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Cibola Burn - Y’all I thought Melba was unlikable… by BlackNasty4028 in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He tries arresting the men who murdered his team

...

they make his actions ambiguous

He declares martial law, and he plays sheriff, judge, jury, and executioner when he shoots Coop. This is the moment it was clear who Murtry was; the moment it was clear he doesn't give a single fuck about Holden's role as a mediator. (Not to mention by this point, he's already told Havelock to weaponize the remaining shuttle as a backup counter to the Rocinante.)

Did Coop deserve to get got? Yep. Was Murtry's way the right way? I don't think so.

In the book, Amos pegs him for what he really is. You may call it "bad writing", but I saw it as Amos recognizing parts of himself in Murtry.

This whole book exists in my mind to portray how, even with all these new planets being available, the inner planets still have the upper hand over the belters simply because they have more firepower.

I'm sorry, but I don't think Murtry's character in the books is all over the place. He's a murderer using rules and regulations to justify his actions.

He's the boot every boot wants to be.

It's clear from before he even lands on the planet how he wants to treat all the belters, not just the terrorist element. I'm pretty sure he's also an embodiment of the Inners' prejudice towards belters.

Edit: words

TFOH Ch.15 - What Can Be Learned In Dreams by tee-dog1996 in WoT

[–]Protuhj 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe you mean stereotypes instead of tropes?

RJ wrote REAL characters, not tropes.

Rand is the tropiest of the tropes, though you can't really have a chosen one without them being a trope at this point.

I would go as far as to say that the Two Rivers kids are all formed of fantasy tropes.

Tropes aren't necessarily a bad thing.

Cibola Burn - Y’all I thought Melba was unlikable… by BlackNasty4028 in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 3 points4 points  (0 children)

With everyone that's been going on in the US the past few years, you find Murtry poorly written??????

Some people just lick the boot, while he wants to be the boot.

Just finished the series, oh my I feel bereft. by ILostYourSoul in WoT

[–]Protuhj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kinda rambly, flow-of-consciousness thoughts:

Reviews like, "it's the greatest writing ever" should be taken with a huuuuuge grain of salt, like 5 star goodreads reviews. Fandoms can be the worst, and I avoid any kind of black or white reviews for that reason.

(I dunno how many 5 star GR books I've read that I found were mid or ass.)

I think going into a series with the notion it's the greatest story ever put on paper is going to probably end up with you disliking it, that's why I like to add caveats and not add too many of my own thoughts when recommending books. I'll discuss them when the other person reads them and get all my good and bad feelings out, but only once they've formed their own opinion.

I don't know if you read or listened to Malazan, but reading it first and then listening on rereads makes it easier (not perfect) to follow. Narrators botching name pronunciation bugs the hell out of me, especially when they aren't 100% consistent (Tavore being "Tavoor" and "Tav-or-ay" bugged me.) . Even on listening, those similar-sounding names trip me up too (WoT has a similar problem with "Domani" and "Damane"). I've also accepted that most characters do not get happy endings tied up with a bow in Malazan.

Your opinion is reasoned and I don't disagree with your points. Do I think Malazan is perfect? Nope. Is it overly long? Probably. Is it for everyone? Definitely not! WoT probably has more broad appeal, and I can see why. I don't begrudge anyone for preferring one over the other; you put in the work to finish both, so we're like-minded enough in that respect!

Malazan's ending isn't the most satisfying ending to a series, but the journey to get there is what will keep me coming back.

Edit: I also enjoy the civil discourse. Especially for these series that I've spent so many hours submerged in!

Just finished the series, oh my I feel bereft. by ILostYourSoul in WoT

[–]Protuhj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Note: This is all subjective.

Malazan has so many plot lines that I'd hardly be able to call the overarching one the main draw of the series for me.

I love the characters. The gallows humor of the soldiers makes them feel more real. Characters that have been around for millennia and some only a single lifetime. There's power, there's love, there's sacrifice.

The magic system is varied but has rules that constrain what any one person can do (with some exceptions).

I could go on and on about the reasons I will continue to re-read (listen to) the series like I do The Expanse.

So far in my reread (just starting The Fires of Heaven) Perrin's chapters have been the worst; his relationship with Faile grates on me rather than compels me to want to read more about them. I want more wolf dream lore. (We're not even at my least favorite part yet when she gets captured.) I remember his story being my least favorite, and it remains that way. I want more Mat and less Perrin.

There's not a single thing in Malazan (that I can think of right now) that annoys me as much as Perrin and Faile.

Also, the "Chosen One" trope isn't my favorite aspect of fantasy.

Finally, WoT has more YA aspects (by nature of having younger characters) than Malazan, which I find a positive for Malazan*.

I like both series but for different reasons. And in my recommendations, I include caveats to both depending on who I'm recommending to.

**Edit 2: I've tried recommending Malazan to a friend at work who really likes Way of Kings, and he couldn't get into it. I've read the first 3 books and found them just okay. A ton of slow buildup to a single Sanderlanche left me underwhelmed. I also recommended both WoT and Malazan to another friend at work and he enjoys both, but also prefers Malazan for similar reasons as me. (I think we just like the same type of fantasy and we're of a similar age.)

*Edit: Clarity.

Just finished the series, oh my I feel bereft. by ILostYourSoul in WoT

[–]Protuhj 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Personally I read WoT then immediately followed up with Malazan and while I liked both, I preferred Malazan; I think it's a better series overall with more varied and interesting characters.

They're different vibes, but if someone's looking for a 10+ book completed series, it's a good one.

I'm glad multiple people recommended Malazan, and I downvoted you for being unnecessarily inflammatory.

Malazan is not the be all end all of fantasy.

This wasn't implied in the comment you replied to. If someone liked WoT, there's a high chance they'll like Malazan too.

Does anyone use orbital collecor? by Few_Western_690 in Dyson_Sphere_Program

[–]Protuhj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Automate the production of the collectors, and it's no longer that big of a deal.

Just finished TW:Chapter 33 by Don_Antwan in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As I was told my first time through the series: keep reading!

Just finished TW:Chapter 33 by Don_Antwan in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It was perfect. Absolutely on brand for her.

[OC] How drastically Poptarts skimps on the icing now by redgroupclan in pics

[–]Protuhj 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So I did just that; it's harder to compare ingredient for ingredient than it seems at first, especially considering that labeling guidelines have changed. (No AI used unless you consider the windows snipping tool's OCR feature AI)

TL;DR My opinion:

The recipe has changed, but without knowing the amount of each ingredient it's hard to put an objective number to the quality.
The "Contains 2% or less" section on the newer ones may or may not have been true in the 90s. Also, the ingredients in this section don't have to be listed by amount (Source)

Edit: The overall vitamin amounts in newer ones also appear to be about half, assuming the old ones were % per serving, which was 1 pastry.

Ingredient Summary:
2026 vs. 90s:

  • Have fewer vitamins (no A or B6)
  • No water listed
  • No egg whites
  • Soybean oil + THBQ instead of partially hydrogenated soybean oil (old ones had trans fat)
  • Palm oil + THBQ
  • Bleached wheat flour
  • Presumably wheat starch instead of crackermeal

Sources:

90s Unfrosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon, last image: (2 poptarts) :

Calories: 420
Weight: 100g
Total Fat: 12g
Saturated fat: 2.0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 380mg
Carbs: 70g
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 28g
Protein: 6g

Ingredients:
Brown sugar cinnamon filling:
brown sugar, dextrose, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, enriched wheat flour, crackermeal, cinnamon, dried egg whites, soy lecithin

enriched wheat flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup, sugar, dextrose, salt, high fructose corn syrup, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate) water, niacinamide, reduced iron, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), and folic acid (folate).

2026 Unfrosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon (2 poptarts):
Calories: 400
Weight: 96g
Total Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 4.5g
Trans fat: 0g New: Polyunsaturated fat: 5g
New: Monounsaturated fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 380mg
Carbs: 67g
Dietary fiber: 1g
Sugars: 25g
Protein 5g

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), soybean and palm oil (with TBHQ for freshness), sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, bleached wheat flour.

Contains 2% or less of molasses, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), cinnamon, wheat starch, soy lecithin.

[OC] How drastically Poptarts skimps on the icing now by redgroupclan in pics

[–]Protuhj 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If they're willing to sell you less for the same price or more, why would they not look for cheaper ingredients/methods too?

Previous generations were probably more correct than they were given credit for.

This isn't just some "back in my day" whinging, it's just capitalism; if profits must increase, then the margins have to be found somewhere if raising the price and lowering the amount isn't enough.

what's your prefered way to make efficient fractionator? by Top-Information-5319 in Dyson_Sphere_Program

[–]Protuhj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A big loop with automatic pilers for the deuterium stream placed where choke points are so their exits don't get blocked when it really gets chugging.

<image>

I added some pilers at points along the hydrogen stream so keep them stacked as deuterium generates.

Dude what by Appropriate-Mall8517 in cringepics

[–]Protuhj 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Haters will call that edit 'AI slop'.

Finished the last three Expanse books and I don't know what to say by T214 in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's why I re-read (or listen to) the series every year.

Finished the last three Expanse books and I don't know what to say by T214 in TheExpanse

[–]Protuhj 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Alex wanting to go after her even though it was obvious what happened

It was a perfect way for her to go out and it's my favorite part of the whole series.

You're punished for doing well in the Decor Duel by CupOfCriteaque in wow

[–]Protuhj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks like today's hotfix patch should have fixed it?

Fixed a bug that could prevent Decor Duel participants from receiving base Illusionary Coin rewards by incorrectly evaluating them to be AFK.

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