The year is 2002. The world has just changed dramatically in the last couple of months. An attack has occurred on US soil the winds of war sweep throughout the world. Television is not immune from the real world, and a race that takes place throughout it certainly isn’t exempt. After narrowly avoiding cancellation amidst…
The premise was as simple as it was radical: “11 two-person teams, bound by friendship, love, or family, will race around the world.” In a time before smart-phones and digital cameras, and at the dawn of the internet, CBS had the wild idea to greenlight The Amazing Race – a globetrotting free-for-all for $1,000,000 –…
What a whirlwind couple of weeks here at the Review! End of a Season, End of an Era? As I talked about in an earlier life update post, my time as a seasonal Park Ranger in Yosemite came to an end in January. It was the biggest blessing I have ever been given, spending the…
The artist formerly known as Jefferson Expansion National Memorial became a full-fledged national park under controversial circumstances in 2018. Incredible views of Mississippi from on high and a nice river walk aside, this is the least natural of the 63 national parks. Let’s dive in to the good, bad, and ugly surrounding this most interesting…
Right off the bat – sorry for lengthy delays in posting. I’ve been trying to figure out where to put down roots for the immediate future and finishing up a host of other projects that have forced the Review onto the backburner. That should change in the coming weeks! Second, a shoutout to the fire…
Cue the music. And this music. And that music. Can’t forget about this one. And certainly not that one! Each and every banger (might have to rank the NFL theme songs as a post some day) signifies to each and every ‘Merican that NFL football is back, baby! Fantasy drafts are wrapping up, the wings…
Heartbreak for Rory. Bryson completes a career coolness comeback. Xander learns how to close. The Ridley Review takes a look at the 2024 US Open (yeah, yeah I know it happened a month ago. I welcome haters in the comments) and the more recent Open Championship. US Open – June Scar Tissue The final couple…
Welcome to the debut of Ridley(s) Review: Games! In this section, the Erik’s, younger and older, as well as the occasional guest reviewer will share our thoughts on a variety of games. In our inaugural review, we are pleased to welcome Joel to the Review team for an deep-dive into the legendary game, Catan. Before…
IT’S SOCCER TIME! In just a few short days, the single biggest soccer tournament in the Americas until the 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off. The Copa America, traditionally the South American championship, is being transported to the United States for a special, 16-team edition. The Ridley Review has you covered with a thorough…
Having tapped out of Survivor after Season 41, dissatisfied with the continued budget cuts and the increased twists in the Jeff Probst-produced seasons in the so-called “New Era,” I was roped back in by the longer episodes of Survivor 45. Thoroughly whelmed by the experience, I had no intention of watching Survivor 46 this Spring….
Glory’s Last Shot The “This Is Major” championship is over. A frantic, 4 day birdie barrage ends with Xander Schauffele breaking his major duck and taking home one massive trophy. Some talking points from the PGA Championship: Scottie in the Cooler You couldn’t write a script like this. The world’s number 1 golfer got arrested…
City makes in 4 in a row, the Villains become heroes, and the gulf widens with the Championship: the Ridley Review turns it’s attention to wrapping up the 2023-24 Premier League season. Predictions Vs. Reality Let’s see how my predictions from last year matched up with the real world: Team Actual Finish My August Predictions…
Updates have been slow from Ridley Review HQ lately, I know. My apologies! This writer has started an exciting new adventure, which has kept me occupied. Now getting settled, normal service will be resuming (including the oft-mentioned but seldom-seen game reviews starting up finally). Time to pull back the curtain on life wearing the Green-and-Grey…
I meant to do a whole preview and predictions post on the Masters, one of the best sporting events of the year. Life be lifeing though, and I’ve been mostly without Internet and time the last couple of weeks. Full disclosure: I watched little of the Masters; the final round back-nine the extent of my…
Courtesy: Font Awesome In Year 1 ASW (After Social Work), I, like thousands before me, sought my fortune in the highly beautiful and highly expensive state of California and moved West with family while navigating new careers. While working to boost my web design skills, working with some clients, and trying to get this blog…
There is way more to be said about the hike to Angels Landing then I could put in a lil’ blurb. So let’s chat that beautiful, rocky cliff you see above: A Lil’ Backstory I spent two days in Zion National Park in 2023. After the first, I was grubbing by myself at the incredible…
A Note From the Author The following is a research paper I submitted for an American Environmental History class back in 2018, unedited except for the section subheadings and photographs. It covers a fight still raging today within environmental circles: should natural resources of significant beauty be left in a pristine state for people to…
Hebrew for “Holy Place” (and you thought this wasn’t an educational site!), Zion National Park was controversially renamed by the Mormons from its original, native name: Mukuntuweap. It is hard to disagree with their assessment. What is it? A red Yosemite (or is Yosemite a green-and-granite Zion?!) Fast Facts: Location: Southwest Utah Founded: 1919 (prior,…
Somehow the only national park in the Northeast, Acadia National Park sits pretty on Mount Desert Island in Eastern Maine. The first place in the United States to see the sun rise every morning, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the tranquility that abounds here. What is it? Peaceful lakes, rugged mountains, rough oceans,…
So imposing it can be seen 60 miles away from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park surprises in scale and in beauty. What is it? Snow-capped splendor with a potpourri of alpine forests, flower-laden meadows, and splendid waterfalls. Fast Facts: Location: Washington, on the western side of the Cascade Range Founded: 1899 Size: 369.35 square miles…
It’s the bridge between the Moab-adjacent and Vegas-adjacentish Utah parks: Capitol Reef. Tucked in southern Utah far away from major civilization, let’s talk Capitol Reef National Park. What is it? Certainly not the Capitol and the Reef is on it’s side! A zany, rocky wilderness with a Mormon history and a heckuva dark night sky….
Time for some Ohio representation: Cuyahoga Valley National Park is up on the docket to get the Ridley Review treatment. What is it? The suburban national park – what it lacks in scenery, it makes up for with a rich history and a reclamation success story. Fast Facts: Location: Eastern Ohio, just south of Cleveland…
The second national park near Moab is more remote and mysterious. It’s time to chat Canyonlands! What is it? Mars on Earth. Fast Facts: Location: Southeast Utah, outside Moab Founded: 1964 Size: 527.50 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it is in your budget – full access…
A forgotten gem tucked all the way up in rural NoCal: Redwood National and State Parks. Together comprising the largest collection of redwood trees remaining, let’s dive into this unique park. What is it? Good woods. Imposing trees. Peaceful prairie. Beautiful beach. Fast Facts: Location: Northern California, on the coastline Founded: 1968 Size: 217.33 square…
It’s time to talk about Moab’s crown jewel and a license plate inspo: Arches National Park. What is it? Arch Madness! Fast Facts: Location: Southeast Utah, just outside of Moab Founded: 1971 (previously a National Monument from 1929) Size: 119.81 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it…
The deepest (and arguably blue-est) lake in North America: Crater Lake. Do the pictures tell the whole story? What is it? A lake that is very deep and very blue. Fast Facts: Location: Southern Oregon Founded: 1902 Size: 286.29 square miles Cost: $30/car; $55/year (Just buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass if it is…
Bryce Canyon sits high in the Utah desert. Often paired with a trip to its big brother Zion, how does this park rate? What is it? High amounts of elevation, high amounts of Hoodoos, high amounts of fun! The Ridley Review: For soccer/football fans of a certain age, the name Rory “The Delapidator” Delap will…
Pinnacles. Sweet, rocky Pinnacles. A park most likely forgotten when one tries to list every national park, how does it stack up to the rest? What is it? A gruff exterior with a heart of gold. The Ridley Review: I feel like everyone knows that person: a tough, complicated, difficult to get to know person….
What is it? It’s Indiana Dunes: a beach day, a history lesson, a swamp, good woods, and some folksy small towns a stone’s throw from the Windy City. The Ridley Review: During the 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC was showing live primetime coverage of the Women’s Super G Alpine Skiing event. After the first 20 or…
As a social worker, you need to get used to the unbelievable becoming the routine and the wild becoming expected. It really is amazing how quickly you become numb, as a coping mechanism, to the horrible things being experienced in the community. It is why you see so many jaded souls in the field –…
Via Jen at Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/blu_pineappl3/14019379906 On November 14, 2022, I sped away from a harrowing situation at work: having a gun pulled on me during a home visit (for more background, see the prior post). The hours afterwards were both a daze and also life changing. Some of the rawest reflection I have ever done…
Howdy folks! Sorry for the delay in getting part 2 of my social work post up and running. I am working through a cold the last couple of days while studying for part 2 of the CompTIA A+ certification I am taking on Thursday, prepping for a little travel, and prepping for my new job…
The Mission Impossible franchise is an odd one, in that it is the only long-running cinematic franchise that actually gets better as it goes along. The Paramount Pictures-produced offspring of the popular Mission Impossible TV series running from 1966-1973 and revived briefly in the late 1980’s, the current run of movies serves as kind of…
Having chosen to go to school without a clue what to do post-grad, I jumped at the chance to spend a year volunteering full-time, dually in the AmeriCorps and Jesuit Volunteer Corps. What started as a one year gap to broaden my horizons on the problems facing our communities turned into a four-year career filled…
When it comes to entertainment, perhaps the word “phenomenon” is overused. Yet it’s not a stretch to say that exactly what CBS’ Survivor was in the early 2000’s. An odd blend of Gilligan’s Island, Lord of the Flies, and chess all blended into a game, the USA and beyond fell in love to record ratings….
272 games later, it’s playoff time! 18 battle-worn squads have jetted off to Cancun, leaving 14 standing. It is time to predict the NFL’s Super Bowl champion, but before we do, let’s take a look down memory lane from the several months: This was a unique season. We had backup QB’s galore: Passtronauts, Cutlets, and…
A question Posed… I was hanging with friends last night when the question was posed: what was everyone hoping for out of the new year 2024. And I really didn’t have an answer. New Year’s resolutions have never been something I’ve spent a lot of time pondering; I don’t even remember what mine was for…
It’s been a slow month here at the Ridley Review. Have no fear though! Things will be back up and running shortly. Basically, I am in the midst of interviewing for full-time jobs as well as grinding through my CompTIA A+ certification; both of those have taken up much of my time over the past…
As the Autumn leaves turn into threat of Winter snow, I think it’s high time to take a gander at the weird, wild, and wacky world of alternate NFL uniforms. Some make you wonder how they ever got approved (looking at you Detroit) and some make you wonder why they ever went away in the…
What is it? John Muir, although a controversial figure, busts it down best: “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter” The Ridley Review: Wow! That is, with 99% likelihood, your reaction upon first entering Yosemite Valley. The pictures don’t do justice to the…
I turned 27 this past weekend and tried to jot down some things that crossed my mind. Here are 27 thoughts at 27:
You’ve seen the sweaty, muddy pics of survivors finishers on Instagram. You’ve seen the videos of people getting getting zapped by the electric wires. Maybe you’ve even gone to an event to support some friends, family, or co-workers. You’ve been wondering: what is it really like to run a Tough Mudder? It is the most…
Well, that stunk. As we go about recapping the 2023 Ryder Cup, we will go over the winners and losers from 3 sun-drenched days in Italy that ended with the European team waltzing to a 16.5 – 11.5 victory at Marco Simeone Golf Club. They took home the entire first session of foursome matches and…
In the wee hours of Friday morning here in the United States, the opening tee shots of golf’s best event will go airborne. The Ryder Cup, first held in 1927, pits the 12 best golfers in the United States in a three day competition against the 12 best golfers from all of Europe. The competition…
What is it? Mountains! Lakes! Rainforests! Beaches! Hot springs! Ocean! A little slice of heaven within a day’s drive from Seattle. The Ridley Review: My vote for super-sleeper national park: if by a miracle I am privileged enough to visit all 64 full-blown National Parks in my lifetime, I am confident this will stay in…
Play the music: I thought it would be fun to sail back to Westeros a couple of years after the ~controversial~ ending of one of the most hyped television shows of all time and take a look at the best and most memorable the Seven Kingdoms and beyond had to offer us by ranking the…
A fascinating blend of satire, art, intrigue, and now a glimpse into the past, Herge’s Tintin comic books have delighted the world over from the character’s debut in 1929 to the present. The reporter, with his distinctive quiff and canine companion Snowy, skirted through 23 completed adventures by Herge’s death in 1983, with a 24th…
With the closing of the Transfer Window (the time period to sign players from other clubs), it’s a perfect time to take a time machine to the end of next May and see how the final standings will unfold. This is our Premier League predictions: totally, for sure, 100% how the season will play out….
With football getting into full swing, it is a great time to take a look at the NFL’s best (and worst!) dressed, starting with the home (colored) uniforms. Tune in the coming weeks as Ridley Review’s fashion awards look at away uniforms and a combo ranking of alternates and throwback jerseys. These are totally my…
The first weekend of fall is supposed to bring hope to fans of every NFL team. For this writer, it is more a sense of dread. Being a fan of the most snakebit franchise in the league makes watching my favorite team something I do through gritted teeth, just waiting for something to go wrong….
It’s that time of year. The leaves are turning, the nights are crisp, and seven hours of commercial-free football comes our way every Sunday. Some would even say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It is certainly time for some NFL Power Rankings, which we have here just in time for kickoff. The…
Fast Facts: Location: Western Virginia in the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Mountains Founded: 1935 Size: 311.2 square miles What it is: A narrow-shaped, quirky blend of history, mountainous overlooks, forests, meadows, and rivers with a road that makes the whole park extremely accessible. Visited: 2010, 2013, 2021 The Ridley Review: Shenandoah National Park…
Besides maybe the Marvel Cinematic Universe towards the end of its initial timeline or the buildup to the final season of Game of Thrones, I can’t remember anything in my lifetime that equals the phenomenon that was Harry Potter. From the publishing of Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone in 1997 to no fanfare to the packed midnight releases…