Xbox Year in Review 2024

i kind of used to use a Video Game "blog" thing, but don't play as much as i used to.  Kind of a down year of playtime for me (played 920 hours in 2023 and only 640 in 2024).  Maybe because i only had Game Pass for 4 months.  Also, lots of Hulu streaming.  Apparently, i didn't play that many games i "own" this year.

So here are my stats for 2024 (not sure they're completely accurate), subject to change a little bit before 2025:

* Time Spent: 640 hours

* Achievements Earned: 457

* Gamerscore Earned: 13,452

* Games Played: 55

* Preferred Platform: Console (531 hours)

* Genres: Role Playing (40%), Action/Adventure (23%), Card/Board (17%), Family/Kids (8%), Other (12%)

Most Anticipated Game of 2025: Lunar Remastered Collection (Spring 2025). Not a stat they would know, but it is true.

Hulu Anime Binge

So, the Hulu $.99 a month deal was ending and i decided to see what the deal with anime was. So, i decided to watch a bunch of it. Here is my list of stuff i "watched" in the last year (incomplete, some are no longer on the service).  i think 12-22 episodes is the sweet spot. Some of the longer running ones really pad the episode totals. Black Clover was better at most at not padding episodes.  Though, to be fair, these were not meant to be binged like i did.  Mostly watched dubbed versions.

i "grew up" playing JRPGs and wanted something different than the US sitcoms. Some of these are weird.  Not all of these are winners, though i would like a next season on a bunch of these (also Chivalry of a Failed Knight).

My current $.99 a month account does not have the same watchlist (different account) - so list is for my benefit.  Household trade off on subscription services: i had Hulu in 2022 and just got it this year (2024) on a Black Friday deal.  Someone in the household paid the $.99 a month for 2023.

Numbers indicate through episodes.  Some series use an episode numbering scheme (Season 2 of a series that had 12 episodes in season 1 would be 13.  Pretty sure Bleach does this), some are more traditional (Season 2 Episode 1, is just that regardless of Season 1 episodes). 

Radio Station changed to Xmas already

So, i finally heard "Last Christmas" on the radio, unfortunately, it was the auditory abomination that is the Taylor Swift version.  Every version i've ever heard, sans the original suck (guess Darren Hayes version was not completely nails on a chalk board).  Taylor Swift's voice is not what i would good (kind of average-ish).

A station already changed Xmas only.  i heard Thanksgiving this year falls on the latest date possible.

If you don't have a radio station near you that has changed over "Alexa play 106.9".  That is basically what i use my Echo Dot for (radio and a clock).  i have my Xmas tree on a smart plug set to turn on at 4:15 and off at 9:03 both PM.  Alexa turn on "tree" - guess you have to not mute the input for it to work (also actually say it).

Here is my Xmas tree, now that it is not naked (has ornaments on it).  i wonder if artificial trees were meant to have ornaments on them.  Kind of seems like they were not.

Yes, i do decorate a little with dog toys (see the Bark Box Frosty and Rudolph behind the tree).

Too bad my Toshiba CD player is functionally deficient, just in time for when i use it the most (Xmas season).  Pretty sure the Magnavox replacement will have worse sound.

This Christmas (Parody) - truly awful

Not in a zany Weird Al style of parody.  Just a change some of the words style.  Since females are mercurial creatures, i decided to try and reword "Last Christmas" by Wham! (Music From the Edge of Heaven album) into a prequel.  Sorry George Michael.  

i may use real phrases from the existing song in some places.  Keeping the flow of the "song" is kind of difficult - don't know how you do it Mr. Yankovic.  Because i kind of can't.  Never really tried this before.  Since this is not an "original" it can go here, not like some other place exists where those type of things are.  Trust me, you don't want to look that up.

This Christmas ("Parody" of "Last Christmas"):

i, for one, welcome Nuclear Annihilation

The US (and its proxy NATO) seem to be ramping up tensions in Ukraine.  i am so tired of American accelerationism (TM).  The outlook for NATO countries must be worse than even i anticipated if they are trying to start WWIII.  By "helping" they essentially ensured further death and destruction in Ukraine.  The US is playing with matches in a tinder box to prop up their installed puppet.

Apparently, the US didn't learn any lessons from the unnecessary "Cold War".

They are setting up a situation where using nuclear weapons turns into the "trolley problem".  A country should value its citizens above those of every other country in the world.  If they don't something is sinister in that government.  Should Russia see Ukrainian citizens as being worth less than Russian citizens?  Definitely.  By using a nuclear weapon against Ukraine, they likely protect the lives of some Russian citizens (and deter NATO/UN encroachment).

Random Musings Today: Xmas tree, Wile E. Coyote problem, etc

 Ready for another installment of my popular Random Musings series?  Afterall, low single digit (but hopefully non-zero) readers can't be wrong.

* Xmas specials watched so far this season: Twas the Night Before Christmas, Grinch, A Pinky and the Brain Christmas, and Rudolph.

* No Trick or Treaters this year, though the porch light was off and no pumpkins out.  Thought candy was too expensive this year to give away.  If the world goes the way i assume it will, i might need the candy for myself.

* i like Holiday Mint M&Ms and Wild Cherry Lifesavers (hard to find) - just saying.  Milk chocolate with mint, i can't stand dark chocolate.  However, $3.96 for a 9.2oz bag is pricy.  The Wild Cherry Lifesavers used to be prominent in the Sweet Story Books we'd get many Xmases (now days it is just 5 Flavors).  Another favorite was Butter Rum, Walmart had them (BR) last year and Safeway the year before.

* Watched some horror movies (as is proper) for Halloween.  Though not sure anything in them is scarier than the modern world.  From Army of Darkness to Urban Legend (forgot to watch overrated Young Frankenstein).  Started too late, probably should have watched Universal Monster movies too.  i forgot to watch the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video for the first time in years. 

Voting

Another election is upon us.  The only saving grace is the political ads will go away for the next two years. 

 i've decided that i much rather have the right to veto instead of vote.  i only registered to vote to have another form of ID with my address on it.  Has my vote ever mattered?  No.  Thoreau likened voting to gambling.  i'd argue the establishment is the House (the house always wins).  Beginning to think Married with Children was right ("The Chicago Wine Party" episode) - some quotes at the end of the post.

Al Bundy: "One thing I know, we're never going to win through the system. Voting has never been the American way. We didn't get away from that pansy country England by voting". 

What is voting?  Voting in giving the people the illusion that they are somehow involved in government, not just powerless subjects of it.  Which is a lie.  It is basically pacifying the sheep so the government can shear them.  Or put another way, voting is a suggestion box.  Nice in theory, if they ever read the suggestions.  If voting really mattered people in charge wouldn't let you do it.