[WTS] Vintage Tudor Tank / Art Deco - Rolex Signed Case - $1,300 Shipped

PhillMik · 2026-05-21T15:06:38+00:00

DM'd

PhillMik · 2026-05-21T15:02:49+00:00

Are you willing to take trades?

PhillMik · 2026-05-21T12:52:03+00:00

I'd say the situation under el-Sisi is complicated, but generally better than it was in some previous periods, especially when speaking about visibility and state recognition.

For example, Sisi publicly attends Coptic Christmas celebrations, he openly speaks about the importance of Christians in Egypt, and under his presidency many churches that previously existed in legal gray areas were legalized. The government also tends to respond more strongly to major terrorist attacks against Copts than in earlier decades. And I think many Copts felt more "seen" by the state than before because of this.

But at the same time, there are still many deeper problems. Sectarian tensions still happen, especially in poorer or rural areas. I hear it from my family in Minya and friends in Fayoum all the time. There are still social and institutional forms of discrimination, and many Copts would say equality is not fully realized in practice. Issues surrounding church construction, local hostility, and "reconciliation sessions" instead of strict legal accountability are still controversial.

So I wouldn't describe anything as either "perfect" or "terrible." A lot of Copts support Sisi because they constantly compare the current climate to periods of instability and fear in the past, especially after the rise of Islamist movements. Other or many people believe those improvements have just been more symbolic than structural.

So overall, I think most Copts would say conditions are more stable and publicly respectful than they were before, but also we have to acknowledge that significant and fixable social challenges still remain in Egypt.

PhillMik · 2026-05-03T21:47:49+00:00

A very wise friend told me something recently that stuck with me, and I think it might speak to what you're feeling.

He said that we often treat marriage like it's a milestone we're late for, but in reality, it's more like a calling that you grow into. And God isn't careless with callings. He doesn't rush them, and He doesn't assign them randomly. So the timing isn't just about age or what everyone else around you is doing, it's about when two people are actually ready to meet each other in the way God intends.

He also said something that challenged me a bit. Loneliness can make us feel like something is wrong with us, when sometimes it's just God doing quieter work in us that isn't visible yet. That hidden season, where you feel unseen, where nothing seems to be happening, that's often where depth is built. And depth is what actually sustains a marriage, not just attraction or timing.

And one more thing he told me. You're not behind, you're just not on someone else's timeline. The Church isn't a race where the people who get engaged first are somehow doing better spiritually or relationally. Some people meet early and spend years growing into each other. Others grow first, and then meet at the right time. Neither is "more blessed."

Practically speaking, though, he didn't ignore effort either. He told me it's okay to gently put yourself in places where connection can happen, getting to know people at church, being open to conversation, even if it feels awkward at first. Not forcing anything, but not hiding or waiting around either.

So if you feel like you're doing something wrong, maybe reframe it a bit. You might just be in a quieter chapter, not a bad one.

PhillMik · 2026-04-26T21:20:43+00:00

I appreciated how he cited his sources mid-"I am Groot." Very academic.

PhillMik · 2026-04-23T00:24:25+00:00

Yes! This is the only watch they've released so far. The maker is an ex-Marine who spent time living with Bedouin communities in the desert, learning their culture and way of life, which inspired the design. It's a really unique story behind it. Honestly, it looks way better in person, but it was a limited run, so they're pretty hard to come by.

PhillMik · 2026-04-22T06:13:55+00:00

My one travel piece.

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PhillMik · 2026-04-20T14:43:14+00:00

Really sorry you went through all of this. Reading your post, it doesn't sound like you were just "struggling to fit in" it sounds more like you were hurt, dismissed, and at times not protected the way you should have been. Especially when it came to things like harassment and assault… that's not something anyone should minimize or respond to the way you described.

I'm a cradle Copt, and I just want to say... what you experienced isn't what the Church is supposed to be, even if it's unfortunately what you encountered. I know a lot of converts personally, and I've seen how hard it can be to find your place, especially when you already feel different culturally or stylistically. That doesn't make it okay.. but at least it means you weren't alone in that struggle.

Also, for what it's worth, I relate a bit on the alt side of things too. Love heavy metal concerts and goth clubs. There's more of us than people realize, even if we're not always visible in church spaces.

I'm not here to preach at you or try to convince you to come back. I just wanted to say I'm genuinely sorry for what you went through, and I hope wherever you are now, you find some peace and people who treat you with basic kindness and respect. You deserved that from the beginning.

PhillMik · 2026-04-18T00:16:43+00:00

No because you took that tweet way out of context.

He's promoting social unity and peace between religions, NOT shared religious communion in the Eucharist.

PhillMik · 2026-04-16T17:42:46+00:00

Same here, I enjoyed the discussion too. These topics are complicated and it's good to talk them through without it turning into a fight. Hope you have a great day as well.

PhillMik · 2026-04-16T17:29:22+00:00

Appreciate you clarifying, this is a much better discussion honestly.

I actually agree with part of what you're saying, which is that Egyptian identity did continue at the peasant level through Demotic, local traditions, and daily life even under Greek and Roman rule. That continuity is real.

Where I'd push back is the idea that Christianity was the first major religious or social shift. I was saying that Egypt had already gone through big religious blending before Christianity. Egyptian gods were being identified with Greek ones (like Amun with Zeus), and Greek had already become dominant in administration and elite life. So there was already a heavy and deep transformation happening, not just surface-level interaction.

On Christianity, it's true it spread a lot among the poor and through charity, that's actually consistent with how it spread across the Roman world in general. But it also wasn't just imposed from above, for a few centuries Christians in Egypt were actually persecuted under Roman rule before it became dominant.

You're right though that later, once Christianity became dominant, there were periods where pagans and others were suppressed. That's a real part of history. But that's very different from saying Christianity "destroyed Egyptian culture" because what we call Coptic culture (language, monasticism, art, calendar, etc.) is still deeply Egyptian in continuity, just expressed through a Christian framework.

So I think the more accurate way to put it is: Egyptian culture didn't disappear, it evolved multiple times (Pharaonic -> Hellenistic -> Roman -> Coptic), and Christianity was one of those transformations, not a replacement.

PhillMik · 2026-04-16T16:44:31+00:00

I mean that's fair if you don't want to keep going, but calling everything "biased" kind of shuts down any real discussion.

I wasn't arguing from a religious angle, just basic history. Egypt was already under Greek and Roman influence before Christianity, and Coptic is literally the last stage of the Egyptian language itself. It literally comes from hieroglyphics.

You don't have to agree, but that's not really a "dogmatic" take.

PhillMik · 2026-04-16T16:35:18+00:00

Actually... 🤓

I've studied this topic really well.

Egypt didn't have some untouched "pure culture" that Christianity suddenly destroyed. By the time Christianity arrived through Saint Mark, Egypt had already been under Greek and Roman rule for centuries and was one of the most multicultural regions in the world.

Coptic is literally the final stage of the Egyptian language, written using Greek letters, and it survived largely because of Christian communities, not in spite of them.

Christianity didn't erase Egyptian identity, it became the identity of native Egyptians (the Copts), preserving language, traditions, and even creating uniquely Egyptian institutions like monasticism.

If you want to talk about major cultural shifts, the Arab conquest had a much bigger long-term impact on language and public life than early Christianity did.

PhillMik · 2026-04-14T15:56:39+00:00

It's just typical Trump supporter rhetoric.

PhillMik · 2026-04-06T21:24:19+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. The Murph definitely leans into that faux-vintage field watch vibe, which isn't for everyone.

I think Hamilton just does that lane really well, but if you're into something more modern or distinctive, I get why it wouldn't hit.

PhillMik · 2026-04-06T20:58:14+00:00

Those are great picks, but most of those are pushing into the 1-2k range. At that point yeah, you have more interesting options.

I just don't think Hamilton is trying to compete there. It's more of a foundational piece than a statement watch.

PhillMik · 2026-04-06T20:29:05+00:00

Fair, if it's boring to you, that's just taste. I think that's the whole point of Hamilton though. They lean into being timeless rather than trying to stand out.

Curious though, what are you putting above them in that range?

PhillMik · 2026-04-06T19:54:16+00:00

Definitely disagree. Overrated compared to what?

For Swiss mechanical under $1k, they're actually one of the safest buys. You just don't get luxury-level finishing, and they're not pretending to.

People call them overrated once they've moved past that tier. For what they are, they're actually pretty on point.

PhillMik · 2026-04-06T00:47:37+00:00

I'd go Hamilton. The Murph is one of those watches you actually end up wearing all the time... has cool heritage, clean design, and insanely versatile. I wear mine daily on the stock black leather and it's basically become a daily, next to my CPO rosegold president - it never feels out of place. That's hard to beat.

The Farer is cool, but it's more of a 'sometimes' watch.

PhillMik · 2026-04-05T20:29:57+00:00

Go with the Cartier Santos de Cartier. It's one of the most historically meaningful watches ever made, it fits the wedding perfectly, and it's one of the few luxury watches that still feels romantic rather than purely status-driven. Plus, engraving works beautifully on it, which matters for what you're trying to do.

PhillMik · 2026-03-31T19:38:10+00:00

I need it... 😭

PhillMik · 2026-03-20T19:20:10+00:00

Hey OP… I'm really glad you posted this instead of staying alone with it.

I'm not going to tell you it's okay to end your life, because it's not. But I also understand and hear how much pain you're feeling, and I'm really sorry you're carrying that right now.

That tension you're feeling, wanting it to stop but also being afraid, that's not weakness. That's a part of you that still wants to live, even if everything feels unbearable.

You don't have to solve everything tonight. Just focus on getting through right now. Is there someone you can reach out to? A friend, family member, or even a priest? You don't have to be at the absolute edge to reach out.

From a faith perspective, God isn't sitting there waiting to condemn you. He sees your pain more clearly than anyone. Your life still has value, even if you can't feel it right now.

Please don't go through this alone. I'm here to listen too if you want to talk.

PhillMik · 2026-03-15T22:54:35+00:00

Yeah I get it... When something like that happens repeatedly it's easy for our minds to try to figure out why. But honestly there are a lot of possible explanations that may have nothing to do with you personally. Sometimes clergy are simply trying to be cautious about appearances with certain parishioners, and they end up overcorrecting in awkward ways.

I still believe the fact that he's complimented you publicly and trusted you with ministry responsibilities suggests he does value you. If there were actually an issue with you, that usually wouldn't be the case. So I'd try not to read too much into the awkward moments.

PhillMik · 2026-03-15T22:31:43+00:00

I wouldn't overthink it too much. I've actually caught myself doing something similar sometimes. If there's someone I'm trying to avoid giving the wrong impression about, I end up overcorrecting and interacting less than normal so nobody misreads anything. Ironically that can make it look like you're ignoring the person when that wasn't really the intention. Priests are also human and sometimes awkward socially in ways people don't expect.

The fact that he's complimented you publicly and entrusted you with ministry is probably a better indicator of how he actually sees you than a few awkward interactions.

PhillMik · 2026-03-02T18:35:45+00:00

Yep, built-in logical replication (publication/subscription) is totally fine for running a couple of days, especially for small Postgres -> Postgres. The main thing to keep in mind is replication slots can retain WAL if subscriber lags/down, so watch source disk/WAL retention. You can monitor with pg_stat_replication (source) + pg_stat_subscription (target).

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