Relevant article on Veronika.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/meet-veronika-the-tool-using-cow/

Aw shucks…thank you! When I replied I had an inkling that I might be missing an inside joke or a meme or something, but I got spun up on how cool the Borg cubes were in Sins. I had no idea wombats created cubes irl so yes I did learn something and appreciated that. My self-inflicted aspersions were more in a good natured way, but I appreciate your comment. This is all light stuff in the scheme of things and I have made far more severe mistakes in life with decidedly more significant consequences. Some of those were very tough to rise above. They still humble me.

Thanks again, I do appreciate you and your reaching out!

It looks like there are newer versions out there of these mods, yes. Sacrifice of Angels and Armada are the main ST mods we played as I recall. I’ve been away from the game for a couple of years, but plan on getting back into it (with Linux). There are also some good SW mods. They really make the game more fun in my opinion. Go to moddb.com and see the list. It’s the Rebellion version that got the most mods.

Your comment made me realize I had an id10t whoosh moment here. I didn’t realize wombats actually pooped cubes. What a dummy. Thanks!

I have to disagree on this one. Playing Sins of a Solar Empire with the ST mod made me love seeing the basic shape, but exceedingly formidable Borg cube showing up in a space battle and absolutely annihilate the opposition. Admittedly, a mod update had to nerf the Borg a bit after people complained. You needed to go after their resources to beat the Borg, but even then it was difficult if the player had developed the assimilation ability. Anyhow, that cube just had an awesome and dominating presence. I love it. I also highly recommend Sins with the Trek mod. Hours of ST immersion.

I know the Himalayan blackberry and they are awful to have on your property. Each year all too much time is diverted towards controlling it and attempting to eliminate it. The birds (if they exist) eat them and spread the seeds. They pop up where you thought you’d already handled them. Ug.

We do collect them to make cobblers and such, but I would gladly do without that if I could rid us of them entirely.

Hedley Lamarr: Qualifications?

Applicant: Rape, murder, arson, and rape.

Hedley Lamarr: You said rape twice.

Applicant: I like rape.

I love natural growth and we have plenty around (PNW), but that invasive Himalayan Blackberry is constantly creeping back out of the wild edges. We’ve done well enough pushing it back, but it is so pervasive and the animals help spread the seeds. That and the other noxious weeds (Scotch-broom, thistle, tansy, etc) have us quite busy doing our best to remove and keep out. It’s like spitting into the wind if the other land-owners around don’t do it as well. Oh well.

We also planted tons of native “deer-resistant” plants. They love it. I call it deer salad.

Gotta get that Crowtein!

Cocaine turns me into a new man.

The trouble is that he wants a line too!

Reminds me of a joke (that is better spoken, but I’ll try anyways):

A state trooper arrives at the scene of a horrible accident on the interstate in the middle of the night. Nobody is around, but the carnage is everywhere both mechanical and biological. Without any witnesses, the trooper is mystified as to what exactly happened. As he’s inspecting the accident he sees a rustle in a nearby shrub. He steps closer to discover a monkey shivering and scared. He speaks to the monkey in a calm voice and coaxes it out to him. The trooper feels like the monkey understands his words, so he asks the monkey if he saw what happened. The monkey nods vigorously that he does.

“What were the passengers doing?” asks the trooper. The monkey mimes drinking and smoking motions. “They were drinking and smoking?” and the monkey nods with certainty that they were. “Anything else?” and the monkey makes hugging and kissing motions. “They were fooling around and having sex?” and the monkey again nods to affirm his question.

The trooper, wondering what the monkey had to do with all of this asks, “Monkey, what were you doing while all this happened?” and the monkey makes driving motions with his arms while craning his neck backwards to watch.