Once considered a cult pastime, video games have grown immensely in the last 40 years to become a mainstream fixture alongside movies and music.
But you wouldn’t know it by how often players finish their games.
In fact, the attrition (or bounce rate) of video games is pretty pathetic. “What I’ve been told as a blanket expectation is that 90% of players who start your game will never see the end of it unless they watch a clip on YouTube,” says Keith Fuller, a longtime production contractor for Activision.
That’s a lot of unfinished games. Continue reading…
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I recently fell down the MapCrunch rabbit hole.
The website works like this: a “street view” from Google Maps is displayed at random. You can examine that view in detail or hit the green button to move to the next random street view. Sometimes it’s not even a street. But the result is mesmerizing, inspiring, insipid, surprising, and lackluster all at once.
As a devout traveler, here’s what I love most about MapCrunch, after spending way too much time with it than I’d like to admit: it’s proof that the world (and even oceans) are mostly flat, full of life and vegetation, usually dull, and never ceases to surprise us.
There’s beauty in that. Not as much as the more majestic and captivating land and seascapes. But still worth seeing.
Truth.
- Purchase “Buy It Once” Items That Last
- Seek Out Multi-Functional Items (not single use kitchen gadgets)
- Automate Credit Card, Savings Accounts, and All Other Bills
- Repair Items Instead of Replacing Them (Especially Cars)
- Rent/Own a Smaller Home
- Don’t Need External Validation
- Follow the “One In, One Out” Rule
- Prioritize Their Needs Over Wants
- Regularly Audit All Aspects of Their Lifestyle
- Often Work From Home
- Spend Money on Experiences Over Things
- Sell or Swap Their Unused Items
I feel fortunate to have visited 53 countries and all seven continents.
And yet I’ve only scratched the surface—just 27% % of the world’s 200 countries. Furthermore, the above map is grossly skewed. I’ve only visited 75% of America’s states. I’ve yet to visit mainland Asia and 90% of the rest of Africa. And I’ve visited just three states of USA-sized Australia.
Granted, I have no intention of visiting every country on Earth. It doesn’t take that many to realize we’re all the same and live on the most beautiful rock in the observable universe. That and I still have a lot I want to do in my own backyard, not to mention repeat trips to the places I love.
But I do hope to see at least 45 more countries and all 50 states someday. Not only does distance makes the heart grow fonder, but a change in geography is good at keeping us on our toes.
Love you, Earth.
PS—Airplanes are amazing and travel is overrated for the following reasons.
Like so many other peasants — and royalty for that matter — I owe much of my good fortune to luck and timing. And nothing has been more beneficial to my career than getting into blogging before it became blasé.
I barely made it. Continue reading…
Courtesy Shutterstock
This month, my blog turned 20 years old. After more than 2600 posts and writing almost every day for the past two decades, this is what blogging has taught me:
- How to write
- Persistence pays
- Creation is worth it (even when it doesn’t pay)
However long you’ve been with me, thank you for reading.
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Contrary to popular belief, it’s not money, career achievements, or even a healthy diet that make us happy, according to a 100 year old Harvard study. Rather, deep connections with family, friends, and community members impact our overall happiness more than anything else.
What, then, can each of us do to nurture deeper relationships? Seek out and spend more time with people who make you feel energized and excited to live. Make time for them on your calendar. When in doubt, choose them over other social invites.
As George Vaillant, a key figure from the Harvard study famously said, “Happiness is love. Full stop.” Relationships or bust!
Me standing tall in Kyoto, Japan
I was recently interviewed by a local magazine about my work as a bounty-hunting journalist, writer, and author. This is what I told them: Continue reading…
I can tell you the exact moment I quit playing video games with any kind of regularity. It was the day my first son was born. I was 32 years old.
Before that, I had played console, handheld, and “computer games” since I was four. One of my earliest memories was playing a rudimentary, Atari-like soccer game at a friend’s house on a mysterious white console that I was never able to identify.
For nearly 30 years of my life, I was what you’d call a “dedicated gamer,” following every morsel of video game news, buying and playing the latest hardware and blockbuster titles, and even becoming a full-time game journalist for six years—my first gig and beat as a lifelong writer.
And then I just quit. I’m not the only one. In fact, this “phenomenon” if you can call it that affects many adults (especially men) in their early 30s. What gives?
Here are five big reason: Continue reading…
I started binge eating last November. In the preceding two and a half years, my family was mostly vegan for health (not moral) reasons. We rarely consumed meat, dairy, desserts, or caloric drinks. Usually only once or twice a month on special occasions. My health, weight, and fitness were like clockwork, according to my annual physicals and bloodwork. I never felt better.
But then something changed. My oldest child and daughter left on an 18 month church mission to Mexico that same month. It’s been a wonderful but more difficult transition than I expected. I’m overjoyed watching her spread her wings, beliefs, and beaming face with the world. But I miss my daughter and am still adjusting to my shrinking family. Continue reading…
“Out here, there’s no-one,” says station officer William Tom, who lives and works on the Australian island for six months of the year as one of four weather forecasters for the Bureau of Meteorology. “It’s just us and 10,000 birds.”
To pass the time, Tom and his roommates run around the tiny island, snorkel a lot, and chat over ship PA’s with cruise ships passing by. Sounds fun.
I really like these 20 lessons for the 20th century, especially defend institutions, beware of one-party states, investigate, make eye contact, and corporeal politics. But these two are my favs:
- Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.
- Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.
All in all, these are great lessons from a smart man who has studied tyranny and democracy for many years.
I’m a sucker for coffee creamer. I can drink them straight from the single serving condiment cups. From over two dozen flavors, these are my favorite:
One, two, and three. Again, I can drink them straight from the condiment cups (and regularly do).
Courtesy Shutterstock
- Live below your means. If you spend less than you make, you’ll rarely experience financial stress.
- Buy needs, rarely wants. This is key to accomplishing the above.
- Follow a budget. If it’s not in the budget, make it wait. Oh, and regularly track your purchases.
- Keep an emergency fund. If you save extra, you’ll rarely experience stress over unexpected big purchases.
- Start investing early. Money doesn’t usually grow that much from month to month, but you can really see a big difference over years and decades.
- Carry no credit card debt. This is a great way to avoid paying high interest and earn hundreds of dollars a month in rewards cash or incentives.
- Have a good credit score. Pay a lot less interest for everything and be able to finance a home, car, or business loan.
- Buy a used car. This saves thousands each time. Better yet, drive it till it dies and repair it often.
- Don’t rely on a single paycheck. Look for ways to make extra money, even if that means selling things you no longer use.
- Avoid lifestyle inflation. As your income grows, avoid proportional increases in your spending habits.
Courtesy Wikipedia
Thanks for reading and sharing my latest travel clippings:
I recently returned from a two-week Australian cruise to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. It was an amazing adventure shared with my wife, sister, and brother-in-law that taught me several things. Chief among them: worth it!
Here are five lessons learned from my second trip down under:
- It’s far out (literally). Not only is Australia well out of the way (nearly 20 hours flying for me), it requires noticeably more sea days (and fewer ports) to cruise when compared to other global itineraries. Be patient with it.
- The “outer” reef is all that matters. Forget the more accessible “inner” reef. Most Great Barrier visitors come all this way… only to stop short of the real star of the show: the “outer” reef. Don’t make the same mistake even locals do (and I almost did). Heading further north and farther out to see is worth it (like underwater mountains, canyons, and trenches covered in corral and insanely vibrant marine life).
- Shore excursions and porting can be tricky. Think long tender lines, limited bookings, and tours that fill incredibly fast. You can’t book last minute tours here on the dock like they do in the Caribbean and beyond.
- Queensland resembles Hawaii. Who knew the South Pacific would look so similar!? Although the area puts off heavy Hawaiian vibes, the wildlife is dramatically different. Which brings me to…
- This continent will eat you. Dangerous animals. No swimming its beautiful beaches. Scorching sun that burns in seconds. This dazzling but harsh environment might be even more deadly than an African safari.
Lastly, with current exchange rates, everything in Australia is around 40% off for Americans right now, making it a great time to visit the otherwise costly continent. If you have the means, make it happen, cap’n!
Courtesy Shutterstock
Your schedule is packed, you’re juggling endless tasks, and you’re working overtime. But are you actually being productive?
The line between being a hard worker and overworking to the point of harm is often razor-thin, and the growing awareness of burnout and mental health is bringing this into sharper focus. While dedication and hard work are often celebrated, they can easily disguise themselves as productivity when, in reality, they may just be a front for constant busy-ness.
A 2022 report from the American Psychological Association revealed that 79% of employees identified chronic workplace stress as a major issue impacting their well-being. This troubling number indicates the widespread nature of the tendency to confuse overwork for high performance.
“What high performers understand that workaholics don’t is the importance of strategic effort,” says Dr. Ramon Velazquez, a neuroscientist at Mind Lab Pro. “Recognizing and breaking free from unhealthy work habits is key to avoiding burnout and sustaining long-term success.”
Here are five signs that you may be a workaholic, with tips on how to achieve more in less time. Continue reading…
If you want to have more friends, more fun, and more success in life, then you need to be funny.
For many people, this comes naturally. But for others like myself (why so serious!!??) you’re gonna have to learn.
Thankfully, you can learn anything in life—humor very much included. Here’s how.
- Listen carefully. Not only to how comedians and funny people say things, but what’s being said in the very conversation you’re engaged in. Being funny is mostly about wordplay, surprise, and timing, so pay attention.
- Say the opposite of what’s expected or intended. That’s called irony, which is often hilarious. That could be saying the opposite to obvious yes/no questions, using exaggerated numbers with deadpan delivery (“How many people were at the party? Around 10 million.”), or unmatched listings, (“I love peanut butter, mangoes, and anorexia.”)
- Never lose your cool. Doing so is never funny. To do this, you must accept, if not embrace your vulnerabilities and quirks. You must be self-deprecating and make fun of yourself, which makes those around you laugh and like you more.
- Tell funny stories, not jokes. The vast majority of both comedians and humans do this. You should too. Retell the funniest, real-life stories you’ve experienced (especially embarrassing ones) and people will laugh and love you for it.
- Call backs. Repeat something funny or witty that someone said earlier in the conversation. This never gets old.
Remember, if something doesn’t make you laugh, it probably won’t others. Also, never belittle or employ shock comedy. Rudeness and discomfort ain’t funny. It’s a cheap way of eliciting nervous laughter.
Courtesy Shutterstock
I’m amazed by the number of times I’ve woken from a good night’s sleep with a clear answer to a specific problem — no conscious thinking required. That could be the opening sentence to a writing assignment I didn’t know how to start, the best way to overcome a disagreement with a coworker, or how to approach a crucial conversation with a family member.
It might not make sense, but the truth is our subconscious mind can do a lot of heavy lifting (if not most of it) when it comes to solving problems. For example, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, and David Ogilvy were all big proponents of regularly resting their active minds with lots of sleep, long walks, bird watching, and frequent vacations that allowed their subconscious to sort out challenges without their actively thinking about it.
How can this be done? The latest thinking on subconscious problem solving emphasizes the following: keeping your thoughts separated in different environments (i.e. bedroom for sleep, desk for work, etc) and writing down your problems so your subconscious can recall them later. Additionally, it helps to go on outdoor walks as both forward momentum and nature encourage our unconscious minds to sort out our deepest concerns. Lastly, get a good night’s sleep, which is just as good for our cognition as it is physical energy.
How would have thunk it?
Courtesy Unsplash
As shared by Babette Hughes (not pictured), a 101 year-old author from Cleveland, Ohio:
1. Don’t ever believe you’re “done”
Some cultural ideas are good, but many are wrong. People give up on their lives much too early.
When your mind focuses on what the culture teaches us — that we’re done when we get past a certain age — it gets into our sense of self. If our sense of self says to be alone and sad and useless when we are 70, 80, 90, whatever, that’s really dangerous.
Continue reading…
Courtesy Martha Stewart
After a lifetime of believing cucumbers can only be eaten raw, I recently discovered that Asia has been cooking them for centuries. While soy, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes, and even peanuts go well with stir-fry cucumbers, you can also sauté or bake them.
Since they’re delicate and devoid of sugar, they won’t caramelize. So you’ll need to handle gently and add some extra seasonings to channel their umami.
As for me, I enjoy frying cucumbers with tomatoes, salt, dill, and a splash of oil and vinegar for a warm “Greek” salad in the winter, topped with feta or parmesan. Delicious!
Courtesy Unsplash
I’m by no means an expert at overcoming romantic strife and relationships issues. But I do know these five tricks usually get the job done:
- Soften your approach. Start from a calm, respectful place. Easier said than done when emotions runs high, but really the best way to start.
- Recognize repair attempts. These are little things that keep conflicts from escalating, such as a knowing smile, poke, inside joke, wink, or repeated phrase.
- Calm each other. Politely take a break and ask others to do the same while expressing hope you can resolve things when tempers cool.
- Compromise. Find a solution everyone can live with instead of insisting on all-or-nothing.
- Tolerate imperfection. Your lover, friend, and family member isn’t perfect, and neither are you. Accept each other’s flaws and attempts to improve.
Relationships are hard but they’re definitely worth it.
Courtesy Shutterstock
Four times a year is too frequent. Twice a year isn’t enough.
That’s the thinking behind my annual “thirdly” planning and reporting system I’ve adopted in recent years. It works like this.
First third happens from January through April, when new year excitement, growth, and determination are at their peak.
Second third takes place in the doldrums of summer (May through August), when things often slow down and people adjust to the annual hump period of the year.
Third third runs from September through December, a time when many of us recommit to hitting year end goals before finally slowing down at the end of the year.
I get it—thirds don’t sound as professional as quarters and will likely never catch on. But operating this way has simplified my year approach and worked a lot better for my professional and personal progress.
I’m confident it can do the same for you. Don’t knock it until you try it.
See also: More than just photos, rule of thirds is the balanced life
There is a one in three chance that new babies will be born into Christianity, according to global statistics. This is the highest of any faith. In the United States, there’s a 70% chance that new babies will be born into Christianity. When I was born in 1979, the odds were even higher.
But being born into Christianity and converting to Christianity are two very different things. Today I’d like to talk about both. By the end of my remarks, I hope to convert you to the idea that “converting” to Latter Day Christianity (as I call it) is far superior than being converted.
So how did I convert and how am I still converting?
1. I was lucky. Depending on which faith rules the afterlife, I was either lucky or unlucky being born into the most popular faith in the world. Let the record show I believe I was lucky. Like Nephi, the great second prophet in the Book of Mormon, I was born to goodly, devoted, and Christian parents named Brent and Cathy Snow. My mother was a homemaker of six and award-winning entrepreneur from Arizona. My father was a distinguished college professor from Idaho with the kindest eyes you’ve ever seen.
Love, laughter, books, intellectual discussion, entrepreneurship, and the near daily presence of The Holy Ghost dominated my childhood home. I knew early on that my house was different, in a good way. Some friends said I was lucky, which is only partly true. The bigger reason is that my parents lived their religion seven days a week. They upheld and instilled latter day Christianity, from baptism to daily worship, into almost everything. We often prayed together over breakfast, dinner, and bedtime. We sometimes studied the scriptures together. And we usually attended church together. Continue reading…
Courtesy Marek Piwnicki/Unsplash
My wife and I recently attended a luncheon where a local entrepreneur and philanthropist shared how he’s lost “over half a million dollars” launching 100 failed businesses.
“Those failures were incredibly painful and costly,” he said. But not all of those companies failed. After 35 years of starting real estate, consumer product, and nonprofit companies, eight of his businesses succeeded, resulting in “tens of millions of dollars in sales.”
In other words, success is the exception, not the norm. To capture it, we can’t quit until everyone in the room tells us “no.” I find this incredibly motivating.
Courtesy Shutterstock
I’ve frequented three nude beaches across three different continents. One in California—Black’s Beach, one of the biggest nude beaches in North America. Another in Argentina—Playa Escondida, which claims to be the only legal nude beach in the country. And one in Spain—Playa Morena, in a nation with no shortage of nude beaches.
After each and every visit, one truth became glaringly apparent: “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” Contrary to what you might assume, nude beach goers aren’t known for their youthfulness, physical fitness, or modelesque bodies. In my limited exposure, patrons are mostly older, often overweight, not particularly well-endowed. But they are always incredibly tan and clearly stopped caring long ago what people think.
There was one notable exception to this observation. In Argentina, I was gearing up to drop my pants, when an incredibly lithe and sunkissed American in his late 20s, rocking brunette dreadlocks touching his buttocks, raced past me with—I kid you not—two blonde beauties on either side of him. Continue reading…
This is fantastic writing by Jennifer Briggs:
“One of the most sickening feelings I get is when I have to go interview some pitcher who’s been shelled or some guy who is struggling at the free throw line or a coach who is on the verge of not being a coach. I hate to invade their pain and their anger and sometimes even their happiness.
“What does it really matter if the rest of the world knows? I think about what it would be like to have them asking me every day, “Well, how about that really thrown-together graph there at the top?” or “You wrote a good piece, Jenn, but then your headline writers let you down at the end; what does that feel like?” or “You haven’t written any good stones in the last month. Can the slump be permanent?”
Love it.
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You can literally taste the world in a glass of milk. I know. I’ve been doing it for years, picking up on the subtle differences of cows and cultures wherever I travel.
I think every lactose tolerant person should do the same. I once tried lama milk in Peru and it was the fattiest drink I’ve ever had. I will never forget that taste. Didn’t hate it. But didn’t love it either. European and Asian milk doesn’t hit the same as American milk, which I biasly think is the best dairy in the world. South American milk is just okay. Australian milk didn’t stand out either.
But this simple travel tip is about more than just milk. It’s about finding, trying, and comparing the everyday commodities we encounter throughout the world to enhance our appreciation of different ways of doing things, and why we do them differently at “home.”
It could be chewing gum, oranges, nuts, and not even just food. The point is, pick a simple everyday thing you enjoy at home that is globally ubiquitous. Then try it wherever you travel.
Photo courtesy Lindsey Snow
I recently returned from a two week expedition to Antarctica. After 10 years of travel writing, it is the greatest adventure I’ve ever been on, and my new favorite continent in terms of thought-provoking raw beauty. In fact, Antarctica gave me more pause and aroused more thoughts and feelings than any other place I’ve visited.
What did I learn while there? Here our five lessons I brought home. Continue reading…
Courtesy Shutterstock
Wanna change the world? Here are 40 mostly easy things you can do everyday to make a difference while serving those around you:
- Smile and say hi to everyone
- Help your family by doing one of their chores
- Send an encouraging note
- Deliver treats to someone in need
- Look for someone alone and genuinely ask how they are doing
- Invite friends or family to dinner and ask how they’re doing
- Always hold the door open for strangers
- Give one sincere compliment each day
- Pay for the person behind you in a fast food line or a restaurant
- Text a family member to say I love you Continue reading…
Julie from Chicago emailed this week:
Hi, Blake.
Thank you for your wonderful book, Log Off. I believe it is more relevant than ever, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, and people being addicted to AI tools, in addition to social media. (Really, to anything on the internet.)
I am a twenty-four former social media addict from Chicago, and as I grow older, I want more and more a life with less internet and technology in it. Living in the online world distorted my perception of reality too much. It is far better to spend more time offline and away from the screen.
Thank you so much for writing your book!
As I’ve said before, writers get a lot more hate mail for simple things like missed commas, differences of opinion, or just being the messenger. So it’s thrilling, delightful, and totally makes my day to get fan mail like this.
Even if it’s just one starfish at a time it’s wonderful to see how our creative efforts—in my case books and writing—are changing lives.
Three years ago, my youngest son decided to become a Dolphins fan. Our family has no ties to the city or team. But my son really likes Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa, so he started cheering for them.
This year, I surprised him with an overnight trip to watch the Fins demolish the Raiders on a beautiful, 79 degree “winter” day at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. We bonded, loudly celebrated, and had a wonderful time.
Five things stood out. First, I cannot tell you how cool it is seeing whites, blacks, Spanish-speaking latinos, and a few speckled Asians all cheering for the same team. I love whenever a common cause unites people. Continue reading…
Courtesy Marriott
My wife and I recently returned from an incredibly relaxing, four day getaway to Marriott Cancun, the company’s first of several upcoming all-inclusive resorts.
We really enjoyed the classy commons areas, cozy room, inviting pools, spectacular beach, and fresh, high quality food (such as fresh guacamole and produce).
Overall, we both felt it loved up to the Marriott name and was surprisingly affordable, making it a great value, especially if you have unused reward points lying around.
Either way, I highly recommend it for couples, families, and non-party goers alike.
Courtesy Unsplash
I recently booked a $6 Uber in a foreign city. Once it arrived, I hopped in the car. The chipper driver said “Hi,” then flipped a uey. Seconds later, he pulled over. “Did you know you were only two blocks when you booked this ride?” he asked with a smile. I did not and was pretty embarrassed by my goof.
Oops.
Had I taken a few extra seconds to see just how close my destination was, I would have saved a few bucks, not to mention my embarrassment. Thankfully I didn’t lose too much on the deal. But there are actually a lot of ways travelers routinely waste money when venturing abroad, whether domestically or internationally.
Let me count the ways: Continue reading…
Courtesy Shutterstock
A friend recently asked if I thought all screens were equally addictive. More specifically, she asked if I took issue with the amount of laptops and computers being used in classrooms today.
“Not really,” I responded. “When used correctly, computers are mostly creation and productivity machines — like F150s, hammers, or pant brushes of the digital world. They can certainly be abused. But they are excellent educational tools and workhorses that actually prepare most kids for the same amount of computers they’ll use in their careers.”
In that way, smartphones are measurably more additive. They’re mostly consumption devices that when used in excess, behave like digital depressants. Desktops and laptops, on the other hand, are often stimulants. They are better creative machines.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. I’ve written 5000 word articles with only my iPhone on an airplane, and I used to be addicted to my laptop in unhealthy ways. But the advent of smartphones more than doubled, if not tripled, the amount of soul-sucking screen abuse, by my estimation.
The always-on, bottomless, and infinite scroll handhelds we always take with us are the much larger, more depressing problem for all involved. Consequently, that’s where the majority of our focus and restraint should be on.
As we head into the holiday, I challenge each of us to set boundaries on our phones, such as gutting our notifications, deleting distracting apps, and self-imposing screen limits. It’s the best way I know to live heads up.
See also: 8 ways to conquer your smartphone obsession
Courtesy Dreamworks
I recently watched two fantastic movies in theaters. Wild Robot started a little slow but is a wonderful take on what it means to be human, adapt to changing environments, and parent. There’s even some magnificent religious undertones inside. My favorite line: “Fly like you, not like them.” Love it: 4/5 stars.
Courtesy Universal
Similarly, Conclave has even more impressive cinematography and better acting. It touches on so many themes; politics, power, corruption, ambition, gender equality, faith, doubt, mystery. I was in awe of it—best move I’ve seen all year. 4.5/5 stars.
Both come highly recommended.
This guest post is written by Iris Thieme, and I endorse everything she says.
1. Eat a large, healthy breakfast and lunch
Studies have shown greater success in weight loss when the bulk of calories are consumed earlier in the day, by waiting 4-5 hours between meals, and by waiting 12-15 hours between dinner and breakfast the next day. However, most parties and dinners happen in the evening, so on the days when there is no party, focus on eating more in the daytime and less in the evenings. Also, if your household is like mine and wants to eat non-stop from the time they get home from school until they go to bed, you might need to find other things to do to avoid joining them – brush your teeth, chew gum, eat some fruit or go for a stroll. Continue reading…
Thanks for reading (and sharing) my latest batch of stories:
In search of fresh pie, my family recently visited Village Inn, which typically bakes around 40-50 pies on site per day. The idea was to taste and rank every slice of pie they served, which is precisely what we did.
Long story short, we ate a dozen different pies, and the crusts, fillings, and award-winning freshness did not disappoint. The service from Jen (the generous store manager) and Dylan (our waiter) didn’t either.
Better yet, each big slice costs no more than $4.75-5.50. “That’s so much cheaper than the other dessert places my friends and I go to,” my teenage daughter remarked. “We’re coming here next time!”
No wonder the all-day breakfast and pie joint enjoys 4.5 stars from thousands of reviews. These were our favorite pies, ranked from best to “I’d still eat it.”
1. Country Apple
I thought Apple pie was boring until I tried this, Village Inn’s second best-selling pie. The crust was perfect—crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside where the sugary apple slices had moistened the dough. I loved it. The only pie that scored “perfect” from all seven of us.
Continue reading…
Many years ago, I read that you should never skirt around death with softening words like “he passed” or “is no longer with us.” So I’ve said death and dying ever since, as in, “He/she died.” No one has ever taken offense from it.
Nevertheless, “I think that people in America see death as a failure,” says one death doula. “Look at the language we use – “she lost her battle with cancer.” “He bravely fought his disease for many years.” Death is not something that needs to be denied or fought against, however. It is a natural part of life.”
The sooner we accept that, the better off we’ll all be.
Courtesy Disney Cruise Line
One island isn’t enough.
That’s the thinking behind Disney’s Lookout Cay, a new, three square mile private beach at the southern tip of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Made exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests traveling on 3-15 night Atlantic itineraries, Lookout Cay is a $400 million dollar, picture-perfect property in the sun-soaked comforts of the colorful Caribbean. It opened this summer to positive reviews and lots of promise.
After visiting the island myself this fall aboard Disney Magic, I gotta say: Lookout Cay is more than positive—it’s phenomenal. Not only is it the most stunning Caribbean beach I’ve ever vacationed on (having visited over a dozen), Lookout Cay is essentially Disney’s love letter to Bahamian culture and the endearing people that make the 3,000 island nation what it is today.
Why should you care? Here are five good reasons. Continue reading…
I broke my nose playing soccer last month. I headed the ball. My opponent headed my nose.
As you can see on the left, it was crooked and my left nasal passage was partially blocked, which impaired my breathing.
A few days later, I went to the doctor. After shooting up my face and nostrils with incredibly painful anesthetic shots, he re-broke my nose with a giant metal rode that he shoved up my nostrils. The pressure, proximity to my brain, and crunching bones are something I’ll never forget.
He handed me a mirror and asked what I thought. Better, but still a little crooked. He went back at it again, which was unnerving.
Moments later, he handed the mirror back, and it looked straight, albeit swollen and still with some biodegradable gauze still shoved inside (right photo). Nevertheless, I could breathe out of both nostrils for the first time in days, which was a relief.
Although the procedure was NOT fun, I’m deeply grateful for good medicine and doctors that fix me up. I nearly cried walking out of the doctor’s office but couldn’t because my face was so numb.
For the record, this was the sixth broken bone. I previously broke my left hand (football), left foot (soccer), lower back (twice; bad genes), and right ankle (soccer).
I suspect it won’t be the last bone I break either. Thankfully bones heal and doctors can set them.
This 23 year-old true but unbelievable story is a great long read. “What Johnson knows, perhaps better than anyone else, is the capability of people, given certain circumstances, to do absolutely savage things to each another. It’s a good bet that someone in that restaurant with us that day was probably wishing someone else was dead. Perhaps it was the drab little man in the corner. Or maybe it was the slightly overweight woman sitting at a table with friends. “I am always here for them,” says.” Love it.
I’ve never met a puffer I didn’t like.
Warmer, lighter, and more packable than a hoodie or traditional coats, they are the perfect everyday cold weather jacket.
The new Stretch Down 2.0 by Stellar is seriously the best puffer I’ve ever worn. At $350, it’s on the expensive side. But the stretch, matte fabric and reduced cold spots feel extra cozy and don’t swoosh as much as other puffers.
I love it.
My latest for Marriott Traveler: “If you want to get the most from your vacation, off-season travel is the way to go. Also known as “low season” travel, this trip-planning hack can help you avoid the high travel rates, low (or no) availability, long lines and bigger crowds associated with “peak” or high season.” Continue reading…
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There is a Brazilian wonder on my son Max’s soccer team. His name is Eduardo. He moves like a World Cup player. And is clearly the best on a very strong team.
But that’s not what I like most about Eduardo. More than anything else, he seemingly always makes the right decision or pass, regardless of if it’s too a weaker teammate or not. I’ve never seen him take matters into his own hands like superstart athletes often do. I’m in awe of his maturity.
It’s almost as if Eduardo has made the decision beforehand to always trust in the system and do the best he can, regardless if he’s teammates won’t always see the right play through. I admire that.
Moral of the story: you can always trust in making the best decision. You can always trust in the system, even if it doesn’t always work out. You can always trust your teammates, even if they sometimes let you down.
It’s liberating to admit that. Because trusting in the imperfect system always leads to better results that trusting in our imperfect, and smaller-sample size selves.
See also: 6 ways to be a more confident athlete
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While writing for Outside: “Let me establish my tourist bona fides before we go any further. I am a 47-year-old white man who has lived in the suburbs for the vast majority of my existence. I have spent a grand total of one week camping. I consider emptying the dishwasher to be hard labor. I don’t know how to pitch a tent, build a lean-to, start a fire without matches or a lighter, or climb any rock higher than three feet tall. I am not hardy. The only other time that Outside asked me to write for them, it was to review bathrobes, which are generally not worn outside. I own both cargo shorts and a fanny pack.” Continue reading…
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When I was in my early twenties, I was determined to make a fortune. Like everyone else my age (or at least the ones at the ambitious university I attended, aka rookies!), I viewed riches as the quick fix to happiness. So I set my sights on money over passions that excited me (which, coincidently, would actually lead to more money than just blindly chasing money — but that’s another story).
Two experiences in college, however, deeply changed my opinion, if not cliche and shortsighted approach to adulting and fulfillment. Continue reading…
Over the last decade, I’ve written and published hundreds of travel stories for CNN, National Geographic, USA Today, LA Times, Washington Post, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Expedia, Orbitz, Frommers, and Travel Weekly. For the same period, I was the weekly travel columnist for Paste Magazine, which took me to all 7 continents, over 50 countries, an equal number of national parks, and hundreds of cities.
For recent clippings, click here. For some of my personal favorites, take these:
Best of 2024
- My Journey to Antarctica with National Geographic (Paste)
- A fanny pack is the only travel bag you need (Washington Post)
- You don’t hike” Utah’s Fiery Furnace. You get lost in it. (LA Times, syndicated on Aol)
- How to keep phone service while traveling abroad (Lonely Planet)
- Sailing Scandinavia on the most “Viking” cruise in the world (Paste)
- The Grand America hotel lives up to its name (Paste)
- Hollywood basics: Tinseltown’s top attractions (Paste)
- 5 lessons learned after visiting every country (Blake Snow)
- 5 reasons to sail Greece and Turkey with Royal Caribbean (Paste)
- Eating my way through Chicago’s most famous foods (Paste)
- Why can’t I poop on vacation? 5 ways to avoid travel constipation (Paste)
- Ski resort in summer? Montage Deer Valley delivers (Paste)
- Classic Cairo: 5 Things to Know Before Visiting The Pyramids of Giza (Paste)
- 11 things to do in Las Vegas with kids (Marriott Traveler)
- Cancun, Cabo, or Vallarta: Which Mexican resort is right for you? (Washington Post)
- Eating my way through Detroit’s most famous foods (Paste)
- Garden of the Gods: I can’t quit Colorado’s top-rated park (Paste)
- Is it safe to travel outside of America? (Paste) | 5 ways to sleep on planes (Paste)
Continue reading…
Eating well is hard to do. Here are a 13 lucky food strategies I follow to keep extravagance at bay.
- Never order a cheeseburger. I said never. “But, Blake,” you ask, “Don’t you like cheese and beef?” Yes. Both are bursting with flavor. But there’s no sense overdoing it when each are good on their own. “I really wish this delicious burger had cheese on it,” said no one ever. “I really wish this grill cheese had meat on it,” also said no one ever. Pick one and enjoy.
- Hold the mayo and sour cream. Speaking of burgers, my wife and I made homemade ones over the weekend. Mine was topped with red onion, lettuce, tomato, Dijon mustard, and ketchup on a Texas toasted bun. It was a taste explosion, even without the mayo. Same goes for the tacos we had tonight. Beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, on a freshly cooked tortilla. No sour cream required. Again, sour cream and mayo are delicious, but there’s no sense in adding them to an already heavily-flavored meal. Continue reading…
