Brickmuppet Blog 2.0

January 07, 2026

So: Anything Happen While I was Away?

Banality....unpleasant biological banality is below the fold. As partial compensation here is a Kung-Fu Catgirl.

Zenless Zone Zero's Ju-Fufu is by KazeZz. The backstory that Ju-Fufu gives the player indicates that she is between 22 and 26 years old and so she serves as an important public service announcement to younger gentlemen regarding the importance of demanding reliable I.D. and always pressing X to doubt.

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Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 08:52 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 On the hopeful side, some of the tools for this stuff can be miniaturized to fit up through a tiny tube. (I am not a medical device scientist, and I am not qualified to give medical advice.) Thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: PatBuckman at Wed Jan 7 10:45:31 2026 (rcPLc)

2 New post is another malformed request string. (My thoughts? Ships are big. There have been disputes over recent ship procurements. (LCS) I would expect that the lead times could be long enough for the fulfillment of this program to be on later or future administrations. I don't know about defining the requirements for these machines, but design and construction take time and work. I would basically have to see the tests to have an opinion, and technically successful design can also be useless. I do want to believe that DoD procurement can do good things.)

Posted by: PatBuckman at Wed Jan 7 14:08:44 2026 (rcPLc)

3 There was an issue with the post title. Pixy got it sorted out. Thanks for the heads up! I could not see the issue on my end!

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Wed Jan 7 22:02:50 2026 (3NtfN)

4 Still can't comment on the battleship post, malformed request string.
In my opinion, the actual design of what ship(s) we build at this point is far less important than actually building something close to on schedule and budget. The Virginia class seems to have been successful. I haven't heard how the Columbia's are doing. But the LCS project was a disaster, and the recent frigate project, that was supposed to take an excellent (imho, better than the coastie design) Italian design and produce it in our yards was a complete failure because the idiots, even knowing that not doing so was the entire original intent and it would cause the project to fail, simply COULD NOT resist changing everything about the design along the way.
The biggest design problem I see with the BB (please no, do not name the class after Trump), is that it's not nuclear powered. A lack of electrical power is one of the current limiting factors on the Arleigh Burkes, and while the Zumwalt has a much more powerful plant, it's still not really enough.

Posted by: David Eastman at Sun Jan 11 18:24:52 2026 (J69gL)

5 Also running into problems accessing the other ship post.
There is, currently, not a single ship class being built for the US Navy that is running to schedule. The Columbia-class is actually the closest, with somewhere between 6 months to 1 year delay. The Ford and Virginia-classes are next, with about a year to 18 months behind, with Burke-class right behind them, and everything else currently running years behind schedule. US shipbuilding has been a mess for a while, and the Navy has done basically nothing about it for the last three decades - which would have been one excellent reason from a long list for why SECWAR Hegseth should have fired all the admirals right after he fired CNO Franchetti.

It is even worse when you dig into the specifics.

The Virginia-class is a successful ship, but the production has been inadequate, with two shipyards pushing out a total 1 to 2 boats a year. There has been little sign of improvement, despite both the US and Australia spending money on the production, in yearly amounts that might have been enough if they started 20 years ago and consistently spent that much each since then, but not for today. They certainly are not going to hit the 2-3 boats a year that will be needed in the next decade, especially since the US Navy will be losing 3-5 Virginias to the Australians (Which, if you want to see a navy that is being handled even worse than the USN...Just look at the RAN.). Frankly, the more I look at AUKUS, the worse the agreement is...And that is before Biden decided the US was done sharing nuclear power plant technologies for ships to anyone else.

LCS were fine if we had built them in small numbers to try them out, and if the mission modules had been developed. Neither of those ended up the way they should have been.

The Constellation-class was never going to go well. First, it was far too big and expensive for ships that were suppose to take on secondary duties and relieve the DDGs for more important missions. We are talking about a base design - FREMM - that is only a third smaller in displacement than the Burke-class, and an actual design that was closer in size and displacement than that. It would be larger than some destroyers - the French treat their FREMM as equivalent to their destroyers, while the Italian FREMM are almost are large as their destroyers. A Constellation/FREMM certainly is better than the Legend-class but it is also significantly larger and more expensive, and intended for different mission sets.

Second, there was no way the Constellation would have been launched without requiring a lot of changes. The original FREMM designs were not expected to use a majority of American equipment, and they had to be changed to USN standards for others. That was always going to jeopardize the benefit of getting an off-the-shelf design for fast construction - either you spend more time redesigning it to use your own equipment or you end up using equipment that is literally found on just those ships and no other ships in your fleet. Or you can end up in the weird, half way point the RAN is picking with the Upgraded Mogami FFM. Where the USN really FUBARed was their redesign process, where they both made questionable design choices (The stated reason why a 7300 ton FFG only carried a 32 cell VLS instead of a 48 cell VLS? Because the redesign work would take too long....) and could never settle on design requirements and selections, let alone hit design freeze, before they laid down the keel plates. In fact, they never got to design freeze before FFG-64 and later members of the class got canceled, and while FFG-62 and 63 were under construction - which is an apt commentary on the entire program.

I would like to see a class of nuclear power surface warships again, but there are reasons why nuclear power is not as useful on a regular warship as it is on a carrier. And this is not even getting into the bias against cruisers that the current USN leadership seem to have internalized.

Posted by: cxt217 at Mon Jan 12 00:02:31 2026 (ZLF73)

6 Yeah, there are two sides, the engineering/construction and the doctrinal or operational. I basically do not know anything about using ships. I am not a surface warfare officer, this is not financial advice, and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

We need to actually build new things, because maintenance gets expensive the older the electronics are, and endlessly retrofitting eventually stops working.

This includes ships.

But, a jobs program that does not deliver usable things is a waste.

To schedule and on budget would be great, I'm not sure it is always possible, but I would be surprised if we could not do better on everything but software. However, if you do not freeze specifications, the design rework screws stuff. And, delivering on a 'no fooling, that was final' takes leadership.

I'm basically feeling cynical or at least 'we will see' on whether Trump's administration delivers on these promises. Long term construction projects a) difficult b) less shiny c) necessarily involve future administrations and congress.

Posted by: PatBuckman at Mon Jan 12 12:59:23 2026 (rcPLc)

7 Constellation-class / FFG(X) and the Legend-class / FF(X) clearly are intended for different mission sets and fulfill different operational requirements. I do expect that there will be a Constellation-equivalent coming down the line eventually, since there still a need for a ship smaller, less capable, and cheaper than a DDG that can still handle missions with carrier groups and surface action groups like DDGs, while freeing up DDGs from escorting convoys and amphibious readiness groups. But it will probably a smaller ship than the Constellation / FREMM, probably closer to 5500 to 6000 tons.

FF(X) is actually closer in concept and mission set of the La Fayette-class frigates, especially once they get the VLS and towed array sonar. Though the modular containers might allow them to ship similar capabilities even with the Flight 1 ships.

Posted by: cxt217 at Thu Jan 15 01:33:32 2026 (ZLF73)

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December 24, 2025

It is Over

At work, for the last month, the cardboard tsunami has been crashing upon us all. Being cardboard (and not water) it never receeded. Instead, we took every component of this hellish inundation and placed it on delivery trucks. Now, the last of those trucks has left the building, full to bursting with packages...made of cardboard, with addresses on them . The drivers of those trucks have instructions to not return to the facility until every one of those boxes is delivered, so that the children may be assured of a happy day tomorrow. This will be a very long night for those drivers, however, my part in this process is now at an end. The season of pain and sleeplessness is now over. I am now going to...lie down.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 10:44 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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December 14, 2025

Look: I'm a Christian. But, I'll not be a Niemöller.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 05:39 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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December 11, 2025

In. Other. News.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 09:24 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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December 07, 2025

84 Years

U.S.S. Nevada (BB36) burns after having beached herself on Ford Island. The only ship to get underway during the Pearl Harbor attack, she made break for the ocean under the command of her critically wounded Officer of the Deck, (Ensign Joseph Taussig) but the battleship was caught in the Pearl Harbor channel by the second wave of torpedo bombers and hit multiple times. Taussig beached the vessel to keep from blocking the channel (and thereby granting the Japanese total victory) before he was drug from the bridge to receive life-saving medical attention which resulted in his leg being amputated.

Taussig Returned to duty 3 days later. He retired from the navy in 1954.

U.S.S. Nevada was repaired, and despite being quite old went on to a rather...active....career for the next few years.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 08:49 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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December 06, 2025

Program Note:

TWO NITE!

At 6pm EST/ 10pm UTC, join us for a rare Saturday stream as we delve into the new Genshin Impact archon quest A Nocturne of the Far North. Other streams this week have been somewhat abbreviated due to the seasonal work schedule, but, tonight, we are going long as we thoroughly explore this much anticipated story addition. Grab some hot chocolate, some scones and join everyone in chat over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet for the rare privilege of being able to bully me on a Saturday night and watch as I squander all my primojems trying to pull Jahoda!

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 02:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!

More overtime than straight time!

"Ow."

"...tired..."

I've got nothing.

Here.....seasonal stuff.

Representation of the season of pain in Fontaine is by chikuwaf.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 02:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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November 30, 2025

Stream Schedule W/E December 6

Here's the upcoming schedule as promised.

The stream days have been cut back and stream times have been rather dramatically changed, for which I apologize. However, my job, for the next month, has set start time so early that this is the only tenable option. Tonight we will be continuing the new ZZZ story Precipice of the Abyss! Tuesday we will discover what this tournament we've been enrolled in really means in Disgaea: Cursed Memories. Thursday, we will continue our attempt to build a base on Apocalypse Mode in the Unstable Beta of Project Zomboid. Finally we will round out the week with a later but much longer stream as we sit down and comb through the lore in the new Genshin Impact chapter Nocturne of the Far North!

Due to my somewhat insane work schedule, stream times for he week are now 3pm EST/ 7pm UTC except for Saturday, which baring any new interference from the IRL RNG will be at 6pm EST/ 10pm UTC.

Stop by, say "Hi!" and bully a streamer over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 05:01 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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K-Pop Demon Hunters

Watch this trailer:

There is no way this film is not bad.

In fact it is not merely bad, it is GLORIOUSLY, AMAZINGLY, EPICALLY, WONDEROUSLY bad.

Perhaps a better description would be "unpretentious".

This film is exactly what it says on the tin. It delivers exactly what it promises (K-Pop singers fighting demons aaaand K-Pop). To say any more would involve spoilers.

This is one of the few films I've seen in the last few years where I actually laughed out loud at points.

K-Pop Demon Hunters is goofy, touching at points, and bone-crushingly dumb at others and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Go watch this film. It delivers what it promises and that is a joyous thing in current year.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 04:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well: THAT Sucked.

I've missed 2 days of work, I've not streamed since Wednesday.

.....but I have an excuse!

I was in the hospital.

Short banality dump below fold. As compensation, here is some season appropriate art.

The Patron Saints of Schizo, Poverty, and Narcolepsy by Nanamo Yado. Support Them on Fanbox!

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Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 03:47 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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November 28, 2025

Remember

Cdr. Salamander has a very atypical, but powerful edition of his Fullbore Friday feature up.

It is short.

But it defies excerpting.

Read the whole thing.

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November 25, 2025

Not Plot Current Anymore: But NEAT!

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 03:32 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Having NAILED the FA, May He Soon Be familiarized With the FO Part of the Process

Cdr. Salamander has thoughts on the recent calls from certain congresscritters for the military to mutiny. While he points out the issues with Senator Kelly's participation in this fiasco in particular, he is looking at it from a legislative and procurement context primarily.

The War Dept. is looking into the matter from the perspective of the U.C.M.J.

This has kept me up at night for about a week. I've got a degree in History. I know where this numbnuttery leads.

There is a lot of talk right now of civil unrest.

If it comes, it will not be anything like 1860-65.

It will be like Spain in 1936.

If you are one of the smooth-brains who are actually enthusiastic about such an event (and there are such moral lobotomites on both the left and the right) then I suggest that you read up on the conflict.

It is high octane nightmare fuel.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 03:17 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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November 11, 2025

Thank You

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November 09, 2025

SURPRISE AMAZON FIREWORKS!

In about 30 minutes, ( 2pm EST/ 6pm UTC) Brickmuppet Channel will be covering the launch of ESCAPADE, the latest US Mars mission, which will launch from Cape Canaveral today at around 2:45pm EST./ 6:45pm UTC. Not only is this only the second launch of Jeff Bezos' New Glenn rocket, but they will try to land the booster on a ship at sea! This maximizes the potential for explosive mishaps!

So join us in chat as we cheer for the progress of humanity and the um...Rocketry of the overlords of Twitch....as we react to whatever happens and cheer for (or at) team Twitch! (yay) ALSO POSSIBLE 'SPLODIES! The channel is at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet

Update: I've had streams ruined by all sorts of things. mostly P.E.B.K.A.C. on my part but I've NEVER had one tanked by cumulus clouds until today.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 01:40 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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November 08, 2025

So: I actually cut my Friday stream short because I had to go to work early. On the way to work, I had a flat tire. No problem, I've changed MANY tires. Even less problem: The flat happened before I got off my street, so I could back into my driveway. Turns out, that little extra bit of driving meant the lug bolts ground into the hubcap and tire after over an hour of trying to get the tire off the jacked up car I sat down to catch my breath...which is when I realized I'd been rolling around in dog poop. The day is not off to an optimal start.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 06:36 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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October 26, 2025

A Disquisition on Tuckertardation

I have always had a great deal of respect for Dinesh D'Souza. He is smart, respectful, and literate. He's also one of the few old school conservatives who has not had his brain addled by TDS*. Here he sits down with the Triggernometry guys and has a wide ranging discussion on the situation we face and the often self inflicted challenges that the American right faces.

Well worth an hour and a half of your time.

*I'm an old school conservative and have had my trepidations about 45/47 which I went into in some detail here and here. Trump's performance in his second term have mostly, but not completely allayed those fears.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 04:32 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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October 25, 2025

Genshin 6.1

Genshin Impact is a free to play, online, gacha game. This means that expectations are rather low. However the game has, over the 18 months that I've played it, actually impressed me with its storytelling.

What starts out as a bog-standard fantasy game (with, God help, me isekai elements) develops over the first few scenarios into something quite unique.

Then it gets really strange

And awesome..

Over the last 5 years (or 18 months if you're speed running it like me) Genshin Impact has drip-fed its players a quirky, interesting and exceedingly deep, & detailed backstory for the world in which the player finds him/her self.

This drip feed has been quite entertaining and thoughtful, providing a very well realized world and that worlds history which one uncovers different layers of , as one wanders across the planet of Teyvat exploring each country and discovering how their histories and challenges tie into the larger story. Amazingly the characters one encounters are well written, and well realized.

With the 2 latest updates, however. this drip feed has stopped.

It's been replaced with a firehose.

Genshin's 6.1 update story was "all that and a bowl of grits". Exceptionally well written, with excellent character development, surprises galore, and building on the previous story in a believable way, An Elegy for Faded Moonlight ties together or clarifies more than half a dozen plot threads, some of which had appeared to just be flavor text. It resolved the current in-game crisis in a most satisfying way, while simultaneously setting up foundations for future mayhem. The only online game I've seen that has anything on a par with this is Final Fantasy14 with its award winning Heavensward update from a decade ago. This really was a 9/10 out of 10, and exceeded even the high expectations I have come to have of this game.

My only concern is that the next updates will be hard pressed to live up to this. But given the tightness of the story and how well it integrates elements from the beginning of the game, I do hold out some hope that this is not a fluke and they've really been working towards a coherent and satisfying ending.

Fingers are crossed. But as of now, it's looking quite good.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 08:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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October 23, 2025

FTP Streaming!

Tonight at 6:30pm EDT 10:30pm UTC, I will be broadcasting LIVE from Nasha Town while exploring Nod-Krai and the new Genshin Impact chapter An Elegy for Faded Moonlight! As of the last few updates Yo-Hoyo is no longer drip-feeding us lore, they've just turned on the fire hose! This should be awesome, so grab a drink, a snack, every one of your BrickCoins, and join us in chat as we explore the region, uncover its secrets, and face down the implacable RNG by rolling the gacha!

Join the fun tonight at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 12:43 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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October 22, 2025

Disgaea: Hour of VICTORY!!1!(?)

In just under an hour (6:30pm EDT/ 10:30pm UTC) My crackerjack streaming team (consisting of Me, myself, and I) will attempt to vanquish this JRPGs FINAL BOSS! If we succeed, we will begin Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories! This is it people! It's likely your last chance to bully me for my skill issues in this game! Stop by say "Hi!" and witness the completion of the channel's 3rd JRPG!

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