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Sep 1, 2026
0 AppDev Pizza

Pizzaolo – 2D Side Scrolling Pizza Action

https://www.tonypanariello.com/Pizzaolo

I’ve always wanted to make a side scrolling game that evokes the old NES games of my youth – simple sprites, simple gameplay and just a touch of difficulty to make it a challenge. I also wanted to make a pizza themed game and one night I thought to myself ‘why not both?’ – and Pizzaolo was born.

I first tinkered with some 2D game engines but they all proved to be a bit of a headache so ultimately I settled on JS/HTML5 implementation (Although in retrospect I kind of with I didn’t as it quickly became a pain to manage a huge block of code) while I’m happy with the resulting game I think I might try to rewrite it in phaser as with the current system I have to hand create each level with sprites and weapons and enemies which can be very labor intensive.

Level 1 is set in Naples as a love letter to that city – I visited in 2024 and was enamored by the city and the surrounding areas and wanted to incorporate as many sights and experiences as I could into the game such as Gambrinus coffee shop, Venus of the Rags, and the shrine to Padre Pio.

The game also has a level of silliness that I embrace fully – you are fighting vegetables.. why? Because it’s funny. There’s lots of super power ups, weapons, hidden items and nods to Italian food and culture as well as shout outs to some of my friends. The final boss is completely over the top and was a lot of fun to voice and program.

I’m particularly proud of the music and sound effects – it really evokes the halcyon days of the NES and the epic video game themes that define that era.

Enjoy my game – and if I mange to find some time I’m going to make level 2 which is a vespa based game in Rome – kind of like excite bike but you know.. Italiano

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Aug 31, 2025
0 Meta Content

A quick update

So – due to how crazy summer was (with work, vacations, kids being home) not much was accomplished since my last post but I was working on a plan in the meantime and I plan to start executing it on Sep 2nd (the day after labor day). It just seems like a good time to kick something ambitious off (years of September being when I ‘started something new’ like school, college, etc.) and I actually find myself more focused and motivated when the weather starts cooling and fall really sets in. I’m working on smaller subgoals that will roll up into my higher level health goals making milestones easier to reach and have created a fresh new spreadsheet to start tracking progress.

At this point it’s been 6 months since I completed 50 for 50 – I feel like it’s enough down time and I’m starting to get a bit restless so directing my energy to something specific I think will be highly beneficial. Not ready to soft launch anything yet – but this is where I’ll be tracking my progress.

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Jul 9, 2025
0 Meta Content

What now?

Its been 4 months since I completed my 50 for 50 challenge. So what now?

Well first I took a break – completing that challenge was taxing and took up an inordinate amount of my time and I just needed a break where I could focus on other things and just relax and unwind. I found at first that I just.. couldn’t. I had ingrained in myself the need to be crossing things off the list and working on it nonstop and without my list, I felt lost.

I tried video games but felt like I was wasting time, same with TV or movies.

In time I eventually was able to enjoy these things but I still felt like I should be doing something, then I started worrying that if I took too long off then I’d backslide into someone who was completely non productive.

All that aside, I decided that 4 months of slacking off was just about the right amount of time. I sat down and started plotting out what I could achieve in the next 12 months (July 1 2025 – July 1 2026) and I just.. didn’t have it in me to do any grand goals on the coat tails of such an effort as 50 for 50. So I distilled it down to what was important at my age and that’s my health.

So my goal is to focus on my health, my appearance, and my overall physical fitness. The three pillars that should get me through my 50’s in pretty good shape. I’m still working on the details but wanted to put this out there as a way to check myself and provide some motivations.

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Mar 5, 2025
0 Meta Content One Shot Goals

The STRONG framework

When I began this journey of 50 for 50 I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve, yet my approach was vague. I jumped in enthusiastically, tackling tasks at random and celebrating early victories. But around the six-month mark, things shifted. The initial easy wins faded, leaving me in what can generously be described as a slog.

At this turning point, I paused to reflect. My loose methodology—guided by unwritten rules—needed structure. I combed through my notes, carefully identifying successful behaviors and pinpointing obstacles. I had my insights, but what now?

Influencers often have catchy acronyms for their frameworks, so I brainstormed names. Nothing stuck until I revisited an earlier entry that emphasized the concept of finishing strong—pushing forward even when victory seemed uncertain. That resonated deeply, inspiring the creation of the finish STRONG framework for goal setting and achievement.

Let’s dive into this empowering framework:

Start Small – Commit to doing just one thing each day to progress your goals. Even on your busiest days, five minutes is enough: read a page, sketch a quick idea, jot down tomorrow’s task. This daily action trains your mind, signaling that your goals matter. Eventually, you’ll instinctively feel the need to keep progressing, and skipping a day will feel like something vital is missing.

Transform Habits – Humans thrive on habits, which makes them powerful tools for change. Start small, choosing manageable habits. The book “Atomic Habits” emphasizes how tiny, incremental changes lead to remarkable transformations. Its key lesson—align your habits with your desired identity—deeply impacted me. While I learned that habits often take longer than the popularly cited 30 days to solidify, persistent effort eventually made these behaviors automatic, seamlessly integrating them into my daily routine.

Rebuild Mindset – Among the framework’s elements, mindset is pivotal. To achieve significant goals, you must reinvent how you see yourself—not as someone who might succeed, but as someone who will succeed. Shifting your self-perception eliminates room for hesitation. My mindset transformation was personal; embracing stoicism profoundly changed my worldview, strengthening my resolve and clarity.

Overcome Obstacles – Despite meticulous planning, setbacks are inevitable. Injuries, overwhelming workloads, illnesses, family obligations—each can derail your progress. But it’s not the obstacles themselves, rather your response, that defines your journey. “The Obstacle is the Way” articulates this beautifully: viewing challenges as opportunities to build resilience and strength. Its three-part framework—clearly perceiving obstacles, taking decisive action, and wholeheartedly accepting difficulties—helps cultivate an unwavering spirit and determination.

Never Quit – You will face moments of deep frustration, when progress stalls or even reverses. Giving up becomes tempting, rationalized by thoughts like, “Who would care if I quit?” The answer is simple: You would care. Abandoning your goals creates subtle self-doubt, convincing you that you lack perseverance. Resist that temptation. Slow down, adjust your timeline, but never surrender. Persistence ensures you ultimately achieve the greatness you envisioned.

Gather Data – Tracking progress became essential in my journey. Initially, I relied on a notebook (OneNote) for quick notes and recaps, keeping everything organized. But it was the Google Sheet that truly elevated my motivation. Each goal had its own tab, and a summary sheet visually tracked my progress through checkboxes and color-coded progress bars. Seeing bars turn blue at 100% completion sparked excitement, reinforcing accountability and highlighting areas needing immediate attention.

This finish STRONG framework transformed my approach from chaotic optimism into structured success, ensuring every step forward was intentional, meaningful, and enduring.

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Feb 28, 2025
0 One Shot Goals

Goal Met: 50 hours of AI learning

This was an interesting one as the sources of learning ended up being pretty varied. There were two books I read “Co-Intelligence” and “The AI Driven Leader”, I watched a ton of YouTube videos and took a few training classes (some virtual, some in person). I came into this thinking AI could be a useful tool for some automation tasks or research and came out of it with a tool set that would let me use AI to improve almost every aspect of what I do. Learning advanced prompt engineering was the biggest takeaway. AI responds to what you prompt it with – a weak prompt will get you weak results. You can create specific projects that have long detailed instructions that allow you to have custom assistants that behave in a predefined pattern. When I started creating images the results weren’t great until I dug in and learned what the AI needs to create stunning visuals.

I’m going to let ChatGPT take the rest of this post – and explain what AI is and the current AI landscape. Take it away!
What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a type of technology that allows computers to think and learn like humans. Instead of just following strict instructions, AI can analyze data, recognize patterns, and make decisions on its own. Think of AI as a super-smart assistant that can understand questions, find answers, and even create new things like artwork, music, or writing.

At its core, AI is powered by something called machine learning, which is a way for computers to learn from experience. Instead of being programmed with every possible answer, an AI system is trained using massive amounts of data. It looks at patterns, makes predictions, and adjusts itself over time. This is similar to how we learn—by seeing, practicing, and improving. AI also uses neural networks, which are computer systems inspired by how the human brain works, allowing it to make more complex decisions.

There are two main types of AI: narrow AI and general AI. Narrow AI is what we use today—it’s specialized and good at specific tasks, like recommending movies on Netflix, translating languages, or helping doctors detect diseases. General AI, which doesn’t exist yet, would be a machine that can think and learn just like a human across different topics, but we’re still far from that.

Why Prompt Engineering is So Important

Since AI relies on learning from data and responding to inputs, the way we ask it questions—called “prompts”—is incredibly important. If we give AI a vague, confusing, or misleading prompt, we’ll get an answer that isn’t useful. This is where prompt engineering comes in.

Prompt engineering is the skill of crafting the right kind of questions or instructions to get the best possible response from an AI system. It’s like giving directions to a friend—if you’re too vague, they might get lost, but if you’re clear, they’ll find their way easily.

Let’s look at some examples:

Bad prompt: “Tell me about history.”

This is too broad. AI won’t know if you mean world history, American history, or the history of pizza. It might give a general answer that isn’t useful.

Good prompt: “Explain the major causes of World War II in simple terms.”

This is much better because it specifies the topic and asks for a simplified answer, making it more likely that AI will give useful information.

Another example:

Bad prompt: “Write a story.”

AI could generate anything—maybe a horror story, maybe a children’s fairy tale. It’s unclear what you want.

Good prompt: “Write a short science fiction story about a robot that discovers emotions.”

Now AI has a clear direction, and the output will be more relevant and interesting.

Prompt engineering is essential because it helps users get precise, useful, and creative answers from AI. As AI tools become more advanced, those who know how to ask the right questions will get the best results.

Five Cutting-Edge AI Use Cases

AI is already transforming industries in amazing ways. Here are five cutting-edge uses of AI:

  1. Medical Diagnosis and Drug Discovery – AI helps doctors detect diseases like cancer earlier and faster. It can also predict how different drugs might work together, speeding up the creation of new medicines.
  2. Self-Driving Cars – AI allows cars to “see” the road, recognize traffic signs, and react to other vehicles, making autonomous driving safer and more reliable.
  3. AI-Powered Art and Music – AI can now create stunning paintings, realistic music, and even deepfake videos that look just like real people.
  4. Smart Assistants and Chatbots – Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa use AI to understand speech and answer questions, while advanced chatbots handle customer service for businesses.
  5. Climate Change Predictions – AI is helping scientists analyze weather patterns and predict climate changes, leading to better strategies for protecting the environment.

Five Non-Obvious AI Use Cases

Beyond the flashy tech, AI is also being used in unexpected ways:

  1. Personalized Learning – AI tutors can customize lessons for students based on how they learn best.
  2. AI in Farming – AI-powered drones and sensors help farmers track crop health, predict weather changes, and maximize food production.
  3. Fraud Detection – Banks use AI to recognize suspicious transactions and prevent fraud before it happens.
  4. Mental Health Support – AI chatbots are being used as virtual therapists, providing emotional support to those in need.
  5. Sports Analytics – AI analyzes player movements and strategies to help teams improve their performance and predict game outcomes.

The Benefits and Risks of AI

AI brings enormous benefits, making life more convenient, boosting productivity, and even saving lives in medicine. It helps automate repetitive tasks, provides better recommendations for movies or products, and assists in solving complex problems. It can also improve accessibility, such as voice assistants helping visually impaired people navigate the world.

However, AI also comes with risks. One major concern is bias—AI learns from human data, and if that data is flawed, AI can make unfair decisions, like discriminating in hiring or loan approvals. Another risk is job displacement. As AI becomes more capable, certain jobs may become automated, meaning some workers will need to adapt or retrain. There are also ethical concerns around deepfakes, misinformation, and privacy, as AI can be used to manipulate information and invade personal data.

Where AI is Going in the Next 5 Years

AI is evolving rapidly, and in the next five years, we’re likely to see major advancements. AI could become much better at understanding emotions, making conversations feel more natural. We might also see more AI in creative fields, like writing, filmmaking, and game design. In medicine, AI could help develop personalized treatments based on a person’s genetics. AI will also play a bigger role in automation, from self-driving trucks to fully automated smart homes.

As AI grows more powerful, there will be more discussions about ethical use, regulations, and ensuring AI benefits everyone, not just big companies. The key will be balancing progress with responsibility, making sure AI is developed and used in ways that help rather than harm society.

Final Thoughts

AI is one of the most exciting and powerful technologies in the world today. It can do everything from answering questions and writing stories to driving cars and diagnosing diseases. But to get the most out of AI, people need to learn how to ask the right questions—this is why prompt engineering is such an important skill. As AI continues to evolve, it will bring new possibilities and challenges, shaping the way we work, create, and interact with the world. The future of AI is bright, but it’s up to us to guide it responsibly

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Feb 27, 2025
0 Art Books International meals Meta Content Movie Reviews Music Novel One Shot Goals Pizza Sports

I Did It.

Wow. That was quite a journey. I’m honestly still processing the fact that I managed to complete everything. Looking back, I’ve spent over two decades setting goals, and the highest I ever reached before was maybe 60% completion—and that was with a modest list of just ten goals. When I first considered taking on this challenge, I almost talked myself out of it, remembering past failures. But turning 50 flipped a switch in me. I figured I might not succeed, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t even attempt it. Maybe not the most optimistic mindset to start with, but if this experience has taught me anything, it’s that with discipline and structure, you can fundamentally shift how you approach things.
Coming up with 50 goals was an adventure in itself. The first few were easy—I pulled from old, unfinished goals and added new ones that felt both exciting and challenging. But once I hit the 30-goal mark, I struggled. That’s when I had to shift my perspective. I started thinking about what turning 50 really signified. I reflected on what I had accomplished, what I had always wanted to do but never got around to. And then it hit me: I had spent years assuming there would always be time. But what if there wasn’t? Shouldn’t I seize the moment now, while I still had the energy to truly enjoy it? That realization changed everything. Suddenly, the list filled itself. Visiting my father’s hometown in Italy. Buying my dream guitar. Sipping on really old Scotch. Once I reframed the process, it became much easier to round out the list. I even left a few open slots, which I later filled with “Explore AI” and “Complete a Bob Ross painting tutorial.”


As I got deeper into rounding out the 50, I found myself turning to the internet for inspiration. Seeing what others had on their goal lists helped me refine mine. Some ideas resonated, some didn’t, but the process helped me think outside the box. And ironically, one of my late additions—learning about AI—ended up being a game-changer. AI became an essential tool throughout the year. With a goal of blogging about my experience, I faced an immense workload, closing in on nearly 300 posts. Without AI’s help in researching topics, I would have been buried under the effort. I even used AI to critique my writing, offering an unfiltered, sometimes ego-bruising editorial lens that ultimately improved my work.
To keep myself accountable, I knew I needed rules. Once the 50 goals were set, I committed to not altering them to make things easier. But I’m also pragmatic—life happens. In the early months, I tore something in my shoulder, which derailed my fitness-related goals. So, I built in a contingency: I allowed myself to swap out five goals if necessary. This gave me a degree of flexibility while ensuring I didn’t just swap out challenges for convenience. I ended up using four swaps (documented on my website), and two of them were due to physical limitations rather than avoidance.


So how did I pull this off while managing a full-time job, two small kids, and a marriage? With structure. I built a framework that allowed me to make progress without compromising what truly mattered.
The first rule: priorities first. My family always comes first—no exceptions. I didn’t pursue these goals at the expense of time with my kids or my wife. I still coached my kids’ teams, played with them on weekends, and handled all the usual parenting duties. I made sure my wife and I kept our Friday lunch dates, giving us uninterrupted time together. And work? That stayed a priority too. I enjoy my job and wasn’t about to let this project interfere with my professional commitments. With those priorities locked in, anything else became negotiable.


The second rule: do something every day. Even on chaotic days—work was crazy, the kids had back-to-back activities, and my wife was out of town—I could still do something. Read a few pages of a book. Practice Italian on Babbel for five minutes. Write a quick gratitude journal entry. Even brushing my teeth at night, I could squeeze in a small action. The consistency was the key. After a few months, it became so ingrained that skipping a day felt like a glitch in my system. These small, daily efforts accumulated, creating momentum that accelerated progress over time.


The third rule: find hidden time. It’s there if you look for it. That hour-long commute? Perfect for listening to educational podcasts or checking off an album from my music list. Instead of doom-scrolling my phone during lunch, I’d read, write, or learn something new. Even waiting for my kids to finish practice became an opportunity—reading on my Kindle, researching goals, or sketching ideas. Once I stopped treating time as something to kill and started seeing it as something to use, my productivity skyrocketed.


The final rule: track everything. This was huge. I needed to see my progress at a glance, so I built a spreadsheet with progress bars and a dashboard to keep me motivated. If one goal was lagging, I’d shift focus to bring it up to speed. As the months passed and those bars turned blue, I felt the inertia pulling me forward. That visual reinforcement made a huge difference. I also used OneNote to collect ideas, notes, and drafts, which kept me organized and efficient. These tools gave me a comprehensive view of where I stood at any given moment.


As the year progressed, I started identifying areas of wasted time and replacing them with intentional actions. Little by little, I started to see myself as someone who followed through, rather than someone who set goals only to abandon them. That shift in self-perception was a turning point. Once I hit 75% completion, I could see the finish line. In the last 60 days, I went into overdrive, laser-focused on getting everything to 100%. I don’t think I could have sustained that level of intensity for an entire year, but as I neared the end, it felt like shifting from marathon pace to an all-out sprint.


But of course, there were downsides. Sustaining focus for an entire year was mentally exhausting. Between work, family, and this challenge, there were weeks when I was completely burned out. Fortunately, some of my goals—meditation, hiking, drawing—helped counteract the stress. On particularly rough weeks, I leaned into those activities, taking long hikes with my kids to reset. Still, there were stretches, especially in the summer, where I did nothing, and guilt crept in. Eventually, I realized that guilt was unnecessary. I wasn’t trying to become a productivity guru or a social media influencer—I was just a 50-year-old guy trying to accomplish something meaningful. And as I watched my goals falling one by one, I realized that even with breaks, I was still on track.


Another major downside? Free time took a massive hit. Movies, TV, video games—I barely engaged with any of them. I didn’t play a single hour of video games all year, missed most new film releases, and barely kept up with my sports teams. (Not that the Jets gave me much to miss.) These things might not be “productive,” but they’re enjoyable, and I realized I missed them. Sometimes, you just want to unwind and watch your favorite team blow a late lead.


Ultimately, I learned so much from this experience—not just about discipline and productivity, but about balance, adaptability, and what really matters. There were tough moments, but overall, I’m glad I did it. And now, looking ahead, I’m excited to see where these lessons take me next.

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Feb 27, 2025
0 One Shot Goals

Goal Met – Start a Gratitude Journal

Now this one was a bit of a stretch. As I was looking for goals to round the total out to 50 this one kept popping up on a lot of the lists of goals people were setting. It seemed like a bit of pop psych or new age silliness but once I started doing some research (noted below) I saw that there are scientific papers backing up the practice and showing it has clear benefits.

I simply didn’t have the bandwidth to commit to a daily entry – but twice a week? I mean that’s doable. I was always able to come up with something I was grateful for that week or some kindness that came my way (or opportunity for me to show kindness – also very important) It really wasn’t too difficult and sometimes a bit of time would go by before I sat down and did it but the intent was there and I think that’s the point.

I’m not sure if there were any huge benefits I noticed but it did feel nice to remind myself of some of the awesome things I have in my life so I enjoyed doing this.

[Research]

Embarking on the practice of maintaining a gratitude journal can profoundly enhance your overall well-being. This simple yet powerful habit involves regularly recording aspects of your life for which you are thankful. Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that such a practice offers numerous psychological and physical benefits, making it a worthwhile endeavor for anyone seeking to improve their quality of life.

Psychological Benefits

One of the most significant advantages of keeping a gratitude journal is its positive impact on mental health. Regularly focusing on the positive aspects of life can lead to increased feelings of happiness and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 64 randomized clinical trials found that participants who engaged in gratitude interventions experienced greater feelings of gratitude, improved mental health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Moreover, they reported a more positive mood and emotions. 

The act of writing down things you are grateful for shifts your attention away from negative thoughts and fosters a more optimistic outlook on life. This practice encourages mindfulness and helps break the cycle of rumination, which is often associated with depression and anxiety. By consciously acknowledging the positive elements in your life, you train your brain to focus on what brings joy and satisfaction, thereby enhancing overall mental health.

Physical Health Benefits

The benefits of gratitude journaling extend beyond mental health to encompass physical well-being. Research indicates that individuals who regularly practice gratitude experience better sleep quality, reduced blood pressure, and improved heart health. A study by UCLA Health highlighted that practicing gratitude can help with depression, anxiety, and stress, and also noted that the benefits of being thankful include improved sleep and heart health. 

Engaging in gratitude practices has been associated with a reduction in stress-related symptoms, which can have a direct impact on cardiovascular health. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, gratitude journaling may contribute to lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of heart disease. Additionally, the positive emotions elicited by gratitude can lead to the release of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and mood elevators.

Enhanced Relationships

Expressing gratitude can also strengthen your interpersonal relationships. When you regularly acknowledge and appreciate the kindness and support of others, it fosters a sense of connection and encourages reciprocal positive behavior. This can lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships and a robust social support network.

A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude is linked to prosocial behavior and can enhance social bonds. Participants who expressed gratitude were more likely to engage in helpful behaviors and report stronger relationships. By recognizing and appreciating the contributions of others, you not only enhance your own well-being but also create a positive feedback loop that benefits your social circle.

Neuroscientific Evidence

From a neuroscientific perspective, practicing gratitude can lead to lasting changes in brain function. Research has shown that gratitude activates regions in the brain associated with reward, morality, and positive social interactions. A study highlighted by Mindful.org noted that the science of gratitude shows it can support greater health, happiness, and wisdom in ourselves and our communities. 

Regular engagement in gratitude exercises can enhance the brain’s sensitivity to future experiences of gratitude, making it easier to access positive emotions even during challenging times. This neuroplasticity suggests that the more you practice gratitude, the more attuned your brain becomes to recognizing the good in your life, leading to sustained improvements in mental health and well-being.

Implementing a Gratitude Journal

Starting a gratitude journal is a straightforward process. Set aside a few minutes each day or week to reflect and write down things you are grateful for. These can range from significant events to simple pleasures. Consistency is key; regular practice maximizes the benefits. Some studies suggest that writing in a gratitude journal once or twice a week can be more effective than daily entries, as it prevents the activity from becoming routine and losing its impact.

Incorporating prompts can also enhance the depth of your reflections. Consider questions like, “What unexpected kindness did I experience today?” or “What aspect of my health am I most grateful for?” By diversifying your entries, you can gain a more comprehensive appreciation of the positive facets of your life.

Conclusion

Incorporating a gratitude journal into your routine can lead to substantial improvements in both mental and physical health. By consciously focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you can foster a more optimistic outlook, enhance your relationships, and even rewire your brain for increased happiness. Given the extensive scientific evidence supporting its benefits, starting a gratitude journal is a simple yet effective step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

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Feb 27, 2025
0 Books

The Power of Discipline

Self-discipline is often seen as something reserved for high achievers—athletes, CEOs, military leaders—people with an almost superhuman ability to resist temptation and power through obstacles. The Power of Discipline by Daniel Walter dismantles that myth, arguing that discipline isn’t an inborn trait but a skill that anyone can develop. The book makes a strong case that success isn’t about motivation or talent—it’s about consistently doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it.

At its core, The Power of Discipline is a guide to understanding why we struggle with self-control and how to build habits that make discipline automatic. Walter explains that most people rely too much on willpower, which is both unreliable and finite. When you force yourself to resist temptation through sheer willpower, you’re fighting an uphill battle that you’re bound to lose eventually. Instead, discipline is about setting up systems that make good decisions easier and bad decisions harder. The key isn’t to have endless self-control—it’s to remove the need for self-control in the first place.

One of the most important takeaways from the book is the idea that discipline isn’t about making radical changes overnight. People fail at self-improvement because they try to do too much at once, burning out before real progress happens. Walter argues that discipline is built through small, consistent actions. Whether it’s waking up earlier, cutting out distractions, or sticking to a workout plan, the trick is to start small and build momentum. By doing something every day—even if it’s just a tiny step—you train your brain to follow through, making discipline a habit rather than a struggle.

Another powerful concept Walter explores is the role of delayed gratification. In a world of instant everything—instant entertainment, instant communication, instant food—it’s easy to get trapped in short-term thinking. But true success comes from prioritizing long-term rewards over immediate pleasure. The book reinforces this idea with research on how the most successful people are the ones who can consistently delay gratification, choosing to do what’s beneficial in the long run rather than what feels good right now. Whether it’s saving money instead of spending it, choosing a healthy meal over fast food, or putting in extra work when no one is watching, self-discipline is about making choices today that your future self will thank you for.

Walter also challenges the common belief that motivation is the key to discipline. The problem with motivation is that it’s unreliable—it fluctuates based on mood, environment, and external circumstances. People wait for motivation to strike before taking action, which is why they struggle to stay consistent. The book flips this thinking on its head: action comes first, and motivation follows. The more you take action—even when you don’t feel like it—the easier it becomes to keep going. Discipline isn’t about waiting to want to do something; it’s about doing it anyway, and letting motivation catch up later.

Another major insight from the book is the impact of environment on discipline. Most people fail not because they’re weak-willed, but because they set themselves up for failure without realizing it. If your phone is next to you while working, of course you’re going to get distracted. If junk food is in your kitchen, of course you’ll be tempted to eat it. Walter emphasizes that discipline isn’t just about resisting temptation—it’s about removing temptation altogether. Setting up an environment that supports good habits is one of the most effective ways to stay disciplined without constantly battling distractions.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of The Power of Discipline is that it reassures readers that self-control is a muscle that can be strengthened. No one is born naturally disciplined, but by practicing small acts of discipline daily, you build the mental toughness needed to achieve long-term goals. It’s not about perfection—it’s about persistence. You will slip up, you will have days where you don’t follow through, but the key is to keep going. Discipline isn’t about never failing—it’s about getting back on track every time you do.

What makes this book stand out is that it strips away the excuses people use to justify their lack of discipline. It doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that discipline requires effort, but it also makes it clear that anyone—regardless of background, personality, or past failures—can develop it. If you’ve ever felt like you lack the willpower to stick to your goals, The Power of Discipline offers a straightforward, practical roadmap for developing the habits and mindset needed to take control of your life. In a world where distractions are everywhere and self-control feels harder than ever, this book serves as a much-needed reminder that discipline isn’t a talent—it’s a choice.

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Feb 27, 2025
0 Pizza

DOUGHS DOUGHS DOUGHS

Throughout this challenge I came across alternate ways of making pizza dough using interesting raitos, methodologies or ingredients. Since I usually just made a cheese pizza with each of them (a nice baseline that lets me judge solely on the crust) I don’t think they need their own post, but I’m going to touch on them here and provide some notes

Rye/Wheat Pizza dough (Nancy Silverton)
This pizza dough was getting a lot of hype online and I was curious what the addition of rye flour would do for a pizza dough. So I tracked down her recipe and gave it a shot. The methodology was simple – it used a sponge (or biga) to preferment and the folding technique. The rest of the steps were easy enough to follow. The resulting pizza was tasty and definitely had an earthier flavor than I was used to which was kinda of nice. I think the issue I has was the recipe I was using was adapted for home ovens, and I cooked them at 900 in my outdoor pizza oven so they dried out a bit. I think I’d like to give this a go again but use the high heat formulas

No knead cast iron pizza
No kneading? No complex formulas to create a delicious pan pizza? Sign me up -I’ve got a cast iron pan and some time so lets go! There’s a bunch of versions of this out there but the most referenced one is here . It really couldn’t be simpler: Mix the ingredients then cover and wait. That’s it. Once the dough has risen put it in the pans, then rise again until they’re puffy. Sauce, cheese and fire on a baking stone or steel. The resulting crust was open and airy and crispy from the oil used and the cheese at the edges got crispy. Overall this was a really good pizza, and super easy.

“72+” Pizza (extreme fermentation)

I’m usually a 24-48 hour pizza fermenting guy – 36 hours is usually the sweet spot where the yeast has put in the work and the flavor and rise is where it needs to be for an amazing pizza. I found a pizza formula for 72 hours and decided to make three dough balls and make them at 72, 96, and 120 hours. It obviously used very little yeast and relied on time to make it happen. The dough at 72 was super easy to open and felt a bit delicate so I was careful to top and bake quickly. The dough definitely had a nice flavor and cooked up crisp. The 96 was a bit more delicate and I had to use a a bit more bench flour to ensure I didn’t rip the dough when opening it and it cooked up a bit flat – I suspect the yeast was starting to give out. The 120 was a problem as it felt like it would tear if I looked at it funny – so I setup the pie on parchment paper and shaped it gently into a square shape as opening it didn’t seem possible. What came out of the oven wasn’t that great it didn’t have a great bite and was almost a flatbread. I suspect if I wanted to ferment that long I’d need to change the yeast ratios to account for it as the original formula was only for 72.

Thin Crust (Bar Pie)
Who doesn’t love a cracker thin crust? Crispy yet tender this bar pie style pizza is super easy to shape as you roll it out with a rolling pin (so much easier with an industrial roller, but all I have is the pin, so..) parbake it to ensure the sauce doesn’t make it soggy then top and throw back in the oven. Charred edges, crispy crust lots of ‘ronis and you’ve got a good Friday night. This goes really good with an ice cold beer which makes sense!

Sourdough Pizza
What to do with all this sourdough discard I was creating in making a sourdough starter? The very first thing that came to mind was making sourdough pizza of course. I did some research and found a few common methodologies and the one that made sense was to use the discard with some fresh yeast to refresh the rising ability a bit. It was also useful in that I could make it in the morning and have pizza at night since the starter delivered most of the flavor elements a long rise in the fridge would give it. The first attempt wasn’t that great, I think the starter was a bit weak so I fed that bad boy a bit more frequently and the next time the dough rose much better and the pizza had a great sourdough flavor note. I suspect I’ll be using this a lot as I go through my sourdough phase.

Tortilla Pizza / Naan Pizza
Is this cheating? Probably but I wanted pizza and didn’t have dough available. What I did have was a bunch of flour tortillas in the pantry. So I looked online and I found a viral video of tortilla pizzas and decided that sure this could work. Dear readers – it did not. If you aren’t a pizza person and just want a hit of sauce and cheese then sure, this could work for you. I suspect that one of the issues can be that I had ‘extra soft and fluffy’ tortillas because that’s what my kids like. If I used standard thin tortillas maybe it would have been a different experience?

Building on this, I also has some garlic naan leftover and said – well what if I throw sauce and cheese on this? The first try was a disaster as naan is designed to absorb liquid and that’s what it did turning into a soggy mess. Try #2 was me putting down a solid layer of cheese first then saucing it and that one was actually pretty good.

Bear with me here – I know these are pizza hacks. They are no substitute for a real dough that is made with love but if my research showed me anything its that a lot of people are doing this and who am I to judge their pizza happiness? One of my favorite memories as a kid is making hot pockets (back before they actually existed) by buttering two slices of bread and filling it with sauce and cheese and using that old school sandwich press. If doing these hacks makes people want to learn how to make their own pizza, isn’t that a good thing?

That’s what it all comes down to. Pizza is happiness – you make whatever pizza makes you happy. Except pineapple pizza. Stop it.

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Feb 27, 2025
0 Music One Shot Goals

Goal Met – Listen to Top 50 Albums of all Time

OK so this one is bound to generate arguments. I again used ChatGPT to collate a list from as many sources as possible and come up with a consensus top 50. Some of the albums I was familiar with, some I’ve never heard of so I knew this was going to be an adventure.

I actually went out and got some high quality headphones so I could experience them with as much audio fidelity as possible. I was pleasantly surprised at what a difference they made from my $10 amazon headset I was using!

Some of the albums were sonic masterpieces.. While others were a struggle for me. I mean I understand why Patti Smith is highly regarded but her music was a slog the same for the velvet underground. I listened to every song on every album and I feel like I get why some of these are so highly regarded – I mean what’s going on is such a great album that I listened to it again as soon as I was done.

The one thing that this challenge did was improve my Apple music algorithm – I mean it was pretty polluted from my kids asking Alexa to play Taylor Swift and dinosaur songs so injecting the algorithm with some quality music really helped balance the scales!

I got interested in the evolution of music and wish I had followed the movie goal and selected albums from each decade as I think that would have been a more interesting experience but I still managed to dig deep and explore why these albums are so well regarded and how they might be connected to each other.

[Filter by music tag to see individual reviews]

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