Roger checks out LOTRO Update 46.1 on Bullroarer and likes the new 2K/4K UI scaling slider and per-element sizing, even with WIP rough edges like unscaled cursor and fuzzy icons.
Bhagpuss keeps the Advent Calendar rolling with a pair of Christmas music picks—Eels’ “Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas” and Birdcloud’s “Cool Christmas.”
Kimimi clarifies what Advanced Power Dolls 2 actually is (PC-98, 1996) and says it’s mostly “more of Dash/Plus Dash,” but with tougher, longer missions aimed squarely at veterans.
Luna rounds up her favorite 2025 releases, spotlighting under-loved picks and gushing over Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for its Japanese-inspired setting, town management, and escapist RPG vibe.
Scopique breaks down Star Citizen’s “engineering” ship-maintenance sim—components, fuses, fires, wear—and why the PTU rollout plus player feedback tweaks could reshape combat more than master modes.
Belghast shares a Gracie-the-cat sulk story, then vents that Path of Exile 2 mapping feels tedious—rare-hunting for loot, spiky deaths, weak defenses, and a league mechanic that breaks flow.
Tobold wraps 220 hours of Europa Universalis V as Portugal: colonization and Divert Trade eventually print absurd ducats, but trade quirks (like missing tea) and broken economics made it boring.
Tofutush journals a miserable seasonal cold abroad—sore throat, hoarse voice, overpriced DayQuil/NyQuil, clinic says “not COVID,” so it’s water, rest, and toughing it out.
Cliffski wants to simplify decades of Positech web hosting sprawl—too many game-specific servers and logins—after quitting third-party publishing, juggling a “large company,” and prioritizing health.
Bruce Schneier tracks the surge in deliberate internet shutdowns—from Afghanistan’s Taliban-ordered blackout amid earthquake fallout to spikes across Africa and beyond—arguing they’re infrastructure-k
Dave Winer argues the web needs user-owned storage that apps can access (hello, Markdown editors without silo lock-in), and riffs on always-on mics after Android/ChatGPT spoke up uninvited.
Emily recounts an X-Men dream where her OC reconciles with Wolverine, goes boating and swimming… until creepy retracting lake spikes wreck the date and force a panic-wake escape.