TL;DR

I’m getting soft in my old age, politics are a mess on both sides of the border, and a shortlist of my favourite stuff from 2024.

New Year, Old(er) Me

This month marked 34 years that I have been on this planet. It feels like a lot less than that, to be honest. Especially considering every year since 2020 has felt like a total blur.

In many ways, I do not feel like a 34 year old, but I have noticed some changes in my preferences that might suggest the slight possibility that I am, in fact, maturing. I don’t seem to enjoy hyper-violent movies & TV as much anymore. I have (mostly) stopped caring about what other people think of me. I’ve even considered potentially become a vegetarian – or at least, drastically reducing the amount of meat I eat – mainly for ethical reasons.

Beyond the same three resolutions I seem to set every year (get healthier, travel more, create more), I wanted to challenge myself this year to pick up a new habit or two each month. This month, I started with a Dry January, which has been great for both my wallet and my gut. I might even keep it going for the foreseeable future. In February, I want to start reading more.

I solemnly vow to make 2025 a year I can look back on fondly.

“My time coming.”

I shouldn’t have wished to live in more interesting times.

Our much-maligned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation earlier this month. I’m a registered NDP voter, but I’ve never quite understood the amount of unjust hate he received as Prime Minister. I wonder where all those weirdos are gonna stick their “FUCK TRUDEAU” flags now?

Life in Canada under Trudeau has been far from perfect, as the cost of living continues to rise, greedflation runs rampant, and the housing bubble ensures most people my age or younger will be stuck renting for the rest of their lives. Let us hope things don’t get even worse after the looming snap federal election. I’d like to keep my universal healthcare, thank you very much.

Donald Trump’s second term as POTUS started off with a bang, and by bang I mean he immediately pardoned 1,500 insurrectionists, pulled out of the Paris Agreement on Climate, and then Elon Musk shamelessly Seig Heil-ed on stage at the inauguration on the first fucking day. This is going to be the longest four years of our lives, isn’t it?

You ever notice that the worst of us have all the chips? It really kinda takes the sheen how people getting rich.

2024 Favourites of the Year

On a more positive note, here’s an informal list of my favourite stuff from 2024:

Monthly Highlights

Movies

The Substance 2024

  • Directed by Coralie Fargeat
  • Loved
  • `4/10`
  • Watched on January 24, 2025

There’s been a slight misuse of the Substance…

A challenging wank, but I am nothing if not persistent.

What a climax.

I watched 15 movies this month:

TV

Tokyo Vice 2024

Season 2

  • Created by J.T. Rogers
  • Loved
  • `3.5/10`
  • Watched on January 12, 2025

I didn’t find the first half of the season as engaging as season 1, but it finished very strong, and Sato had become my favourite character by the end.

Favourite Episode: S02E07, “The War at Home”

I've been watching 9 shows this month:

Books

Snow Crash 1992

  • Written by Neal Stephenson
  • Loved
  • `4.5/10`
  • Rewatch
  • Reread on February 2, 2025

When you are wrestling for a sword, the man with the handle always wins.

I've been reading 4 books this month:

Music

Two Star & The Dream Police 2024

by mk.gee

  • Loved
  • `4.5/10`

Oh, my love. Oh please, put me out. I believe that you owe me this time. Can’t believe how you killed me tonight. I’m taking all my love.

Favourite Song: “Dream Police”

I've listened to these 12 albums the most this month:

YouTube

Scott has single-handedly convinced me that this is the year I finally buy my own 3D printer.

I enjoyed these other videos, and you might too:

Purchases

A stock photo of the Canon SELPHY CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer, in white.

*slaps roof of printer* this bad boy is gonna print so many fucking memes this year.

I picked up the Canon SELPHY CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer as a replacement for my Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer. The dye-sublimation process of the CP1500 is such an upgrade in image quality over the ZINK employed by the IVY 2. As a bonus, the 4x6 prints work out to be cheaper overall when cut down to the 3x2 size of the Canon IVY 2.

Inspired by this YouTuber, I’ve been trying to implement more of my photography into my journals. I can already tell this I’m going to get my money’s worth out of this thing.

A list of the other impulsive purchases I made this month that I don’t totally regret: