It's Eric Woodward (dotcom)

A couple of website updates to announce:

• I added a bunch of custom (unofficial) cards I’ve made over the years for my personal paper-crack, Magic: the Gathering.
• I also added some custom Illuminati groups that I designed a few years ago.
• I added a new LinkList for Tabletop Role-Playing Game Resources.
• I expanded the blogroll to include more sites I like to read (plus some vlogs).
• I updated the tags throughout the site to be links.
• Finally, I fixed the JS on the client side, so that things like relative timestamps and reading time should work again.

While I was fixing the client code, I went and disabled my (already broken) concatentation and minification script, opting instead to serve up all 8(!) JS library files individually (and, thanks to HTTP/2, concurrently)

I mean, I’m using minification for the libraries I’m importing (I’m not a monster), but I don’t use it for the (small) bit of code that ties those libraries together and makes the site work. This way, anyone can see how (and why) the site works the way it does, as it should be, and all without the added complexity of generating source maps or similar unnecessary complications.

And for those minified libraries, I’ve provided a link to each library’s repo and added automated license info, so the LibreJS validator gives this site a ✅. #FreeSoftwareWin !

After hosting it here for the better part of a decade, I’ve decided to remove my RPG, Thur, from this site.

Thur was an RPG that I ran while I was in college, a custom system set on a world of my own design, full of all of the stuff that I thought was cool at the time (and still do, for the most part): Fremen, ninjas, Gunslingers, psychics, wizards, aliens, mutants, technomages, tears in the space-time continuum, a global economy (and shared culture) based on huge teleportation gates - all kinds of gonzo stuff.

I ran several adventures as 1-on-1 games with a former friend of mine, and ran a couple of sessions other friends, but eventually the demands of full-time work and parenting didn’t leave me with much RPG time, so I shelved it. I pulled it out about a decade ago when a friend was getting into Pathfinder. We played a couple of sessions, and that was when I published it here. However, since the rules were never really fully fleshed-out (and thanks to some bad writing on my part), the game fell kinda flat, and so was shelved again, where it’s remained since.

So, what changed? A few things.

As I said before, the rules were a hot mess, with the magic system in particular in shambles. Incomplete as it was, I probably should never have published it here in the first place.

Additionally, my thinking on rules has evolved over the years. I’m now much more interested in simpler systems that don’t systematize flavor (thus leaving more of room for roleplaying). I’m also more into tweaking existing rulesets over building entirely new ones, since it’s easier to introduce new players (and bring back old ones).

But honestly, the main reason I took it down is because I’m genuinely ashamed of some of what’s there. The version of me that wrote most of that was younger, dumber, and had a far-simpler (and naively incorrect) conception of the world at large. He was also far more casually racist, and for that, I am truly sorry.

So, I took it down.

It may come back, it may not. If it does, it’ll probably be in a very different format from what it was before, like an online zine for OSE (so others can play), but that won’t happen until after I’ve made it into something I can be proud of.

Greetings, and welcome the bi-annual tri-annual periodic relaunch of my website!

Yes, after a few years of neglect, I finally got around to updating it again.

Like the last few versions, it’s mostly a static site generated by Javascript. The biggest change with this iteration is the lack of a central library for doing all of the heavy-lifting. No more harp or gulp - instead, I’m using a hodge-podge of different, smaller libraries (like ejs and front-matter) which I string together via a series of fairly short js files, (mostly) all using modern async and await code to do things in the right order.

The end result is that it’s bad fast, taking the build time down from 10+ seconds to under 2 (although that may not be a fair comparison, as it doesn’t do everything the gulp version did… yet).

Some of the biggest changes under the hood:

• I replaced marked and commonmark.js with the better fit (for me) [markdown-it](https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it #readme ),
• I simplified many of my templates, purging a number of unneeded partials,
• I made each journal entry link to the two chronologically-nearest entires,
• I upgraded most of my config files to use json5 (the self-proclaimed “JSON for Humans”), and
• I added a now page (inspired by nownownow.com).

Once I get the source code cleaned up a bit more, I’ll post it in a public git repo.

I’ve got some more ideas for what to do next, like adding in-browser file editing, a homespun blogging engine, and expanded IndieWeb support (most likely via the IndieKit project) with an eye towards IndieAuth, MicroPub, and WebSub.

It’s all part of my (continuing) attempt to rest control back of my social-media-life from the corporate silos.

Along the way, I hope to grow the content-side of this web presence as well, so keep on the lookout for more new stuff, like:

• notes from my various RPG campaigns,
• homebrew for D&D and OSR games,
• my custom Magic cards,
• some hardware stuff I’ve been playing with,
• and a whole lot more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Since my last few posts about script-kiddies and the fake extortions they try to commit, I’ve received upwards of 50 such emails, each with a different bitcoin address, and many with slight differences in text, style, or form, but all basically the same: an email from myself (gasp) claiming that I have been hacked, that some non-descript OS or “device” I own has some magical virus installed on it, and that, if I don’t pay the hacker a ransom in bitcoin, my life will be ruined.

However, I know from past experience that these messages are little more than spam, sent out en masse in hopes that they can rope in some poor sucker who falls for this. I know most of these are bogus from the beginning because the email I use for my phone is completely unrelated to the ones that keep receiving these messages. Other times, the email will make vague references to programs I don’t even have installed, again betraying their carboon-copied nature. In truth, I have never paid ransom, even though I’ve personally received dozens of these messages, and my life has yet to be ruined by these lamers.

So, as a public service, I have included the bitcoin addresses for these fakers, in hopes that some other would-be victim finds this page (possibly through a web search), and they learn that they can ignore this BS as well:

====== BEGIN WALL OF SHAME ======
====== UPDATED: 2022-12-23 ======

bc1q47rckymrjwrrld5gtpps2tshx429z2w4elwspn
1GyYujUxs2eJpECpYu3Ns6F4RvZqsp8NT6
1GdVKgGS8iXeSSrynTfHyDugrpchwVDmdZ
1AsRkzQSorZAc66fdXof9NHTNJdU4T8nC8
1FmKjxWybWDuoD17pKvKaVH81gb5HGBpyP
bc1qgfef9nlwffftl6m5qet95yxa0x7arah0h580gs
1GfBNY2DfHRQRuCHLRP1vNFUjGGLCtgTab
1DxxqP5uWPWsGgfaYwJ47wRYp1NH9tj1G2
1LzA9kzQkGDTYSfbbLE8gK5RAJ5ke32ntC
1771s891APz1wNKdn5fe3Vknmf5pN18cWu
12vuAcRSYDWuGHEVNVtQaEjBCBevps3ZcE
bc1qvksfej36d72yl46f4726yrpj9kjcgqq783ypl8
bc1qezg9c02afe3xadp9qqr0u7n8j7hlfjngv8d2f5
1GjZSJnpU4AfTS8vmre6rx7eQgeMUq8VYr
18eBGkYam1wjz1S77jz3VmADuYYFzhA3vB
376XVFQ2GDHow9kBDJ49Q3vRW7TC35L2Hx
142e8SgyTLnkvwkDkNNon9jMtKY4UDvQqr
14aFMWfDdBW9FpWxu8myFsXY7Pfy9fBp5C
17qQSJatXXj5DnjMLjNGXx9BT7NUhqimRx
1JRfE57ZF8Eaqa7DktHmVCoAneA8q4fpP2
17hMTFUWqa1oHKj7PHA361qjpZoBaChTWY
15tGbgpiksnzBY1tef2LgUbJ9pZvoDjCbs
1HUHBgNHYCz9Djy9z615adkgd2NYQNMVUd
1C242L8qAXRxudv6KBAahi81GHS5wpc8cF
1GRHyZf18sQ65CdG66YCYs7vhrzUEV1HVs
1LAWGnA2K5njVSshERU9bcUSrW2YWwtXs1
1MZsUfERBoQp6PJW4Gcx9PvgH2S6WcLiyv
1PLfzxybxkTKbcxRwhRw23TxcYDJ9wsphS
13rkwLUVuWeLtnB1JdxJGo4vin15V2poS5
1Hxkqd6fib8ZrXyYj2iqQVfDxw8vjrc1aA
14qpWY7GxcimEVbPe7x6vnbV6qDaALr7Nb
1Cboy74YFQy1pLJTRrnibYfqiVo3FXv9fe
1QEkESQ8xR13P54vt8QKBHvhKjkrCBybzk
163qcNngcPxk7njkBGU3GGtxdhi74ycqzk
1GoWy5yMzh3XXBiYxLU9tKCBMgibpznGio
1Je9xULKJK191a1JV68QuMiPgHJduSpYf6
34ZQ4zk5ep53LdTdsikrKBVn2egPa7N1NA
3MmuobsivmP6SBwdX9b2X4vs8SKBrLvRFt
14DvFghvkzQujf5Kd5AL2VKjxaYm5KidxR
14tfS3yWL2cABhXVJZ97XRhuDXC69aWH6Y
1FzjogU6vMPcJAsTgc7Fw7tMu7nmwom6QD
1CHXVoouz5b8YykXr6T1t5y4rv6enPLKjS
16j8quu5c51swAN6QUdeMEcSidxD4JdtoS
19Vok4UYuig3XC9ixoASteqXUvB378qAUR
1DEjEBAsw7rLaKnKj2mthpwPDXy6f6rXMh
15iiic5PmfGvE3TyMP1JyYh1W9KxQLGQL6
1DDRvdiUZMeF9c4zjMLHWvacJYhPcbzumf
15pY2U8WBZBJRVxGhh8WRXsdkXQbMKD8k9
1FQBA6LYwjFYfSgrHTwizV6aLPUuG3cMBa
1KiY2X9tww3zDgZmuoFRvZ7ssWx1b4moC9
1H1K8MfLEJgjCCfDEkTJmv9GJjD3XzEFGR
163qcNngcPxk7njkBGU3GGtxdhi74ycqzk
3616S7LW7c4rPpoS44eAb74gVvcY1nHo2w
18js3UK28bD11rwP1RJPjZUT93z3s3s77k
1K5gLeGFrhbsKXBQQK23TPGfqrAwgqgPkC
3Npm2ipM11TYyMymJhMW3jhmMVR91fNaod
14LYbckmC9gKJ6LR1JAWaKSsCojZfURbzH
1KE1EqyKLPzLWQ3BhRz2g1MHh5nws2TRk (sic)
36QKFL786hVNqEfkPHqvu47ZvzkXrokPSK
3KAjh4JnH2eWo7yXkMMXz5Nnf4mr13RNpr
1Ji2K8EVzxDRnpuXts1kKAjMwTrV2LTnRS
18i5utJSShwVTGdtSrmi2M3XpyRBfnpdPw
3JRHity7zbykme4uriFnroxWj0VhML780lhIC9taBjdmYd5LcVIy9N1P8UeSn1F9pAYfKV59ET0RyoiJgxWucM
MBV4M5vH2W519JEJ9T4yvqVhNaaYECxaTS
35xURRetkiCKCZNjWtlJ21sm3dWxmV48cKtIV1ygfJU7thXjc1r
1KVX9hCnQ9MfSoEFyxqAXGFXdTFNyzD22n
1KJ3ZrhrkXBVjGyAU635sapjLpLSFgpqYe
342yJ6g29rQQVehf1nbPX5UDquKUSKw4ev
19p63VSjmRLPNP34ASWPEixUDYhvGQxTFK
17z8ACS2tJouyxuoqEBoDDmaEZzFTzQg1Z
17cPvTgQ4vsG9D6iZqTL3JChjd8ApFYTPA
12ELWfXgRgqhtt8KenQbAfuBbAb1Rd3GJ7
19PRxthVN1P9hsXcStqc2Kp8Yy4hXyXVau
1BwDYXp1YCa2NLfGiF5Gfnkmgf61MqupHb
15KquhG7RGkyXvEVT1aXLgPt4qgBEVe8rN
bc1qznsh6ahq9h05pgekemygh7mdvc4egkvfvf3ltc
19Ya5oeV6zqsHa9TSyurpeF1LpYJqm84Yv
15DMMwLTqV4RmYpJZDoNUZvzNikX1m6j4R
bc1q4s9vnxa7a008rxcuus0fqk94dyc0r2z88cs6c4

======= END WALL OF SHAME =======

Again, if you received an ominous email about your device being hacked and it uses one of these bitcoin addresses, just know that I received one of those messages, too, and I never paid. Since I’m still here, posting this, obviously none of their doomsday prophecies came to pass - no mass email to my contacts, no embarassing footage, no ruined life… and no hacked device.

Since my last post about script-kiddies using spam to try and commit fake extortion, I’ve recevived plenty of other threatenting emails from lamers, so here’s another one from the (spam) vault:

From: [redacted-address]
To: [redacted-address]
Subject: Security Warning. Third party accessed to [redacted-address].

Hello!

I’m is very good coder.

Just not much of a writer, apparently.

I am known by my nickname finn29.

Look, man - I’ve known The Finn since 1984. And you, sir, are not The Finn.

I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago,
through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been spying for you a very long time.

Somehow, I find this hard to believe.

I understand it is hard to believe, but you can check it yourself.
I’m sent this e-mail from your account. Try it yourself.

No, “you’re” didn’t send this email from my account. In fact, if I had to guess, you tried to send it from your parents’ basement (which I have the IP for, by the way), but my SPF rules caught it, flagged it, and dumped it into my spam folder. As they should have.

Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer
and automatically saved access for me.

I think you’ve been watching too much CSI: Cyber.

I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history.
Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos.

Oh noes, all of the contacts stored on my computer? What is this, 1998?

I was most struck by the intimate content sites that you occasionally visit.
You have a very wild imagination, I tell you!

I do, actually, but not in the way you want.

During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching.
Oh my god! You are so funny and excited!

I don’t even know what to say to that.

I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right?
If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $643 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created.

$600 to erase the pictures and videos you don’t have? What a bargain!

Send the above amount on my BTC wallet (bitcoin): 19kXyFbvetft819v4QV5g9vzrjwNqRtvgA
As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it.

Well, you seem trustworthy, so I’m sure I can believe your “guarantee”.

Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device.
Also, I’ll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, I have carefully saved it!

I’ve spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out what he’s saying here, but I just can’t make sense of it.

Since reading this letter you have 48 hours!
After your reading this message, I’ll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter.

Doubtful, since it’s now been 96 hours since you sent the message, and my contacts still haven’t received anything from you. I mean, me. Whatever.

I hope I taught you a good lesson.
Do not be so nonchalant, please visit only to proven resources, and don’t enter your passwords anywhere!
Good luck!

Indeed, you have taught me a lesson: how not to extort money from someone.

While watching Weird Science for the hundredth time today, I noticed this amazing image hanging on Wyatt’s wall:

I don’t know how I’ve missed it all these years (although I suspect it was because I’d never watched a high-def version before). I’ve long been a fan of the original Great Wave off Kanagawa woodblock print, and have enjoyed the many images that parody and/or were inspired by it, but I’d never seen one with such a great “digital” look to it, and I was curious to find out how it came to be.

Apparently, it was made by a design agency called Grafik in 1981 for a computer trade show. The amazing thing is that, despite its appearance (and intended use), it wasn’t actually computer-generated at all, and was instead created by meticulously coloring each square by hand… with pencils.

“The Wave of the Future”, indeed.

Fortunately, I was able to find a larger version of it, and now, thanks to the power of the internet (and, in particular, reddit user acoolrocket), I’m happy to have this image on my laptop as my wallpaper. Too cool!