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Virtual City Playground®: Build Your Metropolis is currently free on Steam. Also, not dead- just busy. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3760180/Virtual_City_Playground_Build_Your_Metropolis/?snr=1_5_1100__1100&utm_source=steamwidget

Been playing Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake. Played 3 back in Winter 2024, then finished up 1 last month... hoping to be done with 2 by the time 7 releases next month but I don't think I will be.

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/styx-master-of-shadows-4d9ab3 Styx: Master of Shadows is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/styx-shards-of-darkness-77c030 Styx: Shards of Darkness Deluxe Edition is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/dumb-ways-to-die-android-625b0c https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/dumb-ways-to-die-ios-5f556d Dumb Ways to Die is currently free on Android and iOS devices. https://freebies.indiegala.com/witchy-and-the-puzzle-adventures Witchy and the Puzzle Adventures is currently free on IndieGala. https://truegamesstudio.itch.io/nightbell Nightbell is currently free on Itch.io.

Initial Drift Online is free currently on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1456200/Initial_Drift_Online/

Lol... well, I bought a month's supply of baby diapers... I have a newborn.

Fact of the day - FOMO Did you know.... You've felt it. You've probably said it. Here's what "fomo" really means and where it came from. It's Friday night, pillows fluffed, pajamas on, and pizza on the way. Then your phone flashes—and so do images of your friends having the best night of their lives, the new bar you haven't tried, or even a potential love interest waiting in plain sight. That anxious feeling that everyone else is having fun without you is called "fomo," short for "fear of missing out." Side effects can include compulsively scrolling through social media, second-guessing your relationships, heightened stress, and lower self-esteem. Give in to the doomscroll devil on your shoulder, and you'll likely find exactly what you feared: a nonstop highlight reel of everyone you know, every night, like clockwork. Spot a pattern? If you guessed social media, you'd be right. The Origins of "Fomo" "Fomo" was coined in 2004 by Harvard Business School student Patrick J. McGinnis, around the time social networking was taking off. It starts with the awareness that you might be missing out, followed by a compulsive urge to stay socially connected. As platforms like Facebook and Twitter became part of everyday life, the term quickly spread beyond academic circles. In 2013, "fomo" was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as the "fear of missing out: anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website." Factor in the rise of Instagram, livestreams, and group chat culture, and the definition has expanded beyond missed parties: it now captures the anxiety of being left out, out of touch, or out of the online conversation. Today, "fomo" perfectly describes the modern unease of watching others' lives unfold online—and feeling like you're always a step behind. The Psychology Behind Fomo Social media keeps us connected 24/7, but instead of strengthening relationships, it often does the opposite. Constantly scrolling through friends' highlight reels can make gaps in your social life feel bigger, emphasizing missed events, unshared experiences, and even perceived social shortcomings. Psychologists say this cycle of comparison fuels "fomo," driving compulsive behaviors like obsessively checking notifications or overcommitting to social events out of fear of being left out. "Fomo" thrives in the digital age, but it’s rooted in a timeless human need: connection. And while everyone craves connection, some are more vulnerable to "fomo" than others. Those with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or concerns about body image may feel it more often and more intensely. The trick is satisfying that need offline instead of letting every notification dictate your sense of worth. So go ahead—put down the phone, enjoy your Friday night, and maybe let "jomo" (the "joy of missing out") take over instead. Source: What "Fomo" Means—And Where the Term Came From

What's the Word: MERINO pronunciation: [mə-REE-no] Part of speech: noun Origin: Spanish, late 18th century Meaning: 1. A breed of sheep with long, fine wool. 2. A soft woolen or wool-and-cotton material resembling cashmere, originally of merino wool. Examples: "The merino grazed peacefully on the side of the hill." "Frank wears that merino wool sweater every time the weather gets chilly." About Merino While "merino" comes from 18th-century Spanish, its exact origins are a mystery. You can use the word "merino" to refer to a sheep or your sweater and be completely correct in both cases. Did you Know? A single merino sheep produces a lot of wool in its lifetime — around 227 pounds, in fact. The wool is not only cozy for sweaters and blankets, but also wicks up to 30% of its weight in moisture without getting damp, so it's perfect for socks, scarves, and other outerwear.

Fact of the Day - IT GLOWS! Did you know.... Tonic water is best known for adding a little bite to cocktails, though it has a hidden talent: It glows when exposed to ultraviolet light. While modern tonic waters often include citrus flavors or sweeteners to ease their bitter taste, the mix is traditionally crafted from just two ingredients — carbonated water and quinine, the second of which is capable of illumination. Quinine’s ability to glow, technically called fluorescence, occurs only when the substance is exposed to the right conditions, particularly when its molecules absorb invisible ultraviolet light (such as that projected by a black light). The excited molecules then quickly release that energy, which appears as a blue hue to the human eye in a darkened room. Though tonic water is now a bar cart staple, its initial purpose wasn’t enjoyment — it was to prevent and treat malaria. Quinine, which comes from the bark of the South American cinchona tree, was first used by the Indigenous Quechua people as a cure-all for stomach ailments; by the 1600s, Europeans had documented its fever-reducing properties. In the 1700s, Scottish doctor George Cleghorn discovered it could also effectively treat malaria. As the only known treatment for nearly 300 years, quinine was paired with water to create a “tonic” and distributed to British soldiers stationed in India and other malaria-prone regions. Some historians believe soldiers began adding the medication to gin and other alcohols to make the bitter flavor more palatable, eventually creating the “gin and tonic” drink we know today. However, other researchers suggest it wasn’t until the 1860s that the classic drink emerged, served to victorious patrons at horse racing tracks in India. The search for a quinine alternative created the first synthetic dye. Quinine’s legacy isn’t just in the beverages we drink, but also in the clothes we wear. The medicine led one scientist to discover mauveine, a synthetic dye that lends its name to the shade of purple we call mauve. In the 19th century, getting ahold of quinine was costly, since the compound was created from cinchona tree bark imported from South America. Some researchers, like chemist William Perkin, attempted to create bark-free synthetic versions. One of Perkin’s attempts, using a chemical called aniline, resulted in a goopy dark substance that didn’t easily wash away. Realizing its staining abilities, Perkin patented the substance as the world’s first synthetic dye — easier to use than natural dyes, and with the benefit of being more colorfast. Shortly after his discovery, Perkin opened his own textile dyeing factory, helping to launch a fashion craze that featured his newly created hue. Even Queen Victoria got in on the act, wearing a mauve-colored dress at the International Exhibition of 1862. Source: Tonic water can glow in the dark.

What's the Word: AVANT-GARDE pronunciation: [ah-vant-GARD] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, early 20th century Meaning: 1. Favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas. Examples: "The student art show was sure to include many avant-garde pieces." "The fashion show was a little too avant-garde for my tastes." About Avant-Garde Avant-garde is used as an adjective to describe something unusual or experimental. It can also be used as a noun to refer to certain out-there ideas, or the people introducing them. You might meet the avant-garde at an avant-garde art gallery. Did you Know? The adjective "avant-garde" — commonly used to refer to the arts — can also describe cultural change. Social change and shifting values can be considered avant-garde in one decade, then accepted as the norm in the next.