I love an interesting magic system in fantasy fiction, and Arcana Academy by Elise Kova has one that I haven’t seen before: Kind of like Magic meets tarot, talented arcanists can “ink” cards and use those cards for an escalating series of abilities, depending on the card number. There are a few parts of this … Read more
I love Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, Revisionist History, but until recently I had completely skipped the latest season. It’s called “The Alabama Murders”, presenting itself as some sort of gritty true crime. Brilliant from a marketing perspective, but just not for me. But then I learned what the season is really about, and I listened to … Read more
After watching Death by Lightning, we’re now hooked on another historical drama, this time one only based loosely on real events. Ponies is an 8-episode show on Peacock staring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson playing “persons of no interest” working for the CIA in Societ-era Russia after their husbands–both CIA agents–are mysteriously killed near … Read more
For the first time in at least 25 years, I went to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant this weekend, right here in St. Louis! If you’ve ever played the game Sushi Go (or Sushi Roll), it’s emulating the Japanese kaiten-zushi experience: While you sit in the restaurant, plates of sushi move past you on a … Read more
Death by Lightning, the 4-part limited dramatization about James Garfield, left me riveted and wanting more (about other historical figures). It was enlighting, surprising, funny, and incredibly well acted. The show tells the story of Garfield’s short-lived stint as president, though it isn’t just about Garfield. It also follows his killer, his wife, and several … Read more
Adolescense isn’t what I expected, but it will leave a mark on my mind for a long time. I thought Adolescense was going to be a whodunit show where suspicion of a crime is cast on a kid, and you’re trying to figure out if he did it (or who might have done it). Rather, … Read more
I’m writing this on January 12, 2026. This is 45 years to the day that my parents adopted me as an infact. My reflections on my adoption day have changed over the years, though they’re always marked with gratitude. I’m truly grateful to my biological mother for making such a selfless choice based on her … Read more
12 years ago, I started working full time for the game publisher I cofounded, Stonemaier Games. As was the case before then–but especially after then–I play a lot of published games, both because I love tabletop games and because I have so much to learn from my peers. As I do every year, today I … Read more
I read a total of 27 books in 2025, and today I’m going to share my top 10 favorites. In my opinion, every single one of these books is excellent, and I recommend all of them. I’ll mark them as standalone books, books in a series, or novellas, depending on what you’re currently looking for. … Read more
I watched around 65 new-to-me movies in 2025, some at home and some in the theater. Here are a few of my favorites, plus a superlative for each: The Fantastic Four: First Steps: For me, this is hands-down my favorite movie of the year, as it’s so full of hope and joy. (see original article) … Read more