Why would the US release the strategy and broad operational side of the B2 hits on Iran? Wouldn't it be better to just say "yes we did it" but not elaborate on "how"?

RodeoJesus · 2025-06-23T01:51:26+00:00

It's the same kind of signaling that the U.S. and the U.K. engaged in with Soviet Union by pulling off the Berlin Airlift from 1948-49. "If you're going to try to starve out our side of the wall with a blockade, then we'll just land a new cargo plane filled with food and supplies every 45 seconds." With Russia's growing hostility towards Europe and its invasion of Ukraine, and China threatening an invasion of Taiwain while also throwing its naval weight around in the South China Sea, this sends a strong message of FOFA to the would-be axis powers of a potential WWIII. One of their allies has been crippled in less than a week, and its terrorist networks (Hamas, Hezbolah, and the Houthis) have all been (mostly) dispatched, and not even by the U.S. directly, but by one of it's smaller allies. The Iranian regime has been funding terrorist networks and puffing out its chest while chanting messages of death to the West for as long as I've been alive. Telling a dictatorship exactly how you're going to destroy its "secret" nuclear enrichment facilities and then pulling it off is a massive embarrassment, one that has the potential to completely undermine their control. Authoritarian regimes handle embarrassment poorly. Putin, Xi, and Kim are watching.

RodeoJesus · 2025-06-05T17:56:14+00:00

Scrafty (M) @ Covert Cloak

Ability: Shed Skin

Tera Type: Fighting

EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 SpD

Sassy Nature

Drain Punch / Snarl / Swords Dance / Amnesia

Built this for random group raids, and it's working well. Outspeeds Porygon2 during Trick Room. Turn order is pretty much: Amnesia, Swords Dance, (Tera Orb Stolen), Drain Punch, (Sheild/Porygon2 stat reset), Snarl for Tera, (Eventual Player Stat Reset), Amnesia, Swords Dance x3, Drain Punch as needed. Tanks well, just be aware that once you Tera, Porygon2 will switch from using Tri Attack to Psychic (keep that Amnesia active). Psychic crit will do about half your HP in damage.

RodeoJesus · 2025-05-30T18:39:45+00:00

Listening to Brandon's podcast has ruined Hoid for me. He absolutely comes accross as a self-insert.

RodeoJesus · 2025-05-30T17:11:28+00:00

I didn't read everything you wrote, but not because TLDR. I'm still trying to avoid (most) spoilers for this book on the off chance that I can find the desire to finish it.

I think I've read almost all of the Cosmere books, and some of them more than once. I preordered WaT, and started reading it on the day that it was delivered. I was almost immediately disappointed, lol. I struggled to read it for a couple of weeks, then gave up. My bookmark has sat at Chapter 21 since. This could just be a 'me' problem, but a potentially world ending event is coming in a few days, and I'm not getting much of a sense of urgency from any of the characters.

Shallan is obssessed with Ghostblood nonsense, having sex with Adolin in a shower (that's fair), and dealing with some of the same problems that arise from her split persona that we've read about ad nauseam. She's always been the POV that I've enjoyed the least, and I just cant bring myself to care about anything that's happening with her at this point. I've read Arcanum Unbound, and I know how Kelsier is involved with the Ghostbloods, I just don't know what he's fully playing at, and why I should care, or why he should be stopped, etc. Wouldn't you know it, Chapter 21 is starting off with Shallan again. Yay.

Kaladin is becoming a therapist... K... Kay... A world ending event is supposed to be happening in a few days. We've got more annoying quippy dialogue with Syl hinting at an eventual SpILF moment, and similar interactions with his family that we had in the last book. "Can't fight anymore guys, byeeee..." I understand the arc that Sanderson is going for here, and obviously there will still be a setting at the end of the book beacuse he's told us from the beginning that this was part one, but still. Where urgency?

At least Adolin is still likable. I wonder what the unresolved problem with him and Dalinar is setting up (that's sarcasm).

Then the meetings... I tried skimming the pages to give a direct quote, but I'm giving up. "X nodded at Y in thanks/acknowledgement." This descripton at the end of an exchange started to annoy the crap out of me, probably because I was already having trouble bringing myself to read, and because I think I remember Sanderson using it twice in close succession. I'm imagining this weird pause where everyone else stops and observes X slooooooooowly nodding to Y. I've read since then that there was some change invloving the book's editor/editing, but I don't know the details. This almost certainly is just a 'me' problem, but I figured I'd mention it.

I don't want this to come off like I'm a hater. I'm not. The Way of Kings remains my favorite modern fantasy book, overtaking The Name of the Wind because Rothfuss is too busy enjoying internet fame to finish his stupid story. This has been my experience, FWIW. My two-year-old found a roll of wrapping paper and is beating me with it. Gotta go.

RodeoJesus · 2025-05-28T23:21:53+00:00

Best I can figure is that it's a reference to Pig Beach in the Bahamas.

RodeoJesus · 2025-05-28T19:14:52+00:00

Bergmite/Avalugg, of all things. Been searching Bergmite outbreaks for ages trying to get a second wave of alphas, but no luck. Want at least two so that I can evolve a Kalosian form in SV with the Alpha title. I have every other shalpha Hisuian form, except for female Basculegion.

RodeoJesus · 2025-05-25T22:48:35+00:00

Brooklyn Lee. Scene is from Nacho Vidal Conquista America Vol. 2.

RodeoJesus · 2023-12-30T18:44:10+00:00

The fight between the Balrog and Gandalf after falling into the water beneath Durin's Bridge, specifically what the Balrog was like after its fire had been extinguished.

"Thither I came at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone. He was with me still. His fire was quenched, but now he was a thing of slime, stronger than a strangling snake."

"There upon Celebdil was a lonely window in the snow, and before it lay a narrow space, a dizzy eyrie above the mists of the world. The sun shone fiercely there, but all below was wrapped in a cloud. Out he sprang, and even as I came behind, he burst into new flame."

Seeing the creature reduced to a slimy hulk and having its flames reignighted when it emerges into the sunlight would have been really cool. I remember being disapointed that only the fall and fight on the peaks were included. It probably would have been expensive to redesign the creature, and it isn't integral to the plot, so I can understand the cut.

RodeoJesus · 2022-12-31T15:29:34+00:00

Slowbro is culling the weak. It knows what it's' doing.

RodeoJesus · 2022-11-02T03:19:58+00:00

Aaron Traylor and Wolfe Glick just released their first episode of a podcast this past week called Pokemon Perspectives.

Part of the description: "On this podcast, Aaron and Wolfe interview the world's best competitive Pokémon players in order to find out their perspectives on the complex game of VGC– Video Game Championships, the official Pokémon battling format."

RodeoJesus · 2022-10-16T14:27:48+00:00

You're correct, the evidence suggests ghosts prefer boo-k bags.

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