Wes's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - September 2025 - Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang in ~books
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Comment on Former FBI director James Comey indicted for making false statement to US Congress and obstruction of justice in ~society
Wes LinkSee previous discussion.See previous discussion.
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Comment on My take on Apple's Liquid Glass in ~tech
Wes Link ParentYes, I strongly suggest just using prefers-color-scheme or light-dark() and foregoing the JS switcher. Fetching the theme preference via localStorage takes too long, and the page has already...Yes, I strongly suggest just using
prefers-color-schemeorlight-dark()and foregoing the JS switcher. Fetching the theme preference via localStorage takes too long, and the page has already rendered by that point (resulting in a flash).It's likely possible to delay the paint, but it's much easier to just follow the system's color preference.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Wes Link ParentNot quite, but close. I completely missed the Dragon Priestess questline. I simply took a left instead of a right, and so never encountered her before fighting Bayle. I didn't even realize there...Not quite, but close. I completely missed the Dragon Priestess questline. I simply took a left instead of a right, and so never encountered her before fighting Bayle. I didn't even realize there was a questline until after I'd finished and checked the wiki.
Igon was a great character. I'd have been devastated if I missed his battle cry. FromSoft always have some incredible voice acting, and Elden Ring in particular has so much emotion put into many voice lines.
Arise now, ye Tarnished. Ye dead, who yet live. The call of long-lost grace speaks to us all.
Sekiro also deserves mention here, with the first and final bosses having some incredible deliveries.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Wes LinkAfter three and a half years, I finally went back to Elden Ring and finished the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. I bought the DLC when it first released, but found I was still too burnt out to actually...After three and a half years, I finally went back to Elden Ring and finished the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
I bought the DLC when it first released, but found I was still too burnt out to actually play. Since then, I've been trying to dodge DLC spoilers while telling myself I'd definitely get back to it soon.
Elden Ring is a big game. On my first playthrough, I spent some 250 hours just exploring every nook and cranny, and testing out different weapons and builds. I also spent an inordinate amount of time piecing together the story. This was before wikis and "loretubers" had it all figured out, so I read every item description myself to put together a timeline of events. This was rewarding, but also exhausting.
My original goal was to collect every item. Doing so required a NG+ run to collect all boss weapons, and to also redo the quest lines I messed up the first time. Quests in Souls games can be quite cryptic, so this is expected. I had started the NG+ run, but quickly found I just didn't have the energy to play through the game again. So I put it down, and didn't pick it up again for over three years.
The impetus for finally doing so was the recent release of Nightreign. The game plays a lot like Elden Ring, but faster and in a roguelike format. I picked it up with some friends, and it rekindled my interest enough to dust off the normal Elden Ring again.
Thankfully, I found the game considerably faster the second time around. You can really move in NG+. Though even overleveled, there's still an absurd amount of content. It doesn't help that I completed every cave and side dungeon again.
At this point, I was finally ready to jump into the DLC. And let me say, it completely exceeded my expectations. The overworld map is so layered and deceptively large. The dungeons each feel unique and interesting to explore. The bosses are also a high point. There was far less boss reuse than in the base game, and they're each brilliant in their own way. The new musical themes were also very good. This is a true and proper expansion pack.
I did find I was quite overleveled at the start, unfortunately, so I abstained from using the scadutree blessings for most of the game. I finished the final boss fight at blessing level 3, which was fun but challenging.
Being that this was a blind playthrough of the DLC, I of course messed up a quest line. So one day I might need to revisit with a NG+2 playthrough to fix those mistakes. That day can wait. For now, I'm happy to close the book on Elden Ring and call it finished.
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ The Last Express in ~games
Wes Link ParentThis 100% happened to me. It was a little sad to watch the game rewind half the train route to fix my mistake, but the matter-of-factness of it was funny. "Did you forget the Firebird?". Why yes,...Not only can you lose it to Kahina stealing it, you also lose it if you unhitch the cars and it's still in your compartment.
This 100% happened to me. It was a little sad to watch the game rewind half the train route to fix my mistake, but the matter-of-factness of it was funny. "Did you forget the Firebird?". Why yes, yes I did.
I found you can actually place the egg in both the carrying case in your compartment, or hide it under your bathroom sink. Both result in the egg being stolen, but it's interesting that the game actually gives you those options. It makes it feel like you have a little more autonomy.
I do agree that the notch in the kennel felt a little cheap. I will say that it helped draw my attention to it, so I was able to guess it was a hiding spot without having to try any Monkey Island-style logic. But there likely could've been a more subtle way of pulling that off. Maybe to give the cage an open back, and push it against a natural wall with a deformation. Or even something a little silly like having a water bowl that happens to be in the shape of an egg pedestal.
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ The Last Express in ~games
Wes Link ParentThanks for sharing a very heartfelt comment, and for kicking off this whole thing to begin with. First, I love that quote by @vili. It really illustrates just how differently we view games today....Thanks for sharing a very heartfelt comment, and for kicking off this whole thing to begin with.
First, I love that quote by @vili. It really illustrates just how differently we view games today. There is now a glut of new titles which constantly vie for our attention. Gone are the days where scarcity drove us to explore an individual game so deeply that we knew its every detail. The variety is great, and I don't think I'd want to go back, but it does feel that we've lost some personal connection to these games, as you've expressed so well above.
To your comments on the game, I also noticed the lesbian relationship in the journal entries, and thought that was quite forward for the time. Obviously the game takes place in the 1910s, but even during the game's release in the 1990s, gay relationships were still not that openly discussed (and were more often used as a punchline in media). So it's nice to see some positive representation.
Putting that information in a journal was an interesting way of making the relationship explicit, while also sidestepping the use of gay tropes or being overly-blunt about it. They're just a normal, happy couple, and it's only by digging through their personal things that you learn of their relationship. In that context, it makes you feel like you're the odd one for snooping, and they're just regular people going on a trip. Indeed, Sophie and Rebecca seem like the only two regular people on the train, while everybody else is either an assassin, spy, or some other player with their own agenda.
On "unintentional comedy", I felt like the conductor must have been barely keeping his cool as he reminded me for the 30th time that "This is not your compartment, sir". I apologize as I move one step forward and try the next door.
On "weird plot point 3", I noticed that Max disappeared for the last chapter too, only to reappear in the final cutscene. I looked for him a couple times after disconnecting the sleeper cars, but decided he must have been left behind. It might've been a nice detail if they'd shown him hanging out in the kennel, even if his "plot relevance" had ended by that point.
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ The Last Express in ~games
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ The Last Express in ~games
Wes Link ParentA little bit, yes. In the beginning, you're put in a bad situation and need to take action by dumping the body of your friend. It's heartless, but necessary. Later, stealing the gold and working...Did "being" Cath bother you at all?
A little bit, yes. In the beginning, you're put in a bad situation and need to take action by dumping the body of your friend. It's heartless, but necessary. Later, stealing the gold and working with an arms dealer also feel like unavoidable steps in the moment.
However, towards the end of the game, you are finally in control. You direct the survivors to safety, and set the course for the train. Instead of choosing to de-escalate the situation and defer to authorities, you still choose to continue on to Constantinople and reach the final confrontation. It suggests that Cath isn't just being blindsided by all this, but is an active player and wants to win the game.
That said, I don't think Cath is all bad. I'd believe that his trouble with the police may have really been a misunderstanding. But he's clearly no stranger to being on the wrong side of the law, and seemed familiar with both manipulation and taking what he wanted.
He struck me as a flawed character with a mix of scruples and avarice.
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ The Last Express in ~games
Wes LinkI found this game very charming. This was the first real time adventure title I've played, so I found it quite novel in execution. I played the Gold Edition on Steam, and spent 14 hours with it. I...I found this game very charming. This was the first real time adventure title I've played, so I found it quite novel in execution. I played the Gold Edition on Steam, and spent 14 hours with it.
I both liked and disliked the tension that real time added. It makes you feel like you should always be doing something, and that keeps you moving. I'd often "do the rounds" and check each car to see what was going on. Often though, I'd replay a section and find something I'd completely missed just because I wasn't there to see it the first time.
Occasionally, there were periods of dead time where I needed to wait. Usually this happened when I'd already reached a fail state, rewinded, and needed to wait to try a different approach. As far as I could tell, there is no way to accelerate time.
I found the game a little challenging, mostly around Vienna (chapter 5). That was the only time I had to seek external help. I'd completely missed the secret compartment in the jewelry box which granted the master key. I also thought I was supposed to swap the egg for the gold, and it took me way too long to cop on that I could steal the gold myself.
Otherwise, I used the in-game hint system on just a couple occasions. At one point, I missed a hidden button on Kronos' painting, and later used a hint to learn that you needed paper to defuse the bomb. Everything else I managed to work out through trial and error.
One example of this is when Kronos' goon kept stealing the egg. After realizing it wasn't a mutual "swap" like I thought, I'd tried multiple hiding spots, as well as locking my compartment, before determining that I really needed to use the dog kennel. I knew that was an option early on, but avoided it because it was often difficult to access. Sidenote: is there a way to distract the trainmaster? I started writing down his schedule just to keep on top of it.
Later, when Alexei was killed, I tried a bunch of different things to save him. I tried warding him off, waiting in the room, and distracting Tatiana, but it seemed destined. So long, Alexei. At least he had some pretty badass dying words: Long live anarchy!
Overall, I thought the story was great. It was packed full for its runtime, and offered enough hints and foreshadowing that you could pick up on story threads even early on. I spotted Alexei building his bomb on day 1, and kept checking up on him as a result. I thought I was being clever when I stole the detonator from him, but the cheeky bugger just found a different clock to use. It led to this hilarious dialogue:
"Good job, old boy. Speaking of which, you didn't happen to find the dynamite, did you?"
"Dynamite? What dynamite?"
-cuts to train exploding-The characters felt rich, and they interacted wonderfully. Everybody had a role to play in the end, and even unimportant characters got some backstory. I love the conductor that draws what he sees, including this loveable scamp.
I wasn't sure how to feel about the art style at first. In some ways it felt a little crude and stuttery, and yet totally unique and authentic. I gave it a chance and found that it quickly won me over. The low framerate makes a lot of sense if every frame needs to be drawn (or at least arranged) by hand. It also had some lovely environmental art, such as when you're outside of the train. Though I would have preferred if those scenes showed a little more motion, as it wasn't always clear when the train was actually moving.
Probably my biggest hang-up was the controls. I struggled with them from beginning to end. Eventually I got a handle on what the icons mean and where to click, but even after 5 hours I found myself getting turned around. I liked that you could double click to speed through a compartment, but I seemed to have a bug where this would sometimes activate with even a single click. As a result, I kept accidentally shooting out of the car when trying to move just one or two positions. A very frustrating bug!
The combat added another layer of challenge -- especially when it picked up around chapter 6. I must failed that final sword fight a dozen times. It never felt unfair though, and I liked that combat gained depth and additional challenge in the later chapters.
I finished the game, and got a rather bittersweet ending. We survived, but Anna left as WW1 kicked off around us. Tatiana, embittered and still in shock, destroyed the train with the guns and herself inside. I suppose there never was a happy ending here.
I had a good time with this game, which surprised me a little. I really don't have a lot of experience playing point-and-click or adventure titles. I find the genre is often quite frustrating, at least until you crack your current puzzle and feel a sense of exhilaration with the "a-ha!" moment.
I was glad this one wasn't heavy on "pixel hunting", and most of the click zones were quite large. Instead it was more about observation and knowledge gathering. Though there were a few specific clicks needed, like in the case of the jewelry box. I did at least disconnect the train completely by accident in chapter 6, so that was a freebie.
This game was a great nomination and pick. I enjoyed the deductive-style gameplay, and hope everyone else had fun too.
Going forward: I don't know if I'll consider myself a member of the CGA Club exactly, since this was all a bit impromptu, but I'm certainly going to take a look at future picks and see what else strikes my fancy. You did a great write-up as our very first hostess, @CannibalisticApple.
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Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Last Express in ~games
Wes LinkIf you missed the Steam sale like I did, the game is currently discounted at Fanatical for 80% off. They provide a Steam key for the gold edition....If you missed the Steam sale like I did, the game is currently discounted at Fanatical for 80% off. They provide a Steam key for the gold edition.
https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/the-last-express-gold-edition
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Comment on Blizzard shuts down Project Epoch, another WoW private server in ~games
Wes Link ParentEven if the client is free to download, only Blizzard would have the right to distribute that software and all the assets alongside it. For that reason, it would be better to let people download...Even if the client is free to download, only Blizzard would have the right to distribute that software and all the assets alongside it. For that reason, it would be better to let people download the regular client from Blizzard, and then patch it to make any necessary changes. This is also how romhacks operate today – by patching an existing rom, rather than distributing copyrighted assets.
It's true that a lawsuit from a large company would make anyone buckle. However, I think the idea is that it's far less likely that they would file a suit if there's no legal basis for doing so. Clean-room reverse engineering is legal, and has a number of historical examples such as Wine, ReactOS, and ScummVM.
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Comment on Blizzard shuts down Project Epoch, another WoW private server in ~games
Wes Link ParentAh, that would definitely be a no-go then. I was expecting that users just updated their hosts file to point at another server, or that some software ran in front which bootstraps the change. So...Ah, that would definitely be a no-go then. I was expecting that users just updated their
hostsfile to point at another server, or that some software ran in front which bootstraps the change.So presumably private servers could exist, but they'd need to be built in a more legal way.
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Comment on Blizzard shuts down Project Epoch, another WoW private server in ~games
Wes LinkWere the private servers built in a clean-room environment using reverse-engineering, or are they based on leaked or copyrighted code? I'm curious to understand what right Blizzard has in taking...Were the private servers built in a clean-room environment using reverse-engineering, or are they based on leaked or copyrighted code? I'm curious to understand what right Blizzard has in taking these projects down.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang - How is it going? in ~books
Wes LinkI'm on the fifth story now, Seventy-Two Letters. I've enjoyed everything so far, but some more than others. As @tanglisha said, there's a lot of variety and tonal changes between stories. Some are...I'm on the fifth story now, Seventy-Two Letters. I've enjoyed everything so far, but some more than others. As @tanglisha said, there's a lot of variety and tonal changes between stories. Some are very nerdy, while others are emotional and somber.
Since it's a short story collection, it's tough to give "thoughts so far" without giving anything away on earlier stories, so I'll keep mum and wait for the discussion thread proper.
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Comment on Has anyone else run up against higher costs due to the US tariffs? in ~society
Wes Link ParentTariffs are probably not being folded into the base item price, because that then increases the amount of the tariff itself, which then means you need to increase the price further to cover the...I haven’t encountered the “tariff” line item on any online purchases, but I am sure that I’m paying for them in the list price.
Tariffs are probably not being folded into the base item price, because that then increases the amount of the tariff itself, which then means you need to increase the price further to cover the higher tariff, and so on. It's more likely being folded into the shipping, or added as a surcharge.
I recently worked with a business to increase prices after the de minimis exemption was lifted. We briefly tried putting tariffs in as a line item, but quickly found it upset customers who either felt they were being robbed, or believed it was some kind of conspiracy and that "the other country should pay for it". So we moved it into the shipping price instead and it's been smoother ever since.
I wouldn't be surprised if other businesses have come to the same conclusion. I would expect shipping costs to be considerably higher when crossing the border now.
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Comment on The case for cultured meat has changed in ~food
Wes Link Parent"Greedflation" as a concept is ascribing intent to market forces, and doesn't really exist. Corporations have always set the price as high as the market could bear (ie. "greed"). That didn't..."Greedflation" as a concept is ascribing intent to market forces, and doesn't really exist. Corporations have always set the price as high as the market could bear (ie. "greed"). That didn't change under covid. What did change was the sudden injection of new money, the disruption to existing supply lines, and the resulting global inflation. Each of these factors created new market thresholds, which resulted in globally higher prices.
The variables changed, but the formula has stayed the same.
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Comment on Why do you like your job? in ~life
Wes Link ParentI'm not sure I have a good answer, as I am also very susceptible to distraction. One thing that probably helps is that I am unreachable by chat or phone. Everything comes in via email. It allows...I'm not sure I have a good answer, as I am also very susceptible to distraction. One thing that probably helps is that I am unreachable by chat or phone. Everything comes in via email. It allows me to organize my tasks at the start of the day, prioritize those that are most important/time-sensitive, and work through them as time permits. Though I recognize that's likely specific to my role, and not a practical solution for most people.
I practice Inbox Zero - not always successfully - but it makes it easier to keep a list of actionable items. I use features like email snoozing to put tasks out of mind when not needed, and for managing follow-ups. I archive emails when they're done, not unlike a ticketing system.
My biggest struggle with context switching is when I'm working on one task, and an email comes in for something else. In these cases, I try to assess quickly if it's worth switching contexts. Is a server on fire? Are clients rapidly losing money? If not, I'll weigh it against what I'm doing now. Because you're absolutely right that there's a cost to switching contexts.
If it's something that's easy to knock out quickly, like answering a question or making a small website change, I'll often take care of it right away. I dislike having too many tasks piling up, since I find that stressful, and being responsive can always look good to a client.
However, if I'm into something deep, like I'm debugging software and am 10 function calls down trying to figure something out, I'll generally ignore any distractions until I get what I need. I'm simply unable to hold all that information in my head while also balancing other tasks.
If you find you're distracted when actually writing code, due to noticing bugs, getting new ideas, etc, you might want to have a notepad to write those things down quickly and move on (either physical or digital). I often keep an ephemeral document or two just so I can record these passing observations without losing them. Before I close off the project, I'll skim through it to make sure I haven't missed anything.
I would just caution about making sure any such documents do in fact stay ephemeral. It's easy to accidentally create a new, private to-do list this way. If something is a bigger task, file it in a more proper way (an issue in a tracker, a
//TODOline, or whatever else is appropriate at your org). Ideally your document should only last until the end of the day.Some environments allow you to set a "Do not disturb" status and turn down notifications, but it doesn't guarantee you quiet (and some bosses may not like it). So that might be something that you need to discuss with others.
This is more speculative, but I know that a lot of devs who struggle with focus later discover that ADHD was part of the picture. If that resonates, it could be worth exploring. Medication can make a big difference in their lives, and even just learning the diagnosis can help them find new coping mechanisms.
I'm sorry I can't offer any more practical advice, but those are the techniques I've developed to deal with information overload. Narrow the channels, develop heuristics to assess new information quickly, and put things aside so they're out-of-mind when not being acted on.
Best of luck in finding your zen.
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Comment on Why do you like your job? in ~life
Wes LinkI'm the technical lead at a small company, and it means that I wear a lot of hats. Some days I'm building websites, debugging applications, or managing servers. Other days I'm dissecting email...I'm the technical lead at a small company, and it means that I wear a lot of hats. Some days I'm building websites, debugging applications, or managing servers. Other days I'm dissecting email deliverability issues, or working with clients to solve problems from the simple to complex.
Today I get to build an old school form for a legacy website, and I'm finding all my old PHP knowledge is coming back to me. Yesterday I helped set up Cloudflare security rules to help fight off some persistent credit card spammers. We've had a cat and mouse game going for weeks. I keep blocking them, and they keep finding workarounds.
The variety of experience helps keep my skills fresh in an ever-changing tech landscape, and I have to imagine the reduced monotony helps me stave off burnout.
In terms of downsides, it can be stressful at times, and this position has no room for advancement. I also have no one above me to learn from, so it requires self-motivation to adapt to changing tides.
But for upsides, I get to work from home, set my own hours, and I like my boss a lot. All in all, it's hard to imagine myself leaving.
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Comment on Seeking videos of mastery in action in ~creative
Wes LinkYou might enjoy the /r/ArtisanVideos subreddit. The submissions are infrequent but high-quality, so it's a good one to subscribe to and then forget about.You might enjoy the /r/ArtisanVideos subreddit. The submissions are infrequent but high-quality, so it's a good one to subscribe to and then forget about.
This is one of the better story collections I've read. It had a lot of diversity, with each story feeling unique and yet additive to a greater whole. It touched on themes of searching for meaning, human strife, and eventual transcendence.
I'll share my thoughts on each story.
I think I'll be taking October off to return to my own reading for a while, but will return in November for Bob if I can find a copy somewhere (do your thing, sale-posting people!).