the same tomorrow. He can’t communicate demands or make reliable offers. He made America’s word is worthless.
