Somehow 2024 is ending, the year having somehow gone by way too quickly and yet, in some ways, not nearly quick enough. As ever, the end of the year means a look back at this blog’s dozenth year of existence and what you, dear readers, clicked on.
Three Most Popular / Viewed Posts
This year I found the blog veering more in a, well, bloggy direction (as opposed to just pop-culture rants essays). Fittingly, this post isn’t about The Hobbit but instead a short reflection on a long and unexpected layover in Copenhagen. Seems a few people didn’t mind.
#2: In Defense of The Phantom Menace’s Opening Crawl
And then I’m back on my usual nonsense. I love Star Wars and even as flawed as the prequels are, they do some things so well. The Phantom Menace has its moments and one of those is its opening crawl.
Oof. Looking at my posts from the end of October, it’s almost like there was this All Consuming Event happening in the United States that made it hard to focus on other things. This bloggish entry was born out of a hope for a turn of events that didn’t come to pass. Alas.
Josh’s Pick of Three
Man, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is a great game. At least I think it’s pretty great — whether or not it actually transcends its existence as an Age of Empires II reskin is a critical discussion I am too biased to join. Since installing it in August, I’ve gotten the dope Expanding Fronts mod I have been able to beat a Hard computer fairly consistently. Will I get better at the game despite there not really being much of a point? Who’s to say, but it’s definitely a good time.
I reread The Silmarillion at the start of the year and man, is it a book. As I said in this blog post, there’s a lot going on, so much that you almost need to take notes (or keep Tolkien Gateway near at hand). But then you end up rereading The Lord of The Rings in December and when, during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Tolkien likens the charging Theoden to Oromë in his wrath, you know exactly what he’s talking about and it’s so much more rich.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting the follow-up blog post to be one of defiance (and I certainly wasn’t hoping for it to be), but there’s a truth to it that still stands. A better world is still possible.
And that’s it for 2024. Let’s see what ramblings 2025 brings to this blog, but, let’s be honest, we already know it’s gonna be me thinking too much about pop-culture. And definitely a continued love of science fiction and Tolkien. Cheers.
Essays, Not Rants! 