Welcome back to Blogmas 2025, the annual tradition where I attempt to post something holiday-themed every single day from December 1st through Christmas Day. This year, I decided to shake things up by letting AI generate my daily writing prompts, because apparently I enjoy making my life both easier and more challenging at the same … Continue reading The Soundtrack of Christmas Past: My Top 10 Holiday Songs from Movies and TV
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The Carpenter’s Heart: The Untold Story of Cleopatra’s Secret Lover
History remembers Cleopatra VII as the legendary queen who captivated Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but what if the greatest love of her life was someone history never recorded? The autumn winds of 48 BC swept across Alexandria's harbor as Queen Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator stood on her palace balcony, watching Roman ships approach in … Continue reading The Carpenter’s Heart: The Untold Story of Cleopatra’s Secret Lover
The Night Shift at Pine & Needle: A Christmas Tree Lot After Dark
Welcome to Day 14 of Blogmas 2025, where I'm now two weeks into this self-imposed December writing marathon and starting to question my life choices. For those just discovering this festive endurance test, Blogmas is my annual tradition of posting holiday-themed content every single day through Christmas. This year's posts are guided by AI-generated prompts, … Continue reading The Night Shift at Pine & Needle: A Christmas Tree Lot After Dark
Question of the Week #464
As usual, this week's question comes from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions: If someone you loved was brutally murdered and their killer was acquitted on a technicality, would you seek revenge? I'll be honest—when I first read this question, my immediate gut reaction was something along the lines of "Heck yes, I'd make sure … Continue reading Question of the Week #464
The Christmas We Sang from the Lawn: A Pandemic Memory
Day 13 of Blogmas 2025, and we're past the halfway point of this December marathon. For those just joining, Blogmas is my annual commitment to posting holiday-themed content every single day through Christmas. This year's posts are prompted by AI, because apparently I needed help coming up with ways to write about Christmas. Today's prompt … Continue reading The Christmas We Sang from the Lawn: A Pandemic Memory
Zelda’s Musical Magic
In the pantheon of video game music, few franchises have achieved the cultural staying power and emotional resonance of The Legend of Zelda. From the triumphant 8-bit fanfare of the original Zelda overworld theme to the sweeping orchestral arrangements that now grace concert halls worldwide, Nintendo's beloved series has woven music so deeply into its … Continue reading Zelda’s Musical Magic
The Christmas Movie Survival Guide: Assembling Your Holiday Crisis Team
Welcome to Day 12 of Blogmas 2025, where I continue to prove that yes, I have nothing better to do in December than write about Christmas every single day. For newcomers to this festive marathon, Blogmas is my annual tradition of posting holiday-themed content daily through December 25th. This year's posts are guided by AI-generated … Continue reading The Christmas Movie Survival Guide: Assembling Your Holiday Crisis Team
The Evolution of Mortal Kombat
When Mortal Kombat burst onto arcade screens in 1992, it didn't just start a fighting game franchise—it started a cultural war. Parents clutched their pearls, politicians demanded action, and gamers lined up around the block to see what all the fuss was about. Fast forward to 2025, and the series has evolved from a controversy-magnet … Continue reading The Evolution of Mortal Kombat
The Letter from Jessica Claus
Day 11 of Blogmas 2025 continues, because stopping now would be admitting defeat, and I'm nothing if not stubbornly committed to arbitrary goals. For those just discovering this December marathon, Blogmas is my annual tradition of posting holiday-themed content every single day through Christmas. This year's posts are guided by AI-generated prompts, which is how … Continue reading The Letter from Jessica Claus
The John Hughes High School Universe: Still Detention-Worthy?
Somewhere in the vast cultural wasteland of the 1980s, between New Coke and shoulder pads, a filmmaker named John Hughes decided that teenagers deserved more than just slasher films and sex comedies. What emerged was a collection of movies that would define an entire generation's understanding of high school—and occasionally make that same generation wince … Continue reading The John Hughes High School Universe: Still Detention-Worthy?
The Confusing Middle 