Jeffrey S. Bryan

The KJ facilitates its possibilities. They facilitate play. Or they can, anyway. Tonight I went to Pineapple Hill in Tustin, CA. They do karaoke 7 nights a week. On the weekends that karaoke is hosted by Jonah Snyder. He's an actor by day and a karaoke host by night. He hosts as an arm of the offerings of the bar. That is, the bar owns the system and hires the KJs. Most of the KJs I've encountered so far own and operate their own equipment, negotiating contracts with various

For today's installment of "More Reasons to Love My Program" I give you Board Game Night! It's a weekly thing here in the informatics department, hosted by Rainforest who is a badass board-game-loving Canuk. Thank you, Forest. I'll try to attend more.

I can't even believe I get to write this, but I'm a professor! The moment has arrived! I have hit a lifetime goal and survived to talk about it! Look at all the exclamations!!! So, yeah, I teach game design at Irvine Valley College. Technically, I've been teaching college courses for several months now through a very cool little private school called New Vista School in Laguna Hills, but this new job actually comes with the title I've coveted. Also, don't judge my coveting. Y

The old man and the younger woman singing together on stage. How sweet! Seriously, no sarcasm. But, as with most real things, there's more to it. The woman is the owner of the bar. The man is her father. According to her, this is the moment through which they share a rare mutual bond. They gather on stage together, every week, and sing a song. As I watch this moment happen, again, once again, for yet another week in a row, I start to realize how many faces I've recognized, wh

Out and about today, hanging out with my sister at her favorite beach, Huntington beach, when what do we behold but a large play gathering. This Polar Plunge knock of is called the Surf City Splash and features peoples in various stages of undress taking on a form of physical challenge play. I'm not sure the social function of this sort of play, but play is often used to justify acts of valor or bravery or what would even generally be considered sheer stupidity. Like running

We went to a cool little festival in Fullerton for New Years. Events like these are great examples of communities at play. Roads no longer serve their function, instead they become platforms for play. Rules are no longer follower; children are encouraged to draw all over the sidewalks. And people are generally encouraged to gather and to play. What a great way to ring in the New Year: Play! Play on 2018!