10/25/21: Missing Jolene, Feeling Sad
TLDR
Update: Can’t focus, miss Joel
Listening: Panda’s Talking Games
Reading: But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman
Around the Internet: Interesting articles I’ve read since the last newsletter
End Notes: You can contact me at jadettman@gmail.com
THE UPDATE
My ability to focus on anything (other than playing a game on BGA) has taken a hit lately, particularly if it involves my laptop which, with Zoom gaming and Discord gaming and social distancing, in general, seems to be a lot of my life. I’m trying to be mindful but it’s not a quick fix.
Which brings me to email / text communication: A friend recently pointed out to me that I hadn’t responded to a question they sent me by email. I completely thought I had responded but, apparently, that was a dream. So, if you’ve sent me an email or text in the last, oh, year and I never got back to you: I apologize but maybe you should follow up.
CW: Pet death beyond this point
I’ve been feeling pretty depressed since Joel died. Sad a lot, tired, and completely uninterested in creative pursuits. It’s been to the point that I was spending a fair amount of time wondering what the point of game design is when there are already so many games in the world. Or thinking about these newsletters as more of a narcissistic venture than a means to keep my peeps informed about what’s going on my life.
I’m getting better. I think writing this newsletter is a good sign that I’m moving toward acceptance.
LISTENING
I’ve been listening to a lot of fluffy game podcasts lately and avoiding some of my heavier politics pods. Which, somehow, brought me to Panda’s Talking Games: a podcast in which two hosts, Senda and Phil, talk about roleplaying games and sometimes answer audience questions. I haven’t bought in completely, yet, but I find it a comfortable listen.
READING
I finished But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman recently. The premise of which is trying to think about how people in the future will think of the present moment (i.e. as the past) and how we can look at the way we think of the past as a guide to how we will be viewed in the future. It’s not a profound book or deeply insightful but it was amusing. On the other end, I’m still thinking about the premise so, at least in that way, it’s sticking with me. Mostly, it felt like a vehicle for Klosterman to talk to other interesting people and tell amusing stories. Which is fine, because that’s what I needed.
But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman: 9780399184130 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Full of intelligence and insights, as the author gleefully turns ideas upside down to better understand them. . . Replete with lots of nifty, whimsical footnotes, this clever, speculative book challenges…
AROUND THE INTERNET
It’s time for Americans to buy less stuff https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22725031/buying-less-supply-chain-holiday-shopping
The Muslimness of Dune: A close reading of Appendix II: the Religion of Dune https://www.tor.com/2021/10/18/the-muslimness-of-dune-a-close-reading-of-appendix-ii-the-religion-of-dune/
Human History Gets a Re-Write https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/11/graeber-wengrow-dawn-of-everything-history-humanity/620177/
END NOTES
If you’d like to send me some feedback or discuss one of the topics I’ve talked about here (or even a different topic), email me at jadettman@gmail.com
Also, if you know anyone that would be interested in the newsletter, please forward it along!