5 Cool Things from 2024

Posted on December 31st, 2024.

As 2024 comes to a close, I wanted to share some things that made a lasting impression on me this year. Some are new releases, while others are just new to me. What they all have in common is that they've each had a meaningful impact on my life, and I'd recommend them without hesitation. Here are five standouts from my year:

Balatro 🃏

Balatro is a roguelike card game that brilliantly reimagines poker. The premise is simple: progress through eight rounds, each with three "blinds", by playing five-card poker hands to beat increasingly challenging score requirements. What makes it special is the addition of joker cards, which provide unique bonuses and can be combined to create massive scoring opportunities. The joy comes from discovering new synergies and combinations you've never tried before.

As someone who's always loved Texas Hold'em, this game immediately clicked with me. It combines the familiar foundation of poker with the addictive progression of games like Cookie Clicker, where the numbers get absurdly high. What I particularly appreciate is its clean, polished art style and straightforward business model - a single purchase with no ads or microtransactions. In an era where many games feel overwhelming with flashy graphics and constant monetization, Balatro is a refreshing return to simple, engaging gameplay. Each run takes less than an hour, making it perfect for both quick sessions and extended play.

The Sopranos 🤌

This year, I finally watched The Sopranos during my recovery from foot surgery. As a fan of mob films like The Godfather and Goodfellas, I knew I'd enjoy it, but I wasn't prepared for how much more it offered beyond the typical mafia story. The show particularly resonated with me through its portrayal of Tony Soprano's struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. As someone who experiences similar challenges, seeing this depicted in a show from 20 years ago was both surprising and meaningful.

While the mob elements keep you engaged with unpredictable twists and turns, it's the deep character development and exploration of themes like mental health, family dynamics, and American life that make it truly exceptional. Those long, painful days of recovery were made much more bearable with Tony, Paulie, Christopher, and the rest of the crew.

Apple Silicon 💻

After nearly eleven years of loyal service, I finally retired my 2013 MacBook Pro this year. That laptop, which I bought before my freshman year of college, was a significant investment at ~$2,700, but it proved its worth many times over, carrying me through college and well into my professional career. Its replacement, an M3 MacBook Pro, has shown me just how far technology has advanced in the past decade.

This is the first time I've gotten my hands on a device with Apple Silicon, and it is a game changer. The most striking improvement is the battery life. My old laptop had become essentially tethered to its power cord, with its battery percentage visibly dropping in real-time. The M3, by contrast, functions more like a phone - charge it when needed, but otherwise use it freely without constant concern about power. This newfound freedom, combined with its impressive performance, has me excited about tackling creative projects that I previously might have avoided due to hardware limitations. 2025 is going to be a great year.

LMNT Electrolytes 💧

While I've always prioritized staying hydrated, this year I discovered the importance of electrolytes in daily hydration, not just during sports or recovery. After incorporating electrolyte drinks (primarily LMNT and Liquid IV) into my daily routine, I noticed an interesting shift: I'm actually drinking less water overall but feeling better hydrated because my body can retain it more effectively thanks to the balanced mineral content.

There's an interesting theory I encountered this year about historical photos and why people often looked older for their age in the past. While many factors likely contributed, one compelling explanation is widespread chronic dehydration - people simply didn't prioritize water consumption the way we do now. Whether or not this theory holds water (pun intended), I've found that intentional hydration with electrolytes has made a noticeable difference in how I feel.

ChatGPT Advanced Voice 🗣️

In a year filled with AI innovations, ChatGPT's advanced voice mode stood out as the most impressive. Unlike traditional voice assistants that often struggle with natural conversation, this feature finally delivers on the promise of truly conversational AI. It handles casual language naturally, understands context, and even responds with appropriate emotion - like laughing at jokes.

While I've experimented with various AI platforms including Claude, Gemini, and others, ChatGPT's voice feature provided the most "wow" moments. It felt like having a real conversation with another human rather than carefully formatting queries for a computer. Though the $20 monthly subscription might not be worth it for extended use, I recommend checking it out for a compelling glimpse into the future of human-AI interaction. Just note that if you're interested in trying something similar for free, there's Google Gemini's voice feature, but it is garbage compared to OpenAI's implementation.