I played a lot of games (hundreds?) for the first time in 2017, and I greatly enjoyed learning something from each and every one of them. I love looking for interesting mechanisms in games (even in games I’m not compelled to play again), and I talk about those mechanisms on my YouTube channel. Unless otherwise noted, … Read more
Of the 42 movies I watched this year, 8 of them received a 4.5 or a 5 rating (out of 5). More than ever before, I seem to watch popcorn flicks on the big screen and more intimate movies on DVD/Netflix, and this list seems indicative of that trend. Here are my top 8 movies … Read more
I read every night before I fall asleep for about 30 minutes (it depends on how tired I am). As a result, this year I read 17 books, and none of them were misses. In fact, almost every book on my list has at least a 4.5 on my 5-point scale. Maybe I need a … Read more
As the years pass, I’ve noticed that I listen to music less and less. I work in silence, and when I have the opportunity for noise, I’m either listening to podcasts or YouTube videos. So this year’s list is all over the place. A few of these songs are from bands I love, like The … Read more
From 2004 to 2013, I hosted an annual Festivus party at my home in December. It started as a relatively small gathering of friends and acquaintances, and it grew to a massive affair where my condo was bursting at the seams with people. Good times. Festivus, if you haven’t heard of it, is a made-up … Read more
I get a bit peckish every day around 11:00 and 3:00. For years, I’ve addressed this by eating a few pieces of candy at those times. But recently I’ve started trying a new variation on this method: I mixed together some nuts, M&Ms, and Reeses Pieces into a homebrew trail mix. It’s delicious–I scoop out … Read more
For a few years, I’ve heard talk show hosts promoting a website called Omaze. It’s a website where anyone can donate to a specific item linked to a specific charity, and the amount you donate determines the number of entries you get in a virtual lottery for a special item or experience. I’ve always thought … Read more
This discussion involves spoilers from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Over the last year, I’ve avoided all marketing content for Episode VIII. No teasers, no trailers…I wouldn’t even look at the poster. I truly didn’t want to see anything about the movie in advance. After watching it on Friday, it looks like I made the … Read more
After today, I have a newfound respect and awe for anyone who has to give themselves a shot or take any kind of blood sample from their own body. You might recall that last week I purchased an Everlywell home cholesterol kit. It’s a lab test you can give yourself at home. I heard about the … Read more
My entire condo is basically a playground for my cats. They control most spaces, and they allow me to use the remaining spaces as long as I continue to provide them with food and water. Case in point: Biddy is currently sleeping on my desk chair, and Walter is standing by the food dispenser while … Read more