James Austin
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jamestaustin.com
James Austin
@jamestaustin.com
360 followers 800 following 310 posts
Staff Writer for Wirecutter, covering hobbies and games. Let's talk about dice and meeples!
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jamestaustin.com
Don't wanna steal @rincewind.run's bit but this feels like an applicable (if long) Terry Pratchett QOTD:
A screenshot from the Terry Pratchett novel "The Truth" it reads as follows: “Then who is running the city?” said William. “I don’t know,” said Mr. Slant. “That is not my concern. I–” “Mr. Goodmountain?” said William. “Large type, please.” “Got you,” said the dwarf. His hand hovered over a fresh case. “In caps, size to fit, ‘Who Runs Ankh-Morpork?’“ said William. “Now into body type, upper and lowercase, across two columns: ‘Who is governing the city while Lord Vetinari is imprisoned? Asked for an opinion today, a leading legal figure said he did not know and it was no concern of his. Mr. Slant of the Lawyers’ Guild went on to say–’“ “You can’t put that in your newspaper!” barked Slant. “Set that directly, please, Mr. Goodmountain.” “Setting it already,” said the dwarf, the leaden slugs clicking into place. Out of the corner of his eye William saw Otto emerging from the cellar and looking puzzled at the noise. “‘Mr. Slant went on to say…’?” said William, glaring at the lawyer. “You will find it very hard to print that,” said Mr. Carney, ignoring the lawyer’s frantic hand signals, “with no damn press!” “‘…was the view of Mr. Carney of the Guild of Engravers,’ spelled with an e before the y,” said William, “‘who earlier today tried to put the Times out of business by means of an illegal document.’“ William realized that, although his mouth felt full of acid, he was enjoying this immensely. “‘Asked for his opinion of this flagrant abuse of the city laws, Mr. Slant said…’?” “STOP TAKING DOWN EVERYTHING WE SAY!” yelled Slant. “…Full caps for the whole sentence please, Mr. Goodmountain.”
October 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
jamestaustin.com
Every Royals fan watching our boy Freddy take his team to the postseason:
The "Squidward watching Patrick and Spongebob through his window" meme image.
September 23, 2025 at 5:50 AM
jamestaustin.com
Got to see the #KCRoyals win live for the first time (after seeing them lose as visitors in five separate MLB stadiums). And on TTRPG night of all nights!
A selfie of me with a giant scoreboard screen in the background that reads “Royals WIN!” A shot of a D4 and a D20 showing the KC Logo as the 20 with an adventure module in the background A shot of a purple clouded sunset over left field in Kauffman stadium
September 18, 2025 at 3:18 AM
jamestaustin.com
Always down to chat about game stuff!!
As a quick treat, here are some pretty math rocks I got as groomsmen gifts for my upcoming wedding:
September 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
jamestaustin.com
New helmet bling! Courtesy of @drvarg01.bsky.social and his wonderful cycling newsletter Leg Day legday.substack.com
August 6, 2025 at 11:45 PM
jamestaustin.com
Saw some Dimension 20 Starstruck characters at GenCon today!
A picture of a cosplayer dressed as Sundry Sydney, a character from the Dimension 20 season A Starstruck Odyssey. A picture of a cosplayer dressed as Plug, a character from the Dimension 20 season A Starstruck Odyssey, with his Butt Ugly Stuff Hut included.
August 2, 2025 at 11:18 PM
jamestaustin.com
GenCon day one step count:
A screenshot of the Apple Firness app showing 12,861 steps and 6.14 miles walked.
August 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
jamestaustin.com
Just a fantastic series of posts to see in the Skyline:
Two posts on the Bluesky skyline in order: From @kendrawcandraw.bsky.social‬ “I love to push a button and receive a pellet. A delicious treat for me? Might as well push it again. If it gives me a small electric shock once in a while, well, that's just the cost of doing business” From @swiftonsecurity.com‬ “Remember to hit like and subscribe thx”
June 3, 2025 at 7:01 AM
jamestaustin.com
I think Douglas Adams had it right in this respect.
If aliens landed on Earth tomorrow, they'd first try to liaise with cars.
A screenshot of the Wikapedia entry for Ford Prefect, from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: "Although Ford had taken great care to blend into Earth society, he had "skimped a bit on his preparatory research," and thought that the name "Ford Prefect" would be "nicely inconspicuous." The Ford Prefect was a popular British car manufactured from 1938 to 1961, and Adams later clarified in an interview that Ford "had simply mistaken the dominant life form" of Earth. This was expanded on somewhat in the film version, where Ford is almost run over while attempting to greet a blue Ford Prefect."
May 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
jamestaustin.com
It took me until reading this exact paragraph in the lovely @rcmacleod.bsky.social article about the game (aftermath.site/blue-prince-...) to realize that "Blue Prince" is a pun.
Screenshot of an Aftermath article reading as follows: "How do you decide how long to play for, or when to end your play session for the night? Do you have any tips that aren’t spoilers, but also aren’t the same “NO SPOILERS!” videos that tread the same ground about strategic dead ends and notebooks? Did it take you as long to realize the pun of the game’s name as it took me?"
April 22, 2025 at 2:18 AM
jamestaustin.com
💪💪
Me and some other random Strava user are in a fight and I am currently winning!
A screenshot of an email from the Strava app congratulating me for gaining Local Legend status in my neighborhood
March 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
jamestaustin.com
This Orlando Sentinel email subject line really getting to the point. www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/03/06/s...

(It went on to say "lost during test flight" but feel like that was a bit redundant.)
A screenshot of an email subject line reading "Breaking: Another SpaceX Starship
March 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
jamestaustin.com
New personal best distance!
A screenshot of the Strava app showing a 29.24 mile ride in Denver Colorado
February 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
jamestaustin.com
The world is cruel and scary but also riding a bike in good weather is nice.
A screenshot of a Strava ride showing a 6.85 mile ride from earlier today. A screenshot of the Strava app showing a 18.15 mile ride from earlier today.
February 8, 2025 at 10:21 PM
jamestaustin.com
Day 1 of CES step-count total:
Screenshot of an Apple Fitness step count showing 27,355 steps taken.
January 8, 2025 at 6:46 AM
jamestaustin.com
Wirecutter getting a @dropouttv.bsky.social Make Some Noise prompt is infinitely better than getting a Jeopardy clue! (And Jess crushed it!)
November 26, 2024 at 3:28 AM
jamestaustin.com
Interesting combo of skeets to run into on my timeline…
Two skeets, the top one reading “I’ve seen reports about the new Blueskyers: They’re eating the dogs! The people that came in. They’re eating the cats!” Followed by: “Animal rescue org feed Nebraska Humane, Crits for Cats, Crouton, Friends of Bear, etc”
November 15, 2024 at 5:47 AM
jamestaustin.com
<stares ahead with wide eyes>
Welp…no turning back now I guess.

(Eurydice thanks for the jump scare!)
A screenshot of a Bluesky notification saying “New follower! Eurydice has followed you.”
November 7, 2024 at 1:12 AM
jamestaustin.com
Lets go #Royals!!
On to NYC, let's beat those damn Yankees!!!
October 2, 2024 at 11:43 PM
jamestaustin.com
Mood:
A screenshot of my account with Re-Skeeting a tweet from the @infinitescream.bsky.social feed (which was just "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH") and saying "Honestly the best day/time to discover that the Endless Screaming feed made the jump from Twitter"
June 28, 2024 at 2:17 AM
jamestaustin.com
Apropos of nothing: I hiked up a mountain this past weekend and it was very cool if also pretty terrifying. That is all.
A photograph looking out into a valley between two sections of the rocky mountains featuring some small lakes and pine trees in the valley A marmot gazes out at mountains from a rocky outcrop. Snow capped peaks of the rocky mountains. Rain clouds rolling in over the rocky mountains.
June 17, 2024 at 7:45 PM
jamestaustin.com
lmao
A graphic representation of the Royal's win probability going from 1% in the top of the first inning to 100% by the bottom of the ninth.
June 8, 2024 at 4:22 AM
jamestaustin.com
Just here to say that the poster-image on Dropout for Dimension 20's new season goes SO HARD!

Also the trailer of course kicks ass: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYeX...
A poster-like image of Dimension 20's new season called "Never Stop Blowing UP" which features the cast and gives the vibe of "The Absolute Best 80s Action Movie You Rented at Blockbuster in 1995"
June 5, 2024 at 9:22 PM
jamestaustin.com
Slack is apparently down for 1% of users which...apparently includes me.

Possibly the only time I will ever be considered "in the 1%"
A screenshot showing the Slack Status screen with a yellow triangle with an exclamation point and the words "Issues loading Slack for less than 1% of customers"
March 27, 2024 at 4:14 PM
jamestaustin.com
You’re telling me the quarterback of the <checks notes> New York Jets would sign on to a team with zero chance of success that would likely only lead to lasting personal embarrassment or injury???
March 12, 2024 at 9:20 PM