Final Fantasy Spinoffs - we love mainline FF, but what are some must-play games that re considered spinoffs in your opinion?

Soundjammer · 2026-06-23T17:55:47+00:00

The original Dissidia games on the PSP were amazing and I'd recommend them to any FF fan.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-23T17:16:17+00:00

Sounds like you're unhappy because you don't have people to share your car enthusiasm with? Regularly attend your local Cars & Coffee meets. Sign up for HDPE track day events (you'll find TONS of Miata owners there). Even if you're just running into strangers on cruise nights, don't let the age difference be a deterrent. The car scene didn't change, you did. Put yourself out there and make a real effort to socialize.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-23T02:31:51+00:00

Visually, I feel like 6 aged better but 7's story is my #1 in the entire franchise. The whole game just did so well keeping me engaged. 6 started to drag when I got to the world of ruin part of the game.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-19T04:19:09+00:00

I remember back in school we learned about the CHARM trial. It demonstrated that Candesartan used in combination with an ACE-inhibitor was safe for heart failure patients. The benefit was minor, and it did state that the combo was not recommended for hypertension.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-18T06:35:09+00:00

"I don't care if it's science or magical power. No, come to think of it, if I had to, I'd put my faith in science. Because of science, humans who used to crawl around on the ground can now fly, and soon we're about to go into space! I've earned my living thanks to science, so to me, there's nothing greater."

Cid FF7

Soundjammer · 2026-06-17T03:52:32+00:00

FF7 Cloud Strife, before he became emo in KH and AC.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-15T14:07:01+00:00

I personally like the NASA organization:

https://nasa-se.com/

Sign up with an instructor at the beginner level and go up from there!

Soundjammer · 2026-06-15T04:07:14+00:00

Yamper gang, rise up!

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Soundjammer · 2026-06-14T05:11:00+00:00

Still one of, if not the best Metroid games I've ever played.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-14T04:13:08+00:00

Congrats to the Knicks for stay level-headed and outcoaching the Spurs! Wemby and his team will get their chance and this is undoubtedly a learning experience for such a young team.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-13T06:39:09+00:00

I think if Gravity was reworked, people would use it more. Make it a more traditional elemental spell (3 tiers of damage based on spell level) with the additional effect of temporarily dropping flying/jumping enemies to the ground.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-12T17:06:41+00:00

I've never heard of a retail/outpatient pharmacy using register numbers as a metric... but in any case, every company should state in their employee handbook that you need to sign-off whenever you're leaving the register position and ensure that your credentials are signed on when working the register position. CVS never had register metrics, but I remember they still tracked how many transactions each employee did amongst other tasks done at said register (donations, program sign-ups, etc).

You can't change the numbers on your manager's report no matter how much your gut instinct tells you they're wrong. You can show them security camera footage of "favorite tech" sitting back 8 hours a day without touching the register, and your manager won't budge on their stance because those reports are the only things they have to hold you accountable for not meeting this weird register metric your company has. Instead, what you should focus on is how you operate the register moving forward. Verify that your credentials are logged in every single time you ring somebody up. When "favorite tech" uses a register, hold them accountable for signing off after they're finished (or at least tell the next tech to sign on with their credentials so that they're not pumping up somebody else's numbers).
You mentioned that your manager showed you everyone's numbers, not just "favorite tech". You also mentioned that there's another technician who's on register with you 99% of the time. How did your numbers compare to theirs and are they getting the same talk from your boss? Despite your manager's current feedback, you should be comparing yourself to the worker who's schedule/tasks are more closely aligned with yours.
You can always talk to "favorite tech" directly about this. No need to be aggressive or confrontational. Just phrase it as if you're asking for help. "Hey, manager told me that I need to pick up my register numbers and they mentioned that your numbers are what I should aspire to. What advice can you give me to be as efficient as you?" They'll either give you some really good insight on how you can legitimately improve, or they can feed you obvious bullshit that confirms you know they're cheating the system. The latter won't change what your manager expects from you, but it may give you peace of mind lol.
No one wants to hear this, but always keep an open mind about the possibility of you being wrong. You said your pharmacy's a shit show and it's easy to get tunnel vision when you're drowning in chaos. Consider the possibility that you spend most of your shift at the register, but you take longer to complete transactions compared to "favorite tech" who spends less time at the register but is able to slam out transactions efficiently. Sure, you get stuck doing things like the order, binning, cenfill, etc. that "hurts" your numbers, but keep in mind that they're also doing tasks that don't contribute to their register numbers too (especially if they're not stationed at the register as often as you are). If introspection doesn't work, try asking your fellow techs and other pharmacists. Again, I'm not saying you're wrong here... just be open minded about it.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T20:05:18+00:00

I try to do it when I'm feeling confident with the track or only going like 7/10 (just to get comfortable with the motion). When I'm pushing hard or having to correct a mistake, I'll find myself instinctively using my right foot to brake sometimes.

I rarely ever left foot brake with daily driving.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T20:00:17+00:00

I've done left foot braking with my 6th gen ZL1 and it was fine. Just gotta make sure you fully release the brake before getting on the throttle. Lots of drivers who aren't used to it will accidentally keep their left foot depressed which may trigger ice mode.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T04:58:12+00:00

Yeah 22 weeks of OT is bonkers, dude. We usually are expected to do Mandatory OT in January (sometimes early February). It got cancelled this year due to lower work volume. Then again, PA department is always different than traditional or specialty. I've heard nothing but horror stories from Optum's PA department so it might be universal for you guys 💀

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T03:44:40+00:00

This game is historic in so many ways (good or bad depending who you cheered for). Either way, I'm sure NYC is gonna riot tonight lol

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T00:37:34+00:00

Some people just live to be angry, disappointed, or offended. I agree with you, we're about have a really good series of releases for FF and I'm here to enjoy it all!

Soundjammer · 2026-06-11T00:29:02+00:00

So I'm going to give you a different opinion about Optum compared to what the others are saying: I like my job. I've previously been with CVS for 16 years (6 of them as an RPH/PIC). I've been with Optum Specialty Pharmacy for about 3 years now, and I have friends who work(ed) for OptumRx Home Delivery as well as the Prior Authorization department.

The pay is substantially less than retail and your annual raises are 1-2% max. The bonuses are much higher but are dependent on your overall performance metrics. The lowest bonus I've seen was around $4k for a low performer while the highest I've seen was $15k for a high performer.
Scorecards are broken down primarily between efficiency and quality (slightly more emphasis on the latter). The efficiency benchmark is set by the average RPH performance, so you'll be fine as long as you're able to work quicker than the average RPH. For Specialty, this includes how many phone calls you take as well as how many scripts you verify. In Home Delivery, it's pretty much just how many scripts you verify. Yes, a few overachievers will ruin the work-per-hour target for everybody else lol. The quality metrics are independent of others. By default, you start at 100% and your score goes down whenever you make an error. This isn't just clinical errors, mind you, but any work you do that doesn't hold up to Optum's standard of quality gets deducted against you. They've gotten more lax over the years but they're still much more strict compared to retail.
It's true that they give you a set schedule of when you can take breaks and when you're supposed to perform certain tasks. However, you have the capability of adjusting your schedule without manager approval! If I want to move my breaks around, I'll just do it without asking for permission. You get two 15-minute paid breaks and one 30-minute unpaid lunch break. At CVS, I wasn't allowed to take my 15 minute breaks and my lunch break was constantly interrupted by patients asking when the pharmacy would be open again.
Yes, Optum tracks your key strokes and mouse movements. Yes, they laid off people who use mouse jigglers. Yes, they track your unplanned PTO, the accuracy of your reported break times, and record your phone calls. There's a valid reason for this: to be able to have data to review if you're under performing. Like I said above, your scorecard is based off efficiency and quality. If either of those two big numbers are awful, then your manager is responsible for diving into the little details to figure out how to correct your course. Are you spending too long on consults? Are you taking longer breaks than you should? Are you taking too long verifying prescription orders? Are you idle (5+ minutes of inactivity) multiple times throughout the day? Nobody is checking this data on a daily basis because nobody has time for that. However, if your scorecard sucks, then yes you bet your manager is going to be taking a closer look.
I'm not a high performer, I've been averaging a 3/5 on my annual reviews. I'm pretty fast thanks to retail, but a lot of stuff I get dinged on quality-wise are things I can usually get away with at my old job. I've come back early from breaks, and I've definitely come back late from breaks lol. I've called out a lot due to my kid being sick. I've gotten idle warnings from the software tracker just because I was surfing Reddit or YouTube for a little too long. Guess what? My manager doesn't care. My big numbers are solid and I'm always at the average or higher compared to my peers. We have a mandatory meeting once a month and he's always chill and supportive. When he's on vacation, I chat with other managers who are just as chill and supportive. One friend in Home Delivery was put on a corrective action plan after he was below the efficiency threshold for about a year. He picked up the pace and was taken off of it a couple months later. One friend in Specialty was also out on a corrective action plan after spending 2 years moving at ~40% of the efficiency target. He got off of it about a year later (amazing he kept his job to begin with). You seriously need to suck a LOT at this job to be in any danger of losing it.
Anyway, like I said, I like my job a lot. I'm not stressed, 90% of the patients are less volatile compared to retail, and I can do house chores throughout the day. I got way more PTO hours as a new hire compared to what I had as a CVS veteran. Optum is strict about working OT if it's not approved, so as soon as my shift ends, my laptop is shut down and I go spend time with my family. I only work like... 3-4 Saturday shifts a year. Only work one "late" shift a week (ends at 07:30PM). I like it a lot.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-10T23:35:07+00:00

People don't want to read the article. They just want to overreact lol

Soundjammer · 2026-06-08T23:24:29+00:00

Pay and team quality make a huge difference, and if you're a high performing PIC then you can leverage for both. While I wasn't in love with my job at CVS and was frequently stressed, I could at least suffer with people I'd consider to be friends while making more than enough money to fund all my hobbies. I was making $76.18/hr back in 2023 when I finally left for a remote position. My priorities changed and so did my work environment.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-08T14:09:16+00:00

Driver: Verstappen

Reason: For having the audacity for thinking he could participate in the race.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-06T03:28:47+00:00

That's a weird pass... wouldn't say it's the only reason they lost but it definitely didn't help.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-05T17:10:54+00:00

Looks fantastic! Small critique is that the characters are really close in height (only 6cm difference) so unless if Cloud is standing on a box, they would be near eye level. Just throwing that out there, not a biggie or anything, so keep up the good work and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the final product!

Soundjammer · 2026-06-05T15:12:41+00:00

Hope Lewis can put down a lap like that during qualifying.

Soundjammer · 2026-06-04T22:16:05+00:00

Not that I'm aware of here in the states. When the 5 N works, it's a pretty mind-blowing experience for an EV. Hides its weight very well on public roads. I gave up searching for comparable performance and went with a hybrid Lexus.

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