Tim Bueno

Emily and I traveled to Japan in October, and it was an unforgettable experience. We explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hakone, immersing ourselves in both the bustling tourist attractions and less-visited gems. Tokyo, in particular, left a lasting impression on us.

Living in New York City, it’s easy to develop a false sense of superiority and city pride, but Tokyo truly has it all. I am very much looking forward to going back one day.

Along the way (and mostly during my 14 hour flights) I did the following:

🕹️ Pico Park 2. Great follow-up to the first game. Have not quite finished it yet, but definitely plan on it the next time our friend group gets together.

📺 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. I’m writing this a few weeks after the finale and am struggling to really remember much about it. Sauron has some good moments, and the entire season is essential setup for the next season. However, there were just too many storylines, and not all got enough attention and character development that they needed.

🍿 The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Watched this on a plane and absolutely loved it. Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage have surprisingly great chemistry. Highly recommended. (👍)

📺 Tulsa King. I’m watching this half because it’s entertaining and half out of morbid curiosity. There are some entertaining aspects to this show, but ultimately I think it’s a bit too hokey for its own good.

📺 Agatha All Along. I think this show is good? I can’t tell. I do look forward to it each week, and it’s done a good job channeling what was good about Wandavision.

🍿 Face/Off. After watching The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on the plane, I fired up this classic that somehow slipped past me. It’s got a slightly strange premise, but the actors really commit to the core conceit of the movie.

🍿 Oddity. Great horror with a few surprising twists and a satisfying payoff for that anxiety-producing wooden mannequin man. (👍)

📺 Only Murders in the Building. So many celebrities this season! I think this show is past its prime, but it’s still a fun watch. Anything Eugene Levy does makes me smile.

📺 Ink Master. I feel like this show is on season 4000 at this point. This is a guilty pleasure watch if there ever was one.

📖 Uzumaki by Junji Ito. I read the graphic novel as I traveled around Japan and thoroughly enjoyed the weird world Ito created here. The recently released anime suffered a lot of criticism for the visuals, but the story held pretty close to the manga. I’ll definitely read more Junji Ito after reading this. (👍)

🕹️ Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. I bought this one in Japan at the Tokyo Nintendo Store. I had heard that it was quite difficult and as such I ignored it. It turns out that it is the perfect level for me. It’s a step up in difficulty from the Super Mario franchise, and the boss fights are challenging without being annoying. Loving it so far. (👍)

🍿 ’Salem’s Lot. The book is one of my favorites in the Stephen King pantheon. This movie was not it, though. The first 30 minutes had me thinking it could be good; the last hour deviated from the book so much that I could barely stay interested.

The past month saw the release of my new app, Scoot. It is always a humbling experience launching a new app on the App Store with a very limited social media following. Not many downloads at the moment but I think this app is some of my best work to date. I built Scoot for my girlfriend and that will be enough to keep it in development for a while but I really hope other people check it out!

If by some crazy chance you’re reading this and are in the market for (or know someone who might be) a journey tracker similar to Strava, but without all of the social media elements and the pseudo pressure to over perform, give Scoot a look.

Here’s what I’ve been watching over the top of my MacBook’s screen while banging my head against Xcode this path month:

📺 Terminator Zero. Terminator anime with an AI that is humanity’s last defense against SkyNet. I think it’s a pretty great premise and was executed quite well. Looking forward to season 2. (👍)

📺 Critical Role: Exandria Unlimited Calamity. Brennen Lee Mulligan is an amazing game master but I’m realizing that I like Dimension 20’s lighter, funnier flavor of D&D.

📺 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. I love The Lord of the Rings. I really do. I’m also really struggling to stay interested in this show and that makes me sad.

🍿 Beetlejuice. Still a classic, still entertaining. Nothing like this gets made anymore.

🍿 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Exactly what you think it is. It had a few fun moments, but was filled with modern cinema bloat that made this installment pale in comparison to the lean script that the first movie stuck to.

🍿 Sideways. Saw this one a long time ago and realized I didn’t remember much about it. It’s pretty good and worth your time, tho there’s about 15 minutes that could be cut.

🍿 Bottle Shock. I guess we were on a wine movie kick and didn’t even realize it?

🍿 The Watchers. Trash. I wanted this to be something that it wasn’t. The reveal of what the watchers were was incredibly underwhelming.

🍿 I Saw the TV Glow. Man I really wanted to like this one. I really did. I put off watching it for a while because I was going to watch it with a friend but unfortunately that didn’t happen. The soundtrack was good, the message was a little ham fisted.

🍿 Watchmen: Chapter I. Comic book accurate animated version of the same Watchmen story (or half of it anyway) you know and love. Nothing here will surprise you but maybe that’s why it’s enjoyable?

🍿 Rebel Ridge. I’m writing this about a week after I watch it and I’m realizing that I don’t remember too much about it other than it was about 30 minutes too long and felt like a spinoff of Jack Reacher.

🕹️ Pico Park. We had a great time playing this with friends on a few occasions. The puzzles are just hard enough that they’re fun but not so hard that someone gets frustrated and has a bad time. Great party game. (👍)

🍿 The Crow (2024). Pretty bad as expected.

🍿 Cuckoo. Oddly enjoyable experience even if Dan Steven’s acting was a little over the top. I would like more horror movies to leave a bit more mystery than they have recently. This has “The Watchers” (see above) vibes, but was better done and more entertaining.

🍿 Inside Out 2. I could have paid attention to this one a bit harder than I did but from what I did watch, it was good.

📺 Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Some episodes of this horror anthology are better than others but on the whole this is a good time. I’ve tend to watch a good amount of horror and this scratched that itch.

🍿 Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Goku and Broly screaming for an hour and a half getting stronger with every scream, as you do.

🕹️ Balatro. I’m sure you’ve heard enough of this app this month already, but it really is that good. Don’t skip this one. (👍)

The past month saw me bringing my new app to life and watching a whole lot of Love Island, a guilty pleasure in our apartment. I’ve also began experimenting with using Anthropic’s Claude AI to boost my programming productivity and I’m disappointed to say that… its boosted my output by like 2x. To be completely honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Here is what else I’ve been up to the past month:

🍿 Deadpool and Wolverine. Fun sendoff of the 20th Century Fox films. I was hoping for better but oh well. Hugh Jackman is consistently amazing as Wolverine though. I’m not sure how you replace him at this point.

📺 Batman: Caped Crusader. I’m really enjoying this one. I loved the ’90s animated series and this has all the same vibes. (👍)

🍿 A Quiet Place: Day One. Fun, short action thriller set in NYC. Ultimately forgettable but fun to watch late at night before going to sleep.

📖 The Tiger: A True Story of Vengence and Survival by John Valiant. I don’t read much nonfiction but this book had me captivated. The true story follows the hunt for a man killing tiger and details Russia and the Far East’s deep respect for the animal.

🍿 Mars Express. Interesting, modern, French Ghost In The Shell-esque animated movie. More from this team of creators please!

📺 The Olympics: Paris 2024. We love the Olympics in our house. I do tire of it by the end but that first week is always exciting.

📖 The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey. Loved this book. I never read the Expanse novels but now I’m considering it. Cannot wait for the sequel. (👍)

🍿 Twisters. Enjoyable romp of a movie. Watched with some friends and because of that, I probably could have paid more attention but didn’t.

🍿 Rebel Moon: A Child Of Fire. Forgettable, joyless, Star Wars-derivative. There are a few good ideas here but Zach Snyder’s style has not changed since the movie 300.

🍿 Rebel Moon: The Scargiver. A sequel to A Child of Fire. I enjoyed this one a bit more. The action sequences were fun if a bit gratuitous. Give me more of Anthony Hopkins’s wild robot and I might actually of liked this one.

🕹️ Chrono Trigger. Always wanted to play this title. It’s easier than I expected (which is great) and the narrative is very engaging and fun. I’m playing it via Delta for iOS and iPadOS. Being able to sync states and even stream to my Apple TV has been a seamless experience worth recommending. (👍)

📖 Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I’ve got conflicting feelings about this book. It was a really easy read and as such I kind of devoured it. Unfortunately it feels a bit too much like Ready Player One for my tastes. It’s also a kind of sad time capsule for when tech companies felt like they were saving the world rather than ruining it.

📺 One Piece. When I have nothing else I want to watch, I watch One Piece. I’m only just breaking into the second season now. This is going to take a while.

🍿 Aliens. With the release of the next installment in the Alien franchise this week I figured I’d watch my favorite in the series. James Cameron really nailed this movie and it holds up nearly 40 years later. (👍)

🍿 Longlegs. Nicolas Cage really got into this role. I’m always down for a crime procedural horror film even if this one was a bit predictable.

🍿 Strange Darling. Best thriller I’ve seen in years. It’s a shame that this isn’t being promoted as much as it should be. Go in knowing nothing and you’ll enjoy the ride. (👍)

🍿 Trap. First half was hokey but entertaining. Second half was hokey and awful.

July was a slow, lazy month filled with weddings and coronavirus. I overhauled my computer backup strategy using Arq and Carbon Copy Cloner. Had my credit card stolen and almost fell victim to an email scam that I didn’t even know existed. Finally, I began work on a new app (👀).

Here is what else I was up to:

🍿 MaXXXine. This is probably my least favorite of the trilogy but that’s not to say it was bad. There’s less of a horror bent than the previous entries and I wanted a bit more spooky.

📺 Dimension 20: Never Stop Blowing Up. I look forward to this every week now. Brennan is an incredible game master and this season is unique in the best way. The Kids On Bikes rule set is perfect for the televised format. I’m also enjoying the week to week progression of Brennan’s outfit.

🍿 MoviePass, MovieCrash. More entertaining than I expected. Summer 2017 was a glorious summer in NYC when movies were basically free and everyone I knew had the card. RIP MoviePass.

🍿 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Longer than I wanted it to be. Utterly forgettable but the CGI is quite good.

🍿 Troll Hunter. Love me some found footage. I had not watched this in years and it was basically a new experience for me.

🍿 Deadpool. Had not watched this since it was in theaters. Not as entertaining as I remember. It has its moments though.

🍿 Ferrari. This movie was not what I expected. I think I expected a more racing focused narrative and I was wrong. There were two very surprising moments and I learned quite a bit but it was too slow for me to truly enjoy it.

📺 Dead Dead Demons Dedede Destruction. Slice of life anime at the end of the world. This one is still on going. The animation and dub (I know.) are quite good.

📖 Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse. This book took me quite a while to get into but I think it delivered in the end. I struggled with remembering what had happened in the previous two books. That’s a bummer because the world Roanhorse weaved was unlike anything I’ve read before. I want more fantasy epics set in Pre-Columbian Americas.

This past month I’ve spent a bit of time getting to know my new camera, the Fujifilm X100VI. It’s been a bit overwhelming but I’m trying to take it slow and not make a job out of it like I do the rest of my hobbies.

We spent a weekend in Montreal with some friends and I took an incredible amount of photos with better results than I expected! I’ve got a long way to go and there’s an infinite amount to learn, so wish me luck!

Without further ado, this is what I was up to last month:

🍿 Civil War. This was more affecting and grounded than I expected. The last 45 minutes had me at the edge of my seat. I’m not sure I can watch this again anytime soon.

🍿 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Awful movie. If you’re thinking about watching this, don’t. Watch Godzilla Minus One instead.

🍿 Hit Man. I went into this with very low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. I’m not sure the third act quite delivers as well as I wanted it to but it was fun regardless.

📖 Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. This book took me quite a while to read but I enjoyed every bit of it. My year of reading Brandon Sanderson books marches on. (👍)

📺 The Jinx. We started watching Season 2 and quickly realized we were actually watching Season 1. We ended up watching both S1 and S2 back to back and I’m glad we did. The second season doesn’t hit as hard as the first but it’s worth watching to get a bit of a resolution on the insane story.

📺 Dark Matter. Really enjoyed this show. I read the book a long while back and unfortunately (fortunately?) didn’t remember much. It seems like they have made some significant changes to the perspectives the show follows and they’re for the better. (👍)

🍿 The Beekeeper. Stupid John Wick style fun. They lifted so much from John Wick it’s criminal.

🕹️ Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. One of the most cinematic video game experiences I’ve ever had. The combat sequences were brutal and visceral in a way that I have not experienced before. The graphics are also amazing. Highly recommended. (👍)

📺 My Adventures With Superman: Season 2. Fun and light. DC’s animation studios are typically great. Will the live action stuff ever get better?

📺 Game Changer. Dropout TV is doing something special with their recurring ensemble cast of characters and this show is the star of it all. Highly recommend. (👍)

🕹️ Gris. Beautiful short game. Looking forward to the next game from these developers.

🕹️ Planet of Lana. Another short puzzle game with a sweet, engaging story. The controls were a bit lacking but still worth playing.

🕹️ Persona 5 Royal. Just recently purchased this game but I’m looking forward to it quite a bit. I’m a bit disappointed in the fidelity of the graphics on the Switch but the portability was my main draw for such a long game.

📖 Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. Read this as it’s been nominated for best novel in the Hugo Awards. I ended up really enjoying it. The character development was great and was written from a perspective I haven’t seen much of in the past. (👍)

Since the last time I posted I injured myself, got better, had family visit, bought a camera, started learning how to actually use the camera and completely overhauled how I used my home server. Now I’m trying to figure out the best workflow for processing the photos I take. Maybe a few of those photos will make an appearance on this blog! Who knows.

🍿 Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. I weirdly (ha) loved this movie?! Give it a shot. Radcliff clearly loved the role and the format was not what I expected.

📺 3 Body Problem. The Three Body Problem book series is some of the best Sci-Fi I have ever read. The show (mostly) delivered and I’m looking forward to season two. I am unreasonably bothered by the name change to “3 Body Problem” though. It seems unnecessary.

📺 The Gentlemen. Great show. Much better than the movie. Guy Richie always delivers a good time.

📺 Fallout. This was… good? I can’t believe it was good but it was. The characters were actually compelling and the wacky settings and situations felt like all the best parts of a video game.

🍿 Terrifier. Been wanting to watch this for a while now and I’m not sure it was worth it. I liked Art The Clown but this movie might have been a bit too grotesque for my tastes.

🍿 Your Name. Incredible, amazing, will watch again. Do yourself a favor and watch this right now if you haven’t already seen it. (👍🏻)

🕹️ Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. I love metroidvanias and have been looking forward to this game for a while. I’ll admit that I turned down the difficulty to “easy” after getting my ass kicked one too many times on “normal”. Sometimes, you just want to win a game without pounding your head against the wall.

🍿 Late Night with the Devil. Interesting concept that was not executed particularly well. I wish they would have stuck to the “found footage” angle and not intercut cinematic scenes throughout the film.

📺 Shogun. I really looked forward to this show each week. I’m pretty torn about how I feel knowing that there will be more seasons since the story came to a pretty satisfying conclusion. (👍🏻)

🍿 Monkey Man. Entertaining but ultimately forgettable John Wick-ian beat-em-up movie.

🍿 Challengers. The soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross brought me to the theater and it did not disappoint. Don’t skip this movie. (👍🏻)

📺 Dorohedoro. Wacky anime with a very interesting setting. The story did not exactly click for me but the environment and animation had me coming back each episode.

🍿 The Fall Guy. Fun, irreverent, popcorn movie that I only learned was an homage to an ‘80s television show after the credits.

📺 Blood of Zeus. Started season two and realized I didn’t remember a single thing about season 1. I rewatched it all but I’m not sure I’ll remember any by the time season three comes around.

📺 X-men ‘97. Watch this show for the theme song alone (and the great writing and animation).

🍿 Suzume. Not as good as Your Name, but the animation was extremely good. Watch this if you love great animation.

🕹️ Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Taking this one really, really slowly. I’m enjoying the story and gameplay quite a bit, even if the non-combat portion of the game is mostly fetch quests.

🕹️ Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Not sure why I avoided this game. The release of the second game finally convinced me to play it and I’m glad I did. Short, puzzle heavy, and narrative driven; this is exactly my kind of game. Really looking forward to playing the second one. (👍🏻)

🍿 Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2. Absolute classics. I enjoy them every time I watch. Volume 1 is definitely the stronger of the two but that final dialogue sequence in the second one is gripping.

🍿 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. A worthy sequel to one of my favorite movies of all time. George Miller was smart to not make a Fury Road 2 and try to live up to the action sequence(s?) that the first one did so well. (👍🏻)

🍿 Night Swim. Not sure what I was expecting here. Mediocre at best. Don’t watch the haunted pool movie.

📖 Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson. This is an expanded story for a character that was shown in only one chapter of the previous tentpole book. I’m not sure it was very memorable in the long run but I’m looking forward to seeing more of this character in the series going forward.

📖 Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. This one took me a while to get into but Sanderson did it again for me. It’s fun starting to see the character Hoid pop up around in other books. It feels like just the right amount of connected tissue to support a shared universe for these stories. My year of Sanderson continues… (👍🏻).

The GameSir X2s, recently released, boasts compatibility with iOS devices that support USB-C. Unfortunately, the controller does not expand far enough to accommodate devices larger than a phone.

However, the controller can expand to a larger size. By forcing the controller out of its internal track it can be stretched to fit even the largest 12.9 inch iPad Pro.

I wanted to use the GameSir with my iPad mini. I thought that with a bit of modification, I could greatly improve the clunky out-of-the-box experience. I designed and 3D printed a few parts that hide the exposed springs and lets the iPad fit flush and secure.

The end result looks like this:

Warning

While this mod doesn’t require physical harm to your GameSir X2s, it might end up being semi-permanent. In my case, I had to physically break the prototype 3D print to remove it from my GameSir X2s. The second 3D model, created for this post, should be easier to remove, but it might still require some effort. Keep in mind that after this modification, the controller may no longer work with devices smaller than your Apple iPad mini.

3D Modeling

For the design, I utilized Shapr3D. Although I chose Shapr3D initially for its aesthetics and ease of use, its subscription pricing does not make sense for my use case. Next time, I’ll opt for Autodesk Fusion 360, which offers a free license for personal use, despite being less intuitive than Shapr3D.

Parts List

1x Apple iPad mini (6th Generation)

1x GameSir X2s

1x Custom X2s Frame

1x Custom X2s Backboard

4x M4x10mm Flat Head Screws. I used hex sockets. The maximum length of the screw should be 10mm.

4x M4 Square Nuts. These should be approximately 7mm x 7mm x 3.5mm.

1x 1mm Thick Self Adhesive Felt Sheet. Any color will do!

3D Printing

You can download the required 3D models here.

I have very limited experience with 3D printing, having only printed four items for this project. Therefore, I’m not an authority on the subject. The following is what worked for me.

I used Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) with white ABS material and a completely solid infill. You may experiment with different infill densities and materials. Let me know what you like best!

All STL files for this project are in millimeters. You will likely need to specify that with the printer.

I utilized Xometry to print my models. Use my referral link here and we’ll both get a couple bucks off our next print.

Another service for 3D printing is Craftcloud. Depending on your preferences, you may find CraftCloud is a cheaper option.

I think the models turned out pretty great!

Assembly

Using the 3D printed backboard as a template, trace its outline onto the felted sheet. Cut the sheet slightly smaller than the outline and round the corners to match the backboard.

Insert the square nuts, flat side up, into the slots beneath the holes in the 3D printed frame. You may find it helpful to cover the slots with a small piece of scotch tape to aid in this process.

Note: You may find that having two people makes the following easier.

Expand the GameSir X2s controller and gently lift the rear purple casing while pulling to dislodge the two halves from one another.

Slide the frame onto the right half of the controller and insert the “tongue” of the frame into the left half to prevent flexing. Allow the two halves of the controller to come back together with the frame in place.

Align the 3D printed backboard with the holes in the frame, ensuring the nuts are lined up within the holes. Insert and tighten the M4 screws to secure the backboard to the frame. The countersunk holes should ensure the screws fit flush with the backboard.

Peel and stick the felted sheet onto the backboard, ensuring alignment on all sides for a perfect fit.

Using a craft knife, trim away the top and bottom two rubber “fingers” that secure the iPad into the controller. If not trimmed, these fingers may press the power and volume buttons on the iPad.

Insert your iPad mini into the controller. The controller will have to expand slightly in order to fit.

Happy gaming! Feel free to customize the 3D models to your liking. I’m sure the models could be easily modified for other device sizes. I’d love to see what the community comes up with!

Please send me a picture on Mastodon if you end up modifying your GameSir X2s with my models!

Well this blog is starting to rot on the vine isn’t it?

Early this month, I decided to follow along with Reactor Mag’s Science Fiction Film Club. So far I have watched 🍿 Forbidden Planet (1956), 🍿 Solaris (1972), and 🍿 Silent Running (1972). It’s been fun experiencing these Sci-Fi classics and the insightful commentary is something I look forward to each week.

Here is what else I’ve been up to the past two months:

📺 Slow Horses (Season 3). This is a fantastic show and Season 3 is by far the best story thus far. Gary Oldman as a slovenly and rude spymaster is right up my alley. (👍🏻)

🍿 The Marvels. Not much to say about this one. The MCU is still chugging along. I’ll continue to watch but I’m less interested for sure. There were good moments in this film and it not being three hours is a huge plus.

📺 Invasion (Season 1 and Season 2). I was recommended this by my brother. I devoured this show but a month and a half on I’m having trouble remembering much about it. What does that say?

📖 The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I put this book off for way too long. Sanderson is a master and I’m dedicating my year to reading his books. (👍🏻)

📖 City in Ruins by Don Winslow. I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. It can be done! This is supposedly Don Winslows last book. I enjoyed the series overall but it did not hold a candle to The Power of the Dog trilogy.

🍿 Dune. Rewatched this in preparation for the sequel. It holds up. The sound design and visuals are nearly as amazing on my couch as they were in the theater. (👍🏻)

🍿 Dune: Part 2. This movie is a masterpiece. I’m struggling with what to write about it because I enjoyed every element. The sound design, the visuals, the acting, and the sheer commitment to the Dune vibe makes this a new classic in the Sci-Fi movie pantheon. (👍🏻)

🕹️ Persona 3 Reload. After playing Midnight Suns I figured I would try my hand at its inspiration. The Persona series games are very long and I’ve avoided them because of that. No longer. I loved this game and now I’m trying to talk myself off a ledge and diving headfirst into the rest of the franchise. Persona 5 Tactics next?

🍿 Alien and Aliens. Classic science fiction at its best.

🍿 Poor Things. Emma Stone’s transformation from baby to adult in this modern Frankenstein was a sight to behold. (👍🏻)

📖 Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I’m about 75% into the follow up to The Way Of Kings and it’s everything the first book was and more. (👍🏻)

📺 X-Men ‘97. Love this so far. Can the X-Men reinvigorate the MCU? (👍🏻)

📺 Shogun. I’m only two episodes in so far. Reading subtitles is not my cup of tea but the story is very entertaining that I plan on sticking it out.

🕹️ Inscryption. This game combines roguelike deck-building, escape room puzzles, and a creepy setting and comes up with something unlike anything else I’ve played. Go into this game blind and stick with it. It’s worth it. (👍🏻)

The rest of the things I watched / did but weren’t worth writing about. Sometimes you just want to watch a little garbage: 🍿 Next Goal Wins, 🍿 Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

I have struggled to post anything to the blog this past month. I have been trying to update my app Bound due to new Google Drive API changes and the conversations with Google have been incredibly slow and boring. In the mean time, I have been filling my time by playing a few games and rewatching the Lord of the Rings trilogy with some friends.

Other than that, here is what I did in the past month:

📺 The Crown (Season 6). The final episode of The Crown really nailed the tone. Seeing the queen grapple with her station and humanity against her past selves (and actors) was really well done. I didn’t love every episode this season but the finale made it all worth it. (👍🏻)

🍿 Saltburn. Didn’t expect this to go the way it did. Not sure I liked it but I didn’t not like it either. If you’re curious, give it a go.

📖 The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss. Will the third installment in The Kingkiller Chronicles series ever come out? Not sure. This was a fun quick romp in that world and would be a decent onboarding for anyone who was thinking about diving in.

🍿 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Better and worse than I expected at the same time. Phoebe Waller Bridge was great as usual and so was Ford. The third act was a little over the top for my taste.

📺 What If… (Season 2). Entertaining yet forgettable. That pretty much describes the entire post-Endgame Marvel universe for me. Will the pendulum swing back? Not sure, but I think onboarding the X-men (someday) can do it.

🍿 Killers of the Flower Moon. Such a long movie. It’s good, as most Scorsese movies are but I don’t think I’ll be watching it again anytime soon.

📺 Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Was this show good? I’m not even sure I enjoyed it. I watched the whole thing because I was on a bit of a Godzilla kick after Godzilla: Minus One but I’m not sure I should have stuck with it.

📺 Reacher (Season 2). This show is exactly what you think it is and it’s more fun and well done than you would expect.

📺 The Curse. Very odd show with a finale that shouldn’t be missed. Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, and Ben Safdie were perfect in their roles. Every scene was uncomfortable. I could only watch one episode at a time because it was too exhausting. (👍🏻)

📺 Delicious in Dungeon. I always keep a charming anime around to fill the random bits of time. Right now it’s Delicious in Dungeon; an anime about eating monsters in a vaguely DnD like world. Every episode there is a new monster to eat. Strange and fun at the same time.

🕹️ Midnight Suns. I received a Backbone One as a gift for Christmas last month. I’ve been playing Midnight Suns via Xbox Remote Play on my iPhone. It’s been a pretty fun experience playing a AAA title on my phone. The game is a mix between Slay the Spire and Fire Emblem: Three Houses and it’s got me hooked. (👍🏻)

This year was the first in nearly 10 years that I could not finish my reading goal. I ended the year with 18 books; just shy of my goal of 20. I am a bit bummed that I couldn’t meet the goal but ultimately I think that the blame for it lies in a lack of reading momentum due to not connecting with many of the books I did read. I’ll get over it. On to next year’s goal…

Here’s what I’ve been up to the past month:

📺 Loki: Season 2. I’m not entirely sure I understood exactly what was going on the entire time, but the stakes were clear enough. Tom Hiddleston is a treasure and I hope we haven’t seen the last of this character.

🕹️ Super Mario Bros. Wonder. I have one more level to go in this game but it’s safe to say that it’s nothing less than a masterpiece. Decades of Mario games has culminated in a game that is approachable by everyone, new in fantastic ways, and comfortingly old in all the ways that matter. (👍🏼)

📺 Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. What the hell did I just witness? Documentary series are not typically my cup of tea as I think they’re usually overstay their welcome. This was a tight three episodes and the conclusion is too wild for me to spoil. People are crazy and it’s a bit depressing. (👍🏼)

🍿 The Mummy (2017). This movie was mediocre at best but surprising in that the movie studios canned the “Dark Universe” shared universe concept before it even got off the ground. It’s probably for the best that it didn’t happen but it leaves me wondering, what if?

🍿 Godzilla: Minus One. There is a lot of Godzilla content going around right now and I think this new Japanese entry is the best of them all. Bringing the story back to the days following WW2 was a great choice. The effects were nicely done on the small budget it had too. The power behind Godzilla’s laser blast was on another level. Very impactful and (intentionally) reminiscent of a nuclear bomb blast. (👍🏼)

🍿 The Boy and the Heron. It’s everything you want in a Miyazaki movie. Beautiful animation, wild and sometimes grotesque characters, a plot where you don’t know exactly what will come next, and a touching story at the heart of it all.

🍿 Merry Little Batman. This was pretty cute. A Batman story that doesn’t take itself too seriously is always fun. I’m not typically a fan of holiday specials (bah humbug!?) but Merry Little Batman was entertaining.

🕹️ Jusant. Video games with climbing sequences and puzzles are my jam. So when I saw that Jusant was a game about climbing, I was in. This is a beautiful and brief game and i enjoyed every minute of it. (👍🏼)

🍿 Wonka. When the trailer was released my first impression was that this movie was going to be trash. Fortunately, that was not the case! The director previously made the Paddington movies and a lot of the charm from those shine through in this.

🍿 The Creator. The story, settings, and sets felt very grounded in reality. The young girl who played Alphie did a great job and the relationship that develops between the main character and her was very sweet. Unfortunately, I read somewhere that this felt like a poor man’s Christopher Nolan movie and I can’t get that out of my head.

📖 Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher. The 2023 Hugo Award winner for best novel lives up to that reputation. This was the last book I read this year and I couldn’t have asked for a better novel. Nettle & Bone masterfully weaves fresh fantasy concepts nested within old fairy tail tropes. I particularly loved the puppet who controlled the innkeeper. (👍🏼)

📖 Witch King by Martha Wells. The underlying story was novel and the world was richly developed, however, I really struggled getting through this book. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it ultimately just did not grip me in the way that other novels this year did.

I am a huge fan of Jason Kottke and his website, kottke.org. Periodically, Jason posts a summary of what he’s been watching, reading, playing, and doing. I look forward to these posts and thought it would be fun to start doing the same.

I am hoping that writing about the content I consume will allow me to reflect on and remember more of what I enjoy (or don’t enjoy).

So without further ado, here is what I’ve been up to the past month:

🍿 Nosferatu. Somehow I had never seen Nosferatu prior to this. Nitehawk Theater screened a restoration with a live score played by a band on Halloween night. It was the perfect way to see it for the first time. (👍🏼)

📺 Our Flag Means Death. Love this show. Very sweet, very fun. Taika’s comedic timing is unmatched. I’m hoping it gets picked up for a third season but they ended this one in a way that’s fitting even if it does not. (👍🏼)

📺 The Sopranos. I was very late to the game despite loving all things organized crime. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about Tony Soprano and the rest of the ensemble cast that makes up this show? James Gandolfini embodies Tony Soprano in a way that so many actors wish they could emulate but can never achieve. The show isn’t perfect but it has quickly climbed to one of the top spots in my favorite shows of all time list. (❤️)

📺 Pluto. I have never read or watched any Astro Boy content before this. Pluto was a wonderful take on robots / AI coming to terms with its own humanity. I’d love to watch more content in this vein. Pluto reminded me of a cross between Blade Runner and Neon Genesis Evangelion. (👍🏼)

📖 The War Of The Worlds by H.G. Wells. I try to read a few “classics” every year. I did not realize this was written in 1897. I was wondering why it took so long for the military to show up but it must have taken a while for the news to spread back then. I’m planning on listening to the Orson Welles radio broadcast and maybe rewatching the Spielberg movie sometime soon. (👍🏼)

🕹️ Puzzmo. New game service by Zach Gage and Orta Therox that is trying to compete with the likes of The New York Times' games offering. There is a lot to love here. The new game, Flipart, has become my go to game when I wake up in the morning. Give this a shot if you like newspaper games of all kinds. (❤️)

🕹️ Playdate. I received a Playdate as a 2022 Christmas gift but only just received it. I have been addicted to the thing since I opened the box. The hardware is solid and the crank has a great feel. My favorite type of games are short, twitchy, skill based games that I can beat in a few days and this has those types of games by the bucketload. (❤️)

🍿 Mission Impossible: Dead Reconning Part One. The action sequences in this movie were great fun. I think I have enjoyed the Mission Impossible series more than the James Bond franchise in recent years. This does suffer a bit by being a Part 1 of 2 movie, and I’m not sure this was really necessary for this story line. That said, I will be watching the next one, if only to see Tom Cruise do another one of his insane stunts. (👍🏼)

📖 Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Just the book I needed after reading a few slower books. Scalzi is always a great popcorn-type read and I blasted through this in a few days. Just like every other book of his. I’m hoping he can get back to a series of books again sometime soon. (👍🏼)

📺 Scavengers Reign. Wow. Started this show on a whim after seeing a Threads post about it. I devoured it on a lazy weekend while Emily was doing pottery. Creative sci-fi with life forms reminiscent of Adventure Time mixed with a very adult, somber, but heartfelt storyline. More like this please! (❤️)

🍿 Napoleon. I was really looking forward to this and was a bit let down. Joaquin Phoenix is great in the role but there was something missing. Watch this on Apple Plus instead of the theater. (🫤)

📺 Blue Eye Samurai. This anime was a nice surprise. The animation was incredible and it reminded me Avatar: The Last Airbender grown up (with way more violence and none of the magic qualities). Very much looking forward to Season 2. (❤️)

🍿 Elemental. We’ve been putting this movie off and finally, begrudgingly, fired it up on a lazy Saturday night. Has Pixar ever tackled a love story head on quite like this? The animation was fantastic as usual and I had very few gripes. (👍🏼)

🕹️ Bramble: The Mountain King. The story was engaging but the control scheme left something to be desired. Too clunky. I’d still recommend this tho as it was quite short and not that difficult. A fun weekend romp and free on Game Pass. (🫤)

📖 The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. I’ll be honest and say that I started this book purely because it was short and I’m making a last ditch effort to complete my reading goal for the year. Recognizing the fact that it was written in 1915 and translated from German, it was… fine. Though, I did particularly like the resulting metamorphosis of the family after the death of Gregor. (🫤)

🏎️ 2023 F1 Season. Fun season, even if it was predetermined that Max would win. (👍🏼)

🍿 Blue Beetle. I expected this to be generic and I wasn’t wrong. I think they infused it with enough charm that I did enjoy watching enough that I didn’t regret it. (🫤)

🍿 Cobweb. This has been on my horror radar for a while now and I was looking forward to it. It let me down a bit. Malignant did it better. (🫤)

🍿 Shin Godzilla. Bought this on sale a long time ago and finally got around to watching. Evolving Godzilla is a great concept. The initial form is so wacky and off the wall that you’re exited for future evolutions. (👍🏼)

When I started this blog, my intention was to resist the urge to use it as an outlet for complaining. The tech commentator world is full enough of that already and I don’t need another space to vent.

BUT. I’ve got a bone to pick with one specific iOS bug that’s bothered me for years and yet I’ve never seen anyone else mention it:

When Notification Center presents itself, notifications are briefly shown with square corners before re-rendering with rounded corners.

This issue has happened daily for over a year now and through multiple major iOS updates.

Has anyone else experienced this with the same frequency as me? What’s your pet bug that kills you inside?

Someone send help. 😅

Recently, folks have been sharing their default apps in a bunch of different categories. (I’m told the podcast Hemispheric Views started this. I plan on listening soon.)

I’m a sucker for learning about other people’s workflows and seeing how I can make better use of my time, so this was right up my alley.

In recent years I have drastically simplified the amount of third party apps I use. I felt like I was on a hamster wheel of finding and using the latest mail client, RSS reader, to-do list, etc.

I still keep my ear to the ground about the hot new productivity app but I have to be really sure it’s sticking around before I swap away from the default Apple option. Apple’s apps don’t always have the latest flashy features but I generally expect them to be around for the next five years.

Without further adieu, here are my default apps:

📨 Mail Client

• Apple Mail

📮 Mail Server

• GSuite (Is it still called this? I’m considering switching to FastMail but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.)

📝 Notes

• Apple Notes

✅ To-Do

• Apple Reminders

📷 iPhone Photo Shooting

• Apple Camera

🟦 Photo Management

• iCloud Photos / Apple Photos

📆 Calendar

• Fantastical

📁 Cloud File Storage

• iCloud Drive

📖 RSS

• N/A (I used Feedbin after the death of Google Reader but I no longer use RSS much at all anymore.)

🙍🏻‍♂️ Contacts

• Apple Contacts

🌐 Browser

• Safari / Firefox / Chrome in that order.

💬 Chat

• Apple Messages and one Slack

🔖 Bookmarks

• N/A (I usually save links in Apple Reminders or Apple Notes, depending on the context.)

📑 Read It Later

• Ephemera (This one is my app. It’s simple and unique. Check it out!)

📜 Word Processing

• Apple Notes / TextEdit / Pages

📈 Spreadsheets

• Numbers (I would use Excel in a heartbeat if I had any services spreadsheeting to do.)

📊 Presentations

• N/A

🛒 Shopping Lists

• Apple Reminders

🍴 Meal Planning

• Mela

💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance

• Copilot (I’m not convinced this is the app for me. It’s pretty but the Fidelity integration does not work. I’m fielding suggestions. Let me know!)

📰 News

• Apple News

🎵 Music

• Apple Music

🎤 Podcasts

• Overcast

🔐 Password Management

• 1Password (Thinking about switching to the native keychain implementation, but I’ve got my family on the 1Password family plan and it sounds like a pain in the butt for me to switch.)