The Power Up Notes – December 2025

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Welcome back to the final Power Up Notes of 2025! It has been a massive year for Linux, and we are closing out December with some record-breaking news and updates that show how far the platform has come. In today’s episode, we explore the latest Steam hardware survey results, a major new Long Term Support kernel, and the tools I use to put these videos together.

In this episode:

  • Game Notes: Linux usage on Steam hits a record 3.2%. We discuss why I stick with open-source NVIDIA drivers for my dual-monitor setup despite recent “driver chaos” on other distros.
  • Kernel Notes: A deep dive into Linux Kernel 6.18 (LTS) and what the Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” beta means for your system’s stability.
  • Editorial: Why independent, family-friendly content matters and how you can support the channel.
  • Spotlight: A look at Lightworks on Linux Mint. I share how I use the free version for an efficient dual-screen workflow—editing on one side while researching on the other during processing.

News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Support the Journey: If you enjoy this family-friendly look at tech and gaming, consider supporting me. Your support helps me keep this research independent and accessible for viewers of all ages.

Locked Out: Why I’m Done with the Golden Arches

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I have spent years stopping by the golden arches for a quick meal between shifts, but lately, something has felt off. After some reflection, I have decided to officially move on from McDonald’s, and it is honestly a bigger relief than I expected.

The breaking point happened on Christmas Day. I checked the official app and Google Maps, both of which confirmed the location was open 24/7 for walk-in customers. However, after making the effort to get there, I was met with locked doors and a sign stating it was drive-through only. As someone who doesn’t drive, I was left standing in the cold with no way to get service despite the glowing Open signs.

What made the situation even harder to swallow was the weather. It was freezing outside, and a big part of the plan was to step inside for a few minutes to warm up before the walk back home. Standing there in the cold on Christmas, staring at a Drive-Thru Only sign while the app insisted the lobby was open, felt like a slap in the face. When a billion-dollar company can’t keep its own digital hours accurate, it shows a lack of respect for a customer’s time and effort. It is one thing to have a technical glitch; it is another to leave a customer out in the elements because your business model only accounts for people in heated cars.

The kicker? I’m walking away from nearly 3,000 McDonald’s points, but honestly, it’s a small price to pay for my peace of mind. When I look at the competition, the choice is easy. Starbucks actually serves hot chocolate that tastes like chocolate, not watery sugar. Tim Hortons and Subway offer fresher, more diverse food options that don’t leave me feeling sluggish. To top it off, the rewards system at Tim’s actually feels like it respects my wallet—I earn freebies way faster there than I ever did at McDonald’s.

Missing out on that meal ended up being a blessing in disguise. Instead of settling for fast food, I had a proper brunch yesterday: two egg, ham, and spread cheese sandwiches, a hot glass of apple cider to shake off the chill, and some vanilla-flavoured almond milk. Not only did it taste better, but using eggs with Omega 3 is a win for my heart health, too.

It isn’t just about a missed meal; it is about the principle of the matter. This experience reminded me that my time and my patronage are better spent elsewhere—somewhere that actually values accessibility for everyone, not just those behind a steering wheel. From now on, I will be taking my business to places that keep their doors open and their digital promises honest.

No More Lotto Tickets for Me

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I have decided to officially retire from the lottery. After a long streak of what can only be described as impressively bad luck, I am hanging up my tickets for good. From now on, I will be investing that six to ten dollars into things with a guaranteed return, even if that just means a cup of hot chocolate to get me through my next temp assignment.

Keep Swagnilla Ice Online – Your Support Matters

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To keep the Swagnilla Ice website operating in its current form, I need the support of my community. While the financial reality of the annual hosting fee—228 USD (approximately 314 CAD)—is substantial, the motivation to continue comes from seeing a clear commitment from you.

The tangible goal is to secure the equivalent of five annual Knight memberships (50 CAD annually each) before June 15, 2026. Reaching this 250 CAD milestone proves that the community values the website, giving me the vital motivation needed to bridge the remaining financial gap and keep the site running for another year.

If this essential support is not secured, the website will unfortunately have to shut down and be replaced by a basic Ko-fi page (as well as other 3rd party services for hosting files). This change is not just a platform switch; it represents a significant loss for our community:

  • Loss of Data Control: Member data ownership would be transferred to the new platform, removing the direct control and privacy currently maintained on the blog. Files would be hosted on a third party, where they could be removed without my consent.
  • The Archive Disappears: All existing articles, quotes, and community history currently housed on the blog will be lost.
  • No Central Hub: The blog is the central location where you can find all my content, including videos from Creative Engineering and The Power Up Notes. Without it, you would have to hunt for content separately on YouTube and Rumble.

If you love the exclusive access and Discord perks of the Knight tier, your support now directly ensures the preservation of the Swagnilla Ice blog, archive, and independence.

If no one chooses to step up in this time of need, the history of this site will be lost forever as well as my full independence to create the content that you enjoy whether it be thought-provoking articles, fun gaming videos, or quotes from the past that are still relevant today. Please consider becoming a Knight member today to help us meet our goal and save the Swagnilla Ice website.

Creative Engineering E52: One Year of Creative Engineering World Tour

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It’s been one year of Creative Engineering on YouTube! Before taking a two-week hiatus for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, Swag gives an extensive tour of his Minecraft world. See all the progress and changes the gaming series has made to the flat world, and get a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026!

A New Milestone to Reach for Paid Members

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My loyal subjects,

I am excited to announce a new milestone for the kingdom! I’ve established a new goal tied to our paid membership count that, once unlocked, will benefit all members—as long as we maintain the minimum number.

If we reach 25 paid members who remain citizens of the kingdom for at least a month, I will set up a dedicated, peaceful role-play Minecraft server for all Knight and Duke members and staff to enjoy alongside me! This will come complete with a custom modpack specifically designed for this server.

Why have I set this specific milestone of twenty-five paid members? A server, especially one designed to host at least twenty-six people (members plus staff), is not cheap to run. Achieving this level of dedicated support will guarantee that the server does not drain my pocketbooks and ensures it can be consistently run, maintained, and upgraded in the future as required.

When I say peaceful role-play, I mean server members will not have to contend with hostile mobs. Your membership tier will also help determine your role within the kingdom, but rest assured, everyone will have equal opportunities and a great experience. Critically, there will be no pay-to-win features, and we will not use loot boxes. Instead, we’ll use Lootr chests instead of the standard Minecraft chests in generated structures, ensuring everyone who discovers them gets their own unique, guaranteed loot. The complete server rules will be clearly set and posted in a new, dedicated Discord channel so everyone knows exactly what is expected.

This milestone represents the future of Swagnilla Ice and is completely within our grasp! Every single paid membership is a vital step toward bringing this custom Minecraft server to life. If you are currently a Peasant member, consider upgrading to the Knight tier for only $5 a month, or the Duke tier if you want access to the private beta testing channel. Let’s work together to gain those first 25 members and unlock this exciting new world for the kingdom!

Your king,
Swagnilla Ice (Nathan Pinno)

Creative Engineering E51: The Best Enchanting Table Found in a Greek Temple

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In this episode of Creative Engineering, Swag builds a magnificent library in the style of a classic Greek Temple! Inside this beautiful structure, he installs the powerful Advanced Enchanting Infuser, surrounds it with the perfect number of bookshelves for max enchanting power, and includes plenty of chiselled bookshelves for storing enchanted books that he’ll fish up in a future episode.

Don’t forget to submit your questions for the Q&A segment where we’ll be celebrating one year of Creative Engineering together! Post your question in the YouTube comments, use the contact form, or submit it in a blog comment (Swagnilla Ice membership required – no payment needed for a Peasant membership). All submissions must be received by Friday, December 12th at 3 pm MST.