Riley MacLeod

How’s It Going?: Improvement Edition

It’s Thursday! It’s very pretty outside where I live, which seems like a cruel joke. Welcome back to our daily open thread. I didn’t get the chance to reply to the comments on yesterday’s thread, but I wanted to share here how much I appreciate them. You all are staying so strong through so much,…

How’s It Going?: Zen Edition

We’ve made it to Wednesday. Welcome back to our daily open thread. Yesterday was not a stellar day for me. I made the mistake of reading some articles about what the future could look like, which sent me into a spiral of anxiety and despair. As human brains often do (or at least my brain),…

Harv In Animal Crossing Is Clearly Running A Cult

Last night in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I unlocked “Harv’s Island.” Harvey is a forgetful dog dressed in cliche hippie clothes: a headband, John Lennon glasses, and a fringe vest. You can fly to his island of Photopia, where you’re able to design sets and pose for photos with others. At least, that’s what Harv…

Fortnite’s current season will end on June 4, Epic announced in a blog post today. The developer wrote, “We have multiple game updates on the way that will deliver fresh gameplay, new Challenges, bonus XP, and a couple more surprises up our sleeve!”

How’s It Going?: Life Lessons Edition

Good morning! Welcome back to our daily open thread. Yesterday, a friend of mine on Facebook asked people what things they’ve learned from or during this pandemic that they’d like to hold on to once life shifts to whatever “normal” is going to look like. I like this question a lot, and I tend to…

How’s It Going?: Hanging Out Edition

It’s a very rainy Monday where I am, which seems appropriate for a Monday. Welcome back to our daily open thread. I had two virtual hangouts this weekend. I hung out with a friend and some of her friends on Zoom, and I (finally) watched Parasite with some folks over Discord. (That movie is crazy! I…

I Love Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Museum

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is my first Animal Crossing game. Cartoony aesthetics, crafting, and multiple currencies usually turn me off a game, but, like many players these days, I’m finding New Horizons’ rhythms comforting. The first thing in the game to really excite me, though, has been the museum. It’s such a satisfying space to…

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

The weekend is for trying to figure out how to watch a movie at the same time as some of my friends. After a long back and forth about technology, we realized we could just call each other on the phone, the way nature intended. The weekend is also for playing video games. I woke…

In The Age Of Pandemic, Church Is Online

A few Sundays ago, as the coronavirus pandemic swelled in my town of New York City and I remained stuck home alone, I let an overnight focaccia do its second rise while I went, virtually, to church. Going out wasn’t really an option. In an effort to slow the spread of covid-19, most places where…

How’s It Going?: Outdoors Edition

It’s Thursday, which makes it almost Friday. Welcome back to our daily open thread. I live in a very crowded city, and it’s been tough not to be able to go outside much. I belong to a Facebook group for trail-runners, which a friend invited me to when I expressed interest in learning to do…

How’s It Going?: Simple Pleasures Edition

We’re halfway through the week, if time still has meaning for you. Welcome back to our daily open thread. As I wrote yesterday, I’ve been struggling to do much besides worry lately. Nevertheless, I’m trying to force myself to notice the good things that I can still access, or that this situation is bringing out.…

How’s It Going?: Productivity Edition

Hello, it’sonly Tuesday, and it’s also time for our daily open thread. I’ve been having a lot of trouble getting things done lately, a struggle I’m sure I’m not alone in. Maybe you’ve seen the memes about Shakespeare writing King Lear while in quarantine, along with all the reminders that you don’t have to write…

How’s It Going?: Neighbors Edition

It’s Monday! Welcome to another week, and welcome back to our daily open thread. Last week I was sitting on my fire escape, and I watched a dude in full knockoff Army regalia and a bright pink gas mask buy two trash bags full of horrifying, sort of zombified baby dolls from an older woman…

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

The weekend is for needing to do laundry, because I’ve hit the “all I have left are sweaters” point of staying home a bit earlier than expected. I’ve read you can do your laundry in the bathtub, so I guess I’m going to try that? That leaves lots of time for games while things soak.…

Apex Legends‘ Bloodhound Event Adds Permanent Duos Next Week

Starting next week, Apex Legends is getting a permanent Duos mode, alongside a temporary event featuring Bloodhound. Announced today, Apex Legends’ Old Ways Lore Event will run from April 7-21. According to the description, prowlers—alien beasts perhaps most memorable for scaring the crap out of me in Titanfall 2—will be loose and guarding high-tier loot.…

How’s It Going?: Podcasts Edition

It’s Thursday! Welcome back to our daily open thread. I’m not a big podcast person, but last night I listened to the “Heated” podcast, which was about what we could learn about dealing with climate change from the crisis surrounding covid-19. That doesn’t sound like a very cheerful subject, but it was nice to hear…

Uncharted 4 And Dirt Rally 2.0 Are April’s PlayStation Plus Games

Ducking in under the wire, April’s PlayStation Plus games are here. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active PlayStation Plus membership. April’s PS Plus games are Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Dirt Rally 2.0 Both games will be available to download April 7 through May 4.

How’s It Going?: Home Edition

Welcome to Wednesday. We’re halfway to the weekend! Like many of you, I’ve been spending a lot of time in my house. I live alone, which I used to really value when I saw people more often, but now it’s pretty lonely. I’m realizing that a lot of things I like about my apartment, I…

Here’s April 2020’s Xbox Live Games With Gold

April’s Xbox Live Games with Gold is a good deal for fans of racing games and RPGs. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active Xbox Live Gold subscription. April’s Games With Gold are: Xbox One Project CARS 2 (April 1-30) Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle (April 16-May 15) Xbox…

How’s It Going?: Chores Edition

Welcome to Tuesday, and welcome back to our daily open thread. I have to go to the grocery store today, which I’ve managed to avoid for the last couple weeks. I feel nervous about it, which I feel bad about (feeling a negative emotion, and then feeling bad about feeling that emotion, is one of…