I’ve got a confession to make: I’m hooked on Rimworld. It’s easily the most annoying and thought-provoking game I have ever encountered. I won’t say it’s a great game, but for the right kind of player, it results in some truly amazing game-play.
I have added this one to my Recommended Reading List [stderr] – it’s been what’s been occupying my head for the last week, as I’ve been listening to the audiobook on scramble/repeat just because I was so captivated by the material.
The question of where COVID-19 came from is of scientific interest, mostly, but unfortunately it has been politicized and used with racist overtones, e.g.: Trump’s calling it “the Chinese virus.” The worst part of it, to my mind, is that the ‘edgy’ branches of the media are also digging into the story in search of some kind of conspiracy angle, which is going to serve to further fuel less-disciplined conspiracy theories. This shit-show is going to continue for the forseeable future.
Finally, something that is beautiful and joyful in its own right. See, I’m not entirely depressing.
Content Warning: Cannibalism, Christmas
In a flanking maneuver, let’s attack St Nicholas. A friend of mine sent me this gem:
This is some really neat stuff. It’s from a recent episode of This Week in Virology(TWIV), which is generally worth listening to in its entirety, but sometimes their side-topics are so interesting it’s delightful.
I remember hearing about this back in the USENET days. It’s a fun story and he’s obviously told it many times.
Commentariat(tm) Underwater Obstreperousness Agent Patrick Slattery sent me this story, to brighten my day. Because, unlike some of you, I probably didn’t pay for it. The Brits, apparently have figured out what to do with their F-35s.
Old welder to young welder: “OK, now we’re going to check your welds to see if they hold.”
Young welder: “They’re tight, they’ll hold up to anything.”
Old welder: “We’ll see about that.”