Stephen C Shapiro

Check out Consumer Reports. Still a fantastic resource for reviews and safety. I usually check Wirecutter, too, but their methodology and business model is different.

Why is Mandy (2018) always streaming on free-with-ads services like PlutoTV? I can’t imagine a weirder movie for ad breaks. Some guy in a spikey gimp mask gets hit in the face by an airborne chainsaw, followed by the Charmin bears

Let’s make 2025 a year of more mindful engagement, on and offline.

Take a step back when needed. Post less. Nurture healthier boundaries, more compassionate conversations, and greater focus on what truly matters. Social media can be a tool for creativity, connection, and learning, but only if we consciously use it as such.

My hope as we enter 2025 is that we embrace this dynamic with more wisdom. That we move through these platforms with mindfulness. That we ask ourselves: Why am I engaging right now? What am I contributing? How is this affecting me and others?

Social media shapes us. It nudges how we think, how we connect, and how we feel about ourselves and the world. But we shape it, too. Each click, post, and interaction builds the environment in which we exist.

Yet, despite the change of scenery, many of us engaged with these platforms in much the same way. The same frenetic pace, reactive behavior, and addictive cycles persisted. It’s a reminder of a hard truth: tools and spaces can change, but without intentionality, habits don’t.

As 2024 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the evolution of our social media spaces. This year, many of us left Twitter in search of better platforms, hoping for a healthier, more fulfilling online experience.

To everyone on this journey with me: thank you for being here, for reflecting, for growing. Let’s make 2025 a year of more conscious engagement, on and offline.

Take a step back when needed. Post less. Nurture healthier boundaries, more compassionate conversations, and greater focus on what truly matters. Social media can be a tool for creativity, connection, and learning, but only if we consciously use it as such.

My hope as we enter 2025 is that we embrace this dynamic with more wisdom. That we move through these platforms with mindfulness. That we ask ourselves: Why am I engaging right now? What am I contributing? How is this affecting me and others?

Social media shapes us. It nudges how we think, how we connect, and how we feel about ourselves and the world. But we shape it, too. Each click, post, and interaction builds the environment in which we exist.

Yet, despite the change of scenery, many of us found ourselves engaging with these platforms in much the same way. The same frenetic pace, reactive behavior, and addictive cycles persisted. It’s a reminder of a hard truth: tools and spaces can change, but without intentionality, habits don’t.

My special occasion wine is something from the fancy wooden box section at Costco. I usually cap it around $20-25.

Seeing these American-craft-beer-style beers in the UK still feels bizarre. It's a full circle of transatlantic beer culture. Really enjoyed this one.

New Jonny Greenwood is 🔥🔥🔥👨‍🚒

@aaronbrownsound.bsky.social did a great video years ago with a clippy. Those sankens are incredible but for us plebs the clippy can do a lot.

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 30 - "Finale" - Synth Chorus

Noisevember - Day 30 - "Finale" (FINALLY!) - Synth Chorus youtu.be/NiBeQWSOT5Y #noisevember24

I own it but honestly I rarely use it. My headphones are pretty flat and my room has issues the EQ can't fully fix. Whenever I next move my desk or put more treatment in the corners I may try again.

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 29 - "Q" - Synthesized Stretch Sound

Noisevember - Day 29 - "Q" - Synthesized Stretch Sound youtu.be/nUn5zKAJJo0 #noisevember

Perfect example: I just bought Wavesfactory Trackspacer on sale. It does the thing I want it to do, and it's easy to use. In hindsight I'm pretty sure I could have gotten MSpectralDynamicsLE instead and gotten more functionality, but its design and marketing made it confusing and unapproachable.

It’s because the UI, branding and marketing are awful.

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 28 - "?!" - UI Error Message Sounds

Noisevember - Day 28 - "?!" - UI Error Message Sounds youtu.be/JrsnmnCBQDw #noisevember #sounddesign

I got a used Aeron on FB marketplace a few years back. Atlas headrest is a required accessory but no regrets. Ubiquitous for a reason. Steelcase has more features for the price but they’re mostly padded fabric, which is too warm for me. I think the Sayl is underrated but no headrest option.

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 27- "Sting" - @Kilohearts Phase Plant Preset

Noisevember - Day 27 - "Sting" - @kilohearts.com Phase Plant Preset youtu.be/7Srx9_23ad0 #noisevember #sounddesign #phaseplant

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 26 - "Radical" - Video Game Music

Noisevember - Day 26 - "Radical" - @jeffvandyck.com Tribute
youtu.be/18LPlS0xi2c

My cats get very interested when I do vocal work.

That never goes away. Even with technical proficiency, there are many ways to tackle a problem. One of my favorite things about conference talks is seeing retrospectives from experienced people and hearing how much they learned on recent projects.

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 25 - "Fractal" - Musical Fractal

Noisevember - Day 25 - "Fractal" - Musical Fractal youtu.be/Rg4FIuaLxNo #noisevember

YouTube video by Stephen C Shapiro Noisevember - Day 24- "Skeuomorphic" - @Kilohearts Phase Plant Preset

Noisevember - Day 24- "Skeuomorphic" - @kilohearts.com Phase Plant Preset youtu.be/9R0wtevskfs #noisevember #sounddesign