EXPERIENCES AS RESISTANCE
This year, January 20 was a rather dramatic and infamous day. And here’s how I spent it:
Getting a haircut, spending the day with my five year old, eating at a retro diner, exploring a mom and pop vintage toy store, and playing arcade games.
Resistance takes many forms, but I think the most important thing to do during inhumane times are to connect with the most human things we do. Things like making art, parenting, making each other laugh, and humoring curiosity.
Viktor Franklin notes that meaning can be found in any circumstance and our ability to chose how we respond defines us. A lot of things have felt heavy lately, and while hardship is inevitable, the most essential freedom is one’s freedom to choose their attitude.
NOODLES AT THE BORDER
Took Kai to the mall right by the border to visit the trending ramen bar. Kind of a quick way to build a business by providing packaged ramen and hot water for people to make it themselves, but still a lot of fun! Generous kimchi and seaweed salad sides.
TEam retreat
Had a team retreat last week, first time meeting half of my newer teammates in person.
I spent a few years as a one-person department. At the time it was out of necessity, but I am so glad those days are behind me.
Teams are where it’s at!
Respect to whoever designed the Gallagher Square Playground.
White lotus
Man, I feel like people are being tough on that finale.
There were some moments of dialogue that landed weird and some odd character decisions, but the show’s appeal to me is its portrait of humans as really fricken complex. It does that real well.
Still can’t believe this is all from the creative mind of Ned Schneebly.
mushroom kingdom
Went places this weekend. MarioLand was well done. Whole park was an interactive story game. Lots of AR/motion oriented games and fun translations of MarioKart & Mario Party type experiences. I appreciate Toad’s culinary turn.
SEVERANCE S2
The irony of perhaps taking a day off work to mull over the Severance finale.
Okay, some reactions. Spoilers ahead so avert your gaze and hasten your thumbs if you wish to avoid.
🛑
I personally loved the finale. Mixed feelings about its actual events, but every change in beat to that episode had me leaning further in. And you know it’s wild when the existence of every character is pretty much in jeopardy but you’re most invested in whether or not a goat survives.
This finale had a really good blend of answering questions and raising new ones. The numbers are your wife! One of the things it confirmed are that Kier’s motivation is to create a world without pain, and that perfectly crosses with Mark’s decision to sever his way past the grief process.
I think the best hero-villain dynamics are when they’re two characters who are forced to make the same decision but take different routes. And you could extend that to innie Mark refusing to let go, in contrast to outie Mark severing as a way to force letting go.
In theory they could park it right here and call that the series finale. Some plot lines felt very resolved. Like Dylan’s or Cobel’s. And a lot of the ambiguity at the end felt deliberate, like The Graduate. But there’s still plenty to explore with the Eagans and Gemma, and I think a true series finale wouldn’t be right without John Turturo and Christopher Walken.
This is one of the more interesting fictional worlds to hang out in from recent years, so I wouldn’t mind another round.
Also, how is Mr. Milchick’s forced smile the perfect image of corporate America?
my best freestyle life
juniper styles
G. LOVE’S ART SHOW
It was a very good pre-birthday weekend.
Got to catch an art show & live set from G. Love at The Soap Factory… really fun venue for a show.
There was live painting…
A free roaming dog or two…
All the verses of Baby’s Got Sauce come right back like riding a bike. And we got a great moment of improvised jam with a local artist all while I’m still on my blues kick from Sinners.
WAVE AAPI NIGHT
Then AAPI Night at the San Diego Wave…
Pretty exciting match with a game-winner at the 95th minute.
gnx tour
Bing bop boom boom boom bop bam
Proud dad moment: Seeing Rhys nail the target with the Phillie Phanatic’s hot dog cannon.
Bravo Tina!
Chocolates Valor
Pretty pleased with this hat pickup from Gilda in Philly.
Only the quickest little pit stop in PDX, but actually my first time flying through here since they redid the airport.
KAMALIG
My ongoing mission continues… seeking out Filipino food in places you might not expect. One of Helsinki’s classic food halls offered up Kalamig. Talked to the owner here, and she’s been in Finland for 30ish years. Ordered up a simple roast manok, since sometimes in Filipinos cuisine, the simplest dishes impress me the most.
Pokémon squad’s about to be unstoppable with Rhys’ Mewtwo in the mix
Last Day of UTK
Cardiac walkthrough at The Franklin Institute in Philly… basically like living through a Magic School Bus episode.