So, it occurs to me it is Thursday. Or was Thursday. Or nearly isn't
Thursday. It depends on what time zone you're in. I also have a
nagging thought that I'm supposed to do something on Thursdays...
something about Usenet? The word 'epic' drifts into and out of my consciousness. I'm sure I'll remember eventually....
.
.
.
.
.
Oh shit! The weekly free-game announcement!


* Rustler
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/rustler-grand-theft-horse-21a7ca
a.k.a. "Grand Theft Horse". Sort of a GTA1 except set in
the Wild West. And - as the trailer is quick to point out -
you can catapult cows. I think this game has niche appeal, but
for what it is, the game looks well done. If you like this sort
of thing, this game will probably be a blast. But if you aren't
in that demographic, will it please? I'm not sure.



Whew. Hopefully I got this post out before the real rustlers --those quick-footed thieves of Internet Points, rms and ant, managed to
one-up me with their own announcement. I /need/ those Internet Points.

Seven days to claim this one, as is usual. Get it or not; Epic pays me
the same amount!



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:43:14 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

So, it occurs to me it is Thursday. Or was Thursday. Or nearly isn't >Thursday.

[...]

Whew. Hopefully I got this post out before the real rustlers --those >quick-footed thieves of Internet Points, rms and ant, managed to
one-up me with their own announcement. I /need/ those Internet Points.

heh.. sorry if I rustled your leathers and called you to action. I
promise no legal action is in progress over timestamp dispute :)

Honestly I just happened to see it in the Epic store and realize it
was still on my wishlist on Steam, and that rarely happens. It got
wishlisted I guess because of the quirky appeal and some fun I've had
with similar top-down/isometric games (American Fugitive comes to
mind). I really don't know if I'll play it, ever.. but fuck it, it's
free right?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:43:14 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Whew. Hopefully I got this post out before the real rustlers --those >quick-footed thieves of Internet Points, rms and ant, managed to
one-up me with their own announcement. I /need/ those Internet Points.

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)





--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:07:41 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:43:14 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Whew. Hopefully I got this post out before the real rustlers --those >>quick-footed thieves of Internet Points, rms and ant, managed to
one-up me with their own announcement. I /need/ those Internet Points.

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

OhBah KayBuh, credibility notedbah. lol

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:43:14 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Whew. Hopefully I got this post out before the real rustlers --those >quick-footed thieves of Internet Points, rms and ant, managed to
one-up me with their own announcement. I /need/ those Internet Points.

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

LOL. I was going to post, but said meh since I was too busy to do usenet. ;P
--
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." --James 1:5. Crazy Thursday.
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:48:59 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

LOL. I was going to post, but said meh since I was too busy to do usenet. ;P

Look, I'm not going to complain. I have plans for those Internet
Points. Big plans. Important plans. You can't imagine the terrific
things I'm going to do with those Points. It'll be great; just wait!
;-)

I did totally forget about posting until the last moment though; that
wasn't something I just did for humorous effect. I wonder if that says something about how unimpressed I've become with Epic's offerings
these days that even the lure of a new free game isn't a memorable
event anymore. Bring back the excitement, Epic!

Of course, the idea of being 'too busy for usenet' strikes me as
foreign and weird. Hopefully your busy-ness was because of fun and not business. What do ants do for fun in the hive anyway? Lick aphids?
Maybe I should give it a try. ;-)





--- PyGate Linux v1.5.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:48:59 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

LOL. I was going to post, but said meh since I was too busy to do usenet. ;P

Look, I'm not going to complain. I have plans for those Internet
Points. Big plans. Important plans. You can't imagine the terrific
things I'm going to do with those Points. It'll be great; just wait!
;-)

You sound like Donald J(ohn) Trump. :P

I did totally forget about posting until the last moment though; that
wasn't something I just did for humorous effect. I wonder if that says something about how unimpressed I've become with Epic's offerings
these days that even the lure of a new free game isn't a memorable
event anymore. Bring back the excitement, Epic!

Of course, the idea of being 'too busy for usenet' strikes me as
foreign and weird. Hopefully your busy-ness was because of fun and not business. What do ants do for fun in the hive anyway? Lick aphids?
Maybe I should give it a try. ;-)

Eh, life you know. Bah. Ants don't have hives too. I had to do colony stuff. :P --
"If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." --Galatians 6:1. 2 many sins! :(
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 1/24/2026 8:07 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:48:59 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I
have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

LOL. I was going to post, but said meh since I was too busy to do usenet. ;P

Look, I'm not going to complain. I have plans for those Internet
Points. Big plans. Important plans. You can't imagine the terrific
things I'm going to do with those Points. It'll be great; just wait!
;-)

I did totally forget about posting until the last moment though; that
wasn't something I just did for humorous effect. I wonder if that says something about how unimpressed I've become with Epic's offerings
these days that even the lure of a new free game isn't a memorable
event anymore. Bring back the excitement, Epic!

Of course, the idea of being 'too busy for usenet' strikes me as
foreign and weird. Hopefully your busy-ness was because of fun and not business. What do ants do for fun in the hive anyway? Lick aphids?
Maybe I should give it a try. ;-)

I was too busy for usenet too. I just got a moment to check, glad I did
as this game was on my wishlist and one I'd come very close to buying
several times. I didn't remember to check Epic either.

Thanks, Spalls.

Unfortunately most of the negatives on Steam reports it's glitchy, buggy
and had bad controls. I've never let any of that stop me before though,
some of my favorite games resemble that.

--
-Justisaur

?-?
(\_/)\
`-'\ `--.___,
?ª'\( ,_.-'
\\
^'

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com> wrote at 23:31 this Monday (GMT):

On 1/24/2026 8:07 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:48:59 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Heh. I posted this without checking the newsgroup first and now that I >>>> have, I'm happy to see that I actually _did_ beat ant to it. Those
Internet points are mine! ;-)

LOL. I was going to post, but said meh since I was too busy to do usenet. ;P

Look, I'm not going to complain. I have plans for those Internet
Points. Big plans. Important plans. You can't imagine the terrific
things I'm going to do with those Points. It'll be great; just wait!
;-)

I did totally forget about posting until the last moment though; that
wasn't something I just did for humorous effect. I wonder if that says
something about how unimpressed I've become with Epic's offerings
these days that even the lure of a new free game isn't a memorable
event anymore. Bring back the excitement, Epic!

Of course, the idea of being 'too busy for usenet' strikes me as
foreign and weird. Hopefully your busy-ness was because of fun and not
business. What do ants do for fun in the hive anyway? Lick aphids?
Maybe I should give it a try. ;-)

I was too busy for usenet too. I just got a moment to check, glad I did
as this game was on my wishlist and one I'd come very close to buying several times. I didn't remember to check Epic either.

Thanks, Spalls.

Unfortunately most of the negatives on Steam reports it's glitchy, buggy
and had bad controls. I've never let any of that stop me before though, some of my favorite games resemble that.

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

--
"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" --Mark 9:35. Ant is at the bottom!
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:09:26 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

Yes! More time for Usenet! I win again! ;-)



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 18:09 this Thursday (GMT):

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

fire ant :)
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote at 18:09 this Thursday (GMT):

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

fire ant :)

Fire(d) ant. :P
--
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." --Ephesians 4:2
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:09:26 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

Yes! More time for Usenet! I win again! ;-)

LOL! :-P
--
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." --Ephesians 4:2
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 1/30/2026 7:13 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:09:26 -0000 (UTC), ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
wrote:

Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:20:07 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:

Glad to know im not the only one thats too busy to post.

Me too! I never have time to post!

(but I do so anyway. Fuck you, boss! You're not the boss of me! Well,
okay you are but Usenet still gets priority ;-)
(So, can I get a raise? ;-)

No, you're fired!

Yes! More time for Usenet! I win again! ;-)

Until you can't pay your electric bill....

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.8
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)