the mellow tigger's musings

These aren't exactly "Good News" items, but some are at least evidence that trends have the opportunity to move in the right direction.

1. Linux market share on Steam keeps increasing. The November results of their hardware survey showed Linux at 1.44% of their platform base. That doesn't sound like much, but it's more than 50% of the way to overtaking the MacOS share.  The trend line is very clear, and it seems to be accelerating thanks to the popularity of the Steam Deck which is opening in new eastern markets soon.


2. For the first time ever, the "eOD-GT8 60mer" HIV vaccine induced broadly neutralizing antibody precursors. Everyone's hoping that booster shots will finally put us "over the line" for this critical immunological milestone. That's something that doesn't even happen with infection, or so the rumor goes, which is why HIV+ people should still practice safer sex even with other HIV+ people. There's more than one variant out there.


3. It's not on their website yet, but the Minneapolis Monkeypox Task Force is having more free vaccine events, no appointment needed. The next ones are scheduled for December 8th and January 5th, 4:30-7pm. They are happening at my local Cub grocery store here in the warzone. I'm not sexually active (haven't been for much more than a decade), but I do sometimes socialize with other gay men who are. Monkeypox is still transmissible even in social settings, so I think I'll get one since they're openly available. I've programmed the dates into my phone calendar, so I don't forget.


4. I've mentioned the game Oxygen Not Included before. It's the hardest base-building game that I've ever played. This Canadian company keeps making good free updates to the game, but they also issue fundraisers like this Kickstarter plushie toy of an amusing in-game animal. The effort is already very successful, with only 24 hours left remaining. I'd absolutely spend money on it if I had income right now. I'm a little sorry that I'll miss out.

It was almost 2 years ago that I started playing No Man's Sky at someone's suggestion. On Linux.

There were issues. At first, I couldn't even escape the gameplay on the starter planet. The game would crash whenever I tried to approach a 2nd one. I got past that problem, then I couldn't play multiplayer. I got past that problem, then there were others introduced with each new game update, it seemed. It's stable now, though. It plays quite well. And it's making some of those lists of recommended games on the Steam Deck, a Linux device.

I pre-ordered a Steam Deck long ago when they were first available on Steam. I got the notice a few weeks ago that my order was ready. Unfortunately, I had to cancel it, since I have no income at the moment and I need to stretch my money as far as possible until I find a new job. That's disappointing. I was looking forward to it. But the Deck is still out there making news and bringing Linux further into the mainstream.

Cancelling that order is not my biggest Steam regret, though.  For a brief window in time long ago, it was possible to buy Neverwinter Nights 2 on the Steam platform.  The last expansion, "Storm of Zehir" from 2008 is one of my favorite games, although some critics disliked it.  I'm still playing it today... a lot in the recent week in my antihistamine haze.  I wish I'd bought it on Steam long ago, but I bought it on GOG instead.  I have to use Lutris to get it to work on my Linux system now.  I wish it was still available on Steam.  Imagine playing that one on a Deck!