June 7, 2026: Another New Toy!

Or at least a new way to use an old toy.

It turns out that Delta (at least) has wi-fi in flight now. Free. So I can ~~read Fark~~ work more effectively on those long trips.

Hey, progress comes where you find it.

-- Steve Jackson

June 6, 2026: I Love My XTEink X4

Last month, I succumbed to the tiny e-reader hype I'd been seeing online and ordered an XTEink X4. I've been holding out on writing a review of it until I'd been using it for a few weeks, but since it arrived on 5/3 (and I'm writing this on 5/26), that time has now come.

The first thing I did when I got the device was install the CrossPoint Reader OS. This was a mildly frustrating process because my USB connection kept dropping off, but switching devices/browsers eventually paid off and I was able to get it flashed. Once I got the connection issues fixed, this was by far the easiest firmware flash process I've ever done – the tool is entirely browser based, and very fast!

So why is this different from any other e-reader?

For one thing, it's tiny. The device has a built-in magnet, and it came with a couple adhesive magnetic rings to attach it to stuff. I put one on the back of my . . . [more]

June 5, 2026: When Igor Is Right, He's Right

This Dork Tower strip by John Kovalic is presented without comment.

No. No, it's not. It's presented with an enthusiastic "You go, John!"

The big media may have chickened out on the disaster in the White House, but the people's net is alive and well. For the moment. (Flash update: OMG, the old crook is actually planning to put his face on the money now.)

Oh, yeah, the link.

-- Steve Jackson

June 4, 2026: Mat's Entertainment

I had a sitcom-esque moment the other day, when I learned my in-laws were going to be coming into our house with zero notice, after a family dinner out turned into a "let's swing by your house to play games" situation.

This wouldn't be a problem normally, except our gaming table – a.k.a. "our dining-room table" – was in the midst of a weeks-long RPG campaign. This meant that every square inch (and then some) of the table's surface was covered with some sort of game-related element: dice, chips, minis, papers, books, counters . . .

Now, my mother-in-law and father-in-law are absolutely amazing and wonderful people, but I still try to hide my deficiencies from them . . . so I wasn't particularly keen on having them experience the full grandeur of our sprawling messiness. My disorderly existence is a secret to all except those who read blog posts.

Fortunately, as we all pulled up to . . . [more]

June 3, 2026: Gaming Decor For Your IRL Space

My house is definitely decorated in Early Dungeon, at least to the extent that dungeons also feature stacks of books, boxes of games, and random tech stuff. I'm always looking for ways to make it dungeon-ier. Based on what I see on Kickstarter and at conventions, I suspect a lot of us do the same. I came across the following 3D print project on Kickstarter today:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fantasyportals/tavern-glow-lantern-set/description

The basic lanterns are nice, but the plethora of accessories, like different types of mounting, is what got me to click "BACK THIS PROJECT." There are chains to hang them from, hooks to hang the chains from the wall, and so on.

I have a small candle lantern that I got from an antique store (though I strongly doubt its actual antiquity) because it has sides held on by magnets, so you can switch designs by season. There's a . . .

[more]

Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule

A piccolo from Main Street amuses the dehydrated plant. June 7, 2026: Another New Toy! Or at least a new way to use an old toy. It turns out that Delta (at least) has wi-fi in flight now. Free. So I can ~~read Fark~~ work more effectively on those long trips. Hey, progress comes where you find it. -- Steve Jackson June 6, 2026: I Love My XTEink X4 Last month, I succumbed to the tiny e-reader hype I'd been seeing online and ordered an XTEink X4. I've been holding out on writing a review of it until I'd been using it for a few weeks, but since it arrived on 5/3 (and I'm writing this on 5/26), that time has now come. The first thing I did when I got the device was install the CrossPoint Reader OS. This was a mildly frustrating process because my USB connection kept dropping off, but switching devices/browsers eventually paid off and I was able to get it flashed. Once I got the connection issues fixed, this was by far the easiest firmware flash process I've ever done – the tool is entirely browser based, and very fast! So why is this different from any other e-reader? For one thing, it's tiny. The device has a built-in magnet, and it came with a couple adhesive magnetic rings to attach it to stuff. I put one on the back of my . . . [more] June 5, 2026: When Igor Is Right, He's Right This Dork Tower strip by John Kovalic is presented without comment. No. No, it's not. It's presented with an enthusiastic "You go, John!" The big media may have chickened out on the disaster in the White House, but the people's net is alive and well. For the moment. (Flash update: OMG, the old crook is actually planning to put his face on the money now.) Oh, yeah, the link. -- Steve Jackson June 4, 2026: Mat's Entertainment I had a sitcom-esque moment the other day, when I learned my in-laws were going to be coming into our house with zero notice, after a family dinner out turned into a "let's swing by your house to play games" situation. This wouldn't be a problem normally, except our gaming table – a.k.a. "our dining-room table" – was in the midst of a weeks-long RPG campaign. This meant that every square inch (and then some) of the table's surface was covered with some sort of game-related element: dice, chips, minis, papers, books, counters . . . Now, my mother-in-law and father-in-law are absolutely amazing and wonderful people, but I still try to hide my deficiencies from them . . . so I wasn't particularly keen on having them experience the full grandeur of our sprawling messiness. My disorderly existence is a secret to all except those who read blog posts. Fortunately, as we all pulled up to . . . [more] June 3, 2026: Gaming Decor For Your IRL Space My house is definitely decorated in Early Dungeon, at least to the extent that dungeons also feature stacks of books, boxes of games, and random tech stuff. I'm always looking for ways to make it dungeon-ier. Based on what I see on Kickstarter and at conventions, I suspect a lot of us do the same. I came across the following 3D print project on Kickstarter today: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fantasyportals/tavern-glow-lantern-set/description The basic lanterns are nice, but the plethora of accessories, like different types of mounting, is what got me to click "BACK THIS PROJECT." There are chains to hang them from, hooks to hang the chains from the wall, and so on. I have a small candle lantern that I got from an antique store (though I strongly doubt its actual antiquity) because it has sides held on by magnets, so you can switch designs by season. There's a . . . [more] Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 1539th artificial intelligence here today. (32977367 since August 1, 1995)