The rise of AI has already contributed to an explosion of new artistic creations; think AI-generated images, videos, and even music. There’s already so much out there, and yet it still feels like we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what AI can do for us. Yes despite at all of the ‘new’ coming at us right now, I think that human-created art is about to experience its own renaissance alongside its AI-created counterparts. Here’s my take.

Several months ago, I wrote a post about a subscription box, called Bokksu, that my wife signed up for that sends a box filled with delicious Japanese snacks and treats to our door every month. At the time of that writing, I was reviewing the first box we had received. We’ve had many more come to us since then, and so I thought I’d provide an update as to how their follow-ups have been.

It’s been a while since I set foot in a dojo proper; Covid has made sure of that. But I had been diligently practicing my karate katas in my home’s basement each week… until recently. I’ve started running more, and with the nice weather, my katas began to fall by the wayside. It wasn’t until I did them again for the first time in a month that I realized how important they are to me.

Those who know me well know that I enjoy playing D&D with friends and family. It’s a chance to sit down, put the phones away and turn the TV off, and create a shared story together. If you’ve been reading my posts, you might have also seen that I’ve recently taken up painting minis to use in our games. What makes it fun is when you paint a mini that you yourself designed to look exactly like the character you play in your game.

Those who know me know that I’m an avid reader. When I get into a book series, I basically lose myself in it until I’m done the entire thing (occasionally to my wife’s chagrin). The most recent example of that happening was with the Fablehaven series of fantasy novels, and so I thought I’d write a review of sorts for today’s post.

Training martial arts feel great. So does belonging to a dojo or gym, and having friends and students to train with. But have you ever felt like things were going a little too far? If your gut tells you something is off, it just might be the case. Here are 5 signs that you might be in a dojo cult; if you notice them in your situation, it should tell you to turn around and run, don’t walk away.

Last week, I wrote a post about how now can be a great time to launch a digital side hustle. It doesn’t have to be a business you start, though; now is also a great time to take up a new hobby. One new one that I’ve picked up is painting miniatures. I use them in my D&D games anyway (which is a great game with a number of reasons you should check it out, by the way), and since D&D is off the table while we’re in lockdown, this was a great complement. Here’s how to get started with painting minis if you’re a beginner.

My wife and I recently signed up for a monthly Japanese snack subscription box called Bokksu, after reading about its creator’s experience with Japanese snack foods while living abroad. We’re pretty big foodies, and the chance to sample snacks from the other side of the world that would never be available to us any other way was something we couldn’t pass up.

Landscape photography is super-approachable for beginners; after all, your subject isn’t moving anywhere! It’ll stay right where it is until you get the perfect shot. That said, there are some basic things you can do to help your landscape shots be all that they can be. Here are 5 tips to get you started.