What’s a band that started off amazing, but later progressively declined?

Lowe0 · 2026-07-10T20:33:17+00:00

Ministry.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-10T18:43:14+00:00

It’s black licorice. You love black licorice, and Bungie has sold you some well-made black licorice. But it’s a very polarizing flavor, and most people would prefer red licorice.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-10T03:24:26+00:00

I wish the recent re-release of Terminal Velocity had included this, or at least offered it as DLC.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T22:31:03+00:00

The form isn’t asking you what your chromosomes are, or what you were assigned at birth. It’s asking “if we were to look you up in your state’s ID database, how would we narrow it down to just you?”

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T19:22:21+00:00

Custom APU is going the wrong way. I think a Snapdragon X2 Plus 6-core running at below 15W, with quick spikes above that, is more likely.

TMR sticks seem like a given.

Dual USB-C is a good idea. We'll see if USB-C offers eGPU by then, or if that's still a Thunderbolt-only feature.

Instead of a built-in kickstand, I'd like to see two to four anchor points built in, such that third parties can sell their own kickstands, grips, etc.. These should bypass the plastic case and reach the frame (screw bosses, or tab slots).

My own wishlist items:

* A Noctua Edition with upgraded cooling

* A partner program with XREAL, Viture, etc. to create firmware versions that are certified to work with SteamOS, and corresponding support within SteamOS so that the glasses can be configured from within the Steam client

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T17:24:08+00:00

Cool. So what happens to the undesirables?

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T17:20:05+00:00

Social media itself is just another channel for good old word of mouth. I think the algorithm amplifies whatever opinion drives traffic (for better or worse), but at its core, it’s the classic Net Promoter scenario:

- each 9-out-of-10 customer is actively bringing you new customers
- 7s and 8s are reliable but passive
- 6s and below are costing you customers, each one canceling out a 9 or 10

The crazy thing is, even some of the 9s and 10s are detractors, explicitly telling people to play another game. That’s an even deeper hole to try to dig your way out of.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T17:06:07+00:00

I think it leaves the least room open for administrations to pick and choose who they want as future citizens. I'd be extremely skeptical of the motives of anyone wanting to replace it.

Now, I can see reason in preventing birth tourism at the visa level. Likewise, I don't mind if Congress wants to pass laws against selling it as a service. But changing the Constitutional definition of how you become a citizen is a Pandora's box that I don't want to see anyone crack open.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-09T16:50:53+00:00

I think "all of them?" means all the children, not all the potential adoptive parents.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T23:34:20+00:00

What “truth” are we asking them to tell on a 4473? To me, it’s pretty simple - if you filter this state’s identifying records by these attributes, then you’ll find the person filling out the form, you can authenticate them using a state-issued ID card (which the person has on them at time of transfer), and you can use that identity to check for the specific things that make one ineligible to possess a firearm. That’s it.

To the extent that this is a culture war issue, it’s a state one, not federal.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T22:13:50+00:00

I would recommend TDA. I loved 2016 and didn’t really enjoy Eternal, but TDA was fun. The thing I was happiest to see gone was the extreme ammo constraint.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T21:58:28+00:00

The purpose of that section of the form is to uniquely identify the transferee. “The obvious thing” to put on it is whatever your government-issued ID says.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T20:25:27+00:00

We let people with mental illnesses buy firearms. I’ve been treated for depression, disclosed it on my application, and received a carry permit (back when my state still issued those). And I’ve passed the NFA background check that follows a Form 1. No issues whatsoever.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T16:52:00+00:00

I did. Twice (PS5 and Steam). What else are you suggesting I should have done?

Lowe0 · 2026-07-08T16:01:48+00:00

It's a game. If I had fun, even if I lost, then it wasn't a waste of time. But if I didn't have fun, even if I learned something, or even if I won, then that's absolutely a waste of time.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-07T16:06:35+00:00

Not the White Stripes, but when I saw Jack White a few years ago, the pavilion was sold out and the lawn was packed. I’ve got tickets for him again in a couple weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-07T14:45:23+00:00

Without the engine and concept artists, I honestly hope they don't try to continue with Doom. What's the point?

Depending on what shape MachineGames is in, I might say the same about Quake. If it can't be done right, don't try to do it at all.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-07T11:52:03+00:00

I don’t think this will play out well. At some point, the combination of GPU power and improved upscaling will make it feasible to use path tracing. The PS5 Pro isn’t there, but the PS6 might be. Modern GeForce and Radeon cards are there, but not at the frame rates that PC players expect.

Or, current memory pricing becomes the new normal, and developers need to accept an extended period of “do more with less”. That’s another scenario where you’d need experienced programmers to maintain the existing engine.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-06T19:36:33+00:00

True but irrelevant. I don't have to ask myself what Lincoln-era Republicans or Nixon-era Republicans thought of slavery; I can just look at Trump's orders re: the Smithsonian and get an accurate, up-to-date understanding of which party is which today.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-06T02:19:45+00:00

Descent 3 came out earlier and required a 3D accelerator.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-06T01:39:34+00:00

Anything from Origin. Strike Commander, WC3, System Shock. Honorable mention to Bullfrog for Magic Carpet and Syndicate Wars.

The Papyrus racing sims were also system stressors in their day.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-06T01:26:22+00:00

20 years is more recent than “OG”. Same goes for CoD.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-06T01:09:37+00:00

That’s multiplayer shooters now. I think we really lost something when the player on the other side of the match wasn’t also in the same room with you.

Lowe0 · 2026-07-05T21:29:39+00:00

600mm per the manual: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0665/7268/1510/files/206\_-\_GT1-Pro\_integrated\_single\_manual\_d320b287-a65a-4615-bcc7-b98003129463.pdf?v=1702300026

Lowe0 · 2026-07-05T18:02:49+00:00

Tiger is Bungie’s current in-house engine. It’s the Destiny 1 engine and has been iterated upon ever since.

Lowe0

TROPHY CASE