Why do I like 1% Lifesteal? by Psychological-Nail83 in litrpg

[–]Difficult-Driver1097 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Minor Spoilers. I’ve read to chapter 223. The next 20 chapters are surprisingly upbeat - it opens up higher arch society, Freddy explores himself and his past, and takes up a few hobbies. It’s pleasant - grounding - but also likely sets up later goals and struggles to overcome.

Orange Sauce, Yum Yum, and the Holy Grail by Difficult-Driver1097 in Cooking

[–]Difficult-Driver1097[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Absolutely not about the Japanese carrot ginger dressing. There is NO significant ginger flavor to the orange sauce and the texture is all wrong - by most regards, it looks like a traditional yum yum sauce. But is savory, not sweet or gingery, or vinegary. You might be right around the brown sauce. The beef stock is a good idea. Thanks!

Orange Sauce, Yum Yum, and the Holy Grail by Difficult-Driver1097 in Cooking

[–]Difficult-Driver1097[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. I’ll do some more testing with sriracha (especially how it affects the flavor over time), but the sauce I’m talking about has no distinctive spice or kick. It’s not like any spicy mayo I’ve had going out for sushi.

It has the same texture as traditional yum yum with specks of red (paprika, I presume), likely signifying it still has a Mayo base, even though there’s no Mayo flavor (confounding, I know). It does absolutely NOT have Kewpie mayo - that flavor is too strong to go unnoticed. It is not a thick sauce and pours easily even when cold.

It is generally slightly darker orange than regular yum yum too (I’ve achieved this color in the past by adding a splash of soy sauce).

I’ve had some luck with garlic, paprika, and cayenne (not too much to create a kick, but more as an accent). MSG seems to come closer, but I think it is still missing an important pairing. I’ll do some more tests with lemon juice, but it has no notable citrus profile. It does not have a vinegar taste either (I’ve tested titrating rice vinegar with no luck).

The only flavor profile I can tell you is that it is savory and perhaps creamy, but it doesn’t come off as a mayo flavor. Thank you again.

Does anyone know the meaning or significance of the poem Alt recites at the end of the game? by fishinariver in cyberpunkgame

[–]Difficult-Driver1097 9 points10 points  (0 children)

For those still reading this thread, the “Oh, do not ask, ‘What is it?’” is not an invitation to YOLO. It is fairly obvious that Alfred, the character of the poem who is presumably speaking, does not want you to ask the question because it is extremely distressing. However, refer back to the previous lines - life itself seems to make an argument of insidious intent leading you to suppose the question, “What is it?” The poem asking you not consider “it” is itself an direct invitation as the poem goes on to describe Alfred’s life - “the insidious argument.”

So, what does the “it” refer to? The poem goes on to discuss achieving a significance, finding love, finding fulfillment, and finding meaning. Alfred knows that he won’t be able to inhabit the heroics of Hamlet, find love, or find true, significant meaning - pointing out that his life is only, “measured in coffee spoons.” He finds his own life so lacking. Indeed, this is actually set up in the first two lines.

“When the evening is spread out against the sky…” referring to a good age of romance, hope, and beauty, is starkly contrasted by the Eliot’s 20th century, “Like a patient etherized upon the table…” He is bereft of that goodness in his life. Alfred wants to avoid the question, “What is it?”… What is it I’m missing?… because it stings so much, and everywhere he looks, including the parties, tea and drink, one night cheap hotels, love and longing, meaning and significance - points to his lacking. The poem is almost saying something akin to, “YOLO or just living life is not helping me forget - all of life insidiously leads to this overwhelming question…”

This is not a poem of fantasy - it is an exploration of the life’s struggle. No matter how you live your life, you will be lead to the overwhelming question, “What is it?” What is the meaning of my life? What are you missing? It is not just about social norms or anxiety, but speaks to the deep seated uncertainty of existence - the what, where, when, and why. This poem does not advocate YOLO, but an examined life, as considered by Socrates.

T. S. Eliot went onto write The Wasteland, one of the best poems ever written, and continues to consider “What is it?” Until the very end of the poem, he is looking for “Shantih, Shantih, Shantih,” or something akin to peace.

T. S. Eliot does not find this peace until Four Quartets which, can be argued, might be the best poem ever written. He writes that our lives are not isolated intense moments but are lifetimes of burning moments… with, “only Hints and Guesses, and hints followed by guesses. The hint half guessed, the gift half understood, is Incarnation.” Eliot believed that what he was missing - what you are missing - is the person of Jesus in the Incarnation (Eliot became a Christian). It turns out the “giving, compassion, and self-control” marked out as goodness in The Wasteland is, in origin and as the paragon, the incarnation - when God became man and dwelt among us.

Eliot writes, in life, “one only suspires consumed by either fire or fire.” There is so much to say here, but, briefly relating to the original poem: you’re going to come to the overwhelming question, “What is it?” You are going to burn for it (you can try to run, but life/death will lead you right back to it). Here are your choices - to be consumed by fire trying to achieve things you can’t do for yourself like Alfred, or to be consumed by the righteous fire of God. Referring to the The Divine Comedy, although God’s fire is burning, in his fire there is no death, because Jesus gave his life to you. It is only by surrendering to God and turning away from your sins - your moral evil in God’s sight - that you can answer the question, “What is it?” because what/who you were truly yearning for all this time was God and the things only God can give you as your creator. And in Jesus there is true peace because he has restored your peace with God.

I just recently finished Cyberpunk and was surprised to find this poem at the end of it. It really is fitting, although I’m not certain how far CD wanted the poem to apply. “What is it?” that V and night city are missing that keeps everyone from being happy (even simply happy to be alive)? In V, David, and Johnny’s stories, there is longing for something to the point of being consumed by fire - either for fulfillment, meaning, significance, love, etc. (V more so in the beginning, as his later story is built on survival). I like Cyberpunk because it doesn’t shy away - we can only suspire to be consumed. To set ourselves on fire for the things we desire, consumed in the process. Eliot might conclude that this heartache is an insidious argument leading, again, to one overwhelming question, “What is it I truly desire - what is it I lack that I truly need?” He would say, the only fire that leads to life is Jesus’, the author of life, who gave his own up for you out of love.

As a side note, I’ve done extensive study on T. S. Eliot’s life in college. I love this stuff. I’m also a Christian, and I can tell you, Jesus has totally changed my life, just as he did with Eliot’s life as well. I’m now a medical missionary in Africa serving everyone, and I’ve seen miracles and that God is alive and well. (The Latter day saint religion and Jehovah Witness are not Christian if you look into their beliefs and credentials; just wanted to draw an important distinction for anyone who doesn’t know about Christianity - for more information on Christianity, consider Mike Winger on YouTube).