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Tonight on GeekNights, we consider what social media and networking look like when we can no longer use platforms provided by any company, and have to roll our own. This future is inevitable, and you need to prepare for it. In the news, America is having its election, AO3 got hacked, Binance got hacked, European grocery stores got hacked, and Mercado got hacked. Related LinksForum ThreadThe Post-Platform Social NetworkDiscord ChatThe Post-Platform Social NetworkBluesky PostThe Post-Platform Social NetworkThings of the DayRym - The Movement Physics of Super Mario Bros - Behind the CodeScott - I discovered a sound that leaks your exact location (and it's everywhere)

Tonight on the GeekNights Book Club, we talk about The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. It's fantastic, and her husband is hot. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is the first novel in a fantasy adventure series. It follows a legendary pirate who has to come out of retirement to save the daughter of one of her former crewmates. A second book in this series titled The Tapestry of Fate was released recently. The author is well known for The City of Brass, the first novel of The Daevabad Trilogy Related LinksForum ThreadThe Adventures of Amina al-SirafiDiscord ChatThe Adventures of Amina al-SirafiBluesky PostThe Adventures of Amina al-SirafiThings of the DayRym - 過去に描いたアニメーション2 PANAPANAScott - Molly McMaster: Hockeydb’s most unique profile

Tonight on GeekNights, Scott reviews Spiel Essen. In the news, BioWare is killed by capitalism, Wizards of the Coast refused to voluntarily recognize its new unions, Hasbro appoints a new Wizards of the Coast president, and Bolsonaro fled Brazil after losing his election. Also we'll be live at PAX Unplugged! Related LinksForum ThreadSpiel EssenDiscord ChatSpiel EssenBluesky PostSpiel EssenThings of the DayRym - Feast of the UnicornScott - Tiny Steam Train Wheel Slip!

Tonight on GeekNights, Rym and Emily discuss roller coaster technology in the course of tier ranking every roller coaster at Cedar Point. We live streamed this episode back in August, but now it's in the podcast feed! Millennium Force still holds up 26 years later. Related LinksForum ThreadRoller Coaster Technology - Rym and Emily's Cedar Point Tier ListDiscord ChatRoller Coaster Technology - Rym and Emily's Cedar Point Tier ListBluesky PostRoller Coaster Technology - Rym and Emily's Cedar Point Tier List

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the kinds of people who annoy us. In the news, there's some sort of plebian kerfuffle about a toy store and a famous person, and most news media is no longer journalism. Also we'll be live at PAX Unplugged with three talks! Related LinksForum ThreadThe Kinds of People Who Annoy UsDiscord ChatThe Kinds of People Who Annoy UsBluesky PostThe Kinds of People Who Annoy UsThings of the DayRym - Sierra Screamin' 3D Graphics Accelerator from 1996Scott - Twinetroid

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about the cartoons we're watching and the comics we're reading right now. Pretty Pretty Please I Don't Want to be a Magical Girl, Goodbye, Lara, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, SWARM of Wasps & Monsters, Space Battleship Yamato, The Legend of Kamui, Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, and Billy Bat. In the news, the fan convention world is consolidating in a dangerous way (though perhaps you have never been to WORLD OF CONCRETE), Crunchyroll Storyworks is going to try to make live action adaptations of anime, and Sega has learned a valuable lesson about the Internet. Related LinksForum ThreadWhat we're watching latelyDiscord ChatWhat we're watching latelyBluesky PostWhat we're watching latelyThings of the DayRym - OpenFlight-VRCScott - 【MV】浦沢直樹「It's Because I Love You」

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about robots. Real ones from the real world: not movie robots. In the news, Igor has tasted blood, the Meta pervert glasses are getting regulated in Norway, and do not give Meta's Muse thing your credit cards. Related LinksForum ThreadRobotsDiscord ChatRobotsBluesky PostRobotsThings of the DayRym - Salman Rushdie on Candide: Where to BeginScott - The Weather Channel Classics

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the topic of convention drama. It takes many forms. Attendee vs Attendee. Attendee vs Convention. Convention vs Convention. Convention vs Nature. Convention vs Itself. In the news, Malaria is at Frankfurt Airport, never ever pull the emergency brake on a train, the new Resident Evil movie might be good, and the Transformers movie is in theaters again. Related LinksForum ThreadCon DramaDiscord ChatCon DramaBluesky PostCon DramaThings of the DayRym - Camera Shutters are Extremely FastScott - 'King of the Hill' Trailer Race

Tonight on GeekNights, we review The Old Prince 1871. It's an 18xx game, and you can play an alpha implementation at 18xx.games. It's a good one, designed by Lucas Boyd. We've previously reviewed 1817, 1889: History of Shikoku Railways, and 1846: The Race for the Midwest: you know we love a good train game. In the news, the Steam Frame is finally here, Nintendo has a big sale, and the Nintendo Direct was overall solid. Related LinksForum ThreadThe Old Prince 1871Discord ChatThe Old Prince 1871Bluesky PostThe Old Prince 1871Things of the DayRym - Wading through making a DOOM map in WadedScott - Hacks.Guide

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Common Side Effects. It's got a lot going on and is worth watching: it's only 10 episodes and evokes aspects of Fargo TV. In the news, Ghost in the Shell continues to be fantastic as it follows the original manga, Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia is phenomenal, and Goodbye, Lara is absolutely worth watch as a re-take on The Little Mermaid. Also, the discourse around Anime NYC's photography policy. Related LinksForum ThreadCommon Side EffectsDiscord ChatCommon Side EffectsBluesky PostCommon Side EffectsThings of the DayRym - no children (deltarune animatic)Scott - Tumble Forth

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider e-bikes, e-scooters, monowheels, and all the assorted electric conveyances that aren't cares and that are becoming more and more popular everywhere there are people. E.g., what are the "classes" of ebikes? In the news, streamers are suing Twitch and Amazon for their opt-out AI model training, 404 tracked down the "rare book" AI training story, and the Steam Frame might finally be coming. Related LinksForum ThreadE-Bikes, E-Scooters, et al.Discord ChatE-Bikes, E-Scooters, et al.Bluesky PostE-Bikes, E-Scooters, et al.Things of the DayRym - That's a sapient answerScott - Strawberry Vampire (INDIE PILOT ANIMATIC) 🍓🦇

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the humble Board Game Night. Many of you host (or try to host) them. Some of them are public. Many are haunted by that guy. In the news, Big Walk is out, you can play The Old Prince at 18xx.games right now, and Rockstar Games is an evil union-busting company and it's going to court soon. Related LinksForum ThreadBoard Game NightDiscord ChatBoard Game NightBluesky PostBoard Game NightThings of the DayRym - Yahtzee Proficiency Test with Detailed FeedbackScott - The Hardest Working Font in Manhattan

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss data centers. Once as positive thing, they have become a blight on the Earth in the ever-growing wake of the AI bubble. Rym and Emily are back from Cedar Point and will have a couple of special episodes about it in the near future, and also have a secret VR project that's slightly less secret than it was before. In the news, the AI slop factory wants help flagging AI slop, and ZGM is an open source gaming mouse firmware. Related LinksForum ThreadData CentersDiscord ChatData CentersBluesky PostData CentersThings of the DayRym - Cedar Point x Made to ThrillScott - Milwaukee Transit Passes

Tonight on GeekNights, we review The Ghost in the Shell (2026) animated by Science Saru. It's the original manga faithfully animated with a lot of style. In the news, The Last Blossom (HOUSENKA) will be in North American theaters for two nights, and Crunchyroll is destroying their own store (RIP Right Stuf). Related LinksForum ThreadThe Ghost in the Shell (2026)Discord ChatThe Ghost in the Shell (2026)Bluesky PostThe Ghost in the Shell (2026)Things of the DayRym - Spokanki - Tjovane (the Thieves)Scott - Pro Beach Hockey | Heavy Metal vs. Xpress 1998 (FULL BROADCAST!)

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the growing trend of seeking retro technology. From the Charmera to flip phones to audio cassettes, it's part aesthetic and part anti-consumerist anti-capitalist pushback to the ravages of modernity. In the news, Mamdani announces new Click-to-Cancel rule for New York City, workers in Acklam discover Medlar fruit trees (also known as dog's arse), and no technology is going to make exercising effectively take less time. Also, we did it. Related LinksForum ThreadIntentionally Retro TechnologyDiscord ChatIntentionally Retro TechnologyBluesky PostIntentionally Retro TechnologyThings of the DayRym - How the K-line got its nameScott - MiniPCs.zip