Recently updated blogs

I wrote this time last year that I hoped 2024 was a better year for the games industry - this has turned out not to be the case. In a fun inversion of my 2022 list, 2024 was the year I formally rejoined the games industry. I’m working in codevelopment, which is rather more sheltered from the storms that have wracked the wider industry, but I’ve seen so many friends …

So when last we saw our heroes they had rolled on the Carousing Table and all had gone sideways.I actually made a diagram to keep it all straightSo this time, I set things up to deal with the consequences:Olaf, halfling cleric of the Black Grip shows up with a skeleton arm, a replacement for an arm he got torn off a few sessions ago, he is hanging with, Bleezy aka …

One of the many delights of exploring northwestern Montana is its abundance of fossilized ripples and mudcracks. There’s a huge amount of stone here from the Belt Supergroup, 1.4+ billion years old, endless parallel slabs of it tilted up into thin ribs, thick ledges, entire angular mountainsides. That’s much older than plant life, and those ancient landscapes must have been a surreal domain of almost pure geology, uplift and erosion, …

All-in-all 2024 has not been a very productive year in terms of artwork - mainly because of too much time and headspace spent in moving to a new home in Hastings, on top of my day job. I completed four main pieces of artwork, all photographic pieces for my Acid Renaissance series (click a thumbnail to go to the respective gallery page for that piece): The four photographic pieces completed …

A while back I mentioned an AristoCraft (New One) 4-6-0 I'd considered to pull my Selley passenger train, when the day arrived to need it. Well, the Selley passenger cars are still in kit form, in their boxes, awaiting their turn on the workbench. But another reason emerged for needing this engine, and one that's more apropos.While searching for that elusive (and now suddenly everywhere!) New One "Supply Car", I …

It's the last day of 2024. Kind of a "meh" year, wasn't it? There were enormous political changes and they don't seem to have really had much effect. It wasn't exciting culturally. Society seems to have hunkered down and simply pushed their way through it. Since the pandemic, I've stopped seeing a change of year as anything really significant; I've effectively written off the 2020s as a bad lot and …

For the last few years, I have made a post looking back on the content I have produced on this blog, and this year is no different; 2024 marks my 13th year working in security, my 10th year in offensive security, and my 11th year publishing posts to this blog. The blog has taken many forms over the last 11 years starting out on zerosec.co.uk on a WordPress iteration and …

Bob Dylan goes through four breakups in A Complete Unknown. The ugliest and most violent one is when he dumps the folk music nerds. That probably sounds harsh for the folk music nerds but honestly, I’m on their side. As a country music nerd I fully believe that everytime a great country artists releases a pop, rock, punk, rap or EDM album an angel loses its wings. It isn’t easy …

“When I was four or five, my father had a general store in Winchester and I don’t think the farmers could ever leave on Saturday afternoon until I had been placed up on the counter to sing.” –Dinah Shore Frances “Fanny” Rose Shore was born on February 29, 1916, to Anna and Solomon Shore in Winchester, Tennessee. She had a sister, Elizabeth, who was eight years older. When Fanny was …

I hope that all the readers of the blog have a had a really nice time and spent it with loved ones and relaxed and dear I say over indulged slightly I really do hope that you have all everyone of you have had a great time! I know I have!! So, they say a picture can speak a thousand words and it can and it paint a picture in …

I’ve just read last year’s wrap up and it made me quite sad. I really was in a rough spot, mentally. What makes me the most sad though is I couldn’t honestly tell you I’m in a much better place. Things are on the up though. I don’t really have a will to sit here and write a wrap up post either this year, but it’s a really important way …

My favorite post of the year! After reviewing what I’ve written a year ago, I am actually surprised at how different everything has been this time around. That’s why these posts make so much sense and I recommend doing something similar to everyone. It doesn’t have to be published on a blog like I do, but just writing it down to sort out your thinking about what has happened and …

Recently I bought a new car. It’s very fast and very yellow. Here’s a picture of me and Mr ThesisWhisperer with it: In case you are wondering, it’s an EX30 Volvo with a dual electric motor. I bought my first new car at 50 – a Tesla. Now, four years later, I’ve bought a second electric vehicle, a ridiculously yellow EX30 Volvo with a dual motor. Some might question buying …

My accomplished, wonderful pals2024 was difficult—but ultimately very good—for me. Something that got me through the difficult parts was enjoying the successes of my friends, pals, and comrades, of which I offer an incomplete list here, in roughly chronological order:The boffins over at Fenwick released the Think Like a Writer course, which I have taken and personally recommend. Most online courses are bad. Not this one. Instead, it’s a three-week …

Original airdate: December 29, 2024 The premise: When Marge accidentally uses a bottle of Mr. Burns’ prized, irreplaceable wine entrusted to Homer’s care by Smithers, the three cover their tracks thanks to Professor Frink synthesizing a believable replacement. When Smithers expresses his inner turmoil about working for such a wicked, evil man, Marge suggests they produce more fake wine to sell to the rich to use their money for good. …