#Innovation and Learning

[sunlight-shunlight]

thinking about veilguard and bioware in general, i think we are reaching a point where people need to grapple with the inherent limits of what stories can be told in our Current Society and in AAA gaming companies.

on a labour level: mass layoffs, tons of developers leaving despite previously talking about how passionate and happy they were to be involved, not even paying severance, and crunching employees to the point of burnout. this is unfortunately pretty standard for AAA game companies.

on a cultural level: it is SO white and SO centrist-ly Canadian. i wrote up these asks outlining how. it is a repeated pattern of writing in which they go into tortured racial oppression allegories at best, while constantly peppering in a "but BOTH SIDES were wrong and made mistakes :( :( :(", in between their fictional atrocities that are clearly mirroring irl genocides and enslavement. or at worst, it's "the qunari are radical islamic borg" which has even less nuance. i personally thought, since dai came out in 2014, and a lot has changed since then about the world and in public awareness, that this would have filtered into the narrative and resulted in more satisfying and historically grounded writing. unfortunately not the case. it's shocking if you compare it to how sharp and aware and unflinching something like disco elysium is.

so what does this mean?

under these conditions, it is unavoidable that we get development by people who are rapidly cycled out of the company or demoralized into burnout. we get digestible, easy little soundbites of lore without much substance, because any complexity needs more time and coordination rather than the process of "quick, we have these assets, a lot of people involved in making them just got laid off, we need to make Something by next quarter to show the CEO". we get very little cohesion between games, despite the clear intent from dai to have so many plot points set up to follow through in a sequel, because the team and development are so chaotic that they can't hold onto a vision and complete it.

we also get this inherent caution and "conservatism" from the narrative, because on an ideological level, they're largely white people who want cops to be included in pride. so any major change to even a fictional society is Bad and Scary, and shouldn't be done without making sure that every character finger-wags appropriately at non-state violence. there is clearly not much ideological or even ethnic diversity within the leadership; or at least not enough that anyone there felt comfortable even speaking up on minor issues like the Incredibly Orientalist Isabela Outfit, let alone anything larger.

i don't personally think there's too much value in trying to analyze veilguard's plot or lore at this point. the final product is chaotically developed and does not seem to reflect the goals of the creators as set up in prior games, it's basically a ship of theseus in terms of the people and ideas involved in making it. this is sad for all of us, who were interested in the story, and attached to the characters, and were creatively fulfilled by engaging in the fandom. it's probably worse for the developers who have lost their jobs, burnt out, or feel unhappy with the game that they spent years of their life working on. it's certainly miserable as an indictment of The Industry, as well as the general societal climate of white Canadian centrism.

the solution is to create a society where people can develop games in peace and prosperity and stay on projects for longer, rather than constantly getting turfed out without severance pay. and to get some genuine leftists, poc, and indigenous people on staff who can weigh in and provide significant input, rather than a Council Of Liberal White Edmontonians every time.

in the meantime, at the very least, let's please stop preordering AAA games and supporting companies who notably abuse their employees.

[somanyjacks]

Free Online Classes about Goat Farming

My friend Lee from Moxie Ridge Farm is hosting some free online courses about goat farming! If you have any interest in agriculture, homesteading, or are an author trying to get that goat farm AU off the ground, check them out!

Goat Care Basics

This is a course for those who have never worked with goats before. Perfect for those looking to start working with goats in their job and those looking to incorporate goats into their homestead or farm. By the end of this class, students will be ready to own and care for goats. 

Behavioral Herdsmanship for Goats

When people ask me what my secret is with goats, I can now answer with this course. It is an intro to Behavioral Herdsmanship for goats and covers getting to know behavior on 3 levels as well as herding skills, moving goats, and more.  This course is appropriate for those who have never worked with goats and those wishing to deepen their trust-based working relationship with goats.

Goat Kidding Basics

Kidding can be an important part of goat ownership for those who want milk or baby goats. This course teaches the basics of kidding and prepares students to attend their first goat birth. 

Bottle Raising Baby Goats

Raising bottle babies can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. This course walks students through post-birth care, selecting and using a bottle system, and how to play in order to raise safe and friendly goats. Appropriate for those wishing to learn to raise a single baby to several dozen for home or work. 

These courses have been made possible by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center and are a training series targeted at people who want to start working with goats either as owners or as a part of their jobs.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Punk

The philosophy of punk is a distinctive blend of cultural rebellion, DIY ethos, and anti-establishment attitudes. Emerging from the punk rock music scene in the 1970s, punk philosophy has since evolved into a broader subcultural movement that encompasses music, fashion, art, and social commentary. Here's an exploration of the core tenets and influences of punk philosophy:

1. DIY Ethic

At the heart of punk philosophy is the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) ethic. Punk advocates self-sufficiency and creativity without reliance on mainstream institutions or commercial interests. This ethos encourages individuals to create their own music, art, and fashion, often using limited resources. It fosters a sense of empowerment and community, as punks produce and distribute their own records, zines, and merchandise.

2. Anti-Establishment and Rebellion

Punk philosophy is deeply rooted in anti-establishment sentiments. It rejects conventional norms, authority, and societal expectations. Punk often criticizes political systems, corporate greed, and social inequalities. This rebellious stance is reflected in the raw and confrontational style of punk music and the provocative nature of punk fashion, which frequently includes ripped clothing, bold hairstyles, and symbolic accessories like safety pins and leather jackets.

3. Individualism and Authenticity

Punk values individualism and authenticity, championing the idea of being true to oneself. It opposes conformity and encourages people to express their unique identities and beliefs. This focus on personal authenticity often translates into a rejection of polished, commercialized aesthetics in favor of raw, unfiltered expression.

4. Anarchy and Libertarianism

Many punk subcultures are influenced by anarchist and libertarian ideologies. Punk philosophy often promotes the idea of a society without hierarchical structures or authoritarian control. Anarcho-punk, a subgenre of punk, explicitly incorporates anarchist principles, advocating for direct action, mutual aid, and community-based alternatives to state power.

5. Social and Political Activism

Punk philosophy is not only about music and fashion but also about activism and social change. Punk bands and communities frequently address issues such as anti-racism, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmentalism. Punk's activist spirit is evident in its support for grassroots movements, protests, and various forms of direct action.

6. Cultural Innovation and Subversion

Punk is known for its cultural innovation and subversion. It challenges mainstream cultural standards and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression. Punk art, music, and literature often employ satire, irony, and shock value to critique societal norms and provoke thought.

The philosophy of punk is a multifaceted and dynamic ideology that encompasses a wide range of attitudes and practices. At its core, punk is about rejecting conformity, embracing individuality, and striving for authenticity. It promotes a DIY ethic, challenges authority, and seeks to create a more just and equitable society through activism and direct action. Punk's enduring influence can be seen in various cultural and social movements, making it a vital and vibrant part of contemporary philosophy and culture.

[carlyraejepsans]

last time capcom gave shu takumi and his team full reigns on a project they made one of the best games out of the entire nintendo ds line, get that man out of ace attorney and let him write something NEW!! video games are not immune from endless cash-grab sequels, for god's sake i want to see what else he can cook!

[rigelmejo]

anyway. a reminder from me. study however you want to study, do whatever you can get yourself to do regularly for many hours. your study plan will probably change as you learn more, it's fine.

you'll probably do a mix of intensive study where you use explanations/looking things up, and practicing with extensive study (where you practice understanding what you've already learned and guess the meaning of new stuff from surrounding context). Most people do a mix eventually.

Literally anything will work. As long as you understand what you're engaging with in the language (whether because you intensively study it to understand it, or extensively read/listen to things you mostly understand).

let go of the idea there's some 'best' method out there to learn a language, and the idea you need to defend whatever you're doing as 'best'. Whatever you can get yourself to do will be the best study plan FOR YOU, and that's really all that matters.

[beakers-and-telescopes]

Okay, I have my own opinions about AI, especially AI art, but this is actually a very cool application!

So when you think about it, we can quantify vision/sight using the actual wavelengths of light, and we can quantify hearing using frequency, but there really isn't a way to quantify smell. So scientists at the University of Reading set out to create an AI to do just that.

The AI was trained on a dataset of 5000 known odor-causing molecules. It was given their structures, and a list of various scent descriptors (such as "floral sweet" or "musty" or "buttery") and how well those descriptors fit on a scale of 1-5. After being trained on this data, the AI was able to be shown a new molecule and predict what its scent would be, using the various descriptors.

The AI's prediction abilities were compared against a panel of humans, who would smell the compound of interest and assign the descriptors. The AI's predictions were actually just as good as the human descriptions. Professor Jane Parker, who worked on the project, explained the following.

"We don't currently have a way to measure or accurately predict the odor of a molecule, based on its molecular structure. You can get so far with current knowledge of the molecular structure, but eventually you are faced with numerous exceptions where the odor and structure don't match. This is what has stumped previous models of olfaction. The fantastic thing about this new ML generated model is that it correctly predicts the odor of those exceptions"

Now what can we do with this "AI Nose", you might ask? Well, it may have benefits in the food and fragrance industries, for one. A machine that is able to quickly filter through compounds to find one with specific odor qualities could be a good way to find new, sustainable sources of fragrance in foods or perfumes. The team also believes that this "scent map" that the AI model builds could be linked to metabolism. In other words, odors that are close to each other on the map, or smell similar, are also more likely to be metabolically related

[daddy-long-legssss]

work is trying to make me care about digital analytics and social media but unfortunately i couldn’t care less.

[samaspic31]

My growth as an artist was heavily stifled by the dogmatism in the online art community I was subjected to as a teen (aka by rhetoric implying or straight up saying art has to be made a certain way to be valuable, which discouraged me from experimenting and developing for my own methods, customising my artistic process felt illegal) and i will forever be mad about it

Anyways if any young artist follows me : the only good art advice is get weird about it and fuck around a lot. Also be honest

[fulgararchitects]

In the digital era, where information is abundant and accessible, the question arises: are libraries still needed? The answer may lie in how libraries evolve to meet new demands. Beyond books, libraries now serve as access points for digital resources, centers for community engagement, and venues for educational programs. Their ability to adapt to changing times will determine their relevance in the years to come. How can libraries continue to serve as essential community spaces?

[farmerstrend]

What Makes a Great Agronomist? Unpacking the Traits of Agricultural Excellence

Agronomists are the unsung heroes shaping the future of farming. They’re the bridge between science and soil, the architects of abundance in a world hungry for both food and sustainability. Over the years, after sifting through hundreds of agronomist resumes and meeting countless professionals in this field, I’ve come to realize that greatness in agronomy isn’t just about a degree or a title.…

[cinemaocd]

Star Wars films ranked in order of their technical innovations:

Star Wars (1977): innovations: motion controlled cameras, immersive sound design, high tech puppets, unified aesthetic that was unique from prev. sci fi films, welded fantasy and sci fi together, brought back vista vision/wide screen technology from the scrap heap and updated it, iconic costumes based on actual military equipment and historic royalty rather than imagining a "futuristic fashion," created Industrial Light and Magic effects company which funded R&D to create new cameras and equipment for the film, used percentages of the film's profit to pay actors and others involved in the project.

The Phantom Menace (1999): The first all digital studio film, computer graphics used for backgrounds/sets/whole environments, extended motion control cameras with digital environment, fucking amazing costumes borrowing from period films and classic Hollywood to bring the universe into a more sumptuous plentiful past, motion capture used to create integrated digital puppets.

Empire Strikes Back (1980): stop motion animation updated to include the motion controlled cameras for more realistic/seamless animation (compare to Harryhausen's Clash of the Titans which came out the next year to see what I mean), Lucas used the profits of Star Wars to expand ILM and give it a permanent home where effects artists weren't working in sweatshop conditions anymore, created a licensing company to try to stem the tide of unlicensed Star Wars products, a fire on the set of The Shining at Elstree studios lead to a dedicated Star Wars stage being built there which is still used to this day.

Return of the Jedi (1983): steadicam which was relatively new tech, customized by the inventor for the speeder bike chases, created THX to try to improve sound equipment in theaters because the sound mix for the film was too complex for the old sound systems used during test screenings.

The Force Awakens (2015):pulled back from the maximalist aesthetic of the prequels using more real sets, environments and models thereby creating a cohesive look that fused the two previous trilogies, made the film without having a clear outline about where the trilogy was going, giving freedom to future filmmakers to make changes to the story or to fill in holes, (not necessarily a good thing, but it was the first time it was done for a blockbuster trilogy), recreated most of the story beats of Star Wars (1977) in the updated sequel.

The Last Jedi (2017): Contains the most practical effects of any Star Wars film, with the most sets and creatures ever built for the franchise, literally set canon on fire, leaving writers and directors free to create Star Wars product that doesn't fit with previous canon/continuity.

Clone Wars (2008): First fully animated film in Star Wars universe, was the pilot for the TV show, integrated materials from the star wars Expanded Universe comics and novels.

Rogue One (2018): Used digital technology to allow Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher, who had died, to appear in the film by digitally combining their faces onto the bodies of other actors, first attempt to create a "gritty" Star Wars that reflected more of the reality of war, final scene with Darth Vader creeated 100% digitally.

Revenge of the Sith (2005): Lucas used a three camera set up and combined all three digitally, which allowed a much faster turn around time for completing shots, held the world record at the time of the most effects shots ever in a film.

Attack of the Clones (2002): continued with the innovations of Phantom Menace, creating the first entirely virtual film studio (for example some of Ewan McGregor's work was filmed on the Moulin Rouge sets with the actor in an entirely different location than the rest of the people in the scene, fewer models and real sets in general.

Solo A Star Wars Story (2018): used effects techniques such as rear projection and stop motion animation from the OT, but cleaned them up in the digital environment. For the first time used an effects company in addition to ILM.

Rise of the Skywalker (2019) Returned effects to the province of ILM, but the film was produced by Bad Robot, JJ Abrahams company (All the other films either produced by Lucasfilm or Disney).

[savagechickens]

Game Changer.

And other changes.

[thelesbododo]

I just realized I accidentally predicted Bakugou sacrificing himself for Deku when making up an AU fic in my head last year 😭

[daemonya]

Useful AI Websites

Remember when we thought robots would take over the world? Well, they kinda did, but instead of laser eyes and metal claws, they're armed with… tools? Yep, these days, AI is less "Terminator" and more "personal assistant on steroids" 🤖

Bot Making Assistant:

Ever wanted a personal minion but can't afford the banana budget?

Fantasy Name Generators

Rabid's Generators and RPG Resources

Random Original Character Generator

Perchance ― AI Character Description Generator

Perchance ― AI Chat & Roleplay and AI Chat w/image

Perchance ― AI Story Generator

Perchance ― AI Text Adventure and AI Adventure w/image

Perchance ― AI Hierarchical World Generator

AI Writing Assistant:

Don't blame me when your AI-assisted love letters start sounding suspiciously like robot poetry.

Cohesive

Dreamily

Fiction Fusion

Grammarly

Hemingway Editor

NovelAI

Perplexity

Phind

Quicktools

RambleFix: AI Note-taking & Writing Tool

RedQuill

TinyWow

ToolBaz

Tune Chat

WriterHand

You

AI Voice Generator:

Want to sound like Morgan Freeman without the years of smoking?

Murf AI

Dupdub AI

Vocal Removal

Adobe: Enhance Speech

Kits.AI (vocal removal, voice cloning)

AI Music Generator:

Who knows, you might accidentally create the next viral TikTok earworm and retire to a private island.

AI VOCALOID

Suno

Udio

AI Image Generator:

Whatever you need, these tools are your ticket to visual madness.

Bing Image Creator (SFW only) 👉🏻 how to prompt

Microsoft Designer (SFW only)

Maze Guru

Tensor.Art

CivitAI

PixAI

Runware

Text to Image

NeuralBlender

Leonardo.AI (and videos too)

Perchance AI Image Generator

Perchance AI Photo Generator (realistic)

AI Video Generator:

Video killed the radio star, and now AI is coming for Hollywood.

Hedra (make your characters sing)

VIGGLE (make your characters dance)

Dreamina (text/image to video)

Luma (text/image to video)

Vidu (text/image to video)

Genmo (text/image to video)

Haiper (text/image to video)

KLING (text/image to video)

Pika (text/image to video)

PixVerse (text/image to video)

invideo (text to video)

Fliki (text to video)

AKOOL (deepfake, face swap, talking photo)

D-ID (make live, speaking portraits)

Runway (prompt to video)

Creatify (create AI video ads)

Adobe: Animate from Audio

AI Image and Video Editor:

These magical tools are here to save your digital bacon!

123apps (edit, convert, create video, audio, PDF)

3D Book Cover Creator (book cover mockups)

Color Picker (from image)

Capcut AI Tools (upscale video)

Upscale.media (upscale image)

removal AI (image background remover)

Photopea (advanced image editor)