The Last Thoughts of a Busy Mind

During the war between Iran and Israel, oftentimes Iranians were reduced to a monolith of ideals, ethnicities and even culture. It's a view that is prominent outside of Iran, and sadly it's even prominent inside of Iran. The idea that Iran as a whole is a unified set of beliefs and cultures is one that's pushed even by our government (then and now). It can't be farther from the tru...

In this episode, we're meeting once again in person to sit down and talk in depth with Noora. We met each other while I was "cosplaying" as Santa, and then later... some other time... we think? Though we have had other connections that have made us to meet each other more and get closer with time. Noora is an artist, and has been from a very early age, so our talks inevitably went in...

When one reaches the end of an era, one has to look at one's contributions and works in that era and come to a conclusion: was the past showing signs of discontent or contentment? What happened in a season that its arrival was under the influence of its number? Was the unlucky aura of "13" enough of a curse on the season to bring about the end of one's own desires and wants regar...

Sometimes one needs a jolt of something to bring about all the things that one has lost. Sometimes, a great experience in a less-experienced field can have extraordinary effects on one who needs to jumpstart to their life. Sometimes, that great experience is "The Age of Decadence", a CRPG who boasts its social interactions and focus on more-dialogue based events rather than pure combat r...

Some people revel in the heroism of their fictional avatars. They embody themselves as the moral good of the story in the interactive world they inhibit. But that is not true for everyone. Sometimes one wants to be the imoral one, the thief, the villain... and it's also about the Iran-Israel war which is why this episode is a month late. Email me at: ContactAKhamseh88@gmail.com

The name "Timeline Up" will mean nothing to most, but will mean something to few. To those few, the name "Timeline Up" is evoking the true nature of a guilty pleasure, or a sunken treasure of their finances, or just a repetitive and easy-to-play mobile game which barely qualifies outside of the purview of "auto-play". For one, it is the herald of everything that is wr...

There are so many pieces of art in the world, that to experience all of them require almost infinite lifetimes. With such a vast world, it is understandable that some will fall through the fingers of anyone trying to capture all. Sometimes, that is one of the beloved games of its genre. Sometimes, that is "Prey" (2006 - the original one). To understand "Prey", is to understand...

There are, sometimes, projects so massive and so expansive, that it becomes a beacon of hope for those who enjoy such projects, but also becomes a barrier of entry for those who REALLY want to enjoy those projects, but are extremely threatened by their lack of explanation. When such projects lack the necessary starting steps to guide one in, one can lose in some amazing and unforgettable experienc...

With one week of unplanned break, one returns to discuss yet another video game, and this time the subject matter is that of piracy. But not the cool piracy of the modern era in which softwares are shared with the masses, but the brutal piracy of the 19th century, in which Blackbeard and Henry Morgan thrived. This is the world in which Sid Meier (of "Sid Meier's Civilization" fame) has set his sem...

In Switchblade City, the Aces used to fight crime, but that was a long time ago. Now, the city is filled with gangsters and crime lords, each trying to carve up sections of it for their own desires. In this city, one has to learn to fight to survive and use everything in their line of sight to fight, and that is the exact situation that "Fallen Aces" puts one in. Made by New Blood Intera...

When the courier walks through the ruins of Mojave, dealing with the intricate balances of power near Hoover Dam and the bustling city of New Vegas, it's hard not to want to continue their story further and further. Thankfully, the brilliant minds in Obsidian Entertainment decided to do continue the journey of the courier, even outside of Mojave and the confines of New Vegas. So, it's time...

When the courier walks through the ruins of Mojave, dealing with the intricate balances of power near Hoover Dam and the bustling city of New Vegas, it's hard not to want to continue their story further and further. Thankfully, the brilliant minds in Obsidian Entertainment decided to do continue the journey of the courier, even outside of Mojave and the confines of New Vegas. So, it's time...

In October of 2281, a courier near the town of Goodsprings got a bullet to the head by a casino owner named Benny. That was the catalyst that started the wonderous and amazing tales to befall Mojave and the city of "New Vegas", built on top of the ruins of Las Vegas. And all of that is contained in one extremely well-made package called "Fallout: New Vegas". One of the best gam...

When one spends too much time within an activity, sometimes one gets ideas and daydreams of creation within that activity. Sometimes one even goes forward and start brainstorming a prototype of that creation. Sometimes, that creation is a concept for a board game about Greek mythology, centered around a creator who saw his creation come to life: Pygmalion. Sometimes, one is oblivious to the irony...

Nowruz is the Persian new year, and can be translated literally as "new day". It's the harbinger of new things to come and a goodbye to all that was left behind. So, much like any other new year, it brings with itself some introspection and some resolutions. Possibilities seem endless. Severance, on the other hand, is an Apple TV+ tv show about a rigid system in which any acts to cha...

When one finally sits down and crosses off an item off of an overly robust "to-do" list, it fills one with pride. Pride over a job well done, and drive to keep that sense of pride alive and relevant. So, in pursuit of that feeling and that drive, one will try to look at the other items on that overly robust "to-do" list and plan to achieve them one by one. Coinciding that with the end of a tumultu...

When one is feeling the familiar feelings of sickness, it might be appropriate to conjure up memories and thoughts of the last feelings of sickness. It feels like a poorly planned and poorly received sequel to an already unpopular project, but such is the vice and the draw of sickness, and the loss of health. It will become even more dramatic when that return to sickness is coinciding with the sta...

In this episode, we're meeting in person as I sit down to talk with one of my oldest friends with almost 20 years of history, Kiarash. We met each other in elementary school, and despite our lives taking different shapes and different paths, we have remained friends. With such a rich history between us, and similar interests like fantasy (now!) and mythology, we got closer in school and remain...

Sometimes, things are so out of control that one needs to take all that one can and hope not to lose grasp of life itself. So, when one is nearing the point of giving up, or circling it, or landing on it, then it might be of some use to look forward. When one cannot fathom the idea of looking at one's life in its current form, maybe looking up from the ground and looking forward might help, ev...

When one has to deal with a chronic mental state for a long period of time; it seems therapeutic, if not a little cold-hearted, to celebrate the first time those chronic mental states showed their symptoms to one. When that fateful days comes once more, looking back can give a perspective of one's failures and successes, one's misfortunes and fortunes, one's life and its many facets. W...

The year 2024 has come to an end, for better and for worse... It was for better, for sure! With the end of the year coming, and a new year beginning, it's a good time to go back to the year that was just passed and view it through the eyes of the plans one had written for this year, what actually transpired through the year, and what will happen in the next year if one could plan it all out from t...

The year 2024 has come to an end, for better and for worse... It was for better, for sure! With the end of the year coming, and a new year beginning, it's a good time to go back to the year that was just passed and view it through the eyes of the plans one had written for this year, what actually transpired through the year, and what will happen in the next year if one could plan it all out from t...

Thus comes the end of 2024, and with it comes the realization of the myriad of projects that one has to endure. From hobbies to long forgotten dreams to lofty goals with great chances of missing, there's an avalanche of self-inflicted projects that one has to deal with on a daily basis. So, sometimes it can help one's mind prowess to map out those projects and see how one can deal with them one by...

Video games can give extraordinary experiences to people who play them. They can uplift and they can give joy, but they can also trigger introspection and self-discovery. "We. The Revolution", the 2019 Strategy Political Sim from Polyslash, is such a game. Though not overly complicated in style, it's narrative design can make you look back on your own actions and ask, sincerely and thoughtfully: A...

There are times when nothing seems to work, and everything becomes a massive mess of mismanaged time, physical fatigue, and emotional and mental degradation. When that whirlpool hits, sometimes one is not equipped to deal with it, and the usual safeguards seem shakier and less safe than before. In times like that, one can feel overwhelmed and weak, and as it spirals down into more and more chaos,...