Edit page

.gitignore

@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 _audit
 _drafts
+_ideas

assets/template_pages.md

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+---
+title: About
+link: about
+published_date: 2025-09-03 00:00
+is_page: true
+make_discoverable: false
+---

assets/template_posts.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+title: Hello, World!
+link: hello-world
+published_date: 2024-09-03 08:30
+tags: meta
+make_discoverable: false
+---

css/theme_dashboard.css

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+body {
+  max-width: 1024px;
+}
+
+button {
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  background-color: #eceff4;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  border: 0;
+}

css/theme_directives-head.html

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<form>
+  <button formaction="https://bearblog.dev/haothitran/dashboard/media/">Media Center</button>
+</form>
+<form>
+  <button formaction="https://impossible-chihuahua.pikapod.net/dashboard">Umami</button>
+</form>

css/theme_website.css

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+:root {
+  --width: 720px;
+  --font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;
+  --font-scale: 1em;
+  --bg-100:#e6e6e6;
+  --bg-200:#dcdcdc;
+  --bg-300:#b4b4b4;
+  --text-100:#000000;
+  --text-200:#2c2c2c;
+  --accent-100:#666666;
+  --primary-100:#1994ff;
+  --primary-200:#003e99;
+  --contrast-100:#ff8419;
+}
+@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
+  :root {
+    --bg-100: #191919;
+    --bg-200: #1f1f1f;
+    --bg-300: #3d3d3d;
+    --text-100: #fdfdfd;
+    --text-200: #e2e2e2;
+    --accent-100: #454545;
+    --primary-100: #008866;
+    --primary-200: #00F0B4;
+    --contrast-100: #da0037;
+  }
+}
+ 
+body {
+  margin: 0 auto;
+  padding: 0 16px;
+  max-width: var(--width);
+  background-color: var(--bg-100);
+  font-family: var(--font-family);
+  font-size: var(--font-scale);
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  word-wrap: break-word;
+  overflow-wrap: break-word;
+  color: var(--text-100);
+}
+
+h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {
+  font-family: var(--font-family);
+  color: var(--text-200);
+}
+
+a {
+  color: var(--primary-200);
+  text-decoration: underline; 
+  text-underline-offset: 3px;
+  text-decoration-thickness: 1px;
+  text-decoration-style: dotted;
+  text-decoration-color: var(--primary-100);
+}
+a:hover {
+  text-decoration: underline; 
+  text-decoration-style: solid;
+  text-decoration-color: var(--contrast-100);
+}
+
+strong, b {
+  color: var(--text-200);
+}
+
+code {
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background-color: var(--bg-300);
+  font-family: monospace;
+  color: var(--primary-200);
+}
+
+time {
+  font-family: monospace;
+  font-size: 15px;
+  font-style: normal;
+  color: var(--text-200);
+}
+
+blockquote {
+  padding: 2px 16px;
+  border-left: 8px solid var(--contrast-100);
+  background: linear-gradient(to left top, var(--bg-300), 5%, var(--bg-200));
+  color: var(--text-100);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
+hr {
+  display: block;
+  margin: 2rem 0;
+  height: 1px;
+  border: none;
+  background: var(--accent-100);
+  opacity: .25;
+  font-size: 0;
+}
+
+.highlight {
+  margin-left: 16px;
+  padding: 2px 16px;
+  border-left: 8px solid var(--primary-100);
+  background: linear-gradient(to left top, var(--bg-100), 20%, var(--bg-200));
+  font-family: monospace;
+  font-size: 14px;
+  margin-block-start: 1em;
+  margin-block-end: 1em;
+  overflow-x: auto;
+}
+
+img {
+  max-width: 120%;
+  margin-left: -10%;
+}
+
+table {
+  width: 100%;
+  border-collapse: collapse;
+  border: 1px solid var(--accent-100);
+  background-color: var(--bg-200);
+}
+th {
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  border-right: 1px solid var(--accent-100);
+  border-bottom: 4px solid var(--contrast-100); 
+  background-color: var(--bg-300);
+}
+td {
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  border-right: 1px solid var(--accent-100);
+}
+th:last-child,
+td:last-child { 
+  border-right: none; 
+}
+
+header {
+  margin: 2rem 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--accent-100);
+}
+
+.title {
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+.title:hover {
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+.title h1 {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  font-size: 1.5em;
+}
+.title h1:hover {
+  color: var(--contrast-100);
+}
+
+nav {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+nav p {
+  margin: 8px 0 2rem;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+nav a {
+  margin-right: 8px;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+nav a:hover {
+  text-decoration: underline; 
+  text-decoration-style: solid;
+  text-decoration-color: var(--contrast-100);
+}
+
+main {
+  margin: 2rem 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  line-height: 1.6;
+}
+
+footer {
+  margin: 2rem 0 8rem;
+  padding: 0;
+  border-top: 1px dotted var(--accent-100);
+  font-size: .875em;
+  text-align: center;
+}
+footer a,
+footer a:hover {
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+ul.blog-posts {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  list-style-type: none;
+}
+ul.blog-posts li {
+  padding: 2px 0;
+}
+ul.blog-posts li span {
+  padding-right: 8px;
+}
+
+.icon-feed {
+  margin-left: .5rem;
+}
+
+.tags {
+  margin-top: 2rem;
+}
+.tags a {
+  border: 1px dotted var(--primary-100);
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+.tags a:hover {
+  border: 1px solid var(--contrast-100);
+  text-decoration: none;
+}

pages/about.md

@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 ---
-layout: page
 title: About
-permalink: /about
+link: about
+published_date: 2025-09-03 00:00
+is_page: true
+make_discoverable: false
 ---
 
+# About
+
 My name is Hao Tran. 👋
 
 I am interested in the intersections between productivity, knowledge, and technology. Most of my personal time is dedicated to consuming informational content, tinkering with software, and playing video games.
 
-- See my [gaming history](https://trello.com/b/r6Nmb9VL/gaming) on Trello.
-- See my [reading history](https://trello.com/b/luhlPjL7/reading) on Trello.
-
 Sometimes I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts and experiences.
 
+## Contact
+
+Send messages to [hello@haothitran.com](mailto:hello@haothitran.com). No spam pls.
+
 ## Elsewhere
 
 - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/haothitran/) — Professional profile for work history and networking.
@@ -22,8 +27,9 @@ Sometimes I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts and experiences.
 ## Site
 This URL has been my online home for many years and acts as a central hub for my online identity, communication, and work.
 
-- Hosted on [Ghost](https://ghost.org/)(Pro) — An open-source blog and newsletter publishing platform.
+Some details:
-- Logo designed by [AIRA Studio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aira-studio-902a37243/). Fancy.
+- Hosted on [Bear](https://bearblog.dev/) — A privacy-first, no-nonsense, super-fast blogging platform.
-- Images and screenshots for games were either taken by myself or from media press kits put together by the game's developers and/or publishers.
 
-Any opinions posted here are my own and not representative of any of my employers (whether past, future, and/or present) or clients.
+Some disclaimers:
+- Images and screenshots for games were either taken by myself or from media press kits put together by the game's developers and/or publishers.
+- Any opinions posted here are my own and not representative of any of my employers (whether past, future, and/or present) or clients.

pages/gaming.md

@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+---
+title: Gaming
+link: gaming
+published_date: 2025-09-03 00:00
+is_page: true
+make_discoverable: false
+---
+
+# Gaming
+
+Here is a list of games that I've played. See an alternative [kanban board view](https://trello.com/b/r6Nmb9VL/gaming) on Trello.
+
+Games listed here do not necessarily reflect my personal views or whether I would recommend someone play them — because I've played a bunch of mediocre games.
+
+## 2025
+- **Hogwarts Legacy** (2023, PC)
+- **Underground Blossom** (2023, PC)
+- **Inscryption** (2021, PC)
+- **Plague Inc: Evolved** (2014, PC)
+- **Rusty's Retirement** (2024, PC)
+- **Split Fiction** (2025, PC)
+- **DREDGE** (2023, PC) — *Revisit.*
+- **Baldur's Gate 3** (2023, PC) — *Revisit.*
+- **Blue Prince** (2025, PC)
+  
+## 2024
+- **Deponia** (2012, PC) — *Revisit.*
+- **Slay the Spire** (2019, PC / Steam Deck)
+- **Two Point Hospital** (2018, PC)
+- **inbento** (2019, PC)
+- **Lumino City** (2014, PC)
+- **Trine** (2009, PC)
+- **The Feast** (2022, PC)
+- **Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk** (2020, PC)
+- **Our Life Beginnings & Always** (2020, PC)
+- **Trine 2** (2011, Steam Deck) — *Abandoned. Couldn't hold my interest.*
+- **Stray Gods** (2023, PC)
+- **Frostpunk** (2018, PC)
+- **Moving Out 2** (2023, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Pizza Possum** (2023, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- [Mass Effect 2: Legendary Edition](https://haothitran.com/mass-effect/) (2021, PC)
+- **Into the Breach** (2018, PC)
+- [Strange Horticulture](https://haothitran.com/strange-horticulture/) (2022, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 31** (2024, PC)
+- **Tower of Time** (2018, PC)
+- **Touhou Mystia's Izakaya** (2021, PC)
+- **A Building Full of Cats** (2022, PC)
+- **Two Point Campus** (2022, PC) — *Abandoned. Not enough management. Felt like a watching simulator.*
+- **Doors: Paradox** (2022, PC)
+- **Cats Hidden in Paris** (2023, PC)
+- **An Arcade Full of Cats** (2023, PC)
+- **A Bird Story** (2014, PC)
+- **Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail** (2024, PC)
+- **War of the Overworld** (2015, PC) — *Abandoned. Requires very high micro-management, which is fine, but the UI is awful to work with.*
+- **SUMMERHOUSE** (2024, PC)
+- [Cloudpunk](https://haothitran.com/cloudpunk/) (2020, PC)
+- [Mass Effect 3: Legendary Edition](https://haothitran.com/mass-effect/) (2021, PC)
+- **Wayfinder** (2024, PC)
+- **It Takes Two** (2021, PC)
+- [Mass Effect: Andromeda](https://haothitran.com/mass-effect-andromeda/) (2017, PC)
+
+## 2023
+- **PlateUp!** (2022, PC)
+- **Diablo IV: Closed Beta** (2023, PC)
+- **Unravel Two** (2018, PC)
+- **Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor** (2014, Steam Deck) — *Revisited. Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Hades** (2020, PC / Steam Deck)
+- [Mass Effect 1: Legendary Edition](https://haothitran.com/mass-effect/) (2021, PC)
+- **A Little to the Left** (2022, PC / Steam Deck)
+- **This is the Police II** (2018, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Holy Potatoes! We're in Space?!** (2017, PC) — *Abandoned. Felt too much like a mobile game with microtransactions around the corner.*
+- **As Far As the Eye** (2020, PC) — *Feels unbalanced. Too many random punishments in this game where you are not given enough time to prepare to handle the bad thing that is about to happen. Frustrating.* 
+- **State of Mind** (2018, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Venetica** (2009, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Haven Park** (2021, PC)
+- **Kim** (2016, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **The Flame in the Flood** (2016, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Baldur's Gate 3** (2023, PC)
+- **The Repair House** (2023, PC)
+- **VVVVVV** (2010, PC) — *Abandoned. Veni Vidi Vici.*
+- **DREDGE** (2023, PC)
+
+## 2022
+- **Superflight** (2017, PC)
+- **Lost Ark** (2022, PC)
+- **Tiny Tina's Wonderlands** (2022)
+- **The Banner Saga** (2014) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Hand of Fate** (2015, PC)
+- **Pyre** (2017, PC)
+- **Dorfromantik** (2021, PC)
+- **Papers, Please** (2013, PC)
+- **Finding Paradise** (2017, PC)
+- **World of Warcraft: Dragonflight** (2022, PC)
+
+## 2021
+- **Borderlands 3** (2019, PC)
+- **For the King** (2018, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 23** (2021)
+- **PAYDAY 2** (2013, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **To the Moon** (2011, PC)
+- **Her Story** (2015, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 24** (2021, PC)
+- **Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker** (2021, PC)
+
+## 2020
+- **World of Warcraft: Shadowlands** (2020, PC)
+- **Spelunky** (2008, PC) — *Abandoned. Rage quit.*
+- **Dust: An Elysian Tail (2012, PC)** — *Abandoned.*
+- **Hacknet** (2015, PC)
+- **Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?!** (2015, PC) — *Abandoned. Felt too much like a mobile game with microtransactions around the corner.*
+- **The Sexy Brutale** (2017, PC)
+- **Moving Out** (2020, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Divinity: Original Sin 2: Definitive Edition** (2017, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers** (2019, PC)
+- **Luigi's Mansion 3** (2019, Nintendo Switch)
+- **Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor** (2014, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+
+## 2019
+- **Brothers** (2013, PC)
+- **Borderlands 2** (2012, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 17** (2019, PC)
+- **This is the Police** (2016, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel** (2014, PC)
+- **Overcooked! 2** (2018, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 18** (2019, PC)
+- **Hyper Light Drifter** (2016, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Divinity: Original Sin** (2014, PC)
+
+## 2018
+- **Invisible Inc.** (2015, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 13** (2018, PC)
+- **Overcooked** (2016)
+- **Portal** (2007, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Portal 2** (2011, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Torchlight II** (2012, PC) — *Abandoned. Couldn't hold my interest.*
+- **Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition** (2015, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Race the Sun** (2013, PC)
+- **World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth** (2018, PC)
+
+## 2017
+- **Golf With Your Friends** (2016, PC)
+- **Golf It!** (2017, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 10** (2017, PC)
+- **Diablo III: Season 11** (2017, PC)
+
+## 2016
+- **World of Warcraft: Legion** (2016, PC)
+- **Desktop Dungeons: Enhanced Edition** (2013, PC)
+- **Prison Architect** (2015, PC)
+- **Transistor** (2014, PC) — *A beautiful game.*
+- **Diablo III: Season 7** (2016, PC)
+- **Darkest Dungeon** (2015, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+
+## 2015
+- **Aarklash Legacy** (2013, PC) — *Abandoned. Couldn't hold my interest.*
+- **Bastion** (2011, PC) — *Had an amazing soundtrack with dynamic, compelling narration in a breathtaking world.*
+- **Deponia** (2012, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **FTL: Faster Than Light** (2012, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Rocket League** (2015, PC)
+- **Rogue Legacy** (2013, PC) — *Abandoned. Felt super grindy.*
+- **Torchlight** (2009, PC)
+
+## 2014
+- **Battle for Wesnoth** (2003, PC)
+- **Theme Hospital** (1997, PC)
+- **World of Warcaft: Warlords of Draenor** (2014, PC)
+
+## 2013
+- **LIMBO** (2010, PC)
+- **The Cave** (2013, PC)
+- **Machinarium** (2009, PC)
+- **Plants vs. Zombies** (2009, PC)
+- **Don't Starve** (2013, PC) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Guild Wars 2** (2012, PC) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+
+## 2012
+- **World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria** (2012, PC)
+- **Diablo III** (2012, PC)
+- **The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim** (2011, PC) — *My introduction to modding games.*
+- 
+## 2011
+- **Minecraft** (2011, PC)
+
+## 2010
+- **World of Warcraft: Cataclysm** (2010, PC)
+
+## 2000s
+- Preface
+  - I have tried my best to recall all the games that I've played during this golden era of console gaming. Unfortunately, it is likely that some titles that I've played are lost to time.
+  - For the sake of my sanity, these games are listed by platform release then by game release date as there is no way for me to remember and confirm exactly what order I played these titles, especially as I had access to multiple/different consoles at any point in time through friends and family members.
+- **Robo Pit** (1996, PS1)
+- **Crash Bandicoot** (1996, PS1)
+- **Tobal No. 1** (1996, PS1)
+- **2Xtreme** (1996, PS1)
+- **Final Fantasy VII** (1997, PS1) — *Abandoned. After leaving Midgar, my child brain could not comprehend the scope of this game.*
+- **PaRappa the Rapper** (1997, PS1) — *In the rain or in the snow, got the funky, funky flow.*
+- **Tomb Raider II** (1997, PS1) — *Abandoned. I spent more time trying to lock the scary butler in the freezer than actually playing the game.*
+- **Monster Rancher** (1997, PS1)
+- **Bomberman World** (1998, PS1)
+- **Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit** (1998, PS1)
+- **SaGa Frontier** (1998, PS1)
+- **Road Rash 3D** (1998, PS1)
+- **Tales of Destiny** (1998, PS1)
+- **Thrill Kill** (1998, PS1) — *To have played this game means I definitely had too much freedom as a kid.*
+- **Bust-A-Move 4** (1997, PS1)
+- **Crash Bandicoot: Warped** (1998, PS1)
+- **Army Men: Air Attack** (1999, PS1)
+- **Legend of Legaia** (1999, PS1) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Need for Speed: High Stakes** (1999, PS1)
+- **Final Fantasy VIII** (1999, PS1) — *Abandoned. Combat system was difficult for my child brain to understand. Something about junctions?*
+- **NASCAR Rumble** (2000, PS1) — *Sending a twister into the vehicle in first place was super satisfying.*
+- **Championship Bass** (2000, PS1) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Strider 2** (2000, PS1) — *Abandoned. Motion sickness.*
+- **Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness** (2000, PS1)
+- **Destruction Derby Raw** (2000, PS1)
+- **Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2** (2000, PS1) — *Competitive graffiti mode was the best.*
+- **Mr. Driller** (2000, PS1)
+- **NickToons Racing** (2001, PS1)
+- **Mario Kart 64** (1997, N64)
+- **Super Smash Bros.** (1999, N64)
+- **Tarzan** (2000, N64)
+- **Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance** (2001, PS2)
+- **The Simpsons: Road Rage** (2001, PS2)
+- **My Street** (2002, PS2)
+- **Road Trip** (2002, PS2)
+- **Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly** (2002, PS2) — *Abandoned. Had clunky controls, awful directional sound.*
+- **The Simpsons: Hit & Run** (2003, PS2)
+- **Dynasty Warriors 4** (2003, PS2)
+- **Crash 'N' Burn** (2004, PS2)
+- **Pokémon Blue** (1998, GBA SP) — *Starter: Charmander*
+- **Pokémon Silver** (2000, GBA SP) — *Starter: Cyndaquil/Totodile*
+- **Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku** (2002, GBA SP) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance** (2002, GBA SP)
+- **Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak** (2003, GBA SP) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel** (2003, GBA SP)
+- **Pokémon Sapphire** (2003, GBA SP) — *Starter: Torchic/Mudkip*
+- **LittleBigPlanet** (2008, PS3)
+- **Dynasty Warriors 6** (2008, PS3)
+- **Wii Sports** (2006, Wii)
+- **LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga** (2007, Wii) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Tonka Search & Rescue** (1997, PC) — *Got this from a cereal box.*
+- **Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell** (1998) — *Got this from a cereal box.*
+- **Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion** (1998) — *Got this from a cereal box.*
+- **Neopets** (1999) — *Your neopets are dying.*
+- **Habbo** (2000) — *Never interacted with anyone. Just liked looking around at designs. In hindsight, that was probably for the best.*
+- **Adventure Quest** (2002)
+- **Runescape** (2001)
+- **World of Warcraft** (2004) — *Started the MMO addiction way too young.*
+
+## 1990s
+- Preface
+  - I have tried my best to recall all the games that I've played during this golden era of console gaming. Unfortunately, it is likely that some titles that I've played are lost to time.
+  - For the sake of my sanity, these games are listed by platform release then by game release date as there is no way for me to remember and confirm exactly what order I played these titles, especially as I had access to multiple/different consoles at any point in time through friends and family members.
+- **Super Mario Bros** (1985, NES)
+- **Duck Hunt** (1985, NES)
+- **Excitebike** (1985, NES)
+- **Arkanoid** (1987, NES) — *In my opinion, this is the perfect arcade game.*
+- **Blades of Steel** (1998, NES)
+- **Track & Field II** (1989, NES)
+- **Dr. Mario** (1990, NES)
+- **Battletoads** (1991, NES) — *Abandoned.*
+- **Break Time: The National Pool Tour** (1993, NES)
+- **Battletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team** (1993, NES)

pages/reading.md

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+---
+title: Reading
+link: reading
+published_date: 2025-09-03 00:00
+is_page: true
+make_discoverable: false
+---
+
+# Reading
+
+Here is a list of books I've read since 2023 which is when I started to diligently keep track. The purpose of this list is to help jog my memory of books I have read and to help decide on future reads.
+
+Books listed here do not necessarily reflect my personal views or whether I would recommend someone read them.
+
+## 2025
+- **Cities of the Plain** (1998), Cormac McCarthy
+- **The Wealthy Barber Returns** (2011), David Chilton
+- **I Will Teach You to Be Rich** (2019), Ramit Sethi
+- **Misery** (1987), Stephen King
+- **On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft** (2000), Stephen King
+- **A Psalm for the Wild-Built** (2021), Becky Chambers
+- **A Prayer for the Crown-Shy** (2022), Becky Chambers
+
+## 2024
+- **The Psychology of Money** (2020), Morgan Housel
+- **The Richest Man in Babylon** (1926), George S. Clason
+- **Building a Second Brain** (2022), Tiago Forte
+- **The Coddling of the American Mind** (2018), Greg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt
+- **Never Let Me Go** (2005), Kazuo Ishiguro
+- **Blindness** (1995), José Saramago with translation (1997) by Giovanni Pontiero 
+- **To Be Taught, If Fortunate** (2019), Becky Chambers
+- **Legends & Lattes** (2022), Travis Baldree
+- **Bookshops & Bonedust** (2023), Travis Baldree
+- **The Handmaid's Tale** (1985), Margaret Atwood
+- **The Testaments** (2019), Margaret Atwood
+- **On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous** (2019), Ocean Vuong
+- **Stoner** (1965), John Williams
+- **The Things They Carried** (1990), Tim O'Brien
+- **All the Pretty Horses** (1992), Cormac McCarthy
+- **The Crossing** (1994), Cormac McCarthy
+
+## 2023
+- **Deltora Quest** series (2000-2005), Emily Rodda
+  - *My favourite fantasy series from childhood. Still an enjoyable read as an adult.*
+  - *Surprisingly dark and gruesome for a series targeted towards children.*
+  - Deltora Quest
+    - The Forests of Silence
+    - The Lake of Tears
+    - City of the Rates
+    - The Shifting Sands
+    - Dread Mountain
+    - The Maze of the Beast
+    - The Valley of the Lost
+    - Return to Del
+  - Deltora Shadowlands
+    - Cavern of the Fear
+    - The Isle of Illusion
+    - The Shadowlands
+  - Dragons of Deltora
+    - Dragon's Nest
+    - Shadowgate
+    - Isle of the Dead
+    - The Sister of the South
+- **Atomic Habits** (2018), James Clear
+- **The Gift of Fear** (1997), Gavin de Becker
+- **Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures** (2006), Vincent Lam
+- **For One More Day** (2006), Mitch Albom
+- **The Bullet Journal Method** (2018), Ryder Carroll

pages/using.md

@@ -4,9 +4,48 @@ title: Using
 permalink: /using
 ---
 
+# Using
+
 Here is a list of notable equipment and tools I use. The purpose of this list is to remind myself to be intentional about the things that I surround myself with and utilize on a daily basis.
 
-Last reviewed: 2024-09-20
+Last updated: {{ post_last_modified }} ago
+
+## At the Desk
+
+### Workspace
+- **Desk**: Custom-built sit-stand desk (*Built in 2022*)
+  - Tabletop: Custom walnut tabletop (54" length x 30" width x 1-1/2" thick with rounded corners) from [Atelier East-End Mtl](https://eastendmtl.com/)
+  - Legs: Apex Pro from [Deskhaus](https://desk.haus/)
+- **Chair**: Herman Miller Aeron (*Purchased in 2023*)
+  - Add-on: Headrest for Aeron Chair from [Atlas Headrest](https://atlasheadrest.com/)
+  - If the Aeron did not exist, I would have purchased the Embody.
+
+### Stationery
+- **Fountain pens:**
+  - LAMY Safari (Matte Black, EF)
+  - Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand (Platinum, EF)
+  - Pilot Decimo (Dark Grey, EF)
+  - Pilot Vanishing Point (Matte Black, F)
+  - Pilot Custom 823 (Amber Brown, F)
+  - Sailor Pro Gear (Graphite Lighthouse, MF)
+  - Sailor Pro Gear (Knight to E4, MF)
+  - Sailor Pro Gear Realo (Black, F)
+  - TWISBI Diamond 580ALR (Nickel, EF)
+- **Fountain pen ink**:
+  - Platinum Carbon Black
+  - Sailor Sei-boku
+- **Notebooks/paper**:
+  - Journaling in a Midori MD notebook (A5, dot grid).
+  - Productivity system in an Everbook system (Murdy Creative Co., Americano, A5).
+  - Logging books/games in a Traveler's notebook (standard-sized, camel cover).
+  - Carrying around a Traveler's notebook (passport-sized, brown cover) as a pocket notebook. Useful!
+
+## Carry
+- Backpack: Bellroy Transit Workpack, 20L (*Purchased in 2022*)
+  - I have the V1. 
+  - I think the V2 is a downgrade due to the removal of the quick access side pockets.
+- Sling: Heimplanet Transit Line Sling, 2L (*Purchased in 2022*)
+  - Convenient bag to carry my essentials during the warmer months when I don't wear a jacket with pockets.
 
 ## Hardware
 
@@ -18,15 +57,7 @@ Last reviewed: 2024-09-20
 - **Phone**: iPhone 11 (*Purchased in 2019*)
 - **E-reader**: Kobo Clara (*Purchased in 2023*)
 
-### Workspace
+### Computer Peripherals
-- **Desk**: Custom-built sit-stand desk (*Built in 2022*)
-  - Tabletop: Custom walnut tabletop (54" length x 30" width x 1-1/2" thick with rounded corners) from [Atelier East-End Mtl](https://eastendmtl.com/)
-  - Legs: Apex Pro from [Deskhaus](https://desk.haus/)
-- **Chair**: Herman Miller Aeron (*Purchased in 2023*)
-  - Add-on: Headrest for Aeron Chair from [Atlas Headrest](https://atlasheadrest.com/)
-  - If the Aeron did not exist, I would have purchased the Embody.
-
-### Peripherals
 - **Monitors**: Using a stacked dual-screen setup
   - 34" 21:9 IPS 180Hz (*Purchased in 2022*)
   - 24" 16:9 IPS 60Hz (*Purchased in 2020*)
@@ -77,8 +108,9 @@ Last reviewed: 2024-09-20
   - Alternatives I've tried: Obsidian, Logseq, Standard Notes, BookStack, Joblin, Notion, Simple Note, TiddlyWiki, GitBook, Notational Velocity, Evernote, OneNote, etc.
 - **Kanban**: Trello
   - Currently considering: [WeKan](https://wekan.github.io/), [Planka](https://planka.app/)
-- **Budgeting**: You Need A Budget
+- **Budgeting**: [YNAB](https://www.ynab.com/)
   - I like budgeting using the envelope system.
+  - Alternatives I've tried: [Actual](https://actualbudget.org/), [Lunch Money](https://lunchmoney.app/)
 
 ### Development
 - **Font**: Hack Nerd Font
@@ -98,28 +130,27 @@ Last reviewed: 2024-09-20
 
 Here are online subscriptions and services that I pay for:
 
-| Subscriptions and Services              | Annual USD | Monthly USD | Monthly CAD |
+| Subscriptions               |  Annual USD | Monthly USD | Monthly CAD |
-| --------------------------------------- | ---------: | ----------: | ----------: |
+| --------------------------- | ----------: | ----------: | ----------: |
-| Bitwarden                               |     $10.00 |       $0.83 |       $1.13 |
+| Bitwarden                   |      $10.00 |       $0.83 |       $1.19 |
-| Hover (for domain names)                |     $54.97 |       $4.58 |       $6.23 |
+| Hover (domain names)        |      $55.33 |       $4.61 |       $6.63 |
-| Proton (Mail Plus)                      |     $47.88 |       $3.99 |       $5.43 |
+| Bear (blogging platform)    |      $49.00 |       $4.08 |       $5.89 |
-| Discord (Nitro Basic)                   |     $35.88 |       $2.99 |       $4.07 |
+| PikaPods (hosting web apps) |      $60.36 |       $5.03 |       $7.19 |
-| PikaPods (for hosting web apps)         |     $84.00 |       $7.00 |       $9.42 |
+| Proton (Mail Plus)          |      $47.99 |       $3.99 |       $5.74 |
-| Ghost(Pro) (for managing this website!) |    $108.00 |       $9.00 |      $12.24 |
+| Discord (Nitro Basic)       |      $33.89 |       $2.82 |       $4.05 |
-| You Need A Budget                       |    $109.00 |       $9.08 |      $12.35 |
+| YNAB (budgeting)            |     $109.00 |       $9.08 |      $12.98 |
-| Video streaming (various)               |    $180.00 |      $15.00 |      $20.40 |
+| Spotify (Duo)               |     $149.40 |      $12.45 |      $17.89 |
-| Totals                                  |    $629.73 |      $52.48 |      $71.27 |
+| Video streaming (various)   |     $166.92 |      $13.91 |      $20.00 |
+| Gaming subscriptions        |     $166.92 |      $13.91 |      $20.00 |
+| **Totals**                  | **$848.81** |  **$70.71** |  **$101.56** |
 
 For PikaPods, I have a couple web apps deployed using their managed services:
-- [Gitea](https://gitea.com/) for my personal project repositories.
 - [CommaFeed](https://github.com/Athou/commafeed/) for reading RSS feeds.
-- [Navidrome](https://www.navidrome.org/) as my personal music streaming service.
+- [Gitea](https://gitea.com/) for my personal project repositories.
-- [Umami](https://umami.is/) for collecting and analyzing visitor metrics.
+- [Umami](https://umami.is/) for website analytics.
 
 For video streaming, I rotate through a number of services and only subscribe for a month at a time to watch what I want. In some months, I don't have an active subscription running, so this number is a little inflated.
 
-For 2025:
+For gaming subscriptions, similar to above idea.
-- I intend to stop using YNAB because its subscription cost has significantly increased over the years and no longer feels worth it to me. Currently, considering using [Actual](https://actualbudget.com/) which would only slightly increase my PikaPod costs for an additional managed web app.
-- Consider whether Ghost(Pro) is worth it.
 
-Otherwise, I am quite happy with how much I am spending on my online subscriptions. It could be better, but I am satisfied that it is below $100 CAD per month.
+Overall, I am quite happy with how much I am spending on my online subscriptions. It could be better, but I am satisfied that it is about $100 CAD per month.

posts/2024-09-03_hello-world.md

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 ---
-layout: post
 title: Hello, World!
-permalink: /hello-world
+link: hello-world
-date: 2024-09-03 @ 08:30
+published_date: 2024-09-03 08:30
 tags: meta
+make_discoverable: false
 ---
 
 I've tried keeping various blogs over the years but never managed to keep them going despite having so much that I want to write about and let out into the world.

posts/2024-09-15_cloudpunk.md

@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 ---
-layout: post
 title: Cloudpunk
-permalink: /cloudpunk
+link: cloudpunk
-date: 2024-09-15 @ 20:17
+published_date: 2024-09-15 20:17
 tags: gaming
+make_discoverable: false
 ---
 
-![](/images/cloudpunk_title.png)
+![](/images/cloudpunk_00.png)
 
 > *A neon-noir story in a rain-drenched cyberpunk metropolis. It’s your first night on the job working for the Cloudpunk delivery service. Two rules: Don’t miss a delivery and don’t ask what’s in the package.*
 
+*Cloudpunk* provides the experience of what it is like to be a delivery driver cruising from point A to point B in a neon-lit cyberpunk city. You zoom throughout the urban jungle, passing by countless lit skyscrapers on your flying vehicle, while listening to relaxing music and conversing with various characters.
+
 ![](/images/cloudpunk_01.png)
 
-*Cloudpunk* delivers the experience of what it is like to be a delivery driver cruising from point A to point B in a neon-lit cyberpunk city filled with skyscrapers while driving a flying vehicle and listening to relaxing music.
+I liked listening to the scripted conversations between characters which flesh out the realities of living in the city. You hear about their daily lives and struggles. You hear about the interesting going-ons and events. You hear about hints of activity in the city's underbelly. These conversations were engaging and intriguing enough for me to look forward to hearing the ringtone of the communication system for the next script. Some discussions were thought-provoking, such as ethics about using AI, life form considerations, and corporate dystopia control, which were woven throughout the narrative as you deliver packages as taxi people to their destinations.
-
-Frequently, there are scripted conversations between characters that flesh out the realities of living in the city and the daily lives of its inhabitants, which were engaging enough for me to look forward to hearing the ringing tone of the communication system and being able to learn more. Discussions about class systems, ethics about using AI, what is considered a life form, and corporate dystopian control were woven into the narrative as you deliver packages and taxi people to their destinations.
 
 I guess you can call this an interactive visual novel experience because your choices don't fundamentally affect the story. There are a few missions that have a timer, but even if you miss a check, there isn't a lasting consequence as NPCs would excuse away the missed timer on your behalf. However, I did spot one achievement to successfully complete all time-sensitive deliveries — which is something to note for completionists.
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Both the voice acting and the music were fantastic. Line deliveries were great,
 
 ![](/images/cloudpunk_02.png)
 
-I think the weakest part of *Cloudpunk* is most of the out-of-vehicle sections that force players to navigate around convoluted platforms and wait for a ridiculous number of elevators. Many times I have walked into a dead-end and had to backtrack to go to a different Z-axis to get to my destination point (and then meander my way back to my vehicle too!) which is quite frustrating due to the slow walking speed and limited map capabilities.
+I think the weakest part of *Cloudpunk* is the out-of-vehicle sections that force players to navigate around convoluted platforms and wait for a ridiculous number of elevators. There have been many times where I have walked into a dead-end and had to backtrack to go to a different Z-axis to get to my destination point (and then meander my way back to my vehicle too!) which is quite frustrating due to the slow walking speed and limited map capabilities.
 
 I think if the developers increased the walking speed, then most of my frustrations with this game would be alleviated and make the out-of-vehicle sections feel less like a chore.
 

posts/2024-09-22_strange-horticulture.md

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 ---
-layout: post
+title: Strange Horticulture
-title: Strange Horitculture
+link: strange-horticulture
-permalink: /strange-horticulture
+published_date: 2024-09-22 08:44
-date: 2024-09-22 @ 08:44
 tags: gaming
+make_discoverable: false
 ---
 
-![](/images/strange-horticulture_title.png)
+![](/images/strange-horticulture_00.png)
 
 > *An occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.*
 

posts/2024-10-01_greatness.md

@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
----
-layout: post
-title: Greatness
-permalink: /greatness
-date: 2024-10-01 @ 18:55
-tags: personal
----
-
-When I was a child, my parents took me on a guided bus tour to see Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. I know that we visited numerous museums, art galleries, landmarks, and other notable sites, but I don't remember much about those few days except for missing home. 
-
-However, I still vividly remember the end of our trip.
-
-Back in Toronto, as my parents and I disembarked from the bus, the driver called out to us to wait for a moment. We had barely interacted with the driver throughout our entire trip, so it was curious of him to single us out like that. He approached us and removed his faded blue baseball cap before kneeling in front of me. And in the midst of downtown pedestrian sidewalk traffic, we studied each other for a long moment.
-
-He then said something which has continued to perplex me to this day.
-
-He said, "You're going to do something great some day."
-
-I think about that a lot.

posts/2024-11-26_mass-effect.md

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+---
+title: Mass Effect
+link: mass-effect
+published_date: 2024-11-26 22:17
+tags: gaming
+make_discoverable: false
+---
+
+![](/images/mass-effect_00.png)
+
+> One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. 
+
+I have spent most of the past year playing through the *Mass Effect* trilogy. I had grabbed the Legendary Edition when it was on sale a while back, saving it for when I was itching to play a single-player story-driven game. When I was feeling it, I knew it was time. I didn't know much about the series going into it, except that Commander Shepard was a badass. 
+
+Little did I know I was about to experience one of the best science-fiction masterpieces ever created.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect_01.png)
+
+When I stepped onto the Citadel, it dawned on me that I was in for an unforgettable ride as an insane amount of world-building began to construct the *Mass Effect* universe around me. Not only was there a breathtaking view of a gigantic space station in front of my eyes, but I was overhearing conversations between NPCs that added so much to the organic experience of learning about and immersing myself in this universe. In exploring the city and catching conversations, I learned about people's daily lives and the historical and ongoing galactic events. The game makes you feel like this universe existed for thousands of years before you ever started a new game in the real world. That is something special.
+
+It is insane how much lore is packed in throughout the series. You can find extremely detailed texts and audio logs that continuously add to and flesh out the universe. In particular, the Codex journal entries are a real gem by  providing information about the different races, governments, cultures, plants, and so much more. Sometimes, you can find tidbits of lore in the most unexpected places.
+
+From the start, I really liked the concept of humans being the newest sentient species to enter an established galactic community. We are the new kids on the block. We are the underdogs. And the other species don't know what to make of us. We must prove our worth while navigating existing histories, tensions, bigotry, and other complex social relationships.
+
+Before I go any further, I will say that I followed a basic play-through guide and I would recommend it to other first-timers for a few reasons:
+- Some side missions are unlocked only after hearing full conversation threads between NPCs which only occur after revising the area several times. These missions can be easily missed if you don't know the trigger points. So knowing where to quick save and reload to progress conversation points is extremely helpful.
+- There are invisible mission timers that start after completing specific missions. If you dilly-dally by doing other quests, you can fail certain parts of the story.
+- Knowing the required morality points for dialogue checks is useful.
+- Finding resources on uncharted planets is extremely tedious without a guide.
+
+Anyway, the role-playing elements were fantastic. Every dialogue choice felt important because I knew that save files could be transferred into the next game of the trilogy. Who knows if this small conversation with some seemingly random NPC was going to pay dividends in the next game? What would be the repercussions of this particular moral choice? We will see!
+
+Some of the paragon/renegade morality choices and interrupts were hilarious -- and the voice line deliveries were great too! Also, news broadcasts were implemented very well in this series as they would change and update based on your actions during missions, including what happens to the people or planet after you leave. You are never really left wondering what happens afterward. It felt like the *Mass Effect* universe was truly alive and unique to my own Shepard.
+
+In reading about other people's experience with *Mass Effect*, I'm always taken back when people say they killed Wrex on Virmire during the heated exchange, or killed the Rachni Queen, or left Grunt in the tank (my poor baby), or didn't resolve the Rannoch conflict peacefully, and so much more. I'm aghast that some people end ME2 with no squad members alive. Crazy how unique the experience can be based on player choices.
+
+Speaking of which, the best part about this series is the compelling squad members who become your ride-or-die friends. From ME1 to ME3, you learn the backstory of your crew and their aspirations, traumas, quicks, and the nuances of their personalities. They go from random recruits to true friends with your Shepard, including all the inside jokes that get developed throughout the story. I love that they are also friends with each other and get more comfortable bantering during missions and hanging out together on the Normandy. 
+
+I don't know. Is it strange to say that I would do anything to protect these virtual people? That they are my friends?
+
+Being with my crew felt like gold.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect_02.png)
+
+I don't think the combat or controls is anything to write home about because this is where the age of the series really showed. It felt clunky, but entirely what I expected for a game this old. 
+
+Driving the Mako was particularly arduous as it felt unresponsive and made some of the mountain ranges on uncharted planets awful to traverse -- and the Legendary Edition was a big improvement from the original controls! Crazy. It must have been awful to drive in the original release. 
+
+My favourite vehicle was the Kodiak -- if you know, you know.
+
+Honestly, I don't think I would be able to pick my favourite part of the series. Each had their strengths and weaknesses. ME1 set up a whole new universe for us to explore. ME2 developed characters and friendships. ME3 wrapped up so many storylines and gifted us more time with our crew and our ship. What more can you want?
+
+Some particular highlights for me:
+- All of the plot twists in ME1. Mind blowing.
+- Boarding the Quarian's Migrant Fleet.
+- Browsing the Shadow Broker's files on the Normandy crew, especially Grunt's search history on dinosaurs, sharks, and Hemingway. Love that kid.
+- Interacting with a Prothean. 
+  - Javik is an interesting character who contrasts very well with the rest of the crew. 
+  - Poor guy got frozen from one war into another.
+- The cutscene for the fight between Kalros and a Reaper Destroy was epic.
+  - It was like watching titans duking it out. 
+  - By the way, you know something is extremely deadly and dangerous when the Krogans name something.
+- Experiencing hope and heartbreak at Thessia.
+- I loved the Citadel DLC. In an alternate universe, I'd like to think that this was the final mission for Shepard.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect_03.png)
+
+In the end, I felt like the choices were what I expected. Some themes were touched on constantly throughout the series, which foreshadow the possible choices for the final mission. It wasn't a surprise.
+
+I chose the destroy ending because my Shepard's primary objective was to destroy the Reapers -- and that is what she did. 
+
+Mission complete.
+
+This was a journey that I would gladly take on again. 
+
+*​Shepard out*. 

posts/2025-01-01_resetting-defaults.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+title: Resetting Defaults
+link: resetting-defaults
+published_date: 2025-01-01 00:00
+tags: intentions, personal
+make_discoverable: false
+---
+
+## Intentions for 2025
+- Build upon existing habits to make them the default behaviour.
+  - Maintain habits/hobbies/projects to reach critical thresholds.
+  - Design my environment to encourage desired behaviour.
+  - Carry around e-reader to read more books.
+  - Be an active consumer and creator.
+- Consult budget before buying anything.
+  - To reduce discretionary spending.
+  - Wait at least 30 days before purchasing discretionary wants.
+    - To reduce impulse spending.
+    - Builds anticipation. Allows consideration. Exercises patience.
+- Strive to reach zero stash/backlog.
+  - Use what I have rather than buying something new and shiny.
+  - I have SABLE levels of stationery which I should use up instead of looking to add to my stash.
+    - SABLE = Stash acquisition beyond life expectancy.
+  - Play through existing games in my backlog.
+  - Read through unread books on my selves.
+- Be mindful of mindlessly wasting time.
+
+## Why?
+- To increase financial security and flexibility.
+- To prioritize savings and investing.
+- To enjoy and use what I already have.
+- To detox myself from instant gratification.
+
+## Previous Intentions
+- 2024 — Shifting Priorities
+- 2023 — Mindfulness
+- 2022 — Building Confidence
+- 2021 — Personal Finance
+- 2020 — Metamorphosis

posts/2025-01-06_switch-to-bear.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+---
+title: Switching to Bear
+link: switching-to-bear
+published_date: 2025-01-06 13:14
+tags: meta
+make_discoverable: true
+---
+
+I will preface this post by stating that this is not going to be a personal website where I will be posting about jumping from one blogging platform to another every few months. This note is a reassurance to any reader out there (*hello?*) and a reminder to myself.
+
+Last year, I started to blog on [Ghost](https://ghost.org/) because it was highly recommended by various "Top 10" lists for current best blogging platforms. And I was interested in trying it out for myself as I vaguely remember the success of their Kickstarter campaign way back in 2013 for its goal of being "just a blogging platform."
+
+It was fine. Until it wasn't.
+
+Over the past couple of months, it seemed like I had a growing list of friction points and increasing dissatisfaction with using Ghost. Here are some examples:
+- No centralized media management for handling assets.
+- Theme development and handling is cumbersome.
+  - Very limited options through their `@config` property for theme development.
+  - Uploading a zip folder to change your website theme is a very archaic and outdated process to me. It reminds me of using FTP which is a turn-off for me.
+- There was more friction than I would have liked with its editor.
+  - My blogging workflow involves writing posts in Markdown in a separate text editor, pasting content into Ghost, and hitting publish. However, sometimes Ghosts' editor would not properly parse the pasted contents into a Markdown block and would require manual intervention to fix.
+  - From this experience, I've come to realize that I am not a fan of block/card editors.
+- Constant nudges towards monetization through memberships/newsletters/subscriptions were annoying.
+  - I understand that modern blogging is usually about the *hustle* nowadays, and Ghost has evolved to fulfill those needs, but I want a place to write and yell into the void in peace. You know what I'm saying?
+
+For the past several weeks, I have been casually keeping an eye out for alternative blogging platforms that fulfill my needs. Here are some platforms that caught my eye:
+- [Mataroa](https://mataroa.blog/)
+  - I liked the features and admire the commitment to business [transparency](https://mataroa.blog/modus/transparency/).
+  - However, its limited media uploads disqualified it from my options. In particular, the total image count of 1,000 would potentially be my concern in a few years.
+- [Nucelo](https://www.nucelo.com/)
+  - It has a very specific organization method for displaying your content which does not apply to me, specifically article- and project-based content.
+  - It seems more like a personal portfolio/showcase website which happens to have a blogging feature than a focused blogging platform.
+  - Not a fan of its icon-focused navigation.
+- [Pika](https://pika.page/)
+  - Its WYSIWYG editor is not for me. Also, it can't parse Markdown tables.
+  - It is a fairly new player in the blogging space with new features coming out every other week from its active development team. Currently, I would rather settle into a slightly more established platform. 
+  - However, I would be interested to see its offerings in a couple of years.
+- [Write.as](https://write.as/)
+  - Honestly, I wasn't feeling it. 
+  - Probably because I can only read "Write, Ass!" from the URL.
+
+I have been focusing my search on simple blogging platforms rather than static site generators as I didn't want to be tinkering too much with setting up the website. Previously, I had used [Jekyll](https://jekyllrb.com/) and had sunk way too much time and energy into messing around with styling and adjusting templates. I know myself. I need certain limitations.
+
+I've decided to switch to [Bear](https://bearblog.dev/) for the following reasons:
+- Provides enough theming and styling options to my satisfaction.
+- Allows me to set metadata through plain text through YAML front matter. 
+  - Honestly, this is what primarily sold me as I dislike using date pickers, which are commonly found in other blogging platforms, as it reminds me of work calendars and setting meeting appointments.
+
+```ymal
+---
+title: Switching to Bear
+link: switching-to-bear
+published_date: 2025-01-07 20:33
+tags: meta
+make_discoverable: true
+---
+```
+
+- I like its implementation of previewing drafts before publishing. It displays your draft post with your theme's styling applied in a separate window.
+- Built-in analytics is detailed enough that I can stop using [Umami](https://umami.is/) if I wanted.
+- Public [roadmap](https://bear.nolt.io/roadmap) is appreciated.
+
+Anyway, I have settled into using Bear for the forseeable future. I have transferred over my existing posts and pages. I have scrapped together a working theme for the front-end. Looking good so far. Probably going to do some few tweaks here and there over the next couple weeks, but there is only such much you can do — which is great!
+
+Let's see how this goes. Hopefully, this bear doesn't go into hibernation, eh?
+
+*I have made this individual post available on Bear's [Discovery](https://bearblog.dev/discover/) feed as an experiment. What is the purpose of this experiment? Good question. I don't know.*

posts/2025-01-25_mass-effect-andromeda.md

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+---
+title: Mass Effect: Andromeda
+link: mass-effect-andromeda
+published_date: 2025-01-25 23:56
+tags: gaming 
+make_discoverable: true
+---
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_00.png)
+
+> This is the story of humanity’s next chapter.
+
+When I first launched into *Mass Effect: Andromeda* (*MEA*), I was immediately hooked by the story premise of exploring a new galaxy. Imagine signing up for a one-way journey 2.5 million light-years away to another galaxy, which will take over 600 hundred years to traverse during cryogenic sleep. What an insane idea. You would be taking a huge leap of faith and trusting in the little data that was scraped together from light-years away which would already be outdated by the time you arrive at your destination -- which, at that distance, would be like shooting a bullet into the dark and hoping you will hit your target. The Andromeda Initiative was a bold and daring mission that hooked me into the game and story right away.
+
+From the outset, the situation is already looking dire with our human starship encountering a dark energy space cloud phenomenon when entering into Andromeda. Our starship is seriously damaged. People are waking up disoriented into a crisis situation. Contact cannot be established with the other starships commanded by other Milky Way species. Furthermore, contact with the Nexus mothership is also failing to establish. Your sibling is in a coma from having their waking process interrupted. Your potential new home planet is not inhabitable. What to do? It is not like we can beam ourselves back home to the Milky Way.
+
+And guess what? Now all of this is your problem because your father died. Alec Ryder was in a leadership position, called the Pathfinder, which was supposed to spearhead the settlement for humans in this new galaxy. To save you, your father decided to sacrifice himself for you to live -- which also included transferring his Pathfinder authority and status to you and all that it entails.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_01.png)
+
+As Pathfinder in a new galaxy, here are your primary objectives:
+- Evaluating and improving the viability of settling on identified candidate planets, called Golden Worlds, which are believed to be capable of supporting life.
+- Performing reconnaissance and mapping of unknown planetary systems and territories.
+- Discovering and conducting scientific analysis of new resources and phenomena.
+- Leading potential first contact with intelligent lifeforms in this new galaxy.
+- Establishing and providing support to settlement outposts.
+
+Easy enough.
+
+Your first battle would be fighting through the convoluted keybindings menus and cumbersome menus. Some of the design decisions make me scratch my head. For example, from the map view, you need to hit `<Esc>` twice to get back to the gameplay. However, you can also hit `<Tab>` once instead -- which is a shortcut that I had to look up because going through two sub-menu screen transitions was driving me crazy. Another example is the tediousness of assigning active quests and managing weapon mods which involve navigating through an unreasonable amount of sub-menus. It may seem like a small detail to gripe about, but the lack of usability and inconsistency of the UI was awful to deal with. Just unnecessarily complicated and unintuitive design decisions all around.
+
+Nevertheless, I will say that the combat mechanics were a highlight of the game. I appreciated the fredom to experiment with different combat profiles and load-outs to keep things fresh. New jump-jets added a vertical element to combat that felt great to use to gain high-ground advantage and pull off airborne shots. Guns were varied and satisfying to fire. Getting into fight encounters was fun. 
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_02.png)
+
+Yet, I felt like some game design choices noticeably dragged down the entire combat experience.
+
+I don't understand why players are not allowed to control when squad mates use their powers. This system was in the *Mass Effect* (*ME*) trilogy and seemed like a hallmark feature of the franchise, but *MEA* took a step back from that. If not including squad control was to differentiate Sara/Scott Ryder from Shepard, then I think it was a wrong move. It would have been fantastic to be able to set up skill combos with our squad which would have elevated the combat experience.
+
+Additionally, fight encounter designs felt like they didn't mesh well with the way the combat worked. There are very limited enemy types throughout the game which would have been fine, but they don't change or evolve in complexity to continue to challenge the player. You encounter the same types of mobs and the same mechanics over and over which does not encourage experimentation with different combat specializations or load-outs. And with how large the open-world maps are, you can literally walk or drive away from a fight unscathed if you don't want to deal with it because enemies are leashed to their spawn point. It felt like there wasn't much at stake in open-world encounters. It is strange having such a flexible combat system but not having encounters that encouraged different approaches or experiences.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_03.png)
+
+Speaking of driving, riding around in the ND1 Nomad was a pleasant surprise! It is a much better vehicle to handle than the jankiness of the M35 Mako or the floatiness (?) of the M-44 Hammerhead. I believe that there was a rumour that developers for the *Need for Speed* franchise assisted BioWare with the driving experience in *MEA* which would explain a lot about the improved vehicle controls from the *ME* trilogy, especially after the Nomad is fully kitted out.
+
+I think all the landscapes in *MEA* were breathtaking. All the alien flora and fauna, the strange skies and horizons, the harsh and varied terrain looked incredible. In particular, I thought that H-047c planet was a standout experience for me with its deteriorating atmosphere and haunting environment -- and it had great ambient music, which was the only time I noticed the soundtrack in this game as it reminded me of *ME1*'s score with its futuristic vibe. Even the stark contrast between the Remnant structures against the organic environment was striking.
+
+It was quite a juxtaposition to the game's goofy facial animations.
+
+With regard to exploration, I am going to echo what I said earlier and state that smaller maps would have benefitted the game. Although the vast open worlds were beautiful, there was very little motivation to wander off and explore beyond the quest markers or icons on the map. In contrast, the smaller hubs were teeming with life and details, such as the Nexus' Common Area or Kadara Port which felt immersive and made me feel like exploring every corner of the map.
+
+Don’t get me started on the loading and animation screens when travelling between planetary systems. Why are they so long? It was a test of patience sitting through them, especially in the latter half of the game when side quests required you to travel all over the place to complete objectives. I think I spent more time sitting on the loading screen doing nothing than I did doing the side missions which felt awful. Hopping from one planet to another and waiting for the transitions to play out was mind-numbing. Even the skip option didn't save much time.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_04.png)
+
+Probably *MEA*'s best feature has to be the conversations between squad mates. If I recall correctly, this was something *ME3* introduced, but which this title took to the next level. In *ME3*, the crew primarily communicated over radio comms aboard the Normandy, with the occasional in-person interaction when crew members visited each other on the ship. In *MEA*, squad mates roam around different parts of the ship and chat with each other while in the same vicinity which really adds to the homeliness of the Tempest.
+
+I think the best conversations happened while cruising around in the Nomad. It was enjoyable listening to their conversations and learning about their backstories and personalities through their banter and quips. Sometimes, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a private moment when they had surprisingly deep and heavy discussions.
+
+Some notable conversations: 
+- PeeBee and Jaal's shenanigans was quite amusing.
+- Jaal's awkward flirting with Cora gave me so much second-hand embarrassment.
+- PeeBee and Drack had some thought-provoking discussions about the experience of life as long-lived species.
+- Cora and Vetra's transition from slightly antagonistic to good friends was heartwarming to see develop.
+
+> **Drack**: Peebee, you’re sure you’re not half krogan?  
+> **Peebee**: Nope. Why?  
+> **Drack**: Your attitude, aggression. The way you don’t take shit from anyone.  
+> **Peebee**: My mother mated exclusively with other asari.  
+> **Drack**: Is that right?  
+> **Peebee**: Except when she conceived me. My father was an elcor.  
+> **Drack**: You’ve gotta be kidding.  
+> **Peebee**: Offended Indignation: Why? Doesn’t it fit?  
+> **Drack**: You’re as far from an elcor as I can imagine.  
+> **Peebee**: Then it makes perfect sense, right?  
+> **Drack**: [laughs] I suppose so, you little rebel.
+
+
+I also loved running into squad mates at hubs and docking ports. They aren't just standing around in limbo waiting for you on the ship -- they are out and about doing their own thing and exploring too! It made the world feel so much more alive and gave me a sense of camaraderie with my crew as it felt like bumping into a friend while running errands around the city.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_05.png)
+
+However, conversations constantly getting interrupted by SAM drove me crazy!
+
+The Simulated Adaptive Matrix, known as SAM, is an AI that our father developed to enhance all members of the Pathfinder team. It is deeply connected into the physiology of those embedded with its implant and we were forced to bond with SAM when our father decided to sacrifice himself and save us. Although SAM is useful in many situations, I extremely dislike SAM because of its interruptions at the worst moments.
+
+> **SAM**: Pathfinder, I am sensing extreme cold.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, temperature is within acceptable limits.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, I am sensing extreme cold.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, temperature is within acceptable limits.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, I am sensing extreme cold.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, this area can be mined for resources. You can extract minerals via your mining interface.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, temperature is within acceptable limits.  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, I am sensing extreme cold.  
+> **Jaal**: So, there’s nothing from your past that you miss? That you left behind?  
+> **Peebee**: Well, I had a weakness for... [interrupted]  
+> **​SAM**: Pathfinder, this area can be mined for resources. You can extract minerals via your mining interface.
+
+Holy fuck. Guess we will never know what PeeBee's weakness is, huh? Thanks SAM. 
+
+I had to resort to stopping what I was doing every time dialogue started between characters, otherwise SAM would interrupt and the conversation thread would be lost forever.
+
+Also, SAM felt like too much of a crutch at times. It definitely made Ryder's life easier by triangulating signals and hacking into devices, but at the cost of player agency. Sometimes it felt like Ryder was a human vessel that gets SAM into place who is actually the one that solves the issues or completes quest objectives. It is like SAM is an overbearing older broker who does your homework for you and denies you the chance to learn and do it yourself. 
+
+How convenient that Alec brought his superpowered AI along into a new galaxy, huh?
+
+This leads into my main issue with *MEA* which is that I didn't feel like my Ryder was the main character. I felt like I was just carrying around the main character. It is insulting the number of times that people come to you, not for your input, but to solicit SAM's assistance just showed how irrelevant Ryder was to the overall story. If you take Ryder out of the story, nothing meaningful really changes because SAM is the superpower that is making the planets viable for the Andromeda Initiative.
+
+People also constantly walk all over Ryder. It was understandable at the start of the game because we became the human Pathfinder through nepotism and awful luck, but barely any respect is gained through our deeds throughout the game. Even our crew doesn't respect us at times. I never wished for a renegade interrupt so much in my life then when PeeBee almost killed us in the escape pod, or when Drack argued with us for our decision to save the Salarian Pathfinder instead of the Krogan scouts, or when Liam exposed confidential information. It was frustrating for Ryder not to develop a backbone towards the end of the game.
+
+Some of the end bits felt more forced than anything, trying to convince me that Ryder was important.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_06.png)
+
+Another grievance I have is that the gameplay loop was too repetitive or did not feel meaningful. By the time I got to Kadara and Elaaden, I was tired of making planets viable for any outpost or making decisions that had no impact on the story. I did most of the side quests and tasks and felt like they were not worth doing -- even a funny one-liner for a quest completion would have made the effort worth it. 
+
+Honestly, I had no interest in the Kett. It felt like they were very heavy-handed in their actions. There was no subtlety in their motivations. Their leaders had no redeeming qualities or charisma that made you second-guess whether you were on the right side of the war. There was no twist that made them interesting.
+
+I am not even going to get into the Jardaan because that plot point happened unexpectedly in the last thirty minutes of the game.
+
+I was more interested in learning more about the unknown benefactor. Who is this mysterious person? I couldn't help but wonder if it was The Illusive Man from the *ME* trilogy. It would have been fascinating to discover that the Andromeda Initiative was his backup plan to keep life going in case Shepard failed to save the Milky Way galaxy.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_07.png)
+
+In the end, we are left with a lot of loose threads. Unfortunately, I doubt that we will get any real answers considering the relatively neutral/negative reception to this title. Very low chance we will get a direct sequel that will provide further explainations and tie everything together.
+
+I have to wonder what Alec Ryder's plans were to begin with. How did he convince people to join the Andromeda Initiative? How did this entire operation go unnoticed by authorities in the Milky Way? If there are so many embedded family secrets within SAM, then what were his plans for a successor? Was Cora Harper really going to be his successor, or did he actually plan for one of his kids to succeed him? Did he plan to just jump-jet around the galaxy with a super powerful AI embedded in his system?
+
+Ugh, Alec -- I want to pick a fight with him. It sits wrong with me that he refused to let his wife go. Ellen had clearly accepted that it was her time, with her fatal disease, but he took it upon himself to stop the natural course of things. I wonder if she is even aware of what he did to her, putting her into stasis and dragging her into a new galaxy. And it is infuriating that player Ryder does not condemn Alec's actions, especially as it seems like they were a lot closer to their mother than their father.
+
+![](/images/mass-effect-andromeda_08.png)
+
+I couldn't help but feel like the game took place at the wrong time. It felt like we were playing the game in the boring middle between major plot events. So much happened before we arrived at the Nexus, such as the discovery of the Scourage, the realization that the Golden Worlds were not viable for settlement, the anxious waiting for the Arks to arrive, the Krogan rebellion, the discovery of the Kett and Angara, the civil war on the Nexus, and more. It felt like we were late to the party. And not enough time has passed for the situation to develop into something really interesting.
+
+What is the point of being a Pathfinder if we are the last ones to show up?
+
+All in all, this could’ve been a great game, but it ended up being just okay. I guess you can say that I thought it was simply good, but not great. I walked away from *MEA* with a slightly positive outlook because of the spectacle of the final mission which was redeeming enough for me to forgive many of the little frustrations I had with the game design and story. The game definitely had a lot of things going for it that I loved. However, there are so many little let downs that I couldn't get over.

posts/2025-03-08_inscryption.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+---
+title: Inscryption
+link: inscryption
+published_date: 2025-03-08 20:44
+tags: gaming 
+make_discoverable: true
+---
+
+![](/images/inscryption_00.png)
+
+> *Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards...*
+
+*Inscryption* is one of those games that I would highly recommend going in blind as it is difficult to talk about without spoiling anything as it starts as a mystery right out of the gate.
+
+As such, this is a quick pitch for the game:
+- Acquire a deck of creature cards by random draft, surgery, or self-mutilation.
+- Find and unlock secrets lurking behind the walls of Leshy's cabin.
+- Explore the metanarrative story and commentaries on game design.
+
+If the hook had you intrigued, then I would suggest reading no further! This game is best experienced with no expectations.
+
+![](/images/inscryption_01.png)
+
+From the start, this game felt like stepping into a scene where two people are playing a TTRPG together. You are the player going through the solo adventure and your game master is across the table driving the narrative. It seems fairly innocuous, except for ominous darkness pervading the cabin and your game master being slightly deranged.
+
+Additionally, another level is added to the game as you realize that you aren't stuck in the card game. You can actually get up from the table and explore your surroundings. You can move around objects and fiddle with various puzzles that unlock additional gameplay mechanics and features. And find some additional playable cards!
+
+![](/images/inscryption_02.png)
+
+I am not going to get into the mechanics of the card game as then this post will turn into a rule book. However, I will state that it was quite easy to pick up and the system had a pleasant depth to it that I did not expect. It was fun experimenting with different card combinations and sigil powers.
+
+Don't underestimate the potential of the Ouroboros!
+
+Also, don't be afraid to lose. When all your lives are extinguished, you have the opportunity to create a custom card based on the cards in your most recent deck. You will have the option of picking the cost of playing the card, its health and attack power, and the sigils it will be embued. You can encounter this custom card in future rounds -- either to your advantage or detriment!
+
+![](/images/inscryption_03.png)
+
+I thought that *Inscryption*'s atmosphere really drives the entire play experience. All elements are cohesive and resonate wonderfully with each other which makes for a gripping game. The art direction is fantastic. The sound effects are eerie and disturbing. It nails down the omnious vibe.
+
+I thought that the puzzles around the cabin were quite well done. They were not so obscure that you had to resort to looking up solutions, but not so obvious that it felt too easy. 
+
+![](/images/inscryption_04.png)
+
+Not going to lie -- I wasn't expecting the entire game to change after defeating Leshy. I thought defeating him would mark the end of the game which would have been fine with me. I appreciate when games have a short, focused experience.
+
+It was a nice surprise to discover that the game had an Act 2 and 3.
+
+![](/images/inscryption_05.png)
+
+For Act 2, the game turned into a pixel collectible adventure game that reminded me of running around in Pokémon during the Game Boy era. However, it is player card battling instead of battling creatures against each other.
+
+![](/images/inscryption_06.png)
+
+For the rest of the game, it felt as though many cards and additional mechanics were added on top of the existing system, but it seemed half-baked to me. I couldn't shrug off the feeling that most of the battles from that point on were primarily determined by the cards you drew in your opening hand.
+
+![](/images/inscryption_07.png)
+
+For Act 3, I understand that it was the height of the game's commentary on how a game master can completely change the tone and experience of a game for a player. However, I felt like P03 was an awful game master to have as the last act. I was starting to feel like I was grinding out unremarkable boss encounters trying to reach the end and escape *Inscryption*. 
+
+![](/images/inscryption_08.png)
+
+Interestingly, I think this game starts too strong. The quality and atmosphere from Act 1 do not quite carry over into Acts 2 and 3, making it feel like you started at the peak of the rollercoaster and are just coasting the entire ride to the end.
+
+That being said, I did appreciate the game's effort in building an overarching story around the deck-building mechanics.