GemCraft is digital addiction, distilled

If you’re a person who could play a tower defense game for hours, imagine a pretty cool one with a variety of armored, quick, numerous, and boss creeps. Then add to that the potential for upgrades between levels. Then add to that a system in which combining weapons creates special attacks like splash, chain, slow, multi-hit, and stun. Then add to that the potential for unlocking extra levels when you score certain point totals. Then add to that epic levels that end with monstrous, hard-to-bring-down bosses. Then add to that a desperation move in which cannons can become bombs. Then add to that seemingly endless levels.

Yeah. I had to put myself on an online games fast today.

Frankly, I’m Disappointed I Didn’t Make the List

Prospect Magazine’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals

I have to be honest that I haven’t heard of most of these people. I suppose my diet of almost exclusively English-language texts might have something to do with that. Or the fact that even against my better instincts, I have become a specialist of sorts.

37-cent stamps

I found a book of them this week.  That’s what happens in a garage that so desperately needs cleaning.  But now we’ve got a couple cheap shelving units to hold gardening tools, my limited collection of tools, and sporting goods; a long-tool caddy for shovels and rakes and brooms; and hooks to hang up extension cords.  So for the first time since 2005, after a couple trips to Goodwill and a couple to recycle the mass of cardboard that had accumulated, our garage has a floor.

How novel.