I write and stuff

It has been much more than a month since I downloaded Hinge, but I've been mega procrastinating on this post. I will be still writing this post from the perspective of one month later, and then after that there is a possibility of me adding a part three. Let's start with the stats from my data. Hinge allows you to download data, which you can then upload onto some websites that visualize it for you. I downloaded my data after a month, and while I suspect it's not entirely accurate, there are some pretty interesting statistics to note. So over the month from Jul 4 2026 to Aug 4 2026, I interacted with 346 people, coming out to 11.2 a day, leading to 38 matches (10.98% rate). Out of these, I recieved 16 likes, leading to 7 matches (43.75%), and I sent 330 likes, leading to 31 matches (9.39%). After my first date with K, I went on two more dates, with J and L. L's profile was actually one I came across pretty early on, but I remembered her because I thought her profile was...

 So I just got back from my first hinge date. I've got a lot of thoughts, and a lot of people who I think want to know what happened, so I figured it would be easier to just write up a little blog post/journal entry about it instead of having the same conversation like five times haha. First, some context. I had been thinking about making a Hinge profile for a while, but I finally did it during July fourth weekend. Me and fifteen other friends from my college dance club had rented out an Airbnb for the weekend, and I ended up getting a little drunk and letting them make my profile for me. We started scrolling my hinge on the TV, and I eventually paid twenty bucks for Hinge+ just so I could have unlimited swipes. Honestly, it was really addicting just sending likes to a bunch of beautiful women, and I was pretty addicted for a few days. I got a few matches and a few likes within the first few days, but I didn't talk to the first few very much. I started up a conversation with my...

About a month ago, I got an email from my 18 year old self telling me to read Solanin, the manga by Inio Asano. It reads as follows: Dear the (hopefully) post grad Nathan, Read Solanin, the manga by Inio Asano you read on 2/20/2021, and see what you think of it. Maybe even look back on that short reflection you wrote (on blogger). I think it'll probably hit different once you start to live that post college life. Maybe you could even look back on that myanimelist account you had. link here, if that website is still around: https://myanimelist.net/profile/wolfang135 From, the currently first year at college Nathan I'm actually still logging my manga regularly on MAL, except I've changed my username from wolfang135 to raffyreviews. I remembered reading the manga back during my first (online) year of college in the COVID quarantine, but I didn't remember much about the manga besides having a distinct feeling of not getting it. But, I kept hearing good things about it onlin...

 Welcome to yet another year of my top albums of the year! Looking back, this year was a solid year for music, although I do admit I was disappointed by a couple of drops. I was also able to discover a lot of new artists this year however, and a majority of the albums on this list are from artists that I did not listen to before this year, which is always cool. Also, this list includes any longer form musical work, so it will include albums, EPs, and mixtapes. Before the list, here are some honorable mentions: Shelly 2 - Shelly The only reason why this isn't on the list is because this actually wasn't an album, it was just two songs. Fortunately, these two songs are absolute giga bangers and were two of my favorite songs released this year. Go listen now! Lotus - Little Simz / Balloonerism - Mac Miller These two albums occupy the same space in my mind. They are both albums by very acclaimed artists, that felt like they were some sort of emotional release that they felt compelle...

 Spoiler free short review: Trippy psychedelic and unfinished manga that has the semblance of a story, but seems more interested in showing you the trips and hallucinations of the main character. Also has surprisingly strong world building with the establishment of a pretty interesting dystopian sci-fi world (think Blade Runner), only filled with drug addicts. Worth a read if you want a trippy experience. Real Review: I've read a couple of Koike Keiichi's works recently. For the most part, they are these very trippy experiences that feel like nonsensical dreams without any set plot. The whole manga is supposed to feels like a psychedelic trip, and Koike Keiichi does a good job of adding to this feeling with creative paneling and some breathtaking art. There's rarely any dialogue in his works, but that plays to his strengths as the progression of each manga is led directly through the artwork and paneling. Ultra Heaven, although unfinished, may be Koike Keiichi's magnum ...

 A short story about two neighbors who form a romance together during COVID. Only one volume long, it's short, simple, and sweet. The male is awkward in a way that might be relatable to introverts, while the female lead is more extroverted and honestly pretty assertive. Very cute romance. I give a strong 8 to a light 9.