Mad Geek Tom

Ep. 6 of Oshi-no-ko...

Damn, what a catch...

I finally started Oshii-no-ko. The first episode is 80 minutes long and...damn, I was not expecting it to not only be heart-wrenching, but to throw me right back to my own experiences in the music industry. It's a reminder about why I won't play that game their way.

I just want everyone to know that I'm safe and alive despite what's going on. Lost my Highlander back in Nov (it was not meant to be the one) and got a Tacoma in Dec. Working on updating stream setup, opting out of Twitch Affiliate and starting a new YT channel. I'll keep y'all posted.

You know how when you start a new anime and it opens with the intro and it's a banger and induces that frisson? Yeah, that's my favorite feeling in the world...well, one of them at least.

I plan on quitting Affiliate on Twitch, and might even go so far as to use open-source self-hosted platforms moving forward. Is this related to the many incidents at Twitch Con this year? Sort of. It's more that the incidents at Twitch Con were the straw that broke the camel's back.

Amazon Caught Peddling AI Slop Version of Cory Doctorow That's So Ironic That We Have to Go Outside and Stare at the Sky for a Bit The renowned tech critic's book "Enshittification" hasn't even been out for a full day, and Amazon is already selling AI-generated knockoffs.

futurism.com/artificial-i... You know we're cooked when the guy who wrote the book about Enshittification is getting his sales attacked by AI-slop knock offs...from enshittification.

I can't answer that question, even for me. But my best friend/bandmate said something profound once that stuck with me:
"And I think that those of us who are especially attuned to music have this like urge when the world is in pain to fill it with song."

Image of author's DJ controller, an older generation Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR with custom knobs.

Sure the software is different (moving from Serato DJ to Virtual DJ) but other than that, it's just like riding a bike...and it reminds me of how much I miss DJing and performing. But I'll be back to it soon. #dj #virualdj #pioneerdj #djcontroller

Got my new laptop up and running (Framework Laptop 16, 2023 model because I didn't want to pre-order and wait/don't need the 2025 model because Framework = 100% repairable and upgradeable) and my dumb ass wanting to DJ again forgot Jico exists. Fuck you, Shure (jk I love you), long live the M44-7's!

Just started "Reborn As A Vending Machine". I will not hear any Boxxo slander.

My dad would lose his shit if he saw this (spent a lot of time hanging out with GI's in Cambodia as a young kid, has fond memories of the M16). I on the other hand give this no-bolt two thumbs up.

Right, so to take a little me-time I decided to watch a couple movies. Just finished Happy Gilmore 2 (liked it, loved MJF in it). With some time left, I decided to start KPop Demon Hunters. Not even 30 seconds in the music gives me goosebumps. This movie finna be lit.

Remember the whole thing about Visa and Mastercard? Yeah, call up Stripe too for that matter, and BLOW THEIR LINES UP! We're not gonna let up and the more pissed off they get, the harder we're going to FUCKING push! FUCK!

Right so...
ICE be getting all gregarious lately. I've dealt with them already during Cheeto's first reign, both on my own directly and as someone connected to the Minnesota-8. I'll be DAMNED if I let it happen again.

Adopt A Station - Rescue Public Media Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a public media station. Congress has voted to rescind public media's funding.

Folks in #minnesota our radio stations are in danger! With public funding gutted, a bunch of our radio stations have lost their budgets. What's not being talked about is our dedicated hip hop stations like KMOJ aren't being mentioned! Help you if you can! adoptastation.org/minnesota

Adopt A Station - Rescue Public Media Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a public media station. Congress has voted to rescind public media's funding.

Here's another thing: with public funding for public broadcasting gutted, a lot of radio stations lost their funding. If you wanna support your local radio, check out adoptastation.org to find your local station and support them if you can! I'll post again for Minnesota as well.

So yeah, Mastercard? Keep calling up them support lines. As a matter of fact, double or triple your efforts if you can and are willing.

Remember, don't be an asshole. A lot of those poor folks taking the support calls at the low level are like us. Be cordial, but feign ignorance and be nice. They may not be able to do much, but gumming up the works will get them to listen when starts costing them money.

YOYOYO! The Steam and Itch.io situation isn't about porn, it's censorship, especially towards LGBTQIA+ games and game devs. Call the Visa and Mastercard support lines and bog them down, but do so politely, asking about why your card isn't working on said sites, and stall as long as possible.

FFS, as of this writing right now (watching Zen's livestream right now), more info came out about the Vshojo situation. It's somehow getting worse. I'ma just do my best to support my favorite creators.

I'm beginning to think that the "Mad" part of my MadGeekTom username is less about being considered "crazy" and more about being really fucking angry nowadays.

To quote Josh Johnson:

"This is an unacceptable timeline."

Fuckin' a right it is.

Aight, so the #vshojo thing? Shit pisses me off

Gaslighting talent
Not paying talent
Betray trust of talent
Sus partnership with known shitty record company
Half a million USD unaccounted for intended for charity

HALF. A. FUCKING. MILLION.

Angry rant coming at www.tumblr.com/tommytomrade

It's weird that a game that I'm looking forward to is a remake of a game from 24 years ago. Not that I'm complaining.

Goodness, I need to update more often. I'm taking a brief break from streaming as I work on improving my setup. Hopefully it won't be long.

Was not expecting Dan Da Dan Ep. 7. That is all.

Right, let's get this party started. Now that most of my social media has been deleted except for YouTube, Tumblr (working on getting the official Tumblr for my Twitch setup), and, well, here, it's time to greet the world. Hi y'all! I'm MadGeekTom, and welcome to my BlueSky!

Dammit, when I thought I could keep it together in 2025, I find out that UNK (the artist behind hits "Walk it Out" and "2 Step") died over the weekend from a heart attack in his sleep. As a hip hop head who grew up in the 90's and naughties, it's sad that we lost another one.

Every year I have a very rough and very unofficial list of my favorite music artists of the year in different categories. I never thought that I'd struggle to pick between two Japanese artists on who should get the crown for my favorite of the year.

Y'all...I think Bloodywood x BABYMETAL might very well be the musical collaboration of the year.