Topic: Steam

NPR's "Hidden Levels" series explores the $190 billion video game industry, tracing the joystick's origins to early 20th-century aviation. The coverage draws criticism for focusing on "woke" representation and gender identity exploration in games like The Sims. The segment also notes Valve's Steam Deck as a significant Linux-based shift in the console market.

Speculation has emerged regarding whether the Butler shooting was an FBI-style "entrapment" operation that went wrong. Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly posted a message on the gaming platform Steam stating "July 13th will be my premiere," and was found with explosive devices in his car. Local law enforcement and the Secret Service continue to trade blame over who was responsible for securing the building located 148 yards from the podium.

A new controversy dubbed "Gamergate 2" has emerged involving Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm that promotes DEI and "woke" content in video games. The hosts discuss the backlash on the Steam platform and the firm's attempts to deplatform critics, linking the cultural conflict to broader political divisions.

Sir Ready Killer (Robilizer) donates $333.33 for the upkeep of No Agenda Social and requests "Drone Karma." He asks for a "number station" style sign-off for his donation, which the hosts provide. The segment also touches on the "STEAM is greater than STEM" philosophy and includes a birthday wish for his family members.

Multiple organizations are facing internal and external pressure to issue statements supporting Black Lives Matter, including Valve's gaming platform Steam and the Los Angeles Times. Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy issued an apology after being photographed in a One America News T-shirt, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged teams to sign Colin Kaepernick. Critics argue these corporate responses are often insincere attempts to avoid being targeted by activists.

Historical documentaries reveal that the Nazi V1 rocket attacks on London primarily occurred after D-Day. The V1 utilized a ramjet engine that required high speeds to activate, necessitating a specialized steam-powered launching device. These "steam bombs" propelled the rockets off their platforms with enough force to engage the engines for their flight across the English Channel.

Kim Lewis Smith is knighted as "Dame Money Penny of the Frequently Annoyed" after contributing over $1,000. The ceremony includes a "Squirrel Mail" search for her original notes and a custom jingle featuring a goat scream. Her request for "barbecued oysters and Anchor Steam" at the virtual round table is honored.

A historical review of electric vehicles from the early 1900s notes that battery technology has seen few fundamental breakthroughs in a century. The segment also explores the potential of steam-powered cars and Tesla turbines as alternatives to internal combustion.

The Union Pacific locomotive 844, a historic steam engine built in 1944, recently visited Oakland and Stockton. The massive 454-ton machine is noted for its 80-inch drive wheels and continuous service history. The segment transitions into a trivia discussion about the standard US railroad gauge of four feet, eight and a half inches, tracing its origins back to Roman chariot ruts.

A brand-new steam locomotive named "Tornado" has been built in England and is set to carry passengers from York to Newcastle. The project represents a historic return to steam power for commercial rail service. The hosts discuss the geography of Northern England and the novelty of the vintage-style travel experience.

A historic Southern Pacific steam train featuring antique passenger cars was sighted traveling through Northern California. These vintage locomotives occasionally tour the country for public rides, though local residents often receive little advance notice of their arrival beyond the sound of distinctive steam whistles.