2021 in review

A new year is always a good time to review the past year. Funny how this is already the 12^th year I’ve done this kind of quick review… Time sure flies.

2021 Non-Geek Achievements

0. Started strength training using a strength coach from Kabuki.

   I got inspired by the book Peak that makes the case for the efficiency of having an experienced coach guide your skill development, and I decided to try out the virtual coaching. I get help with designing a program and checking my form and so far it’s been great.

1. Wrote 8 blog posts.

2. Started the re-read of The First Law series and the other books in the universe.

   The stand-alone books Best Served Cold and The Heroes are seriously great (haven’t gotten to Read Country yet).

2021 Geek Achievements

0. I self-published a book!

   

1. Got funding for BitPal, an open-source project I’ve been working on.

2. Wrote a bunch of Rust.

   Bought a bunch of Rust programming books too, but the only one I’ve read yet is Programming Rust, which was very good.

3. Wrote a lot of Elixir.

   Also read a bunch of Elixir books. Elixir in Action was fantastic.

4. Wrote some C, Python, Typescript and probably something else too.

5. Started using a (very) custom keyboard layout on a 34-key split keyboard.

   

6. Did some web design.

   The book The Non-Designer’s Design Book is great for design-fledglings like me.

Boardgames I remember

• Vital Lacerda is famous for designing thematic and very complex Eurogames. Some hate them, others maintain that they’re the best things since sliced bread, and I lean towards the latter.

  I bought and played three of them:

  0. On Mars is very complex with a lot of rules (it took me ~30 min to explain them, even though I skipped a bunch and came prepared). Still, it’s an absolutely amazing game and it was the highlight of the year for me.
  1. The Gallerist is also on the complex side, but I still find it very approachable. Also an amazing game and it’s right up there with On Mars for me.
  2. I only played Vinhos once. While it’s undoubtedly a very good game, it has taken a step back compared to the two other Lacerdas. I’d like to play it more.

• Food Chain Magnate is easily one of my favorite games of all time, and I got to play a game with the new milestones from the Ketchup expansion. And what can I say? It was great, and if you want more variation to the game the expansion is fantastic.

• My kid is now 4 years old and at long last he’s old enough to play some decent board games. Both me and him liked Animal Upon Animal and Rhino Hero, which are fun enough to play with adults as well!

New mangas/manwhas I remember

• Tired of unoriginal OP MCs? Want a smart MC and clever story?

  Then SSS-Class Suicide Hunter or Omniscent Reader’s Viewpoint might be for you! (I hear the light novels are amazing too.)

• Maybe you still want awesome action, but avoid the common tropes?

  Then check out Legend of the Northern Blade.

• Perhaps your thing is regression stories?

  I loved The Beginning After the End and Volcanic Age.

• Or a satisfying combination of fighting and humor?

  Murim Login is half-part hilarity and half-part awesomeness.

2021 Failures

0. My book project wasn’t completely finished.

   I still need to finish the e-book and make it available for sale.

1. Did not advance BitPal into a useable state.

   This is my open source cryptocurrency payment processor I’ve been working on. Unfortunately, it’s still not in a state where I’d be comfortable for others to use. Apart from the missing documentation, the web interface is still work-in-progress and there are some breaking changes to the API I’d like to make.

Plans for 2022

0. Be with my kids.

   They’re in a lovely age right now.

1. Finish my book project for real.

   This includes making the e-book, some blog posts about the process, integrate with BitPal to sell digital copies and everything else to completely wrap-up the project.

2. Exercise & health focus.

   • I will eat healthier.
   • I will continue working with my strength coach.
   • I will exercise up to 5 days a week (weight lifting + grappling).

(I’m working on converting these to SMART goals. We’ll see how that goes, maybe I’ll make another post about them, but maybe not.)