Chris Trottier

Putting the sauce in awesome! This is my own self-hosted single-user Akkoma + Mangane server.

I primarily talk about the Fediverse, movies, books, photography, video games, music, working out, and general geekiness.

I’m a proud husband and father.

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atomicpoet_at_atomicpoet.org@momostr.pink

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Last Notes

2026-03-19 22:36:04 UTC

I recently played Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, which is a collection of 90s-era Jurassic games released on 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, including Game Boy. And it's about to be delisted soon. This includes:
* Jurassic Park for NES
* Jurassic Park for Game Boy
* Jurassic Park for SNES
* Jurassic Park for SEGA Genesis
* Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues for SNES
* Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues for Game Boy
* Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition for SEGA Genesis
First of all, are these just ROMs attached to a fancy launcher? Yes. But if I can buy a game legally, I absolutely will.
For me, this hits all the nostalgia feels because I had Jurassic Park for Genesis. For the time, it was truly spellbinding with incredible graphics. From the moment I saw this in Toys R' Us, I had to have it—and I regret selling off my original cartridge.
To this day, this is the best Jurassic Park game I've ever played because the platforming is superb and you have wonderful weapons. It's different than the games released on Nintendo platforms because it was developed by BlueSky—the same folks behind Vectorman—and published by SEGA themselves.
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition is a totally different beast. Like the original, it's also a side scroller, but there's way more enemies. And it's so much harder.
Until now, I never played the Nintendo games. And they're completely different from the Genesis games. For one thing, they're all developed and published by Ocean—a British studio known for movie tie-ins which are often hit or miss.
The NES game is actually superb. I think it's a hidden gem. This one is a top-down shooter where you have to collect eggs, infiltrate bases, solve puzzles. And it's got a great soundtrack.
There's much more ambition with the SNES game. Like the NES game, it starts off as a top-down shooter. But then when you get into the bases, it becomes an FPS. Personally, I don't like this one. But I also understand that in 1993, this was cutting edge. Especially when you consider that it predated Doom by a month.
The Game Boy game is similar to the NES game. However, due to the small screen, things feel kind of cramped. But this is all right for a Game Boy game.
Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues for SNES has nothing to do with the actual Jurassic Park sequel, The Lost World. For one thing, it was released in 1994, predating the movie sequel by three years. And I can't say it's really a sequel to the first SNES game either since it's a side scrolling shooter that no longer has FPS elements. I feel like Ocean saw the success of the Genesis game, wanted to copy it—but just couldn't duplicate its magic.
On the other hand, the Game Boy version of Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues is much better than the SNES counterpart. The sprites are bigger and therefore easier to see—as ridiculous as that sounds. And the limitation of two buttons makes this plain easier to know what to do.
Unfortunately, I feel this collection is missing a many important Jurassic Park titles. For one thing, I would have loved to have had the SEGA CD version which is also substantially different from the Genesis version. This is not an action game but instead a point-and-click adventure with puzzle elements.
There was also a Master System version, identical to the Game Gear version—Master System and Game Gear were basically the same system—that's different from the Genesis version. This one was made by SEGA themselves, not BlueSky. This is not included in the collection.
It's also worth mentioning that the Amiga and DOS versions are similar to the SNES version but with substantially better graphics. This is also not included in the collection.
Also not included is Jurassic Park Interactive, made by 3DO—though published by Universal. I thought this would be an adventure game. But no, it is just a collection of arcade mini games based on the Jurassic Park.
What else isn't included? The arcade game, which is an on-rails shooter that's developed and published by SEGA. This is the game that I *really* wish was included. Alas, it was not.
Finally, there's the dedicated LCD handheld held games, both manufactured by Tiger Electronics. Some people dismiss this as shovelware, but growing up, I had a lot of these—so this has sentimental value. This also wasn't included in the collection.
So while I appreciate that, for a brief moment in time, Limited Run Games made *seven* classic Jurassic Park games available on Steam, I feel this collection is missing far more than it's worth. Especially considering that Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection
is $29.99. At that price, I feel this collection is incomplete.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/495b9e6a417b38fec823a42eb33d70eb338ed4ddf9ef38b61a4dbc7e7b6cdb47.png
https://atomicpoet.org/media/fabf3f76ea80c48b3740dc6d133aad2742d8e87343f84522e6c15d6c7c52129e.png
https://atomicpoet.org/media/a6112631e4958374df8f2d4738f8cf4729575ea4b3841aef7fc20ddb58dfa036.png
https://atomicpoet.org/media/4e142142280ee4295044aaff5e2868873cb5430c06508d1856e89dec6a28f978.png

2026-03-19 19:20:57 UTC

The Afroman defamation trial is the greatest moment in true crime history.
If you’re not caught up, cops sued Afroman for defaming the after they raided and sacked his house—and found nothing. So he made music about the whole fiasco, even made tracks about each officer.
He won that trial. But the best part is when they played each song in front of each officer, and recorded it for posterity.
In a small way, American fascism had a setback.
https://youtu.be/4oYm0YnAdHk

2026-03-19 09:48:19 UTC

Lots of discussion recently about Slay the Spire 2, which has become a big hit.
But would you believe that I only got into the original Spay the Spire this year.
I find it’s a good game for people who don’t want to devote all their attention to a game, and have other things to do. For example, when you’re doing dishes or watching a movie. The turn-based aspect lends itself to playing at your own pace.

2026-03-18 21:04:04 UTC

I'm watching Pistol, a TV series about the Sex Pistols—and the beginning of British punk.
I thought this would be a cynical, cash-grabbing biopic, but I checked it out anyway, and this is the best musical biopic series I've ever seen. It really captures the energy of the music, and what captured so many teenagers' attention.
I was one of those teenagers, albeit 15 years removed. My first taste of punk was watching a documentary about the Sex Pistols when I was 11-years-old, and from that moment I knew that punk was *my* music.
As it happens, my newfound interest in punk coincided with the rise of grunge. Being from Vancouver, I was a few hours away from Seattle, and I convinced my sister to take me there every few months. So I got to see that happening.
Vancouver had its own scene. Though less celebrated at the time, we had bands like Cub, Maow, The Smugglers, Gob, and SNFU. Little did I know that this scene would later give rise to acts like Neko Case, Destroyer, The New Pornographers, and You Say Party.
But the Vancouver punk scene's claim to fame is Nardwuar the Human Serviette. And the persona is not that far removed from the real person.
https://tubitv.com/series/300016824/pistol

2026-03-18 05:32:35 UTC

Serenade for the Dead
**Verse 1**
I had a vision
Of naked mermaids
Singing melodies
Under the moonlight
Voices resounding
Intoning the tale
Of a young man shot to death on the beach
**Chorus**
Under tide, they make me right
Dress me up in borrowed light
Cold mouth, nothing said
All their songs inside my head
Hands that I can never feel
Turn me into something real
Not a man, not a name
Just a body in their song
*Verse 2**
This young man
Of cigarette smoke swagger
Who lost all his savings on baseball odds
Discovered he never had any friends
Then had his blood drained into the ocean
**Chorus**
Under tide, they make me right
Dress me up in borrowed light
Cold mouth, nothing said
All their songs inside my head
Hands that I can never feel
Turn me into something real
Not a man, not a name
Just a body in their song
**Verse 3**
When his pale white body
Washed from the shore
Mermaids found he had a beautiful corpse
With naked frustration
They kissed his lips
Could only desire him through serenade
**Bridge**
Don’t wake me
Don’t break me
I’m better this way
No heartbeat
No daylight
Just voices that stay
You found me
You kept me
Where I couldn’t be
Now drown me
In something
That sounds like me
**Chorus**
Under tide, they make me right
Dress me up in borrowed light
Cold mouth, nothing said
All their songs inside my head
Hands that I can never feel
Turn me into something real
Not a man, not a name
Just a body in their song

2026-03-18 02:21:01 UTC

I’m a monarchist only in the sense that I believe a head of state should have no political power.
And that goes for presidents that want to be kings too.

2026-03-18 02:12:35 UTC

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Never apologize for AAVE. In many ways, it’s more expressive and efficient than standardized English.

2026-03-17 23:44:22 UTC

Animal Crossing now has a native PC port.
It's not official. So it's only a matter of time before Nintendo takes it down.
https://steamdeckhq.com/news/animal-crossing-native-pc-port-on-steam-deck/

2026-03-17 23:35:48 UTC

All right, fine. You made me do this.
Here's Angine de Potrine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi-9wS1so

2026-03-17 19:40:13 UTC

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Not many Mormons over in Vancouver. But whenever I've met one, there's always something eery that I can't put my finger on.

2026-03-17 19:21:08 UTC

I'm sorry, but 32-bit iOS is now retro.
And it's going to take work to preserve the platform.
https://youtu.be/1Y1r4IlMjbs

2026-03-17 04:26:04 UTC

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Do murderers in Utah typically write books about grieving over people they kill?

2026-03-17 04:07:29 UTC

Wow! Talk about a hot mess!
This woman was $4.5 million in debt, and thought that killing her husband would net her $4 million—and that she’d be able to walk run away with another man to boot.
But then she has the chutzpah to write a book about recovering from grief—which she didn’t even write herself, she hired a ghostwriter.
So of course the prosecutors used that book against her.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/kouri-richins-convicted-9.7131332

2026-03-16 23:08:56 UTC

This is a shocking story.
Krafton CEO Changhan Kim reportedly used ChatGPT while planning the removal of the *Subnautica* founders in order to avoid paying a $250 million bonus tied to the release of *Subnautica 2*.
According to the court’s findings, Krafton then attempted to delay the game’s release in order to evade that payout.
The judge ruled that this conduct was intentional.
As a result, the court ordered Ted Gill to be immediately reinstated as CEO with full authority over the project. In corporate disputes, executives who are fired typically seek financial damages. Courts almost never order reinstatement through “specific performance.”
The ruling also equitably extended the bonus deadline. Krafton’s attempt to avoid the $250 million payment by delaying the game therefore backfired. The creators now have additional time to qualify for the full amount.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bombshell-judgment-demands-krafton-immediately-reinstate-ousted-ceo-and-return-his-authority-over-subnautica-2

2026-03-16 18:39:33 UTC

So here’s the demo for Prettiest Girl Alive.
I hired a band off Fiverr to make this a poppy summer jam. And they did an impeccable job. Just nailed everything I wanted this song to be.
It really is the musical equivalent of ice cream, which is exactly what I was aiming for.
But what do you think? Should I record a final, more polished version?
https://atomicpoet.org/@atomicpoet/posts/B4K5PSz1fC3ibRxmV6
https://atomicpoet.org/media/da4bcea21929ef1ddb39a458d7d266f01e9220946e6e907e61849b9cf88395f5.mp3

2026-03-16 18:16:18 UTC

I dabble in songwriting. So I want to share the rough draft and then the finished product.
First, I had an idea for a melody. And as soon as it came into my head, I had to sing it a cappella on Voice Memos.
As soon as I sang it, I realized this could be a sweet sugary summer jam. So I composed the lyrics for *Prettiest Girl Alive*:
```
**Verse 1**
Neon on the street
Ice cream in your hand
Sugar on your lips
I barely understand
**Chorus**
Prettiest girl alive
Ice cream, summer night
Cold sugar on your smile
Streetlights burning bright
Vanilla on your tongue
Cherry on your grin
Whole world fading out
When you lean in
**Verse 2**
Chocolate on your sleeve
You laugh at the mess
Cherry on the spoon
I try not to guess
**Chorus**
Prettiest girl alive
Ice cream, summer night
Cold sugar on your smile
Streetlights burning bright
Vanilla on your tongue
Cherry on your grin
Whole world fading out
When you lean in
**Bridge**
Two cones dripping slow
Bench by the park
Your laugh ringing out
Bright in the dark
**Verse 3**
Maybe just a night
Maybe something more
But every melting drop
Feels worth waiting for
**Verse 3**
Napkins on the ground
You steal one more bite
Sugar on your grin
Everything feels right
**Chorus**
Prettiest girl alive
Ice cream, summer night
Cold sugar on your smile
Streetlights burning bright
Vanilla on your tongue
Cherry on your grin
Whole world fading out
When you lean in
```
I next had to figure out what I wanted this to sound like. At first, I wanted to make this a power pop song similar to "Teenage Kicks* by The Undertones. But that didn't work.
Then I realized, "Why not just make this an unapologetic pop song?" After, I'm literally comparing a woman to ice cream flavours. Just own it.
I then contracted a band of Fiverr to record a demo. And the result is the most sugary summer pop jam I've ever made.
Because Mastodon doesn't allow you to post two MP3 files, I'll show you the demo version in the next post. But for now, here's the rough draft a cappella.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/14c19c890422ea0b9279c3f0cae9ef3bd92b17e393e0f0646a38136e5a8955fc.mp3

2026-03-16 07:39:13 UTC

I was in the badminton club bar, drinking Corona Zero. There were three bottles beside me, and I ordered one more.
This older lady—who wouldn’t mind her own business—walked up to me, said, “You’re a disgrace. You need to stop drinking and get back into shape.”
And I was like, “Whatever, I’m going to the gym in a half hour anyway.”
So some time elapses. I decide, okay, I got to stop being lazy, and hit the gym.
I walk in, put 260 on the bar, get ready for a deadlift.
And who’s in the corner doing a stretch? The lady chewing me out in the bar.
Then I do my lift off the ground, hold it for a good 15 seconds. Do eight more reps. And with the last lift, during those 15 seconds, my eyes meet the lady’s. So I nod at her.
Her eyes go wide like saucers.
I don’t know what the big deal is. But then I realize, “Wait a minute. She saw me down four beers. And she didn’t notice they were non-alcoholic.”
That’s when I realized I’m now a legend to that lady.

2026-03-16 02:21:12 UTC

Good. I’m glad a new GPU company is entering the market to compete with Nvidia and AMD.
Prices for GPUs have been out of control and it’s time that the mainstays stop squeezing the consumer while they pursue AI hyperscalers.
“B-b-b-but they’re Chinese!”
Yeah, and where are the new North American, Japanese, or European GPU companies?
https://www.tipranks.com/news/amd-nvda-stocks-slip-as-a-new-gpu-competitor-enters-the-market

2026-03-16 02:00:25 UTC

My heater broke down on the one day it snows in Vancouver. 😐

2026-03-16 00:57:02 UTC

The latest fad is “churning and burning”.
This is when you churn butter while going for a jog at the same time.
Which one of you is already doing this?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/how-to-churn-butter-while-running-9.7127209

2026-03-15 22:05:22 UTC

Time to talk about this week's exciting new releases!
**Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!** – similar to Earth Defence Force but it's a boomer shooter. And it's got that Starship Troopers license, so we'll see what happens.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2321780/Starship_Troopers_Ultimate_Bug_War/
**The Hero of Destiny was killed by the final boss** – an action RPG where the hero dies at the beginning, so the NPCs have to get together to pick up the slack. Visuals have a low-poly PSX aesthetic.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4364210/The_Hero_of_Destiny_was_killed_by_the_final_boss/
**Crimson Desert** – an open world action-adventure with fantasy elements. This is a huge AAA title from the same folks who made Black Desert—but it's a single player game, not an MMO.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3321460/Crimson_Desert/
**DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH** – A PlayStation game, directed by Hideo Kojima, that's coming to PC—which might be one of the last single-layer PlayStation games to ever come to PC.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3280350/DEATH_STRANDING_2_ON_THE_BEACH/
**RUSHING BEAT X: Return Of Brawl Brothers** – a revival of the Jaleco beat-'em-up series, which includes both Brawl Brothers and Rival Turf. Features 2.5D graphics, not pixel art.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2488290/RUSHING_BEAT_X_Return_Of_Brawl_Brothers/#app_reviews_hash
**Excoverse** – a 3D hack-'n-slash action RPG with anime aesthetics and a fantasy theme.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3039230/Excoverse/

2026-03-15 21:13:47 UTC

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If it gives you joy, do it!

2026-03-15 19:15:08 UTC

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You might want to look into acquiring tub amp with a coax/toslink input because it adds the kind of distortion that you might find pleasing.
Also works with USB and Bluetooth.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/25ac5fa536a8b88278baad6ee5b5fcc4bc1106d492ad49c8f63c96b8b731095d.png

2026-03-15 19:06:12 UTC

Remember Me must be the most French game I've ever played.
It is pretty much a combination of La Femme Nikita, Léon: The Professional, and Minority Report. Put another way, you're playing a naïve woman—who's an amnesiac—living in a world where people are addicted to memories. Unlike most others, she has the ability to hack, edit, and modify these memories. Which makes her dangerous to the powers-that-be.
Taking place in a future Neo-Paris, with cafés and terraces intact, you walk around and hear NPCs talk about "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité". That's how French this game is. Even the robots have French mannerisms.
Because this is published by Capcom, you might think this is a Japanese interpretation of French culture. Au contraire. It was actually developed by Paris-based Don't Not Entertainment—the same folks behind Vampyr and Jusant. In fact, Remember Me was their first ever game.
Because this was Don't Nod's first game, it is perhaps too ambitious. A bit flaw is that they try to do too much. This game is simultaneously a beat-'em-up, a parkour, and a point-and-click puzzler. Two hours into the game, I was still being fed tutorials, and it was a bit much.
Despite these flaws, I like Remember Me quite a lot. Even though the graphics are showing their age, the art direction is absolutely beautiful. Whether walking through garbage-filled slums or skulking around bourgeois apartments, it was truly wonderful to experience this world.
Looking at several screenshots, I can't help but notice how it seems "AI". Obviously, this being a game with a cyberpunk aesthetic, that's just how it will go. But Remember Me was released in 2013, so I assure you that humans made this—not generative AI.
In a weird way, the fact Remember Me predates generative AI kind of works within its themes. Because this game is very much about the consequences of human memory merging with computer memory. This idea behind this dystopic potential could practically be a doctoral dissertation.
But the biggest reason I love Remember Me is because it works so well on Steam Deck. How awesome is it to play a AAA title at 60fps at high settings? And the gamepad support just works too.
This is my version of a cozy game. It's perfect to play in bed while trying to keep warm during the blistering cold of winter.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/e6ed1936514e0da8f19f4486cb4d2e18b1de40999d39761181f64bcd2de3009b.png

2026-03-15 09:06:49 UTC

Ghosts N’ Goblins Arcade for the C64 has become my favourite way to play Ghosts N’ Goblins.
It took a defining game from my childhood and made it that much better.
Better graphics and smoother controls.
But my God, the music. The C64 absolutely excelled at this. I always felt it had a whole lot of soul.
https://youtu.be/TSWFwjoOpD4

2026-03-15 08:51:06 UTC

Ghosts N’ Goblins Resurrection is, as of now, the last game in the Ghosts N’ Goblins series—released in 2021.
I quite like this one. But though I have some experience with the arcade original, most of my time has been spent on the C64 port—which recently got a homebrew remaster. Being completely oblivious to the NES and Genesis ports, that colours how I view this game.
The art style is quite nice. Capcom could have just rehashed the pixel art style of the 80s, but they went for a watercolour aesthetic to really highlight the storybook theme.
Music is still great. That was always something I loved about the C64 port. It really made the SID chip sing. Resurrected preserves the feel, but makes things more orchestral.
There’s also difficulty modes. Purists may not like that but the arcade original and C64 port was hard as nails. Yes, even for the time it was made. So I’m glad there’s some forgiveness because, for most people, “easy” will be hard anyway.
Also, checkpoints. Thank God. This is a huge quality of life improvement.
It never got much attention when it was released, but I’m glad Ghosts N’ Goblins Resurrection was released.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/a17fcafe01dd023b0812827b1e7921ddda9bf3420d98d73f3df613a0f377ed9a.jpeg

2026-03-15 02:56:46 UTC

AI has caused RAM and SSDs to double in price, and a slop barrage on Steam.
Yet VCs just don't understand why gamers hate AI. 🤷‍♂️
https://kotaku.com/investors-grapple-with-ai-unpopularity-at-gdc-xbox-2000678933

2026-03-15 02:42:55 UTC

What a time to be alive!
I just saw "Sammy The Bull" Gravano critique the movie Casino on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/NXVixCyy8ss

2026-03-14 20:16:53 UTC

Currently watching *Lansky*, a biopic about Jewish mob figure Meyer Lansky, who worked closely with Lucky Luciano and helped shape the loose nationwide alliances that law enforcement later called the “National Crime Syndicate.”
There was a time when Jewish and Italian gangs worked closely together in major U.S. cities. Jewish organized crime was sometimes nicknamed the “Kosher Nostra,” though the term was mostly a later media label. Lansky and Luciano were key figures in reorganizing organized crime in the early 1930s, helping build the cooperative structure that strengthened the American Mafia.
Jewish organized crime still exists in some form today, but it is no longer the cultural force it was in the 20th century.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/c2c91fa6dc414a0e63cff70d57d3ab570cc6a08492416726bb57718f553cbc76.png

2026-03-14 17:36:02 UTC

Timothy Chalamet is facing backlash over saying that no one cares about ballet and opera.
But is he wrong?
I have no doubt people care about Swan Lake and La Bohème. But how many people go out of their way to watch a new ballet or opera? How many people can name one new production that was made within the last 50 years?
The ballet and opera industries survive off the greatest hits of the 19th century.
A 2024 study by OPERA America found that 82% of newcomers specifically sought out "famous or well-known" operas. Interest in "new work" (premieres or living creators) was significantly lower, ranging between 17% and 41%.
In the ballet world, the dependency is even more stark. The Nutcracker alone accounted for 10% of all global ballet performances in 2023. Combined with Swan Lake, these two 100+ year-old productions represent nearly one-fifth of the entire global market.
When a new production is popular, it’s almost always relies on existing, famous stories rather than original operatic or balletic concepts.
The Shining proved to be a popular opera. It sold out its premiere run in 2016. But it only did so because of name recognition from a popular movie based on a popular book.
The reality is new "hits" are often marketed as "The opera/ballet version of [Famous Movie/Book]" rather than as standalone new art.
Chalamet’s comment on opera and ballet being on life support isn’t so far off. Not-for-profit performing arts companies saw profit margins drop to -2.4% in 2024. They rely on grants and donations for over 52% of their revenue. Without "charity," the ticket sales alone wouldn't keep the doors open.
If there is a silver lining—something to counter Chalamet’s notion about these art forms dying—it’s that the under-34 audience for ballet grew from 22% to 28% last year, and the average age of Met Opera ticket buyers has dropped from 50 to 44.
So more people are caring about opera and ballet. But I’m not sure more people are caring about new opera and ballet based on original concepts.

2026-03-14 08:54:06 UTC

This, right here, is Deathbringer.
And I knew it was a DOS port of an Amiga game from the get go. The giveaway was that, while it looks beautiful, the controls are so convoluted, swinging a sword is like performing brain surgery.
Just to attack, you have to come to a full stop, press the spacebar, and then the direction of where you want to attack.
Let that sink in. You can’t move and attack. You can’t just stand and attack. You must stand still, press the button for attacking-which will only attack if you point where you want to attack right afterwards.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/60c6d728f7eaf78de88b1b54ec8386dcbf01d701356587670c6b0227415541e3.jpeg

2026-03-14 02:01:45 UTC

Just played the arcade version of Exerion.
This game was ahead of its time. Released in 1983, it was doing parallax backgrounds which gave it a 3D effect. And this makes a big difference for a game that’s pretty much like Space Invaders and Galaga.
Which is why home conversions fared poorly. You do not want to play the Famicom or MSX versions of Exerion because they fare very poorly.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/f3e7a3557468cb3eaa9ab6b5540b2e02e6a483a11ca1b23532ae219049f7b043.jpeg

2026-03-14 01:19:43 UTC

A year ago, I bought this DAP off Amazon for C$70.
It’s plays music extremely well. Great DAC. And it has USB-C, a micro-SD slot, and two stereo output jacks.
Unfortunately, the wheel is mechanical. A relative who borrowed this spilled soda on it. And now I have to clean this with alcohol because the innards are sticky.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/d4aecaaee5a143003efcf530dabe3e48c3f67bd086957f9e10df2487546fdddf.jpeg

2026-03-14 00:18:36 UTC

I've compiled this handy chart to explain which computer OS is best for what type of gaming.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/c47335e0ce4927e6a6c302099025ba5cdf6cd82c42a74b41695384fee715d261.png
#note1c90…4482

2026-03-13 21:56:27 UTC

PC gaming used to mean Windows.
Not anymore. Each major OS now excels at a different kind of gaming, and depending on what you play, the “best” platform might be completely different.
I got the good fortune to be able to game on all major computer OSes: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
I've come to the conclusion that it's no longer about one size fits all. Windows is no longer the default gaming OS. And actually, every OS has something to offer gamers. So let's talk about the strengths of each platform.
**Windows** - the best for multiplayer due to anticheat largely being Windows-only. The other advantage is that *most* new games are made for Windows. Finally, Xbox PC Games Pass is good if you want access to AAA titles but don't want to buy them outright. On top, backwards compatibility for previous generations of Xbox are coming to Windows.
**Mac** – the best platform for casual gaming. Apple Arcade offers unbeatable value for $5/month, which gives you access to 250 titles—mostly indie and casual. Titles often also work across Apple's ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Finally, you can play games made for iPhone and iPad.
**Linux** – the best platform for emulation, legacy, and handheld gaming. Custom gaming OSes like Batocera, ArkOS, and OnionOS don't just play console games, they create a console-like experience. Proton and Wine allow you go play Windows games that are no longer playable on Windows. SteamOS and Bazzite have better optimization for handhelds than Windows, with features like auto-resume when pressing the power button.
So the question is no longer “Which OS is best for gaming?” The real question is “Best for what?” Windows still dominates multiplayer and new releases. Mac excels at affordable casual gaming across devices. Linux has become the home of preservation, emulation, and handheld PCs. Instead of one platform replacing the others, the modern PC gaming ecosystem is starting to specialize.

2026-03-13 19:28:36 UTC

Wow! Larry Hryb (a.k.a., Major Nelson) is joining Commodore!
It really looks like Commodore is making a comeback!
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/larry-hryb-joins-commodore-international-corporation-as-community-development-consultant

2026-03-13 01:51:29 UTC

Who likes pinball?
@wandy_dev@theatl.social has a great blog post on the Visual Pinball project.
https://wandy.dev/posts/2025-10-24-who-knew-this-was-a-thing-vpinball

2026-03-13 00:09:11 UTC

Who wants a free Steam game?
I'm giving away Yoku's Island Express, *the* greatest pinball metroidvania ever made—which has a 96% positive rating.
Message me, and I will DM you a Steam key code!

2026-03-12 22:17:17 UTC

Blues punk band The 1865 just released the fantastic single "Everything's Not Gonna Be All White".
And this is a scorcher!
The cover art is a statement itself.
https://the1865.bandcamp.com/track/everythings-not-gonna-be-all-white

2026-03-12 20:25:25 UTC

The greatest—and most hilarious—political rebuttal I've ever read.
And yes, this is real. It's a joint reply from the Tla’amin, Klahoose, K’ómoks and Homalco Nations over a local MP getting up in arms over First Nations land acknowledgements.
We need more "Chillax, Bud".
https://atomicpoet.org/media/b8be2241a690fdb0fb149497993bf2d9be4135d19e34281f793839dd21ccd9d3.jpg

2026-03-12 18:42:01 UTC

Vancouver definitely has its own regional accents.
Where I live, Richmond, people speak with a more syllable-timed rhythm. So you’ll hear words like “please” become “pe-lease” and “blue” become “buh-lue”.
What’s also fascinating is the use of Cantonese loanwords. So you often hear “aa” or a “ge” at the end of sentences. As in:
> "Don't be late, aa." (Translation: "Please make sure you aren't late.")
Or:
> “It’s raining, ge.” (Translation: “It’s definitely raining.”)
There’s also terms unique to Richmond:
* “Drink tea” = Dim Sim
* “Uncle / Auntie” = any adult you’re friendly to who’s not a blood relative
* “Rice rocket” = heavily modified and loud Japanese cars
This way of talking is actually infectious. I call a pineapple bun a “bolo bun”. Which is a term you don’t hear much outside Richmond.

2026-03-12 17:56:22 UTC

The Toronto Hood accent is really interesting because the slang is almost indecipherable.
I’m from Vancouver, and I can’t decode most of what is said.
I don’t even think most people from Toronto can understand this.
https://youtu.be/6NSQaPjwYs4

2026-03-12 09:21:28 UTC

Mammals that are only endemic to Canada:
1. Vancouver Island Marmot
2. Ungava Collared Lemming
3. Maritime Shrew
4. Ogilvie Mountains Collared Lemming
5. Peary Caribou

2026-03-12 07:01:37 UTC

This is the game that got me to put down my Steam Deck, and go hard on Apple Arcade.
I like Zelda. Oceanhorn is a lot like Zelda while still being its own thing.
What I love about this game is that it’s more heavy on puzzle solving than combat. Don’t get me wrong, there’s minions and boss fights. But most of this game is about figuring out solutions to problems.
And there’s the sense of magic and wonder in Oceanhorn 2. You really get all attached to the world of Arcadia.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/c88c7be1f3f395b7168be01cd3ab0a02c175de26f066d6764c7b988c1152fb88.png

2026-03-12 05:29:07 UTC

Video games are named after its inventor, Video Kojjma.

2026-03-12 01:56:45 UTC

CONFIRMED: Xbox and PC gaming are essentially merging.
This is not just a matter of the next Xbox playing PC games. It's that Microsoft is majorly reducing the friction for game development across the two platforms.
In other words, Project Helix is Microsoft's answer to the Steam Machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87voLIYudw8

2026-03-11 23:21:50 UTC

I just invented a mythical creature called a nonicorn.
It’s a unicorn without a horn.

2026-03-11 21:21:37 UTC

Lots of bemoaning of the “death” of physical video games—the notion being that they can only be preserved with a cartridge.
So I thought I’d share a different perspective.
Chameleon was an arcade game—developed by Tose and published by Jaleco—released in 1983. Think of it as a cross between Donkey Kong and Bionic Commando. Like Donkey Kong, it is a single screen platformer. However, just like Bionic Commando, you don’t jump. Instead you swing, except with your tongue.
Apart from the Casio PV-1000, only available in Japan, it never got a home port. In 42 years, Chameleon never got a re-release. And it’s unlikely to get a re-release in the future.
Let me be blunt. This game is almost physically unobtainable. Finding an arcade cabinet is like finding a needle in a haystack. Just buying a Casio PV-1000 is expensive as hell, and games—when they are available—are hundreds of dollars.
Yet, if you assemble a Raspberry Pi arcade cabinet, install Batocera, and load the ROM—it is playable. Perfectly? No. But is this the genuine Chameleon? Absolutely.
As we can see here, emulation has done a better job of preserving a game than the physical releases. And while I would love to pay Tose or Jaleco for this game, neither of them want to sell it. So this is my only solution.
This is why I don’t buy into the notion that a cartridge or disc is the only “true” and “pure” way of experiencing a game.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/2f53527fa7dc20bb6010332af49b3a529ebbd7d5f6bf9c1303ba99899ebc8983.jpeg

2026-03-11 20:11:46 UTC

I randomly stumbled up on this incredible rendition of "When You Wish Upon a Star".
And it made me lose my breathe.
You got to understand that I'm not a Disney guy. Most of their music, I can't stand. But there's such a purity to this version that it's unshakable.
Until today, I had no idea who Gary Karr & Harmon Lewis were. Apparently, Gary Karr was one of the most renowned classical double bassists in the world. Harmon Lewis was an organist, who was also Gary's live-in companion. Both were locals who lived in Victoria, British Columbia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoqIy7ms1g0

2026-03-11 18:04:26 UTC

Haha! These comments on MacRumours—back in 2001—right after the launch of the iPod are hysterical!
People were absolutely pissed! Here's a few samples:
> Great just what the world needs, another freaking MP3 player. Go Steve! Where's the Newton?!
Or this comment bemoaning Apple's move towards consumer electronics:
> Sounds very revolutionary to me. 😡
> hey - heres an idea Apple - rather than enter the world of gimmicks and toys, why dont you spend a little more time sorting out your pathetically expensive and crap server line up? 😡
or are you really aiming to become a glorified consumer gimmicks firm? 😡
This guy who swear the iPod won't take off:
> All that hype for an MP3 player? Break-thru digital device? The Reality Distiortion Field is starting to warp Steve's mind if he thinks for one second that this thing is gonna take off.
None of these guys realized that this device actually was going to change everything, and that so many people *now* are pining for an iPod.

2026-03-11 16:45:40 UTC

This Norwegian PSA about enshittification is absolute gold.
It is pure art.
https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ

2026-03-11 08:55:26 UTC

I thought this Polaroid was going to be a disaster.
But the darkness and double exposure has resulted in a compelling self-portrait—something I would never make with my iPhone.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/b774b46d6cae4fb35802d85cb91b9cfe870e23b0e03f14ecac0041a913a349c5.jpeg

2026-03-11 07:46:59 UTC

When my daughter was born, I made a commitment to her:
I would raise her to listen to vinyl.
At the time, I didn't fully understand why I felt this was important. And certain people on the Internet said I was being cruel to my child for making her listen to *my* music. But it's been 12 years of listening to vinyl *almost* every day of her life.
Through this experience, what I've come to understand is that this isn't about music in and of itself. It's actually about many things at once.
Having a time where we talk to each other. Sharing an experience. The ritual of holding the sleeve, touching the record, then carefully placing the needle to the groove.
But most of all, it's about realizing that culture is often tactile, not ephemeral. And each record is a memory. A moment in her life.
Sometimes when she discovers her own music—gets excited about a band—I tell her, "Let's go buy the vinyl". Then we listen to it for a solid week. And we come away realizing this is a part of our lives.
And funny enough, this happens quite often. We're sometimes in a supermarket, a tune comes on, and my kid goes, "Hey, I remember that song! We have that album! I was in grade 5 when we heard it!"
#note1lrc…s5kl

2026-03-11 06:06:31 UTC

Here’s how I built my retro game collection.
I walked into EB games when they were clearing out their new Nintendo DS games, and bought them for C$0.49.
Nobody wanted them. They were too old to be appreciated by current gamers, too new to be loved by nostalgists.
Meanwhile, I said, “Half a dollar? Fine by me.”
You can still get deals like this nowadays but you have to care about what nobody cares about right now. This will pay dividends because eventually people do care.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/cafff6e1198f1702bab86fcfb99483e54a7d58252602449d1f7a552cc8ac9dfd.jpeg

2026-03-11 05:22:14 UTC

Here's what Gen Z really needs to appreciate about *now*:
Never has it been so easy to experience culture from around the world. You can see what's going on in Kenya, South Korea, and Brazil. What's more, you can talk to these creatives right now—and they'll talk back.
Just the other day, I started a conversation about Oceanhorn 3, a Zelda-like game made in Finland. Then the devs started popping in, talking about their experiences making the game. That was pretty neat.
And it's not something that would have happened in the 90s.
#note1gww…67nh

2026-03-11 05:16:19 UTC

In the 90s, I hated blockbuster movies, malls, and pop culture because I thought it was hollow.
And I bet a lot of people alive in the 90s also thought the same.
Here's the thing. I didn't seek solace in the past. I tried to find an alternative to the zeitgeist. And largely I succeeded.
I got to experience punk rock shows during the 90s. Which also lead to starting a few bands. So in a way, the realization that culture was trashy and contrived was what pushed me to make new things.
And this is something kids nowadays need to realize too: it's up to you to be the change.
#note1yv7…vyg5

2026-03-11 05:08:48 UTC

Gen Z really needs to start appreciating what we have now rather than an imagined past they never experienced.
I experienced VHS, grunge music, mall culture all when it was current. And it was fine. It was a moment.
But we're in a different moment now. And it's important to accept that. Because in 20 years, you'll wonder why you *couldn't* experience life as it is now.
https://youtu.be/UHffxk3t4gU

2026-03-11 02:27:25 UTC

These t-shirts are going to sell like hotcakes!
https://youtu.be/WMISw5_ct-I

2026-03-11 01:57:42 UTC

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I’m tired of imagining a shitty future.
Can we instead imagine a future where everyone frolics in tall grass and eats grapes?

2026-03-11 01:37:43 UTC

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(That’s not to say women are defined by their ability to give birth, but it is to say I have a bond with a particular woman that will never go away.)

2026-03-11 01:34:25 UTC

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Real Dolls can’t visit arcades with me. Nor do they talk in detail about their childhood with Dragonball Z.
Plus, I watched my wife give birth to my child which was the most defining moment of my life.

2026-03-11 01:20:05 UTC

These monuments to Canada becoming the 51st state of the USA are wild.
https://www.cbc.ca/arts/what-would-change-if-canada-became-the-51st-state-just-look-whats-happening-at-western-university-9.7122491

2026-03-11 01:00:18 UTC

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I’ll tell you why Canada keeps the monarchy. We don’t want a president.
Both UK and US are colonizers, but the colonizer we’re most concerned about is the US.
And that’s not to say Canada itself is not a colonizer. But there are treaties, and treaties are with the Crown, which predates Confederation.
Considering Alberta separatism, which is funded by the US, this is not a small matter.

2026-03-11 00:13:17 UTC

Cold Shell is basically Hotline Miami meets Streets of Rage.
Which is a good combination.
Oh yeah, and when you’re not busy beating up vicious gangs of punk thugs, you’re redecorating your room and gussying up your furniture.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/6a68fd5d3c5673b7c5484d6f6744939d602ca441b4f562790e858584f652bb4a.jpeg

2026-03-10 22:12:19 UTC

No, AI is not replacing women.
Who comes up with this stuff?

2026-02-13 21:14:37 UTC

Currently in a movie theatre to watch Iron Lung.
Promos just started. I am literally the only person here. It is totally empty except me.
Oh well. The movies already a success. I’m just doing my part to support indie films that are about indie games.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/52ae55fb951d82cb71539a66d235008e350e6fee816b46cdcfa0e69d2cf7f926.jpeg

2025-08-20 19:37:41 UTC

I keep spotting these guys perched around my place.
They’ve got that deadly serious glare—and if that seriousness is aimed at killing rodents, I’m all for it.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/5a7d72123120666a038df538dc35f8571df07b2125e3a22861de75ef5b891267.jpg

2025-08-12 19:58:10 UTC

Perplexity just dropped a $34.5B bomb to buy Google Chrome.
And with Google’s antitrust headaches piling up, I can’t see them saying no.
They’ve got a fiduciary duty to shareholders — and that means if the money’s good, Chrome’s gone.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/12/perplexity-google-chrome-ai.html

2025-06-11 04:23:21 UTC

For decades, I’ve heard rumours that Michael Tait (of DC Talk and Newsboys fame) is gay.
That’s right—decades.
Now it’s come out that he’s sexually assaulted multiple men.
Being gay isn’t what led him to assault anyone. Most gay people I know are nothing like Michael Tait.
But it’s also true that when someone is forced to repress who they are—especially in a culture of religious shame and denial—it can lead to deeply unhealthy, destructive behavior.
This doesn’t excuse anything. It explains part of the context.
I have no sympathy for his actions. My heart goes out to the victims.
This isn’t about orientation. It’s about power, secrecy, and harm.
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/michael-tait-confesses-christian-music-star-sexual-advances-drugs-1236425266/

2025-05-08 17:16:27 UTC

There's an American Pope.
And it's not Donald Trump.

2025-05-03 16:17:46 UTC

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it’s a witch hunt when anything over five paragraphs long gets dogpiled by assholes constantly questioning authenticity and sidetracking discussion. Which happens on a very frequent basis. To the point where I’m wondering if there’s any value writing something longform or putting any kind of effort into anything.
Thing is, what even counts as AI? Tone adjustment? Grammar fixes? Spell check?
If generative AI was merely the problem, okay, maybe I’d have some degree of sympathy. But all of it?
Should we not be using AI to assist with stuff like alt-text descriptions? Or image upscaling? Or playing a game of chess?
The reaction to AI has become so absurd, it’s become borderline nonsensical.
And sure, people use AI in unethical ways. But they also use Photoshop in unethical ways too. Should we decry all uses of Photoshop because it’s sometimes used for evil?
A hammer can be used for hitting nails or smashing skulls. Should we stop using hammers because bad people have used them for smashing skulls?
Finally, on the point about AI replacing creative work: that’s unlikely to happen unless uncreative people suddenly decide to start being creative. Because AI, by itself, doesn’t generate ideas.

2025-05-03 05:15:59 UTC

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What witch hunt? Great question!
The one where I spend two hours writing something, only to be dogpiled for using “AI” because what I wrote contains em-dashes.
And then I get a post removed not because it’s actually AI but because people “feel” it’s AI.
And even though ZeroGPT confirms it’s written by a human—too late. The witch hunt is on.
Show receipts from my voice memo—which I use to draft my writing? Doesn’t matter. The witch hunt is doubling down.
What this tells me is that no one’s reading what I’m writing. Instead, they’d rather speculate on how they think it was made.

2025-05-03 04:10:06 UTC

Personally, I use AI—not for anything generative—but to manage the tone of what I humanly generate.
What do I mean by this?
I mean, I tell AI, “Make this text friendly, polite, and inoffensive.” And—BAM!—human drama gets dialled down big.
“But Chris! I want to hear your raw thoughts—an AI shouldn’t restrain you!”
Fuck you—no, you don’t.
And if the previous sentence offended you, there! That’s why I use AI! Because my natural, regular self is rough and tumble. And something needs to restrain me.
Think I’m going to bother my wife each time I need to soften something?
No, she’s too busy watching her crime dramas to deal with any online nonsense.
So yeah, thank God something out there can temper what I say.

2025-04-28 21:52:46 UTC

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Dude, condolences to you. I don't know if you were there, but I know *you're* probably going through a lot, being a local Filipino and all.

2025-04-16 23:56:59 UTC

I have a fucking bone to pick with people telling me I use AI because of my copious use of m-dashes.
You know what? I've always used m-dashes—will always use m-dashes—will never stop using m-dashes until you pry them out of my cold dead hands.
And what I write can't just be spat out with an AI prompt. It takes effort to plot this all out, build a story, make sure the details are *just* right.

2025-04-01 05:53:54 UTC

Listen, this is no joke.
Danielle Smith is *assuming* the Liberals will win, and is already planning an Alberta secession referendum.
After the federal election ends, this problem needs to be confronted head on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQUoM5b0938

2025-03-27 21:41:49 UTC

When Conservative polling is saying that Conservatives are headed for disaster, that’s saying something!
I’m not counting my chicks before they hatch because we all know how that goes.
But if polls are accurate, it means the Reform faction of the Conservative Party eats dirt. Because here’s the deal: Alberta and Saskatchewan are just going to vote blue no matter who. It’s Ontario and Quebec where they need to succeed.
https://archive.is/2025.03.27-211321/https://www.thestar.com/politics/doug-ford-s-internal-polling-paints-grim-election-prospects-for-pierre-poilievre-in-ontario/article_11f8b5cc-3dec-42f6-9d4d-c342d67bee9d.html

2025-03-25 03:11:52 UTC

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Correction: Western alienation is about energy policy and white supremacism.

2025-03-25 01:33:03 UTC

My prediction for what happens to the Conservative Party is that Poilievre will lose the election, which will mean he gets fired as Conservative leader.
Doug Ford will take his place.
Which means the Wexiters and pro-annexationists will leave the party. They will either join PPC or form a new protest party.
Which means Liberals will win more elections—until Conservatives “unite the right” again.

2025-03-20 04:35:11 UTC

Look what came in the mail!
Immediately opened Max Cloud on Blu Ray, and watched it with my 11-year-old daughter—who absolutely adored this movie.
And though this technically has a lower resolution than the Prime Video version (which is 4K), the Blu Ray looks better because it shows more detail. The data transfer speeds on Blu Ray is simply better than Prime Video’s streaming delivery. Totally worth buying the disc!
Now I got to convince my wife to watch this too.
@movie@piefed.social
https://atomicpoet.org/media/462fb3b6160b420a17d2d486cd3a44e131f4432c9e357fa9099cd3675838664f.jpeg

2025-03-20 01:59:33 UTC

As God is my witness, Blow the Man Down (2019) is the best neo-noir film I’ve seen since Drive.
This movie oozes style. It reminds me a lot of Fargo, and it’s clear the filmmakers studied the Coen brothers extensively. The result? A film every bit as good as a Coen brothers masterpiece.
Set in a small fishing town in Maine, Blow the Man Down opens with a fantastic sea shanty sung by fishermen—men who have clearly lived hard lives. I can practically smell the fish and salty air. I know these people. I’ve spent time with these people. I know exactly what this town is all about.
But this isn’t a movie about fishermen. No, no. Nearly all the main characters are women. This is their world, and I assure you, the women of this town have it just as rough—if not rougher—than the men. Because they have a secret. A dirty secret. One that leads to murder.
A particular woman—a mother—has recently passed away, and we witness her funeral. Two of her daughters, Priscilla and Mary Beth Connolly (played by Sophie Lowe and Morgan Saylor), sip booze as they mourn, unaware that their mother’s death will trigger a chain of events leading to mayhem and destruction. As these events unfold, we meet a host of quirky characters, each with their own story, driven by passion, greed, and survival. Most of them are women. And as I said, this is a story about women—but sometimes, there are men. I won’t give away too much, but I will say: the women of this town are up to trouble. And that trouble has been brewing for decades. Now, it’s all coming to a head.
Every single actor in this film is a treat. They’re almost Shakespearean in their designs. But one actress stands out above the rest: Margo Martindale as Enid Devlin, an elderly madam whose very name screams menace. She’s a devil of a woman. Though she walks with a cane and carries extra weight, she is terrifying. I was genuinely scared of her. Martindale has all the intimidation of Al Pacino or Joe Pesci. Even though Enid’s best years are behind her, she has a near-psychopathic ability to manipulate people—especially men. Even at her age, she can talk her way into any man’s pants, and it’s something to behold. But when she’s not charming, she’s menacing. She is fully willing and capable of ending your life—or getting someone else to do it. And she wouldn’t think twice.
There’s a particular scene where she sits, hair freshly styled, in a black dress, her eyes boring into us, the viewers. You can feel the weight of the world crashing down on you. That’s how powerful she is.
The rest of the ensemble cast is just as fantastic. The two sisters, Priscilla and Mary Beth, have bitten off more than they can chew. They’re in deep trouble, like fishermen caught in an angry storm, dragged far from shore by forces beyond their control.
Then there’s a trio of elderly women—played by June Squibb, Marceline Hugot, and Annette O’Toole. At first, they seem like mere busybodies. But this town holds secrets, and these women know them all.
One of the few major male characters is Officer Justin Brennan (Will Brittain), a good Catholic boy—the only real innocent in the film. Watching him try to piece everything together, almost naively, is both amusing and tragic.
Blow the Man Down was written and directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. These women have crafted a vicious, compelling neo-noir with a unique perspective. Too often, films like this frame women as mere victims. Here, they are both victims and perpetrators, fully capable of unleashing destruction upon their small town.
God, I wish there were more films like this. I also wish Blow the Man Down had been seen by more people. But, alas, it’s an Amazon Prime original. I appreciate Amazon’s commitment to great films, but I wish this had gotten a theatrical release. If I could, I’d buy it on Blu-ray, but it’s only available on Prime Video.
It’s interesting—this film has a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the highest I’ve ever seen. Audiences like it, but not as much as critics. On IMDb, it holds a 6.4/10. On Letterboxd, a 3.4/5. Still better than most movies, but nowhere near that critical acclaim.
And all I’ll say about that is: this time, the critics are right. Blow the Man Down deserves that 99% rating. Hell, Margo Martindale’s performance alone is one of the best portrayals of villainy I’ve seen in ages.
I *highly* recommend Blow the Man Down.
https://youtu.be/uWM1U_kd0rE
@npub13sf…7vs8
https://atomicpoet.org/media/e43a47c8c50d61c4facba914f1db83032f9192b2b8f3dacbc518ef4099d30ed3.jpeg

2025-03-18 02:50:03 UTC

If I were American, I’d be real bitter that Canada and Europe are now planning alliances *without* the USA.
But then again, most Americans are completely unaware of what happens outside their borders. And those that do probably don’t perceive that isolationism is actually a weakness.

2025-03-17 23:11:00 UTC

Trump's threat to annex Canada actually isn't "crazy".
The USA has *always* wanted to annex Canada. It's wanted to annex Canada since it came into existence.
The Quebec Act—a British law that gave Québécois people civil rights—was deemed one of the "intolerable acts" that led to the American Revolution:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_Act
Not only was this a major catalyst for the revolution, but it also led to the invasion of Quebec by American forces—an attempt to force Canada into becoming the 14th Colony:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Quebec_(1775)
That invasion failed. But America's enthusiasm for annexation remained undeterred. In 1812, Thomas Jefferson confidently declared:
> "The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us experience for the attack on Halifax, the next and final expulsion of England from the American continent."
Spoiler alert: It was *not* a mere matter of marching. Despite numerical strength, American forces were beaten back:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812
This prompted a realization—maybe Canada couldn't be taken by force. So, Americans pivoted to diplomacy. In 1842, former Secretary of War (and eventual Senator) Lewis Cass assured:
> "The Canadas will yet be a part of this great republic. The laws of nature render it impossible that a few hundred thousand people should continue to hold the mouth of the St. Lawrence in opposition to the will of the millions who must, in process of time, fill this northern continent."
Translation: "It's just a matter of time, guys."
In 1848, President James K. Polk wrote:
> "The acquisition of Canada would be a great blessing to the people of that colony, and I have little doubt that they would gladly unite with us if the opportunity presented itself."
William H. Seward confidently proclaimed in the 1850s:
> "Our population is destined to roll resistless northward, and the British provinces of Canada, from sheer weakness, will be compelled to gravitate towards us."
When Canada became a country in 1867, Americans didn't see it as an end to annexation dreams—just a temporary roadblock. That same year, Senator Charles Sumner announced:
> "Canada must be ours. It belongs to us by the title of continental neighborhood, and I trust that the day is not distant when, under the laws of manifest destiny, it will be ours peacefully and with the consent of its inhabitants."
Two years later, President Ulysses S. Grant agreed:
> "I regard the acquisition of Canada as a foregone conclusion. The people there will come to us, and if we are wise, we shall make their coming easy and agreeable to them."
Speaker of the House (later Secretary of State) James Blaine echoed the sentiment in the early 1870s:
> "The destiny of Canada is absorption in the American Union, and no statesmanship can prevent it. Her natural resources, her trade, and her people all point to that inevitable result."
These weren't just empty words.
During the Oregon boundary dispute, President James K. Polk considered pushing for the annexation of Canada. The Reciprocity Treaty, which enabled free trade between the USA and British North America, was seen as a stepping stone toward economic integration—and, ultimately, political annexation. When it didn't work, the USA canceled the treaty in 1866 to pressure Canada into joining.
In 1865, William H. Seward even proposed that the UK hand over Canada as compensation for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War. The British politely declined. Seward, undeterred, suggested that Canada would "naturally" become part of the USA through economic and political force.
Plot twist: It did not. Instead, with the British North America Act of 1867, Canada became its own federal dominion.
Even then, the USA continued attempts to absorb Manitoba and British Columbia. William O'Donoghue, an Irish-American with Fenian connections, wanted Manitoba to join the United States. In 1871, he even tried to invade Manitoba to incite a rebellion against Canadian rule. American officials such as James Wickes Taylor (a U.S. consul in Winnipeg) saw this as a diplomatic opportunity for annexation.
Meanwhile, American immigrants in British Columbia lobbied for annexation. Canada, in response, took on British Columbia’s debt and promised a transcontinental railway to keep it in the fold.
The dream of annexation persisted into the 20th century. In 1911, Champ Clark, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, declared:
> "I hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions, clear to the North Pole."
Canadians were *not* thrilled. His remark led to the collapse of a trade agreement.
Public talk of annexation faded, but the USA kept contingency plans. Enter War Plan Red, a 1927 U.S. military strategy for invading Canada. The plan included occupying key cities and even using poison gas on Nova Scotia. It was never enacted, but it proved that the idea still lingered.
Fast-forward nearly a century. No U.S. politician (officially) talked about annexing Canada—until Trump. And now, in very public statements, he’s expressing the same old desire.
America’s desire to annex Canada is as old as the country itself. They first tried force. Then economic and diplomatic pressure. The "inevitable" annexation never happened.
As history has shown, nothing is inevitable—Canada is still here.

2025-03-14 19:34:16 UTC

Reading a lot of comments from Americans watching Mark Carney’s swearing in ceremony as new Prime Minister.
And they’re like, “Canada has a King?!”
Yes, Canada actually has a King as our Head of State—not a President.

2025-03-14 18:46:16 UTC

I watched Mark Carney’s first speech as Canada’s new Prime Minister.
And for the first time in my lifetime, a Canadian Prime Minister has voiced aspirations about transforming Canada into a superpower.
Not “middle” power. Superpower.
https://youtu.be/2a5EUGjobwc

2025-02-28 17:27:35 UTC

Every single time a post of mine goes viral, there’s a reply guy (or girl) who condescendingly explains the #Fediverse to me. Usually, I laugh it off.
But this person is just plain wrong.
There is an algorithm imposed on us. Specifically, reverse chron. And yes, reverse chron *is* an algorithm—even though you don’t think of it as an algorithm, it totally is.
We don’t choose reverse chron. It is simply the default, and we can’t choose another algorithm. You might like reverse chron—fine, so do I. But an imposition is an imposition even if enjoy like it.
But also, all this ignores that other platforms—besides #Mastodon—exist on the #Fediverse. For example, the default algorithm on #Lemmy is *not* reverse chron.
Let’s stop spreading misinformation that “no algorithms” exist on the Fediverse.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/7947732c5fd90b0e3546ba28bbf96f8b74288c6aca5c8e88c2d892c969b0605a.jpeg
#note1hxp…68u7

2025-02-28 06:42:21 UTC

This guy’s angry because I said “art is what makes us human.”
Oh the irony of calling this “narcissistic”. 🤣
https://atomicpoet.org/media/1e5ca2c5be898b1254e0b32822c96567bfdd1fe4c335461d13cce347a86d4268.jpeg
#note15vm…0hh3

2025-02-28 02:19:06 UTC

The Fediverse ain't worth it if people don't share and talk about art.
News isn't what makes us human. Politics isn't what makes us human. Tech *certainly* isn't what makes us human.
Art is what makes us all human.

2025-02-27 02:27:56 UTC

Clouds.
One of the most unique aspects of clouds is that they’re an organic phenomenon that doesn’t exist only on Earth.
In fact, they almost certainly exist on other planets. For example, planets in our own solar system that likely have water clouds include Jupiter and Saturn. While water clouds aren’t immediately detectable on these gas giants, it’s believed that beneath their thick gaseous layers, they do exist.
There’s also water ice on Mars—or at least strong evidence of it. It’s highly likely that Mars once had even more liquid water, which implies the presence of clouds in its past. And then there’s Uranus and Neptune, about which there’s a lot of conjecture. Some scientists believe these planets contain supercritical water oceans.
But it’s not just our solar system. On the exoplanet K2-18b, we know there’s water vapor—that is, clouds. The same goes for Kepler-138c and Kepler-138d, which many believe to be largely composed of water.
Now, keep in mind: just because water exists doesn’t mean anything organic is present on those planets. It simply means that a critical component of organic life exists elsewhere in the universe. And there’s still so much we don’t know.
For example, if life does exist on other worlds, how is it fundamentally different from life on our own? And how does water impact life on those planets—if, in fact, life is out there?
Photo credit: artist unknown
@npub1r70…4aal
https://atomicpoet.org/media/f205301ee43244fb2ba55be779ad7256484a8651f93841e08aee0d641b7f7f30.jpeg

2025-02-25 20:51:06 UTC

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No, this account is from Akkoma. I can submit a post to Lemmy by mentioning the community handle in my post. Such is the magic of the Fediverse.

2025-02-25 19:05:36 UTC

Mutual aid spam is becoming a problem on the Fediverse.
And to be sure, I'm not against mutual aid. What I am against is spam.
This person has not verified who she is -- or even if the profile picture is hers. Additional research on her name states she *is* a scammer with a record of grifting. I am therefore skeptical that any donations will help anyone in need.
Folks, please be cautious with mutual aid requests. Yes, people sometimes need help. But people also lie.
@npub1euf…m5gv
https://atomicpoet.org/media/56b0ba7adeef29fef355d8dcf3ed524e52c81cc6071af5cf9389606bd4920417.png

2025-02-25 15:38:59 UTC

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You got to stop assuming everyone lives in the USA. For example, I don’t live in the USA so American rules don’t apply to me.

2025-02-25 14:37:08 UTC

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To be blunt, “it’s like email” is probably good enough for 95% of casual users in terms of an explanation for how the Fediverse works.
It’s all just email. Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Lemmy are really all just email.
But the moment you ask, “Well, actually, how *does* it all work? How is it possible to use Lemmy with Mastodon?”
The answer is: actors.
And maybe that is abstract, but I assure you that’s the practical reason you’re able to do it. Once you understand that the Fediverse is made up of actors/activities, a whole new world of possibilities opens up—even for regular users. It’s why you’re participating on Lemmy right now, even though it still looks like “Mastodon” to you.
Now I’m sorry that you may perceive this as “beside the point,” but people ask how it works and I’m telling you. However, if this is too abstract, remember: it’s all “email”.

2025-02-25 14:17:23 UTC

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Actually, Lemmy and Piefed does not send you every reply.

2025-02-25 07:42:50 UTC

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The best way to understand the Fediverse is not as a collection of servers but instead as actors that implement activities.
You are an actor. A Lemmy community is an actor. A bot is an actor. An app is an actor.
All these things do activities. One activity is to like a post. Another activity is to repost.
And all these apps like Mastodon are just presenting these actors/activities in a certain format.
Hope that explains things.

2025-02-25 00:36:22 UTC

It’s so bloody funny how people on both #Mastodon and #Lemmy are hostile about interacting with each other, yet often don’t realize they’re interacting with each other.
I mean, that literally just happened in this thread about how to use Mastodon to interact with Lemmy. 🤣
#note1x69…mxpg

2025-02-25 00:01:07 UTC

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The best way to explain #Pixelfed is that it’s an Instagram-like front-end for the Fediverse. But practically speaking, it’s Mastodon if pictures were a requirement on Mastodon. You interact with a Pixelfed account from Mastodon in much the same way you interact with another Mastodon account, or how you’re interacting with my Akkoma account right now. It really is just like email.
Regarding group topics, the best way to find them is to do a search on a place like lemmy.world or lemmy.ca. For example, `uiux@programming.dev` is one. And you can find the URL here:
https://programming.dev/c/uiux

2025-02-24 23:22:08 UTC

Hashtags do not replace groups.
No one moderates them. They’re easy to hijack and spam. And there’s simply no permanence to them.
Which is why, if you actually want to discuss something, it’s better to tag a group. For example, if you want to be part of an actual PC gaming community on the Fediverse, it’s better to tag `@npub13am…rqtc` than `#pcgaming`.
This needs to be common knowledge because people new to the Fediverse do not know about groups. Hell, I’d say people who have had Mastodon accounts for years still don’t know. And that’s a shame.
@npub1euf…m5gv

2025-02-24 23:06:46 UTC

Group actors are essential to the Fediverse.
They’re the best way to create a community and have a topical discussion.
For example, I might want to talk about PC gaming. Without group actors, I have to hope someone who follows me also likes PC gaming which, considering the demographics of people who tend to follow me, is not so likely.
I also like to write about aesthetic things. Which is also an interesting that isn’t generally mainstream enough for the Fediverse.
And music? People on #Mastodon don’t want to talk about that either.
So how to solve this problem?
By tagging a group actor on #Lemmy, #Piefed, or #NodeBB. Preferably, one that has to do with the topic you want to discuss. And believe me, this is more effective than hashtags.

2025-02-24 06:15:25 UTC

HEAD'S UP: Do not allow browser notifications at dodgy sites!
My daughter was on my computer, using Microsoft Edge, was visiting one of her fansites, and she allowed a dodgy pop-up notification.
This resulted in Edge sending pop-up notifications to the notification bar that kept saying my computer had a virus. No matter how many times I clicked it to go away, the pop-up would keep appearing. And each time I clicked on it, it would take me to a dodgy urging me to download "anti-virus software".
So I did an anti-virus scan to see if there was a virus. No viruses detected. Turns out, after additional troubleshooting, I discovered there was *not* virus. It was just a browser notification. By turning off that notification, the pop-up finally went away.
I had a long talk with my daughter about *not* clicking things she sees, and I think this is a lesson everyone should learn.
Attached image is that annoying pop-up. And by the way, Microsoft, allowing browser notifications to appear in the system notification bar is beyond *stupid*!
https://atomicpoet.org/media/df0fd665f3ea73b72b143c19f1fc43773a7559755c1516c5adb164e54d0bae59.png