Survivor Season 50 (Preview)

 Well, well, well...here we go. 

Finally after 10 seasons they're bringing back old castaways. Some I know and love like Colby (who I'm rooting for once again but has ZERO chance to win) and others I can't remember at all but that's Survivor in a nutshell. For the past 10 years the characters seem more and more cookie cutter shaped than special.

Will this be the greatest season ever? 

No. Not by far. But hopefully it'll spark some of the magic back into the series I grew to love. 

I'll do a breakdown of the entire cast some other time but wanted to give my overall thoughts on it now. Of course I'm watching it. But I'm not as excited as I would've been 10 seasons ago that's for sure. 

Survivor 49 (review)

 Wow! Literally a whole month's gone by and I'm just not realizing I didn't give a review of my favorite show. 

Ok, so for the past 8 seasons, the American version of the show has went downhill big time. So much so, that I've been looking at other Survivor programs from other countries just to find joy in watching it again. (Aussie Survivor being the BEST)

But this season was one of the best since 40. It felt a little more like how Survivor used to feel. Not as many annoying characters and Savannah being the winner, wasn't dislikable. She was one her own since the merge. No one wanted to go to the end with her, she was used as a number the entire time but ended up tying the record for most individual wins for a female and overall dominated at the last tribal. 

Rizzo was also enjoyable to watch, though he was more out of his league than he thought. Overall, the season gives me hope for what future seasons could be. 

That said, even the WORST season of Aussie Survivor was better than it. Guess we'll have to wait and see what Season 50 has in store. 

TI4 Game #1 for 2026!

 With my day off yesterday I was able to play my first TI4 game of the new year and oh what a game it was!

I took a healthy 4 point lead during the game, standing at 7 points with everyone else having 3 or 2 points. I thought I had things in the bag. (then everything started getting dicey)

After taking the capital Mecatol Rex, I couldn't score any of the other objectives, so the only point I could get every round was the one for being on Rex. Meanwhile this girl scored a 2 point objective and one of her secret missions. 

After the next round, the score was 8 to 6. Having already scored both my secret objectives, I couldn't depend on getting any extra points. The next round's objective revealed another goal I was no where near completing, so once again, Rex was my only point. 

The same girl was able to score another 2 point objective as well as her last Secret Objective, tying the score with me 9-9. 

But the game was in my hand at that point. Being Speaker for the prior round I was able to choose my strategy card first. I chose 8 which guaranteed me another point. Everyone else's ships were nowhere near Rex so they couldn't take it from me. I had secured a victory at the end. And it's a good thing too, because the next objective revealed, I STILL couldn't do. 

Very close game and an excellent one to kick off the new year. We were successful in opening the void from the latest expansion. (only a 20% chance to do in each game) I rolled a perfect 10 and we placed it out. 

No one ever went. 

It was strange. I didn't think it would happen but we had a standoff. No one wanted to be the first one to enter and fight the pirates there, for fear they would be weakened and someone would come behind them swooping up their hard fought planet. 

I wanted to go so bad to gain the planets for myself, but I had to stay focused on scoring, so I just kept up the idea of threatening to go like everyone else was. 

Wild that we finally had it open but no one went. If I'm behind in the game next time, I think I'll go for it. Not as a winning strategy but just to see what it's like owning a planet that gives you a relic each round. 

Either way, I didn't think that's the way the situation would unfold. 

The only thing I forgot to do was bring out a situation card for the game. I loved the last one we did and was hoping to bring another out but forgot during set up. 

Don't know when Game #2 will happen. Maybe Spring break? Either way, I'm looking forward to going back with that galaxy again soon. 

Fear the Walking Dead: Season 4 Review

 Ooh... this show is bad. 

I'll start with the things I hate: (SPOILERS)

1) In episode 3 they kill of the son. One of the main (and most likeable) characters in the show, because the actor wanted out. (he probably knew this show was going nowhere) Anyway, he dies in the third episode HOWEVER he's in 6 episodes afterwards that really don't have him doing that much, just flashback tales of something that happened weeks earlier (and not directly related to him)

This confused me for a moment and then I understood what was going on. In post production someone probably said "He guys, if we save a big death until the middle of our season, we may not have people tuning in that much. Especially when they find out we're not wrapping up the story lines from last season. Should we move his death episode up?"

I swear it sounds like someone in the editing room said that. Because to have Nick (the son) back in the next 6 episodes, kinda cheapens the fact that he died in the 3rd episode. Dumb move but the dumb people in charge. 

2) Madison the main character dies in the mid-season episode. Not everyday you see them kill of the lead character in a show. But it was easy to do if you're Madeline. She had no direction, she was boring to watch and according to website, the fans hated her so the writers decided to kill her off too. She was really a drag in the show and I don't blame her at all. Again it's the writers not knowing what to do with her most of the time. She sits there waffling back and forth on decisions she had to make and never look confident or convincing when she makes up her mind. Glad she's dead but it also didn't help the show either. 

3) The walkers are the easiest ones to get around in this series. The characters time and time again find themselves engulfed, overwhelmed and covered in a swarm of zombies each episode, yet come out without a scratch or bite. And I mean SEVERAL times. It got to the point I was actually shocked when one person was bitten. We didn't see it, but it appears all these zombies do when you get surrounded by them is pat you with their hands and that's about it. Soft. 

4) Gas must be easy to come by. In the Walking Dead, gas is rare and hard to find as each season goes by. But Fear doesn't have that problem. Everyone is driving and speeding along the streets. We even have a car chase scene! No reason is given to why gas is so abundant in the area but it obviously is. 

5) Electricity it everywhere. They kept the lights on in Texas it appears. I counted 4 to 5 buildings and house that had power on. One was explained as "solar panels" but afterwards the writers got too lazy and stopped explaining why a gas station in the middle of nowhere still has power. Or a building in a city or in a mansion, a log cabin....it's hard to believe this shares the same universe as the Walking Dead did.

6) The writing is bad. The choices are stupid. One character has a gun pointed at the villain in the season  , only to get hit in the face with a stick....from the FRONT! Why she couldn't shoot when seeing the woman lift her stick in the air is still not clear to me. Or when they jump back and forth in the past in future that sometimes, I don't know which it is. Or in episode 3 when a girl breaks off the tip of a machine gun silencer and then uses it for the rest of the season as a weapon....why? Is it supposed to be cool??? not hard to see why this series lost millions of viewers each season. 

The good?

1) Good locations for zombies encounters. A water park, an island (which has a zombie eating gator in it and a few other places Walking Dead never got to go, was a good choice. 

2) Some of the new characters introduced in Season 4's reboot are pretty good. I found myself liking them better than anyone from the original cast. 

3) The show got me to laugh....twice. Bravo. I think this is the reason I'm trudging forward to Season 5

I'm not convinced I'm in for all 8 seasons of this crap, but I'm taking things one season at a time for now and we'll see where this leads.  

Fear the Walking Dead: Third Times the Charm?

 Oh dear, I think I've made a terrible mistake. 

Over the holidays my old roommate was in town and he came over to my house one evening to hang out. One of the topics we discussed was TV shows we never finished. 

He'd never completed Smallville after Season 6. Neither had I until a few years later after the show ended, I decided to muscle through the remaining awful seasons. So I challenged him to do the same. 

He then said he'd do it, If I'd start back on a show I'd quit twice. 

Fear the Walking Dead.

When this first came out Megan and I gave it a shot. By season 1 she had lost all interested and had no desire to move on to Season 2. I did....then quit after the 2nd season. 

Years later, when Walking Dead had a cameo from Morgan (one of the main cast members of Fear) I decided to give them a try again. 

I made it through season 3 and up to the 2nd episode in Season 4 before I quit the show for a second time. 

It appears at the end of Season 3 the writers gave up on the storylines they created (since the show lost millions of viewers at this point) and decided to do a reboot in Season 4 that confused the crap out of me. All of the sudden the cliff hangers in Season 3 were nowhere to be seen and instead, a year had gone by, personal conflicts had ended and we had no idea what all the characters we doing back together under the same roof. 

Drove me nuts. 

So after 2 episodes of Season 4, I bailed. 

Now here I am for a 3rd (and final) time to try and finish the series. I'm wrapping up Season 4 over the weekend so I'll give a review of it then. 

Have a good weekend folks! (I might not)

Super fast chargeres

 So after my kids lost my second phone charge, I went on Amazon and found a "super fast" phone charger for $24 bucks (2 pack)

I got it, not really believing it's claims. 

Dude. These things are legit. Done are the days now where I'm letting my phone charge for over an hour. Usually 30 minutes and I'm at full power. Incredible. I didn't think it was possible. 

Easily one of the best purchases I'll make this year. 

The "Towel" rule

 There's a rule I have that you always make sure there's a second towel available in the bathroom. That way if someone (for whatever reason) walks off with your towel you still have one when its your turn to take a shower. 

This is a rule only followed by myself evidently. 

The Mrs is constantly taking my towel off somewhere and time and time again I'm left looking for one after getting out of the shower. 

There are TWO there. If you take it, replace it. That simple.....well at least for me.  

5 Nights at Freddys 2 (review)

 The first one was fun, this one was about the same. Some really good moments in it, I was impressed. About the only drawback is the setup for an obvious 3rd sequel and establishing a story that will be continued in Part 3. 

Who can blame them? These days if a movie makes money it MUST have a sequel according to the studios. So it's inevitable at this point. 

But if you enjoyed the first one, this will keep your attention the whole way through, It won't bring me to the theaters, but these days, very few movies ever do. 

Snickers Xtreme (review)

Tried it...delicious. The best version of snickers I've ever had. 

Try one. They're great. I'll buy these whenever I see them and have a sweet tooth. 

So good. 

More peanuts and caramel. Just as they advertise. Perfect version of the bar. 

Yum.  
 

2026 Goals

 Not resolutions.

1) Kick ass at new job role. Really need to let them know they made the right call. Everyone is onboard and happy with my reports and strategy game plans to roll out this year. Now it's time to follow through and show them what I can really do. 

2) Get back to board games. 2025 I lost the last remnants of my gaming group. Now I have one who returned back into town. We are a group of 2 but I plan to play as much as I can with my buddy Jake moving forward. SO happy to have him back. He's really the only social contact I have besides the podcast. 

3) Gen Con. I really want to go this year. Just need to clear it with Megan first...and there's never a good time to ask if I can go to a board game convention and leave her alone with the kids. But when a moment arrives, I'm asking. 

Ok folks, that's it for now. Have a good weekend! 

Terminator: Dark Fate

 After trying to watch this years ago and giving up because it was so awful, I gave it a second chance....it was tough. 

Took 4 days of my trudging through about 20 minutes at a time. It is SO BAD. What was James Cameron even thinking releasing crap like this? 

The movie has no redeeming qualities. It's so terrible and at this point, I feel it's on the level of Genysis, which was the worst in the series. After this.... I'm not sure. 

I can't believe Linda Hamilton and Arnold actually thought this was a good script to go with. I guess they trusted in Cameron and he really let them down. 

Either way, horrible franchise killer. This series really went downhill after Salvation. 

Why does this happen?

 My kids are constantly giving me things I don't need. Like they take a brush off the counter and hand it to me, only for me to put it right back. Or an acorn they found at the park, or some random toy, I never asked for and they walk away. 

I don't know why this is. Kids giving stuff to their parents for no reason and then just walking away. 

Anyway, that's my random thought for the day. 

Running Man (review)

 What a fun film! I love Glen Powell and once again he saved this movie. Good action, characters and story arc. I really wasn't excited to watch this and if it had not have been for Mr Powell, I probably never would've. But I'm glad I did! 

Well worth your time!

12th Day of Christmas

A very merry Christmas everyone! It's been a great season. Tomorrow I take down my tree and call it another great season. 

Most people I feel, took down there tree this weekend anyway. Or will next weekend. In Louisiana, a lot of folks keep their trees up for Mardi Gras too, turning it into a tree for that season. 

My all-star friend Mikey, once kept his tree up for 10 straight months, decorating it throughout the year until taking it down after Halloween so he could put it back up the next month. Sad to see, because I was curious what a Thanksgiving Tree would look like. 

I think I'll do the same one of these years when the kids gets older. Sounds fun. 

Anyway folks, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

 

11th Day of Christmas

 I have a strict rule around my house. NO Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. BUT I also allow it all through the Christmas season. 

That's right, I'm still listening to it now. And I will continue to listen to it until tomorrow. What album have I enjoyed the most? 

It's available to listen to on YouTube and it's fantastic! I've listened to this almost every single day. One of my favorite bands but since they broke up years ago I guess I should say "was" But it's worth listening to if you're still in the mood for some holiday tunes!

10th Day of Christmas

 Dec 12th 1pm 2026. (Place TBD)

Merry Christmas

9th Day of Christmas

 After 2 weeks off, it's time to go back to work....on a Friday!

Mostly should be me, catching up on emails and getting things set up for next week. Then it's another weekend off!

By the way, because I was "on call" since my potential lay off last year, I calculated I had 3 months off total last year. 

Not bad. No chance I'm doing that again this year. : )

Have a good weekend folks!

8th Day of Christmas

Happy New Year folks!

I hope 2026 is better than 2025!