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  1. Today
  2. Yes, I saw that similarity to the scene on Jakku with Finn as well. Watched 3 more last night, so just the last one to go! It was way too late to squeeze it in yesterday!
  3. So, I've been frustrated lately. My application package is getting great reviews. I'm told I am one of the strongest candidates my organization has, which has shocked the managament team. I'm trying to drive important, visionary work. Nothing is getting done unless I'm personally working on it. I've tried to set accountability measures up, and the simple fact is no one cares, and no money to make stuff happen out of thin air. While on vacation, my work bestie texted me about a job opening. I told her hell no. The reason she texted me is because this was my dream job 10 years ago. I asked the guy in the job if he would mentor me, and he told me no. He then started bad mouthing me to all the senior engineers. Finally someone asked my old boss if it was true that I was an idiot, and my boss stood up for me AND came to tell me what was being said behind my back. This guy had run multiple people out of their jobs, including a former mentor. They transferred, got laid off, you name it. He destroyed careers. I said screw it and joined my former mentor in his new organization. After a few years of being bored out of my mind, I went back to my old job, and looked that asshole straight in the eye and told him I was back. He looked legitimately terrified. A few years later COVID hit and he took a voluntary layoff package and retired. Last summer, we heard they were trying to hire him back and like 10 of us banded together and told our director how toxic and useless he was. The director actually listened and refused to listen to the VP who wanted him to hire him back. The VP responded by transferring him to work for her and forced him to hire him back. He's been back, bad mouthing everyone, and I have steadily avoided him. Everyone is furious. Well, I'm not sure if he's getting bored or what, but the VP decided she needs another one of him, and gave my organization a list of names. I was apparently the management team's first choice out of that list. I told them I'd love to take it but I have some serious concerns about working with that guy again, and that I needed the VP to trust me and not listen to this guy shit-talk me. I met with my new director who has my back and wants me to document ANYTHING this guy does. Since he is a consultant, he has to keep his nose clean and if I file a complaint of harassment, he is likely out. I was given discretion to keep my hybrid work schedule (I told them that summer was most of the issue, during the school year it is less of a problem). I am actually really excited about the new position. I've started attending meetings and this is a space that I am very comfortable in. My last role was what you would consider a stretch assignment because I am a mechanical engineer and it had a heavy software focus, which is not my strongest suit. I was never super comfortable there with all the jargon (and honestly I feel like some people were making shit up as they went and no one was calling them on it because they didn't know either). My last concern is my mentor. This was supposed to be his role. However, he's also a victim of this guy, and he's pissed off that VP in the past. He's also an introvert and doesn't like making a big stink. I told management they need to smooth it over with him a little bit because he IS getting screwed and pigeon-holed. He and I kept making eye contact at the office yesterday and he mouthed, "We will talk later," but he was swamped all day. I have a ton of respect for him and I want our working relationship to be intact. I don't think he's mad at me, but he should be mad at the situation. Also, I'm told my rival's application is not scoring well. He is a former manager who decided to return to engineering because he realized it was more cush and better paying. And because he thought he'd get this role no problem. Turns out that while he can fool management, the technical folks aren't fooled. His biggest ally also left, and with the new director, there's been a massive organizational shakeup, and it's been to my benefit. She is returning a lot of power to the workers and telling her management team to get their crap together, and asking why we do stupid things.
  4. Maximus is VERY Finn. I thought this multiple times.
  5. I finally got to sit down and watch the 1st two episodes. I'm enjoying it so far. I will say though, when our imposter Paladin showed up in Diamond City (the score board was seen when they entered), it felt very much like when Finn met Ray. I didn't hate on it. It was probably one of the funnier moments from that travesty of a trilogy. I'm hearing that Bethesda is going to give a free patch to Fallout 4, that will make the game 4K ready on the PS5 and Series X. Now to decide which console I need to get a copy for. I got rid of my PS4 version, after 100% completion.
  6. Yesterday
  7. Maybe now that AAA games have better writing, and we have adaptions that are actually good, Hollywood execs will stop thinking they need to completely rework games to adapt them. Last of Us was a 1:1 (ish) remake while Fallout was original but as true to game lore and design as possible. That's the way to go. Now lets manifest me getting to do Mass Effect.
  8. Finished it! One of the better game adaptations. Between this, Last of Us and Twisted Metal, video game series are on a roll!
  9. Watched the first 4 last night and enjoyed them a lot! They have nailed the world of the games so well. Looking forward to watching the rest!
  10. I almost fell bad that I'm missing the Samoa Joe run as champion.
  11. Last week
  12. Well, I feel like I’m repeating myself. Neither of you have convinced me that I am mistaken. I don’t think I’m substantially misunderstanding either of you. If I keep restating your positions and saying that I think it’s wrong if what you want is what you want it’s only because you both keep restating your positions and saying that you think it’s right. There’s no way to know for sure short of President Biden changing his mind — I don’t have to ask myself why that hasn’t happened yet because I can see that it’d be bad for all directly involved (and, long-term, the US and the rest of the world too!) for that to happen so it makes sense he hasn’t! — or Netanyahu being assassinated. If either of those two things occur and it turns out the outcome is good I’ll be glad to eat my words. Although, I struggle to see either Netanyahu being assassinated or President Biden changing his mind actually happening. Neither is an absolute impossibility, of course. Somebody might kill Netanyahu. What would make President Biden change his mind? I don’t know. Maybe if Israel sinks the International Freedom Flotilla. Anything can happen.
  13. Look at what’s happening even though Israel is strong. Thinking things would be better if Israel was made weak is wrong. Look at what Sinwar and Nasrallah and Khamenei are willing to do even though Israel is strong. Think about what more they would do if they had good reason to believe Israel was weak. Think about what more Israel would do if it genuinely believed that it was under immediate existential threat. Assassinating its prime minister or cutting off the US supply of support and funding and arms to Israel would not make things better for anyone in Israel or the Gaza Strip or the West Bank or Lebanon or Iran. Or, in the long-term, the US and the rest of the world.
  14. “I know the perfect tools to make things better. Making more war happen and assassination!” I try my hardest to assume the best of people but I can’t help but think you haven’t given much thought to what would happen if what you say you wanted actually occurred. I probably just need to try harder.
  15. So you just want this assassination to happen even though the outcome will be bad. Okay! I like it when bad things don’t happen! My response to this is to refer you back to what I think will happen if that happens. Do you know what reality is? Reality is the things that happen. I think if that was really the case Nasrallah and Khamenei would stop attacking Israel. For all the talk about Netanyahu wanting war with Iran to stay in power it seems like this might not actually be the case. Gantz and Eisenkot pushed for immediate retaliation before the attack from Iran had even properly happened — shades of 2000AD! — and Netanyahu said no. Netanyahu knows that the Israeli public punishes prime ministers electorally when wars are on their watch. He’ll go with what assures his political survival, sure, but I suspect President Biden’s statement that the US won’t participate in any Israeli counterattack actually did that. No way to know for sure — I always think of Don Draper’s reply to Roger Sterling in the Cuban Missile Crisis episode of Mad Men (‘07-’15) : “Kennedy’s daring them to bomb us. Right when I got a second chance.” “We don’t know what’s really going on. You know that.” — but that’s my take. Yesterday? It’s Tuesday. What are you talking about? I’m glad you like the guy from Three’s Company (‘76’-84) and, yes, it is difficult to do that! Oh, I got the impression you didn’t care. My mistake! I don’t usually look at real things in reality and think about ideal solutions. What should happen? That’s just asking to be disappointed. Reality isn’t some piece of sci-fi fantasy make’em’up offered to me for my entertainment. When it comes to the real world I just try and see what’s happening and, from time to time, I wonder about what will happen. I mean, I’m human. Sometimes I do wish for better, sure. But that’s an impulse I try my best to tamp down. If you put me on the spot, though, my answer is pretty simple : Hamas should return the captives. Israel should end the war. The peace process should restart. If you feel like you’re wasting your time, well, I don’t know how to assuage your feelings on that score. I do think Hamas is pretty bad for the Palestinians! I think there’s some pretty strong evidence now that this is the case! I don’t agree with Sinwar’s statement that he was willing for the entire population of the Gaza Strip, down to the very last infant, to be killed so long as the dream of Hamas survives. I think that’d be bad if that happened! But if you do disengage and I ever wonder to myself, “Self! What would Ondine think about what’s going on the Middle East?” I’ll just watch John Ritter’s television show and get the real deal straight from the source.
  16. We had protestors block the entrances to a local Valero headquarters in protest of it providing oil and gas to Israel yesterday. I applauded them. I get it’s scary and especially after Iran launched strikes this week on Israel but I feel this is a stark warning if we allow extremist factions of government full rule. No one wants to find common middle ground.
  17. My stance hasnt softened, if it seems like it has it's only to the extent that I'm trying not to use inflammatory language for the sake of ruffling minimal feathers. I still think Netanyahu deserves nothing more than being lined up against a wall and unceremoniously shot in the back of the head, and left where he falls. Will good come of that? Probably not. Would the reality of that result in someone worse taking power, given the current situation? Quite possibly. Saying someone needs a bullet or deserves a bullet is not the same as saying "I think that is the most responsible and sensible course of action at the present time". I think his government needs to be tried for war crimes. That hasn't softened. The reality is, like I said, we (The Us and UK) need to stop arming and supporting Israel, and publicly denounce them, heavy sanctions should be imposed upon them, and they should be brought to heel. There needs to be a permanent ceasfire, and a two state solution needs to be instituted. Will that happen? Probably not. Israel is the US' proverbial air craft carrier in the middle east. The US will be hard pressed to ever directly challenge Israeli policy/actions. You keep banging on about a possible Hezbollah invasion.. and I keep saying the only person who wants war with Hezbollah is Netanyahu. Hezbollah does not want war with Israel and nor does Iran. Why? Because right now, there is a clean narrative of Israel disproportionately attacking Gaza, expanding it's borders, and committing genocidal war crimes. The US and the UK are beginning to distance themselves from Israel. The rest of the world is alresdy united in disgust with Israel. But as soon as either Hezbollah or Iran get involved it muddies that narrative and the conversation is no longer about Israel and it's war crimes and atrocities, it becomes murkier and about what should be done with Hezbollah and Iran. Then Netanyahu can solidify his hold on to power as a wartime PM. Hezbollah and Iran know this, and understand it's in their best interest NOT to engage with Israel. Meanwhile Israel is trying to provoke both Hezbollah and Iran into an open conflict, as we have just seen yesterday. With Iran launching a counter strike of some 300 missiles as a direct proportional response to Israeli actions taken against Iran. As for my weaksauce sources. I gave a screen grab of a mainstream news feed simply to highlight that Israel is frequently provoking and engaging with Hezbollah. To highlight my statement that any action from Hezbollah will be a direct proportional response to Israeli actions. And Scott Ritter, who I've mentioned but not directly linked, has dozens or more videos disseminating whats been happening since the begining of the conflict, and is probably one of the most informed and knowledgeable publicly speaking experts on the matters of war and geopolitical conflict. So not sure what is weaksauce about referencing his arguements. If anything is weaksauce it's my ability to retain everything that I've read or listened to, and parce it into a legible post without using too many minutes of my day. Finally I am interested in what you think, it's why I asked what you think should be done in the first place. Because at the moment it seems like you wish nothing more than for the US to continue to supply arms, and for Israel to continue doing what it's doing. Which is tantamount to appeasement of a genocidal regime. If you're one of the "Free Palestine from Hamas" folks then just say so and I'll stop wasting my time engaging.
  18. Just finished it, finale was pretty good. All set up for a second season. I think I enjoyed the sets and the props and the world stuff best. Story was okay, but overall really fun and brutal. A lot better than the Witcher
  19. Definitely an improvement, and now that they're World Tag Team Titles (again), I wonder what the rename/redesign for the Smackdown titles will be
  20. There are new tag team belts for Raw. I don't like the red. But they do look better than the old belts.
  21. I also think it’s funny — not hah hah funny, it doesn’t make me laugh, but kind of funny in the abstract — how your stance has softened. You go from saying “Netanyahu needs a bullet to the back of the skull” on April 5 to “I think Netanyahu deserves death” on April 9 to “I stand by my statement Netanyahu needs a bullet” on April 11. I believe you think you stand by your statement, sure. But that’s not what you stated. It’s not all of it! You’re missing a few of those colourful little words at the end. They really set the stage! And you dropped a register there in between. “Deserves death” is just not the same thing as “needs a bullet to the back of the skull” or “needs a bullet”. Tough for me to imagine a principled character in some old war movie going from saying “Zee Führer must be shot in a humiliating and painful fashion!” in one scene to “I think Zee Führer deserves death” in another to finally settling on “I stand by my statement Zee Führer must be shot” in his last. If I were watching that old war movie I wouldn’t think that this was a guy who really wanted anything but to get mad at someone he’s allowed to get mad at. That guy in the old war movie was just changing the tempo of his tune as he blew off a little steam. Mixed metaphor, sure, but I hope what I’m saying here comes across. My point is either as far as you’re concerned Netanyahu is Hitler — which would make any deviation or fluctuation odd. you’re talking about Hitler here! are you soft on Hitler? — or he’s not Hitler and you know that and you’re just kind of scrambling around. It could be I’m wrong. I might be reading too much into it! Maybe you meant the exact same thing all three times. Many people — myself included! — often have difficulty making themselves understood.
  22. I said that Hezbollah will do a full-scale invasion depending on what the US does — what Zathras wants it to do! — and that it might very well do so even if the US does not do anything. You decided to tell me about Israeli incursions into Lebanon and how Netanyahu was trying to draw Iran into the conflict by doing this. You made the point of how Netanyahu is trying to draw Iran into the conflict by posting a screenshot about Israeli strikes on Lebanon — which have become somewhat routine over the past few months alongside Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel — rather than, say, a screenshot about the strike on a consulate (!) killing Iranian generals. I was telling you this and that I was aware of what Hezbollah might do no matter what the US does. I said I was aware of what Hezbollah might do no matter what the US does when I wrote the words “It might very well do so even if the US does not do that”. You were telling me something I already said I knew and you were supporting this information with bottom shelf evidence. I was telling you this. I am now telling it to you again. ME: Hezbollah will invade if [x] and it might invade if [not-x]. YOU: Hezbollah might invade if [not-x] and I have weaksauce proof. ME: I already said Hezbollah might invade if [not-x]. And if you want to talk about the reason why Hezbollah might invade if [not-x] then you should support it with something better than that. Here you go! Here it is! This is what you should support it with! You don’t care what I think. I took your words ““Netanyahu needs a bullet to the back of the skull, and every member of his regime should be tried for war crimes.” and “I think Netanyahu deserves death, yes. And his regime needs to be tried for war crimes. I'm saying nothing particularly controversial given the context. No different from saying Hitler should've been assassinated and saved the world a lot of trouble.” and “I stand by my statement Netanyahu needs a bullet.” as directly analogizing assassinating Hitler and saving the world a lot of trouble with killing Netanyahu and trying his regime for war crimes. You were saying Netanyahu and his regime are Hitler and you were saying that you saying this was not particularly controversial. Netanyahu and every member of his regime are Jews. (Are they? I suppose that’s not true in the strictest possible sense. The head of COGAT is Druze!) I characterized the above in the following fashion : “Controversial? Me? I just think these Jews are Hitler.” If you really think I’ve misinterpreted you and what you really meant to say all along, well, fine. I’ll revise. “Controversial? Me? I just think this Jew is Hitler.” It got called controversial because you used the word ‘controversial’. I don’t know how to explain to anyone who has already attended kindergarten that a bad thing doesn’t become a good thing because you think it’ll make a good thing happen. The prime minister of a parliamentary democracy being assassinated isn’t a good thing. And a moment’s thought from anyone familiar with the particular parliamentary democracy being discussed ought to make anyone realize that the consequences of that happening wouldn’t necessarily and automatically be good consequences. If you want something bad to happen because you think it’ll make good things happen and I pipe up with, “No, that’s bad! And it’d make bad things happen!” you can of course keep insisting that you want it to happen because it’ll be good. It’s up to you. I can’t stop you!
  23. Nice pillows. I can sleep on rocks if I have a decent pillow. I just bought two of these pillows.
  24. Welp, Iran attacked, and it fizzled. Still, the Israelis want to counter attack Iran for responding to their attack. And, this will inevitably lead to the US getting dragged further into this conflict.
  25. Watched the first 5 episodes so far, I love it! I've only ever played Fallout 4, so that's all I have to go off of.
  26. Tonally it’s all over the map and def silly— but it won me over as a fan of the games. They stayed true to game lore even more than Last of Us did.
  27. You might say MEH but I'm psyched! I ordered a headboard! It's a handmade mother of pearl inlay flower pattern on white. I found it on sale on etsy. Sale ends tomorrow so I had to make a quick decision but I've been looking for YEARS to complete my bed. I was stuck on a canopy thing for a while but I like my bed linens to hang over the bottom of the bed so that's best achieved with just a headboard. I just hope I can attach it well to the bed. I don't want to have to attach it to the damn wall. I wish I could show it to you but I got rid of my photobucket account.
  28. I'll have to check it out. I absolutely loved playing Fallout 3, New Vegas and Fallout 4.
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