App Store Problems

Feb 24th, 2016 Kid Stuff

Recently, in a decision that I hope looks better in hindsight, I decided to jump back into public accounting. My old boss did his best to persuade me not to leave industry. Then, when my decision was final, he started a pool on how long I’d last in the public world this time. It was the right choice, though: the recent purchase of ProBuild left…

Changing Course

Feb 19th, 2016 Creating a Platform

I had an epiphany this weekend. I’m totally burned out on taxes. Or at least writing about them. Yes, I’ve had fun with BackAlleyTaxes.com, and I might pick it up again in a few months or a few years, but for now I’ll leave it as fallow as a North Dakota Pineapple field. For the past few months I’ve had a bit of a conundrum,…

That Dragon, Cancer – A Touching Memorial

Jan 25th, 2016 Games, Kid Stuff, Memoir

Ever since I contributed to the Kickstarter campaign for That Dragon, Cancer, I’ve been excited to play it. Yet on the game’s big release on January 12th, I couldn’t bring myself to turn it on. Heck, I couldn’t even bring myself to install it. Like a politician sensing the breaking of an impending scandal, I delayed the inevitable. Yes, inevitable. I knew I had to…

I Am Writing A Post, Aunque No Me Nace

Jan 7th, 2016 Other

I speak Spanish. Not as well as I used too, and my accent has transformed from something resembling a Chihuahuense ranchero to that of a pale foreign guero, but I still speak it. Since I learned it as a missionary for my Church trying to convince people to join us at our Sunday meetings, one of the phrases most deeply ingrained in my gringo mind…

This Is Why Health Insurance Is Still Broken

Oct 27th, 2015 Politics

I’ve been holding off on this post for a while, letting it simmer. It’s been on my mind for months, ever since the rumors of my company being bought out by some insignificant minnow turned out to be true. Here’s the crux of the situation. Where I take a job is now 100% dependent on what insurance they offer. Think about that for a moment. My…

New Project Chapter 1

Aug 27th, 2015 Books, Movies, and Games

Intro: I like to write some in my spare time. This is the latest project that I’m in the middle of right now. I think it’s actually coming together (though it still needs a title). Thought I’d share the first chapter.   I broke the TV remote. It didn’t deserve it. It’s not the remote’s fault that my life is descending into a putrid vat…

The Secret Truth Behind Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Aug 3rd, 2015 Movies

When I was a kid, I never saw the hidden meaning to the shows that would run on our basic cable subscription (Captain Planet is trying to indoctrinate us to donate to the Sierra Club and hate corporations? What? I thought it was just about a creepy looking X-Men reject). But now that I’m older and have kids of my own, I’ve realized that everyone one…

Reflecting on Child Loss

Jul 1st, 2015 Other

My niece passed away this weekend. Five years ago, we lost our son shortly after birth. The event was so painfully heart wrenching that I’ve thought again and again how I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what we did. Yet just a few short years later my own brother- and sister-in-law have to go through a similar ordeal. I don’t really know what to…

Why Toy Companies Use Ridiculous Sexist Ways To Target Kids

Jun 24th, 2015 Kid Stuff

I’ve been considering this post for a while, but every time I’ve tried to write it, I get distracted and run off on a tangent. Unlike tax and economics, I have a hard time focusing on cultural debate. This one, though, seemed like one no one else has address. At least not in a way I like. So let’s talk sexist kid toys.

River Raid – Retro Games With Kids

Apr 20th, 2015 Games

After reading Ready Player One and watching the E.T. documentary on Netflix, I began thinking that maybe it was time to get back to my gaming roots. At the same time, my kids have been begging Amy and I to let them do a Let’s Play video. So why not combine the two together? The video below is the result.