Tag: stephen king
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Bookstores, The World Has Moved On, Part 12 — March 24, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE There was a time when I was a teenager that I was convinced I would meet my future wife in a Waldenbooks. I’d be doing what weird teenage me often did – wandering the narrow aisles of the mall-encapsulated bookstore – and there she would be, contentedly paging through a classic or…
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Power Ballads: The World Has Moved On, Part 11 — February 27, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE I have long said that I am my music. Want to know how I’m doing? Check out what I’ve been listening to recently on Spotify. The science hippies are finally waking up to the truth I’ve known all along — we are our music. Our heart rates, our brainwaves, our motor systems…
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Letters: The World Has Moved On, Part 10 — February 5, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE I can’t remember the last time I received a letter in the mail. Now, of course, part of that is because I have very few friends, locally or otherwise. And then there’s the fact that I am most definitely the Black Sheep of the Family. So the odds of anyone taking the…
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Newspapers: The World Has Moved On, Part 9 — February 4, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE The news today that The Washington Post is cutting a third of its newsroom, including its entire sports department, has left me sad. It’s not that such a blood-letting was unexpected, nor is it the most severe in the history of the profession I once loved. It’s that it’s happening to The…
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The Internet: The World Has Moved On, Part 8 — February 3, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE The Internet sucks. That it has gone from “Holy cow! This is cool!” to “Holy shit! This is annoying!” in the span not only of my lifetime but my adulthood makes me feel both old and sad. Old, because I can honestly say that the world has moved on from the OG…
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Arcades: The World Has Moved On, Part 7 — February 2, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE Somewhere in Columbus, Ohio, a Galaga arcade game stands in a hotel arcade and carries my initials in Position #1 under “High Scores.” Or, at least, it did when I checked out of the hotel sometime back in 1980s following my aunt’s wedding. I would imagine the game, if not the hotel…
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Navigating: The World Has Moved On, Part 6 — January 30, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE I quite convinced that if we took members of today’s generation, brought them back to May 14, 1804, and said, “Today’s generation, meet Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark, meet today’s generation. They are going to be your navigators,” we never would have heard of Lewis and Clark. They would have been…
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Sports Lines: The World Has Moved On, Part 5 — January 25, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE I met Michael Spinks when I was a 13-year-old boy. If you remember that name at all, it’s likely for getting his head nearly knocked off by an in-his-prime Mike Tyson on June 27, 1988. That GIF, above? That’s not Spinks receiving brain damage at Iron Mike’s hands, yet it’s a reasonable…
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Peeing: The World Has Moved On, Part 4 — January 24, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE Boy The Elder was but a toddler and had little use for his father. Oh no. Mommy was all the rage. Wifey Poo could not go anywhere without sobs from BTE, coupled with incessant wails of “I want Mommy!” The only thing I, as the aforementioned father, could find that would placate…
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Sundays: The World Has Moved On, Part 3 — January 23, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE I was a lad of about 10 years when I was bit in the butt by Muricah’s Christian heritage. I was in the midst of a two-week stay at Rich Martin’s All-Star Baseball Camp on what I think was the campus of Rutgers University but it might have been some other New…
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Internet Accessibility: The World Has Moved On, Part 2 — January 22, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE Well, here was are at Part 2 of The World Has Moved On (links to the Overview and Part I are below) and we’re already going in for the kill with a topic as massive as The Internet. Buckle up. The internet is not a bad thing. It’s not a good thing.…
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Albums: The World Has Moved On, Part 1 — January 21, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE You pick up a book from your favorite author and plop down in your favorite chair to start reading. Naturally, you turn to Chapter 10 and dive right in. Wait, what? Of course that doesn’t make sense. Rattled at your stupidity, you put the book down and grab the remote. Everyone’s been…
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The World Has Moved On, An Overview— January 20, 2026
THE DAILY UPDATE It’s a quiet Tuesday morning in Foristell, Missourah, my hometown of the past several years. My drive to work was one of those in which you know you set out from your house, you know you arrived at a different place, but whatever happened on the way is something of a mystery.…
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Serious Questions — August 21, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Face Down🎶Dreams Death🌜Terminal Sadness😢 THE DAILY UPDATE Three Things I Am Grateful For Today: Pursuit of Wordle Godhood: Today’s result: Six. Phew. Saved it. Wordle 1,159 6/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pursuit of Connections Godhood: Today’s result: Fail! This was the worst I have ever done. ConnectionsPuzzle #437🟨🟨🟦🟨🟨🟪🟦🟨🟪🟦🟪🟪🟨🟨🟨🟦 The song in my head when…
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Grief Sleeps — August 9, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Cry🎶Sporting Chance🏀Book Line😢 THE DAILY UPDATE Three Little Things To Notice and Be Grateful For: Pursuit of Wordle Godhood: Today’s result: Five. I’ll take it. Wordle 1,147 5/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pursuit of Connections Godhood: Today’s result: Six. I have never heard of exponent being used in that way. ConnectionsPuzzle #425🟨🟨🟨🟨🟦🟦🟦🟦🟩🟩🟪🟩🟩🟪🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟪🟪🟪🟪 The song…
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Josh — July 23, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Call Me🎶Angel💔Road Trip🚗 THE DAILY UPDATE Three Little Things To Notice and Be Grateful For: Pursuit of Wordle Godhood: Today’s result: Savin’ it at six. Wordle 1,130 6/6 ⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pursuit of Connections Godhood: FAIL for the second day in a row. Grrrrrr. ConnectionsPuzzle #408🟨🟨🟨🟨🟦🟦🟦🟦🟪🟩🟩🟩🟩🟪🟩🟩🟪🟪🟩🟩🟪🟪🟩🟩 The song in my head when I…
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Cooped Up — April 2, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Run-Around 🎶Hard-Knock Life 🪨Irritating 🐛 THE DAILY UPDATE Three Things I’m Grateful For Today: Pursuit of Wordle Godhood: Today’s result: Four again. Wordle 1,018 4/6 🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Pursuit of Connections Godhood: Perfecto! And probably the fastest I’ve ever done one of these. ConnectionsPuzzle #296🟨🟨🟨🟨🟩🟩🟩🟩🟪🟪🟪🟪🟦🟦🟦🟦 The song in my head when I woke…
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Sopranos Truth — March 1, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩The Maine 🎶Walgreens 💊Therapy 💩 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Everything I Ask For,” The Maine Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Oh she makes me feel like shit/It’s always something/But I can’t get over it/She thinks it’s…
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Leap Day — Feb. 29, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Sober 🎶Tijuana 👩🏽⚕️Humbled By Time 📅 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “When You’re Sober,” by Evanescence Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: You want me, come find me/Make up your mind Commute Tunes: A kinda angsty musical selection…
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The Big Hook — Feb. 28, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Joy 🎶Water Sounds💧Glove Love ⚾ THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Don’t Let Me Down,” by Joy Williams Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Crashing, hit a wall/Right now I need a miracle/Hurry up now, I need a miracle/Stranded,…
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Writers vs. Editors — Feb. 27, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Angels Song 🎶Dan 💪Editors ✏️ THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Anthem of the Angels,” Breaking Benjamin Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Days go on forever/But I have not left your side/We can chase the dark together/If you…
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Buh-Bye, Netflix — Feb. 26, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩My Friends > You 🎶Fish Farts 🐟💨No More Netflix 📺 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “My Friends Over You,” by New Found Glory Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: You were everything I wanted/But I just can’t finish…
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Suit Shopping — Feb. 25, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩It’s Not Over 🎶True Strength 🤐Suit 🧑💼 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “It’s Not Over,” by Daughtry Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: This love is killing me, but you’re the only one/It’s not over Shower Sounds: No…
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Anne Lamott — Feb. 24, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Ashes of Eden 🎶Optimus Prime 🚚Storytime 📖 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Ashes of Eden,” Breaking Benjamin Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Are you with me after all/Why can’t I hear you/Are you with me through it…
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Not OK — Feb. 23, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Crawl 🎶World Traveler 🌎Lonely 😔 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Crawl” by Breaking Benjamin Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Show me where it hurts/And I will make it worse/Are you holding on?/Keep holding on Commute Sounds: No…
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Pain in the Neck — Feb. 22, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Tay-Tay 🎶New Book📖Chiropractic Assault 🦴 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “I bet John lies about the songs he wakes up with in his head,” says you. “Oh really? Is that what you think? Here’s the song I woke up with today: Taylor Swift’s Love…
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Bad Game — Feb. 21, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Heart in a Blender 🎶Artificial Intelligence🧐Hoops Disaster🏀 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Inside Out,” by Eve 6 Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Wanna put my tender heart in a blender/Watch it spin ’round to a beautiful oblivion/Rendezvous,…
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Square Peg — Feb. 20, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Fast Car 🎶Car Spy 🛻Here 😔 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Fast Car,” by Tracy Chapman Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: City lights lay out before us/And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder/And I had…
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Dick Ducks — Feb. 19, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Daylight 🎶DoorDash Date 🍔Duck Thugs 🦆 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Daylight,” by Shinedown Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: It’s amazing what the hard times can reveal/Like who shows up, who walks away, and who’s for real/So…
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Missing Mixtapes — Feb. 18, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Failure 🎶Living Eulogies🎤Mixtapes📼 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Failure” by Breaking Benjamin Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: Tired of feeling lost, tired of letting go/Tear the whole world down, tear the whole world down/Tired of wasted breath,…
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Friends — Feb. 17, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Going Home 🎶Dumb Workplace 🧑💼Hanging Out 👫 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “I’m Going Home” by Daughtry Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: The miles are getting longer, it seems/The closer I get to you/I’ve not always been…
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Suicide — Feb. 16, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Father & Son🎶COP28 🍃Suicide😢 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Father & Son” by Cat Stevens Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: I was once like you are now, and I know that it’s not easy/To be calm when…
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Carry On — Feb. 14, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Someone You Loved 🎶Horny Marketing 🍑Carry-On Concerns 🎒 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain/Now the…
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He Doesn’t Get That — Feb. 13, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Rainbow 🎶Particle Smashing 🔬He Gets Us ✝️ THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: It’s hard to breathe when all you know is/The struggle of stayin’ above the risin’ water…
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Not OK Right Now — Feb. 12, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Lifetime 🎶Eye Conditions 👁️The Ultramarathon Man 🏃 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “Lifetime,” Three Days Grace Favorite line from the song in my head when I woke up: You showed me the way when I was lost and alone/But you never really showed me…
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Two-Hour Nap — Feb. 11, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Sad Songs 🎶Sly The Philosopher🥊Nap 😴 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “One Last Breath,” Creed (Ever since I was a little boy, I would wake up with a song running through my head. Here I will list the songs I wake up with, if…
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New John — Feb. 10, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Death Cab 🎶An Ouch Song ❤️New Vs. Old 🎤 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” Death Cab for Cutie (Ever since I was a little boy, I would wake up with a song running through my head. Here…
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The Road to ‘Yes … and’ — Feb. 9, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Breaking 🎶Love Anyway ❤️Why Improv🎤 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: Today’s song? “Breaking Inside” by Shinedown (Ever since I was a little boy, I would wake up with a song running through my head. Here I will list the songs I wake up with,…
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Small Ear Canals — Feb. 8, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Punk 🎶Crypto-explainer ₿Real Marriage👂 THE DAILY UPDATE The song in my head when I woke up: Today’s song? “Blurry” by Puddle of Mudd (Ever since I was a little boy, I would wake up with a song running through my head. Oftentimes, the song didn’t even wait until I woke up.…
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Hoops Coaching — Feb. 7, 2024
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Get-Up Motivation 🌞Intellectual Property 🧠Hoop Dreams 🏀 I’ve decided to try something new in The Puzzle Known As Life. Not sure why. This section of my site has always been about just sort of trying to figure things out, so it makes sense that it would evolve over time. Let’s get…
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Finishing — March 14, 2023
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Books and Stories 📚SVB Lessons 🏦Basketball Party 🏀 Holy crap, you guys! I actually finished something I wrote! In fact, I finished two somethings I wrote! As my regular readers (hey you three!) know, I’ve been stunk in a funk of starting to write books and short stories with gusto and…
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Fifty Intentions for 2023
Welcome to Issue No. 15 of Listicles, the feature that presents the Top 10, Top 5, Top 3, Top 100 or Top 1,000,000 of whatever it is you want to know about. Email your Listicle suggestions to johnagliata@gmail.com. So last year, I had a list of 100 intentions for 2022, and I did fairly well,…
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Fairy Tale — Nov. 9, 2022
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Stephen King 🕮Legal Weed🌿Public Schools🏫 I read my first Stephen King book when I was in high school. It was summer, if I remember correctly, and everywhere I went, I carried a worn library copy of Pet Sematary. Since that time, King’s words have been a regular companion through every stage…
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Sandwich Artist — May 24, 2022
🧩 Today’s Puzzle Pieces 🧩Subway Obsession😞Guard Dog 🐶Chainsaw John🪓 Every child is peculiar in his or her own way. It’s an early indication we all should recognize that none of us is normal. We’re all weird. And that’s OK. Boy The Younger has always had his peculiarities. As a small child, he was fascinated with…