Politics

US presidential election 2024

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US Presidential Election 2024

The US presidential election is only 17 days away. Polls show the race is neck and neck, but it could go either way within the margin of error. It’s shaping up to be one of the closest elections in history, with just seven swing states — the lowest number in recent memory — determining the outcome.

Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

AZ, GA, and NC lean towards Republicans, while MN, NV, PA, and WI lean towards Democrats.

America is deeply polarised between the two major parties, which hold an unbreakable majority. The result has been a dysfunctional executive, with Congress deadlocked and unable to fulfil its role. Other parts of the executive branch have become increasingly important.

Why is the race so close?

The aftereffects of the COVID pandemic have made Biden unpopular. The economic impact has resulted in higher inflation due to pent-up demand, and the Federal Reserve’s response has been to raise interest rates in an effort to curb inflation. Money given to people during the pandemic helped boost demand, further driving inflation. The economy was booming, with employment near record highs, when these factors began to take effect.

Biden has become unpopular due to the rise in inflation and interest rates, both of which are being blamed on him. Harris, as his vice president, is also being held accountable. She is positioning herself as the candidate for change, and with good reason. Trump, on the other hand, is benefiting from voters’ frustration and anger. However, he faces challenges regarding his age, his felony charges, and his continued claims that the 2020 election was stolen. His behaviour and mental capacity are causing him difficulties when compared to a much younger Harris.

In the background, demographic changes across various states are having an impact. People are moving to red states and turning them blue, and the opposite is happening elsewhere. Certain ethnic groups of voters have shifted their voting patterns. These small changes in polarised American politics are enough to create significant waves. It’s worth briefly noting that polarised politics means less crossover voting, which causes huge problems for control of the Senate and Congress, especially when combined with gerrymandering to favour one party. Who controls the executive at state levels has become hugely significant. The result is that American politics has become deeply dysfunctional, and major problems remain unsolved. As it stands right now, the race is too close to call.

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. So far, Europe and the rest of the world are not preparing, instead choosing to ignore the situation. A few of Trump’s comments should be raising alarm bells, particularly his unwillingness to commit to defending NATO countries — a serious concern. European security is at genuine risk, and that’s just the beginning of the problems. His comments about starting a trade war with Europe should be ringing alarm bells as well. Everything he’s been saying should be cause for concern. Not just concern but making him unfit to be president.

The world waits for the outcome of the November election, and the result will be historic: the first female Black president or a felon entering the White House.

Movies

Joker – Arthur Fleck story

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Small disclaimer: I haven’t seen Joker or its newly released sequel. However, the sequel has garnered mixed reviews so far. From what I understand, the first film focuses on a character who adopts a Joker-like persona—a mentally ill individual who transforms and commits violent, shocking acts. This is odd because the film is called Joker but isn’t actually about the Joker. The character is inspired by the Joker, even borrowing some of his iconic look. It was a fresh take on the character, but only in name; unlike the comic book Joker, Arthur Fleck never aspired to be the “Prince of Crime.” Though I haven’t watched it, this is the impression I have of the first movie. Todd Phillips’ grounded vision of Gotham, much like Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, offers a more realistic take on the mythos. Just to be clear, it’s called Joker, but it’s not about the Joker, even though it borrows from the source material.

Maybe that’s why it should have had a different title—something more reflective of its intent, rather than evoking expectations of a traditional comic book film.

I never had any desire to see Joker or Joker: Folie à Deux. So, what changed my mind? The answer is the negative reaction to the sequel—it made me curious. Reports of people walking out during screenings caught my attention. How could a film that made $1 billion have a sequel that fails to match that? People have told me the movie is bad, which only piques my curiosity further. Based on what I know of the plot, it seems to be a darker, more sombre film than the original. The first movie was an action-packed drama-thriller, while this one is described as a musical courtroom thriller. Dealing with the consequences of the first film is something rarely seen in movies these days. I can see why this might divide audiences, especially those expecting a conventional, action-packed Joker. That choice is also part of the reason I want to see it—it seems like a very bold move from conservative Hollywood. The marketing seems to completely avoid highlighting that shift in tone.

Before I watch Joker: Folie à Deux, I need to watch Joker—the film that looks like him but isn’t really about him.

Joker Review

At its core, the film is rather unpleasant to watch—it’s about witnessing terrible things happen and watching a man spiral into decline. Arthur always seems just one breakdown away from doing something truly dangerous. We soon get a glimpse into his mental health issues, and it’s clear that the support he’s given isn’t nearly enough for what he needs. Everything he does feels like a performance—smiling and laughing to mask the pain. The violence in this movie feels personal, and you can’t help but feel bad for everyone involved. Joaquin Phoenix is outstanding in this role, not just following the script but embodying the character fully. His facial expressions change on the fly, giving off an air of menace followed by moments of guilt, which makes his performance deeply unsettling yet captivating. Anybody who has struggled with mental health issues can see part of themselves in Arthur. That’s what makes it so compelling. Compared to other DC comic movies, this is far lighter on action, focusing more on the drama. Each action has consequences, slowly leading to his further decline and drift into insanity. Everything that happens adds up. The film takes on a much darker tone, shifting from portraying a somewhat sympathetic character to a more menacing one. Yet you can still sense that Arthur exists underneath it all, which makes it even more chilling.

Unwittingly, Arthur becomes the Joker, making this a Joker origin story that’s not really about the Joker but uses his image. Yes, that includes the Batman origin story, linking him to the Joker indirectly by influencing the events that lead to the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents. To me, it’s obvious that Arthur never wanted to be the Joker. Society as a whole helped create and give him that name. I don’t quite buy the idea that this movie isn’t about the Joker when it borrows so much from the source material. It’s a refreshing, self-contained story that works, but it doesn’t leave much room for a follow-up. I’m not sure what to think about it—how do you continue Arthur’s story? Arthur in prison, perhaps? Do you fully make him the Joker, or do you continue his long drift towards becoming the Joker? Sorry—not the Joker, but someone who looks more and more like the Joker. Maybe they could take a different route, like exploring Harley Quinn treating Arthur, only to descend into insanity herself.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Before watching it, what intrigued me was the shift in genre to a musical thriller, reflecting Arthur’s ongoing struggle with trauma. If you watch Joker, you’ll notice that Arthur is a performance- and theatre-driven character who wants to be a comedian. So, it’s not a stretch to shift the focus towards a more musical element. While I’m unsure if “eccentric” is the right word to describe him, his tragic, shock humour remains central to his character.

My expectations going in were pretty low, but I think it’s a far stronger movie than the first. The musical set pieces replace any action scenes, breaking up the film and adding a much lighter tone to an otherwise dark movie. However, anyone describing this as a full-on musical is misrepresenting it—the musical sections are a small part of the film. For Arthur, it feels like he’s constantly on stage, with the singing and dancing serving as performances to shield himself. He’s not a singer, and that’s deliberate—his eccentricity shines through as he clings to this tragic, self-imposed role.

Some might argue that this film doesn’t progress his character much, but it’s clear he’s still resisting fully becoming the Joker. The institutional abuse he endures is implied rather than shown, but he suffers more from the consequences of his own actions. Yet, he never fully becomes the monster people expect. Instead, he offers a performance when things get tough. Some of the most powerful scenes are those where you see Arthur’s vulnerability; he’s just a scared man, and the film often feels like he’s being dragged along by forces beyond his control.

The pacing is much stronger in this movie. It feels like Arthur’s dream about being in prison, with the musical sections representing his fantasy escape. His character arc makes sense, and by the end, he finally seems to regain control, only for it to be taken away again. If you watch closely, the entire film hints at this—foreshadowing the ending multiple times, which is why I think it’s a dream. Lee’s character, waking up from the same dream, is a truly painful moment, and it explains the title perfectly. I’m not sure if Lee is meant to be a metaphor for the audience, but it certainly feels that way.

This isn’t a bad movie—in fact, I think it’s far better overall than the first. That might be an unpopular opinion, but it feels more cohesive and enjoyable. The challenge of expanding such a self-contained story is significant, but Folie à Deux manages to do it well.

Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed Joker: Folie à Deux far more than the first film. While it was never going to appeal to mainstream comic book fans, the original’s success still baffles me. This sequel feels more like a continuation of Arthur’s story—a fitting conclusion to his character arc—rather than a typical sequel. The film defies expectations in many ways, from its musical elements to its avoidance of traditional fan service. Even though I’m still puzzled by the decision to call this series Joker when it feels so different from the comic book character, the direction Todd Phillips takes makes sense within this unique vision of Gotham and Arthur Fleck. It may not satisfy everyone, but as a character study and a bold cinematic experiment, Folie à Deux stands out as a compelling and well-crafted follow-up.

Poem

Poem: Autumn leaves

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Green trees are turning into golden brown

New look for a new season

Leaves are slowly falling to the ground

Gentle wind breaks the fall

Leaves are dancing in the wind to the sound of autumn

Birds singing their last song, leaving to warmer lands

Gentle breeze with the light sound of rain

Wet autumn turning to the sound of crunching leaves

School children marching back to the classroom

Winter is coming, but first, the autumn dance of leaves

Days growing darker and longer, colder and winds stronger

Atric winds stripping the trees of it leaves 

Before the colour fades, evergreens still green everything else returning in spring

Politics

Israel and Palestine Conflict Revisited: One Year After October 7th

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Israel and Palestine Conflict Revisited: One Year After October 7th

The Israel and Palestine conflict rages on without a solution. The war against Hamas, in response to the October 7th attacks, has devastated Gaza, while violence in the West Bank remains underreported. The Palestinian people have suffered greatly, not just in Gaza but also in the West Bank. Gaza is under a blockade, with 60% of its buildings destroyed or damaged. Core infrastructure, including water supplies, has been severely affected, further restricting essential services. The risk of famine in Gaza remains high. The situation in the West Bank, while less severe, is still alarming. Jewish settlers have been attacking defenseless villagers, sabotaging farms, engaging in harassment and violence, and attempting to displace people from their homes. This violence includes the murder of civilians and the demolition of homes with state approval. Despite these issues, global attention has largely focused on Gaza, leaving the West Bank’s struggles unnoticed.

The humanitarian impact breaks my heart. Hearing stories of people unable to feed themselves, lacking shelter, or of how people were injured is devastating. Children playing in the streets have been hit by sniper fire. Entire families have been wiped out by airstrikes. The reports are horrifying, and I’ve started to grow numb to them. Journalists and aid workers have been murdered for reporting on the war. The conflict remains largely closed off, with very few granted free access.

Gaza

The aim to destroy Hamas has failed, as Israel has leveled Gaza, yet Hamas remains. Its leadership has hidden within a vast tunnel network, making them moving targets that can’t easily be found. It’s a game of cat and mouse, with guerrilla warfare being waged against Israeli troops trying to clear the tunnels. It has been clear for some time that hostages are no longer the primary concern, and the threshold for acceptable civilian damage has shifted. Hostages are now leverage, not to be given away without something significant in return. A two-state solution seems impossible when everyone is moving the goalposts, and trust is at an all-time low. After so much blood has been spilled, no one is willing to make a deal.

The only bit of good news is that a regional war has been avoided so far. Hamas leadership hoped that, after October 7th, Hezbollah and other allies would launch a full-scale war against Israel, yet only minor escalations have occurred. Everyone seems to be responding in some way but avoiding an all-out war. The situation feels like a powder keg, with everyone lighting matches and setting off fireworks at each other. While the state of Israel is unlikely to be destroyed, it has become increasingly isolated on the global stage.

Hezbollah and the North

Attention has now shifted north toward Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed group in Lebanon. Unable to fully defeat Hamas, Israel has degraded them enough that its next focus appears to be Hezbollah. Rocket strikes into northern Israel have caused people to flee border areas. Despite Lebanon’s status as a failed state, Hezbollah is considered the strongest and most well-armed threat. Israel has targeted Hezbollah leadership by sabotaging their communication network and following up with airstrikes. The aim is to escalate in order to de-escalate, forcing Hezbollah into a deal. The goal seems to be dismantling Iran’s “axis of resistance” one group at a time. It’s unclear whether Iran itself will be the next target, possibly with Trump’s return to influence. Israel’s actions have left it isolated, as international opinion continues to turn against it.

Arab states have refused to work on normalizing relations until the war is over. European allies have strongly condemned Israel, and in some cases, voted to recognize the state of Palestine. Only the Americans have remained firmly on Israel’s side, though even they are questioning and growing frustrated. Some, including the British, have blocked arms exports to Israel. All sides are increasingly concerned about post-war plans, with ideas floated such as displacing people into the Egyptian desert.

Iran

Iran’s long-term goal is to reduce or remove American influence from the region. Over the last couple of decades, Iran has targeted American allies, and it also wants to destroy the state of Israel, which has aggressively pushed back. For now, Iran has kept its distance from the conflict. Both are powerful actors, but neither has the ability to destroy the other outright. They are trading blows using proxy forces under the united banner of the “axis of resistance.” However, the groups within this axis have different goals and ideas.

If tensions with Iran escalate further, we could see Israel and Iran engaging in more direct attacks. The risk of a war between the two sides looms, with the possibility of a single miscalculation setting off a conflict. It’s hard to predict what that would look like. A war would put the U.S. in a tricky position, especially since Trump has unfinished business with Iran. Trump, entangled in legal battles, has revealed Pentagon plans to attack Iran, and Iranian hackers have targeted his campaign as an act of vengeance for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, which Trump ordered.

When you consider the geopolitical complexities, the situation becomes even more tangled. Powers in the Middle East—America, Russia, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar—all have different views and goals. Arab states are divided on how to act, especially those allied with the U.S., who fear Iran’s growing influence.

The interconnected conflicts of the Middle East have added yet another chapter to this war. A year after October 7th, we have seen one deadly gamble after another. The conflict in Gaza has turned into a stalemate, while in the West Bank, Israel has the upper hand with settlers driving people out. Peace is a distant dream, and the Palestinian people are being forgotten. Now, as attention shifts toward Hezbollah, the biggest threat to Israel may lie within, as extremist settlers appear to have gained control of the nation’s future. This paints a bleak picture for both Israel and the Middle East, leaving me feeling uncomfortable and deeply sad.

Economics, Politics

Labour budget dilemma

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Labour’s Budget Dilemma

The UK Labour Party is grappling with a significant budgetary challenge. While there is widespread agreement on the need to increase public spending to repair public services, there is no consensus on who should bear the cost. The economy is currently operating at maximum capacity, meaning any increase in spending without corresponding tax hikes would lead to inflation. Higher taxes are not just about raising revenue but are necessary to free up resources. However, this solution is unpopular and risks destroying jobs. It could also reduce consumer spending, particularly in sectors with high productivity growth due to intense competition for labour. Redirecting that labour towards the public sector, which has struggled with low productivity in recent years, is a troubling prospect given the UK’s lacklustre productivity growth.

When people shift from consuming goods and services to investing in assets to protect their gains, other negative consequences emerge. A reduction in consumer spending could create economic “doom loops.” There’s already a pervasive sense that high streets are dying, giving many areas a bleak, stagnant vibe. This is dangerous both economically and politically. Economic stagnation breeds intolerance and reactionary politics, fostering support for far-right movements among disillusioned voters. The ability to spend hard-earned money outside the home is a key factor in personal happiness. The post-COVID surge in spending at shops and pubs highlights this, as people sought to regain a sense of normalcy and joy.

This helps explain why the UK has settled on a tax-to-GDP ratio of 37%, with little appetite for increasing it. Higher taxes come with trade-offs that the public has been unwilling to accept. Taxing the rich won’t solve the core issue of freeing up resources for the public sector, though I wish it would, out of a sense of social justice.

But this leads to a critical question: Are we, as a society, ready to make the sacrifices needed for better public services, even if it means paying more in taxes?

The Path Forward

The solutions lie in raising the inflation target to better reflect economic realities and boosting productivity. The public sector, particularly the NHS, needs real capital investment to become more efficient—better computers, rebuilt hospitals, and modern infrastructure. For example, investing in modern healthcare technology could shorten waiting times and improve patient outcomes. Hospitals built with better infrastructure would also become more energy-efficient, saving long-term operational costs.

Planning reform is a good start, but we need to shift taxes from income to land, among other reforms. A land value tax, for example, could encourage the productive use of land and help tackle the housing crisis. However, these changes will be fiercely opposed by vested interests who benefit from the current system.

Another challenge is reallocating labour in a more efficient economy, which could mean the disappearance of tens of thousands of jobs. These workers would need support while transitioning to new employment, and not just “bullshit jobs” created by overly complicated systems propped up by tax breaks. Simplifying the tax code would provoke fierce resistance from those with a stake in the current system. Redirecting labour will require targeted, specific measures—not broad-brush solutions.

How can we ensure that workers in obsolete or inefficient industries are given the support and retraining they need? This is where government policy must be proactive, not reactive. Without adequate support, we risk creating a new wave of economic and political dissatisfaction.

The Core Problem

So far, the government has shown little interest in tackling the vested interests that resist raising productivity. This leaves higher taxes as the only option, with the accompanying risk of fueling far-right sentiment. If Labour is to succeed in its mission and counter the rise of the far right, it must rethink its approach. Addressing the most problematic aspects of capitalism is necessary—not just as a matter of left-wing idealism but as a pragmatic strategy. The political right has been co-opted by landlords and predatory, reactionary capitalism.

While Labour must act decisively, it also needs to frame its efforts as a step toward a more equitable and functional economy. Yes, reform will be difficult, and opposition from powerful vested interests is inevitable, but change is not only possible—it is essential.

Is it not time for a government that puts the long-term well-being of its people above short-term gains?

Conclusion

The UK faces a crossroads. The budget dilemma Labour grapples with is emblematic of deeper systemic issues—stagnant productivity, growing inequality, and a political landscape susceptible to far-right sentiment. Raising taxes, increasing public spending, and improving services aren’t easy choices, but they are necessary steps toward a more sustainable future.

The challenge is not just about managing the economy—it’s about confronting the vested interests that have for too long blocked meaningful reform. Labour must be bold in its vision, but also pragmatic in how it implements change. Tackling inefficiencies in the public sector, reallocating labor, and modernizing the tax system are all achievable with the right political will.

Ultimately, the public must be persuaded that short-term sacrifices, like higher taxes, are worth the long-term benefits—better public services, more meaningful jobs, and a more just society. Failure to act now will only deepen the cycle of stagnation and discontent, further empowering reactionary forces.

As the UK stands at this pivotal moment, the question becomes: Will we choose progress and shared prosperity, or continue down a path of economic decline and political instability?

Labour has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to steer the country toward a more hopeful future. The time to act is now.

Smite

Smite 2 Alpha Thoughts

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Smite 2 Alpha Thoughts

I have been playing Smite 2 since the earliest closed weekend alpha. Alpha software is still in a very early stage, with decisions being made on core gameplay and features that have yet to be added. The foundation of the game exists, but content is sparse; this stage is all about ensuring that the core mechanics can support the rest of the game. Complaints about the game lacking content at this point misunderstand the nature of development. Comparing an 11-year-old game to a brand-new one being built from the ground up is unrealistic.

The developers are currently focused on porting characters over while updating effects and designs. The emphasis has been on quality-of-life improvements and reworking older designs. The current alpha roster seems to be building a library of abilities that can be used as a basis for further character porting. Although this hasn’t been explicitly stated, it appears to be the case. More complex characters, which require additional time and resources, are being skipped for now, with various features either missing or yet to be added.

While the game mechanics generally make sense, I have some concerns with certain balance choices. It seems that balance has taken a backseat to content porting at this stage. Judging certain aspects of the game is difficult when matchmaking is inconsistent. Minor changes have gradually reshaped the gameplay. For example, the removal of the class system has shifted the focus toward INT (Intelligence) and STR (Strength) as more important factors in determining roles. Characters now deal either physical or magical damage: Physical damage scales with STR, while magical damage scales with INT. However, building INT on physical characters does not convert their damage to magical. For example, Sol deals magical damage but can benefit from STR in a carry role.

Some characters are designed to play multiple roles, gaining bonuses like extra utility when building INT. This approach shows promise in creating a flexible set of role archetypes. I hope the developers are bold enough to expand on this concept with early, middle, and late-game design. One possible idea could be that building STR on magical characters increases attack speed for ranged attacks.

In addition to changes in character design, itemization has also been revamped. The game now uses a recipe-component mechanic, allowing players to switch between build paths without being overly punished. If you make a mistake, the system is far more forgiving.

The two biggest changes, however, are how relics work and the introduction of active items. Relics can now only be selected at the beginning of the game and have long cooldowns. As a result, crowd control has become much stronger and more impactful, though there has already been a reduction in crowd control duration across the board. There is also less choice in terms of relics, with older relics moving to active items. These two changes have significantly altered how the game plays.

Additionally, wards now offer less vision and have shorter timers, meaning junglers face fewer counters than before. Combined with some buggy interactions, this creates a rough experience. At this point, I’m unsure about the direction the developers want to take the game.

Currently, the game feels snowball-heavy, with a focus on bursting down opponents and chasing them. The damage feels unavoidable, and there are few options for recovery when you fall behind. The early game has a punishing focus, with no trade-offs for characters that excel in this stage. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the base strength of characters seems off, and I worry that using this as a baseline could lead to future problems.

It’s also hard to describe the art and graphics; something feels off, as if the characters don’t quite fit into the world. The Conquest map remains unchanged, making the layout feel overly familiar. It’s still very easy to move between the jungle and lanes. While various new objects have been added, they don’t significantly change how the game feels.

Overall, Smite 2 feels like a love letter to the original game—more of a remaster than something entirely new. Even ability sounds have been transferred over. It seems like the developers are playing it safe instead of experimenting with bold new ideas. Despite this being a new engine with a new team building the game from the ground up, Smite 2 still feels like it’s treading familiar ground.

I understand that finding the right balance between innovation and preserving what works is tricky, but with no competition on consoles, Smite remains the only MOBA in town.

So, should you try it? Not yet—unless you can stomach an early-access game that could disappear, like so many live-service games over the years.

Short Story

Short story – Shadow of Written Lies

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Shadow of Written Lies

A small lamp lit up the desk, illuminating a pile of police reports. It was going to be a long night reviewing the reports. The police officer in question had been given a tip from a local private detective. Unknown to his boss, he was focusing on this over his normal night shift duties. He was hidden from view in the records room, behind dusty shelves with a single lamp barely bright enough. A white plastic coffee cup sat nearby, trying to keep himself awake. The light barely showed his rounded brown frame glasses and brown hair slowly turning grey. He said very quietly, not drawing attention to himself, “Let’s start here.” Digging into the pile of papers at the bottom, he found what he wanted. The single-page report read out loud, “Officer report classified and references redacted, destroy this memo and any records around the incident in question.” Looking up in shock, he started to check other bits of paperwork. Most reports were redacted, with rewritten copies marked to replace the originals. Post-it notes with instructions had not been completed. Leaning back on the metal folding chair, he picked up only one untouched. Out of 20 bits of paper, this one had escaped. Officer report May 30th: An emergency services call was made for a police escort from the Church to the dockyards. Hearing gunshots, officers began to attend the scene with a further request made by members of the public. This is inaccurate; known dirty cops had visited an apartment complex instead, trying to collect evidence to frame somebody for gangsters. They opened fire within the building when questioned why they were breaking and entering. This report is updating the public record and providing the facts.

He was stunned. The single bit of paper contained every single bit of juicy detail. Worse still, it was detailed with names. No author and looked like an early draft. A small light in the distance began to appear between the shelving units. He switched off the light and gathered the papers up. The clerk’s help desk was near, and he moved towards it, hiding under it. Footsteps drew closer, torchlight flicking in the dark room. An unfamiliar male voice spoke, “Should be somewhere here, box 960, I can’t see it,” walking over to the help desk. He continued his train of thought, “959, 961 but no 960, wait a minute, this box is empty.” Turning around, he suddenly tripped over a box and landed on the floor. Leaving the help desk after throwing a box under his feet, the police officer quickly made his escape. Paperwork in a folder he had borrowed from the desk he was hiding under. Walking down the white hallways past the coffee machine towards his office. Peeking from behind the green plant, nobody was close by. Stopping at the admin section, he opened the photocopier and made a copy or two. Two folders in hand, he made his way towards the car park. Once inside the car park and checking nobody had followed him, he called the private detective and got into his car to go meet him.

He said, “Why did I agree to this?”

Poem

Digital Desert – A Tribute to Casey

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Digital Desert – A Tribute to Casey

You crafted a wonderful garden. Thank you for taking the time, effort, energy, and love to build this place. From the turmoil that engulfed the world, you created something beautiful. The grass is green, and the flowers are in full bloom. It took vision, time, energy, and love to build this garden. It was your garden which you turned into a community space. You let us into your garden, trusting us to help build something magical. A community garden full of life and wonderful people. A busy gardener can be lonely, failing to see all the growth. Yet here we are, like a colorful garden. Full of life, birds, bees, and more enjoying it. Something is missing, and that is you. We will feel your absence and miss your smile. My biggest regret is not getting to know you more.

It does not feel the same without you here. We will wait like a dog for your return and keep tending this place.

Marvel Snap, Video Games

Deadpool diner

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Deadpool diner

Deadpool Diner is an event within Marvel Snap. The second dinner followed industry trends and added a stamina system to the event. You can bypass it by spending money, which is a rather predatory practice that exploits players. Mobile gaming has been home to some awful, abusive mechanics for a while now. People, in general, have well accepted it, gotten used to it, and allowed it to carry on. Marvel Snap has avoided it until this event, which leaves a sour taste.

The next point is that the event is time-limited to earn a card; you need 500 million points to get it. Given that I have just 200k, I’m quite a way off from earning it. The result is that players are doing whatever they can to earn it. You can’t really blame players if you make a time-limited event and lock a card behind a massive wall. The result is a rather unfun mode within the game.

The last problem is that the mode is very similar to ladder mode. A couple of key differences are that Bubs decrease, but your progress overall does not. Once you reach a certain rank, you don’t derank. The event overall feels like a massive chore to play and is, well, unfun.

So how would I have done this event?

For starters, I would have replaced the existing ladder with it. Next, no stamina system and increased the length of the event to a month. Decrease the costs to earn the new card and add more cards to earn per week. At higher ranks, I would give players decks based on the movie, making it more like a draft preview of what is going to come soon.

What I have learned from this mode is that retreat is a skill I need to get the hang of more. Also, my game knowledge about decks at times is lacking.

Thoughts

James bond some thoughts

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James bond some thoughts

The James Bond film franchise is currently on hiatus, with no new releases in the pipeline. The most recent installment, ‘No Time to Die,’ premiered in 2021, marking the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond. Across its history, there have been a total of 24 Bond movies.

In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM Studios, integrating it with their existing studio. Once a Hollywood powerhouse, MGM was formerly part of the Big Seven studios. Now, it stands alongside the Big Five: Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony. Interestingly, both Paramount and Warner Bros. face challenges—Paramount’s business is in disarray, while Warner Bros.’ consolidation with Discovery has hit roadblocks.

The Broccoli family has diligently safeguarded control over the Bond franchise. Danjaq holds the copyright for the film series. The first twenty Bond movies are co-owned by Danjaq and MGM, while the remainder belong to Danjaq, MGM, and Columbia Pictures (a Sony subsidiary). Eon Productions, owned by the Broccoli family, meticulously oversees all Bond projects. Their level of control rivals J.K. Rowling’s veto power over the Harry Potter franchise.

Amazon’s involvement introduces an intricate situation. Producing a new James Bond movie isn’t straightforward; it involves navigating a complex web of ownership and approvals. The intricate network across MGM presents both opportunities and challenges. Budgets are tight, and some projects face cancellation. Clearly, Bond is a costly endeavor. So far, Amazon’s impact on MGM extends primarily to the Bond franchise. Additionally, there’s a reality TV show with Bond branding, and its second season is currently in production.

Where could the James Bond Flims go next? Parodies saw Daniel Craig’s version become darker. Each actor brings a different vibe, suiting the era. It could be rebooted back to the 1960s. I’m unsure where it should go. After 25 movies maybe it should just end. Hollywood’s big problem is making everything a franchise.