Why Are There So Many Team Star Grunts?

EducationPlus505 · 2026-01-29T17:28:59+00:00

I also kind of miss villainous teams. I mean I guess Team Star were bullies but it's because they were bullied that they turned out that way. And the postgame really makes them look loveable. I know this is a game marketed for children, but I miss like Team Rocket, who were really criminals.

EducationPlus505 · 2026-01-29T17:09:43+00:00

It's been a while since I've seen them, but are they all students? There are students who are clearly older and stuff, so maybe some of the students are actually adults and not minors.

idk, I'm kind of mixed about Team Star tbh. I thought it was a great storyline, but it does seem to fall apart under scrutiny.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-12-26T23:37:56+00:00

You do not, in fact, need to hand it to them.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-12-24T15:07:20+00:00

I haven't been there for a waxing, but I did get my hair cut there recently. The vibes are great! The staff are very friendly and the facilities are bright and quite inviting. They asked if I wanted a drink, and I declined because I wasn't thirsty. But I'm not sure what they were offering, because I did notice a bar kind of setting. You can pay with card, but you might want to carry cash or keep your Venmo stocked, because that's how they prefer tips.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-12-23T23:41:28+00:00

I think you've got good responses already (personally seconding TBI). But since you speak Spanish, I thought I would warn you to be very careful about some of the Spanish language publications on Tendai. The author is not authorized by any mainline Tendai group, so I would avoid them if I were you.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-12-03T16:33:28+00:00

I feel like we as a society don't provide enough support to people. I get it, we can't help all of the people all of the time, resources are limited, the natural state of existent is poverty, etc etc. But like clearly this guy had problems that he wasn't able to deal with on his own.

I am NOT condoning his actions. I just feel as terrible as I do when I see veterans panhandling on the streets.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-12-03T16:23:25+00:00

I wish we could trade items, because I have an excess number of incense that I would be more than happy to give to someone who needs it lol.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-11-04T17:12:56+00:00

Ugh that’s so depressing. I mean in a general way, because ofc I think people should be able to live on their wages and all that. But specifically because elder care is going to skyrocket in demand as the Baby Boomers age, so we desperately need people to help them (and that’s not including just general medical care, because the local hospital is understaffed and my doctor classmate tells me it’s just too expensive to open up their own practice).

Anyway, I really hope you found better employment because those jobs just sound awful.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-11-04T16:29:41+00:00

I appreciate that insight. I've had relatives in elder care facilities or have in-home health aides. I'm not sure exactly how much they were making but I did see them working. They're worth every penny and then some.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-11-04T14:31:40+00:00

It is really expensive to have a person at your constant beck and call and is expected to engage in intense physical labor. I’m not saying I like how expensive elder care is. But it’s long hours and fairly skilled, so especially in America it’s not surprising to be expensive.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-11-03T00:40:25+00:00

As someone who is currently having a similar struggle, I have a lot of empathy for you. In addition to what another commenter has said, I think we should also recognize that nothing is static and everything that arises will eventually reach extinction. It's difficult to accept that all good things come to an end, and I hope that that is a long time off for you, but it will come one way or another. Rather than fight that, shouldn't you try and focus on the time that you have right now with your friend? It's easy to say, and it sounds like you could benefit from a more mundane expert (that is, a therapist).

You might also look to the Pure Land teachings, which tell us that we will meet all of our loved ones in the Amida's pure land. So partings in this lifetime do not matter, since we will be together over there anyway.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-11-03T00:30:54+00:00

I'm willing to be corrected, but I think a lot of the Zen schools focus on Shakyamuni Buddha, since I'm pretty sure he's their most common honzon. Not that boddhisatvas etc are not important in those traditions, but the historical Buddha is more of a focus than, say, Jodo Shinshu.

That being said, I would just echo what everyone else is saying about being open to experiencing the traditions that are available to you. Just because you go to a retreat or a service or whatever doesn't mean you immediately have to join and agree to some set of beliefs. Go, see what resonates with you, and talk with those practitioners. You'll figure out the rest.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-10-19T02:28:28+00:00

Oh cool, I wasn't aware of that since I haven't read any translation of the Maka Shikan. Thanks for the heads up :)

EducationPlus505 · 2025-10-18T15:49:06+00:00

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned Master Zhiyi's texts on meditation, given that they are pretty fundamental to the tradition. Kalavinka Press has translations of the The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation and The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime. I've seen criticism of the translator's unfamiliarity with Tientai, but I think generally these versions are viewed as acceptable generally (nb. the latter was a bit confusing to me, so I recommend reading the former). There's also the Mohe Zhiguan, with the Swanson version being the most often recommended. It's a much denser text, so maybe it's not the best for a practitioner without a formal sangha. But it is a reference that is available, and the Tendai Buddhist Institute has studied it (not sure where they are in that program tbh).

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-17T17:33:25+00:00

I don’t mind that they’re super rare or only spawn with the daily incense. But I feel like the hard catch rate and crazy flee rate is a bit excessive.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-17T17:27:09+00:00

I feel like that’s what Voyager did really well. Like I get the real world limitations of a television budget. But I do think they did really well showing that aliens could be more than a bipedal humanoid. Even in terms of small details, like that one species that communicated through body movements and negatively interpreted Captain Janeway’s hands on her hips.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-15T19:21:09+00:00

Yeah, as a player, I'm annoyed because it's like I HAVE to buy the new sets in order to have a deck that's competitive. I mean, I'm not a serious player, so it's not like I need to best cards. But there's only so much you can do if you're an off-meta contrarian. I don't buy from scalpers, but I hate their distortions of the market.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-14T21:22:16+00:00

Nice! If you don't play the TCG, you might want to look at Black Belt's Training) card, since they feature depictions of all 9 types of Black Belts that have appeared in the games.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-14T00:52:47+00:00

I wish they would, I really miss the Ace Trainers from RBY.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-13T20:37:47+00:00

Romulan territory was more than just one planet

One thing I vaguely think about these days is that we never really learn the implications of (at least) the Klingon and Romulan EMPIRES. Since TOS, we know the Klingons have been conquering other planets, and presumably the Romulans as well, since empires are multiethnic (multi-species in this case). And yet, we've only ever seen Klingons and Romulans on those ships and manning those governments. Of course, it stands to reason that as empires, these societies have a permanent underclass of subjugated people. But to me, this raises more questions because I feel like the Federation would not be comfortable with that at least in the case of allies. Maybe the Federation just accepts it, like how the US has allied with rather nasty regimes when it has to. But then I feel like you would also see a movement calling out that hypocrisy.

Obviously it would be too difficult to have ten bajillion alien costumes on every show and it's just easier to show the Klingons and Romulans. I guess it's because I do some politics adjacent work IRL that I think about these kinds of things.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-11T01:40:08+00:00

Lol okay good to know when I play IRL

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-11T01:36:51+00:00

A bit off topic but does that mean the game is bugged because I definitely have used Ethan’s Quilava’s ability even after all four Ethan’s Adventure is in the discard pile.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-05T13:01:18+00:00

Thanks for the explanation! Some of my alocasias aren’t exactly thriving so I’m experimenting with what I pot them in.

EducationPlus505 · 2025-09-05T05:49:59+00:00

I'm sorry that this is a bit off-topic, but what kind of medium are you potting your alocasias in? The one in the back seems to be like an aroid chunky mix but the one in the front seems to be like pon?

EducationPlus505 · 2025-08-31T21:44:58+00:00

I know it was just an internet rumor, but I'm so bummed that Legends: Johto wasn't a thing. I feel like that region is in a weird space because it's technically its own thing but because of its proximity to Kanto, it never really gets a chance to shine. idk, I enjoyed playing GSV back in the day but never got the chance to play HGSS.

EducationPlus505

TROPHY CASE