compelled to continue #
After the 2025 in review post, I kept thinking about all of the great media and books I consumed in 2025 and wanted to post some of my favorites.
Without much introduction…
favorite books (in no particular order) #
Everything is Tuberculosis, by John Green
Touching, informative, educational. Sad that something so easily solvable, which doesn’t exist in wealthy countries, can be such a dramatic, unrepentant asshole in others.
Like climate change, hunger, clean water, and housing for everyone, we could totally solve this worldwide problem, but don’t. Eat the rich.
Umm, I’ve never read a story about an anti-hero and anti-villian trying to kill each other. Not a happy ending, but a good ending. Very dark.
The best response to the super hero (Marvel, DC, et al.) epidemic in modern media. A modern day Watchmen (kinda… I mean, nothing can be Watchmen, but it’s in a similar vein as Watchmen).
Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut
This book was so twisted. I had to put it down several times. But also, totally captures how someone, with enough hatred and lies to themselves, can start to become the thing they hate. Everyone thinks they’re the good guy in the story.
So good, especially in modern times in the US.
favorite new music #
French progressive/post metal band. I love progressive metal just for the music itself, but like Mastodon, their content is so much more than that.
They deal with themes of death, grieving, spirituality, nature, and philosophy. Educated and thought provoking lyrics on the backdrop of progressive metal.
most listened to artists (according to play stats in Plex) #
- Mastodon (if you didn’t already guess), with 1577 plays
- Nine Inch Nails, with 1299 plays
- Dvne, with 1183 plays
- Deftones, with 1048 plays
- the humble bee, with 1011 plays
- Hammock, with 902 plays
- This Will Destroy You, with 877 plays
favorite show #
Seriously, watch it. It’s the best Star War. There’s very little I don’t like about it. This is the direction Stars War media should be going.
I’ve watched through twice. Very fitting and intentionally written themes for exactly right now in the US.
Several monologues throughout the show, Nemik (twice), Marva, and Mon Mothma, really inspire rebellion against a tyranical Trump, er empire.
favorite movies (in no particular order) #
Whimsical, dark, funny. Doesn’t take itself seriously.
Admittedly I’d never seen this cult classic animation that inspired so many others. My glob this took a turn.
Not a cartoon for kids.
Touching, hilarious, dark humor, centered around something we don’t talk enough about or have compassion for; the elderly experience and ageing.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture {edition: Legacy}
I watched a number of fan edits this year, but this one really stood out as the best. I then watched the original, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and it was really pretty bad.
It was so bad I went ahead and screengrabbed several of the scenes and uploaded them to my “Isolated scenes” playlist on Youtube. To be fair, there were several… ahem, isolated scenes… that stood out as awesome.
- A high ranking military officer overacts at a sarcastic bearded man
- A large starship looks tiny as it flies into something larger
- A man is in love with something he shouldn’t be
- A spaceman flies into a giant orifice
- A man is on a spiritual journey through psychedelics
The fan edit gives you everything you need in 22 minutes, and it’s way more entertaining.
The best bad movie of 2025. Made popular by its appearance on Red Letter Media’s, Best of the Worst.
Everyday is a Tums festival.