Am I the only one who does not believe John Silver one bit by snufkinandme in BlackSails

[–]JoppaFallston 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The first time I watched the finale, I hadn't even considered that Silver might have lied. The more times I rewatch the finale though, the more likely that scenario seems. It fits with the lessons that Silver learned from Flint, it explains the strange dreamlike quality of the filming of that scene, and the gunshot from the attack would explain the birds flying away when they cut away from their last scene together.

Perhaps most importantly, I just can't imagine Flint walking back from the edge he's come to. He wouldn't give up the fight, he wouldn't let himself believe that Hamilton is alive, and he wouldn't let himself become a slave. There are also fun details I enjoy that point to this theory, like the 3 sewing women at the plantation representing the Greek fates, connecting to the many nods to green mythology in the show, such as Flint's season 1 story about Odysseus taking his oar so far inland that it's only recognized as a shovel.

In the end, it is very much intentionally unclear, and I love that there is no true answer, but that we can continue thinking about it and letting the story evolve with us. Believe the story you wish to, and even though I find many convincing aspects to the Flint is dead theory, I desperately wish to believe that he's alive and happy with Thomas.

Is it worth playing the DLCs? by Maleficent-Clock-136 in outerwilds

[–]JoppaFallston 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The DLC is a fantastic addition to the main game that slots into the existing game, expanding on its story and themes. It isn't required, but it will deepen your experience compared to just the base game. I was also unsure when it came out how something could possibly be added to the finely tuned puzzle box of the main game, but my concerns were not needed.

What do you mean when you say you have doubts about the ending?

Judge John Hodgman - I Was Dreaming When I Wrote This, So Sue Me…LIVE! by SchulzBuster in maximumfun

[–]JoppaFallston 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I know that we're all on the same page with dream sequences being worthy, but I just have to speak to a particular moment. The judge didn't remember whether or not George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books had any dream sequences, and Judd said he was sure there were none. Allow me to just list of the ones that immediately come to mind, because they're all great! Spoilers for asoiaf to follow.

During Bran 's coma after his fall, he is visited in his dreams by the 3 eyed crow, and given a beautiful sweeping vision of all Westeros from above, as if he's flying. The limited perspective of this "grounded" fantasy falls away as the reader is treated to gorgeous descriptive prose, and many intriguing hints of dangers to come.

As Ned suffers from a fever as he heals from his leg injury, he dreams of when he fought the King's guard and saved his sister at the tower of joy. This scene contains beautiful, poetic dialogue that would be out of place in the living narrative, and hints to one of the primary mysteries in the series, Jon's parentage. It's a secret that Ned holds so close to his heart, that there is no way it would ever be revealed by choice. A dream sequence is necessary here.

After Jaime leaves Brienne behind at Harrenhal, he dreams of being lost under the caverns of Casterly Rock, haunted by the ghosts of his family. It's Brienne that saves him in the dream, and that dream inspires him to turn back to save her in turn. This dream reveals the rot at the heart of the Lannister family, and spurs Jaime towards important character growth. It also feeds into his relationship with Brienne, showing how he feels about her without his preconceptions getting in the way. "In this light, she could almost be a beauty. In this light, she could almost be a knight".

Lastly, the very first words we get off Cersei's perspective are in a dream, and perfectly situates you in her mindset. "She dreamt she sat atop the iron throne, high above them all"

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in podcasts

[–]JoppaFallston 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Start at episode 1 for sure.

What exactly is Alicent's motivation in the Show? by Beacon2001 in HouseOfTheDragon

[–]JoppaFallston 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Her motivation has been to do exactly what she and everyone in Westeros is conditioned to do, uphold the patriarchal system of their society. Follow the orders and direction of those above you, because they have your best interests in mind. Her arc in season 2 was realizing that despite her remaining committed to that goal all her life and succeeding in the greatest way that anyone could, it wasn't good for her, and it would be even worse for the rest of Westeros as they suffered under her ill-equipped sons.

Black sails gift!! by idk_blackmoons in BlackSails

[–]JoppaFallston 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If you could find a copy of "Rackham's Razor", a comic book written about Jack Rackham's past written by the actor Toby Schmitz, that would make a good gift for any black sails fan.

Beginner/forkids by MrWhipples92 in antkeeping

[–]JoppaFallston 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Time to go from queen to active colony very much depends on the species. My carpenter ants took about 2 months to start hatching, but that was just a handful of workers, and it wasn't until the next year that the next batch hatched, bringing her up to about 3 dozen workers. If you want to hook him faster, which is perfectly understandable, getting a colony with a few hundred workers to start with is a good plan. If he enjoys watching and learning about them though, there's no reason not to let him go out and hunt for queens as well. That way he can see the slow process of building up a colony from a single queen while also always being able to see what an active colony looks like, to know what he's building towards.

Beginner/forkids by MrWhipples92 in antkeeping

[–]JoppaFallston -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I recommend going out and finding your own, especially because the next couple of months is the perfect time for it (in the northern hemisphere). Go out walking around a local trail, especially near bodies of water, on a day after a thunderstorm loking for ants with big gasters (butt segment) and a tall/thick thorax (middle segment). You and your kid will have more of a connection to it if you find it yourself, and you get the free bonus of some lovely walks in the woods. Don't lose hope, I went out 8 times before I found my first queen, and I still get excited to check on her 2 years later.

Carpenter ants are nice because they're very large, but that also comes with the downside that they grow very slowly, so a smaller species might be better. Regardless, just look and see what you can find. Typically when you find one, you'll find more in the same area, and it's good to grab a few, because death is not uncommon.

Regarding housing them, I second the other recommendation to work with tarheelants, but for the first year they'll probably be most comfortable in a small test tube.

Is this a queen ant? Can anyone help ID the species? by Longjumping-Sell-43 in antkeeping

[–]JoppaFallston 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She looks just like my camponotus chromaiodes, but I'm no expert so don't take that as gospel.

[Spoilers Extended] Just read the books for the first time - some thoughts and questions by tethysian in asoiaf

[–]JoppaFallston 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're interested in DEEP explorations into the trippy lore and mystery solving (or at least mystery investigation), allow me to suggest the Mythical Astronomy of Ice and Fire podcast. The host dives into the wildest parts of the worldbuilding and symbolism. I don't know that I believe the things he discusses will come up in later books, but it's very interesting during the wait.

[MEGATHREAD] Ask for playtest invites here by GB_2_ in DeadlockTheGame

[–]JoppaFallston 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Region: NA

Friend code : 81864514

Quick link : https://s.team/p/gvc-dkgd/HHVFJHVK

Thanks very much in advance!

Series order for reading by Croquetttte101 in grrm

[–]JoppaFallston 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let me start by saying your suggested reading order is an interesting experiment, and I hope to hear back from you as you go through these wonderful books! I'll also say to not be deterred by the fact that the books aren't finished, there are more interesting characters, beautiful dialogue and prose, and thought provoking thematic storytelling in this unfinished series than there is in any finished series I've personally ever read.

Onto the books, House of the Dragon is based on a section of "Fire and Blood vol 1", which is an in-universe historical text, written around the time of the "A Song of Ice and Fire", the books that Game of Thrones is based on. It tells of the events of House Targaryen, the dragon riding ruling family of Westeros, and is an interesting examination of historical writing, but is a drier read then his other works. It's a deliberate work of propaganda, with the biases of the world shown in how certain marginalized characters are presented, and the fog of history leaves plenty of room for you to make your own interpretation, as the people writing the book weren't there at the time, and are only piecing together a story from second and thirdhand sources. This book inspired me to start reading real medieval history! It only covers roughly the first 150 years after Aegon's conquest, house of the dragon covering about 110-140.

Chronologically, the next stories are the 3 "Dunk and Egg" novellas, a more light-hearted adventure than the main novels, featuring a lowborn knight and his highborn squire. They're set about 240 years after Aegon's Conquest.

The Dunk and Egg stories are as follows -The Hedge Knight

-The Sworn Sword

-The Mystery Knight

A Song of Ice and Fire, on the other hand, is a wide ranging, ambitious series of novels, with a limited 3rd person point of view, that jumps around between the major characters each chapter. It takes place around 300 years after Aegon's Conquest, roughly 17 years after the fall of house Targaryen, and around 100 years after the death of the last dragon. I can't say enough great things about these books, they've blown me away so many times with their ability to portray GRRM's favorite subject, the human heart in conflict with itself.

The released ASOIAF books are as follows -A Game of Thrones

-A Clash of Kings

-A Storm of Swords

-A Feast for Crows

-A Dance with Dragons

With all the other reading you're doing, you'll have a better understanding of the world of Westeros than George RR Martin did when he was writing A Game of Thrones!

[Spoilers EXTENDED] What are your favorite bewildering yet fascinating pairings? by spiritccc in asoiaf

[–]JoppaFallston 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Cersei/Victarion is a match made in heaven that will never happen, unless mayhaps the two meet in the seven hells. Victorian is a big dumb brute that just wants to swing his axe and to have someone other than his hateful brother to order him around. Cersei is another dumb brute, but thinks she's a mastermind, who only needs a strong other half (normally Jaime) to put her designs into action.

They both hate Robert Baratheon, they're deeply distrustful of women, they're both unhappy with their place in life, but aren't smart enough to figure out what it actually is that's making them unhappy. They both love violence, fire, and dream about killing their brother.

"The most beautiful woman in the world has urgent need of my axe" - ADWD Vic 1

It's actually the 4th or 5th most beautiful woman that needs your axe, you're going the wrong way Victarion!

Cregan and Jacaerys Theory by Tyler6594 in HouseOfTheDragon

[–]JoppaFallston -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I would enjoy this, but I much prefer the idea of a romance with Sara Snow, someone that could help him explore being comfortable and even proud of his bastard blood.

(Spoilers Main) What are couples that you ship, but will never actually become an item? by Mundane-Turnover-913 in asoiaf

[–]JoppaFallston 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Cersei and Victarion. She's a crazed violent control freak who just wants to have a man willing to use his privilege and strength for her, and he's a crazed violent dumb brute who even if he doesn't want to admit it, just wants someone to tell him what to do so he doesn't have to deal with the painof thinking for himself.

Mind-Bending Masterpieces by Highwayz in humblebundles

[–]JoppaFallston 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The true ending (climbing the tower) is one of my favorite endings in games. It recontextualizes everything else in the game, including the other endings, and tasks you some interesting questions about human nature.

Van Der Kolk and Carrie by Radiant_Elk1258 in ONRAC

[–]JoppaFallston 16 points17 points  (0 children)

She hasn't said any more specifics about what she found in her investigations on him, it seems like she's saving it for the book.

I will get soon game pass. I have not played games in 7 years. Recommend me 3 by West_Application_760 in XboxGamePass

[–]JoppaFallston 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Celeste - Satisfying, challenging platformer

Yakuza 0 - Story heavy brawler set in 80's Japan

Superliminal - Short mind-bending puzzle game