All of 2023's biggest events and my informative commentary on what you need to remember. I have never been known for my nuanced takes on the world's ever-changing geopolitical climate, but maybe you'll learn something along the way. Sound off in the comments below if you think I missed any huge moments from the year.
You can circle this date as the official end of my childhood (I was 25). Tom Brady gave us all so much and we were truly blessed to witness his greatness – nothing that I write here will do him justice. The NFL is pretty empty without him and I honestly think I should have just retired alongside him. It will never be that good again so what is the point. I will live in the good ole days forever.
I am not here to whine and complain but this was a pretty monumental moment in the 2023 landscape. I was doing some pull-ups (no big deal) and was trying to get frisky with some drop-catch variations where you release the bar at the top and then catch yourself on the way down (thanks Bessette). Well needless to say I whiffed on the catch and landed on my right wrist. It was pretty useless for like a week but wasn't overly swollen or anything so I figured it would just kinda sort itself out. Well it is now December and it still hurts a bit whenever I have to push off of it. If this publication reaches any doctors, please hit my line. But at this point I have just accepted my fate of having a bum wrist. Thems the breaks.
Longtime fans know I'm as big of a Swiftie as they come and what a year it was for me and Taylor! The Eras Tour was an absolute tour de force across the USA where Taylor took a victory lap spanning her entire career. I was not one of the lucky ones to see her live in concert but you better believe I will be showcasing The Eras Tour Movie during our family Christmas Eve celebration. Taylor started dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and I drafted Travis to all 3 of my fantasy football teams.
Honestly I think the UK's succession plan is pretty bogus. King Charles is an old bag who pretty much just sucks? I will no longer be respecting the crown in 2024. Long live the QUEEN!
Not much to say here that wasn't already said at the time. I don't want to rub dirt in the wound but I'd like to point out one of the main tenets of my life – Do not mess with the ocean. Nothing good ever happens in open water and it is my promise to you that I will stick to land. (I can't swim).
Voting against forgiving student loans is the absolute hater move of the year. The Supreme Court needs a rework, I can't have these seat-for-life haters accepting bribes on the side then refusing to give me 10k. "But Brian nothing is free, you'll just be paying for it with taxes" I don't care nerd, eat a bug. Everyone I know thinks cancelling student loans would be pretty neat so that is the economic/political take I will side with. I graduated on a zoom call in 2020, didn't learn a single thing in my online senior year math classes AND I still have to pay my loans? Tough look.
My personal favorite day of the year. We really didn't know what we had in the summer of 2013. The sequel to the hall of fame classic Grown Ups 1 was released featuring exhilarating new shenanigans with Sandler and the gang. It culminates with an all time Lenny "Hollywood" Fader homecoming 80s-themed bash where he and the OG townies best the local college frat boys in a brawl. It isn't quite up to the standard that the original Grown Ups set (no movie ever will be), but it is still a landmark achievement in 21st century cinema. Shaq, Stonecold Steve Austin, David Spade's scary kid - it has all the familar fan favorites with none of the multiversal Marvel BS. Sandler Forever.
Ah, yes the movies that captured the hearts and minds of us all during the dog days of summer. Hand up, I haven't seen either. Sue me if you must! I will definitely be watching Barbie during my holiday downtime, hot Gosling and Robbie - you really can't beat that (unless Emma Stone was Barbie, real ones know). Oppenheimer is cool and all, great history, bomb science but I just really can't get on board when they refused to cast Paul Giamatti as Albert Einstein. They literally had hours of footage of Verizon Commercial Giamatti Einstein then casted a nobody. If I wanted a history lesson without Giamatti I'd simply listen to We Didn't Start the Fire.
Imagine telling your buddies you saw a "post" on "X". I'd rather die. Moving away from the iconic blue bird is such a dumb move by Elon Musk, who is really just the worst brand of rich guy. Smart (I guess) but also thinks he is funny and cool (he's not). How about we perfect AI driving Elon so I can play angry birds during my morning commute. Would be a lot better use of your time than throwing away a decade's worth of brand recognition and equity. @bvduck3 on Twitter if you would like to follow.
Olivia Rodrigo is great, I love her music and what she is all about but I can't help to feel a bit old when I tell people I'm a fan so I generally play it close to the vest. Guts is her second studio album and while I don't like it quite as much as Sour it still comes with some bangpieces. Love is Embarrassing and Get Him Back! easily the top two songs on the album. She is touring in Boston in April so hopefully I have a cool GF to go with by then because it doesn't feel like the proper scene for a 26 year old me and the boys. Great music though.