The Usual Archive
What We’re Up To: May
Written on May 1, 2013
in Books, Comics, Derby, Games, Media, The Usual, TV/Movies, Video Games, What We're Up To
We’re entering summer which means there will be a whole lot of awesome going on. Conventions, summer movies, and meetups oh my! Here’s what’s on our plate, at least for now. What We’re Reading: Nicole – I’m reading some free comics from Dark Horse right now. Unfortunately, my Marvel Free Comics offer got sent
My Happiness Project: Namaste
Written on April 27, 2013
in Books, Claire's Happiness Project, Media, The Usual

I had an interesting run in with grad school insanity last week. After making a debatable choice in a presentation, a member of another group berated me and my group members, insisting we admit we were wrong. This continued over a week, with her getting nothing out of her efforts but “This
5 on Friday: That’s A Syfy Thing Isn’t It?
Written on April 26, 2013
in 5 on Friday, Media, The Usual, TV/Movies, Video Games

Claire has finally made me start watching Battlestar Galactica. I’m also watching/playing Defiance. These are the first two Syfy shows I’ve watched since Sliders. Even though I’m just now starting both of these series, I found myself saying to Claire “that’s a Syfy thing isn’t it” during Battlestar. These are the trends I’ve noticed in this short time. 1) Multi-dimensional Female Characters
My Happiness Project: Twelve Commandments
Written on April 13, 2013
in Books, Claire's Happiness Project, Media, The Usual

When the sun is shining and it’s 70 degrees outside, it’s much easier to work on happiness. Being outside in the sunshine (with appropriate sun protection) does wonders for the human condition. I believe that building my happiness when it’s easy will help me deal with the little things when times are
What We’re Up To: April
Written on April 1, 2013
in Books, Games, Media, The Usual, TV/Movies, Video Games, What We're Up To
Happy April! This is what we’re up to this month: What We’re Reading: Nicole – I’m still reading Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow. I usually read on my lunch break, and didn’t really get many of those in March. I read a good amount of it this past weekend while my husband
Shit My Husband Says: Fruit Ninja
Written on March 30, 2013
in Shit My Husband Says, The Usual

Me: Look, they have Fruit Ninja for Kinect! Him: I hate Fruit Ninja. Me: Why? Him: Because I suck at it.
5 on Friday: Nicole’s 5 Favorite Doctor Who Episodes
Written on March 29, 2013
in 5 on Friday, Media, The Usual, TV/Movies

Its new Who weekend! We finally are getting the second half of season seven and I’m stoked. In celebration, here are my five favorite Doctor Who episodes. I intentionally tried to leave off two parters and season finales. Because then it’s just too easy. I made an exception for The Empty Child/The Doctor
My Happiness Project
Written on March 28, 2013
in Books, Claire's Happiness Project, Geek Culture, Geek Health, Media, The Usual

I’m going to level with you, dear readers. I hate self-help books. They evoke horrible memories of high school assemblies and bad Oprah episodes and turn me in to a twitchy mess. Roller Derby helped me through my divorce, yoga is helping me be more comfortable with who I am, I have
Google Reader Alternatives: NewsBlur
Written on March 25, 2013
in 5 on Friday, Mobile, Product Reviews, Technology, The Usual

A couple of weeks back I wrote a post about Google Reader being retired, and what the various options were for someone who was looking for something new. I mentioned at the time that I couldn’t write about NewsBlur because they were slammed so hard that the site was unusable. They’ve either beefed up their servers, or
Shit My Husband Says: Action Figures
Written on March 23, 2013
in Shit My Husband Says, The Usual

“You can buy some Mass Effect dolls if you want. As long as they’re not 6ft tall and my replacement.”
