Allen Varney
@bundleofholding.com
Writer and game designer (PARANOIA XP, Mongoose Publishing 2004). I operate the Bundle of Holding (bundleofholding.com). allenvarney(at)Gmail.
I just backed "Medieval Guilds & Markets for #TTRPGs," a worldbuilding resource from new Italian publisher Dwarven Brothers:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwa...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwa...
Medieval Guilds & Markets for RPGs
Everything you need to create realistic medieval economies for your world [ENG/ITA]
www.kickstarter.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:33 PM
I just backed "Medieval Guilds & Markets for #TTRPGs," a worldbuilding resource from new Italian publisher Dwarven Brothers:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwa...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dwa...
In 1941 Irving Berlin wrote a protest song against Hitler, "When that Man is Dead and Gone," covered nicely in 2017 by Lizzy & the Triggermen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkh...
When that Man is Dead and Gone (1941) - Protest song against Hitler (Live Take)
YouTube video by Lizzy & the Triggermen
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:20 PM
In 1941 Irving Berlin wrote a protest song against Hitler, "When that Man is Dead and Gone," covered nicely in 2017 by Lizzy & the Triggermen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkh...
Why do we see this exact same story play out repeatedly? Do companies have no memory? Is learning impossible?
Red Ogre (@ogre.red) gets rights to your work upon *submission*.
And those rights are ridiculous. They can change your work, not credit you, use your work for advertising, or put it in an anthology.
Don't submit to this one, folks.
And those rights are ridiculous. They can change your work, not credit you, use your work for advertising, or put it in an anthology.
Don't submit to this one, folks.
February 5, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Why do we see this exact same story play out repeatedly? Do companies have no memory? Is learning impossible?
Reposted by Allen Varney
**PLEASE REPOST!**
GALLOWS CORNER - A PEASANTS' REVOLT RPG IS NOW LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Back here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/thr...
This is a game built around the power that comes from solidarity and community, that stands up against power. We'd love it if you'd stand alongside us today.
GALLOWS CORNER - A PEASANTS' REVOLT RPG IS NOW LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Back here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/thr...
This is a game built around the power that comes from solidarity and community, that stands up against power. We'd love it if you'd stand alongside us today.
Coming soon: Gallows Corner - A Peasants' Revolt RPG
Rise up, ye pitiful commons! Throw off your shackles and take up the call: there is a brighter future beyond the noose!
www.kickstarter.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:59 PM
**PLEASE REPOST!**
GALLOWS CORNER - A PEASANTS' REVOLT RPG IS NOW LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Back here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/thr...
This is a game built around the power that comes from solidarity and community, that stands up against power. We'd love it if you'd stand alongside us today.
GALLOWS CORNER - A PEASANTS' REVOLT RPG IS NOW LIVE ON KICKSTARTER!
Back here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/thr...
This is a game built around the power that comes from solidarity and community, that stands up against power. We'd love it if you'd stand alongside us today.
Countries with the best reputations in 2025, ranked (Visual Capitalist):
www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-count...
www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-count...
Ranked: Countries With the Best Reputations in 2025
Discover which countries have the best reputations in 2025. Switzerland and Canada lead, while the U.S. sees a sharp decline.
www.visualcapitalist.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Countries with the best reputations in 2025, ranked (Visual Capitalist):
www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-count...
www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-count...
Reposted by Allen Varney
The future of work is changing. And we have to evolve with it or fall behind. That's why we're proud to introduce: Serfdom dot AI. Our platform allows SERFs (solo entrepreneur revenue facilitators) to rent affordable housing that they can subsidize by picking up work with Baron, our AI assistant
January 20, 2026 at 11:56 PM
The future of work is changing. And we have to evolve with it or fall behind. That's why we're proud to introduce: Serfdom dot AI. Our platform allows SERFs (solo entrepreneur revenue facilitators) to rent affordable housing that they can subsidize by picking up work with Baron, our AI assistant
"If the Algorithm Was a Person" (Foil Arms and Hog):
youtu.be/tKGE6UzwdXc?...
youtu.be/tKGE6UzwdXc?...
If the Algorithm was a Person
YouTube video by Foil Arms and Hog
youtu.be
January 15, 2026 at 8:07 PM
"If the Algorithm Was a Person" (Foil Arms and Hog):
youtu.be/tKGE6UzwdXc?...
youtu.be/tKGE6UzwdXc?...
"Dentologia: A Poem on the Diseases of the Teeth" in five cantos by Solyman Brown, A.M., with notes practical, historical, illustrative, and explanatory by Eleazar Parmly, Dentist (1840):
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77677
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77677
Dentologia : A poem on the diseases of the teeth, and their proper remedies
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.
www.gutenberg.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 AM
"Dentologia: A Poem on the Diseases of the Teeth" in five cantos by Solyman Brown, A.M., with notes practical, historical, illustrative, and explanatory by Eleazar Parmly, Dentist (1840):
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77677
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77677
Stories by O. Henry's Ghost (1918): Albert Houghton Pratt (1878-1941), rare book curator at the Library of Congress, wrote a book of stories as by O. Henry, dictated via Ouija board:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77686
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77686
My tussle with the devil : And other stories by O. Henry's Ghost
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.
www.gutenberg.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Stories by O. Henry's Ghost (1918): Albert Houghton Pratt (1878-1941), rare book curator at the Library of Congress, wrote a book of stories as by O. Henry, dictated via Ouija board:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77686
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77686
Project 2025 has hit 51% complete:
www.project2025.observer/en
www.project2025.observer/en
Project 2025 Tracker
A comprehensive, community-driven initiative to track the implementation of Project 2025's policy proposals
www.project2025.observer
January 10, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Project 2025 has hit 51% complete:
www.project2025.observer/en
www.project2025.observer/en
How to store a #chess position in 26 bytes using bit-level magic (ezzerieasa):
ezzeriesa.notion.site/How-to-store...
ezzeriesa.notion.site/How-to-store...
How to store a chess position in 26 bytes using bit-level magic | Notion
Author's note: This post was adapted from a presentation at the Recurse Center. Hacker News comments here.
ezzeriesa.notion.site
January 9, 2026 at 7:16 PM
How to store a #chess position in 26 bytes using bit-level magic (ezzerieasa):
ezzeriesa.notion.site/How-to-store...
ezzeriesa.notion.site/How-to-store...
Reposted by Allen Varney
This is coming from a place of love and support, but…
It’s ‘shoo-in,’ not ‘shoe-in.’
It’s ‘case in point,’ not ‘case and point.’
It’s ‘moot point,’ not ‘mute point.’
It’s ‘hunger pangs,’ not ‘hunger pains.’
It’s ‘jibe with,' not 'jive with.'
It’s ‘shoo-in,’ not ‘shoe-in.’
It’s ‘case in point,’ not ‘case and point.’
It’s ‘moot point,’ not ‘mute point.’
It’s ‘hunger pangs,’ not ‘hunger pains.’
It’s ‘jibe with,' not 'jive with.'
January 8, 2026 at 6:52 PM
This is coming from a place of love and support, but…
It’s ‘shoo-in,’ not ‘shoe-in.’
It’s ‘case in point,’ not ‘case and point.’
It’s ‘moot point,’ not ‘mute point.’
It’s ‘hunger pangs,’ not ‘hunger pains.’
It’s ‘jibe with,' not 'jive with.'
It’s ‘shoo-in,’ not ‘shoe-in.’
It’s ‘case in point,’ not ‘case and point.’
It’s ‘moot point,’ not ‘mute point.’
It’s ‘hunger pangs,’ not ‘hunger pains.’
It’s ‘jibe with,' not 'jive with.'
2026 State of the World conference on The WELL with Bruce Sterling and Jon Lebkowsky:
people.well.com/conf/inkwell...
people.well.com/conf/inkwell...
The WELL: State of the World 2026 with Bruce Sterling and Jon Lebkowsky
The WELL: State of the World 2026 with Bruce Sterling and Jon Lebkowsky
people.well.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:15 PM
2026 State of the World conference on The WELL with Bruce Sterling and Jon Lebkowsky:
people.well.com/conf/inkwell...
people.well.com/conf/inkwell...
Auld English - Founts thatte fimulate the experience of reading in olden days, bye diverfe means (ie, contextual alternates):
www.auldenglish.com
www.auldenglish.com
Auld English fonts: A Sea-Change in the Look of Language by Nick Shinn
Fonts that simulate the experience of reading in olden days, by diverse means.
www.auldenglish.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Auld English - Founts thatte fimulate the experience of reading in olden days, bye diverfe means (ie, contextual alternates):
www.auldenglish.com
www.auldenglish.com
2025: The Bundle of Holding year in review (Beyond the Bundle blog):
beyondthebundle.com/2026-01-01/2...
beyondthebundle.com/2026-01-01/2...
2025: The Bundle year in review – Beyond the Bundle
beyondthebundle.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:52 PM
2025: The Bundle of Holding year in review (Beyond the Bundle blog):
beyondthebundle.com/2026-01-01/2...
beyondthebundle.com/2026-01-01/2...
#Classical ringtones - phone tunes arranged in convincing pastiches of Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, & Ravel by Josep Castanyer Alonso:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnmB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnmB...
6 Famous Ringtones, but in the Style of 6 Classical Composers 📞
YouTube video by Josep Castanyer Alonso
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
#Classical ringtones - phone tunes arranged in convincing pastiches of Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, & Ravel by Josep Castanyer Alonso:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnmB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnmB...
I like hearing music on Christmas Day so I can see the little Santa hat on the VLC Media Player icon.
December 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I like hearing music on Christmas Day so I can see the little Santa hat on the VLC Media Player icon.
Ravel's Bolero performed on nine homemade 8-bit chiptune instruments (Linus Akesson):
linusakesson.net/music/bolero...
linusakesson.net/music/bolero...
Boléro
linusakesson.net
December 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Ravel's Bolero performed on nine homemade 8-bit chiptune instruments (Linus Akesson):
linusakesson.net/music/bolero...
linusakesson.net/music/bolero...
1. Life is unfair, but you really don't want it to be "fair."
2. You can get pretty far in life just by showing up.
3. A lot of success just takes time.
4. Some big advantages come from negative personality traits.
5. You don't know what you want until you get it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iL...
2. You can get pretty far in life just by showing up.
3. A lot of success just takes time.
4. Some big advantages come from negative personality traits.
5. You don't know what you want until you get it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iL...
5 Harsh Truths About Success from an Only Moderately Successful Person
YouTube video by JasonKPargin
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
1. Life is unfair, but you really don't want it to be "fair."
2. You can get pretty far in life just by showing up.
3. A lot of success just takes time.
4. Some big advantages come from negative personality traits.
5. You don't know what you want until you get it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iL...
2. You can get pretty far in life just by showing up.
3. A lot of success just takes time.
4. Some big advantages come from negative personality traits.
5. You don't know what you want until you get it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iL...
9,175 game industry layoffs in 2025 (so far!) (GamesIndustry): www.gamesindustry.biz/games-indust...
Games industry layoff figures were down slightly in 2025 – but it was still horrendous | Year in Review
Although layoffs were down by around a third, studios in the US and Western Europe may have been hit by the trend for jobs moving to emerging markets
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
9,175 game industry layoffs in 2025 (so far!) (GamesIndustry): www.gamesindustry.biz/games-indust...
Reposted by Allen Varney
live long and prosper (if you have a billion dollars)
live long and prosper (if you have a billion dollars)
YouTube video by Angela Collier
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 11:17 PM
live long and prosper (if you have a billion dollars)
Works that will enter public domain in 2026 (Wiki):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in...
2026 in public domain - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 1, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Works that will enter public domain in 2026 (Wiki):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in...
Alan Moore profile (Metropolitan Review, 26 Nov 2025 - 11,500 words):
www.metropolitanreview.org/p/giant-of-t...
www.metropolitanreview.org/p/giant-of-t...
Giant of the Attic
On the Majesty of Alan Moore
www.metropolitanreview.org
November 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Alan Moore profile (Metropolitan Review, 26 Nov 2025 - 11,500 words):
www.metropolitanreview.org/p/giant-of-t...
www.metropolitanreview.org/p/giant-of-t...
Paraphrases (1887): Set of 40 variations on "Chopsticks" by four Russian composers for piano four hands, where a virtuoso is playing alongside a small child. Compositions by Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liadov, & Cui, plus a prelude by Franz Liszt (!):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x--...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x--...
Paraphrases: 24 variations and 16 small pieces on a simple theme ("Tati- Tati" or "Chopsticks")
YouTube video by Julia Bielajewa
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Paraphrases (1887): Set of 40 variations on "Chopsticks" by four Russian composers for piano four hands, where a virtuoso is playing alongside a small child. Compositions by Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liadov, & Cui, plus a prelude by Franz Liszt (!):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x--...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x--...
Coping with burnout by learning ancient Sumerian (Mind the Nerd) - attn @jessnevins.bsky.social :
mindthenerd.com/why-im-learn...
mindthenerd.com/why-im-learn...
Why I’m Learning Sumerian, and What It Taught Me About Hard Work, Burnout, and the Joy of Doing Useless Things
After burning out on a massive project, I started learning Sumerian, a language no one’s spoken in 4,000 years. What began as a useless obsession turned into a lesson on meaning, burnout, and the quie...
mindthenerd.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Coping with burnout by learning ancient Sumerian (Mind the Nerd) - attn @jessnevins.bsky.social :
mindthenerd.com/why-im-learn...
mindthenerd.com/why-im-learn...