Dome Pondering

2025 brought depth and growth.  In many ways, 2025 provided so many challenges and opportunities, allowing for a deeper, more layered approach to the world we live in. Our world is changing, and often, not for the better. Over the last 365 days, life has been more complex, more exhausting, and is asking so much more of us through these transitions and nuances than it did 365 days ago.  No big deal, right?  But hey, you're here. We're here. And we're going into 2026 much stronger, whether we realize it or not. But before we do, let's bid adieu to 2025.  As always, I'm incredibly gratefu l to those of you who still visit this little speck of the internet that houses my thoughts, rambles, and learnings. Thank you for taking a break from instant dopamine hits and videos, and likely the much cooler options of prepared content and indulging my humbled words. It is much appreciated.  It's the 20th annual - TWENTY YEARS of doing this! - Dome Pondering Year in Review. Le...

Whoa...  The New York Knicks have won something - anything - in my lifetime! They are the 2025 NBA Cup Champions! No, you won't find any discourse delegtimizing the NBA Cup here. I actually enjoy the concept (more on that in a bit).  In a remarkable Cup Final game, my freakin! New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 124-113. In a concept that provides a trophy and displays a super high-level of basketball (in December), my Knicks won it all. They beat everyone. WHOLE SQUAD HYPED! THE KNICKS TAKE HOME THE CUP 🎉 https://t.co/FBAGlec7Z8 pic.twitter.com/J25TQKPTCq — NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2025 Man, I prayed for times like this... Nope, there is no discounting or cutting into my excitement. And no, don't tell me it's not "legitimate".  I sat on my couch just as nervous as I am for basketball in April and May. I want the Knicks to win...always. Whether it's the NBA Cup, the NBA Playoffs, or it's the Charlotte Hornets on a Tuesday night in November....

Wow, he tapped out?! Or did he? We all anticipated the final moment for John Cena in a pro wrestling ring, and what happened this past Saturday left all of us pro wrestling fans with an opinion - did you like the ending?  It was jarring to watch Cena tap out initially. However, as common as "final matches" are beginning to feel as of late (Dudley Boyz and Goldberg in 2025, AJ's announcement that 2026 is his last, and the strong rumor for the same fate for Brock Lesnar in 2026), as pro wrestling fans, we just don't believe yet that wrestling retirements are for real. Because why would we? Nonetheless, we've gotten some unique send-offs that tug on the emotion and mean more AFTER the dust has settled.  I think back to TNA Slammmiversary just this year, in Bubba Ray Dudley "giving up" and allowing himself to be put through the table for the Dudley Boyz send off. In the moment, it seemed awkward and weird. But as time has gone on, the finish has aged really...

A parent runs toward the school during an active shooter situation at the Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 27.  Richard Tsong-Taatarii—Star Tribune/Getty Images This photo stayed with me all year. Shout out to all the tremendous parents giving their all every day. 

2025 sure did ebb and flow.  Is it just me, or did August through December zoom by? Nonetheless, we are at that time of the year again, which brings about some common traditions around these parts - the Pondering 10 Most Fascinating Things of the Year, and then the Dome Pondering Year in Review .  (Most Fascinating Things: 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 ,  2022 , 2023 , & 2024 ) Life really presented itself in unique ways this year, with a sense of a deeper layer of belonging and purpose, more so than what society has reflected since the pandemic. 2025 brought a deeper understanding of life through war, disaster, politics, the human spirit, and appreciation, among other things.  We'll get into that in the Year in Review.  For now, let's run it! Here is my Most Fascinating Things list for 2025: --- 10. Marjorie Taylor Greene Oh yeah, we're going there. MJT makes the very end of the list with a recent change in political positioning. I find it ...

What is it about?  Their late police captain is linked and framed for drug cartels, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Bennett get caught up and must clear his name, as well as their own.  Who is in it?  Will Smith - Mike Lowrey Martin Lawrence - Marcus Bennett Favorite Scene:  While trying to get away, the front of the van was on fire, and Marcus tried to use windshield fluid to extinguish the flames.  Favorite Quote:  "Begone, gator. I rebuke you! Review: A guilty selection on Netflix, as I love the original film and am a sucker for the nostalgia that was Martin and Fresh Prince coming together, I didn't dislike this film. Turned off by some of the sequels, I was willing to give this a try on a day home from work. And you know what? I don't regret it.  Bad Boys Ride or Die wasn't bad. In fact, once the credits scrolled, I was entertained and didn't have any ill feelings towards it. The characters of Mike Lowrey and Marcus Bennett are clearly past their prime, b...

I can’t say that I’m shocked that we’ve gotten to a point where coaches are now leaving institutions in the middle of a season - a long-time honored commitment - for another school.  The most salient point is that he is leaving a situation that is was committed to him, with students who have were committed to his leadership, and the current status of the team, the University, and the fanbase on the brink of success never seen before.  All of it, full of constant reactions of “SMH” with a lot of eye rolls.  How did we get here?  It's not lost on me - I’m just a mere Northeasterner commenting on the culture of College Football…especially within the South. I’m aware I’ll never fully understand the emotion, but I’m just peeking in, and it’s not great. The departure has given college athletics yet another turn in what feels like an increasingly snowballing culture evolving into chaos. More so, operating in a space lacking ethics and foundational qualities surrounding t...

This company, man.  After what was likely one of its most successful years in company history, TNA capped it all off with an early holiday gift, making a long-awaited announcement (and ending all of the speculation) - Impact!, the flagship show, will be moving to the AMC Network beginning January 15, 2026.  It’s difficult NOT to look back on the road here for TNA. The company has endured some tough times, and many of those times, it felt like the end was near. However, from a different lens, it speaks to the excellence and vision of the current leadership team of TNA, as well as the consistent success that has gotten the team to this point.  Wrestling fans have a lot of opinions - a significant majority of them are often critical - however, it must be acknowledged how incredibly difficult carving out a niche in the current entertainment landscape is. TNA did that with a brand that at one point needed a wash, rinse, and repeat while being on hiatus, before returning and ma...

He was the soundtrack to everything I did with my dad.  That's the greatest compliment and most direct reason for my love and appreciation for Jimmy Cliff. His music is beautiful, his lyrics evoke art, poetry, humanity, and justice, and his impact on the sound of reggae was groundbreaking. Jimmy Cliff will always be a memorable sound on the radio in the car, at home, or simply from what I can only hear - the humming voice of my dad.  Until his very last day on earth, my dad loved Cliff's Cliff Hanger album from 1985. It was one of his favorites. For many years, from a young kid well into my teen years, I listened to that album (among others), memorably through that single cassette tape he owned of that album, and the occasional skips and hiccups it had from its overuse.  Many times, Jimmy Cliff's tunes and soothing voice reigned supreme from the speakers of his 1975 Chevrolet Nova. Our trips to JFK airport in NYC are forever memorable - a core memory, if you will, as we ...

Yesterday's desire, become today's responsibility, for  tomorrow's privilege.  

Through my deep exhaustion breathes my gratitude.

 I'm sure to ruffle some feathers with this post and review.  AEW sickos, you've been warned.  I attended AEW Full Gear 2025 at the Prudential Center (I also attended last year ), and while I enjoyed the event, I found myself wrestling (pun intended) with my own fandom toward AEW. More so, cultivating and shaping my interests and "style" within the world of pro wrestling.  What I walked away with that night, as I exited the Prudential Center and into the crisp cold air of Newark, NJ, well before the show was over, was this - I like AEW, but it's not for me. And that's okay! That's the bottom line. And Stone Cold would say so!  The younger version of me would have been all about AEW. The older father version of myself, who now shares his wrestling experience with his son, doesn't find it all that appealing.  I'm not looking to contribute to tribalism within the fandom - there is so much wrestling available, everyone can like what they want. I enjoy ...

211. Would you rather have a pause or a rewind button in your life? A rewind button would imply the ability to do things over, or again. While that would be great, it does take the essence out of life. You win some, you lose some, and ultimately, you learn.  It would be nice to pause in specific moments to make them last longer, or to simply slow the decision-making process down. We've all been there in becoming overwhelmed in a moment, and either not understanding it fully or missing out.  212. Would you rather always have a full phone battery or a full gas tank? I understand the (over) reliance on our phones in today's world. But I'm going with gas as plugging in a phone is more convenient (and maybe cheaper?).  213. Would you rather lose all of your teeth or lose a day of your life every time you kissed someone? This is...weird?  Give me eventual vaneers. No way, I'm kissing my wife.  214. Would you rather oversleep every day for a week or not get any sl...

A dad's intuition is real. It may not be recognized, commercialized, or socialized, but, it is real. and, it is rare. 

With age, I understand the power I gave others who may have deserved it, but didn't earn it.

What is it about?  A former stand-up comedian struggles with PTSD as she struggles to reclaim her life and to look for the missing girl she used to nanny.  Who is in it? Rachel Sennott - Sam Cowell  Olga Petsa - Brooke Renner Favorite Scene:  [spoiler alert]  As the plot comes together (going back and forth from present and past PTSD trauma), we see Sam go back to the house she served as a Nanny, tying the film together.  Favorite Quote:  "Are you going to ask me what I was wearing next?" Review:  After finishing I Use to Be Funny, I struggle to place this film in a box. Comedy?? Not sure why it is labeled as that on Netflix...while it has tremendous humor and one liners, a natural as Sam is a comedian, the deeper story arc surrounds deeper tones of sexual assault, parental death, awful parents, and tons of collateral damage by way of a horrific event.  It's complex to say the least, but it doesn't take away from the film. You're invested in...