An experience with the beta of the new and “improved” context-aware, more conversational Siri. Me, whilst driving: “Hey Siri, remind me to call Audi at 9am tomorrow.” Siri: “Sorry, did you say Aldi or Audi?” M: “Audi.” 1/3
Kestral Gaian
@kestr.al
✒️ Best-Selling Author & Writer 📚 The Boy From Elsewhere, Tubelines, and More 🥪 Sandwich Lover 📰 PR/Press: @literallypr.bsky.social 🏳️🌈 Publisher: @reconnectingrainbo.ws
I can now officially share that I'll be at the amazing #Wigtown Book Festival in October, on a panel alongside Denise Brown to talk about outsiders, obsession, and betrayal in fiction. Such a beautiful book town, can't wait! Tickets and more info at tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales/events...
Attempting to actually build something using bricks and mortar and like, a tape measure and maybe some wood and like, wow I am in no way qualified for this but I've got the audacity to try and that's what counts.
Related: if you’re going to #EdFringe this year I highly recommend going to see the new show from @awkwardprods.co.uk and be prepared to laugh and cry and think all at once. tr.ee/L1L04rTEb-
Kestral Gaian@kestr.al · 2w agoThere is nothing better in this world, NOTHING better, than seeing your friends growing and thriving and serving absolute cunt as they do.
There is nothing better in this world, NOTHING better, than seeing your friends growing and thriving and serving absolute cunt as they do.
The world needs more hackerspaces! I want to help with that. Specifically, in the little slice of Scotland I call home. So, if you know anyone who happens to live in/around the south west coast of Scotland, could you please share this survey with them? tally.so/r/gDxoAl
Southwest Scotland Hackspace
Exploring the possibility of creating a new community workshop and makerspace in Ayr town centre, serving people across Ayrshire and the surrounding areas.
tally.so
I'm looking for Typeform alternatives that have a good UX and don't have AI all over them. Anyone got any thoughts?
HOW #EMFCAMP SPIDERS GROW A poem I wrote over in the fediverse, but is sadly too long for Bluesky's character limit!
Somewhere there's an alternative universe where Fox News just shows 24/7 videos of adorable foxes.
So excited to (finally!) be able to share that I’m a featured author at this year’s Young Adult Literature Convention (#YALC)! yalc.co.uk/guest/kestra... On Sunday 1st November I’ll be on a panel talking about world-building in storytelling, and will be signing books right after. Can’t wait!
Breakfast at Teabay (1961) is a seminal film about a not-so-young nerd who becomes interested in breakfast whilst traveling home from #EMFCamp up the M6. Scored 0/10 on Rotten Tomatoes as the food is all quite fresh and lovely.
Last night, as #EMFCamp came to a close, I heard someone say that everyone, not just billionaires, should be able to "move fast and break things." I disagree. If there's one thing EMF has taught me - this year in particular - it's how to Move Slow and Mend Things. news.kestr.al/move-slow-an...
Move Slow and Mend Things
The antidote to the “move fast and break things” philosophy can, occasionally, be found in a field on the Welsh border.
news.kestr.al
Oh no, I feel a blog post coming on. I should lie down and breathe into a brown paper bag until these feelings go away, shouldn't I?
As many of us begin the journey home from #EMFCamp, full of hope and learning and love, timelines across the fediverse begin to return to normal. I shall leave you with one final thought for now. Three words I saw this weekend and will never, ever unsee. “Karl Marx Labubu”
The game has come to an end! You befriended the seven NFC ducks nearly 2,500 times during #EMFCamp. And with over 400 total players, here are the top five: 1. obsidian: 27 points 2. Oak Kitten: 26 points 3. kookie: 26 points 4. 🌱 Kvist: 24 points 5. Sam: 23 points
If you close your eyes today, on #Bastille day, you could almost think that nothing's changed at all. I'll get my coat.
Just encountered a tea bag whose wrapper proudly boasts “all our tea is plant-based!” This is my Wonko the Sane moment.
I have officially finished GooseVenture and have handed the files over to the #EMFCamp arcade team. In this text-based adventure game you play as Name Namesley, a low-level employee at SoftBank, as they go on a quest to work out why the company's eggs aren't multiplying. Enioy!
The word ‘transgender’ is an anagram of ‘strange nerd’ 🤯 suddenly my life makes sense.
My #EMFCamp talk is just after lunch on Saturday! So grab a bite then come to Stage C hear how you - yes YOU - are basically Shakespeare. Excited to share this talk with you all <3
Tell Stories. Save the World.
emfcamp.org
Once upon a time I was falling in love. Now I'm only falling apart. RIP Bonnie Tyler.
My 74-year-old cousin just popped in for a coffee and didn't say anything racist, homophobic, or transphobic the entire time. When people say "it's just an age thing" remember that it isn't really just an age thing.
Writing a text-based adventure game is just like writing a novel, only with more regex.
I knew I'd love my new local hair salon the minute I walked in and they were headbanging to My Chemical Romance whilst waiting for dye to develop. And then a delivery person arrived with pizza for everyone. And then they asked what my pronouns were.
“How long does it take to write a book? If I use AI, it’ll take me half the time.” What are you measuring? The hours typing? The years spent thinking? The life you had to live before the story could exist? Everyone can make art. But it's SO much more than just the time you're putting pen to paper.