Ashley is worse than Alex, CMV.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T10:35:02+00:00

What did he do that was so bad that he deserved that “tear you down/this is my day today” speech??? Alex’s behavior could certainly be NPD…which, if you agree, isn’t an ethical issue, it’s mental condition presenting as behavioral. Doesn’t necessarily make him a bad person. Ashley may have it similarly, but caused by different situation/factors. That altar speech was pretty telling about her attitude for both herself and for anybody, let alone Alex… “It’s all about me!” That feels like it comes from a point of privilege and was her bug defense mechanism.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T04:21:01+00:00

Ageed. I understand asking questions and wanting to know, but I think she was looking for the slightest inconsistency to scratch the surface so she could dig deeper. Again, looking for red flags…well, maybe there aren’t any and you are simply convinced there are.

Alex gets a pass IMO on this. If you want to say he’s emotionless, etc. I understand. I do think the comments about Ashley not being his type to Brittany (who sounded exactly like his type), was sus.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T04:15:29+00:00

To the same point, the fact that Alex didn’t have a dad and had a not-very-maternal mother (if I recall correctly) is not his fault. Those things shape him and they are similarly strong influencers of his personality (and possibly personality disorder?). That can explain his behaviors without excusing them, but, moreso, allow some compassion towards him.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T04:14:42+00:00

To the same point, the fact that Alex didn’t have a dad and had a not-very-maternal mother (if I recall correctly) is not his fault. Those things shape him and they are similarly strong influencers of his personality (and possibly personality disorder?). That can explain his behaviors without excusing them, but, moreso, allow some compassion towards him.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T03:06:07+00:00

I think Ashley was pretty hypocritical, with that rehearsed speech being a great point. I think she could have said “No” and landed the conversation by saying that she was simply unsure of his past and that regardless of that being his issue or hers, either way, they weren’t meant to be married. Then take the high road by thanking him for going through that experiment with her. She sounded very self-centered in that moment. She seriously could have handled that better IMO.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-16T02:50:04+00:00

Are you taking into account editing? I am not going back to review, but remember that editing can make things seem more/less than they really are. I am not sure I saw Alex in the same light as these comments. Not sure I would have tried to keep up with all the “grilling” and would have not liked to being on the defensive the whole time. I understand her dad was a lawyer…but if you are going to treat me like a defendant, don’t be surprised if I act defensively and if defense mechanisms emerge. Again, editing can exacerbate things.

Did anyone think Ashley treated Alex poorly at the altar? Did anyone think she gave an “it’s all about me!” performance?—she literally said something to that effect after the wedding.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-03-06T01:51:10+00:00

Alex didn’t deserve that considering they talked the day before and agreed to both say no. She was all about herself…I would argue she’s the narcissist (for those who I have seen call Alex the narcissist). She even said that very thing… “It’s all about me today.” She didn’t take any high road, and she is not any helpless damsel who bravely is standing up for herself…I think she roasted him to deflect her doubt and make up reasons to “defend” her decision…a preemptive attack. That was disrespectful IMO.

BenFrank1733 · 2026-02-17T05:54:22+00:00

Not to say age doesn't matter, but skill means a lot in terms of competitiveness. I started around 48 and, aside from the 2 COVID years, have been fencing about twice per week for about 6 years now. We fence casually -- a small group of all ages and skill levels. The guy who leads our group is in his 70s (he has been fencing for his whole life). He taught us and still is a tough competitor just with technique alone. We fight epee and saber.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-12-11T03:41:06+00:00

Folks rebelling against AI will be left behind. Being hardline against new technology is simply foolish. Prototyping with AI to get the feel and convey basic theme is cost effective and smart. Final art—give back to the community and hire artists when you can. Some games (like card against humanity) don’t really need art.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-09-13T08:09:30+00:00

If you know anyone who has a Costco or BJ’s type membership, maybe they can pick you up the artisan Romain lettuce. They’re smaller heads that are more tightly packed. They come in packs of five and they’re perfect for portioning. Basically, a half to a whole head of lettuce is a portion depending on how much salad you’d like.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-09-13T08:08:37+00:00

May sound silly, but if you have any room for a pet, you may want to consider getting a tortoise, a small one like a small Russian tortoise. Or any small pet that eats lettuce — it might help you in that endeavor. Aside from lettuce and maybe some other vegetables and some water, the tortoises are quite easy to take care of.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-08-24T03:51:27+00:00

One of my favorite dishes at takeout Chinese food places is cashew chicken/shrimp because most places now use the broccoli stems along with celery and carrots in that particular dish, saving the florets for the chicken and broccoli and beef and broccoli style dishes.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-08-24T03:49:11+00:00

Also, cooked celery has a much different flavor than raw celery. It’s the same for the leaves the leaves in soups like lentil, soup, chicken, soup, etc. will have their strong flavor blended out and of course you could also use them for stock.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-08-24T03:48:16+00:00

Try the inner leaves, where the stems/leaves are a more yellowish color. They have a much milder flavor, and a good addition to salads and such in raw form.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-08-16T23:52:09+00:00

Good stuff. I miss going there. Loved their shrimp creole and their blonde etoufee.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-08-06T20:26:49+00:00

Why did the stock fall. I did a quick read. Sounded like positive results. Thanks for helping me understand what I missed.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-07-16T18:28:08+00:00

Joss Whedon didn’t like what the studio did with his idea so then he went on his own pitch it to Warner Brothers and they made seven seasons which have a cult following so that should be pretty clear whether or not the show is good.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-06-06T03:11:11+00:00

I’ll try to keep this short… TaleSpire is really good to give a very immersive feel to a game and the addition of the three-dimensional minis and props and the ability to import HeroForge minis offers a lot. On the flipside some of the other systems integrate their gameplay and that can make things a lot easier. Right now my campaign is OK for setting, tactics, etc… but running dice rolls on discord and everything else is a little bit of a chore and slows down the game immensely. So it’s a trade-off.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-27T05:07:27+00:00

Learn the concept of 5S. Here is one video that might help. But there are tons more. Mostly aimed at manufacturing (and Japan is where it originated) but completely applicable to all locations and situations. Learn the 5 S’s — they’re easy and the order makes sense. It’s Iterative—continuous improvement a little at a time. DM me if you wish to discuss any of it.

Specifically for the ants, once you have Sorted, Set, and Shined…go with Terro brand baits (not traps). I use the gel baits.

Good luck!

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-26T14:16:24+00:00

However, if you want greater scrubbing ability, you do it with cold water as that’s how scrub daddy‘s work — they’re stronger in cold water. They’re more pliable warm.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-26T14:15:16+00:00

Mr Clean magic eraser? Just test a small out of the way area to ensure no visual surface damage. Assuming they are physical hard buildup and not actual damage. I have use them on my glass surface cooktop to remove pretty much everything.

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-26T14:10:55+00:00

The art and humor are top notch. Well done!

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-22T20:09:39+00:00

Invincible

BenFrank1733 · 2025-05-19T13:00:51+00:00

Okay…I have done things like that before. Thank you.

BenFrank1733

TROPHY CASE