I know it's become a trashy meme to hate on 2016 for shit, but I don't care.

2016 has definitely been the worst year of the 10's for me, so far. Here's a little story regarding why.

I've been reviewing games and movies for a few years now, but as I'm not paid money for my contributions (my 'pay' is that I get to keep the items I review) I had been on unemployment pay (we call it 'the dole' in Australia) since I finished high school in 2012.

Because I hadn't been able to get an official, paid job, I was made to start a 'work for the dole' program, in which I was bound to work 25 hours a week doing dodgy work (which was a place where they send convicts for community service) for six months, unless I could gain employment in that time.

Now, the problem with this is that the work for the dole program is designed to be as unpleasant as possible to compel 'dole bludgers' (one who avoids work for unemployment 'benefits') to get off their ass and get a job- by occupying four whole days of their week, thus minimizing the time people can spend actively seeking employment.

This job was dodgy as fuck. My main job was to disassemble old, returned coffee machines and sort out the parts for recycling. These coffee machines were often spider-infested and/or filled with dirty water. Redback spiders are the Australian equivalent of a Black Widow- they're poisonous and aggressive. My PPE for the job? A pair of plastic disposable gloves.

There were a number of other jobs in this workshop, too. One was unravelling copper coils that came out of the machines -probably the cushiest job in the shop- which was always occupied by the lazy stoners. I shit you not, these guys would come to work with pupils so dilated it's a wonder they could see in the light.

Did I mention that the place was filled with asbestos? Yeah, no joke. When I was welcomed into the workshop, I was warned not to go anywhere near the house out back because of the asbestos in the air. On the roof of the workshop? Asbestos. "Nah, it's ok. It's undisturbed, so it's safe."

Yeah ok. Then WorkSafe has a surprise inspection. That shit was not safe. The place was shut down for nearly three weeks. When it reopened- there was dust everywhere, and we had to clean it up. So if it turns out that later in life, I learn that I have Asbestosis and will probably suffocate to death some time in my autumn years, I can blame 2016.

2016 is also the year I found out my uncle has lung cancer, it's terminal, and the doctor's given him a year at best. That was a couple months ago now, we honestly don't know how long he has left. He's spending more time in the hospital than at home these days. The other day, they also found cancer in his spine, as well as crust forming in his lungs.

My pop's showing symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and my auntie attempted suicide earlier this week.

All in all, pretty shit year.

But on the bright side of things:
-I got a real job this year.
-I became admin here this year.
-I joined the Newer Team this year.
-I'm making enough money to gain independence.
-I made a commitment to losing weight this year and succeeded- 41 kilograms (90 pounds), at ideal weight for the first time ever.

For 2017, there is nothing but opportunity for me. I would make a New Year's Resolution to next year, but it's never worked before so I rather doubt it...
^{I hear the ladies love the Mario romhacks}

I wonder if it will just cut to this after beating the final boss: