Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 02-25-26

It is time for more daily links in the second edition of the Pook-Emu Bee.

Links from around the web

Shiroi Printer – Visual Novel Review (Nicholas A. Ferrell at The New Leaf Journal. February 25, 2026.)

I have now published more visual novel reviews in 2026 than I did in all of 2025. Things are looking up. This one takes just 10-15 minutes to read and is available to play for free in your favorite web browser, so it is a very “accessable” visual novel to try if my review piques your interest.

DOJ Board Adds New Mechanism to Deter Marriage Fraud (Andrew R. Aruthor for Center for Immigration Studies. February 25, 2026.)

A very good article on the recent Board of Immigrations precedential decision in Matter of Jin , 29 I&N Dec. 441 (BIA 2026), which I covered last week on NLJ. The views expressed are agreeable to me. It also discusses an interesting note in Matter of Jin about how USCIS apparently cut down on the number of marriage petition interviews from Jan 2021 to Jan 2025 (not smart).

Mobile game developer denies gen AI use after AI tool watermark shows up on official promo artwork (Amber V for Automation West. February 25, 2026.)

I for one am shocked that producers of trash free to play, pay to win mobile games are getting caught with their hand in the AI cookie jar. But that aside, they are still doing Code Geass stuff? I know they have done some spin-off shows and a movie which I understand does a good job of undermining the end of the anime, but the first season is going on 20 now. I like Code Geass for what it is (see my discussion in Newsletter Leaf Journal 102) but this is some longevity.

Parents opt kids out of school computers, insisting on pen and paper instead (Tyler Kingkade for NBC News. February 16, 2026.)

Parents are typically asked to sign paperwork at enrollment granting consent for the schools to give their kids laptops. Nicki Petrossi said when she initially refused to sign it in 2024, the school district in Fullerton, California, told her that she was legally barred from doing so. According to a letter the district provided her, reviewed by NBC News, administrators argued state rules require children to use computers if that’s how the school is teaching a curriculum.

The people at the school district do not seem to understand the purpose of a consent form, so I can see why they may feel like they need to outsource their cognitive functioning to Apple, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

CK Hutchison says Panama Canal port workers removed after court-ordered takeover (Reuters. February 23, 2026.) & Panama Takes Control of Key Canal Ports After Court Nullifies China-Linked Contracts (Christian K. Caruzo for Breitbart. February 24, 2026.)

I know the Chinese Communist Party thinks that being unceremoniously thrown out of Panama is unfair, but think about how much more time they will have to focus on the South China See.

This day in NLJ history

“Mondrian” – Victor V. Gurbo on his Original Song (Victor V. Gurbo for The New Leaf Journal. February 25, 2021.)

Victor wrote about his original song, Mondrian, five years to the day (link to the recording included). As readers will learn, Mondrian was not the main interest for the song (but he was for the artwork).