Lately, my 10-year-old son started playing Dungeons and Dragons with some kids from school. Needless to say, I’m incredibly proud and happy to see a new generation continuing this great tradition. However, I recently had the chance to sit in the kitchen and eavesdrop on their session in the living room, and I have to say—they play the game very differently than my generation (Gen X) ever did. These kids are really getting into it. They leap out of their chairs every few seconds and mime everyth…

The chamber of memes has been opened

Better reading material than in the Hogwarts Library

The heavy wooden door creaks open slowly. Faint orange light spills from behind it. As the door fully opens, you stand at the entrance of a vast, ancient hall. The space is dusty and draped with cobwebs, exuding a distinct musky scent that suggests the hall has remained sealed for a considerable time. Yet, curiously, all the torches and candles remain lit. Dominating the room is a grand marble table, encircled by eight chairs. Each appears as pristine as the day they were crafted, devoid of dus…

Lumos

Have you ever worked on something for years? I mean really poured your heart and soul into it, giving it all you've got. I can tell you that, personally, I have been working on a book for the past several years and I am nearly finished. But now I am absolutely terrified of actually showing it to anyone because after putting so much work into it, I don't think I could handle any kind of rejection. It would be devastating! Well, think about J.K. Rowling , who worked on the first book for over fiv…

Just like any other Potterhead , I sometimes dream of living in the magical world that J.K. Rowling dreamed up. But unlike many Potterheads, I do not dream about meeting Harry, Ron, or Hermione; those three spell nothing but trouble. In fact, I'm not even sure I want to be a student at Hogwarts since I don't believe I would last one day in that troll-infested, cursed, and constantly endangered castle. I mean, every year it seems like something new is trying to kill the students, whether it's a…

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good...

As a lifelong Dungeons & Dragons player, there’s one artist whose work always transported me to other worlds before I ever rolled my first die—Boris Vallejo. His fantasy illustrations, with their larger-than-life heroes, mystical creatures, and surreal landscapes, ignited my imagination every time I flipped through the pages of my DnD sourcebooks. Vallejo's ability to capture the raw emotion and intensity of fantastical worlds always stood out. Whether it was a sword-wielding warrior facing a c…

A magical feast of memes

Just like any other Potterhead , I sometimes dream of living in the magical world that J.K. Rowling dreamed up. But unlike many Potterheads, I do not dream about meeting Harry, Ron, or Hermione; those three spell nothing but trouble. In fact, I'm not even sure I want to be a student at Hogwarts since I don't believe I would last one day in that troll-infested, cursed, and constantly endangered castle. I mean, every year it seems like something new is trying to kill the students, whether it's a…

Bon Appétit

Have you ever worked on something for years? I mean really poured your heart and soul into it, giving it all you've got. I can tell you that, personally, I have been working on a book for the past several years and I am nearly finished. But now I am absolutely terrified of actually showing it to anyone because after putting so much work into it, I don't think I could handle any kind of rejection. It would be devastating! Well, think about J.K. Rowling , who worked on the first book for over fiv…

The heavy wooden door creaks open slowly. Faint orange light spills from behind it. As the door fully opens, you stand at the entrance of a vast, ancient hall. The space is dusty and draped with cobwebs, exuding a distinct musky scent that suggests the hall has remained sealed for a considerable time. Yet, curiously, all the torches and candles remain lit. Dominating the room is a grand marble table, encircled by eight chairs. Each appears as pristine as the day they were crafted, devoid of dus…

Wingardiumeme Leviosa

The heavy wooden door creaks open slowly. Faint orange light spills from behind it. As the door fully opens, you stand at the entrance of a vast, ancient hall. The space is dusty and draped with cobwebs, exuding a distinct musky scent that suggests the hall has remained sealed for a considerable time. Yet, curiously, all the torches and candles remain lit. Dominating the room is a grand marble table, encircled by eight chairs. Each appears as pristine as the day they were crafted, devoid of dus…