Tag: 2025

One Last Post for 2025; Time to Celebrate

December 23, 2025

Hello everyone! Thank you for visiting Nooz Buffet! I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of the year already. December 21st was the first day of winter, although it has definitely felt like winter here in the northeastern United States since the beginning of the month, Christmas is tomorrow, and there are six more days until the new year.

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The end of the year is such an awesome time, and it’s not solely because I get a two-week vacation. We’re now in our eighth year here at Nooz Buffet, and if you’ve been following us, then you know we take a break during the final week of December and the first week of January. Between the Astrological Analysis and the regular production of article postings, there’s a lot of writing that goes on, so time off is not only necessary to prevent burnout, but it also gives us time to make plans for the new year.

In addition to vacation, the end of the year is awesome because over the years, we’ve established somewhat of a tradition where we recognize our top viewers and pretty much some up the year in terms of statistics. This year, however, I’m going to add one more thing to this final article, which is a short astrology reading for the new year.

Sound good?

Alright, let’s get into it!

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Nooz Buffet is a website based in the United States, so naturally, the majority of our views come from inside the United. For the past seven years, I’ve gone internationally-outside our country to rank the top five countries according to views, but this year I would like to do both.

So, let’s start here at home.

  1. Oregon
  2. Ohio
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. New York
  5. Virginia
  1. India
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Australia
  4. Canada
  5. Ireland

Thank you everyone for your love and support!

Inside the United States, our top five viewers of 2025 are Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. Thank you, America, and a huge thank you and congratulations to the state of Oregon!

Globally, our top five viewers of 2025 are India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Ireland. India actually moved up one spot from to dethrone last year’s winner, Kenya. The United Kingdom also moved up from in 2024 to in 2025, and Canada moved up from in 2024 to in 2025.

Australia is new to our list this year, and the majority of views are coming from Sydney! Thank you, Sydney!

Globally, I would like to thank all of our readers and supporters, and I would like to congratulate India!

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Statistically, since the beginning (September 21, 2018), 2022 has always been our best year, but 2025 was an absolute beast. We really haven’t added many new subscribers, but in terms of general traffic, views, visitors, likes, and comments, we crushed 2022 by 60%! That’s unbelievable. Yes, 2025 has been a record year for us, and again, we owe all of that you. Thank you.

In 2025, we posted 146 articles for a total of 97,152 words. That’s an insane amount of production considering my books, Smorgasbord and Smorgasbord 2 were about 40,000 words each. It’s almost like writing two more books, and this doesn’t include the Astrological Analysis.

Since 2018, we’ve posted 1,520 articles for a total of 626,719! 😂🤯 That’s over half a million words! That’s like writing 15 books!

Thank you, again. Your love and support (and sometimes hate😂) is what keeps me going.

I don’t care what religion you belong to, who or what you worship, or where you’re from geographically; I would like to wish everyone, in the United States and around the world, a Merry Christmas and Holiday Season that’s filled with love, laughter, and warmth.

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So, let me start this by wishing everyone a safe and happy new year. I really do hope 2026 is good to us.

Numerologically speaking, 2026 is a year of new beginnings and fresh starts. 2 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 10/1. As you can see, if you add the numbers 2, 2, and 6, it equals 10, which can be added and reduced to 1. As 2025 comes to a close, it will truly be the end of many things, so enjoy it, and enjoy the time you have. 2026 holds a vibrational energy that promotes change, personal motivation, creativity and life, and will power.

In terms of endings, please don’t get anxious and don’t worry. There’s a grace period! We just had a new lunar cycle begin on December 19th. So, cyclically, there’s a carryover or an overlap of energy. That new moon will reach culmination on January 3rd and then turn new again on January 18th. This grace period actually gives us until the 18th of January to resolve matters and move forward. Once January 18th arrives, it’s all systems go. Prepare for that.

Astrologically, at precisely 00:02 A.M. on January 1st, which is two minutes into New Year’s Day, the Sun will be on the tenth degree of Capricorn in the Third House. This position for the Sun as it sits only four degrees away from the IC calls for us to be at peace with ourselves and pure of heart so we’re capable of radiating harmony.

Libra on the ascendant is excellent for socializing, hanging out with friends, significant others, and family members. We feel much better when we’re in the company of others. Don’t be shy.

The midheaven located in Cancer is suggestive of hiding, retreating, and wanting to spend the evening at home cuddled up with someone you love, and while that’s always a wise choice, especially on New Year’s Eve, some of us aren’t single.

On the evening of December 31st, love is in the air. If you’re single, you might meet someone special at a party or a social gathering. Conversations are best if they’re kept light and breezy. Have some fun, and for the evening of New Year’s Eve on December 31st as we’re heading into the new year, leave the heavy stuff at home.

Often, I’ve heard people say that whatever you’re doing when the new year begins at midnight on the January 1st, is what you’ll be doing for the rest of the year. If you’re enjoying yourself and having fun when the New Year arrives, 2026 will be a good year. If you’re arguing and fighting when the New Year arrives, 2026 will be filled with fighting and arguing.

How true is this?

Well, I don’t know how true that is, but it’s awfully interesting to see Mars and Venus so close to the Sun, which seems to be hinting at a choice between love and war.

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Alright, everyone. This is the final post of 2025.

We’ll be back on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Thank you so much for all your love and your support. Truly, you’ve made 2025 a record-breaking year. I appreciate and love you all to the moon and back.

Have a safe New Year celebration.

If you’re interested in the Astrological Analysis, please email me.

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NCAA College Football 2025 Opens with Big XII Matchup

Augustus 17, 2025

I just want to make it perfectly clear that I don’t typically cover college football games involving teams from the Big 12 Conference, however, since the 2025 season begins with a major Big 12 matchup, I decided to come out of my Big Ten comfort zone. Just this one time though.

We are six days away from the start of the 2025 college football season. The very first game is scheduled for a 12 o’clock kickoff on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23rd, and for whatever reason, this game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats will be played at a neutral site in Dublin, Ireland.

When Iowa State met Kansas State during the 2024 season on November 30th, which was almost nine months ago, the Cyclones were 9-2 and ranked 18th nationally, and the Wildcats were 8-3 and ranked 24th nationally. Iowa State won that game, 29-21, and they went on to beat Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl 42-41, to cap off their first ever eleven-win season.

Kansas State met Rutgers in the 2024 Rate Bowl. They won 44-41 and recorded their 5th Bowl victory in seven postseason Bowl appearances. Both teams finished on a high note, but Iowa State was the better team last year. This year, Kansas State begins the season ranked 17th nationally, and Iowa State sits at , but the Wildcats are the Big 12 favorites.

Kansas State Wildcats

Apparently, 2024 was a little bit of a rebuilding year for K-State, but 2025 is filled with high hopes and big expectations as their offense features the return of four high profile juniors, QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, TE Garrett Oakley, and WR Jayce Brown.

Joe Jackson gives the Wildcats depth at the running back position, so that position figures to be a strength, but there are questions elsewhere. Wide receivers, Jerand Bradley (senior) and Jaron Tibbs (junior), are both transfers, so they’ll be expected to step in and step up immediately. If they can, it will change the entire dynamic of the K-State offense.

Johnson will get three targets to toss the ball to, and opposing defensives will have a hard time trying to figure out how to cover three threats at the wide receiver position, an excellent Tight End, and a super-fast running back.

On the offensive line, the Wildcats appear to be okay. Center, Sam Hecht, and Guard, Taylor Poitier, anchor a unit that returns three seniors.

Defensively, Kansas State has arguably the best defensive line in the conference, and junior linebacker, Austin Romaine, is expected to earn All-Big 12 honors.

Iowa State Cyclones

Do you want to hear something interesting about Iowa State? Their best linebacker, Caleb Bacon, missed the entire season after suffering a leg injury in the first game, and their second-best linebacker, Will McLaughlin, missed a bunch of time as well.

They’re back, they’re healthy, and they join stud mic linebacker, Kooper Ebel, to form arguably the best unit in the conference.

Nose tackle, Dominique Orange (senior), is not only the best in the Big 12, but he’s one of the best defensive linemen in all of college football. Junior defensive ends, Ikenna Ezeogu and Vontroy Malone, are expected to have breakout seasons.

The defensive backfield features two guys that will probably play on Sunday, senior safety, Jeremiah Cooper, and All-Big 12 junior cornerback, Jontez Williams.

Defensively, the Cyclones will be better this year.

Offensively, at running back, Iowa State has a true one-two punch in Carson Hansen and Abu Sama. At quarterback, the Cyclones have a real star in junior, Rocco Becht. Becht has passed for 6,690 yards and 48 touchdowns in three seasons!

Wide receiver, Chase Sowell is red-shirt junior and transfer from East Carolina. He played and started nine games for the Pirates, and he finished the season with 34 receptions for 678 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Cyclones expect big things from Sowell, and Sowell is pushing for a breakout year.

In general, the Cyclones don’t seem to be very strong at the wide receiver position. They return fifth year senior, Daniel Jackson, who was injured and missed all of last season, and junior, Xavier Townsend, who started three games and then used his redshirt.

6’4″ Sowell is definitely the go-to-guy for Becht, and hopefully he can add a spark and revitalize the unit.

Iowa State has two very good tight ends. Benjamin Brahmer (junior) is 6’7″ 250 pounds, and Gabe Burkle (junior) is 6’6″ 260 pounds. They’re both big targets with good hands.

Iowa State had a lot of injuries last season on both sides of the ball, but we don’t have to worry about any of that now since their game against Kansas State is the first game of the season. With a healthy roster, I think they can do a lot better than their predicted fourth place finish in the Big 12.

Oh my gosh. Ya know what guys? I’m doing two things I don’t normally do. I’m writing a preview for a Big 12 game, and I’m betting on a college football game that’s being played during the first week of the season.

Conclusion

So, this game is being played in Dublin, Ireland.  That means home-field-advantage is a nonfactor.  Kansas State is not only favored to win this game, but they're being picked to win the Big 12 Conference and finish no lower than 13th nationally.

I think the Iowa defense is going to step up, show out, and play a lot better than a lot of people expect them to play.  Carson Hansen and Abu Sama will help Rocco Becht control the clock, but Becht will make the big plays when he needs to.  The addition of Chase Sowell will keep the Kansas State defense honest.

My Pick to win:  Iowa State Cyclones
My Pick Versus the Point Spread:  Iowa State Cyclones +3