This Time FOR SURE!
TONIGHT! at 6:30pm EDT/ 10:30pm UTC. Join us as we are assisted in our quest to solve our audio issues by TEVAT'S FRICKING GODDESS OF WISDOM.
No, we didn't pull her but the quest does revolve around Nahida. We'll also be joined by The Balladeer and, presumably, a metric ton of lore. So, grab a drink and a snack, stop by, say "Hi!", and prepare to mercilessly harass a streamer as we try again (this time WITH SOUND) to do INVERSION OF GENESIS (the quest we started on Friday) in GENSHIN IMPACT! Join the fun at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet
Are you TIRED of supporting malevolent Mega-Corporations that steal money from sick kids (*) and ruthlessly exploit their creative talent(#)? WELL I HAVE A SOLUTION FOR YOU! Support your INDIE V-TUBER! Tonight over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet I'll be continuing this weeks policy of highlighting my skill issues as I tilt at the RNG of the PS2 and try to finish the story quest in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness! The fun begins at 6:30pm EDT/10:30pm UTC so stop by and bully a streamer, secure in the knowledge that you're not actually a sadist.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Thu Aug 7 00:47:47 2025 (LZ7Bg)
5
This bumper was from the late '80s early '90s, in fact, I believe it was the very first thing broadcast on MTV. It's usage dropped off greatly thereafter when it was mainly a very occasional retro easter egg thrown at older MTV audiences. Rest assured that by not recognizing it, you show yourself to be something other than a sad, lonely, case of arrested development like those of us who do. CONGRATULATIONS PETE!
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Thu Aug 7 12:59:35 2025 (3NtfN)
6
Alas, it only means that I lived out my arrested development in USSR.
Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at Sun Aug 10 00:58:12 2025 (LZ7Bg)
Next week's schedule sees some changes, as we RETURN to Hydaelyn, amusingly, we're now actually farther behind in the story than when we started Final Fantasy 14. We will attempt to finish Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, derp around in Doom 2, and do SOMETHING on Thursday. Friday, we'll be celebrating the end of the week by chilling in Genshin Impact with another audience participation stream. Tonight, however, we must try to save a Raccoon! (We might also have to rescue an annoying redhead) as we seek to thwart a corrupt CEO, defeat Lovecraftian cultists, and finish the incredibly well written, and horrifying.....uh....BEACH EPISODE of Zenless Zone Zero's second season. Stop by tonight, be amazed by the story and take the oportunity to bully a streamer, the fun begins tonight at 6:30pm EDT / 10:30pm UTC over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet
Music: Amaranthe's Digital World Video: a selection of ZZZ Cut Scenes.
Zenless Zone Zero is an astonishingly well written game and despite all the issues that are inherent to the Gacha model, it is quite satisfying.
It's VERY Free To Play friendly (I have yet to spend a cent after one year). The story itself is weird and as mentioned here, despite the Xianxia elements, it scores surprisingly high on Moh's Scale of Sci-Fi Hardness, (4-4.5 is the number I keep coming up with...and that is SO strange*).
I started streaming this game as a temporary filler and was frankly put off at first by the very unconventional mechanics. However the story was interesting and it has grown on me. While lacking the gorgeous scenery and astounding open world of Genshin, it is every bit as well written as Genshin Impact and the more urban environs are interesting in their own right.
The combat playstyle is reminiscent of the arcade fighting games of long ago with every character having a specific set of keystrokes to maximize their ability in addition to the usual controls.
I do recommend it.
Tonight we'll be streaming the premier of the Summer Event and exploring more of the story, in an early stream 6pmEST/10pmUTC over at https://www.twitch.tv/brickmuppet so stop by, say "Hi!" and bully a V-Tuber as he roll the Gacha and tilts at the RNG.
*While the science is fairly solid given the conceits of the plot....we should perhaps have a trigger warning for engineers...there is no engineering here!
Thoughts On Lists, Priorities, and Maintaining PerspectiveSarah Hoyt and Kim DuToit both have perspectives on the recent hysteria over the latest chapter of the Epstein debacle.
I urge you to read both in full. Mr. Du Toit has provided links as well to support his Hypothesis, (Which Mrs. Hoyt largely shares) that the sudden frenzy of screeching inchoate rage amongst the a certain hysterical wing of the right seems strangely timed to distract from several other nefarious deeds being investigated as well as distract from a full appreciation of the current administration's list of victories, which, while not sufficient in and of themselves with regards to the national debt and other issues the country faces, are surprisingly consequential wins if those issues are to be dealt with.
The first corrective action to take when moving in the wrong direction is to slow down. This is what is being done, it may not be enough (historical precedent indicates that the odds are against the U.S. saving itself) but it is an important first step.
As to the lack of Epstein List names being released, this list sat in the hands of a Justice Department infested with Obama's appointments and it is vanishingly unlikely that it has not been sterilized or further corrupted. Getting to the bottom of the matter, if at all possible, will indeed take a long time.
For now the priority has to be preventing such crimes in the future (to the extent such parasitic hedonism can be deterred) and saving the country from its enemies, foreign, domestic, and financial.
And Now: A Word From Hololive
The Star Spangled Banner is a hard song to sing. A lot of V-Tubers try from time to time and it's frequently done as a bit, since hilarity often ensues. Hololive does this in the context of a beat game that scores the player on how well one matches the proper version of the song....Naressa Ravencroft took it seriously though, and pretty much nailed it.
(In fact, I'd never caught the last word of the first verse until now)
249 Years
While it is fashionable in some quarters to make a big production of not celebrating the holiday because America is far from perfect it is important to step back from such performative pouting. The "stolen land" slur is particularly silly, since EVERY single occupied spot on the planet was once occupied by some other group. Ironically, amongst the best claims to land based on historical precedent as opposed to historical realities is Israel, which the same folks decry as inherently illegitimate, and gleefully support those who advocate for the most barbaric depravities being committed against THOSE folks.
The U.S., like it's parent country, actually did a great deal to advance the notions of self determination, property rights, and even the anti-colonialism that so many of the countries critics so enthusiastically say they expose. The fact that these concepts took time to take root is because they did not exist, except in the most self serving fashion before the nation was founded, and the U.S. and other western nations developed them themselves, and bequeathed them to a largely ungrateful world. Since the 1920s the U.S. has given all its colonies the option of independence in elections, and those that have not taken that offer yet still have it as an option. In that same period it has expended considerable blood and treasure defending other nations and aside from occasional demands that the protected pay their fair share the country has asked as payment only for small plots of land to bury our dead who fell in the defense of those polities.
The notion that we should restrict the influx of people who wish to take advantages of the many advantages of living in our imperfect, but still successful society, and to only those who show respect by following the rule of law is not tyranny, oppression, or selfishness, but an acknowledgement of reality. Many of those who point to the unfortunate displacement of the native habitants of the Americas, now advocate for the exact same policies, societal norms, and outcomes of a world 400 years less advanced, outcomes that they performatively decry in any other context. Theirs are not good faith arguments.
The U.S. is not perfect, having been created by and inhabited by human beings, who are as some may have noted, an imperfect lot. It has, however, frequently self-corrected sometimes at great cost in money and blood. The nation for all its faults has created through its people, great prosperity, and has, increasingly, over time, afforded its people great personal autonomy, and an ability to voice their opinions; even very stupid opinions.
The United States did much more than its share to save humanity from the abattoir that was the 20th century and while there were those involved who did so cynically, the result was still a net good.
I'm not ashamed to be an American, I am on, balance, very happy to be so, and while my contribution to the countries' achievements has been essentially nil, I am proud of my country and what it tries to stand for. . This does not mean I turn a blind eye to our previous or current failings, nor does it mean I think our problems will be easily solved, but I am hopeful.
Hobby Space News of the commercial space industry A Babe In The Universe Rather Eclectic Cosmology Encyclopedia Astronautica Superb spacecraft resource The Unwanted Blog Scott Lowther blogs about forgotten aerospace projects and sells amazingly informative articles on the same. Also, there are cats. Transterrestrial Musings Commentary on Infinity...and beyond! Colony WorldsSpace colonization news! The Alternate Energy Blog It's a blog about alternate energy (DUH!) Next Big Future Brian Wang: Tracking our progress to the FUTURE. Nuclear Green Charles Barton, who seems to be either a cool curmudgeon, or a rational hippy, talks about energy policy and the terrible environmental consequences of not going nuclear Energy From Thorium Focuses on the merits of thorium cycle nuclear reactors WizBang Current events commentary...with a wiz and a bang The Gates of Vienna Tenaciously studying a very old war The Anchoress insightful blogging, presumably from the catacombs Murdoc Online"Howling Mad Murdoc" has a millblog...golly! EaglespeakMaritime security matters Commander Salamander Fullbore blackshoe blogging! Belmont Club Richard Fernandez blogs on current events BaldilocksUnderstated and interesting blog on current events The Dissident Frogman French bi-lingual current events blog The "Moderate" VoiceI don't think that word means what they think it does....but this lefty blog is a worthy read nonetheless. Meryl Yourish News, Jews and Meryls' Views Classical Values Eric Scheie blogs about the culture war and its incompatibility with our republic. Jerry Pournell: Chaos ManorOne of Science fictions greats blogs on futurism, current events, technology and wisdom A Distant Soil The website of Colleen Dorans' superb fantasy comic, includes a blog focused on the comic industry, creator issues and human rights. John C. Wright The Sci-Fi/ Fantasy writer muses on a wide range of topics. Now Read This! The founder of the UK Comics Creators Guild blogs on comics past and present. The Rambling Rebuilder Charity, relief work, roleplaying games Rats NestThe Art and rantings of Vince Riley Gorilla Daze Allan Harvey, UK based cartoonist and comics historian has a comicophillic blog! Pulpjunkie Tim Driscoll reviews old movies, silents and talkies, classics and clunkers. Suburban Banshee Just like a suburban Leprechaun....but taller, more dangerous and a certified genius. Satharn's Musings Through TimeThe Crazy Catlady of The Barony of Tir Ysgithr アニ・ノート(Ani-Nouto) Thoughtful, curmudgeonly, otakuism that pulls no punches and suffers no fools. Chizumatic Stephen Den Beste analyzes anime...with a microscope, a slide rule and a tricorder. Wonderduck Anime, Formula One Racing, Sad Girls in Snow...Duck Triumphalism Beta Waffle What will likely be the most thoroughly tested waffle evah! Zoopraxiscope Too In this thrilling sequel to Zoopraxiscope, Don, Middle American Man of Mystery, keeps tabs on anime, orchids, and absurdities. Mahou Meido MeganekkoUbu blogs on Anime, computer games and other non-vital interests Twentysided More geekery than you can shake a stick at Shoplifting in the Marketplace of Ideas Sounds like Plaigarism...but isn't Ambient IronyAll Meenuvians Praise the lathe of the maker! Hail Pixy!!