Mitchell Hogan

It has been raining and/or overcast for weeks, and these little guys have popped up.

kevinrkirk 2d @ Threads Why are we bothering with the Strait of Hormuz when we could simply do this? Explain it to me like l'm 5. (Drawing of chopping of part of land) suahuatica 2d MOUNTAIN HARD AND BIG, WATER NO UP. MANY MANY DIG DIG.

Happy Friday. Don’t skip school.

A lot of people say AI isn't very good for the world and its outputs are routinely unreliable, but these haters fail to see how it's revolutionizing how we incinerate schoolchildren.

When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.

Book: "Holy elf tits!"
No. Just no.

Calling AI "slop" has been one of the most effective instances of the public rebranding a product and it pisses them off.

Obvious ai manipulation on the left. Original photo by David Batcheller on the right. Look at the wings, feather shape, head, neck and bill shape, lack of tail etc. This is way more than a filter and absolutely destroys the joy and wonder of the original.

So loads of people are sharing an obvious ai "glow up" of an actual photo. I never share ai stuff even to dunk, but in this case I'm sharing a comparison to show the problem. We have to stand against this slop at every level or it becomes normalised. They want us to stop caring. See alt text.

The Enshittificator Digital products and services keep getting worse. In the new report Breaking Free: Pathways to a fair technological future, the Norwegian Consumer Council has delved…

Very funny, and uncomfortably close to the truth.

#Enshittification

vimeo.com/1168468796

Might need a cool Icelandic name.

I'm moving to Iceland.

this is why the whole “oh, suffering creates great art” thing is bullshit

you know what’s conducive to art? a roof over your head and food on the table

you know what isn’t? stressing out over where the fuck the rent money is going to come from

The Sunday Guardian headline: Big Tech Loses $1.3 Trillion in 2026 as AI Spending Fears Trigger Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia Stock Plunge—What’s Happening? Follow-up says: Big Tech loses $1.3 trillion in 2026 as AI spending fears hit Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Apple and Alphabet. Investors demand profit visibility. TSMC, Samsung, Walmart gain. The article is written by Prakriti Parul and was last updated yesterday morning.

genAI is dying repost to make it die faster

Miss 9 just dropped her violin down the stairs, and it sounded exactly like a cartoon version of a violin falling down stairs.
Violin is dented but ok, just need to reattach the chin rest.

There’s going to be Covid style shortages of cars, TVs and even washing machines and fridges, then job losses because assembly lines can’t source solid state memory, just so the stupidest person you know can state with 100% confidence a chatbot confirmed dinosaurs coexisted with humans.

Thanks! I'll check it out.

Apparently Predator Badlands is actually ok, can anyone confirm?

I call on the Australian government to #RaiseTheRate of all support payments to a living wage.
This would be the single most effective way to lift the productivity, quality of life, and well-being of the whole country.
#CommitToALivingWage

Writers Who Use AI Are Not Real Writers Dorothy Parker famously (but probably not really) said, “I hate to write, but I love having written,” which is a sentiment I don’t largely understand or agree with in the broader …

Huge thanks to @chuckwendig.bsky.social for this. When I read that "who's going to win the race" comment I was so angry. These fucking shitgibbons churning out "content". These cockweasels stealing everything we've done. I was so mad. So thanks, Chuck, for writing exactly what I wanted to say.

From: Simon & Schuster LLC <simonschusterllc4@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 4:36 PM Subject: To: [redacted] Dear Author, February is a month defined by connection, passion, and storytelling that stays with us long after the final page and at Simon & Schuster LLC, that’s exactly the kind of work we’re seeking right now. For more than a century, Simon & Schuster has partnered with writers who dare to move readers, challenge perspectives, and shape culture. From unforgettable fiction to groundbreaking nonfiction, we believe that the most powerful stories begin with a distinct voice and we’re always excited to discover new ones. As we look ahead to our upcoming publishing seasons, our editorial team is actively inviting submissions and conversations with authors who are crafting compelling narratives, fresh ideas, and books with heart, intelligence, and impact. Whether you’re an emerging writer with a bold debut or an established author exploring a new direction, we’d love to learn more about your work. What sets Simon & Schuster apart is our deeply collaborative approach. Our authors benefit from: • Dedicated editorial guidance from industry-leading professionals • Strategic marketing and publicity support tailored to each book • Global distribution and long-term career development • A publishing partner who believes in nurturing stories not rushing them This February, we’re celebrating the stories that make readers fall in love with characters, with ideas, and with the written word itself. If you have a manuscript or proposal you believe deserves thoughtful consideration from a publisher who truly values authorship, we invite you to connect with us. We would be delighted to review your work and explore the possibility of building something meaningful together. Warm regards, The Editorial & Acquisitions Team Simon & Schuster LLC

(Another) Simon & Schuster impersonation scam. Check out the extra-bogus email address

"Turning out more slop" is not efficient, for me. It is the opposite of efficient. It prevents me from doing the thing I want to do, and scams my readers.

Also, btw, writing isn't a zero-sum game. There's no "I wrote more and made more money so I win haha"

BBC News headlines: Education School caterers 'confident' of meat Missing children data 'worrying'

Happy 13th anniversary to this pair of matching news headlines.

I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.

Cucamelon update: flowering already!

flyer showing the Brisbane in 28 and Meanjin in 28 logos The Brisbane / Meanjin Worldcon Bid for 2028 is at Capricon 2026 this weekend from 5 to 8 February at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois, USA! We will have a Fan Table in the 1st floor corridor between the Grand and Chicago Ballrooms. Stop by to find out all the info on our bid! We're having an Open Party on Thursday and Friday nights February 5th and 6th from 8pm to 1am in Room 907. https://brisbane28.org

The Brisbane / Meanjin Worldcon Bid for 2028 is at Capricon 46 @capriconsfcon.bsky.social in Chicago this weekend!

We're having a party on Thursday and Friday nights, the 5th and 6th. Stop by our Fan Table in the 1st floor corridor to find out more! #capricon46 #capricon2026 #brisbanein28 #worldcon

Finally the girls are back at school!

Screengrab of a footer purporting to be Celeste Ng (it is NOT). Text reads: "Kind regards, Celeste Celeste Ng #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Author of internationally acclaimed novels Recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship Winner, Amazon Book of the Year Award Website: www.celesteng.com Email: info.celesteng@gmail.com United States" A picture shows an east Asian woman (NOT Celeste Ng) beside a book resembling Everything I Never Told you, a book resembling Little Fires Everywhere, and another copy of Little Fires Everywhere that does not resemble any real copy. Close examination of these covers reveals misspellings and strange design elements that suggest AI generation.

Someone out there is impersonating me using AI generated emails. Please know
I will never email you asking you to pay me for a service. (Also, this is NOT me, that is NOTA my email, and those book covers resemble mine but are clearly AI generated...)

Text: 2025 Reflections Image: Two swans facing each other on a background of flowers and foliage.

Text: My Favourite Design: Conservation Library Image: A bookcase of antique books with nature titles.

Text: Your favourite design: Grandma's Garden Image: A floral pattern in pinks, purples, blues and oranges in a vintage 1960s style

Text: My highest placed Spoonflower Challenge Design - Bold Florals Challenge Poppies (Rainbow). Image: Brightly coloured poppy flowers with overlapping rainbow petals.

I want to say a big thank you to each and every one of you for sharing your words, sharing your art, supporting my art, choosing my art for your business or your home, and bringing beauty and kindness into the world.

Here are some reflections on my design and artmaking in 2025.

Aw. Anyway--

The cover of an audiobook titled The Land Before Avocado: Journeys in a lost Australia by Richard Glover, Bestselling author of Flesh Wounds, Read by the Author, ABC Audio. A photo of a slice of toast on a green and yellow floral background.

Enjoyed listening to The Land Before Avocado: Journeys in a lost Australia by @richardglover1.bsky.social. An entertaining and fascinating look at life in the 1960s/70s vs now, nostalgia, and the lessons we can take from change. Highly recommended.

💙📚🎧 #BookSky #Audiobook #Australia