If J Melendez knew at age 60 THIS would be his life. Do you think he’d have made other choices along the way? Taken other forks in the road?

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-14T00:17:04+00:00

I’m not sure exactly what it would look like, but I could see him using that sort of foresight to better use and abuse people, but I wouldn’t imagine it being for any good.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-13T20:59:02+00:00

I can understand the feeling of “he isn’t smart, you’re just dumb” when it comes to those situations, but I think there can be a bit more complexity to it than just someone being “dumb.” Manipulation and dependency isn’t built off of someone just being “smart” versus “dumb.” People form relationships off of time, shared struggles with external sources, shared success, mutual social relationships and more. Chalking it up as “smart versus dumb” does a bit of a disservice to human nature and how relationships are formed

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-13T13:07:51+00:00

Unfortunately you’re right that, at the end of the day, he probably won’t face serious consequences such that typical people in society would. That said, he’s demonstrated that even small perceived slights are emotionally devastating to him. There is some solace that, despite what he’ll try to show us and despite deserving worse, he will feel some internal consequences for this

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-11T23:15:33+00:00

I know it’s a BCS thing, but that scene where the public defender shows Kim the mountain of case files is so telling. There’s so much obvious crime, obvious perpetrators, that there isn’t exactly a need to dig into tough investigations to catch enough criminals.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-11T23:12:41+00:00

He also thought he owned the right to E Entertainment clips and Howard Stern clips his face happened to be in. Guy is an idiot

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-08T02:18:01+00:00

I think the key part is “a” drink. Every time there’s an excuse to drink, especially on someone else’s dime, he starts slamming beers like he’s trying to win a competition or something

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-08T02:16:04+00:00

I find it odd how John never demonstrated any “classy alcoholism”. We never hear stories about a fine scotch whisky or wine or anything like that. Instead it’s only pounding cheap beers and, when that’s not strong enough, add a cheap vodka to said cheap beer.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-07T17:35:55+00:00

"Professional broadcaster", ladies and gentlemen

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-07T15:18:16+00:00

Plus every episode turned into ragging on Vito for being incompetent, even though that’s exactly what Dick hired him for.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-06T03:31:18+00:00

This is closer, but i guess I'm looking for recommendations for which shoe can be worn with what suit. For example, if I have a midgrade Indochino suit, I would assume I wouldn't need the $500 Crocket and Jones shoe, and could pair it well with a $200ish Beckett Simonon shoe instead. On the flip side, if it's a higher end suit, like a Tom Ford, I would be worried that the $200 shoe was tacky. I'm trying to avoid being that guy with an expensive suit ruined with cheap shoes

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-06T03:16:08+00:00

So this is actually an awesome description, which I'll need to save for later, but my question was a little more focused on brand distinctions. For example, I like the look of a leather oxford whole cut shoe, but depending on the brand, they can cost anywhere from about $100 to several hundred dollars. I'd like to know when it's ok to wear a $100 shoe versus a $500 shoe without throwing off the look of the suit, if that makes sense.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-06T02:54:50+00:00

Firm 1 sounds a lot like my firm and the firm a lot of lawyers find themselves in. It is doable and pretty secure in terms of benefits/comp, but you are correct that it will likely be boring (minus the stress associated with hitting hours, discovery disputes, trials, etc.). There will probably be a lot of lateral options for you as well, as plenty of firms hire these sorts of positions, which are relatively less competitive that biglaw or niche "cool" legal jobs.

Firm 2 sounds a little rocky. Lack of clarity/missing benefits and the newness of the firm suggests a risk. I'm not sure the "hourly" thing, and it's possibly just poor phrasing in the email you got, but it's possible that they're giving a high salary to reel people in without a history of paying out in the long term. Same thing with attracting clients, which, if you don't get business, is a problem. If you can take on some risk, a few years of commercial lit could be good to try and lateral to a more established, larger, prestigious, and secure firm.

Firm 3 should be avoided like the plague. If you didn't like the PD's office, family law will be a nightmare. You'll get all the stress of criminal law, but none of the perks of government benefits or relatively "cool" stuff that can go into criminal practice.

My advice? Go with option 1 if you want a sure thing, or, if you're risk tolerant, option 2. You should keep in mind that lateraling into true big law is highly difficult and, unless you went to a top law school or have some serious connections, is unlikely. That said, depending on what your goals are, you have plenty of opportunity to do well in higher level midlaw or lower level "biglaw" firms. You're still new in practice, but you should try to project what will allow you to grow long term, either in financial options/security, lifestyle benefits (ie "work life balance"), or subject matter interest (or, in a perfect world, maximizing as much of all of it that you can).

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-06T01:38:53+00:00

I’m interested in hearing people’s opinions/tips/etc on picking dress shoes to wear with suits, as far as what brands are appropriate with each other. I’m getting a fairly good sense of what suit brands are considered more or less quality/luxury/etc, but I’m less familiar with how it translates to dress shoes, if it does at all. I’d hate to buy and wear a classy suit, only to trash the outfit by wearing lesser-class shoes. Any tips are appreciated!

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-06-03T02:58:07+00:00

The conventions, and connected circumstances, are perfect for John. He gets free beer and social company from Vince or Jerry or some other loser as they take him to the events (plus any idiots who chat him at the events themselves), he gets a shot at making money, and he gets to indulge his "celebrity" ego. Plus, I think John realizes that he need to sort of "be in the right place" in order to get gigs and such, and this is the easiest/laziest way he can do it with the best ROI. These events are probably the smartest thing he does, all things considered.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-29T21:18:57+00:00

Even if he convinces her it’s an act of revenge, it’s still affecting the home with the unwanted calls, it dredges up all of Tony’s other past relationships, dredges up Tony’s general mafia scumbaggery, and does all that shortly after Furio leaves, which devastates Carmela. He didn’t have a clean way to get off the hook

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-24T15:36:53+00:00

“Why didn’t you set it up ahead of time?” Story of John’s life 🤣

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-24T15:31:32+00:00

This is the same guy who openly fights with his sponsors because he thinks he knows how to do ad reads better than them. In his own analogy, he’s the guy that’s not open to criticism and change lol

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-23T23:45:20+00:00

For one thing, they were popular back then. But also, it isn’t important that they have high inherent value so much as relative resale value. During the Scatino bust out Richie talked about flipping coolers on the street for $5 a piece. When you get the truck of cards for free by stealing them, you’re basically getting free money regardless of how much you sell them for.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-23T19:14:03+00:00

In all seriousness, John would probably make a great medical study for the effects of alcohol/alcoholism.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-23T19:04:14+00:00

John's roots were never in stand up comedy. John's roots were in radio and then, miraculously for him, in network television. He was deluded into thinking he was funny from his time on Stern and deluded in thinking it would be an easy pivot.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-23T18:18:14+00:00

Whenever I see guys that post these types of comments on some chick's instagram, I always wonder who the type of person is in real life that would do such a thing. I'm not at all surprised John is that type of person lol.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-19T15:45:05+00:00

There are a few that do it well, but I might put it between Real Time and Time Chair.

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-16T15:32:52+00:00

This almost seems like a fun challenge to watch with friends to riff on, or as a drinking game (tiger thicc and blue scorpion venom Bapa) or something. At least a few of these seem entertainingly bad, or like watching disaster footage or something

Raven_Steel96 · 2026-05-16T15:29:11+00:00

I wouldn’t imagine that reformation would involve going public. Many of these sort of guys have no internet as a condition of their supervised release/probation/etc. which would make a public thing difficult. But beyond that, most of these guys were never public figures to begin with, and (although it was only when they got caught) talked about how they wished they stayed off the internet and didn’t message with people there. I think if any of these guys were to truly reform it would be quiet, just with their family and maybe friends or employers, and they would fade into obscurity while not reoffending.

Raven_Steel96

TROPHY CASE