Author Archives: attractivenuisance1977

Traveling to the Narcissistic Island Universe of Youth: Part I

                I’m in the middle of one of the strangest, most quixotic projects of a lifetime of strange quixotic projects. Since June of 1992, I have, with very few breaks in the routine, kept a daily journal chronicling my life. Up until the last decade, I did this in physical, longhand journals. Now they areContinue reading “Traveling to the Narcissistic Island Universe of Youth: Part I”

Go Ahead and Let the Fates Decide

                I’m obsessed with injecting randomness into my life. Life in the 21st century is too on-demand. You can choose exactly what to eat, exactly who to talk to, exactly what to listen to or watch. It’s a triumph of capitalism. The ability to do all these things is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, butContinue reading “Go Ahead and Let the Fates Decide”

The Curse of Stuff

                They say millennials prioritize experiences over physical products. I don’t know how you could possibly test a statement like that, but it feels right; anyway, it has a certain truthful ring to it. In general, I think it’s a bankrupt concept to try and categorize and characterize generations, but this is one area thatContinue reading “The Curse of Stuff”

An Open Question to My Friends

I’m having trouble understanding you all. Back in December, as I cautiously lurked, considering a return to Facebook, I found a flurry of posts about the UK general election. These posts closely mirrored the ones that I remember after both Brexit and the election of Donald Trump; lamentations about the country losing its mind, apologiesContinue reading “An Open Question to My Friends”

Thoughts on Episode 9: Part Two

My favorite moment from the sequel trilogy is still from VII, when Rey faces off against Kylo Ren in the icy woods on Ilum. When Ren tries to get Luke’s saber from the snow, then watches it fly past into his face to be ignited in Rey’s hands as Luke’s theme comes up; now that’sContinue reading “Thoughts on Episode 9: Part Two”

Thoughts on Episode 9: Part One

Massive Spoilers Ahead…                 So, it took me more than a week, but I finally went to see Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker a second time. I considered writing a piece on what I thought of the movie right away, but I thought it would be smarter to wait a bit; to let the movieContinue reading “Thoughts on Episode 9: Part One”

Pub Quiz Review: City Works, McLean, VA

                In the shadow of the mighty cathedral of cut rate credit known as the Capital One building, there is a new venue for trivia night on Wednesdays: City Works. This Wednesday, a bitterly cold December evening, I went with three friends to check out the competition in Tysons Corner. Walking past the windows ofContinue reading “Pub Quiz Review: City Works, McLean, VA”

Triple Crowns vs. Perfect Games

                I find the best way to protect my sanity in the era of the hot take is just to tune things out, especially the things said on podcasts, in Facebook posts, or anywhere that thoughts are restricted to short, unaccountable bursts. But sometimes it’s just impossible. Sometimes someone blurts a line that lets themContinue reading “Triple Crowns vs. Perfect Games”

Episode 9: Here we go again

                I’ve got plans to see Episode Nine. Of course, I do. There is a ticket in my name, and I’m going. I know people who have turned away, but I’m not there yet. I mean, I’m the guy who copied the opening crawl from Empire Strikes Back into big yellow block lettering and slidContinue reading “Episode 9: Here we go again”