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spots of time

spots of time

@airjohnpro.bsky.social

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"voyaging through strange seas of thought, alone"

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2010-26 - texture, tension and release

My love for Taylor Swift's music. Long Live (Taylor's Version) - Speak Now (Taylor's Version) [2010 / 2023] I Can See You (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) - Speak Now (Taylor's Version) [2023]

1987-98 - the florida project

Our family relocates to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. I am 8 years old, and my brother Matthew is 3. Theme Park Adventures Theme Park Adventures

the movies of my childhood

1975-88 - no questions asked

There is an unbreakable connection to the music that fills your first car. It’s the sonic backdrop to freedom—the albums that lived on the radio dials and dominated your early CD collection. But my musical blueprint was drafted just before I ever turned a key of my own. Before I started driving, I spent hours riding shotgun with older friends. One friend, Freddie Laker, had a phenomenal music collection that introduced me to giants like The Police, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Yet, amidst all t...

1997 - a night to remember

It started with a full page ad in the Orlando Sentinel. The classic lineup was hitting the road for The Dance tour, and they were coming to the Orlando Arena. In the pre-internet era of the late 90s, securing a piece of rock history didn’t involve refreshing a browser or fighting a digital queue; it meant physical dedication. It meant setting an alarm, driving out in the dark, and camping out on the concrete. As a freshman at Rollins College, I didn't hesitate. Early on the morning the tickets w...

1986 - lookout mountain

I don't remember the exact day the tape slid into our VCR, but I know the precise moment my brother Matthew and I realized it was perfect. For a lot of critics in August of 1986, The Transformers: The Movie was a jarring shock to the system. They complained about the lack of setup. They wanted exposition; they wanted an explanation. But Matthew and I? We didn't need any of that. We loved that it dropped us headfirst into the smoke and gears of a brewing cosmic war without holding our hands. With...

1984 - snow white

I have a hazy, potentially false memory of a computer hiding in my dad’s closet before our family workstation arrived. In my mind's eye, I can still picture playing a game featuring a little cursor turtle, though I’ve never been able to find any hard evidence to prove that mystery machine actually existed. What I do know for certain is that sometime right after my fifth birthday in 1984, both the revolutionary new Apple Macintosh and the sleek Apple IIc were sitting side-by-side on the showroom ...

2001 - a walk in the woods

In just a few short weeks, Halo: Combat Evolved undergoes a personal transformation for me. It officially becomes Halo: Campaign Evolved. Looking back, Halo wasn't just a video game; it was one of those rare, definitive franchises that completely anchored my 20s. But my obsession with it actually started years before the first Xbox even hit store shelves. I’ll never forget watching the 1999 Macworld keynote when Steve Jobs proudly unveiled Halo to the world as a premier Mac and PC title. The sci...

2026 - calderone's return

For my brother, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City wasn't just a game; it was a time capsule of a world he loved. It's hard to believe it was released just one year after Grand Theft Auto III. Even though life took him away from gaming, the hype for Grand Theft Auto VI brought back that spark. He didn't make it to see the official cover reveal, but I feel his excitement reflected in every piece of it. Going back to those neon streets is going to be bittersweet. A piece of him will always belong to that...

1985 - nobody beats the wiz

If you grew up in North Jersey in the 1980s, Route 17 in Paramus wasn't just a road—it was a retail battleground. And right in the thick of it, attached to the Garden State Plaza, stood a neon-lit temple of electronics: The Wiz). The Wiz was the destination for audio gear, packed to the gills with massive receivers, wood-paneled speakers, and dual-cassette decks. While my sister and my dad were evaluating home stereos, I wandered off toward the center of the showroom floor. And that’s when I saw...

2011 - stay hungry, stay foolish

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 17, 2011 — The Final Medical Leave March 2, 2011 — iPad 2 Introduction (San Francisco)

2010 - willow weaves

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 27, 2010 — The iPad Introduction (San Francisco) April 8, 2010 — iPhone OS 4 Sneak Peek (Cupertino)