New blog name and plan of attack

My first year as a PhD student is quickly wrapping up…a little too quickly considering the workload I have left. But I thought I’d write a brief post to let people know (1) I’m still alive after somehow surviving my first Michigan winter, and (2) I plan to revive this blog to early 2008 levels [...]

Strangled creativity?

I haven’t blogged much since starting my PhD studies. In large part, this has been due to my busy schedule and, in general, adjusting to a new and very different lifestyle. But I don’t think that’s the only reason. I’ve been feeling less creative lately. Maybe my head is overcrowded with everything else I’m trying [...]

Meaningful Play @ MSU

Just a quick note for anyone in the East Lansing area who’s interested in video games: MSU is hosting a conference through Saturday titled Meaningful Play. I’ll be speaking today (Friday) at 2:30pm, offering a synopsis of Pew Internet’s recent report on teens’ gaming habits. So come out and let’s talk about who has the [...]

Learning the rules (the hard way) in WoW

When I moved to Michigan last month, I decided that one way I could bide my time while waiting for school to start would be by checking out World of Warcraft. Not only am I an avid RPG fan going back 20 years to the days of the original Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy, but [...]

I’m baacckkkkk!

Okay, so I took a two-month break. Sue me. I was enjoying every precious second I had left in the glorious city of DC. Now I am living in the less-than-exciting state of Michigan (although it has yet to become the icy wasteland I previously predicted). On the bright side, school has begun and I’m [...]

Picture of the Day: Oh my, I think I have an admirer!

Thanks to haha.nu for posting this love letter that is obviously being sent to me. To answer my new boyfriend’s questions: 1) It is never too early to start holding hands, as long as you keep your eyes on my face. And as long as you don’t have a sweat problem. I can’t stand it [...]

Giving in and getting even more social

I have already admitted my “problem” (aka obsession) with social media, especially via the Internet, and how I how decided to embrace the social aspect of the current trend in interaction. In the last 24 hours, I have taken two (one small, one big) steps to make myself even *more* social than I already am. [...]

“World of Wifecraft” puts men in their place

In the spirit of such spoof videos as Facebook in Reality, here is a hilarious video about using World of Warcraft to help men better communicate with their wives. My favorite quote: “Do you know what it’s like to be killed by a level 70 and then spend the next 20 minutes scrambling around looking [...]

Dear blog, sorry I’ve been neglecting you. Be back soon. Love, Vitak

Between the break I (more than) earned after completing my thesis and the subsequent arrival of my Wii (along with four new games to beat!), I have had little time or motivation to feed my blog beast. So I apologize to my *massive* viewing audience (cough cough), who hangs on my every word. I hope [...]

Take that, master’s thesis, I totally kicked your ass

I have received the official Grad School signoff on my master’s thesis, which can mean only one thing: I am done! Done done DONE! Well, at least I’m done until August, when I begin my PhD studies at Michigan State. Six long months of research; checking and rechecking out books from the library; creating, disseminating, [...]