feat: reorganize content directories
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src/content/books/2016-08-29-the-way-of-kings.md
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src/content/books/2016-08-29-the-way-of-kings.md
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---
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title: The Way of Kings
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author: Brandon Sanderson
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isbn: 9780765326355
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-way-of-kings.jpeg
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isFavourite: true
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tags:
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- fantasy
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- fiction
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year: 2010
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---
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This book finally made me realize what I love so much about fantasy books: the world building. The Way of Kings is no slouch in that department. The story plods along in the beginning (although not too slowly), meanwhile you learn the history of the planet Roshar and its denizens. There's the various kingdoms and cultures (which are detailed), the magic systems (yes, there's more than one!), the mythical Shardblades (and Shardplate)... so much of the world is laid out and it really draws you in. The book seems to be compared to Wheel of Time and I can see it - but it's definitely separated itself enough from its influences to really stand on its own. I'm happy to hear there's only going to be five books in the series, so hopefully Sanderson will get to finish this series.
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-dip.md
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-dip.md
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title: The Dip
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subtitle: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit
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author: Seth Godin
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isbn: 9781591841661
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rating: 4
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-dip.jpeg
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tags:
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- self-help
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- non-fiction
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year: 2007
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---
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Short book that enforced some positive ideas for me. Don't panic and quit too early if progress is not immediately visible. Incremental progress is still progress -- which is good! Keep at it as long as there is some forward momentum.
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-subtle-art.md
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-subtle-art.md
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title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
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subtitle: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
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author: Mark Manson
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isbn: 9780062457714
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/subtle-art.jpeg
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tags:
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- self-help
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- non-fiction
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year: 2016
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---
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A book I am always first to recommend to people. It was a real life-changer for me and changed my core values. Actually, I didn't even know what "core values" were before this book! It helped identify what is important to me and what I consider to be my core values.
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-total-money-makeover.md
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-the-total-money-makeover.md
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title: The Total Money Makeover
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subtitle: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
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author: Dave Ramsey
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isbn: 9780785289081
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rating: 2
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/total-money-makeover.webp
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- finance
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year: 2003
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---
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Sensible ideas, but the focus was on those who are in debt. Not a lot of useful strategies (except near the end) for those who have already managed to get themselves out of debt.
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-why-we-get-fat.md
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src/content/books/2019-05-25-why-we-get-fat.md
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title: Why We Get Fat
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subtitle: And What To Do About It
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author: Gary Taubes
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isbn: 9780307272706
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rating: 3
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/why-we-get-fat.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- diet
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year: 2010
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---
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Made me consider trying a keto diet before talking to friends and colleagues who had done the same and every single one had advised against it. Good ideas on paper but I think the diet that is ultimately recommended is unsustainable, which seems to go against the book's message in regards to diets -- find something that can be maintained.
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Diet aside, there is lots of educational content here. Enjoyed for that reason primarily.
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src/content/books/2019-05-31-digital-minimalism.md
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src/content/books/2019-05-31-digital-minimalism.md
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---
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title: Digital Minimalism
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subtitle: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
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author: Cal Newport
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isbn: 9780525536512
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rating: 2
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/digital-minimalism.jpg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- technology
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- white-guy-productivity
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year: 2019
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---
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I enjoyed the latter chapters focusing on finding "high quality leisure time". I try to find activities that are creative in the sense that after some time I will have created something.
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src/content/books/2019-08-06-dare-to-lead.md
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src/content/books/2019-08-06-dare-to-lead.md
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---
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title: Dare to Lead
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author: Brené Brown
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isbn: 9781473562523
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/dare-to-lead.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- leadership
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- business
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year: 2018
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---
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Really great read. Highlights the importance of empathy and how to develop that skill -- essential not only for leaders but for everyone.
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src/content/books/2019-09-04-effective-engineer.md
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src/content/books/2019-09-04-effective-engineer.md
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---
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title: The Effective Engineer
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subtitle: How to Leverage Your Efforts In Software Engineering to Make a Disproportionate and Meaningful Impact
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author: Edmond Lau
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isbn: 9780996128100
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rating: 4
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-effective-engineer.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- leadership
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- technology
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- software-development
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year: 2015
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---
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Lots of applicable advice here for anyone working in software engineering. I was excited to apply this to my own workplace, but didn't realize it's harder to apply in agency work than in other fields (and when you are not a lead). Still, we managed to recognize areas where we need improvement.
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src/content/books/2019-09-07-atomic-habits.md
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src/content/books/2019-09-07-atomic-habits.md
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---
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title: Atomic Habits
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subtitle: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
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author: James Clear
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isbn: 9780735211292
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rating: 3
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/atomic-habits.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- psychology
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year: 2018
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---
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Great insight into how habits work and how they start. Ideas into how to break undesirable habits and begin good ones. The latter chapter about making it easy resonated with me. It never occurred to me why trying to start a habit with a difficult task leads to quitting fast. Start simple, aim low, build high.
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src/content/books/2019-10-21-ego-is-the-enemy.md
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src/content/books/2019-10-21-ego-is-the-enemy.md
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---
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title: Ego Is The Enemy
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author: Ryan Holiday
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isbn: 9781591847816
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rating: 3
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/ego-is-the-enemy.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- stoicism
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year: 2016
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---
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Confirmed that I'm not the only one guilty of over-planning and under-working. The real results come from work and not planning. Focus less on preparation and dive in. Do the work. Failure is part of the process, but what is most important is how one responds to it.
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Plenty of fun historical anecdotes -- kinda wish the book was mostly that. The message was clear, if a bit sanctimonious.
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src/content/books/2019-10-22-meditations.md
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src/content/books/2019-10-22-meditations.md
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---
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title: Meditations
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author: Marcus Aurelius
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isbn: 9780140449334
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rating: 2
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/meditations.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- stoicism
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year: 180
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---
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Despite the accolades this book gets from self-help authors, I found it fairly dry and hard to read at times. There are great nuggets of advice buried in between meandering, lengthy passages. Thoughts are repeated often, but I can sympathize here. It's difficult to ingrain a certain way of thinking at first blush, but hammering into one's thick skull can work sometimes.
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The footnotes are a helpful addition -- even translated into modern English it can be hard to tell what Marcus is _really_ saying.
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I plan to revisit the book another time in my life, but as of now I haven't gleaned much after reading so many books that base their ideas on the writings here.
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src/content/books/2019-12-04-deep-work.md
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src/content/books/2019-12-04-deep-work.md
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---
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title: Deep Work
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subtitle: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
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author: Cal Newport
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isbn: 9781455586691
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rating: 2
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/deep-work.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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- white-guy-productivity
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year: 2016
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---
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I don't think the book needed to be as long as it is. There is good advice to be found, but it drags on and on feeling like a "deep work" session in of itself. I was often waiting for it to "get to the good part" in each chapter.
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I also think this book is tailored toward someone who can afford to do these "deep work" sessions, but not everyone has that luxury. Seriously, expecting everyone to have the ability to lock yourself away all day without distractions? That's a tad unrealistic for most people.
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The book did help identify areas where I often engage in shallow work, and I like the idea of bundling that work together in one large go to work through it quickly.
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src/content/books/2019-12-04-why-we-sleep.md
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src/content/books/2019-12-04-why-we-sleep.md
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---
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title: Why We Sleep
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subtitle: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
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author: Matthew Walker
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isbn: 9781501144318
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/why-we-sleep.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- sleep
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- science
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year: 2017
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---
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Fell asleep many times reading this, which I believe was part of the author's intent. Incredibly informative in regards to all things sleep. Helpful appendix to summarize the book's contents, and a useful crib sheet to give to others not willing to read the entire book. I feel empowered with new knowledge about sleep and additional reasons to ensure that I sleep more.
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src/content/books/2020-06-01-astrophyics-for-people.md
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src/content/books/2020-06-01-astrophyics-for-people.md
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---
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title: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
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author: Neil deGrasse Tyson
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isbn: 9780393609394
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rating: 2
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/astro-in-hurry.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- science
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year: 2017
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---
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I found it hard to follow at times. It felt like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a beginners or an advanced book. I have more than a passing fancy when it comes to astrophysics, but sometimes the pure information-dump was just too much. There was a lot of process, and some of it I just plain didn't get. I would still push Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time as a primer into the world of astrophysics (and everything in-between). Still, I feel like it serves as a catalyst for more learning.
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src/content/books/2020-07-01-the-hate-u-give.md
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src/content/books/2020-07-01-the-hate-u-give.md
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---
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title: The Hate U Give
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author: Angie Thomas
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isbn: 9780062498533
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-hate-u-give.jpg
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isFavourite: true
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tags:
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- fiction
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- racism
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year: 2017
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---
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A gripping tale. Especially chilling given the current events happening at the time surrounding George Floyd when I read the book. I could not put this book down and read it at virtually any opportunity. It challenged every previously held belief I had about race and the struggles that black people face every day.
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I've recommended this book to everyone and will continue to do so. I think it's a book that everyone should read, especially white people.
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src/content/books/2020-08-01-the-skin-were-in.md
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src/content/books/2020-08-01-the-skin-were-in.md
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---
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title: The Skin We're In
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subtitle: A Year of Black Resistance and Power
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author: Desmond Cole
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isbn: 9780385686341
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-skin-were-in.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- racism
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- canada
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- politics
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year: 2020
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---
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A pretty damning read on how far Canada has to go on dealing with systemic racism. Like many Canadians, I knew things were bad, but this spelt out how truly bad it is. If the situation in the US was not reason enough to convince me that we need to defund the police, then this is it. While the book was not setting out to necessarily claim this message, that was my own conclusion. The police seemed to be a recurring undercurrent to the issues POC face today.
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Two snippets that really struck me:
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[Ryan Reid fatally shooting Jermaine Carby](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jermaine-carby-inquest-peel-regional-police-1.3581519)
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> Peel Regional Police officer Ryan Reid was never charged for fatally shooting Jermaine Carby, \[...] during a traffic stop in September 2014. \[Reid] wouldn’t have done anything differently — he said with Carby’s mother and family members in the hearing room.
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[Officer Louie Cerqua on shooting and killing Michael Eligon](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-officer-who-shot-michael-eligon-feared-for-his-life-1.2448192)
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> With the high stress situation like that, you’re going to resort to your firearm, it’s the only real option you have.
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src/content/books/2020-09-02-the-big-leap.md
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src/content/books/2020-09-02-the-big-leap.md
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---
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title: The Big Leap
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subtitle: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level
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author: Gay Hendricks
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isbn: 9780061735363
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rating: 3
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-big-leap.jpg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- self-help
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year: 2009
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---
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These days I would style myself as a recovering addict when it comes to self-help books. There never is (and never was) a single trick to turn my life around. I’m increasingly wary of the entire industry, as I’m now certain that not everyone is looking to help people out. I think these kinds of books can be helpful as a springboard, but a lot seem to parrot the same advice, only phrased differently using the author’s writing style. This book largely seems to follow that trend. I’m frankly tired of hearing about how the author overcame adversity when the adversity is so disconnected with what your average person faces. The amount of famous people (read: white billionaires) he’s helped is numerous and wants to remind us quite often. I don’t care. The author loves to use chirpy terms like “Zone of Genius” non-ironically, and it’s very grating. These hokey-sounding terms cause me to view their ideas with increased skepticism.
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Tone aside though, I think there are nuggets of truth buried inside. The “Upper Limit Problem”, or the idea that we self-sabotage when feeling good, rings true for me. I think the notion that we deliberately get ourselves sick is ridiculous (the author recounts a situation where a patient deliberately gave himself laryngitis), but I do notice that I have a tendency to start criticizing myself, or being antagonistic once things get good in my life. It can be helpful to be aware and acknowledge when this happens.
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While the term “Zone of Genius” makes me roll my eyes, I think the concept is solid. The Zone of Genius is described as something in life that always brings you joy, even if it’s considered work (i.e. your job). You’ll always feel energized and ready to tackle problems in this space. It supercharges your brain and gets you motivated.
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---
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title: Jonny Appleseed
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author: Joshua Whitehead
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isbn: 9781551527253
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rating: 4
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/jonny-appleseed.jpeg
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tags:
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- fiction
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- emotional
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- lqbtq
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year: 2018
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---
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Absolutely raw and gripping. Very often uncomfortable.
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---
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title: Understanding Comics
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subtitle: The Invisible Art
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author: Scott McCloud
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isbn: 9780060976255
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rating: 5
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/understanding-comics.jpg
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tags: ["comics", "art", "history"]
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isFavourite: true
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year: 1993
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---
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I debated if this should end up in a different catalogue, but it deserves to be in both, if anything.
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If you wondered just how deep the rabbit hole goes when it comes to all things comics, Scott McCloud is here to tell you it goes _deep_. Anyone who may doubt the medium of the comic -- I challenge you to come out without a new perspective reading this. I know I did. I appreciate them so much more now.
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To call it "a book about comics" feels like a disservice. There is so much more going on here about history and the human mind.
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I think everyone needs to read this book at some point in their lives.
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---
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title: Dissenter on the Bench
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subtitle: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Life & Work
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author: Victoria Ortiz
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isbn: 978054497364
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rating: 4
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/dissenter-on-the-bench.jpeg
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tags:
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- non-fiction
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- biography
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year: 2019
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---
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I believe this book is meant for young adults (slash teenagers), but as an ancient man myself at the ripe age of 33 I found it very engaging. It's structured in such a way to give context into each of RBG's many important involvements in the law. It will lead with a relevant case that RBG presided (or represented) and then go back in time to explain her history and reason for her eventual involvement. It's educational and fun to read.
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src/content/books/2021-09-17-jim-butcher-peace-talks.md
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---
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title: Peace Talks
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author: Jim Butcher
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image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/jim-butcher-peace-talks.jpeg
|
||||
isbn: 9780393609394
|
||||
rating: 2
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- fiction
|
||||
- fantasy
|
||||
year: 2020
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I feverishly consumed the entire Dresden series in a few years ago. I thought it was so cool to see a blend of fantasy and real life that didn't seem to exist (as far as I knew). The writing sometimes felt chauvinistic (Dresden himself even admits as much) but I would roll my eyes and plod on.
|
||||
|
||||
Having finally had the chance to read the next book I couldn't just roll my eyes anymore. Every single female character is always ridiculously attractive, so much so that Dresden cannot think about anything else other than sex (the Winter Mantle is a convenient albeit absolutely stupid excuse in the novel).
|
||||
|
||||
Every major female character is always lusting (or will lust) for Dresden. These sections read like a piece of fan fiction from a nerdy male teenager's perspective (something I would've written when I was 15). The whole White Court seems to exist just so there's an excuse to always talk about sex (especially heterosexual sex). Even worse is that Dresden (rapidly approaching grandpa years, in a human sense) will ogle and comment (privately at least) on women who are pretty close to (or are) minors.
|
||||
|
||||
Another fault is that characters keep referring to recent events that the reader will likely not remember. It's been several years between books, and us readers need a quick primer on the most recent goings-on in the universe!
|
||||
|
||||
Our resident investigator didn't do much of anything. He aimlessly stumbled around for a while until the plot plopped onto his lap. What happened to our plucky detective who went looking for clues? Who did _anything_?
|
||||
|
||||
Spoiler alert: The book ends on a cliffhanger. Yep, we don't get to learn about why anything happened because it's in the second book. Even though every book previously has been a nice package, we get a big middle finger. Should've waited for the anthology that will eventually combine Peace Talks and Battle Ground.
|
||||
|
||||
All that said, I will likely pick up Battle Ground whenever that comes out in paperback. The series has (some serious) faults, but there is _something_ to enjoy here.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat
|
||||
author: Aubrey Gordon
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/9780807041307_p0_v1_s1200x630.jpg
|
||||
url: https://www.yourfatfriend.com/book
|
||||
isbn: 9780807041307
|
||||
rating: 5
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- non-fiction
|
||||
- diet
|
||||
- anti-fat
|
||||
year: 2020
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
This book in combination with the [Maintenance Phase](http://www.maintenancephase.com) podcast has flipped my mindset when it comes to my relationship with my body. I previously believed that weight was something we all had complete control over and could change with diet and exercise. Anyone who was overweight was not trying hard enough.
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve come to realize that I was incredibly wrong about this.
|
||||
|
||||
I think now I’m fine as I am. I’ll likely never be happy with my body (but I’ll try my best), but I can at least accept that the way I look is… the way I look. It’s who I am. I should not feel ashamed for looking the way I do.
|
||||
|
||||
I don’t want to turn this into a self-flagellation session, but wanted to highlight how I personally felt when reading this book. It brought my lack of understanding when it comes to our bodies and weight. There is a lot of bias built into me from years of being told that “fat = early death”, even though that isn’t (and wasn’t) true. The science behind dieting suggests that most people who lose weight while dieting will eventually regain it. Our bodies want to stay at a set weight, and we cannot control that.
|
||||
|
||||
This book together with the podcast has brought to my attention how far the world has to go when it comes to fat acceptance. We are making incredible strides to accept people regardless of skin-colour, sexual preferences, perceived gender… but there exists anti-fat bias in all their respective circles. I want to be part of the change that says “being fat is not a death sentence.” If I can leave you with one small fact to prove that anti-fat bias exists: how about that in 48 of the 50 US states, it’s legal to deny someone a job because of their weight? Deny them housing, or a seat at a restaurant, or a room in a hotel? All legal.
|
||||
32
src/content/books/2024-02-25-stolen-focus.md
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32
src/content/books/2024-02-25-stolen-focus.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Stolen Focus
|
||||
subtitle: Why You Can't Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again
|
||||
author: Johann Hari
|
||||
isbn: 9781526620224
|
||||
rating: 4
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/stolen-focus.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- non-fiction
|
||||
- adhd
|
||||
- focus
|
||||
- psychology
|
||||
year: 2022
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I found this book mostly interesting and easy to digest. Hari has a writing style that keeps you turning the page.
|
||||
|
||||
I was originally frustrated with the author because Hari kept the focus on their experience on their retreat but did not acknowledge the amount of privilege in being able to do so. I see this sort of advice frequently in the self-help sphere and I’m tired of it. It was distracting from their points regarding our relationship to our technology and the software that powers them.
|
||||
|
||||
I’m relieved that they _eventually_ acknowledged their privilege but it took at least 1/4 of the book. It was worth sticking with it because the rest of the book stops talking about the retreat and focuses more on where their research on focus and attention lead to.
|
||||
|
||||
I thought the "voodoo doll" analogy was especially apt. Facebook, Google, et al are creating what are effectively "voodoo dolls" of everyone who uses their services. As they acquire more data on a person, that "voodoo doll" becomes closer to looking and acting like them. Everything they do is in service of improving that doll - until they know you better than you know yourself!
|
||||
|
||||
The "voodoo doll" analogy ties in nicely to what has become known as "surveillance capitalism", or in other words the widespread collection and harvesting of data by large corporations. I wasn't familiar with the term surveillance capitalism before reading the book - a helpful (and clearly defined) concept that helps others understand what is happening to them.
|
||||
|
||||
There was an interesting discussion on outrageous content - outrageous content being the best way to keep us engaged and locked into our social media - and the constant firehose of outrageous content keeps us engaged and enraged with the content and blind to everything else around us.
|
||||
|
||||
Which lead me to thinking - are far-right politicians aware of this? Intuitively as I type this out - of course they are! But it never occurred to me to stop and think "wait, are they just saying this because it drives engagement?" Of course any sort of vile rhetoric is ripe for the algorithm to highlight and keep people angry. Angry people means more engagement, and more engagement means more advertising dollars.
|
||||
|
||||
Another new term I learned was "cruel optimism" - which was incredibly common to see in the self-help circles about 10 years ago. Hari defines it as presenting an upbeat, simple individual solution to a complicated, deep problem. Said solution is too limited and ignores the deeper causes behind the problem. Inevitably what happens is that whoever tries to implement the solution will fail, and they will blame themselves instead of the larger problem. It reframes the problem as a personal failure rather than a failure of the system - which is what it tends to be with these deeper problems.
|
||||
|
||||
The last chapters on the book featured ADHD and children. I was happy to see that there is a growing trend to look at a child's environment rather than their biology as to why children might have trouble focusing. It's something that can develop as a response to the child's environment. And the importance of a child having "unstructured play", where children get to... be children. Modern parenting suggests you should never leave your children unattended, even though an average adult's favourite childhood memory is when they got to escape their parents and go build forts in the woods, or something to that effect. Nowadays children are never without their parents... go here, do this, follow me... I even catch myself thinking "wait, where is that child's parents?" even though they are more than old enough to be on their own. It's a pernicious concept that affects even non-parents.
|
||||
5
src/content/books/books.11tydata.js
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5
src/content/books/books.11tydata.js
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
|
|||
export default {
|
||||
layout: "layouts/book",
|
||||
permalink: "books/{{ page.fileSlug }}/index.html",
|
||||
tags: "book",
|
||||
};
|
||||
30
src/content/games/2012-02-26-yoshis-island.md
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30
src/content/games/2012-02-26-yoshis-island.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island"
|
||||
platform: Super Nintendo
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/games/yoshis-island-cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- platformer
|
||||
isFavourite: true
|
||||
year: 1995
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island was released on the Super Nintendo in 1995. It was actually a prequel to the original Super Mario World, and tells the story of how the Mario twins (Mario is the last name, yes) came to be. The premise is that a stork carrying the twins is assaulted by Kamek, who is a servant to the mighty (then a child) King Bowser. In the fray, the stork loses both babies, and Kamek ends up with only Luigi. Mario plunges to his doom, only to land (somehow safely) on top of one of the Yoshis on Yoshi's Island. It then befalls onto the Yoshi clan to reunite the brothers and restore the balance, or something along those lines. The stories for these games (read: platformers) were not altogether that creative back in the '90s. Not that it mattered much really.
|
||||
|
||||
What really mattered was that the game was fun. And fun this game certainly was. You can run and jump, and there's powerups just like before. The bigger differences came in the form of eggs, slightly different jumping mechanics and Yoshi himself (herself? itself?). Now you could float in the air a moment and give yourself a slightly higher jump. You could actually float multiple times in a row to overcome large obstacles too. Just like in Super Mario World, Yoshi can use his tongue to eat up enemies and spit them out, but he can also turn them into eggs. You could collect up to eight eggs and fire them at enemies. Back then, there wasn't two D-Pads (let alone two analog sticks), so the aiming was a little weird. The crosshair would move up and down, and it was your timing that guided the egg in the right direction. Nowadays this system is unbelievably clunky, but back then this was crazy. It was a pretty bold move, but leave it to Nintendo to do it right (more or less). My favorite change has to be the removal of the countdown timer. No longer were you restricted to roughly three minutes per level. Now you could romp and roam about as much as you want. This is great not only to experience the game at your own pace, but allows the player to truly explore and enjoy the intricate design that Nintendo incorporated into this game. If Yoshi gets hit, he will lose Baby Mario and will start to float away in a bubble. A countdown timer starts, and if it reaches zero before Yoshi rescues the trapped Baby Mario, he is swept away by Kamek's toadies. You can increase the timer by gathering more Stars (not like Power Stars, more on them in a bit). Essentially, Yoshi's Island took what was good in Super Mario World, and just made it all-around better.
|
||||
|
||||
The game spans over six worlds, which house eight stages each. Two of them are "castle stages" which house a formidable boss inside. All in all, every world is unique and each stage is completely different from the one before. Many of the stages introduce a new mechanic or gimmick that is reused later and built upon. The eggs are initially introduced as simply ammo to attack your enemies with, but later it's revealed that different colored eggs have different properties when loosed upon the baddies. The Chomp Rock is first there simply to obliterate your enemies, but later you learn that it can find secrets for you, and can even be used as a sort of booster stool. The main power-ups in this game come in the form of transformations. Yoshi can transform into a helicopter, a car, a train, a mole, and even a submarine. These power-ups were pretty uncommon, so when you finally saw that bubble with a car in it, you knew you were in for some fun times. These power-ups were only temporary, but allowed for some creative level design.
|
||||
|
||||
The levels themselves were just so inventive for the time. Each level focused on one sort of gimmick or theme and always kept things fresh. The game used several different themes for all the levels, but every one just felt like its own stage. No two felt at all alike. Each level presented a new challenge and new excitement. On each stage are three different collectables. There were Stars, Red Coins and Flowers. The stars are not like the Power Stars from the previous games, and instead increase your countdown timer for rescuing Baby Mario. The Red Coins are hidden amongst the real coins (veteran gamers may notice that Red Coins are just ever so slightly off-color from regular coins). Flowers are usually in plain sight, but are sometimes hidden in "?" clouds, or in a secret location. Sometimes certain events must occur before a Flower appears. Each of these collectables are added up to form a total out of 100 at the end of the stage. They were entirely optional, but clearly Nintendo put a lot of thought into hiding everything. It's basically another game within the game finding them. Collecting all of the Flowers usually meant better chances at getting the Bonus Challenge, which would (sometimes) net you even more rewards. It gave a little incentive to collecting more goodies, basically. Items you got from the Bonus Challenge could be used later, such as giving you more stars, revealing the locations of all the Red Coins, or turning all the enemies into "?" clouds. Sometimes you'd meet up with your buddy Poochy, your lovable dog companion. He'll move you left or right with incredible speed, and can walk over deadly spikes with ease. Careful though, because once he gets going, he doesn't stop.
|
||||
|
||||
Since there was no more countdown timer, this allowed Nintendo to really play with the puzzle aspect in previous games. Yoshi's Island definitely features more puzzle-oriented levels are a result. Nothing too mind-bendingly hard, but nonetheless challenging. A good example is that plenty of levels will eventually fork into multiple paths. Certain doors might be locked, and require you to find the keys.
|
||||
|
||||
The bosses in each world often utilized a mechanic or gimmick that was introduced in stages previously. The first two bosses focus on the egg mechanics, for example. Later bosses start getting more clever. I don't want to spoil all of them, so I'm only going to mention a few. In World 2, you'll be pitted against a ghostly flower pot. Yes, that's right. You'll be competing with two Shy Guys in order to push the flower pot off the edge. Later on you'll be up against a giant Raven, and you'll have to use your ground-pounds to ram things right up his... well, I'll just leave that there. In another battle, you'll be shrunk and swallowed by a frog. That particular battle left such an impression on me. These are just a few of the many bosses you'll face in Yoshi's Island.
|
||||
|
||||
Reflecting now, I fondly remember various stages from years ago. My favorites would have to be the winter/snow worlds. At one point, a blizzard slowly begins as you move right, and before you know it you're firing down a slope with some skis. Yes, Yoshi goes skiiing! So cool. I remember another stage where you have to pump up a balloon in order to float across. I later found out you can actually ruin the balloon if you jump on too early, thus missing all the coins and other goodies. Not to sound lazy, but I really don't want to spoil too many of the levels for anyone who has yet to play this game. They are just so amazing and I'd like everyone to experience them like I did many years ago.
|
||||
|
||||
Finally, I have to talk about the graphics. Back then, the defining feature of many games would be the graphics. Today that's no exception I suppose, but here it was almost paramount to success. Yoshi's Island is no slouch in this department. One of the key reasons I enjoy this game so much is the graphical style they chose for it. Everything looks like it was created by hand, and more importantly, by kids. It was almost like playing the game form of the drawings you would make when you're younger. You know what I mean, the crazy game ideas we had and what we thought was fun... it was almost like seeing your own ideas come to life, right in front of you. It has such a charming and fun atmosphere about it, it's almost impossible not to like. This was radically different than what games were moving towards, which was an emphasis on realism and looking "cool." By all accounts, this style should've been rejected since it was nothing like the style that was "in" with the kids, but I think Nintendo saw the promise of something like this. It really paid off. I especially adore the backgrounds in this game. I often stop and just admire the scenery in this game. For a game that was released nearly 20 years ago, that has to mean something. The attention to detail is astounding.
|
||||
|
||||
The game itself is full of so much detail it's mind-bogging. Everything in the game appears like it was painstakingly designed and created. People say Miyamoto is a genius, and this game is proof of that alone. It's evident by the butterflies in the foreground as you run across the plains, the birds flying in the backgrounds, the bugs that dart around in the swamp, the sauntering animations of the Shy Guys, the dancing and rhythm of the Tribal Shy Guys, the way the frogs bounce and jump in the background in the swamps, Yoshi's idle animations... even Poochy your adorable animal buddy has some nice touches. If you throw him an egg, he'll usually bounce it back gently, and if he manages to get hold of one he'll become distracted and start playing with it. He'll bounce it up and down with his paw and wag his tail with delight. It's such a little addition but it's just so damn charming. Things like these are just littered in the game, and while they serve no practical purpose, they bring you closer into the world of Yoshi's Island. Before games were even looking close to real life, gamers could already feel themselves involved and drawn into a virtual world.
|
||||
|
||||
I'll always remember playing Yoshi's Island fondly. The first experience of this game is something I'll never forget. The impact that this game had on me is insurmountable. If for only that reason alone, this game is rightfully regarded by me as the best game ever. But not only that, this game has such a high level of ingenuity, design, thought, polish and charm to warrant such a decision. I implore you to play this game if you haven't already. A game of this calibre has not been made since, in my opinion. No doubt there have been many great games since, and probably some (if not most) would argue that this game isn't all that great. For me though, this is it. This is the peak of perfection. Nothing is better in terms of gaming than Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
|
||||
11
src/content/games/2015-03-01-majoras-mask-3d.md
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11
src/content/games/2015-03-01-majoras-mask-3d.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Majora's Mask 3D"
|
||||
platform: Nintendo 3DS
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Majoras_Mask_3D_cover.png
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- adventure
|
||||
year: 2015
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
What a wonderful game. I'll say right now if anyone hasn't played this game, you've gotta pick it up right away! One of the most (if not the most) unique Zelda experiences out there. It's worth noting that Nintendo did change things around, most notably some locations of items and the boss fights. This should only bother veterans really (and only the item location part really), but I have to say the boss fights are improved across the board compared to the N64 version. I've heard mentions that the hints in the Bomber's Notebook are too obvious now but I think that's just some oldschool vets (read: stupid fanboys) making a big fuss over nothing. Unless I specifically remembered something from playing it years ago, I feel like it never gave you the whole picture and you had to suss out what to do. Overall it's a fantastic game and a must-buy for any 3DS owner.
|
||||
16
src/content/games/2015-04-18-mario-and-luigi-dream-team.md
Normal file
16
src/content/games/2015-04-18-mario-and-luigi-dream-team.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Mario & Luigi: Dream Team"
|
||||
platform: Nintendo 3DS
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/MarioLuigiDreamTeam.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- rpg
|
||||
- turn-based
|
||||
year: 2013
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Whew what a game that was. I would say the hardest M&L to date. A real full adventure. I clocked in at just under 48 hours total. All told that's a pretty good chunk of time for a portable RPG. The formula remains more or less the same as previous games - very action heavy for an RPG. You have to jump and hammer to defend yourself, while timing your button presses to coordinate with attacks. The twist this time is that you get sucked into the Dream World. The Dream World is affected by Luigi, who will lend you all sorts of cool powers as you progress in the game. This leads to two different types of battles - battles in the normal world, and Dream World battles where it's only Mario (with Luigi supporting).
|
||||
|
||||
The writing is spot on here, there were many genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. I've found that every game so far has really expressive animations and sprites. You'll see what I mean when you play it.
|
||||
|
||||
Any fan of the series or someone looking for a challenging RPG can't go wrong here.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze"
|
||||
platform: Nintendo Wii U
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/DKC5_box_art.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- co-op
|
||||
- platformer
|
||||
- challenging
|
||||
year: 2014
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Another challenging game. DKCTF nails the difficulty perfectly. As mentioned before, every failure feels like it's 100% the fault of the player. The controls are spot on and frankly should be the model for any platformer going forward. There are various control schemes to suit practically any player. My only minor gripe was that the buttons for each scheme were not customizable -- but the default options are fine. Going from the first level to the last is fairly short experience, but in typical DKC fashion the meat of the game comes from replaying levels and grabbing all the collectables. If that's not really your thing then you've still got a solid platformer that should scratch the itch. Visually the game is amazing to look at... I mean just look at this:
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
The soundtrack is all aces as well -- composed by the same guy behind the first games - David Wise. It provides a fitting background - intense enough that it energizes you, but not overbearing that it comes the star of the show.
|
||||
|
||||
Whether your looking for a small chunk of platformer goodness, or the whole nine yards - can't go wrong with Tropical Freeze.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney"
|
||||
platform: Nintendo 3DS
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Laytonvsaceattorneycover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- narrative
|
||||
- puzzle
|
||||
- visual-novel
|
||||
year: 2014
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
What a dream come true. Two of my favorite franchises blended into one game! As the title implies, it's Layton and Wright action! If you're a fan of either game series, this one will have something for you. There are plenty of puzzles to tackle, but also plenty of court moments. It feels like it's got something for fans of either series (or both!). The court sequences feature a hint system like in the Professor Layton games, so if court battles are not your forte, it's alright as long as you hunt for the Hint Coins! The story was great. Once it got going I couldn't put it down. This game really felt like a crossover, and not just "Professor Layton in the AA universe" or vice-versa. Yes, Phoenix will tackle puzzles and yes, Layton will be in the court room. Even the music shared that crossover feel, as themes/tropes from both series can be heard intertwined.
|
||||
|
||||
As of this writing, there is a ton of bonus content to go through, including a series of 12 episodes that take place after the events of the main game. Each episode features a new puzzle to tackle
|
||||
|
||||
Fans of either series will enjoy this game immensely, so check it out! Here's hoping this wasn't a one-off.
|
||||
15
src/content/games/2015-05-15-the-wonderful-101.md
Normal file
15
src/content/games/2015-05-15-the-wonderful-101.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "The Wonderful 101"
|
||||
platform: Nintendo Wii U
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Wonderful_101_box_artwork.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- beat-em-up
|
||||
- platinum
|
||||
year: 2013
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Here's a game that cranks everything to 11... and then 11 more... _every single stage_. A game that attempts to top itself every time and succeeds wonderfully. Just when you think the game has reached the climax, you find out it's still just the rising action. Fans of titles by Platinum will feel right at home here. Expect a truly challenging game that rewards skillful play.
|
||||
|
||||
The line drawing mechanic can be a bit picky at times, and sometimes they got a little heavy-handed on the minigames. It has a large learning curve too. Still, this is a solid experience for any action game lover. I really enjoyed this one and I hope a sequel is in the works. Also, WONDER RED FOR SMASH
|
||||
22
src/content/games/2015-12-02-fallout-4.md
Normal file
22
src/content/games/2015-12-02-fallout-4.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Fallout 4
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Fallout_4_cover_art.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- rpg
|
||||
year: 2015
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I ran into two different gamebreaking bugs while playing the game and ended up reloading a save from hours before. I had to replay quite a bit of the game, but in the end it was worth it. Anyone thinking about picking up the game soon I'd be prepared for some annoying bugs - or better yet wait for a few patches first.
|
||||
|
||||
Story and ending wise I feel like things fell short. It was an ending, I'll give it that, but it didn't resolve things very well. There isn't really an epilogue, usually in the older games you'd find out how the different factions ended up after your actions in the game. It's a nice touch and its omission is sorely missed. It cheapens the ending, and makes it feel incomplete.
|
||||
|
||||
The dialog system has definitely been dumbed down. For one thing your choices aren't fully written out (you select "Help" and your character says "Sure I'll help out"). The option you choose in a dialogue choice might not be what you wanted or how you wanted to phrase your response. It also feels like what you say ultimately has no consequence in the conversation. I reloaded my save a few times to explore different options - beyond the immediate response being different, the conversation carried on normally which felt kinda off. The choices didn't cause any actual branching - which I'm pretty sure they did in previous games. Each choice still lead you to every single option more or less.
|
||||
|
||||
The side content is great and I got lost in taking quest after quest for hours. Gun modding is a welcome addition and hope it stays in - although I would like to be able to assemble a gun from scratch instead of modifying base guns (which there are only a handful of). Invincible companions yes - but I imagine many people are like me and consider companion death a failure state, so it's more of a quality of life thing to me. I believe there are ways to make them hostile toward you, which does allow you to kill them if it happens.
|
||||
|
||||
I guess knowing your companion cannot die trivializes tense encounters somewhat... but at the very least companions can get incapacitated and slump to the ground and be useless until the fight is over. Another annoyance with dialogue - there are no checks save for Charisma now. I'm pretty sure there were some options in older games when you had high Intelligence for example...
|
||||
|
||||
Overall, it's a good game. An average Fallout game. For anyone fresh to the series, I think it makes a decent starting point, although if you liked what's inside you'll likely find more depth in the previous games. Pick it up when it goes on sale.
|
||||
34
src/content/games/2016-03-16-persona-3-portable.md
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34
src/content/games/2016-03-16-persona-3-portable.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Persona 3 Portable"
|
||||
platform: PlayStation Portable
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/p3p.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- rpg
|
||||
- turn-based
|
||||
- persona
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
year: 2009
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
My completion time was somewhere around 72 hours. It's hard to talk about such a story-dense game without spoiling too much - but what I will say about the story is that it's probably one of the best I've ever experienced. The game is likely not for everyone... the playtime alone might turn some people off. I think of it more like a large book - it'll take you a while to get through - but the major plot points keep you engrossed. You get attached to the characters - because of the game length. By the end of the game they are all close friends.
|
||||
|
||||
Games for me don't typically get much of an emotional response out of me... I can probably count the number of times. There were moments of pretty genuine sadness (yeah yeah I teared up), and I even remember getting angry/upset at a particular story development. Any game that can accomplish that I hold in a high regard, and this is one of them.
|
||||
|
||||
Most of the major characters have Social Links - think lite dating-sim kinda system. This is where some of the character development takes place. As you increase your Social Links you increase the strength of that Arcana during fusions. It creates a gameplay purpose to explore the Social Links, but I genuinely wanted to explore them regardless of the gameplay purpose.
|
||||
|
||||
The battle system is not without its shortcomings - it feels a little unforgiving - JRPG to the very core. I still think it's goofy that if the main character is KO'd, the game ends (and there are no checkpoints). Saving often is a must. There were also a few sharp difficulty curves... I suspect my level was too low at that point, but there it is. It's kinda like Pokemon, Shadows have certain weaknesses and resistances (think fire, ice, electricity, etc), and it's up to you to abuse that. Hitting an enemy with an attack they are weak to gives that character another turn - but only if the target isn't already Down (which triggers when they are hit by an attack they are weak to), so you can't get stuck in a loop of free turns. The fun part is that the enemy has access to the same system, so if you're not careful you can get wiped out very quickly.
|
||||
|
||||
I can't end it without mentioning the music. Second to the story, it's top-notch, definitely some of the best I've heard in any game full stop. I have a feeling the music in a vacuum won't have the same impact as when its heard in-game. Regardless, here are a few favourites:
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "6jFaoLrLzd4", "Persona 3 OST - Mass Destruction" %}
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "e2Gyaqf7EoU", "Persona 3 OST - Iwatodai Dorm" %}
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "sFH7O9huUYU", "Paulownian Mall - Persona 3" %}
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "yoVn6Eh6rus", "Persona 3 OST: Unavoidable Battle" %}
|
||||
|
||||
If you're looking for an RPG with a top-notch story, this is the one. If you're looking for one with compelling gameplay... keep looking I'd say.
|
||||
|
||||
I can't wait to start Persona 4 Golden, but I think I'm going to give myself a break from RPGs for a while. Next up is Shovel Knight!
|
||||
14
src/content/games/2016-08-22-shovel-knight.md
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14
src/content/games/2016-08-22-shovel-knight.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Shovel Knight
|
||||
platform: Nintendo Wii U
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Shovel_knight_cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- platformer
|
||||
- retro
|
||||
year: 2014
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Awesome game, totally a passion project for platform lovers like myself. Reminds me of games I'd play years ago but made with today's sensibilities (so no cheap tricks or long slogs of no checkpoints, heh). Every level stood on its own. The game length felt just right to me (about 8 hours), not too long but there's enough there to keep you interested. A lot of the Relics reminded me something you'd find in a Castlevania game (think the spinning cross, or the bone that arcs as you throw it).
|
||||
|
||||
Anyone who enjoys an action platformer should check out this game without a doubt. Plus Yacht Club Games are continuing to update the game - so far they've added the Plague Knight campaign which is really cool! It's a redo of the Shovel Knight base game, although with plenty of twists. Plague Knight himself plays completely differently from Shovel Knight - and to top it off the levels have been changed up to suit Plague Knight's new style. With a new story on top, it's almost like a new game - and it was totally free! Future updates will be free too!
|
||||
14
src/content/games/2016-08-24-tomb-raider.md
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14
src/content/games/2016-08-24-tomb-raider.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Tomb Raider
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/TombRaider2013.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- adventure
|
||||
- puzzle
|
||||
- reboot
|
||||
year: 2013
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I feel like it did start to get a bit repetitive at times, but only near the end. Lara sure went through some shit, I felt bad sometimes. The optional tombs were really cool - one-off tricky puzzles. They were pretty short though, I think every one was just one puzzle (although I didn't find/explore them all). Something I didn't like very much was the penchant for QTEs - I hate those things. I played it on a PC and the button prompts had an icon instead of the actual button to press (if you play on console, it'll show which button to press). A minor annoyance which lead to some fails - which by the way are excruciatingly brutal sometimes! There's quite a bit of button mashing and it feels weird on a keyboard. All in all though, great game, and definitely planning on getting the next one. Probably on PS4 though.
|
||||
24
src/content/games/2016-12-31-assassins-creed-black-flag.md
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24
src/content/games/2016-12-31-assassins-creed-black-flag.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag"
|
||||
platform: PlayStation 3
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Assassins_Creed_IV_-_Black_Flag_cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- open-world
|
||||
- adventure
|
||||
year: 2013
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
For an Assassin's Creed game, Black Flag is pretty solid. I was positive I was going to hate the ship parts of the game based on what I played in 3 a year or two back - but actually it's a ton of fun and flows super well. They really nailed the controls on it. There's a good balance of naval and land-based missions to keep things interesting. The game started off very similar to 3 which had my eyes rolling from the get-go, but thankfully things play out much differently.
|
||||
|
||||
It also helps when the protagonist is likable - Connor was just pretty flat overall, but Edward strikes me as a swashbuckling balance of Ezio and Altair - much better character.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd have to rank the Assassin's Creed games as follows:
|
||||
|
||||
1. ACII
|
||||
2. AC: Brotherhood
|
||||
3. ACIV: Black Flag
|
||||
4. Assassin's Creed
|
||||
5. ACIII
|
||||
6. AC: Revelations
|
||||
25
src/content/games/2017-01-02-doom-2016.md
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25
src/content/games/2017-01-02-doom-2016.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: DOOM
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Doom_Cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- fps
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- retro-shooter
|
||||
year: 2016
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Doom was an absolute blast. Definitely now one of my favorite FPS games.
|
||||
|
||||
The game is super fast-paced compared to most FPS games released today which is refreshing. Bunny-hopping is a thing and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy. They really nailed the feeling of speed and finesse - you regularly feel like a badass demon-slaying machine. Being able to seamlessly go from shootin' up a bad guy into a Glory Kill and back into the fray feels really satisfying.
|
||||
|
||||
The sound design is top notch here. The soundtrack feels loud and punchy, the perfect industrial underscore to the demon massacre frequently taking place. The sounds of the weapons are equally great - everything from the sounds of the guns firing to switching between gun mods sounds really good. I found myself swapping between mods during the quiet moments just to hear the sounds. So good.
|
||||
|
||||
The collectibles and secret areas turned out to be a really fun side-objective for me. I found myself going for optional content more than I usually would, so much so that when I realized I missed one collectible... I restarted the mission right near the end. Kind of annoying that certain parts of the map do eventually get "locked out" so you can't go back and grab anything you missed, but only a real drag to secret hunters.
|
||||
|
||||
The optional Rune Trials are pretty neat. You're given a simple objective like "kill 15 dudes" or "get from A to B", but they put a challenging twist on it. Something like you've got only 1 HP and there is no way to get more health, or you can only move when you kill something. They offer a nice break from the action while testing your skills. A few times I learned a new strategy too, so you might even learn something.
|
||||
|
||||
There isn't a ton of story here and I think that works out to the game's favor. The name of the game here is demon-slaying and having a blast doing it. They actually managed to get a ton of personality out of the protagonist - despite the fact that all you see of him are his two hands and the occasional boot. You've probably heard of one moment where a character tries to lore-dump you and the Doom Marine just shoves the monitor out of the way and ignores it. There's also a ton of lore to hunt for in the secret spots and other collectibles. It builds up Mars and why they're here - but the best part is that none of it really matters, you can skip all the fluff and still have a total blast.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys FPS games. I was tempted to drop a few hundred bucks on a new video card just for this game. I know for sure that when I eventually do get a new video card I'll be going back and trying this one again. 100% run!
|
||||
22
src/content/games/2017-01-29-hyper-light-drifter.md
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22
src/content/games/2017-01-29-hyper-light-drifter.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Hyper Light Drifter
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/HyperLightDrifterBoxArt.png
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- retro
|
||||
- indie
|
||||
- hack-n-slash
|
||||
- open-world
|
||||
- retro
|
||||
year: 2016
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I think the best part of the game is its atmosphere and combat. The game contains no text (besides tutorial button prompts) and no spoken dialog. Therefore, the story is largely up to the player to interpret, if they desire. Right from the get-go, you're immediately immersed into the world. The sound design - particularly the soundtrack - draws you in. In moments of quiet - typically exploration - the music is subdued and atmospheric, underscoring your journey in this torn world. As you launch into combat, things pick up a bit... then, when it's boss battle time, additional instrumentation enters - a pumping track gets you energized against a tough foe. The whole soundtrack has a very unsettling feeling, which matches the overall atmosphere of the game. It's a strange world and there's mysterious things afoot. Some kind of corruption is tainting everything...
|
||||
|
||||
The gameplay really shines here. The game is a top-down action game - think Link to the Past. Your basic arsenal is an energy sword and guns - lots of guns. You only start with one, but as the game goes on you'll find more (or maybe you won't, they're all optional). My favorite would have to be the railgun - it requires precision accuracy but feels very satisfying to land hits with. Your bread-and-butter sword combination is a triple-tap in quick succession. There are plenty of upgrades to change things up - one of my favorites is the ability to reflect projectiles with your sword. Definitely reminds me of Link to the Past where you'd reflect Agahnim's projects back at him. Finally you've got a dodge/teleport - a quick shift in any direction. It will let you dodge melee attacks or avoid projectiles, but you're not invincible - so you can be hit mid-dash. All together it provides a simple yet great combat system. Easy to learn, but hard to master. You regularly feel like a master swordsman jumping between enemies and slicing them to bits. The game is also quite challenging - I was reminded of the Donkey Kong Country games with regard to the difficulty - wherein those games are all also challenging but the reason behind every failure (death) was very clear. It leads to an eventual choreographed sequence that looks really cool after you pull it all off. The boss fights were especially great - all of them very different - I think they were almost a game in of itself. I regularly looked forward to the next duel with a strong foe. If you don't mind some spoilers, [here is one of the early boss fights](https://youtu.be/_pKghyb8NS8) - I enjoyed this one a lot (note: I edited out the 10 minutes or so of me not beating the boss...).
|
||||
|
||||
The only negative thing I've got to say with the game's mechanics was that if you died after collecting a bunch of items - you'd have to go back and re-collect everything again. I'm talking like upgrade points or keys, that kind of thing. Minor grievance. Actually one other slightly annoying thing was that the map didn't really have any GPS features - so it never showed you precisely where you were in a given room, which made exploration a little tedious sometimes. I think actually what would fix it is if explored rooms where marked as such - that way I don't end up retreading a lot of ground.
|
||||
|
||||
A recommend to anyone who enjoys a game loaded with atmosphere, or top-down style action games. If you liked Link to the Past, you're sure to find a great game here. The soundtrack alone makes it worthwhile in my opinion!
|
||||
17
src/content/games/2017-02-26-vanquish.md
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17
src/content/games/2017-02-26-vanquish.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Vanquish
|
||||
platform: PlayStation 3
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/PG_Vanquish_box_artwork.png
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- shooter
|
||||
- platinum
|
||||
year: 2010
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Vanquish is definitely a product of its time. If you don't remember the mid to late naughties in video games, they were rife with cover shooters. Think Gears of War or Uncharted. You're given big open areas with some very inconspicuous cover spots. Vanquish followed the same trend, but to its benefit it at least tried to subvert the genre by changing things up. You can try to play this game like a traditional shooter, but you'll get destroyed quickly. Instead, Vanquish gives you Sam Gideon - an agent from DARPA who has been given the Augmented Reaction Suit. The suit allows you to literally slide around while firing at enemies - and also allows you to enter "AR Mode" (think bullet-time) while sliding. Yes, the [power slide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXYqv_FS9yk) is a legitimate and viable combat maneuver! It leads to a pretty fluid combat system where you regularly feel pretty awesome effortlessly sliding between enemies and scoring some easy headshots thanks to the slowdown mode. The problem though is that while it's a cool mechanic, it doesn't break away from the feeling that this is still a cover shooter. Maybe back in '07 this would be okay, but playing it in 2017 it feels very samey and not super exciting.
|
||||
|
||||
Again, following the popular trends at the time the game features some heavy cutscene use. It doesn't help that the story isn't entirely interesting, although it's pretty dumb on purpose. Still, it leads you to mashing the skip button because you just want to go back and play the damn game. Auto-regenerating health is another feature of the game - again a very popular choice at the time - but frustratingly there is no representation of your health on the HUD. So you'll be taking some bullet fire, and then suddenly launched into AR Mode (which happens automatically when you reach low health). Wait, was my health actually that low? Then if you're not careful - boom dead. With no actual indication of how much damage you're taking you have no idea how much of a threat some enemies pose. Some are capable of one-shotting you, and then some are firing pebbles at you. It gets very annoying and frustrating at times. Boss battles were pretty fun most of the time, although I can remember one or two that were crushingly hard. Lots of instant-death moves. The sudden jump in difficulty was pretty jarring and frustrating. Still, you can push through eventually, but it can feel frustrating to get near the end of a boss fight and get instant-killed and then forced to restart from the beginning.
|
||||
|
||||
Overall, it's not horrible - a pretty decent game. I think if I played it when it first came out it'd be a total blast, but after years of Platinum refining their craft and the cover shooter finally dying off - it feels like a relic from the past. It's got some very cool moments, but plenty of very dull ones too. Worth checking out if you're a die-hard Platinum fan like myself, otherwise you can probably pass. Maybe check out some gameplay on YouTube, it might entice you.
|
||||
11
src/content/games/2017-12-20-persona-5.md
Normal file
11
src/content/games/2017-12-20-persona-5.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Persona 5
|
||||
platform: PlayStation 4
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Persona_5_cover_art.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- rpg
|
||||
- turn-based
|
||||
- persona
|
||||
year: 2016
|
||||
---
|
||||
12
src/content/games/2018-04-10-axiom-verge.md
Normal file
12
src/content/games/2018-04-10-axiom-verge.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Axiom Verge
|
||||
platform: Nintendo Switch
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/games/axiom-verge-cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- indie
|
||||
- metroidvania
|
||||
- retro
|
||||
year: 2015
|
||||
---
|
||||
12
src/content/games/2022-03-20-animal-crossing-new-horizons.md
Normal file
12
src/content/games/2022-03-20-animal-crossing-new-horizons.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Animal Crossings: New Horizons"
|
||||
platform: Switch
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/acnh.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- multiplayer
|
||||
- life-sim
|
||||
year: 2020
|
||||
playtime: 400+ hours
|
||||
pullquote: Idyllic escape from the world
|
||||
---
|
||||
15
src/content/games/2024-01-07-her-story.md
Normal file
15
src/content/games/2024-01-07-her-story.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Her Story
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/games/her-story-cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- indie
|
||||
- simulation
|
||||
- narrative
|
||||
year: 2015
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I played this game with my wife and a buddy, and we had a great time getting sucked into this game. We beat it in one night. The way the story unfolded made you really feel like a detective - connecting leads and loose connections to form a whole narrative. The keyword search is very limiting. There are only at most 5 results per search query. It requires you to be specific but not too much. It's a fine line to walk.
|
||||
|
||||
It's very possible to finish this one in an evening, which is a great way to wind down the day and enjoy a great story.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor"
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Shadow_of_Mordor_cover_art.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- action
|
||||
- hack-n-slash
|
||||
- open-world
|
||||
- nemesis-system
|
||||
year: 2014
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
The nemesis system is such a killer feature - it's a shame that Warner Bros. patented the mechanic which prevents other games from implementing their own spin on the feature.
|
||||
|
||||
I was often the victim of my orcish enemies, and would often say "you again!" when I stumbled upon an old nemesis. I would drop everything to try and take them out, which was often not a good idea.
|
||||
21
src/content/games/2024-01-27-citizen-sleeper.md
Normal file
21
src/content/games/2024-01-27-citizen-sleeper.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Citizen Sleeper
|
||||
platform: PC
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/games/citizen-sleeper-cover.jpg
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- single-player
|
||||
- narrative
|
||||
- visual-novel
|
||||
- indie
|
||||
- rpg
|
||||
year: 2022
|
||||
rating: 4
|
||||
playtime: 7 hours
|
||||
pullquote: Immersive dice simulator
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I loved the dice system that powered the entire game. It made it feel like you have control over the situation (you can choose where to put your dice rolls), but at the same time none at all (the result is still a dice roll). I especially liked that every choice never felt like a great option. Every choice will inadvertently affect someone or something else negatively. There was never a clear-cut best choice.
|
||||
|
||||
I felt drawn into the universe and atmosphere, and the music provided an immersive backdrop. The music changed depending on the situation, which added another level of immersion.
|
||||
|
||||
A must-play for anyone who enjoys a narrative-focused game.
|
||||
5
src/content/games/games.11tydata.js
Normal file
5
src/content/games/games.11tydata.js
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
|
|||
export default {
|
||||
layout: "layouts/game",
|
||||
permalink: "games/{{ page.fileSlug }}/index.html",
|
||||
tags: "game",
|
||||
};
|
||||
20
src/content/movies/2022-01-25-coraline.md
Normal file
20
src/content/movies/2022-01-25-coraline.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Coraline"
|
||||
year: 2009
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2022-01-25
|
||||
- 2024-08-17
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/coraline-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd:
|
||||
- https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/coraline/
|
||||
- https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/coraline/1/
|
||||
director: Henry Selick
|
||||
runtime: 100
|
||||
favourite: true
|
||||
rating: 5
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- animation
|
||||
- horror
|
||||
- fantasy
|
||||
- family
|
||||
---
|
||||
17
src/content/movies/2024-09-28-megalopolis.md
Normal file
17
src/content/movies/2024-09-28-megalopolis.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Megalopolis"
|
||||
year: 2024
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-09-30
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/megalopolis-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/megalopolis-2024/
|
||||
director: Francis Ford Coppola
|
||||
runtime: 138
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- drama
|
||||
- science fiction
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I wholeheartedly did not enjoy this movie, and yet afterward we could not stop talking about it. There were so many moments to remember - and some even got overwritten in my mind and had to be teased out later.
|
||||
|
||||
I don't know if I'm experiencing a trainwreck or another cultural touchstone...
|
||||
13
src/content/movies/2024-09-30-sugarcane.md
Normal file
13
src/content/movies/2024-09-30-sugarcane.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Sugarcane"
|
||||
year: 2024
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-09-30
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/sugarcane-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/sugarcane/
|
||||
director: Emily Kassie, Julian Brave NoiseCat
|
||||
runtime: 107
|
||||
favourite: true
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- documentary
|
||||
---
|
||||
15
src/content/movies/2024-10-30-your-monster.md
Normal file
15
src/content/movies/2024-10-30-your-monster.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Your Monster"
|
||||
year: 2024
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-10-30
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/your-monster-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/your-monster-2024/
|
||||
director: Caroline Lindy
|
||||
runtime: 104
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- music
|
||||
- comedy
|
||||
- horror
|
||||
- romance
|
||||
---
|
||||
12
src/content/movies/2024-10-31-dracula-a-d-1972.md
Normal file
12
src/content/movies/2024-10-31-dracula-a-d-1972.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Dracula A.D. 1972"
|
||||
year: 1972
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2023-10-31
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/dracula-a-d-1972-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/dracula-ad-1972/
|
||||
director: Alan Gibson
|
||||
runtime: 96
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- horror
|
||||
---
|
||||
12
src/content/movies/2024-10-31-dracula.md
Normal file
12
src/content/movies/2024-10-31-dracula.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Dracula"
|
||||
year: 1931
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2023-10-31
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/dracula-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/dracula/
|
||||
director: Tod Browning
|
||||
runtime: 74
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- horror
|
||||
---
|
||||
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-08-woman-of-the-hour.md
Normal file
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-08-woman-of-the-hour.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Woman of the Hour"
|
||||
year: 2023
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-11-09
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/woman-of-the-hour-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/woman-of-the-hour/
|
||||
director: Anna Kendrick
|
||||
runtime: 94
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- drama
|
||||
- thriller
|
||||
- crime
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Do we really need to keep making movies that center around serial killers? Objectively a good movie, but I'm getting tired of media being created to effectively celebrate the accomplishments of murderers.
|
||||
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-09-tetris.md
Normal file
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-09-tetris.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Tetris"
|
||||
year: 2023
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-11-09
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/tetris-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/tetris/
|
||||
director: Jon S. Baird
|
||||
runtime: 118
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- thriller
|
||||
- history
|
||||
- drama
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
It is now my head canon that securing the publishing rights to Tetris involved a desperate car chase through the streets of Moscow. There’s no going back now.
|
||||
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-20-flow.md
Normal file
16
src/content/movies/2024-11-20-flow.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Flow"
|
||||
year: 2024
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2024-11-20
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/flow-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/flow-2024/
|
||||
director: Gints Zilbalodis
|
||||
runtime: 85
|
||||
favourite: true
|
||||
rating: 4
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- adventure
|
||||
- fantasy
|
||||
- animation
|
||||
---
|
||||
23
src/content/movies/2025-01-06-conclave.md
Normal file
23
src/content/movies/2025-01-06-conclave.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
date: 2025-01-06
|
||||
title: Conclave
|
||||
director: Edward Berger
|
||||
releaseYear: 2024
|
||||
runtime: 120
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- drama
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/movies/conclave-poster.jpg
|
||||
letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wonderfulfrog/film/conclave/
|
||||
pullquote: Voting turned into a gripping drama
|
||||
watchHistory:
|
||||
- 2025-01-06
|
||||
rating: 5
|
||||
isFavourite: false
|
||||
hasSpoilers: false
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Stunning cinematography. There were many scenes with an emphasis on white and neutral colour schemes, which caused the cardinal robes to really stand out with their bright red colour.
|
||||
|
||||
The scoring was sublime, perfectly timed to each moment without wasting a second. I particularly enjoyed the reliance on string instruments, which provided a powerful element of tension in key moments.
|
||||
|
||||
There was an emphasis on hearing the actors breathing - it was an audible window into how someone was feeling without needing to see any facial expressions. There were pivotal scenes where the only thing we can hear is breathing.
|
||||
5
src/content/movies/movies.11tydata.js
Normal file
5
src/content/movies/movies.11tydata.js
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
|
|||
export default {
|
||||
layout: "layouts/movie",
|
||||
permalink: "movies/{{ page.fileSlug }}/index.html",
|
||||
tags: "movie",
|
||||
};
|
||||
12
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-history-of-the-90s.md
Normal file
12
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-history-of-the-90s.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: History of the 90s
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/history-of-the-90s.jpeg
|
||||
url: https://curiouscast.ca/podcast/466/history-of-the-90s/
|
||||
rss: https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/fdc2ad13-d199-4e97-b2db-a59300cb6cc2/3164bc6f-23d3-435e-92c4-aa6a012d02b6/72253a5d-9601-4cbe-98d1-aa6a012d02cc/podcast.rss
|
||||
isCompleted: false
|
||||
description: It's the history... of the '90s.
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [Woodstock 99](https://curiouscast.ca/podcast/466/history-of-the-90s/)
|
||||
- [Grunge (Part 1 & 2)](https://curiouscast.ca/podcast/466/history-of-the-90s/)
|
||||
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-hunting-warhead.md
Normal file
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-hunting-warhead.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Hunting Warhead
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/hunting-warhead.webp
|
||||
url: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/387-hunting-warhead
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: A chilling and gripping history telling the story of how one of the largest networks of CSAM was taken down by tracking its biggest maintainer.
|
||||
---
|
||||
12
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-maintenance-phase.md
Normal file
12
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-maintenance-phase.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Maintenance Phase
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/maintenance-phase.webp
|
||||
url: https://www.maintenancephase.com/
|
||||
isCompleted: false
|
||||
description: A phenomenal podcast that challenged everything I knew about fatness, dieting, food, and my own relationship with each. I don't say this lightly but it has been a life-changing revelation for me. I devour every new episode with fervor and eagerly consume all their content.
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [Dr. Oz](https://maintenancephase.buzzsprout.com/1411126/7857472-dr-oz)
|
||||
- [Halo Top Ice Cream](https://maintenancephase.buzzsprout.com/1411126/7127890-halo-top-ice-cream)
|
||||
- [The Biggest Loser](https://maintenancephase.buzzsprout.com/1411126/7353850-the-biggest-loser)
|
||||
10
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-reply-all.md
Normal file
10
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-reply-all.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Reply All
|
||||
url: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/reply-all.jpeg
|
||||
description: A podcast about the internet.
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [The Case of the Missing Hit](https://pca.st/episode/cc572c51-e2bd-41fe-a138-d4f8ecba3549)
|
||||
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-running-from-cops.md
Normal file
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-running-from-cops.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Running from COPS
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/running-from-cops.webp
|
||||
url: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/headlong-running-from-cops/id1459118695
|
||||
description: An investigation into the longest running reality TV show - COPS.
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-surviving-y2k.md
Normal file
7
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-surviving-y2k.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Surviving Y2K
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/surviving-y2k.webp
|
||||
url: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/headlong-surviving-y2k/id1464251414
|
||||
description: What it was like leading up to Y2K - the feared computer bug that ended up being nothing. Or was it...?
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
10
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-youre-wrong-about.md
Normal file
10
src/content/podcasts/2021-08-25-youre-wrong-about.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "You're Wrong About"
|
||||
url: https://yourewrongabout.com/
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/youre-wrong-about.jpeg
|
||||
rss: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1112270.rss
|
||||
description: There are things that happened, and you might be wrong about them!
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [Disco Demolition Night](https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/4815227-disco-demolition-night)
|
||||
14
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-17-if-books-could-kill.md
Normal file
14
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-17-if-books-could-kill.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: If Books Could Kill
|
||||
url: https://www.ifbookspod.com/
|
||||
rss: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2040953.rss
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/if-books-could-kill.jpeg
|
||||
description: A podcast about airport books.
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [The Art of the Deal](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040953/14286395-the-art-of-the-deal)
|
||||
- [Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers"](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040953/11658428-malcolm-gladwell-s-outliers)
|
||||
- [Rich Dad Poor Dad](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040953/12593204-rich-dad-poor-dad)
|
||||
- [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F\*ck](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040953/14006961-the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck)
|
||||
- [The 48 Laws of Power](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040953/13887364-the-48-laws-of-power)
|
||||
8
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-9-12.md
Normal file
8
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-9-12.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: 9/12
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/21dcd7ff8bee7ea7122dd755078befbef85978d7ee34af54840833a606d375da90a4f8a295842e8d2b58f4db5dfa6a69859a209e3c346f5f268546110b2b6d45.jpeg
|
||||
url: https://art19.com/shows/9-12
|
||||
description: What happened the day after 9/11/2001?
|
||||
rss: https://rss.art19.com/9-12
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
7
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-a-death-in-cryptoland.md
Normal file
7
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-a-death-in-cryptoland.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: A Death in Cryptoland
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/adeathincryptoland-podcast-template-lg.avif
|
||||
url: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/904-a-death-in-cryptoland
|
||||
description: What happens when the leader of a cryptocurrency exchange suddenly dies?
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
17
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-boys-like-me.md
Normal file
17
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-boys-like-me.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Boys Like Me
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/BoysLikeMe-podcast-template.avif
|
||||
url: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1035-boys-like-me
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: A deep dive into the growing incel movement.
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
For those wondering how the modern incel movement starting gaining so much traction - this podcast explores how the movement started and how it has got so far.
|
||||
|
||||
I found this podcast particularly harrowing because I heard myself in it so many times. I used to identify with the incel movement - before it had that name. At the height of Gamergate I was one of those amongst the thousands who believed the feminists were coming for my video games.
|
||||
|
||||
It's so easy to become radicalized because it happens so slowly - it's insidious. There are men out there ready to bring you into the fold, truly terrible and reprehensible people that "validate" your feelings but feed you hateful ideology.
|
||||
|
||||
I can't remember when I got out of the movement. It happened slowly if I remember right. I'd disagree with a small point, and then I found myself disagreeing more until I recognized it for what it was. Nothing but hateful rhetoric.
|
||||
|
||||
It can be hard for a lot of men to reach that point, though. They become so entrenched in their beliefs that they can't think rationally anymore.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Conversations With People Who Hate Me
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Conversations-With-People-Who-Hate-Me-Square-Logo.png
|
||||
url: https://www.dylanmarron.com/podcast
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: What would it be like to meet and talk with your haters?
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
A uniquely humanizing experience when Dylan chats with his haters. It's surprising to me how many people backtrack their comments (or at least stand by the spirit and not the delivery). I do think anonymity has this boosting effect in people's willingness to be mean (putting it lightly).
|
||||
|
||||
The second season puts a fun twist on the format where people with diametric viewpoints are put onto a call (consensually) to have a discussion. Sometimes minds are changed, and people seem to want to listen with good faith.
|
||||
|
||||
Honestly we need podcasts like this in a post-pandemic era where "us vs. them" mentality has completely dominated modern discourse online and in-person.
|
||||
11
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-project-unabom.md
Normal file
11
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-project-unabom.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Project Unabom
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/313x0w.webp
|
||||
url: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/project-unabom/id1627613321
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: Who was the Unabomber?
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
A fascinating podcast that kept me fully engaged all the way through. The presentation is top-notch.
|
||||
|
||||
It also served as a potent history lesson for myself. Try to resist the urge to check Wikipedia and let it unfold as you listen.
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/Jar_Jar_250x250.jpg
|
||||
url: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/the-redemption-of-jar-jar-binks
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: Quite possibly the target of the first online hate campaign - what happened to Jar Jar Binks before and after the movies released?
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
The interviews with Ahmed Best in particular are wonderful. I'm ashamed that I was once a part of the online hate brigade that targeted their ire toward Jar Jar. It's so easy to forget that there is a human behind the CGI - a human behind the character.
|
||||
|
||||
There's a ton of Star Wars history for a Star Wars fan to enjoy, but it's a story that anyone would be encouraged to hear. Dylan Marron is a fantastic host for the show.
|
||||
13
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-the-flamethrowers.md
Normal file
13
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-the-flamethrowers.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: The Flamethrowers
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/theflamethrowers-podcast-template.avif
|
||||
url: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1026-the-flamethrowers
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: All about the takeover of American AM radio by right-wing talking heads.
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I appreciated the host's occasional sense of humour, because the podcast uses real audio from some of the right-wind radio hosts and it can be... vitriolic, to put it nicely. I don't know what to do but immediately laugh after some of the hateful bile these men spew.
|
||||
|
||||
It amazed me how quietly it started, but much like a flamethrower (hey, just getting that now) the power of right-wind radio grew so rapidly.
|
||||
|
||||
Much like any number of problems facing America in the 21st century, it comes back to Reagan.
|
||||
11
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-the-new-gurus.md
Normal file
11
src/content/podcasts/2024-02-20-the-new-gurus.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: The New Gurus
|
||||
image: https://cdn.wonderfulfrog.com/images/the-new-gurus.webp
|
||||
url: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-new-gurus/id1659385785
|
||||
isCompleted: true
|
||||
description: Everyone is obsessed with finding a guru - and shysters take advantage of that. Is your guru unscrupulous?
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
There is an obsession with finding a guru - a subject matter expert - and trying to learn from them. I should know - I spent a large part of my 20s following the advice of wealthy, privileged white men telling me how to live a fulfilling life. Just wake up a 5am, just meditate every day for 30 minutes, just just just... I hate the word "just" now and treat it like a hangnail.
|
||||
|
||||
Episode 3 in particular resonated with me. There are no shortage of shysters in the wellness and self-help industry promising to be your guru, but lacking in any credentials. The productivity sphere is lousy with them. There is a strange obsession with productivity in the world of white men, and few of them have any regard for someone who has a family has to deal with.
|
||||
11
src/content/podcasts/2025-01-24-20k-hertz.md
Normal file
11
src/content/podcasts/2025-01-24-20k-hertz.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Twenty Thousand Hertz
|
||||
url: https://www.20k.org/
|
||||
description: A podcast all about sound.
|
||||
moreText: "Suggested episodes"
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
- [Zelda: A Beep to the Past](https://www.20k.org/episodes/zeldabeep)
|
||||
- [Zelda: Tones of the Kingdom](https://www.20k.org/episodes/zeldatones)
|
||||
- [I'm Lovin' It](https://www.20k.org/episodes/imlovinit)
|
||||
- [Cat Translation Guide](https://www.20k.org/episodes/cat-translation-guide)
|
||||
3
src/content/podcasts/podcasts.11tydata.js
Normal file
3
src/content/podcasts/podcasts.11tydata.js
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
|
|||
export default {
|
||||
tags: "podcast",
|
||||
};
|
||||
79
src/content/posts/2018-11-24-switching-to-protonmail.md
Normal file
79
src/content/posts/2018-11-24-switching-to-protonmail.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Switching from Gmail to ProtonMail
|
||||
excerpt: The beginning of a quest to take back my data.
|
||||
tags: [email, protonmail]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I've been an avid Gmail user since its inception sometime in 2004. I remember hunting for a beta invite back when they were highly coveted. I have received 25,467 emails and sent 1,738. The first email I sent was to a local shop to buy my old G3 iMac.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
In the years since I got my Gmail account I've realized that I've become the product for Google. My information - who I am, my interests, everything - is their endgame. Plain and simple I don't like that they have this information. I doubt there is any way for me to reliably erase myself from their databases, so I've opted to do the next best thing - try to reduce the amount of new information acquired.
|
||||
|
||||
It should go without saying that this approach requires a certain amount of trust in whatever business I decide to go with for managing my email. There's nothing preventing Company X from taking my information (even as a paying customer) and selling it to third parties.
|
||||
|
||||
My first thought was since I am a heavy iOS/macOS user I should use Apple's iCloud email. There was one crucial reason I ended up not going down that route though which was their silent [filtering](https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6p0z1a/is_apples_icloud_silent_filtering_still_an_issue/) of [certain](https://www.macworld.com/article/2029570/silent-email-filtering-makes-icloud-an-unreliable-option.html) [emails](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7506554). It was reported first back in 2013, but apparently has been going on since the days of @mac email addresses. The only way to retrieve these filtered email addresses is contacting Apple Support - and that means you knew the email was coming. If you had no idea an email was silently filtered - it's gone forever. Based on my research it was still an issue in 2017 with no signs of going away.
|
||||
|
||||
At this point I was pretty sure to get what I needed I was going to need to pay for my mail. After doing some research I felt there was one company out there trustworthy enough to manage my email: ProtonMail.
|
||||
|
||||
## Why ProtonMail
|
||||
|
||||
ProtonMail is a company based on Switzerland with a focus on Internet privacy and security. I think their about page captures the "why" pretty accurately for me:
|
||||
|
||||
> We're building an internet that protects privacy, starting with email.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We are scientists, engineers, and developers drawn together by a shared vision of protecting civil liberties online. This is why we created ProtonMail, an easy to use secure email service with built-in end-to-end encryption and state of the art security features. Our goal is to build an internet that respects privacy and is secure against cyberattacks.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We are committed to developing and widely distributing the tools necessary to protect your data online. Our team combines deep mathematical and technical knowledge from the world's top research institutions with expertise in building easy to use user interfaces. Together, we are building the encrypted communication technologies of the future.
|
||||
|
||||
As I've gotten older I started to value privacy and security over convenience and ease-of-use. It usually means introducing a bit of friction into my life, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. The notion of being concerned with privacy often implies that I have something to hide, or some secret I don't want to get out. On the contrary, I'm just about as ordinary as anyone else. It's my belief that my information is mine and no-one else's - simple as that. An example I like to cite is banking information. Would you want Google (or any other company) to know your banking information? How much money you have saved away, your account numbers - things like that? What about your medical history? I'd argue for most the answer is no - you'd prefer to keep those private.
|
||||
|
||||
## Making the switch
|
||||
|
||||
After registering for a new address with ProtonMail I was left with some options. ProtonMail provides a [transition guide](https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/transitioning-from-gmail-to-protonmail/) for moving from Gmail to ProtonMail. I could set up Gmail to forward all mail to my new ProtonMail address but that would defeat the purpose of reducing new information acquisition. I opted to instead slowly change the email addresses over on my accounts as emails came in. This is a slow process, but I felt like this was the simplest way to make the switch. It was easy enough for the accounts I was aware of, but those infrequent emails or subscriptions are a gradual process. Having a password manager for all my accounts helps.
|
||||
|
||||
## It's not all sunny
|
||||
|
||||
My biggest gripe has to be the iOS app. Coming from the stock Mail app, it's a lot more barebones. Push notifications work well at least. Some gripes:
|
||||
|
||||
- I can't mark unread from the list view (_UPDATE 12/07/18_: [This is now possible!](https://wonderfulfrog.com/posts/switching-to-protonmail#updates))
|
||||
- It doesn't feel nice to use - very stiff. Like a web app
|
||||
- Loading indicators shift the list items around, making it a gamble to tap items
|
||||
|
||||
Coming from using the Mail app for years - it's a marked downgrade. I understand why there has to be a separate app, but I wish there was more time spent on it.
|
||||
|
||||
Since registering my new address there has been one brief period of downtime I have noticed - about 5-10 minutes. The web app didn't work at all. The iOS client seemed to work fine though. I'm hoping that emails were being sent through.
|
||||
|
||||
Email threading is not perfect. Gmail has this figured out completely, but ProtonMail needs some work. Old emails with a similar subject are treated as the same thread despite being completely different. For example, purchases from Bandcamp are grouped in the same thread, even though they were for different albums and made at completely different times. I ended up disabling the "Enable Conversation Grouping" option, which disabled threading. I'm hoping this will be improved in the future, but it's not a big deal-breaker.
|
||||
|
||||
Gmail is pretty ubiquitous and easy to spell (and everybody already does) when you need to give out your email address verbally - comparatively "protonmail" usually means I have to spell it out - on top of my username. Thankfully ProtonMail recently added "@pm.me" addresses which will make this process a little easier. I also configured a custom domain after upgrading to their Plus plan.
|
||||
|
||||
Although it's not an issue for me since I use iOS's calendar - ProtonMail has no built-in calendar. I felt it was important to note it here for anyone considering switching and currently relies on Google Calendar or their email provider's calendar.
|
||||
|
||||
## Months Later
|
||||
|
||||
I made the switch to ProtonMail about three months ago. Besides the switching process (which would happen no matter what I ended up switching to) and my minor gripes it has been a pleasant experience. I've recently upgraded to their Plus plan to allow for more storage and custom domains. I feel like they've earned my business. I don't think I'd recommend everyone switch immediately, but if you have similar concerns with privacy and security I'd invite you to consider ProtonMail (or at least an alternative to a free email service).
|
||||
|
||||
## Additional Reading
|
||||
|
||||
### [ProtonMail - About](https://protonmail.com/about)
|
||||
|
||||
Provides information on the company's goal and what they're all about.
|
||||
|
||||
### [ProtonMail - Security Details](https://protonmail.com/security-details)
|
||||
|
||||
Detailed information on the various security measures ProtonMail imeplemnts in their mail service.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Why I Am Switching To Secure ProtonMail From Insecure Google Gmail](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2018/10/31/why-i-am-switching-to-secure-protonmail-from-insecure-google-gmail/)
|
||||
|
||||
Someone going through a similar experience as me. Of interesting note I found that there seems to be a growing distrust with "Big Brand Tech".
|
||||
|
||||
### [Google tries to calm controversy over app developers having access to your Gmail](https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17533108/google-gmail-privacy-read-email-messages-response)
|
||||
|
||||
All about a recent controversy surrounding 3rd-party developers having access to email content in Gmail.
|
||||
|
||||
## Updates
|
||||
|
||||
### December 7th, 2018
|
||||
|
||||
It's now possible to mark emails as unread from the list view. In ProtonMail's settings, there is a new Message Swipe Action to mark as Unread.
|
||||
115
src/content/posts/2018-12-09-my-vinyl-journey.md
Normal file
115
src/content/posts/2018-12-09-my-vinyl-journey.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: My vinyl journey
|
||||
excerpt: A cautionary tale of getting into collecting records.
|
||||
tags: ["music", "vinyl", "collecting"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Update 04/16/2019**: See the updates section at the bottom for further discussion.
|
||||
|
||||
I’m here to tell you vinyl collecting isn’t all its cracked up to be. Like many hobbies, it takes time and dedication to truly appreciate. I’m here to offer a cautionary tale to anyone looking to start the hobby. It’s important to make sure you want to do it for the right reasons - something I didn’t do when I started.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
At some point in 2008 I decided to begin my vinyl journey. After hearing about records making a quiet comeback from my friend I thought I might see what this was all about on a whim. After perusing the local music store’s then-growing record collection I came out with [Mogwai's Mr. Beast](https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/mr-beast/794356427). When I returned home I asked my parents for their old record player. My Mom returned my request with surprise.
|
||||
|
||||
> "You want what?"
|
||||
>
|
||||
> "Your old record player. You still have it right?"
|
||||
>
|
||||
> "Yes but... Why?"
|
||||
>
|
||||
> "Records are coming back!"
|
||||
>
|
||||
> "Huh."
|
||||
|
||||
Off to the garage we went. Beneath a pile of old DVDs and other relics of another age - there it was. With the player was a giant container of records. I lugged the two with anticipation and enthusiasm upstairs. The record player was Dual's CS 728Q.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I didn't have a sound system at the time - so my setup was a messy daisy-chain of cords that eventually lead to a pair a cheap computer speakers. I excitedly rummaged through my parents collection looking for one album in particular. With a pleased grin I found it. I was looking for [Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here](https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/wish-you-were-here/1065973975).
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I admired the gatefold LP for some time before placing it on the platter. Pressing the start button the record started turning. The tone arm swung over and locked into place, hovering over the record. Gently it lowered itself until it landed with a subtle popping sound. It was at this point I realized what a phono preamp was - and without having one means there is very little sound. Undeterred, I cranked the volume on my tinny little speakers. It wasn't much but I could hear it! David Gilmour's wailing guitar pumping through the needle to my speakers. It was a magical moment for me. I listened to the whole album on those horrible speakers, completely enthralled in the medium.
|
||||
|
||||
After listening to Wish You Were Here I quickly switched to [Dark Side of the Moon](https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-dark-side-of-the-moon/1065973699). It was somewhere around this point that I decided that I want to get into collecting vinyl.
|
||||
|
||||
## The collection grows
|
||||
|
||||
As with most things I get interested in, I launched into this new hobby with reckless abandon. If there was a record of a new album coming out - I’d buy it. One record I think of often is [Dinosaur Jr.’s Farm](https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/farm/543340712) - the striking furry green creatures towering over the skyscrapers. It was unique and colourful, and I can admit years later I bought it strictly for the artwork. The thrill of opening a gatefold and getting lost in the artwork - this was something you didn’t get with digital or CD copies. It became a ritual in its own like when I would read the manuals with video games before playing them. With every new record I would sit and admire the artwork first - taking in all the work put into the cover.
|
||||
|
||||
With my new desire to acquire any and all kinds of vinyl I wandered into shops and would eat up anything that looked remotely interesting. About a year into the hobby I started to notice that more and more of my favourite artists were releasing brand new pressings of their upcoming albums. The writing was on the wall - the record companies were taking notice of the resurgence of vinyl and were preparing to go in swinging. I didn’t think much of it at the time of course.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
It was also around this time I started to notice more of the minor annoyances with vinyl - chiefly the maintenance aspect. By virtue of the way the medium works, anything like dust, dirt, or small particles are the enemy. They cause pops and cracks, or worse skips. My brand new records started showing these symptoms after a few plays. Again though I falsely convinced myself this was all part of the charm and just needed to be accepted; the worrying never stopped though. I would often have to convince myself the record would be fine and to just play it. For the large part I was still enjoying the hobby, but starting to realize some of the downsides that came with it.
|
||||
|
||||
## Animal Collective
|
||||
|
||||
During this time I can recall a particularly vivid memory relating to a record purchase. In 2009 Animal Collective released their breakout album [Merriweather Post Pavilion](https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/merriweather-post-pavilion/300683110). I remember picking it up at the store after months of anticipation (and listening to low-quality album leaks). After the usual ritual of gatefold admiration, I put the record on the platter and hit start. With headphones hooked up, I put on my pair of Sony MDRV6s and laid down on the bed. I closed my eyes. Soon the opening notes of In the Flowers began. I lost myself on a sonic odyssey - interrupted only by the necessity to flip the record over. It was one point in my life where I recall listening to an album front to back without _any_ distractions. Despite my slow-growing annoyance with vinyl as a hobby, this is one memory I always look on fondly.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
## Annoyance turns to irritation
|
||||
|
||||
Sooner or later I started to question my dedication to this hobby. At the start I convinced myself that everything sounded _better_ - the usual “it sounds warmer” type of stuff. Eventually though I began to question that. Did it really sound all that better? A lot of my records had plenty of pops, hisses and crackling. Is this really what everyone was talking about? Not to mention the maintenance required to keep a record in good shape. Things like dust covers and cleaning tools.
|
||||
|
||||
And then the physical act of having to manage a record while it plays. It sounds like a small thing, but after so long it starts to get aggravating. Sometimes you just want to listen to music without any fiddling.
|
||||
|
||||
I started to do some research on this whole “warmer sound” thing. I came to the conclusion it’s largely nonsense, or in other words it’s mostly placebo. I can imagine vinyl might sound great if you’ve got the sound system to support it - but what’s doing the job here? Is it the vinyl or the thousands invested into audio equipment? I’m leaning towards the latter.
|
||||
|
||||
Then - finally - the realization set in.
|
||||
|
||||
## The realization
|
||||
|
||||
I got into vinyl for all the wrong reasons. I wasn’t ready to accept the work that comes with the hobby. I can admit I got sucked into the hype and hipster nature of the hobby when it first started to see a resurgence. I wanted to hear that “warmer sound”, and convinced myself I was.
|
||||
|
||||
I was certain everything I was hearing would sound so much better than on my computer or CD player - but failed to realize that if you only have a budget audio setup, odds are you won’t hear any difference. Not to mention you’ll hear more of the pops, hisses, etc.
|
||||
|
||||
I didn’t understand that maintenance plays a larger role than I realized. It’s not enough to buy the record and play it. It needs to be cared for and can’t be mistreated. If not cared for properly, imperfections are introduced into the sound. It’s also possible to permanently add this imperfections. This might be appealing to some, but I realized I just want to listen to music without any of the added effort.
|
||||
|
||||
It doesn’t sound like much, but having to be responsible for a record while it plays can be tiring. For me it all came back to just wanting to listen to music with little effort. I want to focus on what I’m doing, whether that’s relaxing or working or whatever.
|
||||
|
||||
Records tend to eat up space quickly. After putting a stop to my collecting I’m somewhere around 100-200 records. They take up a wall of my apartment, and weight _a lot_. They are not easy to move around if it’s necessary. They have to be stored properly (upright in other words), otherwise you risk warping the record.
|
||||
|
||||
- To really appreciate vinyl you have to be fully dedicated to it
|
||||
- Odds are you won't hear a difference until you invest in your audio setup. Anything you hear is your own perception.
|
||||
- Might be enough for some but I wanted more empirical evidence. Not enough to go by a feel for me, especially what vinyl needs
|
||||
- Understand that owning records means you need to take care of them. They are prone to failures. Easy to form a permanent skip/pop/hiss in the record
|
||||
- The act of changing a record can be tedious especially when you just want to listen to music
|
||||
- They take up huge amounts of space and require adequate storage (or risk ruining the record due to warping)
|
||||
- They're heavy!
|
||||
|
||||
## So you want to get into vinyl
|
||||
|
||||
Collecting vinyl is a lot of fun, but I think demands more than most think about. In summary:
|
||||
|
||||
- Effort
|
||||
- Changing a record
|
||||
- Moving your collection
|
||||
- Needle placement (if turntable is not automatic)
|
||||
- Care
|
||||
- Maintaining record quality with sleeves
|
||||
- Proper storage
|
||||
- Keeping environment as dust and particulate free as possible
|
||||
- Cleaning older records
|
||||
- Cost
|
||||
- Now that the hobby is a lot bigger expect to pay higher costs
|
||||
- Newer turntables are not cheap
|
||||
- Monetary cost of storage units, cleaning, etc
|
||||
|
||||
As of this writing the vinyl resurgence is in full swing and the record companies noticed. Record Store Day used to be an exciting time for new, rare releases and other hard-to-find items. It has become a fully commercialized day full of nothing but marketing. Expect to have to really hunt the records now as scalpers scoop them up and try to make a quick buck on eBay.
|
||||
|
||||
The records your parents used to listen to have all been bought up by collectors years ago - the only copies left are going to be expensive. You’ll really have to dig for the diamonds in the rough.
|
||||
|
||||
New releases can go for anywhere around $30-$40 (CAD), and are often pressed into double (or even triple) albums due to space on the record itself. If you’re lucky you can find it locally, otherwise look forward to even higher costs due to shipping (and possibly scarcity).
|
||||
|
||||
Having said all this - the hobby can be really fun. Not much can compare to the physical act of playing a record and listening to it. It unfortunately took me some financial and time investment to find out it wasn’t for me. Hopefully you can decide for yourself first before you dive straight in.
|
||||
|
||||
As of now I’m sitting on a sizeable record collection. I’ve invested a lot of time into it and find it hard to part with it despite the fact I haven’t listened to a single one in probably years now. Holding some records brings me happiness and joy, which tells me that I shouldn’t part with them. One day I’ll thin out the collection and reduce it to albums I know I truly love and adore. For now though, it’s a great conversation starter!
|
||||
|
||||
## Update - April 16th 2019
|
||||
|
||||
I recently watched a video that does a better job at explaining the technical parts of how vinyl works and dives into the "does vinyl actually sound better" with more detail than I provided. I recommend watching it regardless of what side you're on when it comes to vinyl.
|
||||
|
||||
[The Truth About Vinyl - Vinyl vs. Digital](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzRvSWPZQYk)
|
||||
117
src/content/posts/2019-01-07-professional-development-in-2018.md
Normal file
117
src/content/posts/2019-01-07-professional-development-in-2018.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Professional development in 2018
|
||||
excerpt: A look back at what happened in 2018 - professionally. For me.
|
||||
tags: ["personal", "career", "growth", "react"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
In 2018 I received the opportunity to develop my professional skills and further my career development. I’d like to highlight some developments and things I wish to focus on and improve in the next year.
|
||||
|
||||
## Web development
|
||||
|
||||
### React
|
||||
|
||||
This year I was a developer on a project that utilized the latest version (16) of [React](https://reactjs.org/). I had previously used version 14 in another project that acted as a digital asset management portal. This project was also a DAM that used [Cantemo](https://www.cantemo.com/) as the backend.
|
||||
|
||||
During this project I learned about the proper architecture for [class/presentational components](https://medium.com/@dan_abramov/smart-and-dumb-components-7ca2f9a7c7d0). In the beginning I would often mix the two, which lead to class -> presentational -> class -> … hierarchies. This lead to a lot of confusion with the other developers in the team. Eventually we were able to start cleaning this up and simplifying our component architecture.
|
||||
|
||||
### RxJS
|
||||
|
||||
RxJS is incredibly useful for managing asynchronous events. Until learning about the framework I had been relying on unwieldy promise-chains to ensure my async events were handled properly. Now with something as simple as an `Observable` we can inform the UI when an event has finished. It sounds so simple it makes me wonder why it took me so long to find out about it. RxJS has also been combined with Redux to form one of my favourite libraries [redux-observable](https://redux-observable.js.org/). This makes connecting Redux actions to reducers a snap.
|
||||
|
||||
### Angular 5
|
||||
|
||||
In the first half of the year I became the lead developer for a small digital asset management project using Angular as the front-end and a [HATEOAS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HATEOAS) API layer. I was responsible for the front-end team. I had support from some of the other intermediate and junior developers as they had more experience with the framework. The last time I used Angular was back in the AngularJS (or 1.0) days. The framework has come a long way since then. Our basic architecture involved using Services for all data communication between the front-end and back-end, and Components for managing presentational layers.
|
||||
|
||||
### Functional programming - pipe, compose, etc
|
||||
|
||||
After being introduced to the [Ramda](https://ramdajs.com/) framework I quickly became more familiar with the functional programming language side of things. After some initial friction to understand how `compose()` worked (and later `pipe()`) I really started to like functional programming.
|
||||
|
||||
This was also a good opportunity to pick up [Reselect](https://github.com/reduxjs/reselect) which offers a clean and reusable way to access state slices from Redux.
|
||||
|
||||
### Redux
|
||||
|
||||
Redux proved to be a great help for management of the application state in all projects I worked on in 2018. The action/reducer logic took some time to grasp for the junior developers, but I felt confident in my understanding and was able to get them up to speed quickly. There were some hurdles in reducer composition as I quickly learned reducers can grow in scope and size very quickly. I found the `combineReducers` function very handy for breaking up reducers into smaller chunks.
|
||||
|
||||
### Styled Components
|
||||
|
||||
When I first saw this library my immediate reaction was revulsion. “Inline style - in my project? No way!” This attitude harkened back to older times when it was considered poor form to use inline style in web development. The important difference here is that yes - there is inline style - but that inline style is coming from something closer to a stylesheet. Once I made that critical realization I was right on board with Styled Components.
|
||||
|
||||
Another critical realization was that with Styled Components - there is no more need for adding classes to toggle style. Styled Components can read any props passed to it - which allows for [conditional styling](https://www.styled-components.com/docs/basics#adapting-based-on-props). This cleans up the JSX for any components and makes it far easier to read and manage.
|
||||
|
||||
### TypeScript
|
||||
|
||||
Having strong typing and intelligent autocomplete was invaluable in the Angular 5 project. It lead to far fewer headaches between developers and made code cleaner and easier to understand. `Interface`s allow for simple model definitions for complex objects and fewer mysteries (wait - which properties are on this `Object`?)
|
||||
|
||||
## Professional development
|
||||
|
||||
### Lead a team of developers
|
||||
|
||||
This did eventually lead to an issue with the sheer number of services and components as I quickly learned that _abstraction for the sake of abstraction is a dangerous idea_. I decided early on that I wanted to have as much abstraction as possible with components and services being small. What I believe I failed to realize was that this eventually leads to an enormous number of files and scattered project structure. When it came time to onboard new developers the process was a nightmare. It was difficult to understand our architecture and where relevant code was located.
|
||||
|
||||
I was trying to future-proof the code before I was even sure there would _be_ a future for the code. It’s okay to over-engineer when time permits, but sometimes the solution with flaws (code duplication, large components, etc) is okay. If it’s easily understood by other developers and works consistently, then it’s okay. [Duplication is far cheaper than the wrong abstraction](https://www.sandimetz.com/blog/2016/1/20/the-wrong-abstraction). I believe in my case I made the wrong abstraction - or more specifically - for the wrong reasons.
|
||||
|
||||
As it turned out the project _was_ eventually canned - so my future-proofing provided little benefit and ended up slowing the team down in the beginning days, and especially when we tried to introduce new developers to help ease the load on the front-end team.
|
||||
|
||||
Technical debt can always be resolved later _if_ it is recorded and stored somewhere. There are always opportunities to resolve any tech debt later when developers revisit components or functions.
|
||||
|
||||
### Initiated a code review practice amongst team
|
||||
|
||||
Early on in a React project I noticed that a lot of our tickets came back from QA fairly frequently. Admittedly we had been doing very little internal testing and review of our own, so I decided to kickstart an internal code review for every ticket that was going out to the client. The results were noticeable very quickly as tickets stopped returning so frequently. Some tickets were still coming back though, so we went a step further and had each developer review the code, test the code locally, and review all ticket acceptance criteria against the code branch. This so far has proven to be a huge boon for the team as the client’s QA can take upwards of a week before we hear back. Previously we would have tickets returned on Friday - the day before the sprint ended - and it would be a mad dash to fix things up. Typically tickets are returned now for minor details and can be resolved quickly by the team.
|
||||
|
||||
This seems like a such a “well, duh - of course you should be doing that” deal, but until we saw the results it was difficult to implement. Once the project lead was seeing less churn on tickets it was quickly encouraged and actively enforced.
|
||||
|
||||
### Hosted a successful hackathon
|
||||
|
||||
During an internal staff meeting, we decided to have our own version of an [“airing of grievances”](http://festivusweb.com/festivus-airing-of-grievances.php) - except that was more about grievances with the company and nothing to do with individuals (cause that would be heckin’ rude). One of the biggest gripes was that the office did not tend to work all together on the same project. It’s the nature of a consulting firm - people end up on different projects and can be pretty isolated. We’ve tried to integrate staff together more, but during this very same meeting we also found out that wasn’t inclusive enough. Something that the majority of staff were interested in though was a hackathon.
|
||||
|
||||
The idea was to get the office to put their pencils down and work on something fun for a day, and maybe even learn something that can be provide benefits for the company. What the company ended up going with is our own take on [Battlesnake](https://www.battlesnake.io/). We ran our own internal tournament and pitted teams against each other. It turned out to be a lot of fun and spurred a lot of developers working together. I’m hoping we can do another one again soon. There are also plans to send the office to the official competition!
|
||||
|
||||
## Lessons I learned
|
||||
|
||||
### Abstraction for the sake of abstraction is dangerous and should be avoided
|
||||
|
||||
I mentioned this in another section but I learned slowly (and painfully) that abstraction for the sake of it does not help anybody. It lead to an unwieldy codebase and longer development time when it came time to update or revise existing features. Generally speaking it is perfectly acceptable to go with a "flawed solution”. Having a generalized and abstracted solution does not automatically equal a better solution. That said, abstraction for the sake of it on _personal projects_ can be a great learning experience as it allows for a developer to flex their muscles in a low-stakes environment.
|
||||
|
||||
### Documentation is extremely valuable
|
||||
|
||||
I’m not just referring to comments in code, but more specifically in creating paper trails. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve had to dig up old tickets and code branches for bug fixes we applied weeks, months, or years ago. By documenting myself every step of the way I’m creating a paper trail that I can follow down the road. I’ve also found that leaving more detailed commits makes trawling the codebase easier. `git log —grep=<text> —no-merges` is my new favorite command.
|
||||
|
||||
### I need to spend more time reviewing requirements before starting work
|
||||
|
||||
This caught me a lot especially in a later project. I think I have a nasty tendency to read the requirements and jump right into work thinking I’ve understood everything and thought of any upcoming problems. I can count the number of times I was actually right here - meaning I was often wrong. My goal in the upcoming year is to stop and spend more time on requirements and spend more time with analysis.
|
||||
|
||||
### I need to be aware of how I conduct myself in the office
|
||||
|
||||
During my annual review something that was brought to my attention was my general demeanour when speaking about clients. I would often joke with my coworkers - what I would call “office talk” - mostly negatively. What I failed to realize though was that some of those coworkers might look up to me and respect me and take my opinion to heart. People were paying attention to what I was saying and if the only thing coming out of my mouth was negative, then it might lead to derision toward clients. It made total sense to me as I know I would do this often. I’ve since then tried my best to “clean up my act” and try to act and conduct myself more positively. I’m also trying to foster more positive communication between our office and remote teams that we work with on projects.
|
||||
|
||||
### Maintaining coding style guides helps enforce certain architectural decisions
|
||||
|
||||
One of the biggest challenges I’ve run into working with other teams is maintaining a consistent code style and keeping architecture in line with designs. In a recent project we integrated [ESLint](https://github.com/eslint/eslint) with our own editors. It takes some time to add everything into the config, but once it was done it was a noted improvement for us. There was a consistent style and things like `console.log` s were easily spotted and removed. The downside however was that our team was the only one using it. Another lesson learned.
|
||||
|
||||
## Things I want to focus on in 2019
|
||||
|
||||
2019 should be an exciting year for web development. [TypeScript is on the rise](https://hackernoon.com/major-programming-trends-to-prepare-for-in-2019-169987cc75f4) , and React has some awesome [new features on the way](https://reactjs.org/blog/2018/11/27/react-16-roadmap.html). Here are a few things I want to focus on in 2019 - web dev or professionally.
|
||||
|
||||
### React Suspense
|
||||
|
||||
The [demo of Suspense from Dan Abramov](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLF0n9SACd4) was super cool. In React projects I’ve worked on so far - I’ve had to define my own “Loader” components to wrap my UI components. That component also can only typically handle loading until it’s told to go away - whereas Suspense looks to work smartly with lazy loading and eventually asynchronous requests.
|
||||
|
||||
I admittedly don’t fully grasp the magic behind Suspense yet, but from what I’ve seen it looks extremely useful - especially combined with [React.lazy](https://reactjs.org/docs/code-splitting.html#reactlazy).
|
||||
|
||||
### GraphQL
|
||||
|
||||
My first real experience with GraphQL was actually with [GatsbyJS](https://www.gatsbyjs.org/) - what’s powering this blog. Following some of the early tutorials I’m absolutely loving how everything works. A problem I encounter often in my profession is “data normalization” or “massaging data” between the client’s database and the front-end. GraphQL seems to solve this issue nicely with platform-independent query language for an API. Being able to perform your own “joins” however you like - on the fly! - now that’s really cool.
|
||||
|
||||
There’s some [great tutorials available on their site](https://graphql.org/learn/). They all update live which makes it easy to play with.
|
||||
|
||||
### More team lead experience
|
||||
|
||||
After the first Angular project early in the year I didn’t get a chance to really lead a team. I really enjoyed my short time and I hope in 2019 I will get more opportunities to do that. I’m looking to do more team _leadership_ and not _management_ - at least right now. We’ll see where the year takes me.
|
||||
|
||||
### Pursuing more personal projects
|
||||
|
||||
When I first started my career back in 2012 I quickly stopped working on web development projects in my spare time. I would find that after getting home from a long day of work - the last thing I want to look at is more lines of code. As my responsibilities have moved further away from development and more leadership, I’ve found myself looking more to personal coding projects. The first big step in that direction was this blog. I started with Jekyll and eventually used it as an excuse to learn [GatsbyJS](https://www.gatsbyjs.org/). It was a lot of fun! It also had a nice side effect of causing me to write a bit more. I’m treating this blog almost like a pseudo-journal. I’ve written down some ideas for small projects I can try to explore in the coming year that use some upcoming React features for example.
|
||||
|
||||
### Positivity
|
||||
|
||||
On the heels of my office conduct I’m going to try and generally be more positive in my professional - but also personal life. I think the world has enough negativity in it already, so I’m going to try and have a more positive outlook on things. Be more interested in new things. Be excited for the unknown.
|
||||
91
src/content/posts/2019-04-13-how-this-blog-works.md
Normal file
91
src/content/posts/2019-04-13-how-this-blog-works.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: How this blog works
|
||||
excerpt: Everything powering this blog explained.
|
||||
tags: ["gatsbyjs", "ssg", "react"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Update October 6th, 2020**: I have switched from GatsbyJS to Next. Everything else is more-or-less the same. I will be adding a colophon page eventually.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I was recently reading [Jumbo's Privacy Policy][] (and also gave their product a shot - it works well) and felt inspired to explain how everything powering this blog is set up, and why I decided to use the technology I chose. I hope this provides the visitor more transparency into how my site works, and also an educational resource for anyone looking to start a blog of their own.
|
||||
|
||||
[jumbo's privacy policy]: https://blog.jumboprivacy.com/privacy-policy.html "Jumbo's Privacy Policy"
|
||||
|
||||
## Static site generation
|
||||
|
||||
Something like a blog is generally fairly static unless new a post is added, so it seemed overkill to involve a CMS like Wordpress or Drupal. Not to mention all the security updates I'd be responsible for, or paying another company to manage them for me. With that in mind a static site generator seemed like the best choice.
|
||||
|
||||
## Why GatsbyJS?
|
||||
|
||||
As many projects I work with currently involve using [React][], I thought appropriate to use something like [GatsbyJS][] to make a static site. This would also give me potential skills at work for future projects.
|
||||
|
||||
[react]: https://reactjs.org/ "React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces"
|
||||
[gatsbyjs]: https://www.gatsbyjs.org/ "GatsbyJS"
|
||||
|
||||
I've previously used [Jekyll][] to generate static sites, but with it being Ruby I felt out of my element, and I'm not really interested in learning it right now. It also felt like a lot of overhead to get a site up and running. I opted to try something else this time.
|
||||
|
||||
[jekyll]: https://jekyllrb.com/ "Jekyll"
|
||||
|
||||
I wasn't interested in coding up something from scratch, and it just so happens that GatsbyJS provides a wealth of [starter-kits][] to work with. I didn't want to code from scratch as I felt I wouldn't learn a lot from creating my own application - I have a general idea of how things should work in React, so I'd rather take a look at something already done and tweak it to my needs. I wouldn't be providing any value to the open-source community either as there are probably plenty of "React blogs" out there already.
|
||||
|
||||
[starter-kits]: https://www.gatsbyjs.org/starters/?v=2 "A list of GatsbyJS starter kits"
|
||||
|
||||
After seeing Dan Abramov's [Overreacted blog][] was powered by the [`gatsby-starter-blog` starter][] I decided to take a look myself. It had everything I needed - static site generation, lightning fast performance, out-of-the-box RSS, and a pretty good looking theme. After poking around in the repo a bit I figured this was just what I needed.
|
||||
|
||||
[overreacted blog]: https://overreacted.io/ "Dan Abramov's Overreacted blog"
|
||||
[`gatsby-starter-blog` starter]: https://www.gatsbyjs.org/starters/gatsbyjs/gatsby-starter-blog/ "gatsby-starter-blog starter"
|
||||
|
||||
### What I ended up tweaking
|
||||
|
||||
Besides a few theme bits here and there (read: splash of teal everywhere), I didn't change much. I originally omitted the `<Bio />` component from all pages as I didn't have much to write there, but later added it back in with a link to a Contact page.
|
||||
|
||||
Speaking of which, I also added a custom Contact page. This by itself doesn't do anything, but thanks to my webhost it acts as a contact form and accepts submissions (more on that later). GatsbyJS itself doesn't do anything besides provide a static page.
|
||||
|
||||
## Code management - Git & GitHub
|
||||
|
||||
I used [Git][] primarily because I am familiar and comfortable with it. That's the long and the short of it. Version control is essential, even for personal projects. If you're not already I'd recommend you get familiar with Git, or at least another alternative. Know how to make branches, revert commits, stash code, and don't be afraid of `git rebase`! Git has some of the best [documentation][] around.
|
||||
|
||||
[git]: https://git-scm.com/ "Git homepage"
|
||||
[documentation]: https://git-scm.com/docs "Git documentation"
|
||||
|
||||
I used [GitHub][] as a code repository again because I was most comfortable with it and familiar. I have found it reliable for my use cases, and is generally working when I need it ([GitHub does go down sometimes...][]). There is also a large open-source community there, so it seemed prudent to have my open-source code hosted there.
|
||||
|
||||
[github]: https://github.com/ "GitHub"
|
||||
[github does go down sometimes...]: https://github.blog/2018-10-30-oct21-post-incident-analysis/ "Blog post about GitHub's downtime on October 21st 2018"
|
||||
|
||||
## Site hosting - Netlify
|
||||
|
||||
This was the piece I struggled with the most. I originally wanted to self-host my site, but that proved to be too tedious for me. I'd rather have everything "just work" rather than be in charge of deployments or security patches. That would also mean I'd have to be in charge of a server and keep on top of it. No thanks.
|
||||
|
||||
A friend of mine offered me some space on his server which was very kind of him, and it would've worked fine since this was a static site. This didn't work for me though since it'd require manual deployments. It's a small thing but I don't want to be responsible for managing them. Next!
|
||||
|
||||
[GitHub Pages][] seemed like the choice for me. It deployed automatically based on the repo contents, and doesn't require any maintenance. This would be on GitHub's servers, so no security patches. They support custom domains (and with HTTPS). Win win! This worked fine in the beginning, but I noticed something I didn't care for - if I wanted to update my site it required access to my own development machine. Since I chose GatsbyJS which uses React, the static version of the site needs to be transpiled and built - which requires the code repo cloned and set up. Yuck! That's too much work.
|
||||
|
||||
[github pages]: https://pages.github.com/ "GitHub Pages"
|
||||
|
||||
What I wanted was something that could handle automatic deployments by building the site on their servers, and provide hosting. Enter Netlify!
|
||||
|
||||
It offered all of the same features as GitH
|
||||
ub Pages, but also allowed for building the site on their servers. It monitors the `master` branch (by default), and re-builds the site when it detects changes. This was perfect! Now I could make updates from anywhere and commit them to my repo. Netlify would then deploy the site for me and that's it! Perfect.
|
||||
|
||||
Prior to choosing Netlify I reviewed their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I felt I could trust them, even as a free service. Since I am on the free plan, they can terminate my account at any time for any reason. I don't think Netlify is in the business of doing that without warning, but it's still something for me to remember. Given that everything has been working perfectly with no issues, I'm looking at becoming a paying customer if that'll guarantee my site won't be suddenly removed (so long as I don't break any rules).
|
||||
|
||||
As an additional bonus (I was not aware of it when I chose Netlify) - they offer [form handling][]! This means I can accept form submissions from visitors should I so choose. I decided to throw together a quick form for contacting me if anyone desires. It can even forward submissions to your inbox. Very handy!
|
||||
|
||||
[form handling]: https://www.netlify.com/docs/form-handling/ "Details on Netlify's form handling"
|
||||
|
||||
## How traffic is managed - Cloudflare
|
||||
|
||||
Something like [Cloudflare][] probably seems overkill for a blog (let alone a static site), but I thought why not and give it a shot. They've recently impressed me with their [1.1.1.1 DNS][], and they regularly post about goings-on and act very transparently. I personally value that a lot, and as such I'd like to use their services. Out-of-the-box Cloudflare's DNS services provide lightning-fast resolution time - so my already snappy blog should feel even snappier (Safari users especially - just kidding). Cloudflare also caches my site, so should Netlify go down - Cloudflare can serve a cached version of my site. Since my site is generally pretty static, this is ideal! There's also things like DDoS protection, load balancing, and other fancy tech that my blog (probably) won't need.
|
||||
|
||||
[cloudflare]: https://www.cloudflare.com/ "Cloudflare"
|
||||
[1.1.1.1 dns]: https://one.one.one.one "1.1.1.1 DNS"
|
||||
|
||||
## Miscellaneous
|
||||
|
||||
For my domain names I use [Namecheap][]. No real reason beyond good prices. They offer lots of configuration options for your domain, although this is likely standard across any domain name provider.
|
||||
|
||||
[namecheap]: https://www.namecheap.com "Namecheap"
|
||||
39
src/content/posts/2019-05-20-apple-watch-thoughts.md
Normal file
39
src/content/posts/2019-05-20-apple-watch-thoughts.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Thoughts on the Apple Watch
|
||||
excerpt: My experience with the Series 3 Apple Watch, 11 months later.
|
||||
tags: ["apple watch", "apple"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Since I started going to the gym regularly and kept watch on what foods I ate, I became more interested in monitoring my calories burned during workouts. Initially I thought I should get a Fitbit, but I wasn’t too fond of their lineup at the time. At the time of writing they also _still_ don’t sync to Apple or Android Health. When the Apple Watch was initially revealed I toyed with the idea of buying one, but had yet to come up with a compelling reason to buy it. Given my newfound interest in fitness and health, and that I had given the Watch a few months to bake - it seemed like now (June 2018) was good a time as ever to jump in. I decided one hot day that it was time for me to jump into the world of wearable tech.
|
||||
|
||||
By this point in time the Series 3 was a few months old. They offered both the GPS and cellular models. Given that I always tend to keep my phone on me, I didn’t see any advantage in buying the cellular model. They also require an eSIM card to work, which is an additional charge for carriers here in Canada.
|
||||
|
||||
The setup process is remarkably simple. After a brief initialization process, the Watch screen shows a sparkly cloud background. Your iPhone takes a picture of it, and the process is complete. I couldn’t believe how fast and easy it was to pair.
|
||||
|
||||
One of the first things I noticed while using the Watch is the [Taptic Engine][] (what Apple obtusely calls their vibration technology). It’s subtle but still prominent enough to feel. It’s a small but appreciated detail... something I feel is often under-appreciated in today’s devices. If you’re not sure you can tell the difference - go back to an old iPhone (something before the iPhone 7) and _feel_ and _listen_ to the vibration. Compare it to the Apple Watch or a newer generation iPhone. It’s a night and day difference. The newest Taptic Engine makes almost no sound. It also does a serviceable job at making the Digital Crown (knob on the side) feel more tactile.
|
||||
|
||||
[taptic engine]: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/watchos/user-interaction/haptic-feedback/ "A developer's guide for how to use Haptic Feedback on the Apple Watch"
|
||||
|
||||
The wrist-tilt detection is generally pretty good, although sometimes it refuses to work. This happens seldomly, but enough to notice. I wish the screen were OLED so that it could be always on. I think it might also save on battery life too.
|
||||
|
||||
The battery life has been great for me - I usually get about 2 days of consistent usage before needing a recharge. I think the expectation compared to other wearable tech might be longer (a Fitbit can go for a week before needing a recharge), but for my use case this is sufficient.
|
||||
|
||||
The Watch will automatically detect when you start working out and is usually accurate. When doing a spirited walk, it will pick up on it within 10 minutes. For more intense workouts (elliptical and stationary biking in my case), it starts a workout within 3 minutes. All Workout app data is recorded to Apple Health so other apps can make use of the data. As an avid Pokémon GO player, this pairs well with the [Adventure Sync][] feature. What this means is that my distance travelled and calories burned are sent to Apple Health and Pokémon GO can pick up on that data. One complaint I have is that there is a limited variety of Workouts available. For example, there are no workouts for strength training.
|
||||
|
||||
[adventure sync]: https://pokemongolive.com/post/adventure-sync "Niantic's explanation of the Pokémon GO Adventure Sync feature"
|
||||
|
||||
Standing detection can be quite spotty sometimes. I’ll be standing completely upright and moving, and the Watch will refuse to acknowledge it. I’ve been sitting down sometimes when it triggers a “you stood up” alert. It has annoyed me enough times that I’m thinking of disabling the alerts entirely.
|
||||
|
||||
I thought it would be great to have all of my phone notifications mirrored to my Watch - available at a moment’s notice, but it very quickly became overwhelming. I ended up disabling all notifications except for phone calls and reminders. I’ve personally grown tired of always giving my phone too much attention, and I found myself facing the same issue with the Watch.
|
||||
|
||||
The interface is good enough for the odd time I’m forced to use it - dismissing notifications, starting workouts, setting alarms, etc. Anything beyond that though is a chore. The “circle grid” is an unpleasant mess. Thankfully, I later discovered that there is a [“list view” option][list-view] for the home screen which works much better. The Digital Crown is used for scrolling the current screen, but being so familiar with a touch screen I don’t see the use for it. Generally speaking, if there’s a way to avoid using the Watch’s interface then I will opt to do that. I’ve found most of the “Watch apps” are near useless. The ones I use the most are the Clock app (for timers), Workouts, Home (controlling lights), and Music (for controlling volume). Since I carry my phone with me all the time, why would I bother using a tiny, cramped interface when I have the full-featured app available right there?
|
||||
|
||||
[list-view]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVrPJXWV50&t=1m31s "7 Tips Every Apple Watch Owner SHOULD Know!"
|
||||
|
||||
That said, I have found some unexpected uses from the Watch. Firstly, being able to control volume without using my phone turned out to be a handy shortcut. The Digital Crown can raise or lower the volume without the phone needing to be unlocked. I use the Home app as a Watch Complication which works most of the time, but sometimes it refuses to connect to my devices. Speaking of Complications - I wish there were more options available for the stock watch faces. I was hoping to use my Watch as a “super Notification Center” and have tons of information available at a glance. Instead, the most I can seem to get out of it is an icon, an unread count, or a single line of text.
|
||||
|
||||
The [Scribble][] feature is one I see rarely mentioned and under-appreciated. It makes composing short text messages a breeze. You can write letters and short words using your finger. I’ve found it to be generally very accurate. It’s a rare occurrence for me to be without my phone, but it's served me well in a pinch.
|
||||
|
||||
[scribble]: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206907 "Details on the Scribble feature"
|
||||
|
||||
Several months later I’m not using the Watch beyond a bunch of sensors. It does feel like I’m underutilizing the Watch, but at the end of the day I’m satisfied with what I get out of it. I wouldn’t recommend the Watch to everyone. The ideal use case is niche in my opinion. For the fitness enthusiasts I think there’s something to get here, but unless you value data being synced to Apple Health, a Fitbit might be a better option. For those who are already invested into the Apple ecosystem, an Apple Watch may perform better than a Fitbit. Unless you plan to really utilize the various health and fitness-related features of the Apple Watch, I don’t see the point in it. That said, I think it makes for a great piece of tech for the right use case.
|
||||
17
src/content/posts/2019-09-14-coming-back-to-vinyl.md
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17
src/content/posts/2019-09-14-coming-back-to-vinyl.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Coming back to vinyl
|
||||
excerpt: Sometimes minimalism goes too far.
|
||||
tags: ["vinyl", "collecting", "minimalism"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
This is an update to my post from a few months ago about a cautionary tale into collecting vinyl. I stand by the post, but I wanted to mention that I’m back into the hobby. What happened?
|
||||
|
||||
I believe this all started because of my ruthless quest for minimalism. I don’t mean in the popular sense of owning no furniture like that photo of Steve Jobs, but speaking more in a sense of values. If something isn’t providing me any value, why should I continue to own it? That was the conclusion I arrived at when it came to evaluating my vinyl collection.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
After talking with my partner, she said something along the lines of it being okay to collect things. It sounds silly, but that single bit of permission and validation told me that the collection does indeed bring my joy and value. It cemented the fact that the collection is now a part of who I am — it helps define my identity as an avid music listener. Once someone told me it’s okay, it completed changed my perception. Perhaps all I was looking for to begin with was permission to collect them?
|
||||
|
||||
Since rekindling my love of vinyl I’ve once again fallen in love with the hobby. I forgot what an experience it is to listen to a record. It’s even more enjoyable when you have someone there with you. Being able to enjoy a hobby together with someone completely changes my relationship with the collection. It feels like it’s something I can share with my partner and introduce them to new music. We get to hold a physical, tangible piece of music in our hands. We can admire the art. Heck, it even has a distinct smell that I love (don’t judge).
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve also thrust myself back into the music scene again. I’m following more artists and keeping an eye on when things are coming out. I’m excited to listen to new music again.
|
||||
65
src/content/posts/2019-10-26-the-suspense-is-killing-me.md
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65
src/content/posts/2019-10-26-the-suspense-is-killing-me.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: How does React's Suspense work?
|
||||
excerpt: The Suspense is killing me.
|
||||
tags: ["react"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
First and foremost, this post is writing about stuff that is part of the Experimental branch of React, so by the time you read this it could be out of date. I’ll try to keep things up to date as they develop.
|
||||
|
||||
React’s recent post on [Concurrent Mode](https://reactjs.org/docs/concurrent-mode-intro.html) got me thinking it’s finally time to sit down and experiment with the Suspense API for data fetching. I dug into the blog post but quickly got lost with how Suspense actually works.
|
||||
|
||||
What is Suspense exactly? Suspense suspends components until they are ready. How does it know when components are ready? Turns out it’s a lot like [Error Boundaries](https://reactjs.org/docs/error-boundaries.html). When `throw Error` happens, an Error Boundary catches the error so the whole app doesn’t crash. Suspense works similarly, except instead of errors, it’s looking for a `Promise` object. This is a little weird to most web developers I imagine… since when did we start `throw`ing promises? Once I understood that though, I started to get how a `<Suspense />` component can tell when data is loaded. Once the Promise (or Promises) resolves, the component is ready. There is an example on the React blog post:
|
||||
|
||||
```jsx
|
||||
const resource = fetchProfileData();
|
||||
|
||||
function ProfilePage() {
|
||||
return (
|
||||
<Suspense fallback={<h1>Loading profile...</h1>}>
|
||||
<ProfileDetails />
|
||||
<Suspense fallback={<h1>Loading posts...</h1>}>
|
||||
<ProfileTimeline />
|
||||
</Suspense>
|
||||
</Suspense>
|
||||
);
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
function ProfileDetails() {
|
||||
// Try to read user info, although it might not have loaded yet
|
||||
const user = resource.user.read();
|
||||
return <h1>{user.name}</h1>;
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
function ProfileTimeline() {
|
||||
// Try to read posts, although they might not have loaded yet
|
||||
const posts = resource.posts.read();
|
||||
return (
|
||||
<ul>
|
||||
{posts.map(post => (
|
||||
<li key={post.id}>{post.text}</li>
|
||||
))}
|
||||
</ul>
|
||||
);
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
In this case, the `resource.user.read()` (or `resource.posts.read()`) `throw`s a Promise until the data is available, then it returns. The `<Suspense />` component returns the `fallback` until the thrown Promise resolves (either success or fail). It seems unintuitive to `throw` a Promise, but then again, so did JSX and now it’s second nature to me. I couldn’t imagine life without it.
|
||||
|
||||
Another nifty element of Suspense is the ability to control how the UI loads based on data fetches in progress. It’s possible to wrap a bunch of thrown promises together by a Suspense so the UI waits for all of them to finish first.
|
||||
|
||||
Another option is to nest Suspense options. This allows for a gradual reveal of the UI in the event a data fetch returns earlier than other requests. It gives the developer complete control over how the UI renders. Returning to the example above in its current configuration, the `<ProfileDetails />` component will load and unlock the top level `<Suspense />` wrapper. That will render the `<ProfileDetails />` component and render the next `<Suspense>` block’s `fallback` until the components inside load. Alternatively, the `<Suspense>` block that wraps the `<ProfileTimeline />` component could be removed to produce this:
|
||||
|
||||
```jsx
|
||||
function ProfilePage() {
|
||||
return (
|
||||
<Suspense fallback={<h1>Loading profile...</h1>}>
|
||||
<ProfileDetails />
|
||||
<ProfileTimeline />
|
||||
</Suspense>
|
||||
);
|
||||
}
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
This would require both components to finish loading until they are then both revealed at the same time. The developer has complete control over the loading behaviour and can modify it with minimal changes.
|
||||
|
||||
This only covers a small slice of the upcoming changes with Concurrent Mode, but I had a bit of trouble grokking the foundations. This helped me understand how Suspense works, and now I’m excited to start learning about the rest, like Transitions!
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Professional development in 2019
|
||||
excerpt: A look back at what happened in 2019 - professionally. For me.
|
||||
tags: ["career", "growth", "personal", "react", "swift"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
2019 was a slow year for professional development. As things started to stagnate near the end of the year, I sensed it was time to move on and look for a new job. Before we talk about 2019, I wanted to revisit the goals from 2018:
|
||||
|
||||
- React Suspense
|
||||
- GraphQL
|
||||
- Team lead experience
|
||||
- Pursuing personal projects
|
||||
- Positivity
|
||||
|
||||
React Suspense is still (as of this writing) in development. I did some short exploration on what was currently available, but nothing further. I don't see Suspense being finished this year, so I won't worry about it.
|
||||
|
||||
I didn't end up learning any GraphQL in 2019 beyond a few brief explorations with tutorial content. Since 2020 has started, I've finally acquired that experience and deep learning. I'll be continuing to learn and acquire GraphQL experience. It feels good being able to look at the queries powering my blog and actually understanding them. A key concept was the idea of cursor-based pagination, also known as [Connections](https://blog.apollographql.com/explaining-graphql-connections-c48b7c3d6976).
|
||||
|
||||
Team lead experience didn't end up happening. Since getting a new job, I've sidelined that aspiration until I've gained more experience at my new workplace.
|
||||
|
||||
I did not explore any personal projects in 2019 beyond my personal blog. Hot on the heels of the new year, I started playing around with Swift -- Swift UI and UIKit.
|
||||
|
||||
I am still continually aware of my attitude and try my best to remain positive. This is not so difficult in the workplace, but outside of work it can be difficult given the current climate.
|
||||
|
||||
So what _did_ happen in 2019?
|
||||
|
||||
- Continued to gain React experience
|
||||
- Became unhappy with my current work environment
|
||||
- Got a new job
|
||||
|
||||
Professionally speaking, 2019 was one of my weakest years. I did not acquire nearly as many skills nor experience that I was searching for. I ended up stagnating. I got more experience with React and the entire ecosystem. I feel at this point it's a well-worn (but polished) tool on my belt, ready to go at a moment's notice. I've developed my own opinions on architecture, but continue to evaluate new options. The future for React looks bright, so I feel like my time invested into the ecosystem was worth it.
|
||||
|
||||
Besides React though, I did not develop anything else really new. Since writing last year's review, I worked on the same project all year. I continued to struggle and be at odds with the other development team who was in charge. We felt ignored and undermined repeatedly. I like to think I can collaborate with any team, and try to make sure everyone is happy. I could not figure out a system that worked with them. It lead to a stressful environment, with fevered calls from project managers demanding to know why XYZ feature is not done, or why the app is suddenly broken. I didn't know what to do, and due to the nature of our partnership we couldn't take the reigns. We were at their mercy.
|
||||
|
||||
I met with my managers and let them know my frustrations, but it seemed like nothing could be done. On a whim, I applied to a new agency in town thinking maybe something might come of it. Turns out, I wanted them and they wanted me. It was a match made in heaven!
|
||||
|
||||
Thankfully, I landed a new job at a company that feels amazing to work for. I am constantly surrounded by some very clever people who have a genuine passion for what they do. I have only been here for a short three months so far, but I can say the difference is night and day. I'm really excited to see where things go from here. There are many opportunities on the horizon that I can see.
|
||||
|
||||
## Stuff in 2020
|
||||
|
||||
I think 2020 should be a great year for professional development. I see the opportunity to really flex my dev muscles and get into the weeds. I'd like to focus on one thing and that's **iOS development**.
|
||||
|
||||
I've managed to make two projects so far using a combination of Swift tutorials and plenty of StackOverflow searching. Based the recommendations of my coworkers, I focused on learning UIKit and not Swift UI. I plan on going into more detail in a future post.
|
||||
|
||||
This year, I'd like to create a really dead-simple app and get it published onto the App Store. I have a few ideas in mind for what I can do.
|
||||
17
src/content/posts/2020-05-18-recently-05-2020.md
Normal file
17
src/content/posts/2020-05-18-recently-05-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: May 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
A bad habit of mine is not updating my site with some new writing. After reading Tom MacWright's "[How to blog](https://macwright.org/2019/02/06/how-to-blog.html)" (and the rest of his fantastic site), I decided that I like the idea of writing on a schedule. So, I'm going to do my darnedest to makes sure I write something at least once a month. I like the title of "Recently", so I'm opting to steal that.
|
||||
|
||||
Living during a pandemic has been weird. My mood swings pretty rampantly -- one day I'll be happy, and the next exhausted for seemingly no reason. I'm doing my best to escape with whatever I can. Usually my hobbies.
|
||||
|
||||
I've been playing [Animal Crossing](https://animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/) a ton. The game couldn't have come at a better time, honestly. Nothing goes wrong in your deserted island. It's been a fantastic creative outlet for myself. I'm losing hours consistently reshaping my island to what my idyllic paradise would be (in this case, it's mostly a forest). Popping by to say hello to all of my villagers. Stopping to admire my myriad flower gardens. It's a great way to unwind after a long day.
|
||||
|
||||
I've been really enjoying [Bknapp's Nostalgic Nintendo Beats 2](https://bknapp.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgic-nintendo-beats-2) lately. Lo-fi hip-hop is on heavy rotations these days as it helps me regain focus and keeps me in a lighter mood. From Tom MacWright's blog, I discovered [Wolf Parade](https://wolfparade.bandcamp.com/), and by playing Grand Theft Auto V ([currently free on the Epic Games Store](https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/grand-theft-auto-v/home)), I found Bass Drum of Death's [Crawling After You](https://bassdrumofdeath.bandcamp.com/track/crawling-after-you).
|
||||
|
||||
I just finished reading Neil deGrasse Tyson's [Astrophysics for People in a Hurry](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32191710-astrophysics-for-people-in-a-hurry). I found it hard to follow at times. It felt like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a beginner's book, or an advanced look. I have more than a passing fancy when it comes to astrophysics, but sometimes the pure information-dump was just too much. There was a lot of process, and some of it I just plain didn't get. I would still push Stephen Hawking's [A Brief History of Time](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3869.A_Brief_History_of_Time) as a primer into the world of astrophysics (and everything in-between). Still, I feel like it serves as a great catalyst for more learning.
|
||||
|
||||
My partner has been encouraging me to take more photos lately. I'm trying my best to take at least one photo a day, but it's been difficult when I start to get too critical of what I'm taking a photo of. It feels like there's only so much to photograph in your neighborhood, but I'm trying to not stress too much about it and just press the shutter button. It's been really exciting to reconnect with photography again.
|
||||
17
src/content/posts/2020-06-02-recently-06-2020.md
Normal file
17
src/content/posts/2020-06-02-recently-06-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: June 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
My pet project these last few weeks has been my [CHIP-8 interpreter](https://github.com/devinwl/chip-8). I've been following tutorials around the internet to try and figure things out. I've learned a lot more than I expected and even rekindled a bit of interest in hardware. I took a course in university that used an ARM processor for learning assembly language.
|
||||
|
||||
I've also been working through the [Just JavaScript](https://justjavascript.com/) course. This has been really interesting to me because I've found that my mental model up until then was inaccurate. It's going to take some effort to re-learn some things I've really ingrained into my thought process, but I'll do it.
|
||||
|
||||
I went through one of my closets that's full of hobby stuff to try and reorganize my "studio space" a little. I ended up having to dig out my old Warhammer collection. My old paints are long dried up and beyond saving, but the models are fine. I'd be lying if holding the miniatures in my hand didn't rekindle the spark. I want to paint again. So now I'm looking at picking up some Vallejo paints from a local hobby store. I'm going to try and steer clear of any GW stuff (except for the minis). Oh, and I did manage to tidy up my space too. It'll be all ready for a little painting station.
|
||||
|
||||
Music has had some heavy rotation this week with [Bass Drum of Death's self-titled album](https://bassdrumofdeath.bandcamp.com/album/bass-drum-of-death-2). Been album-hopping with [MASTER BOOT RECORD](https://masterbootrecord.bandcamp.com/music). Somehow I never took a deep dive with The White Stripes, so now that's happening. I even bought some CDs so I could rip them. I subscribe to Apple Music but has been increasingly un-interested with their offerings besides the cloud support. None of their For You material has really succeeded or resonated with me. Actually, the "Essentials" playlists are convenient jumping-on points for most artists. Music discovery is something I love but have a hard time engaging with. It's such a subjective thing and I find the algorithmic approach no good.
|
||||
|
||||
That's all for now. The world is burning. Stay safe everyone.
|
||||
49
src/content/posts/2020-07-04-recently-07-2020.md
Normal file
49
src/content/posts/2020-07-04-recently-07-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: July 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
My [CHIP-8 emulator](https://github.com/devinwl/chip-8) took a back seat last month. I haven’t made any progress on it since late May. I hope to return to it, but right now my interests have shifted to different projects.
|
||||
|
||||
I’m working on a small site re-build right now. I didn’t understand how my site’s template worked — specifically the Gatsby stuff — and wanted to gain a greater understanding. This seemed like a good opportunity to start from zero and build up to where I was, which isn’t all that complicated. The difference being I was doing it my way and could introduce parts gradually, and learn how everything works. Like learning how the engine of a car works, or what’s “under the hood”. I’d say the only major difference I’m planning on doing is using [Tailwind CSS](https://tailwindcss.com) instead of the [Typography](https://www.npmjs.com/package/typography) library. I feel like I understand it better and can grok how to build my site the way I want it. I feel like my typography settings are a little too hacky.
|
||||
|
||||
I finished the [JustJavascript](https://justjavascript.com/) course (as it is), although I think a new module is on its way in a few weeks. I really enjoyed the course and re-evaluating my mental model for JavaScript.
|
||||
|
||||
As I alluded to in my previous post, I started painting my old Warhammer miniatures again. I ended up having to buy Citadel paints after all, as I could not get the red I wanted (it’s called Mephiston Red). I’m painting some Space Marines using the Blood Angels scheme. I discovered that I missed that hobby and had so much fun painting again. I’m trying so hard to resist the temptation to buy more miniatures and paints, and try to work within the constraints I have.
|
||||
|
||||
My biggest project in the last few days has been my music collection. I have had a few days off and have decided that once-and-for-all I’m gonna organize this thing. Furthermore, I wanted to move off of Apple Music. As mentioned before I have been growing dissatisfied of Apple Music and would rather take control back. It took some time to figure out which music of mine was something I had added myself (using iTunes Match before switching over to Apple Music), and which was music I added to my library using just Apple Music. I plan to get into more detail about how I accomplished this in another post, but Smart Playlists is the secret sauce. I’ve got everything going on a Plex server at home, and then using the [Prism](https://prism-music.app/) app to play my music on my phone. Works both locally and remotely.
|
||||
|
||||
Reading wise, I’ve taken a break from my usual reading list and introduced some new material. With everything going on in the world — especially tied to George Floyd’s murder — I’ve taken a step back to listen and try to educate myself. We Canadians like to think that our “crazy neighbours to the south” are the ones having racism problems and we’ve “pretty much solved it”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have our own problems to solve here at home. Here is a sampling of some works I found enlightening (and usually shocking).
|
||||
|
||||
### [Starlight Tours](https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-138-starlight-tours-4-17-2020/)
|
||||
|
||||
> In January 2000, the bodies of two First Nations men were found frozen in a remote area of Saskatoon, Canada. It was a place where nobody walked, especially in the winter. And then, a man named Darrell Night came forward and said he had been dropped off by police on the outskirts of town, but he had made it back alive.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We speak with former police officer Ernie Louttit and reporter Dan Zakreski about the deaths of Neil Stonechild, Lawrence Wegner, and Rodney Naistus, and “starlight tours” within the Saskatoon Police Service.
|
||||
|
||||
### [What We Inherit: A Brief History of American Racism](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-what-we-inherit-a-brief-history-of-american-racism/id1441348407?i=1000477989176)
|
||||
|
||||
> The national and international protests over the death of George Floyd have generated larger and more widespread conversations about systemic racism in the United States. We hope to use our platform to help provide context and understanding around our shared moment in history, to show how our past creates our present, and to help illuminate how anti-Black racism has been passed on through our culture and politics, changing with each generation but also very much staying the same.
|
||||
|
||||
### [The Hate U Give](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give)
|
||||
|
||||
> Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
|
||||
|
||||
### [How To Be An Antiracist](https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1)
|
||||
|
||||
> Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America--but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.
|
||||
|
||||
### [The Skin We’re In](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/536075/the-skin-were-in-by-desmond-cole/9780385686341)
|
||||
|
||||
> A bracing, provocative, and perspective-shifting book from one of Canada's most celebrated and uncompromising writers, Desmond Cole. The Skin We're In will spark a national conversation, influence policy, and inspire activists.
|
||||
|
||||
I used to think that I “never saw race”, but I know now that’s bullshit. The best thing we can do though is learn from our mistakes and do better in the future. This’ll be something I’ll have to work on continually, and I plan to do that.
|
||||
|
||||
Be kind to each other, and be safe.
|
||||
|
||||
Image from [Open Doodles](https://www.opendoodles.com/compositions).
|
||||
164
src/content/posts/2020-07-26-take-the-power-back-music.md
Normal file
164
src/content/posts/2020-07-26-take-the-power-back-music.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Take The Power Back (Over My Music)
|
||||
excerpt: One guy's struggle to regain ownership of some MP3 files.
|
||||
tags: ["music", "beets", "plex"]
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
favourite: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "qKSNABST4b0", "Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back (Audio)" %}
|
||||
|
||||
When did Rage Against the Machine [get so political](https://www.nme.com/news/music/tom-morello-twitter-respond-to-people-only-just-realising-rage-against-the-machine-are-political-2685353), anyway?
|
||||
|
||||
I want to take control of my music library and be responsible for organizing and tagging all of my music files. This probably sounds like making work for the sake of work, but it’s something that I’m passionate about. Like a well-curated and organized collection of records, clothes, make-up, or books, it feels good knowing everything is there for a reason and where it should be.
|
||||
|
||||
## tl;dr
|
||||
|
||||
If you are currently using Apple Music and want your files back, here's how:
|
||||
|
||||
- Use Music.app’s Smart Playlists to filter your library into just the tracks you want (i.e. don’t “own”). Export that playlist for a master list of music to find elsewhere.
|
||||
- Forget managing your library manually and find a tool that suits your needs. My recommendation is beets. Allow that tool to reorganize your folders and redo all the tags. The more control you give the tool, the easier it is. If it doesn’t work for you, reconfigure it, or find another tool.
|
||||
- Maintain your new library by using that same tool to add new music in the future.
|
||||
|
||||
For the full story, continue reading…
|
||||
|
||||
## Why?
|
||||
|
||||
The long story short is because I want to, but here's a more nuanced answer.
|
||||
|
||||
### I wanted to be in control of my files
|
||||
|
||||
My music is important to me. While the music itself is not difficult to recover, I have painstakingly managed and tweaked the organizational structure to my preferences. I don’t want to have to do that again for any reason.
|
||||
|
||||
### I wasn’t using the features of Apple Music anymore
|
||||
|
||||
I tried using Apple Music as a discovery service, but just stopped using it. I found it wrong more often than right when it came to music it thinks I’d like. There are plenty of ways to “demo” music now, too.
|
||||
|
||||
### Apple Music was becoming too expensive for what I used it for
|
||||
|
||||
Since I wasn’t using any other features of Apple Music, it was a redundant backup (a-la iTunes Match), and for the cost it isn’t worth it.
|
||||
|
||||
### I enjoy curating and managing my music files
|
||||
|
||||
Some people out there hate having to manage files, tags, and everything in between, but I get joy out of painstakingly managing my collection. It’s fun to me.
|
||||
|
||||
### I wanted to update all my tags, album art, etc
|
||||
|
||||
My music collection spans back to the early aughts, and I know back then I was not all that concerned with organizing my collection. This is an opportunity to correct any mistakes.
|
||||
|
||||
### I wanted it to be all backed up and under my control
|
||||
|
||||
I’m serious when it comes to backing up my data. After too many serious data losses, I’ve taken a more concerned approach to backing up my data. I like to have redundant backups (on-site and off-site), and while Apple Music would suit as an off-site backup, it’s again way too expensive to justify that. If I leave Apple Music, I instantly lose access (and any record) of music I added to my library too.
|
||||
|
||||
### What if Apple lost my music?
|
||||
|
||||
I can’t prove it, but I’m certain that over the years during the transition from iTunes Match to Apple Music, somewhere down the line Apple lost some of my music. When I set out on this journey, I found random missing tracks in my library. They were not hard to replace, but to have them just disappear into the ether really sucks. [And I’m not the only one](https://tyler.io/itunes-match-failed-me/).
|
||||
|
||||
### What if Apple Music were to disappear tomorrow?
|
||||
|
||||
Apple being a trillion-dollar company makes this seem extremely unlikely, but it’s extra justification. I’m not dependent on any service or company to manage my music. I get to do it myself.
|
||||
|
||||
### I listen to music in a particular way
|
||||
|
||||
I’m pretty old-school (or at least, I think this is old-school) in that I listen to whole albums front-to-back. I’m not really a playlist guy, which seems like the trend these days. I pick my album and then leave it alone. I rarely use shuffle and skip. I want my experience to be tailored to this style of music listening.
|
||||
|
||||
## What I did
|
||||
|
||||
I separated my library into two major categories: **my music**, and **Apple Music music**.
|
||||
|
||||
**My music**: Music I acquired through CD rips, torrents, iTunes Store purchases, or something else. I acquired the files for this music. It’s either stored in my local backup or uploaded through iTunes Match years ago. I have or can get the files for this music.
|
||||
|
||||
**Apple Music music**: Music I added to my library through Apple Music. This means I have no files associated with the music and it exists purely in the cloud. When these files are downloaded they are in a DRM-protected format.
|
||||
|
||||
Unsure of how to find my Apple Music music, I started by googling when the service started, which was [June 30th, 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Music). Then I sorted my entire library by date and looked at everything before and after that date.
|
||||
|
||||
<aside>
|
||||
My first piece of Apple Music music was Foal’s “What Went Down”. I added that on July 2nd, 2015. I guess I took a few days to figure out what to add to my library?
|
||||
</aside>
|
||||
|
||||
Before we get much further, I should mention that I have over 130GB of music (somewhere around 19,000 songs). Sorting by the Date Added field showed me that I had about 6,098 songs to comb over. I knew that mixed into those 6,000+ songs were music I had the files to. I needed a way to filter those tracks out. Now what?
|
||||
|
||||
Well, turns out iTunes — sorry — Music(.app) — has a handy feature called Smart Playlists. Thanks to a tip from [Tyler Hall](https://tyler.io), you can use Smart Playlists to find any music in your library that is not:
|
||||
|
||||
- Purchased (came from iTunes Store)
|
||||
- Matched (uploaded and updated using iTunes Match)
|
||||
- Uploaded (uploaded tracks saved using iTunes Match)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I also added a filter to show music only from May 18th 2018. This date is important because it was the day I re-subscribed to Apple Music after not using it past the free trial. That cut down my list to 2,221 songs. Thus, I had my Apple Music music.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I also made another Smart Playlist to find all of my Purchased music (1,107 songs), and downloaded those. A grand total of about 3,300 songs from Apple.
|
||||
|
||||
Any music that was marked as Matched or Uploaded I had files to, so that cut down my work significantly.
|
||||
|
||||
At this point I started toying around with automation ideas — maybe I could use something like [youtube-dl](https://ytdl-org.github.io/youtube-dl/index.html) to automatically find the list of songs I’m missing and add them to my library. I decided the time I’d have to invest though would be on par with how long it would take me to manually generate a nice `.csv` or list of albums to find, so opted not to go that route. Instead, I used the Export Playlist feature (File > Library > Export Playlist…) to dump the playlist and then convert it to a `.csv` file using tabs as the separator.
|
||||
|
||||
From there I grouped everything up by album using a pivot table in Excel, which gave me my master list of Apple Music music. This would be music I’d have to find elsewhere and get my own version of. I hope to use [Bandcamp](https://bandcamp.com) as much as possible. I’m planning on writing a post someday about purchasing music fairly — as in giving the most of your hard-earned dollars to the musicians that make the music. Bandcamp is one of the best in that camp, and deserve your money. Getting back on track…
|
||||
|
||||
Downloading all of my Purchased tracks turned out to be more difficult than I thought. Music(.app) for whatever reason likes to fail when it comes to downloading files, and usually silently. There were a few errors reported, but many more files failed to download. It took some trial and error (probably an hour or so), but after some manual fiddling I got what I needed.
|
||||
|
||||
One caveat is that any tracks that were Matched (using iTunes Match) were likely swapped from MP3 to AAC (`.m4a`). I personally don’t care enough about fidelity to force one over the other, but this will turn out to be an issue later. If that is a concern, make sure to note any `.m4a` files.
|
||||
|
||||
## Music Tagging, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The MusicBrainz
|
||||
|
||||
This step I knew I wanted to use as many automated tools as possible. There are likely a ton of databases out there for music, but I ended up liking [MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org) the most. Especially because they have an app — [Picard](https://picard.musicbrainz.org) — that makes re-tagging very seamless. This is especially useful for YouTube rips as they don’t have any IDv3 tags, but Picard can scan by audio signature and match that way instead! Really cool. It wasn’t always right, but it was generally very close most of the time.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
This worked pretty well at the start, but it was a fairly manual process. I’d have to:
|
||||
|
||||
- Drag-n-drop everything into Picard
|
||||
- Click Scan
|
||||
- Wait for results, then manually verify them
|
||||
- Correct any issues
|
||||
- Click Save
|
||||
- Drag-n-drop the correctly tagged files into my library, making sure it was organized properly
|
||||
|
||||
I also didn’t love the way Picard would tag some fields, like genre. Admittedly the genre tag is so subjective there is no standard way to accomplish it, but I had my preferences. By default it would ignore certain genre tags like “shoegaze” because it wasn’t on their whitelist, and replace it with “rock” or “alternative”. I wanted something more granular.
|
||||
|
||||
What I really needed was an opinionated tool that followed the same structure I wanted, or at least let me tell it what I wanted. I found it, and it’s called [beets](https://beets.io). Getting a Python app set up on macOS Catalina turned out to be a bit of a process (and not something I’ll document here) but I got it running eventually.
|
||||
|
||||
I won’t bore you with all the features of beets, but I used it because it did everything above but automatically (where possible). Beets still requires some manual intervention when it’s not sure how to proceed. For example:
|
||||
|
||||
- The existing tags are so wonky it has no idea what the music is
|
||||
- The existing tags match multiple albums
|
||||
- There are missing tracks
|
||||
|
||||
Beets will prompt you with the issue and you can decide how to proceed. It has smart defaults and worked quite well. I don’t think it was designed to import an entire library at once, and did crash on me a couple of times. No big deal though, because beets supports [resuming an interrupted import](https://beets.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/config.html#resume).
|
||||
|
||||
It also had a more sensible genre tagging system, and a [plethora of plugins](https://beets.readthedocs.io/en/stable/plugins/index.html#using-plugins). I ended up using:
|
||||
|
||||
- LastGenre — gets the genre tag from [last.fm](https://last.fm) (and has a larger whitelist than Picard’s)
|
||||
- FetchArt — downloads a copy of the album art based on the matched album release
|
||||
- EmbedArt — similar to FetchArt but embeds the art as part of the IDv3 tags
|
||||
|
||||
In hindsight I would’ve mapped my new library to a non-NAS drive first (then copied it all over wholesale later), as transfer speeds were sometimes slow when mass importing such a large volume of files.
|
||||
|
||||
What I quickly discovered though was that _a lot_ of my music was missing tracks from albums. I ended up having to keep a separate spreadsheet of what I called my “Music Errata”. Turns out in some cases I was genuinely missing files, but the culprit most of the time seemed to be because of a mixture of filetypes. Remember when I mentioned noting any `.m4a` files? Here's where it becomes important.
|
||||
|
||||
Beets seems to handle albums of either `.mp3` or `.m4a` files just fine, but when they were mixed together, it would pick `.mp3`s and ignore `.m4a`s (or vice-versa). I found a bash script online that uses `ffmpeg` to convert any `.m4a` files in a folder to `.mp3`, and off I went.
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
for foo in *.m4a; do ffmpeg -i "$foo" -acodec libmp3lame -aq 0 "${foo%.m4a}.mp3"; done
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
This script will convert any `.m4a` files in the current directory to `.mp3` using VBR in the highest quality.
|
||||
|
||||
Other missing tracks were due to failed Music(.app) downloads, or in rare cases I was genuinely missing some songs. Off I went to acquire the odd missing track.
|
||||
|
||||
With how long it took to import my whole library, plus my running list of errata (which was about 50-70 different albums), the process took me well over a week to finish. After the initial import went through, I ran through my errata list and corrected any errors — this step took about 2-3 days since it involved a lot of manual work and very little automation.
|
||||
|
||||
## Final Result
|
||||
|
||||
After probably two weeks of work — I have it. An organized, properly tagged music library. Not a big deal to everyone, but to me it means everything.
|
||||
|
||||
What am I doing with it now? My NAS supports running Plex, so I can serve my entire library though my NAS which pipes into Plex. I can access it outside of the network. I can search by whatever tag I can imagine, and everything Just Makes Sense™ now.
|
||||
|
||||
I still have my huge list of music to re-acquire, and have since been slowly chipping away at it. Adding new music is super easy with beets: `beet import <directory of music>`. Beets does the rest.
|
||||
|
||||
A nice side-effect of poring over my music library has been re-discovering music I had long forgotten about. It’s been a lot of fun to revisit artists that haven’t had a listen in over 10 years.
|
||||
|
||||
A lot of time invested, but so worth it to me. I hope this can serve as a rough guide for someone in a similar situation as myself in the future. For anyone stuck and wanting their music collection reclaimed, please get in touch. I want to help! Good luck.
|
||||
63
src/content/posts/2020-08-02-recently-08-2020.md
Normal file
63
src/content/posts/2020-08-02-recently-08-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: August 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve been focusing on my mental health lately. It’s been largely ignored and I’ve decided I need to fix that.
|
||||
|
||||
I mentioned the music library update last time and I’m happy to report that it’s done. A [more detailed post](/posts/take-the-power-back-music) is available if you’re curious about my process.
|
||||
|
||||
At work I concluded work on a big project for the last few months. I personally found the work engaging and technically challenging, but the client I did not enjoy. I’ll be happy to take a breather and get started with a new project soon.
|
||||
|
||||
## Site Upgrade
|
||||
|
||||
The site upgrade progresses. I decided on the tech stack pretty quickly. I ended up dropping [Tailwind CSS](https://tailwindcss.com) in favour of [Theme UI](https://theme-ui.com). I really liked how Theme UI worked. It made sense in my head, and came with some lovely demo themes to play with. I’ve ended up more or less copying [their docs pages](https://theme-ui.com/getting-started) with some small tweaks. I’m moving up to the world of [MDX](https://mdxjs.com) for my content pages, which is nice since I can splice in some React components when needed. It reminds me of [BBCodes from phpBB](https://www.phpbb.com/community/help/bbcode), or [Shortcodes from WordPress](https://wordpress.com/support/shortcodes/).
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve been crawling the web lately looking at other developer’s personal sites and I decided that I need to put in more effort into mine. It’s my [digital garden](https://joelhooks.com/digital-garden) and I want it to reflect myself better. I’m trying to stretch my creative muscles and come up with a rudimentary design system. I’m currently trying to finalize a colour scheme. I’ve decided on my typography (fonts are just device defaults). All spacing, margins, etc were decided for me thanks to Theme UI’s defaults.
|
||||
|
||||
Speaking of typography — I spent a lot of time [reading up on the subject](https://practicaltypography.com) and really try to flex my skills here. I wanted my typography to look the same on almost any device and maintain the same character spacing across varying screen widths. It’s a small detail that I care deeply about.
|
||||
|
||||
## Shaving
|
||||
|
||||
In personal care news, I decided to start using a [safety razor](https://www.getrockwell.ca/products/rockwell-6c-razor) for my shaving. It has been an entirely rewarding experience. It’s turned the act of shaving into a more meditative activity for me. There aren’t a ton of steps, but I really enjoy following my internal checklist and taking my time with the activity. Not to mention that I’ve never had a smoother shave with zero razor burn. I would highly recommend anyone out there that needs a close shave on their face to give it a shot. I am planning to write a detailed post on proper face (and hair) care targeted toward men. Based on my own experience and asking around with my (male) friends, there are definitely some misconceptions and a lack of education on that front.
|
||||
|
||||
## Religion
|
||||
|
||||
The subject of religion has been on my mind a lot lately. I am not particularly seeking any religion currently, but its existence in the lifetime of humankind has been an interest of mine. It started with me asking my partner if what I called an “ethical religion” — that is, a religion that is comfortable with the advances of science — could exist. What I didn’t know at the time was that this isn’t a radical idea at all. There are many religions out there that demonstrate this.
|
||||
|
||||
I ended up asking some friends of mine about their faith and what it meant to them. What I found out immediately was that my idea of an “ethical religion” already exists. I think a large part of my ignorance stemmed from a lack of exploration and looking at religion from the lens of pop culture. It casts a wide shadow as if to suggest that every Christian is a Bible-thumping maniac who distrusts modern medicine and believes only in the power of God. Not to say those people exist — I’ve seen them myself — but your average person has a far more nuanced relationship with religion.
|
||||
|
||||
For example, there are sects of Christianity that are comfortable with the idea of gay marriage, or rights for women, or birth control. Despite what the Bible may say, they don’t necessarily follow it to the letter, but more in spirit. For some, religion is a source of purpose — to help give their life meaning and a reason for being here. Frankly I’m really embarrassed that I was so dismissive of religion.
|
||||
|
||||
## Reading
|
||||
|
||||
### [The Trial - Franz Kafka](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17690.The_Trial)
|
||||
|
||||
Tried to read this years ago, but felt the writing style so cramped and physically difficult to read. I’m trying again in the hopes that I can read and enjoy it. So far, so good.
|
||||
|
||||
### [The Skin We’re In - Desmond Cole](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50870424-the-skin-we-re-in)
|
||||
|
||||
A pretty damning read on how far Canada has to go on dealing with systemic racism. Like many Canadians, I knew things were bad, but this spelt out how truly bad it is. If the situation in the US was not reason enough to convince me that we need to defund the police, then this is it. While the book was not setting out to necessarily claim this message, that was my own conclusion. The police seemed to be a recurring undercurrent to the issues POC face today.
|
||||
|
||||
Two snippets that really struck me:
|
||||
|
||||
### [Ryan Reid fatally shooting Jermaine Carby](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jermaine-carby-inquest-peel-regional-police-1.3581519)
|
||||
|
||||
> Peel Regional Police officer Ryan Reid was never charged for fatally shooting Jermaine Carby, \[...] during a traffic stop in September 2014. \[Reid] wouldn’t have done anything differently — he said with Carby’s mother and family members in the hearing room.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Officer Louie Cerqua on shooting and killing Michael Eligon](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-officer-who-shot-michael-eligon-feared-for-his-life-1.2448192)
|
||||
|
||||
> “With the high stress situation like that, you’re going to resort to your firearm, it’s the only real option you have.”
|
||||
|
||||
## Music
|
||||
|
||||
[George Clanton and Nick Hexum](https://georgeclanton.bandcamp.com/album/george-clanton-nick-hexum)
|
||||
|
||||
I love hearing Nick Hexum — he has such a unique vocal style that I can always point out. Together with Clanton they form the perfect summer blend of vaporwave and chillwave. Couldn’t gave come out at a better time.
|
||||
|
||||
[Stonerror - Widow in Black](https://stonerror.bandcamp.com/album/widow-in-black)
|
||||
|
||||
It’s probably a tired comparison to make — they have a song called Kings of the Stone Age after all — but their sound reminds me so much of Queens of the Stone Age in all the best ways. Kyuss is probably a more apt comparison, actually. Heavy, crunchy, fuzzy guitar riffs that linger on blissfully, spacey vocals, wandering through time. It’s all here. And not to judge an album by its cover, but this one rules.
|
||||
|
||||
That’s all for now. Take care out there. ✌️
|
||||
29
src/content/posts/2020-08-16-give-in-to-feel-good.md
Normal file
29
src/content/posts/2020-08-16-give-in-to-feel-good.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Give In to Feel Good
|
||||
excerpt: Procrastination isn’t just about laziness, is it?
|
||||
tags: ["procrastination", "mental health"]
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Procrastination is something I struggle with every single day. I find it often strikes as critical thoughts:
|
||||
|
||||
- This will turn out horribly, better to not even start.
|
||||
- This will take forever to learn, why not do something fun?
|
||||
- Practicing is so boring and hard, let’s do something easier.
|
||||
|
||||
I used to think that procrastination was because of sloth, or laziness. Now I realize it’s different — it’s negative emotions. Procrastination is how one manages these negative emotions.
|
||||
|
||||
The thoughts I get all the time are like a form of anxiety. I don’t cope well with these emotions. My natural response is to give in now to feel good. I’d rather reward myself over the short-term rather than the long-term. I know that the long-term reward is what I want, and yet I find myself going after the short-term reward instead. It feels good immediately.
|
||||
|
||||
[This thread on Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24120275) prompted my journey into my own procrastination, and [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhFQA998WiA) from the thread helped me look at procrastination in a different way. This was a lightbulb moment for me. To me my source of procrastination is not myself being lazy or uninterested, but being critical. I’m a perfectionist (and I’ve come to realize I don’t like that), and I am plagued by reasons I shouldn’t start a task. This helps me at least identify the problem.
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "mhFQA998WiA", "Teaching Talk: Helping Students Who Procrastinate (Tim Pychyl)" %}
|
||||
|
||||
I have some actionable goals that I want to try:
|
||||
|
||||
1. Break any prospective task into a concrete goal. “Work on a blog post” is vague and hard to measure, but “write a paragraph about procrastination” is more structured and easy to track.
|
||||
2. Remind myself of the feeling I get when I accomplish a task. It might feel good to give in right away, but remember the feeling of sitting down and doing the work and feeling great afterward. Use that as a form of motivation.
|
||||
3. Don’t forget what my long-term goal is with a given task. For example, practicing anatomy in drawing is working toward a long-term goal of being able to draw from imagination.
|
||||
4. Taking a deliberately sloppy start to “get momentum going” is better than doing nothing at all. If the sloppy start doesn’t go anywhere — well, at least I gave it an honest effort. Try to ignore my inner perfectionist and show up.
|
||||
|
||||
Now comes the long and arduous task of working on it. Then again, maybe just one more self-help YouTube video...
|
||||
77
src/content/posts/2020-09-02-recently-09-2020.md
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77
src/content/posts/2020-09-02-recently-09-2020.md
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|
|
@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: September 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Been feeling kind of low lately. Struggling to feel engaged and get started on some of my personal projects. Facing my inner demons as it were, and trying to get back on my feet. On the other hand, I’m working hard on my personal fitness, so that’s going well! 💪
|
||||
|
||||
## Work
|
||||
|
||||
In a bit of downtime at the moment, so myself and a few other coworkers got to work building a Slack app for a non-profit organization. It’s been a really enjoyable project so far! I’ve been able to learn so much new tech, and get to flex my leadership muscles a bit. We just had a demo and they loved it! I’m looking forward to where this goes.
|
||||
|
||||
## Playing
|
||||
|
||||
Besides Animal Crossing, here are some games I played this month.
|
||||
|
||||
### A Short Hike
|
||||
|
||||
A simple game that reminds me of adventuring in the backwoods of BC when I was younger (even though A Short Hike technically takes place in Ottawa). A game with a simple premise (get to the top of a mountain) has a lot of charm and character, and plenty to do too. There is no map, so you’ll be relying on pure exploration to get the most out of this game. There is plenty to find, be it Treasure Maps, Golden Feathers, or a variety of mini-games to play. The visuals harken back to the days of early 3D (especially PlayStation with the chunky pixels), which instantly transports me into a simpler time. Everything is cute and cuddly, and gives those warm, cozy vibes (that we could all use). The world drew me in, and even after finishing my main “objective”, I am going back for more. There is a lot to explore and uncover. At the same time though, if you decided to end your adventure after the peak, you’re still left with a fun little distraction that is worth the price of entry.
|
||||
|
||||
### Spiritfarer
|
||||
|
||||
This game reminds me of the show The Good Place, but with a more somber tone. It’s a meditative management game with a whole lot of the human element to it. Each spirit you take on has their own wants and desires — things they would like to do before they pass through the Everdoor. As the name would suggest, this is the door you pass on to the great beyond.
|
||||
|
||||
You end up having to take care of a small farm and kitchen in order to keep them fed, and then harvest resources to build other structures on your ever-growing boat. There’s never a shortage of things to do, but it also never feels like there’s any great pressure to get things done. The game is happy to go at your own pace.
|
||||
|
||||
## Watching
|
||||
|
||||
### Murdoch Mysteries
|
||||
|
||||
Murdoch Mysteries stars the titular William Murdoch — detective for the Toronto Constabulary during the turn of the (20th) century. The series follows Murdoch and the constabulary as they solve various police cases, typically gruesome murders.
|
||||
|
||||
Apparently I never like a TV show immediately, because this one at first glance struck me as a bit uninteresting. My partner would have it on in the background, and I would tune in every now and then and kind of roll my eyes and continue whatever I was doing. Soon though I found myself slowly getting sucked into the show, starting to ask about characters (what’s Constable Crabtree doing now? What’s the Inspector talking about?), and following larger plot points. The real kicker was when James Gillies started to become the big bad and a recurring nemesis for Murdoch, and before I knew it I found myself fully enveloped into the show.
|
||||
|
||||
It helps that Murdoch is a giant nerd, and he and George get to regularly geek out about whatever new invention in their current focus; whether it be something the detective has concocted to help solve the current case, or new contraptions like the automobile.
|
||||
|
||||
Without a doubt my favourite character is George Crabtree — dutiful partner to Murdoch. The two are practically inseparable and form a charming duo. I really feel for George. He tries very hard to live up to the detective’s name and attempts to impress him at every opportunity. He succeeds just as much as blunders, and I just love it. Not to mention that it’s produced by the CBC, so it’s good ol’ fashioned Canadian entertainment.
|
||||
|
||||
### [What is Quakerism?](https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=E8RDjg0Mhyw)
|
||||
|
||||
Continuing with my exploration into religion, my partner sent me this video from Jessica Kellgren-Fozard on Quakerism. If there was any religion I felt like exploring, this one really resonates with me. An emphasis on inclusivity and belonging, and a sense of community are all things I can get behind. There is no sense of (formal) leadership, but rather everyone is equal. Fun fact: that famous oat company stole their name.
|
||||
|
||||
## Reading
|
||||
|
||||
### [My Fave is Problematic: Kill la Kill](https://www.animefeminist.com/my-fave-is-problematic-kill-la-kill/)
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve fallen off of the anime fandom in a huge way in the last few years. I was tired of the tropes, especially the consistent mistreatment of women in most shows. That’s not to say they are all guilty of problematic content, but there are more that do have the content than those that don’t. This article helped articulate my feelings better than I could. I think it also leads into another discussion point: can we enjoy problematic media? I think the answer differs for everyone, but it’s a fun topic to explore.
|
||||
|
||||
### [The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6391876-the-big-leap)
|
||||
|
||||
These days I would style myself as a recovering addict when it comes to self-help books. There never is (and never was) a single trick to turn my life around. I’m increasingly wary of the entire industry, as I’m now certain that not everyone is looking to help people out. I think these kinds of books can be helpful as a springboard, but a lot seem to parrot the same advice, only phrased differently using the author’s writing style. This book largely seems to follow that trend. I’m frankly tired of hearing about how the author overcame adversity when the adversity is so disconnected with what your average person faces. The amount of famous people (read: white billionaires) he’s helped is numerous and wants to remind us quite often. I don’t care. The author loves to use chirpy terms like “Zone of Genius” non-ironically, and it’s very grating. These hokey-sounding terms cause me to view their ideas with increased skepticism.
|
||||
|
||||
Tone aside though, I think there are nuggets of truth buried inside. The “Upper Limit Problem”, or the idea that we self-sabotage when feeling good, rings true for me. I think the notion that we deliberately get ourselves sick is ridiculous (the author recounts a situation where a patient deliberately gave himself laryngitis), but I do notice that I have a tendency to start criticizing myself, or being antagonistic once things get good in my life. It can be helpful to be aware and acknowledge when this happens.
|
||||
|
||||
While the term “Zone of Genius” makes me roll my eyes, I think the concept is solid. The Zone of Genius is described as something in life that always brings you joy, even if it’s considered work (i.e. your job). You’ll always feel energized and ready to tackle problems in this space. It supercharges your brain and gets you motivated.
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
### [Death Grips - Year of the Snitch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Vwn3pxUPg)
|
||||
|
||||
I remember trying to get into Death Grips way back when The Money Store was the new hotness, but their brand of aggressive and in-your-face hip hop was too much for my budding musical tastes. Coming back nearly a decade later though, and I can’t help but love what’s going on here. The raw energy pouring from this group can be too much for some — not in the “you just don’t get it” hipster sense, but in an actual “auditory overload” sense. You’ve gotta be in the right headspace for it, and every now and then you need to stop and breathe. In the moment though, it’s pure bliss. Now I get to go all the way back and explore their remaining catalogue.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Lady Gaga - Born This Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wagn8Wrmzuc)
|
||||
|
||||
I “stumbled” upon Lady Gaga because I was forced to for a university class. We were tasked with exploring music that we would not normally listen to. I opted to search YouTube one day for the first top 40 pop artist that came to mind — this being somewhere around 2010 so Lady Gaga it was. The first song I clicked on was a music video for “Judas”. As it turns out that song is an absolute banger and from then on I was a Gaga convert.
|
||||
|
||||
Going thrift shopping one weekend, I stumbled upon a CD copy of Born This Way for a buck. Why not? I ripped it and added it to my library. I don’t think I’ve listened to the whole album before, but it’s real good! Everything is so catchy. I’m not known to belt out tunes, but I can’t help but join in and mouth (maybe even sing a little) the lyrics.
|
||||
|
||||
### [No Joy - Motherhood](https://nojoy.bandcamp.com/album/motherhood)
|
||||
|
||||
I haven’t more than a full listen or two yet, but No Joy (unlike their name) provides plenty of shoegaze joy yet again. I hope I can see them live again sometime in the future, once the world… y’know, stops being crazy.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Chilly Gonzales - Solo Piano II](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0122C1147CDF8B77)
|
||||
|
||||
A perfect “rainy day” record. Gonzales is a master of the piano, and proof that it will always be my favourite instrument.
|
||||
|
||||
Until next time. 👋
|
||||
48
src/content/posts/2020-09-13-whats-next.md
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48
src/content/posts/2020-09-13-whats-next.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: What’s Next?
|
||||
excerpt: From one framework to another.
|
||||
tags: ["nextjs", "gatsbyjs", "tailwind"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
This site is now powered by NextJS. This is the site rebuild I have been talking about for some time, but it didn’t turn out the way I was planning.
|
||||
|
||||
## Why NextJS?
|
||||
|
||||
Short answer: because I wanted to learn it.
|
||||
|
||||
Long answer: I wasn’t completely satisfied with the GatsbyJS ecosystem. It lead me to learn GraphQL and a little bit of Webpack, but it felt largely like a black box to me.
|
||||
|
||||
More recently though I read about [some troubling details][gatsby-contractor] a contractor faced while working for GatsbyJS. I was not at all impressed with how GatsbyJS handled this. Their CEO’s [empty apology in an open letter][gatsby-open-letter] reeks of “techbro culture” to me. The whole situation is a real mess. Given that I’ve personally been unsatisfied with the ecosystem, this seemed like a good time to ditch GatsbyJS in favor of something else. But what...?
|
||||
|
||||
For a while I toyed with the idea of making it myself, but that seemed like too much work for how little I need. I’m not that interested in tweaking every aspect of my build process. I like to find opinionated tools that align with my goals instead of making my own.
|
||||
|
||||
_Aside: An opinionated tool in my case is a framework or library that has opted to make some choices or “sensible defaults” that align with how I would potentially use it. I don’t need to spend time reconfiguring everything to work how I want it to._
|
||||
|
||||
I tried to find some lightweight frameworks that read Markdown (or MDX) files and create HTML files from them. After reading [this post][gatsby-vs-next], I was convinced that I should try out NextJS. More importantly the post told me how NextJS worked. It made total sense to me:
|
||||
|
||||
- Read the files we want
|
||||
- Use remark to convert them to HTML
|
||||
- Build pages from that output
|
||||
|
||||
Done. Simple. No need to add GraphQL. Right from the get-go everything made sense to me, which I can’t necessarily say for GatsbyJS.
|
||||
|
||||
## What about Tailwind or Theme UI?
|
||||
|
||||
I previously stated that I was planning on using [TailwindCSS][tailwind] and then later [Theme UI][theme-ui] to help style my site. I ended up flitting between the two for some time before deciding that they were too heavy-handed and too complex for what I needed. It also felt like I ended up fighting with the default style, trying to remove style I didn’t like. This sounds like an opinionated tool that doesn’t align with my goals. I opted to instead do my styling by hand. I only use a small set of the standard HTML elements, so I needn’t worry about making sure every single element is styled properly. Instead I opted to:
|
||||
|
||||
- Set the font to something I like (in this case all system defaults)
|
||||
- Set some CSS variables with a color scheme I designed
|
||||
- Gradually style every element using my current content as a test
|
||||
- Add some font scaling
|
||||
|
||||
Called it done there.
|
||||
|
||||
Now that I have the basic framework down, I plan to flex my developer muscles and slowly introduce some of my own character and add delight into my site. I want to make it a fun place to visit.
|
||||
|
||||
As much fun as a website can be, anyway. 😄
|
||||
|
||||
[gatsby-contractor]: https://clacified.com/tech-science/news/nat-alison-testimonial-about-gatsby
|
||||
[gatsby-open-letter]: https://www.gatsbyjs.com/blog/open-letter-to-gatsby-community
|
||||
[gatsby-vs-next]: https://jaredpalmer.com/gatsby-vs-nextjs
|
||||
[tailwind]: https://tailwindcss.com
|
||||
[theme-ui]: https://theme-ui.com
|
||||
83
src/content/posts/2020-10-04-recently-10-2020.md
Normal file
83
src/content/posts/2020-10-04-recently-10-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: October 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
It’s been a rough month, and it’s only the 4th. The [six-month COVID-19 wall][covid-wall] is hitting me hard. It’s hard to feel like doing more than existing right now. I’m glad I’ve been talking to a counsellor about things. It’s hard to even get the motivation to write this post.
|
||||
|
||||
Something I’ve learned is that when faced with a daunting task, it’s important for me to break things down into smaller, manageable chunks. It helps curb the anxiety a bit, especially when it’s something not work related. Larger and vague goals do nothing but generate anxiety for me. It’s actually a bit of an enjoyable activity for me to spend a bit of time to compartmentalize everything.
|
||||
|
||||
I recently went on a nice date night with my partner, and it was desperately needed. I’m a bit of a homebody, but even I was feeling a bit trapped. It was nice to get out (and stay outside) and enjoy my town.
|
||||
|
||||
I’m starting up piano lessons again with my previous teacher, and I’m surprisingly excited to get started again. Applying what I learned from counselling, it will be important for me to make sure my piano-related goals are broken down, small, and actionable.
|
||||
|
||||
## Development
|
||||
|
||||
Recently wrapped two projects at work. One was a marketing site for a client we previously worked with. It had a very short timeline and I didn’t estimate it properly, so it lead to some weekend work. It’s now the weekend after it wrapped and I’m feeling worn out.
|
||||
|
||||
A few weeks earlier, another project wrapped. This was a Slack app for a non-profit organization. The goal of the app is to send newsletter notifications to users inside a workplace. The organization is moving fast to develop “workspace plans” for companies, and this was a case of great timing and availability on our end. I’m hoping it will be out of private beta soon and we can get more users! It will be really exciting to see it out in the wild.
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve gone hard into the world of [Vim][vim] — [Neovim][neovim] specifically. It’s a daunting text editor to learn, but once you get a handle on the initial movement controls it feels very powerful. A small number of plugins have made it like VS Code, but faster. I started learning vim because I’m giving a cloud development environment a trial run. I don’t want to use a virtual desktop, so I’m looking at a text-based prompt. I’ve always toyed around using vim, but now I’m fully invested. It’s been a lot of fun painfully tweaking my setup to have it work just so. Here’s my [`.vimrc`][vimrc], if you’re curious.
|
||||
|
||||
## Social Cooling
|
||||
|
||||
People tend to crook an eye at me when I tell them I don’t have a Facebook account or avoid social media like the plague. I’ve struggled to explain my reasons without it sounding utterly confusing or smarmy. Then I discovered this site called [Social Cooling][social-cooling]. I won’t try to summarize the site but instead urge you to give it a read if you’re feeling like Big Brother from 1984 is becoming closer and closer to reality.
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
Another new month means another Bandcamp Friday. I didn’t waste any time and secured some cool new stuff! And set my sights onto what I’d like to get next month.
|
||||
|
||||
### [DANCE WITH THE DEAD — Entire Discography][dwtd]
|
||||
|
||||
Champs of the darksynth arena. Anything from their back catalog would feel right at home in an 80s slasher flick. My favorites are THE SHAPE and NEAR DARK, but practically anything is great. They haven’t put out much material from the aforementioned THE SHAPE in 2016, but here’s hoping 2020 and beyond brings more.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Fleet Foxes - Shore][shore]
|
||||
|
||||
Been a while since their 2012 release Helplessness Blues (which seems apt right now, actually), and I couldn’t be happier to see the group making more. I’ve only given it a handful of listens so far, but this is without a doubt some of their best.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Meltt - Swim Slowly][meltt]
|
||||
|
||||
A little group from Vancouver that makes some class eletronic/psychedelic/new wave/lofi music. I stumbled upon them after they came up on YouTube’s autoplay (I think after DRAB MAJESTY, another band worth your time), and I’m so glad for that. It’s cool to find an artist you love not far from your own home town, and makes me think I should dig deeper for more local bands. There’s so much music out there, more than I realize, and tons of it is happening right around me.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension][sufjan]
|
||||
|
||||
I wouldn’t consider myself a follower of his stuff, but hearing “America” from the album sold me on it and I snap bought it. Still got a lot of stuff to go through, but excited to dig into this one.
|
||||
|
||||
### [Street Cleaner - Annihilation][sc]
|
||||
|
||||
One part darksynth, one part industrial, and just a dash of outrun. Such a phenomenal pumping album front to back. Feels like the perfect soundtrack to a gritty, cyberpunk future where the 80s never went out of style. As it turns out — it’s a video game now, too!
|
||||
|
||||
### [City Girl - Somnoloent Nova][city-girl]
|
||||
|
||||
Lately I’ve found it hard to decide what I want to listen to. Thankfully, there is always “24/7 anime girl lofi beats to chill and listen to” that helps decide for me and keep me focused. Sometimes though things get tough and that music helps keep me grounded, and think of better times.
|
||||
|
||||
”Somnolent Nova” is that. It’s just fantastic, chill tunes to keep you going, or help you kick back. A nice dash to jazz to keep the listener engaged, but not distracted.
|
||||
|
||||
### Podcasts
|
||||
|
||||
I wanted to highlight one particular episode as it pertains to my interests in several ways: Reply All’s [The Snapchat Thief][snapchat-thief]. Particularly the parts about securing your accounts and managing the information that’s available about you. I take great strides to help cull the information flow wherever possible, so the episode was kind of like vindication for me after my friends typically roll their eyes at my “paranoia”. On the other hand, it’s also a good way to point out that my security is only as good as my weakest link. If my friends are not as savvy as I, and I choose to share some private information with them, then it’s safe to say it’s out there in some form or another.
|
||||
|
||||
## Reading
|
||||
|
||||
My pile of books — digital or otherwise — never stops growing. I flit between books like my dog flits between his favorite toy. Which is to say, I am often reading something different every day.
|
||||
|
||||
Right now it’s [Omoiyari: The Japanese Art of Compassion by Erin Niimi Longhurst][omoiyari]. Self-compassion is something I struggle with on the daily. It hasn’t been the most revealing book, but there was one part that I liked — the concept of “_zakka_”. As per usual there is no literal English word for it, but my understanding was that it was a sort of celebration of our miscellaneous, mundane things. For example, in the book, the author has a particular watering can that is gold and with a large, narrow spout. It is otherwise completely ordinary, but to the author it has a special sort of meaning. To borrow the Kondo parlance, it sparks joy. It’s not an antique, but it’s not particularly expensive either. It lead me to think about some items in my life that would fit under the category of _zakka_.
|
||||
|
||||
Something that immediately came to mind is my Lamy Safari fountain pen. I don’t know what it is about this pen, but whenever I hold it, I just feel good. It writes like a dream, and with my special color of ink, everything looks so beautiful (even in my horrible writing). The tedious and slow process of filling up ink ends up being a rewarding experience as I take each step carefully, ensuring that my pen is clean and that I get the correct amount of ink. I love to go on and on about this pen. Tying into an element of Japanese folklore, I feel like a benevolent _yokai_ has decided to live inside my pen.
|
||||
|
||||
What about you, dear reader? Is there some otherwise mundane item in your life that brings you utter joy every time you hold it? Perhaps it evokes a feeling of nostalgia. An item to anyone else would have little meaning, but to you it means everything.
|
||||
|
||||
[covid-wall]: https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/23/how-to-push-through-six-month-coronavirus-wall-13309340/
|
||||
[vim]: https://www.vim.org
|
||||
[neovim]: https://neovim.io
|
||||
[vimrc]: https://gist.github.com/devinwl/e8fc207bef247bae57d9c86990106b91
|
||||
[social-cooling]: https://www.socialcooling.com
|
||||
[snapchat-thief]: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/v4he6k
|
||||
[omoiyari]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52848030-omoiyari
|
||||
[dwtd]: https://dancewiththedead.bandcamp.com
|
||||
[shore]: https://fleetfoxes.bandcamp.com/album/shore
|
||||
[meltt]: https://meltt.bandcamp.com/album/swim-slowly
|
||||
[sufjan]: https://music.sufjan.com/album/the-ascension
|
||||
[sc]: https://streetcleaner.bandcamp.com/album/annihilation
|
||||
[city-girl]: https://city-girl.bandcamp.com/album/somnolent-nova
|
||||
93
src/content/posts/2020-11-06-recently-11-2020.md
Normal file
93
src/content/posts/2020-11-06-recently-11-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: November 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Well, now it’s November. That happened. Here’s some things that caught my interest this month.
|
||||
|
||||
## Hades
|
||||
|
||||
Really enjoyed my time with the latest from Supergiant — [Hades][hades]. It’s been in early access for a while now, and finally dropped in October. It has all the polish and finesse you’d expect, and all the fun too. I tend to avoid roguelikes — games that use some (or all) of the concepts from the original Rogue, like permadeath (losing your character forever), random maps and items, etc. Hades does away with permadeath (mostly), and every run ends up feeling like you’re progressing anyway. The items (boons) you find along the way are all lost when you die, but there are currencies like Darkness and Gems that persist through death. These can be used for permanent upgrades that increase your power level gradually. It stops the game from feeling like you’re throwing stuff at the wall and hoping it sticks, and more like taking a step up the stairs every death. The roguelike mechanics are even baked into the story — the ever-changing (read: random) rooms are always different to prevent would-be escapees from ever leaving the underworld.
|
||||
|
||||
The soundtrack is of course all aces again. Darren Korb can do no wrong in my eyes, and this keeps the streak going. The soundtrack is classic Korb with some metal leanings this time around. The Scourge of the Furies has been stuck in my head for weeks.
|
||||
|
||||
At \$20 or so, the game was a steal. I’ve completed one run and that was enough for me, although I imagine after some time I’ll be going back again. It kept me busy for 15 hours easy.
|
||||
|
||||
## Plastic Recycling
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve always tried my best to reduce and reuse, and of course recycle as much possible. So it was incredibly disheartening to learn that [the majority of plastics recycling is a complete and total sham][plastics-sham].
|
||||
|
||||
The majority of our (Canada’s) recycling was not so much recycled as it was shipped off to other countries instead (in this case China, and then parts of Southeast Asia). It wasn’t recycled at all, just shoved off wholesale for some other country to deal with. Now those countries won’t take our plastic waste anymore, so we have are forced to deal with it.
|
||||
|
||||
If you are anything like me, you’d look for the recycling symbol on any piece of plastic, and breathe a sigh of relief knowing it can be recycled. Well as it turns out, a lot of plastics _cannot_ be recycled, at least in any economically viable way. [So long as we _thought_ it was working though, nobody would look into it][recycling-lie].
|
||||
|
||||
Now that the jig is up and the plastics industry is onto it, surely they’ve come up with a new strategy, right? Nope. They’re blaming us — the consumers — and putting the impetus on us to solve the problem. It’s the same response when they faced backlash back in the 80s, just with a different coat of paint. When in reality, the average person cannot make a noticeable impact alone. It should be up to the industries that produce so much plastic to cut down and reduce the amounts created.
|
||||
|
||||
All that said, there is still viability in recycling _some_ plastics, like from soda bottles and milk jugs. Things like plastic film, bags, and wrappings though are better off sent to the bin. At least that way they end up in _our_ landfills and not some other country.
|
||||
|
||||
Ultimately the best course of action for a consume is to focus on the first two R’s: reduce and reuse.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Spotify Not Playing Fair][spotify-not-playing-fair]
|
||||
|
||||
Spotify (among other corporations) banded together to form the [Coalition for App Fairness][app-fairness-coalition] — a coalition that seeks to ensure that competition exists and users have a choice on how to use their device. It advocates for consumer choice, and aims its sights specifically toward Apple and its 30% tax of all revenue from sales in the App Store. Developers have been trying to find ways around this tax, and Apple has been happy to close any loophole. It’s been this game of cat and mouse, where the cat has literally trillions of dollars to throw at the problem.
|
||||
|
||||
Meanwhile though, Spotify has decided they aren’t actually interested in playing fair after all. They are making it difficult to export your playlists and other content, and are only interested in getting you locked into the platform. It’s surprisingly anti-competitive behavior coming from a company that frequently cries at Apple’s own anti-competitive behavior. Apple’s 30% cut _is_ bullshit, but for Spotify to behave like this is completely hypocritical.
|
||||
|
||||
A late month update shows that Spotify is now allowing users to transfer their playlists, but only playlists they have made themselves, and not ones generated by Spotify.
|
||||
|
||||
## Susan Kare
|
||||
|
||||
Our workplace was recently graced with a talk from icon legend — Susan Kare. She is responsible for all the charm and whimsy from one of my favorite operating systems (System 7). It was really great to listen to her recount stories from those days, and dig into her process of how she came up with an icon design. She touched upon the idea of working within constraints (in her early days, she only had access to black and white colors), which resonated with me. If I think back to some of my creative breakthroughs, I believe that constraints tend to bring out the best, rather than limit potential.
|
||||
|
||||
## The Game Industry Needs to Unionize
|
||||
|
||||
Cyberpunk 2077 was in the news for getting delayed again. Delays are frequent and almost expected in the gaming industry, so this came as no surprise. It's has been delayed twice now (it was originally announced back in 2017), so what’s another month? What has got me frustrated though was that prior to this delay [CD Projekt Red decided that crunch was required to ship the game on time][cyberpunk-crunch].
|
||||
|
||||
Crunch — for those unfamiliar — is when a studio goes into overtime to ship a product. It typically means 6 to 7 workdays with long hours (12+), and sleeping in the office is not outside the realm of possibility. It’s a horrible practice that needs to stop, but is still prevalent even today, especially with AAA game studios.
|
||||
|
||||
What’s especially frustrating is that not only was the crunch effectively useless (why crunch if you’re going to delay anyway), but the studio co-founder [Marcin Iwiński said he was committed to avoiding crunch “no matter what”][marcin-iwinski].
|
||||
|
||||
But it keeps going — there was a rumor going around that the developers [“wanted a 6 day workweek instead of a delay”][6-day-work-week], but it turns out those conversations never happened.
|
||||
|
||||
And let’s not forget the [legions of gamers rushing to defend a company][gamers-defending-companies] that does not need defending nor should it be defended. Companies are not your friend. Never have been, and never will.
|
||||
|
||||
The gaming industry by and large needs to unionize. A common practice for these larger studios is to lay off the entire QA and development team when the game ships. That’s of course after crunching for weeks. Developers are not the only ones getting the short end of the stick either. A few years ago (2016-2017), [video game voice actors went on strike][voice-actors-strike] to put an end to an industry and largely doesn’t care about its employees. They eventually won and got the benefits they wanted after 11 months.
|
||||
|
||||
The silver lining in this ugly business (at least for CDPR employees) is that the company’s employees have profit-sharing as part of their compensation, and this game is very likely to sell like gangbusters. They’ll end up with a big fat cheque for sure, but the way they got there should never have happened.
|
||||
|
||||
I’ll end this section on [a positive note][respawn-cares] with a AAA studio that actually gives a shit about their employees.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Becoming RBG][becoming-rbg]
|
||||
|
||||
My partner bought this book shortly after her passing (RIP), and I got around to reading it after being curious. I feel like I had some birds-eye levels of knowledge on Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but this book proved I knew barely even that.
|
||||
|
||||
I feel like my review will end up simply summarizing her story, so I’ll just say that I found it completely engrossing. Her story is so incredible and inspiring. Speaking of incredible, “incredible woman” is a moniker my partner uses when describing — well, incredible women — and I feel like it could not be more apt here. She was one of a kind, and a tour de force.
|
||||
|
||||
The format makes for a fun read — I feel like this book is tailored to younger audiences — but the artwork injects a personality that I feel like is not far from RBG’s own sense of humor and wit.
|
||||
|
||||
I wish I had read this book before (and well before) her passing. I’m eager to read another book about her from the same publisher called “I Dissent” (her dissenting opinion in the Supreme Court being a common occurrence).
|
||||
|
||||
## The Rest
|
||||
|
||||
Now that the election has been called, my anxiety is falling back to normal. I capped off my first week of November with some splurging on Bandcamp Friday, because spending money typically helps me feel better, if only for a little.
|
||||
|
||||
Next week I've got some much needed vacation. Really looking forward to that. I've got a stack of books with my name on it, as well as some crafting projects.
|
||||
|
||||
Stay safe out there, and remain patient. ✌️
|
||||
|
||||
[catscafe]: https://www.catscafecomics.com
|
||||
[hades]: https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/
|
||||
[plastics-sham]: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/912150085/waste-land
|
||||
[recycling-lie]: https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/the-passionate-eye/recycling-was-a-lie-a-big-lie-to-sell-more-plastic-industry-experts-say-1.5735618
|
||||
[spotify-not-playing-fair]: https://mjtsai.com/blog/2020/10/12/spotify-not-playing-fair/
|
||||
[app-fairness-coalition]: https://appfairness.org/
|
||||
[cyberpunk-crunch]: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/29/21494499/cyberpunk-2077-development-crunch-time-cd-projekt-red
|
||||
[marcin-iwinski]: https://kotaku.com/cd-projekt-red-boss-again-promises-that-cyberpunk-devs-1835518344
|
||||
[6-day-work-week]: https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1314675754937053185?s=21
|
||||
[gamers-defending-companies]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/10/12/its-time-to-stop-defending-cd-projekt-red-over-cyberpunk-2077-crunch/?sh=2c32039d7e6c
|
||||
[voice-actors-strike]: https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/25/16363872/video-game-voice-actors-strike-sag-aftra-agreement
|
||||
[respawn-cares]: https://twitter.com/jonshiring/status/1314304030735179776
|
||||
[becoming-rbg]: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Becoming-RBG/Debbie-Levy/9781534424555
|
||||
45
src/content/posts/2020-12-07-recently-12-2020.md
Normal file
45
src/content/posts/2020-12-07-recently-12-2020.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: December 2020.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Not a long one this month. The holidays are upon us, but it doesn’t exactly feel like it to me. It’s a strange time to be sure.
|
||||
|
||||
## [The Beirut Port Explosion by Forensic Architecture](https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/beirut-port-explosion)
|
||||
|
||||
An incredible look into the Beirut port explosion using publicly available data. Forensic Architecture constructed complex 3D models using various video sources of the explosion. I was especially impressed by the recreation of the interior of the warehouse, using smoke trails and their relative location to paint a picture without knowing exactly what it looks like inside. Highly recommend watching this video and their others (check out the breakdown of Black Lives Matter police brutality). The amount of effort they put into these is truly incredible, and the results are — for lack of a better word — amazing.
|
||||
|
||||
## [A Star Trek actor tries to one-up his co-star on his return to Hollywood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmVwCcUQRjU)
|
||||
|
||||
Brent Spiner is truly a gem. I had the chance to finally sit down and watch the entirety of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and without a doubt my favorite character was Data (portrayed by Spiner). The episode that stuck out is “Data’s Day”, which follows what turns out to be a not-so typical day for Data.
|
||||
|
||||
It’s fun to see Spiner poking fun at an exaggerated version of himself.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Decolonize your reading habits](https://www.antiracismdaily.com/archives/decolonize-your-reading-habits-anti-racism-daily)
|
||||
|
||||
I know I am guilty of this. I am going to do better and ensure that my fiction is not made up only of white authors. I shouldn’t be looking to people of color solely on the topic of education or issues.
|
||||
|
||||
> It’s problematic when you turn to writers of color when you want to be educated, but white writers the rest of the time. Instead, we should also be reaching for authors of color when we want a lighthearted, fluffy book. When we want to read something to decompress from our months of election anxiety. When we want to travel to a different world. We shouldn’t have our “race/racism bookshelf”, crammed with writers of color, and have every other shelf filled with white writers.
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
December marks the last of [Bandcamp Friday](https://isitbandcampfriday.com)s (according to their schedule anyway). I’m hoping Bandcamp keeps it going as a scheduled event of some kind. For the Spotify users out there, Hype Machine has a new program called [Merch Table](https://hypem.com/merch-table). Plug in a playlist and it will tell you of any artists on Bandcamp that you can purchase from.
|
||||
|
||||
I ended up picking up a few things:
|
||||
|
||||
- [Nothing - The Great Dismal](https://nothing.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-dismal)
|
||||
- [Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow](https://nothing.bandcamp.com/album/tired-of-tomorrow-standard-version)
|
||||
- [Drab Majesty - Modern Mirror](https://drabmajesty.bandcamp.com/album/modern-mirror)
|
||||
- [No Joy - More Faithful](https://nojoy.bandcamp.com/album/more-faithful)
|
||||
- [Night Runner - Starfighter](https://nightrunnermusic.bandcamp.com/album/starfighter)
|
||||
|
||||
I’m on a real shoegaze kick lately. I’ve been consulting [a guide I found on reddit](https://i.redd.it/rxrtulf0m5631.jpg) for new stuff. I don’t remember how I found Nothing before — I think it was on another shoegaze list, maybe from Pitchfork? — but their song [ACD (Abcessive Compulsive Disorder)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx0PJx2_LZ8) is peak shoegaze for me. It really stuck out and hasn’t left me. The Great Dismal seems to follow that trend. I’ve only just started listening and can’t wait to dive in more.
|
||||
|
||||
No Joy are one of my shoegaze staples. I had the pleasure of seeing them a few years ago at some hole-in-the-wall bar. Their set was tragically short (one of the band members quipped to my pal it was “short ‘n’ sweet”), but for the moments we did get were absolute bliss.
|
||||
|
||||
Drab Majesty strike that perfect 80s vibe. They capture the feel and sound of that decade so well, but still strike me as modern.
|
||||
|
||||
That’s all for this month. Don’t forget about your holiday shopping! We managed to get ours done in one day. Don’t do what I tend to do and leave it until its too late. Stay safe out there friends. ✌️
|
||||
113
src/content/posts/2021-01-09-2020-in-review.md
Normal file
113
src/content/posts/2021-01-09-2020-in-review.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "2020: In Review"
|
||||
excerpt: A remarkable year.
|
||||
tags: ["year recap"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
How do you even begin to summarize the whirlwind that was 2020? What are the Greatest Hits? Here’s a short list:
|
||||
|
||||
- COVID-19.
|
||||
- The president was impeached and nothing happened.
|
||||
- Harvey Weinstein was sentenced.
|
||||
- The death of George Floyd.
|
||||
- The Beirut explosion.
|
||||
- Murder hornets.
|
||||
- Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s passing.
|
||||
- The sucker punch: news of MF DOOM’s passing on the last day of the year.
|
||||
|
||||
When I was young, I always wondered what it would be like to live through a historic event like the Vietnam War, or the AIDS crisis. It feels like I’ve lived through a lifetime of them in the span of a year. And my list isn’t even close to everything that happened in 2020.
|
||||
|
||||
A lot of good things happened this year too:
|
||||
|
||||
- Multiple vaccines for COVID-19.
|
||||
- There might be microbial life on Mars! Water on the Moon!
|
||||
- [The Pentagon released footage of “unidentified aerial phenomena” (read: UFOs!).][ufos]
|
||||
- Working from home had a revolution.
|
||||
- Lots of really cool SpaceX launches.
|
||||
- [That time that air pollution was so low because of the pandemic.][pollution]
|
||||
- Trump lost. And kept losing.
|
||||
- [Italian mayors losing their shit telling people to stay home.][mayors]
|
||||
- [Olive and Mabel by a sports commentator.][commentator]
|
||||
- [Google is being sued by the US for antitrust violations.][antitrust]
|
||||
- We got Season 2 of The Mandalorian.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I had to search for both positive and negative events because my brain is having enough trouble dealing with the present, let alone reasoning what happened in the past.
|
||||
|
||||
As for me... well...
|
||||
|
||||
## Work
|
||||
|
||||
When 2020 started, I was only 2 months into my new job. A year later and I’ve dug into the work. This year has been such a fantastic reminder of how fortunate I am to work for my company. There is a clear understanding of the events in the world and an implicit assumption that nobody is at (or even near) 100% productivity. There is a tacit acknowledgement that sometimes people need to take a few hours (or more) off to refocus. They care about the humans behind their work.
|
||||
|
||||
It’s also my first workplace that feels “real” — in the sense that we (the company) have core values that we all believe in, and if we don’t meet them the expectation is that we shore up or ship out. I had a sobering reminder of what that means this year. It was like my first year of university. Impostor Syndrome struck its claws into me quite deep this year, as I felt like I was an outsider/impostor working with such a talented group of people across disciplines. I felt anxious and was certain I was going to be axed once the pandemic rolled in. The opposite could not have been more true. Everyone was there to support me and make sure that I landed with two feet. It was an incredible feeling knowing I was valued.
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve found my groove now after a rocky start. Being surrounded by colleagues who value their work and really truly want to do the best can be an invigorating feeling.
|
||||
|
||||
Last year I was excited to get started in iOS development, and started making a super simple (Magic the Gathering) life counter app. It never got beyond the earliest stages though. Then my work ended up going in a very web-focused direction. Now I’m not so sure I want to even have an app on the App Store as my indifference toward Apple seems to grow by the day.
|
||||
|
||||
On the team leadership side of things, I did get the opportunity to lead a small team in creating a Slack app for a not-for-profit company. That was a ton of fun for multiple reasons, but above all it was my first time seeing something the company made (that I had a hand in) live in the real world! It was a real privilege being able to work on it.
|
||||
|
||||
I spent more time working with GraphQL and I feel like it’s becoming a reliable tool in my belt now.
|
||||
|
||||
Lastly, I finally took the time to learn vim. It was (and still is) an uphill battle, but it’s so rewarding being able to accomplish anything I want using just the keyboard. It’s been a few months and I feel like I’m back up to speed with my mouse and keyboard self. Speed aside, it’s been a ton of fun tweaking my editor to have it _just so_, using things like VimPlug to get some essential plugins. It’s also made me realize how feature-rich vim is by itself and how few plugins I need to get a very powerful editor. I’ve since moved onto NeoVim (nvim) for the plugin ecosystem and have no plans to go back to VS Code.
|
||||
|
||||
## Creative
|
||||
|
||||
2020 was the year of being indoors, so all the more reason to really engage with my creative hobbies. I started up piano lessons again with my previous teacher after a year of sort-of-but-not-really-trying to play on my own and find a jazz teacher. The value of a teacher who understands you and knows how you like to learn cannot be understated.
|
||||
|
||||
I finished a long-standing knitting project (a scarf, but using 2 different colors of yarn) for my Mom. I was proud to finally finish it after starting it last year.
|
||||
|
||||
I mostly kept up with drawing, although I’ve had week-long (or more) periods of no practice. I’m eager to get into working with a teacher, but not sure how well it would work remotely.
|
||||
|
||||
I got busy with some side projects in the coding space:
|
||||
|
||||
- A static site powered by NextJS and AirTable to publish our tea collection.
|
||||
- [A simple API][hltbapi] for querying [How Long to Beat][hltb], integrated into an iOS shortcut.
|
||||
- A (incomplete) [CHIP-8 emulator][chip8] built using JavaScript.
|
||||
|
||||
I was quite pleased that I kept up (more or less) with monthly summaries on the site here. I hope to continue doing that with some shorter form posts in between. I have a few topics in mind I’d like to explore.
|
||||
|
||||
## Mental Health
|
||||
|
||||
As with I imagine the majority of people on the Earth this year, my mental health took a sharp nosedive. I remember feeling off all the time, and how nothing seemed to be interesting or engaging. Not even work got me excited. I’m so fortunate that I had the ability to see a professional to talk about these things and start feeling better. I think it was a case of the [“COVID-19 wall”][covidwall].
|
||||
|
||||
Working through my emotions though, [I did learn some things about myself][octrecently]. I am more aware of how much I value short, actionable tasks instead of large, vague goals.
|
||||
|
||||
I could feel my moods decline when I was paying attention to events unfolding in the US over the year.
|
||||
|
||||
## Playing
|
||||
|
||||
Being at home I got the chance to settle into some games this year. Without a doubt the majority of my time (over 400 hours worth) went into [Animal Crossing: New Horizons][acnh]. Talk about the right game at the right time. It has regularly been my escape from the... **\*gestures at everything\***.
|
||||
|
||||
It also served as a gaming jumping on point for my partner and my parents. Everyone got into it in a big way and it served as a fun bonding activity. We also all got into the same island at once, which was so much fun!
|
||||
|
||||
My other favorite games this year would be [A Short Hike][ash] and [Hades][hades]. I went into more detail with my experience with Hades in an [earlier post][novrecently].
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
A notable achievement would be finally organizing my music collection. It’s been something on my todo list for years and I’m so happy I finally got around to it. I’ve been using it happily without issue since I got it running, and it’s super easy to maintain. For those curious [I went into more detail in this post][music].
|
||||
|
||||
Finally I feel like I need to mention [Bandcamp Fridays][bcf]. This was a hidden gem turned into favorite of mine this year. It was one day a month I went a little crazy and bought a ton of music. I’m happy to see the tradition is returning in 2021.
|
||||
|
||||
## Closing
|
||||
|
||||
I’m writing this post about a week into 2021 and if you’ve been following along... 2021 be like “hold my beer”. I’m hoping it turns into a redemption arc, but we’re not off to a great start. Here’s hoping, though. As a great man — Ted Lasso — once said: it’s the _lack_ of hope that kills you.
|
||||
|
||||
[ufos]: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/politics/pentagon-ufo-videos/index.html
|
||||
[pollution]: https://www.insider.com/before-after-photos-show-less-air-pollution-during-pandemic-lockdown
|
||||
[mayors]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxtGJsnLgSc
|
||||
[commentator]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPhpJuraz14
|
||||
[antitrust]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/17/google-search-antitrust-lawsuit/
|
||||
[hltb]: https://howlongtobeat.com
|
||||
[hltbapi]: http://hltb-api.vercel.app/
|
||||
[chip8]: https://github.com/devinwl/chip-8
|
||||
[covidwall]: https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/23/how-to-push-through-six-month-coronavirus-wall-13309340/
|
||||
[octrecently]: /posts/recently-10-2020
|
||||
[acnh]: https://www.animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/
|
||||
[novrecently]: /posts/recently-11-2020
|
||||
[hades]: https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/
|
||||
[ash]: https://ashorthike.com
|
||||
[music]: /posts/take-the-power-back-music
|
||||
[bcf]: https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-fridays-2021
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration"
|
||||
excerpt: A short film about frogs.
|
||||
tags: ["short film", "frogs"]
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "5S-lZtE1J6M", "Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration" %}
|
||||
|
||||
Frogs are undoubtedly my favorite animal, and seeing a short film about them beings me so much joy. The tadpole is not a stage in a frog's life you see emphasized much. Not to mention this was filmed right in my beautiful province!
|
||||
|
||||
As the thumbnail shows this short film was won many accolades, and not without merit. Truly some of the best underwater filming I've ever seen, and even above land! Treat yourself to the sweetest 8 minutes of your day.
|
||||
17
src/content/posts/2021-01-12-remember-to-be-nice.md
Normal file
17
src/content/posts/2021-01-12-remember-to-be-nice.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Remember to be nice
|
||||
excerpt: Open source is often a thankless job.
|
||||
tags: ["open source", "signal"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
[Signal][signal] is seeing a jump in activity after [WhatsApp recently made adjustments to their privacy policy][policychanges]. Coming from a paid, closed source, feature rich application like WhatsApp to an open source app like Signal can be a little jarring. Where is that favourite feature of mine? Why haven’t they prioritized it? So [Signal has to come out and remind people in the community to be nice][benice]. The developers only have so much free time.
|
||||
|
||||
Open source software quite literally powers everything we do in the technology sphere (my site included), yet it is such an under appreciated facet of our world. Consumers (as in “using the open source project” sense, not a more capitalist definition) expect the same level of features and support that funded and closed source projects have, yet forget that the majority of open source development work is done in limited free time. It’s a form of volunteerism that is not recognized enough.
|
||||
|
||||
Work that developers put into their projects is literally a labour of love. They aren’t being paid to do this. They care so much that they provide their work, free of charge, because they care about you — the consumer.
|
||||
|
||||
It can be hard to remember that there is a human on the other end. Treat those developers with fairness, kindness, and above all — respect. They are taking their valuable free time to make your life a little easier.
|
||||
|
||||
[signal]: https://signal.org
|
||||
[policychanges]: https://web.archive.org/web/20210106121851/https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/updates/privacy-policy?eea=0
|
||||
[benice]: https://archive.is/y23jH
|
||||
104
src/content/posts/2021-01-27-a-primer-on-canadian-government.md
Normal file
104
src/content/posts/2021-01-27-a-primer-on-canadian-government.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: A Primer on Canadian Government
|
||||
excerpt: Canada’s parliamentary system explained.
|
||||
tags: ["canada", "government"]
|
||||
favourite: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
In the last four years I’ve learned an awful lot about how the United States’ government functions at a high level, and even on specifics like the House and Senate processes. Meanwhile I’m foggy at best on how Canada’s government functions. I decided to educate myself.
|
||||
|
||||
I will try my best to simplify into smaller chunks and focus on aspects I wasn’t aware of. This is not an exhaustive summary but more of a high-level overview. I’ve linked to the sources I’ve used which provides more information on specific subjects or terms.
|
||||
|
||||
## How is the federal government formed?
|
||||
|
||||
- A general election is held. This is every 4 years but can happen sooner under certain circumstances.
|
||||
- When voting in a general election, Canadians are voting for an individual to represent their constituency (or riding) in the House of Commons.
|
||||
- The House of Commons is the 338 elected members of parliament (MPs) across Canada. There are 338 seats in the House of Commons.
|
||||
- The political party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons is the party in power.
|
||||
- The power is decided in two ways: majority or minority.
|
||||
- Majority power means the party in power holds more than 50% of all seats in the House of Commons.
|
||||
- Minority power means the party holds the most seats, but less than 50% of the total seats in the House of Commons.
|
||||
- The distinction of power is important because a majority vote is required to pass legislation.
|
||||
- MPs in Canada almost always vote along party lines. When a party votes for (or against) legislation, it’s expected every member of the party will vote the same.
|
||||
- Majority power governments therefore can pass legislation without challenge, while minority governments require support from other parties.
|
||||
- The leader of the party in power becomes the Prime Minister.
|
||||
- The Prime Minister, along with their Cabinet and the Governor General form the Executive Branch of government.
|
||||
- The Prime Minister selects members of their Cabinet (ministers) and appointments them to various governmental departments.
|
||||
- The Governor General appoints members of the Senate with advice from the Prime Minister. These senators come from the Prime Minister’s party.
|
||||
- With the Senate filled and the House of Commons members elected, the Legislative Branch of government is formed.
|
||||
- The government is ready to govern.
|
||||
|
||||
## What happens in the House of Commons?
|
||||
|
||||
- MPs spend their time in the House of Commons discussing and debating Chamber Business.
|
||||
- Chamber Business tends to be new bills being put forth by ministers. MPs will sometimes put forward their own bills called Private Member’s Bills.
|
||||
- There is time for MPs to talk about important information in their riding, and raise issues.
|
||||
- The House of Commons has a Speaker whose job is to ensure the rules of the House are followed. Questions and statements are directed through the Speaker.
|
||||
|
||||
## What happens in The Senate?
|
||||
|
||||
- The Senate follows similarly to the House of Commons.
|
||||
- Chamber business for the Senate tends to be bills originating from the House of Commons. They can discuss committee reports, make statements, etc.
|
||||
- Much like the House of Commons, the Senate will debate and discuss bills.
|
||||
- Although they follow the same process as the House of Commons, the Senate in Canada is not known to go against the House of Commons. A bill that passes in the House of Commons will likely pass in the Senate (occasionally with minor revisions).
|
||||
- The Senate has a Speaker that functions like the House of Commons.
|
||||
|
||||
## What are political parties like in Canada?
|
||||
|
||||
- Unlike the US, Canada has more than 2 major political parties.
|
||||
- In modern political history Canada has 5 major parties:
|
||||
- Liberal Party of Canada
|
||||
- Conservative Party of Canada (colloquially known as the Tories)
|
||||
- Bloc Québécois
|
||||
- New Democratic Party
|
||||
- Green Party
|
||||
- MPs belong to a political party, but in rare cases can be independent.
|
||||
|
||||
## How does an idea become law?
|
||||
|
||||
- A written idea becomes a bill.
|
||||
- A bill starts off in a Chamber (the House of Commons, but could be the Senate).
|
||||
- It is put forward and given a First Reading. This serves as an introduction.
|
||||
- Following the reading, MPs debate the bill. This process is the Second Reading.
|
||||
- The bill is then passed to a committee to study and review the bill under scrutiny. This is where amendments are recorded.
|
||||
- The committee then reports back to the Chamber where the bill originated, and notes any amendments. The bill is again debated. Any members not on the committee are welcome to suggest further changes.
|
||||
- Following the debate and after any additional amendments are added, the bill is given its final reading called the Third Reading.
|
||||
- MPs can debate one last time about the final status of the bill. MPs may change their mind in between these stages if they are for or against the bill.
|
||||
- The bill is put to a vote. A vote of more than 50% means the bill moves along to the Senate, where the First, Second, and Third Reading process repeats.
|
||||
- As mentioned earlier, the Canadian Senate rarely goes against what the House of Commons puts forward.
|
||||
- Once the bill passes both the House of Commons and the Senate unchanged, it is ready for the Governor General.
|
||||
- The Governor General gives the bill Royal Assent, and it becomes law.
|
||||
- The Governor General represents the Queen and thus holds ultimate power, but has never withheld Royal Assent in modern politics. This part of the process is ceremonial.
|
||||
|
||||
## Watch sessions of Parliament
|
||||
|
||||
You may be familiar with C-SPAN which offers live streams of US House and Senate sessions. There is a Canadian equivalent called [CPAC][cpac] (Cable Public Affairs Channel) which offers similar programming. CPAC is a privately owned, not-for-profit television service. It’s designed to be an unbiased window into our government at work.
|
||||
|
||||
The [House of Commons publishes their agenda][hocagenda] for the day.
|
||||
|
||||
## Who’s working for you?
|
||||
|
||||
The [House of Commons site has the list][hocmembers] of every elected MP. Each member has information on their roles, any bills they have supported or put forward, how they have voted on matters, and more. It even shows where they are seated in the House of Commons! There are detailed breakdowns on current and past roles, election results, and more.
|
||||
|
||||
## Conclusion
|
||||
|
||||
Keep in mind this was a surface level introduction into Canadian government. There are more details to learn like:
|
||||
|
||||
- What are the rules in the House of Commons? The Senate?
|
||||
- What are the political party ideologies?
|
||||
- What about provincial governments?
|
||||
- What are the requirements to become a Senator?
|
||||
- What is the pathway for a Canadian citizen to become an MP?
|
||||
- How do the smaller political parties pass legislation?
|
||||
|
||||
My hope though is this is enough of a jumping-off point to kick-start the process of learning more and getting involved in Canadian politics.
|
||||
|
||||
## Sources
|
||||
|
||||
[House of Commons Canada — “The Canadian Parliamentary System“](https://www.ourcommons.ca/About/OurProcedure/ParliamentaryFramework/c_g_parliamentaryframework-e.htm)
|
||||
|
||||
[House of Commons Canada — “Legislative Process”](https://www.ourcommons.ca/About/OurProcedure/LegislativeProcess/c_g_legislativeprocess-e.htm)
|
||||
|
||||
[cpac]: https://www.cpac.ca/en/
|
||||
[hocagenda]: https://www.ourcommons.ca/en#pw-agenda-publications
|
||||
[hocmembers]: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
|
||||
75
src/content/posts/2021-02-01-recently-02-2021.md
Normal file
75
src/content/posts/2021-02-01-recently-02-2021.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: January 2021.
|
||||
tags: ["recently"]
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
It’s been a rough month. I’ve been struggling. I feel tired all the time and don’t know why. Smarter heads than me suggest it’s stress — with world events being what they are.
|
||||
|
||||
I try to treat myself and keep up with exercising and going easy on myself when I don’t end up accomplishing much.
|
||||
|
||||
It’s hard not to be hard on yourself.
|
||||
|
||||
These posts have turned into more of a “here are interesting articles I read this month” and less “what’s going on lately” because I’m not doing much.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Vox: The word “Orwellian” has lost all meaning][orwellian]
|
||||
|
||||
With the removal of Donald Trump from Twitter, the term “Orwellian” has been tossed around a lot. It’s lost all meaning. It’s become the sloppy, lazy rhetoric that Orwell himself rallied against.
|
||||
|
||||
A private company is within their rights to determine who can and cannot use their service, especially when they are using it to incite riots.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Sound of Colleagues][soc]
|
||||
|
||||
The office vibe is something I’ve missed in the past few months. Keyboards clattering away, idle chit-chat, people coming and going. It’s a comfortable background noise that strangely can help me focus. This handy little noisemaker helps bring back that office feeling with plenty of options to fiddle with.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Whitehouse.gov chooses WordPress, again][whwp]
|
||||
|
||||
For any web development readers, here is a great breakdown into what powers the White House’s site. It’s WordPress, if you hadn’t guessed.
|
||||
|
||||
I’d like to know how they decided to go with WordPress. My assumption would’ve been that WordPress represents too much of a security risk and they’d go with something static (Hugo, Next, etc). Then again, WordPress is battle-tested — been around for over a decade. Plus for anyone doing content it makes sense to have something simple and straightforward like the WordPress dashboard.
|
||||
|
||||
At least it wasn’t Drupal.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Rage Against the Machine x The Ummah Chroma – Killing In Thy Name][kitn]
|
||||
|
||||
I’ll let the video speak for itself. White rage is one of the biggest issues facing Canada and the US. The [reading list near the end of the film][ucrl] is a starting point I will be participating in.
|
||||
|
||||
Fuck white supremacy.
|
||||
|
||||
## [The Atlantic: The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship][friendship]
|
||||
|
||||
This article was a “whoa” moment for me. Having not realized what was missing until it’s pointed out to you. As I imagine for everyone, my own social circle has reduced to my partner, and on occasion (appropriate social distance) visiting my parents. I found something missing and it has to be these weak/moderate tie relationships.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Vox: Why you should care about data privacy even if you have “nothing to hide”][dataprivacy]
|
||||
|
||||
I struggle to explain why I’m passionate about privacy to those who have “nothing to hide”. A common refrain I hear is “if you don’t like it, don’t use the service” which means nothing when these companies gobble up enough data to construct “shadow profiles” on those who don’t use their services.
|
||||
|
||||
Worse is the ability for these services to learn everything about an individual and control the information they see. All under the guise of driving “user engagement”, which may be all they are trying to do... but it ends up with people stuck in echo chambers. When these echo chambers are full of misinformation, it’s no wonder we are seeing radicalized individuals.
|
||||
|
||||
## [The Washington Post: I checked Apple’s new privacy ‘nutrition labels.’ Many were false.][privacylabels]
|
||||
|
||||
I’m disappointed to see Apple enforcing these arbitrarily. I shouldn’t be surprised though with how arbitrarily they enforce other guidelines like human-interface guidelines or submission rules.
|
||||
|
||||
The idea of “privacy nutrition labels” is a big deal in making data harvesting transparent and easy to understand. I hope that Apple decides to follow their own values and be strict with apps following their privacy labels.
|
||||
|
||||
## [Vox: Doug Emhoff, wife guy extraordinaire][emhoff]
|
||||
|
||||
I’m excited to see how the first “second gentleman” plays out. It’ll be refreshing, and more importantly, bring attention to the fact that men can play a supporting role that traditionally women fill. He will be scaling his own career back to more support his wife’s.
|
||||
|
||||
It’ll be important for men (read: white men) to see a man in this role.
|
||||
|
||||
Love this quote:
|
||||
|
||||
> I may be the first Second Gentleman, but I know I won’t be the last.
|
||||
|
||||
That’s all for this month. Learn from me and take it easy. Be nice to yourself and others. ✌️
|
||||
|
||||
[orwellian]: https://www.vox.com/culture/22233197/orwellian-definition-george-orwell-1984-politics-english-language-josh-hawley-donald-trump-jr
|
||||
[soc]: https://soundofcolleagues.com/
|
||||
[whwp]: https://pagely.com/blog/whitehouse-gov-chooses-wordpress-again/
|
||||
[kitn]: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lnTvwdoQFw
|
||||
[ucrl]: https://www.theummahchroma.com
|
||||
[friendship]: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/01/pandemic-goodbye-casual-friends/617839/
|
||||
[dataprivacy]: https://www.vox.com/recode/22250897/facebook-data-privacy-collection-algorithms-extremism
|
||||
[privacylabels]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/29/apple-privacy-nutrition-label/
|
||||
[emhoff]: https://www.vox.com/22242368/doug-emhoff-kamala-harris-husband-vice-president
|
||||
92
src/content/posts/2021-03-05-recently-03-2021.md
Normal file
92
src/content/posts/2021-03-05-recently-03-2021.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: February 2021.
|
||||
tags: ["recently", "valheim"]
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Like Christmas, I am always shocked at how fast February goes by, even though it’s the same length (except Leap Years) every year.
|
||||
|
||||
Here’s the latest.
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
[DOOM - BORN LIKE THIS. (Repress) by MF DOOM](https://mfdoom.bandcamp.com/album/doom-born-like-this-repress-2)
|
||||
|
||||
News of MF DOOM’s passing right at the tail end of 2020 was the sucker punch nobody needed. The man was prolific as hell, and my paltry library of his material is only my beginning.
|
||||
|
||||
I recently picked up Born Like This and NehruvianDoom from Bandcamp, and a compilation of all Special Herbs Vol 0-9. With the latter collection, it’s fun spotting the beats that would appear later on his albums. It’s amazing how they stand out on their own, missing his lyrics and flow but feeling great in of themselves.
|
||||
|
||||
[Axiom Verge Soundtrack by Thomas Happ](https://axiomverge.bandcamp.com/album/axiom-verge-soundtrack)
|
||||
|
||||
I played Axiom Verge back in 2018 (and I’m super excited for the sequel), but the soundtrack has been a mainstay in my rotation since.
|
||||
|
||||
I find myself regularly humming “Trace Awakens” either in my head or out loud.
|
||||
|
||||
[Black Aura My Sun by Deserta](https://deserta.bandcamp.com/album/black-aura-my-sun)
|
||||
|
||||
I’m always on the hunt for new shoegaze and Deserta did not disappoint. I found them trawling through the “shoegaze” tag on Bandcamp under new releases.
|
||||
|
||||
It’s sprawling, dark, moody, and that’s the way I like my shoegaze. It’s easy to close your eyes and let your mind wander to the stars.
|
||||
|
||||
As I write this post, it's technically Bandcamp Friday. I'll have some more to share next month!
|
||||
|
||||
## Reading
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve been playing a heck of a lot of [Valheim](https://www.valheimgame.com) (more on that later), and it’s got me finally reading up on Viking history and the mythology. My book of choice is [Children of Ash and Elm](https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/neil-price/children-of-ash-and-elm/9780465096985/) The game does a surprisingly great job at being true to the “source material”, if this one book is anything to go by.
|
||||
|
||||
The author has an engaging writing style that keeps you reading. There is just enough of the mythology sprinkled into otherwise factual information. It strikes a nice balance.
|
||||
|
||||
The Vikings themselves did not keep much on their own history, but instead we rely on second-hand encounters from researchers, scholars, or travellers. Christian scholars in particular tended to look at Vikings as godless pagans, which makes it important to process their research with a careful eye.
|
||||
|
||||
An article I read this month which really resonated (and had a bit of a reckoning) is "[Men Have No Friends and Women Bear the Burden](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a27259689/toxic-masculinity-male-friendships-emotional-labor-men-rely-on-women/)".
|
||||
|
||||
Women are encouraged to foster platonic, intimate relationships with other friends (typically other women). Men however do not (usually) possess these relationships. Bonds between male friends are weaker and tend to ignore feelings and emotions. Men depend on the women in their lives as our emotional dumping ground -- a place to go when we need to confront our emotional problems.
|
||||
|
||||
It's not normalized to express these feelings around other men. We are taught instead to conceal these feelings because they are not "manly" (toxic masculinity, in other words). This mindset leaves men without the tools to deal with these emotions ourselves, so we instead depend on women to help us. Showing weakness is a shameful in traditional definitions of masculinity, which further discourages being vulnerable.
|
||||
|
||||
I know from personal experience that I am guilty of this. I don't have close bonds with most of my male friends, and we almost never talk about our emotions, or what we're feeling, let alone how to deal with them. I will turn to the women in my life instead: my partner, my Mom, and female friends.
|
||||
|
||||
At the crux of this piece I think is a challenge to what it means to be masculine. Men need to change the script and ask ourselves what it means for us?
|
||||
|
||||
## Watching
|
||||
|
||||
We recently discovered that with the Star acquisition from Disney that Futurama has showed up on the service. That warrants a full rewatch.
|
||||
|
||||
Here’s my favorite bit ever:
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "sE8aVgOxjJU", "Futurama - No good, it's full of steam!" %}
|
||||
|
||||
## Playing
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Without a doubt (and likely to my partner’s dismay) the majority of my time the past few weeks has been in [Valheim](https://www.valheimgame.com). I initially felt like the survival aspects of the game weren’t for me, having had enough of it in Minecraft. What sucked me right in though was the sheer quality of this Early Access title (can you believe it’s a team of **five people**?). The aesthetic of retro, low-poly models combined with a modern lightning engine creates this nostalgic but fresh vibe that fits in a game of its kind.
|
||||
|
||||
Progressing in the game is done by destroying one of the five major bosses, with each one dropping a new key item that allows one to find new resources, or open doors into previously locked crypts. You enter the “Bronze Age”, then the “Iron Age”, and before long you’ll have your own blast furnace. It’s possible to build historically accurate longhouses, or go the other direction and build giant castles, or sprawling treehouse villages. The game is fine with you doing whatever strikes your fancy.
|
||||
|
||||
A group of us (6) decided to get the game on a Friday evening, and before I knew it it was 1AM. Then it was 1AM Saturday. It kept going on like this. I lived and breathed the game. It sucks you in quick if you’re not careful.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Here are some screenshots of our journey to take down The Elder, the second boss of the game. His summoning location was far away from our little home of “Newheim” (which replaced our old village, now referred to as “Oldheim”), across the great sea. We built our first boat capable of holding more than one or two people and set sail.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
After a day’s journey (which is about 30 minutes), we broke shore at what we called “Elderheim” (we have an incredibly clever naming scheme, if you haven’t noticed). We hastily built a small house and a portal to allow us to return to the island if we died (which we did, multiple times).
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
With our base deployed and our bellies full of food, we set out to summon The Elder and take them out. I don’t have any shots of us during the fight, but you can rest assured it was a delightful, flailing mess. We all died at least once or twice. We ran out of arrows mid fight and had to speedily drop them on the ground to share.
|
||||
|
||||
In the end though, we triumphed!
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
We’ve since taken down the third boss and are on our way to number four. The Mountain has proved to be a tough biome to survive, and if our brief excursion into the Plains has been any indication — the fun is only just beginning.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
84
src/content/posts/2021-04-01-recently-04-2021.md
Normal file
84
src/content/posts/2021-04-01-recently-04-2021.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: Recently
|
||||
excerpt: March 2021.
|
||||
tags: ["recently", "valheim"]
|
||||
youtube: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Right up until the end of the month things were looking up pandemic-wise, but our province announced that more restrictions are going to be in place for the next few weeks. Cases have been trending upward for the younger age groups (20-30s). It felt like up until this announcement that were was a chance that summer might mean a vaccine for people in my age range. Not to mention that AstraZeneca has been suspended recently in Canada. Back to waiting.
|
||||
|
||||
## Reading
|
||||
|
||||
Recently finished [“How to Take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens](https://takesmartnotes.com). Jury is still out on this one. I’ve taken an interest in Personal Knowledge Management and saw this book come up often in recommendations. I don’t grasp the benefits on Zettelkasten yet. My hope and dream is to retain the information I absorb when I read non-fiction books. I tend to forget what I learned weeks later.
|
||||
|
||||
I think I’m going to have to re-read it again and take some notes (which seems to be what the book is advocating for).
|
||||
|
||||
[Accessibility is critical](https://gomakethings.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-website-or-web-app-that-doesnt-need-to-be-accessible/). I try to make my website accessible to anyone and regularly check my scores. When I ended up working with a company in the USA (which **requires** accessibility features to be implemented), I discovered how easy it was for web developers to make things work across a variety of browsers. It requires — realistically — a small amount of effort from designers and developers to check color contrasts, title attributes, and things of that nature. The bare minimum goes a long way.
|
||||
|
||||
[Mark Kozelek was accused (again) of sexual misconduct](https://pitchfork.com/news/sun-kil-moon-mark-kozelek-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-by-seven-more-women/#intcid=_pitchfork-right-rail_9b8b489f-0542-4dd7-9707-aef436fa1e42_popular4-1). I hadn’t caught this story when the accusations were first coming out against Mark Kozelek, but these recent accusations are damning. They all follow a pattern of behaviour that does not differ between stories. I had a lot of respect for Kozelek and his music. It’s disappointing to learn that someone you respected turns out to be a piece of shit.
|
||||
|
||||
## Playing
|
||||
|
||||
Been keeping busy on the games front lately! The Switch is a wonderful console. It’s easy to sneak in a few minutes in between meetings at work, or if I’m loafing on the couch with my partner.
|
||||
|
||||
### Valheim
|
||||
|
||||
Our group finished what I would consider to be the “campaign” of the game: the 5 bosses. We wrapped up about mid-March, slaying the mighty Yalguth after a long, hard battle. It was a lot of fun because it required coordination and resource management.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Since we finished all the bosses, we’ve fallen off the game. Without the next boss to work toward, the game became resource-gathering and base-building. A fun activity, but does not appeal to everyone. Without my friends playing, I don’t find myself all that interested.
|
||||
|
||||
For $20 though, some of the best times I’ve had with a game in recent memory. In terms of pure hours-played to dollars-spent, it was an incredible value (over 100 hours).
|
||||
|
||||
There are updates planned for Valheim that could be pretty exciting (like the Mistlands, Firelands, and Deep North being implemented), which might pull our group back in.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
### Stardew Valley
|
||||
|
||||
I’ve had this game on my radar for years and was craving a “couch game”. Perfect fit. The game is pure chill distilled into retro pixel perfection. It reminds me of Harvest Moon on the SNES (which I loved), but better in every way.
|
||||
|
||||
Cordova Farm is on its second year and is ready to bring in the big bucks after an action-packed winter.
|
||||
|
||||
### DOOM Eternal
|
||||
|
||||
Sometimes a guy just has to shoot some demons in the face, ya know?
|
||||
|
||||
Having loved DOOM (2016) and it’s incredible soundtrack, DOOM Eternal was an easy pickup. I was waiting for the mood to strike me, and after listening to the DOOM 2016 soundtrack for god-knows-how-many-times-now, I knew I was ready to put on my Praetor suit and kill some mother-effin’ demons.
|
||||
|
||||
Eternal takes everything that made the 2016 version great and builds on it. The core loop is still there, but it’s been refined to a sparkly sheen.
|
||||
|
||||
My least favourite part has been the emphasis on story and lore, which if Doomguy was anything to go by in the last game, I couldn’t care less. It’s nice to see them expand on some lore, but I liked it better when it was buried in a codex entry and kept the gameplay tight and continuous.
|
||||
|
||||
A fast favourite of mine though was adding fast travel near the end of missions. I’d always catch a secret I missed on the map in DOOM 2016, and Eternal is no exception. Now I can go back after completing all the combat objects and take my time exploring.
|
||||
|
||||
I must mention that Mick Gordon has returned to champion the soundtrack again, and is no slouch in this game either. I’m always cranking the volume to really get into the mood.
|
||||
|
||||
## Listening
|
||||
|
||||
[GRINDSTONE (Original Game Soundtrack) by Sam Webster](https://bysamuel.bandcamp.com/album/grindstone-original-game-soundtrack)
|
||||
|
||||
I played Grindstone when it first came out on Apple Arcade. I didn’t think much of it (or the soundtrack) and moved on. I stumbled upon the soundtrack again last month and couldn’t believe what I missed. It’s a blend of hip-hop grooves and smooth synths.
|
||||
|
||||
[Ghost Tapes #10 by GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT](https://godisanastronaut.com/album/ghost-tapes-10)
|
||||
|
||||
God is an Astronaut are post-rock staples spanning back to the early aughts. Their music evokes feelings I’m finding hard to put into words, but I always get enveloped by their sound.
|
||||
|
||||
[LEATHER TEETH by Carpenter Brut](https://carpenterbrut.bandcamp.com/album/leather-teeth)
|
||||
|
||||
You’d probably recognize the hard-edged synthwave if you played Hotline Miami. The game featured a few of their tracks from an earlier album called Trilogy. Leather Teeth continues to channel that raw energy into heart-pumping darkwave.
|
||||
|
||||
Tomorrow (April 2nd) is Bandcamp Friday!!
|
||||
|
||||
## Watching
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "VrKW58MS12g", "Glitterbomb Trap Catches Phone Scammer (who gets arrested)" %}
|
||||
|
||||
It never ceases to amaze me how far Mark Rober will go to be annoying to package thieves and scammers. The interesting part of this video is showing how deep the rabbit hole goes with these scammer ring. Rober teamed up with other YouTubers to show all of this — I found Jim Browning’s video incredibly interesting because it showed me a fascinating part of the ring: the money mule.
|
||||
|
||||
{% youtube "Xvjjpzyiig4", "Catching Money Mules ft. Mark Rober" %}
|
||||
|
||||
See everyone next month. ✌️
|
||||
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