Thoughts on Turning 40 soon, and film is imminent
Added 2024-08-14 00:52:59 +0000 UTCWe're in our final days of filmmaking. Its nuts.
Comments
Reminds me of the story of how the space shuttle was influenced by decisions made in Roman times. I'm paraphrasing horribly here but it goes something like this. Roads are the width they are because that's about the width of two horses side by side. As time and technology progresses, this standard was never significantly superseded. Bridges, tunnels get built with this idea in mind. Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and you can't build a space shuttle with pre-fabbed parts that don't fit in said tunnels or across said bridges. I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to find references to back up the assertions above...it's plausible and a good story even if it's not true...
Adrian
2024-08-23 11:27:51 +0000 UTCHeya Tex, since the weekly update got pushed to Thursday, I am trying my luck to see if this makes it through. Please save your voice: First, excellent job by you and your team on the Twycross Trailer. It set the tone spectacularly for me and I have much hype, as the kids would say, for it’s releas. Do you know anything of Bill Springfield’s work? I have a Springfield VHS-2 (marketing called it a Hellion, which I think is dumb) and I have a friend raving about the work Mr. Springfield does on triggers. I’ve been burned on buying firearms and related items off the internet before, and since you’re active in that line of work, I was curious of your opinion should you have one.
swiftdraw
2024-08-21 19:01:22 +0000 UTCHey Tex. Recovery is going well, no issues with the surgery. Saw trailer...it's amazing. I have spread it as far as my little arms could to various FB groups, discord and group texts. All received some praise so hopefully that turns into more eyes on this hobby of ours. No questions this week (shocking I know). Just a keep swing and take it one step at a time.
Czarvak
2024-08-20 16:14:27 +0000 UTCHey Tex, found something you might buy yourself for your birthday. A guy named Johnathan Wild made his own Panzerfaust & Fliegerfaust, & documented his R&D into books.
Sgt Potshot
2024-08-20 01:11:40 +0000 UTCJust saw the trailer! WOW! With the world like it is (chaotic), it will be a great break away from it for awhile! Take care! Pistol6699
Pistol6699
2024-08-19 20:28:04 +0000 UTCIn history as well as everything else, "Close enough" only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and thermonuclear weapons.
Michael Fortner
2024-08-19 20:09:04 +0000 UTCTex, I will not congratulate your birthday, I will simply be thankful we had another year to share with you. I have seen, liked, and shared the Twycross trailer. You guys really knocked it out of the park, the music, the poem, that gorgeous art, it was beautiful and I am somehow ever more excited for the final film. I am also ever thankful for your words concerning comparison. I don't always manage to resist it, but at least now I can catch myself when I start to fall prey to it. Joy of the day to you and the team, TAKE MY MONEY BLACK PANTS MAN, and Northwind Forever.
Bolo Unit BRL of the Line
2024-08-19 04:49:51 +0000 UTCMr. Tex, great work using Seeger's poem in the trailer. Can you elaborate for the audience on who he was and why you chose it?
Iain Hutchinson
2024-08-19 03:21:24 +0000 UTCGood evening Mr. Tex. Just saw the trailer. It gave me goosebumps. Can't wait for the film. Have a good week.
Santo
2024-08-19 03:13:33 +0000 UTCYou don't need to read this out loud, but I feel that I have to comment on you saying "Got on my soapbox a bit, I'm sorry" -> What do you think we are here listening to these posts for? you don't have to apologize for it, we're all at least partially here to listen to you on your soapbox. I get a lot of value out of your insights and opinions.
Adam Stadnick
2024-08-19 02:13:09 +0000 UTCGo now, enjoy but then repost, reblog and share it to the people.
MrToBeNamedLater
2024-08-18 23:48:45 +0000 UTCTex Talks Poetry meets Talks Talks Battletech- I did not expect that. It wasn't until I put on the transcript that I realized it was a poem. Great usage of Alan Seeger's poem. Mention of your gift of cheese showed up in the Aux earlier today, which reminded me of something I mentioned while recording my first Aux Unplugged Interview session (currently in editing); have you considered sending the company an email asking if they could stop putting your payment information in the box when you're sending it out as a gift? Most smaller companies will work for something like that, especially if you explain why you don't want it in there. It may be worth it, especially if there's more Cheese sponsored tournaments or events coming up in the Aux in the foreseeable future. I hope your birthday weekend was enjoyable. A nice old fashioned and a perfectly cooked steak. The simple things in life. (Or, god forbid, maybe your body let you sleep for a change.) Thank you for the trailer. Be well.
Vendrette, The Postalmech
2024-08-18 22:15:52 +0000 UTCThanks for mentioning that the trailer dropped; I missed it!
Vendrette, The Postalmech
2024-08-18 22:09:01 +0000 UTCJust watched the trailer and I’m chomping at the bit, Tex. Let’s see some Twycross! Long post below. You know what to do: read in your head. Your playthroughs of UA:Dreadnoughts inspired me to grab a copy for myself. I’ve been a longtime strategy game lover from the original Master Of Orion, XCOM 1 and the original Civilization on the old 486 PC through today. I thought global strategy with boats sounded fun! It should have been. It didn’t work out well at all. I had a lot of issues with the game’s performance, stability and numerous bugs. All that along with a lack of a tutorial or even a manual to teach basic game principles simply made it unplayable and not worth the $35 for me. I returned it for a refund and felt like a quitter. I’m sorely disappointed and sad to say I’m just gonna let you be the admiral and vicariously enjoy the game through you and your commentary. If it ever goes on sale for super cheap maybe I’ll grab it again but not for $35. Game felt too much like an alpha or beta edition to be worth that to me.
MrToBeNamedLater
2024-08-18 20:34:05 +0000 UTCSo I brought up the comment about line dancing at Texas Roadhouse with my wife. Neither of us had ever seen any of the staff dancing. She checked with a coworker who used to work there. Apparently in Upstate NY the staff still has to learn the dances but they don’t actually do them because the patrons look at them like they have lost their minds and complain about it on social media. In NY we will put up with flash on your lanyard nonsense only if it doesn’t get in the way of us getting our steak.
Jellicoe Cats
2024-08-18 10:29:49 +0000 UTCSir, that trailer brought a tear to my eye. I commend you and your team.
JC
2024-08-18 07:27:52 +0000 UTCHoly fuck that trailer
Luminaire
2024-08-18 07:01:20 +0000 UTCSave the voice, turning 40 was the start of a better time in my life I hope you are blessed as well. I have tried to explain to my grandson that learning to do things in creative and technical areas of web production could be an interesting path to pursue as a career (think production work more than being an influencer), I would love your thiughts
Jack Shepherd
2024-08-18 06:23:40 +0000 UTCTex is whining about being 40? God put you on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things... Odds are the older you feel the closer you are to accomplishing all those things.
Robert Steffen
2024-08-17 16:09:04 +0000 UTCHappy Birthday wishes for you Tex. 40s hurt but the experience is valuable. Keep on keeping on
B-Mang
2024-08-16 20:35:43 +0000 UTC40 wasn't so bad. The years after is when all that damage you did to yourself earlier does start to catch up. I've pulled muscles in my back while asleep, twice. It's more concerning when my knee doesn't hurt. You do start thinking about how more than like there are more days behind than in front, not something to dread though because at least you got there. I know plenty of folks far better than me, in better health or just a better life or even just a better person, that didn't even make it this far for one reason or another. Just do what you do, even if its not your best. At least you're here to do it. Have a good birthday, whatever that means to you.
Maehock
2024-08-15 21:47:52 +0000 UTCThanks for the update. Hope your next 40 years are easier on you than the first 40!
Elipses...
2024-08-15 18:21:47 +0000 UTCGood afternoon Tex! I hope this message finds you well and I offer my celebratory congratulations on your birthday. Personally, I agree that as you get older, you tend to lose the wonder that a birthday once held. However, I've found that it is a good time for reflection to look back on those people, events and things who/which have shaped your life. It helps to remind us to appreciate what we have, because it was the result of someone else's sacrifice or helping hand, or the hard work you put forth to be where you are. You've said before that you're not a rich man, but based on the efforts you and your team have accomplished...hell, the donations to charities alone, are something to be proud of. In any case...there is a question I wanted to ask. With the many topics you've covered, I was wondering if you'd ever considered an in-depth analysis of Word of Blake and the Jihad? Based on the fabulous two-part analysis you gave of the Star League / Amaris Civil War, it made me consider if you would ever take on that feat? Part of me thinks that such an attempt would be difficult, because the Jihad era was somewhat of a jumbled mess from the standpoint of who had control of Battletech during that time. FASA? WizKids? FanPro? CGL? The source books did provide a somewhat detailed analysis, but I think your take of it would be much better (IMHO). However, I harken back to what you said when you released the Star League Civil War Part 1 and 2 vidoes..."over a month of reading...lots of notes...pots of coffee..." In any case, I raise a glass to you sir, and look forward to the upcoming release. Cheers!
MarauderTDL
2024-08-15 17:31:37 +0000 UTCDo you think writing stories for battletech requires a lot of experience beforehand, also when can we expect a video on the Orion
Fighter Phoenix
2024-08-15 06:33:13 +0000 UTCVoice saving optional: Turning 40 myself this November and will likely spend it working too, I'm a taxi driver for regional special transport services like people with disabilities, non urgent medical transports, people with bulky mobility aids etc. But my first line of work was as a process &maint. tech in water/wastewater treatment, fun job, but not long term compatible with undiagnosed ADHD... I hope your birthday at work turns out more decent than an average day, and that you can treat yourself to something tasty at the end or middle of it. Also, I have a small bucket of surplus m13 links I don't know what to do with as I'll never be able to qualify for a collectors licence for an operational belt fed firearm in my part of the EU. I guess it could be shipped as a gift of "metal belt parts" and let anyone looking at the customs x-rays decide if it's worth the bother of opening the box to make sense of the metal rat's nest they see on the camera... but it's probably not worth the shipping costs for something you'll likely be able to easily aquire anyway.
Sons of Lorgar
2024-08-15 05:00:42 +0000 UTCSave your voice good sir, Happy birthday sir. Getting old isn't all bad. My 40s were a double edged sword. I got a lot smarter about how I comported myself, a lot more self aware of my flaws, and a lot more patient with myself and others than in years past. I was also physically broken a lot more of the time, a spinal injury and open heart surgery being the highlights. I gained a much keener understanding of Shaw's quote, "youth is wasted on the young." But that didn't stop a greater creative output than anything I'd done in the four decades prior, I suspect age won't dampen your creative spark either. We create because we are compelled, and as you often say... I didn't hear no bell. The Clan invasion was the first major in-universe event after I started playing Battletech, so Twycross holds a special place in my heart. I'm giddily awaiting release day. THANK YOU! This bit may be worth sharing out loud... As for Apple's latest fuckery, Patreon states it only applies to subscriptions started on iOS devices beginning November 4th, so current subscriptions shouldn't be impacted by their 30% tax. *Shouldn't.* I'd keep an eye on things at the beginning of November to make sure they don't "accidentally" start taking cuts where they swear they wouldn't. I know I'll be watching my charges.
Tory II-C
2024-08-14 23:17:31 +0000 UTCSave your voice, as one who turns 40 in the next 30 days, happy birthday and condolences. The ride ain't over yet, best to just whole-ass everything.
Steve Constant, 'Splash Mountain'
2024-08-14 17:33:22 +0000 UTCas my Grandma used to say "getting old ain't for the weak" Keep the Faith
Opie74
2024-08-14 17:12:34 +0000 UTCTex, I'll raise a glass to toast your birthday and have a cup of coffee bc we aren't done working yet. Eh turning 40 was okay at best for me. It was just another year in the bank and I largely went about my business as usual. Thanks for being a voice against the darkness...I've given it some thought and I will the up power carving for the year, its adjacent to my miniature hobby and I can use those skills elsewhere. The Mundanus Manual coming out, eventually, will it be a self co trained tome? Or will it needs other bokms to support it? Can't wait to see what the movie will be....I've been out of the loop so I have no clue, but excited
The Mailman
2024-08-14 16:21:36 +0000 UTCThank you for the recommandation of Traveller, I'll look into it. On another note, I have been listening to some music on youtube, and came across celtic metal. If and when the blackwatch returns, I could see it be their music. It's still pipe and drum, but.. metal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-xQubY4Aik
Collin Barker
2024-08-14 16:19:24 +0000 UTC40 is only two years off for me... been an interesting journey. Glad I have BPL here to help me along the way. Seyla
Nerd_Power
2024-08-14 16:15:55 +0000 UTCHi Tex, happy soon to be birthday. I'm going to take you up on your challenge to build something. Because there's nothing like public accountability for inspiring results. Feel free to save voice for the rest of this. I'm in the middle of three long term projects now: #1, get out of debt. At least consumer debt. #2, run a marathon in every state. Currently 8 down, 42 to go. #3, qualify for and run in the Boston Marathon. Currently my best race time is about an hour and fifteen minutes too slow to qualify in my 2025 age bracket of 45-49. But also, I've got a small project in the garage that's blocking bigger projects. So that's my other thing, before the video after Twycross comes out, I'm going to finish that. It's only a pair of wine racks made out of upcycled pallets, but they are going to get finished, and either hung up, gifted out, or sold. Thanks for the challenge.
Team CasterClan
2024-08-14 15:27:37 +0000 UTC1st of all, God Damnit Apple gonna uninstall the Patreon App, 2nd of All, I am thinking of writing a "Epic" Poem, maybe 20 Pages Max? On a Clanner Trinary, a Mini-Remembrance. Now I'm thinking of when to set it Probably Clan Invasion Era. I am VERY Excited for Twycross. Also YES SET UP A VAN ZANDT BOOTH ACROSS FROM CATALYST! They will be SO CONFUSED. Stay as Safe as Possible, Happy [or adequate] 40th, and Praise Unto Twycross.
Grimos
2024-08-14 15:16:15 +0000 UTCTex. first, beautiful back crack! Second, congrats on being 3 years my elder. Voice saving as desired. 14 years in the navy and they had to medically retire me due to blood clots, but that med eval process led to the discovery of arthritis in my ankle, knees, and spine. "I don't know how you can bend and twist as much as you do with the amount of arthritis you have" was what the evaluator said to me. You are the third person this week to tell me to write a book, so I'll get started writing that novel. Need to brush up on my poetry for it. I'll send a trade paperback once it's published and printed. Just gotta fix the pc, I think it's the fan power hub that is causing the random reboot, as everytime I mess with it, it works good for a week before starting its shenanigans again. We're also strongly considering moving back stateside so my kids can be close to their grandparents and cousins. Also better for accessing my VA disability benefits. May have to get my own wet bar to maintain access to namabiru(Japanese for "whatever beer's on tap") anyways, looking forward to the Twicross film, pointed some folks to the Dr Christmas Story, and let them know about Twicross dropping "sometime in the next week". And don't worry about us here in Japan, this typhoon will be a whole lot to do about nothing. And if we ever cross paths, I'll buy you a belated birthday beverage. If we had Japan's liquor laws, I'd just buy a bottle off of Amazon for you.
ShellBack Beau
2024-08-14 15:05:32 +0000 UTCHappy Birthday Arron
Nearly Visible
2024-08-14 14:19:05 +0000 UTCOn the topic of projects, I'm building a gun room in my basement! Taking a corner against the foundation and building two walls. Studs will be 8 inches on center, with rebar running horizontally through every 12 inches. Fiberglass-reinforced drywall on the outside, 3/4 inch plywood on the inside, and gridwall as both a final layer of entry-prevention and a way to display the pretties. Going to use a commercial steel door and frame, but I'm torn: should the door swing in, and have the weak point be the deadbolt and locking hardware versus someone trying to kick their way through, or should it swing out, and I use jamb pin screws to protect against someone attacking the hinges? Leaning towards out, but interested to hear other opinions.
ApokalypseCow
2024-08-14 13:49:51 +0000 UTCSave your voice if you want, won't stop you if you don't. Good morning/afternoon/evening, ran 3 people through Traveller character generation and a little bit of a multi-day one shot. Despite no one knowing the system we all had a blast. To quote one of the players "think of the boardgame Life, make it Sci fi and ya got traveller." But the 2ish hours we played cemented the next bi-weekly Friday game I run is gonna be traveller. I offer this to you out of curiosity and respect, ya wanna join a homegrown world done in traveller?
Fireonfriendly
2024-08-14 13:17:23 +0000 UTCI hoping my schedule will allow me to view the upcoming film live & interact with y’all!! *Side Story 👇 (No need to read aloud on my behalf) On a recent road trip, a friend & I happened to be talking about Con Men & people getting ripped off. I asked if he’d heard of The Christmas Bullit?? Of course he hadn’t. Then I fired up the YouTube & introduced him to Tex Talks History. My friend, his wife, & my wife all said they enjoyed it! It’s not much, but it was fun to share your film with friends. Cheers! 🍻 🥃
RobinWhiteTX
2024-08-14 13:15:54 +0000 UTCYes I looked it up on Sarna.net after I asked. The Omega was a 150 ton mech. Plus there was Amaris' Folly at 110 tons.
Luminaire
2024-08-14 12:42:01 +0000 UTCThere are a handful of superheavy mechs that exist during the Dark Ages. They're absolutely frightening on the battlefield, but their material cost and lack of mobility causes them to be difficult to justify.
Vendrette, The Postalmech
2024-08-14 12:40:31 +0000 UTC55 here and I certainly don't feel old, though things like my back and knees say otherwise. I learned not to look back nor to believe I'm the embarrassed billionaire in becoming or the next to be discovered world famous star. I got a little extra selling 3D printed designs I commission through Fiver. OK I do have one regret that this didn't happen to me when I was in my twenties, but the options didn't exist then. As for this week's question. Winchester 1897 Trench gun, yay or nay ?
Nonkel Bob
2024-08-14 11:28:05 +0000 UTCYou young buck, wait till you reach my age.... in three years. Random question of the month. From an in universe perceptive why are there no mechs above 100 tons? Is it a technological limitation? Are there any stories of them trying to build SUPER HEAVY mechs only for them to fail spectacularly? Looking forward to all the videos coming out and will do my best to promote them.
Luminaire
2024-08-14 07:28:06 +0000 UTCas a mathematician: REEEEEEEEEEEEE XD
Sharien Radaik
2024-08-14 07:06:14 +0000 UTC40 is just a couple of years off for myself. I'm giving you a dollar for coffee henceforth Tex (or, like, 2-3 rounds of intermediate cartridges). Also, I have put this date in my calendar: I have an idea for a personal passion project, something I've never done before. I'll let you know how it goes a year from now. Just know that you've had a crucial hand in it's inspiration. :)
Hoplite
2024-08-14 06:21:34 +0000 UTCRibbit...
Walt_Man
2024-08-14 04:22:50 +0000 UTCSAVE VOICE - If only more people woke up to "e-Friends' thumb upping through a life. I actually get offended at the senseless, surface level faff of all these emoji's and thumbs and likes. My friends know that I have a saying, "if you're just going to give me a thumbs up, you might as well give me a middle finger." For those who cannot find their peers, voice chat in discord or gaming online is the closest thing to socializing in meat space. I recently got out after over a year of no-socializing, just work. I showed, and just sat in the corner and built a Dougram [OG Battletech] model kit, it was all I had unboxed. As this was a public space in a mall, we had visitors walk by curious to what this tabletop gaming was. I humor, I found that I was the most social and cordially with introducing people who curiously looked at the a-little-too occupied 40k players, it was a massive apocalypse game. It was a friendly reminder of my youth and how we're all just awkward nerds, rolling dice. Cheers! Poor a Pappy's!
Walt_Man
2024-08-14 03:58:11 +0000 UTCYup. If the eBay auction works out. Might have a copy someday.
Mnemonicman
2024-08-14 03:36:39 +0000 UTCJust wait until you hit 50. Then you get new problems as well as the existing ones getting worse.
Jason Youngberg
2024-08-14 03:30:57 +0000 UTCImposter! :P
Walt_Man
2024-08-14 03:25:42 +0000 UTCHappy birthday!
Walt_Man
2024-08-14 03:25:27 +0000 UTCGood on you man, changing things for the better is a process for sure. Ah, Desert Strike.. that really what that Mechwarrior game was, wasn't it? There was a two player mode too, one player controlled the legs and the other the torso. XD
Walt_Man
2024-08-14 03:22:08 +0000 UTCHappy almost birthday.
MechanicalFrog
2024-08-14 03:17:46 +0000 UTCGetting to 40 my own self. Not this year but 2025 can happen sooner than I want so . . . . . anyways. Best gift I could give myself would be to remove myself from the place that makes me not want to wake up in the morning. However my issues aside. I will continue to wish you and the rest of the BPL crew all the best. Just because. Do have some projects in progress. I'll get that SNES fixed sooner or later. Then maybe some Mechwarrior 3050 aka Desert/Jungle Strike with mechs. Rant done. Have a good one.
Mnemonicman
2024-08-14 02:32:34 +0000 UTCFurther to this, for my 40th I flew to New Zealand, went snowboarding for a week, including helicopter drops on the top of back country mountains then went sky diving on my rest day. Never tell yourself you're too old. You're not.
Lucas Holmes
2024-08-14 02:27:05 +0000 UTCOh goodness Tex. I thought you were OLD my friend from all your comments in the past. You're not even 40 yet!?! You need to stop saying you're old mate, as a 42yr old still feeling like I'm in my prime you should always tell yourself your the youngest now you'll ever be. Consider yourself a year wiser each year, not a year older. Happy birthday too my man. Much love.
Lucas Holmes
2024-08-14 02:21:37 +0000 UTCno mech, but rather the Battle of Twycross.
Jay McIntyre
2024-08-14 02:19:30 +0000 UTCI already co wrote a novel, I'm good. Don't use the Apple for anything, but thanks for the heads up/PSA Yeah, I know what you mean about History. I watch New Who fans watch Classic Who through their own lens and never get out of it and it drives me NUTS. The only internet historian I ever recommended to you was Old Brittania, which you already knew. As a 51 year old, you have my sympathies. Yeah you talking about work, I was employee of the month at a Goodwill--once. Result? More work. I was able to leave there in 2020, and good riddance. My poor roomie is still there.
Jay McIntyre
2024-08-14 02:15:46 +0000 UTCAs an engineer Pi = 3
Ian the Gatfruit Merchant
2024-08-14 01:24:21 +0000 UTCAs someone who was shaving at the beginning of 5th grade and losing my hair in my senior year of high school I shudder what my 40s will be like. Good luck stay safe and have a productive birthday, see you at Twycross Come on my friends and sing with me Fill the night with joy and sport Here's a toast to the friends who have gone from us Like the mist of the green mountain, Gone forever Wander my friends, wander with me
russell marsh
2024-08-14 01:13:53 +0000 UTCI went to my journal to check what I did for my 40th. Turned out I was coming down with something. My birthday is near Christmas and I almost missed going home for the holiday. The weather was lousy on the day itself so one event got canceled. I talked about how I had to take better care of myself and here I am at 50 saying the same thing and unsure if I made any real progress. 40 is when you begin to realize there are fewer days ahead of you than there are behind. You made it halfway through life and the best days are still ahead.
Jason Youngberg
2024-08-14 01:13:19 +0000 UTCThe only thing I noticed about turning 40 was everything started hurting more. I wish I was joking!
adam
2024-08-14 01:06:04 +0000 UTCI'm totally braindead, I thought the next vid WAS the Black Knight. I've had a LOT of life going on the last 18 months and haven't kept up since the Hunchback/Urbie. What mech is coming soon?
Baron Ouranos Helaine
2024-08-14 01:05:37 +0000 UTCWhooo Hoooo, I am sure it will be great with much honour, and a fitting tribute.
Lord Travis Lance the 3rd Matheson esq
2024-08-14 00:56:15 +0000 UTCWe're nearly there! I just started my new job and we're in render hell so apologies for the wait!
Crowind
2024-08-14 00:55:40 +0000 UTCI'm 40 tomorrow. It has occupied my thoughts as well! Love your work bpl!
Arron Scholz
2024-08-14 00:54:38 +0000 UTC
