2023
It’s 2023, and I have COVID, which is a pain. The past few weeks (months?) have been tremendously weird on a psychic level. Maybe it’s just winter? Maybe it’s that two institutions that have been a major part of my life for the last few years (Twitter and Fanbyte) both started to collapse in late 2022.
I’m writing a lot lately, mostly just pushing myself to write a set number of words everyday on longer-form drafts without worrying too much about editing, which I think has been a helpful practice for me. I’m also trying to write more on my blog. Here are a couple of pieces I put up this week:
Star Control III is a Beautiful Trainwreck — Looking back at the most-maligned entry in a charming, funny, and beloved series of computer games.
The Nice-ification of the Hobby Shop — Game and hobby stores used to be gross, and I kind of miss that.
I feel tremendously old lately, which is kind of a bummer and doesn’t have much basis in reality. Part of the reason for that, I think, is that I tend to write about old things, read old books, watch old movies. Maybe I’ll try to keep up with new things more in the new year. What’s good? What are you all looking forward to in 2023? Let me know on Instagram or here.
Oh, and speaking of writing about old things, if you missed the crowdfunding campaign for LAN Party and still want a copy, the publisher has opened up general pre-orders. Thanks to everyone who made the campaign a success.
I know I resonate a lot with pieces you write that reveal new perspectives on a 90s/00s youth (or reflecting on it in your 30s, etc.). But I don't for a second feel your insight is limited to that.
Maybe the old vibes relate to your unique Instagram's retro quotations.
I don't like institutions failing, but I'm curious for this unusual revival of an earlier internet vibe where people are creating interesting things in dozens of very different environments as folks scatter from Twitter.