Distractions and amusements
Gaming
Christmas break allowed me to finish some books and video games. Among games were Blue Prince and Dispatch. Recommending both, though they are totally different type of entertainment and call for other type of mindset/engagement. Where BP is mainly a FPP puzzle game, Dispatch overhauls the superhero genre with its interactive story and two simple game mechanics - strategizing responses to support requests, and “hacking” sequences. None of them require extreme expertise, so 7-8hr split sit-down could be shared with my lady.
As much as I find generic superhero stories not too suitable for people whose age is expressed with more than one digit, some of the modern takes are, to my surprise, quite fresh and worth time of adult audience. My short reflection on nerdpop culture artifacts should be released soon.
Cinema
The most memorable for me are understated and deeply humanist movies, frugal with their expression, but bringing big emotional load. My huge applause to Rental Family, which you wouldn’t expect to be so good after reading synopsis or watching trailer. But it is exactly this kind of cinema you need once in a while - to exit the room with slightly running nose and impression that the world is warmer and softer than usual. Last time it happened after watching All of us Strangers
Lessons Learnt
- I was wrong when speaking with my friend and recalling number of Wizards (Istari) in Lord of the Rings - there is actually two of them never mentioned by name - blue wizards - apart from Gandalf the Gray, Saruman the White and Radagast the Brown. wiki
- Apparently birds can communicate with more than just emotions, but generate a grammar
- The most informative youtube video about peppers and their hotness. That was my first encounter with Howtown channel, which seems well-researched, honest and intriguing!
- Erick von Däniken died. Rest his confused soul, his theories were colorful and inspiring, much before the egalitarian conspiracy channels opened for everyone. Bugonia should have been dedicated to him.