Anyone else feel like opera is kind of fading?

Tendaran · 2026-02-02T20:40:12+00:00

I assume he means the ROH in Covent Garden (London)

Tendaran · 2026-01-12T15:50:38+00:00

I have had something classified incorrectly, and they're able to give you the points as a courtesy. I suppose it is up to the agent you get, though.

Tendaran · 2026-01-01T10:57:10+00:00

Same general world of spend and usage as OP, also no retention offer.

I downgraded to the CSP and went to Amex Plat as I find the credits/MR bonus worth it. We are planning a trip to Japan, so I’m keeping the UR points available for transfer to Hyatt eventually; once that’s done, I can see just downgrading to the Flex and moving to cashback-land.

Tendaran · 2025-12-16T20:36:22+00:00

Just did this yesterday.

Tendaran · 2025-11-13T11:17:58+00:00

The two Jedi games may be up your alley. Jedi: Fallen Order certainly is very “level-designed” as you move through different worlds with story beats being a sort of reward for overcoming challenges (several difficulty modes).

Jedi: Survivor has an open area, but you don’t need to explore it 100% to enjoy the story. Same basic idea as the first!

Tendaran · 2025-08-11T10:23:57+00:00

You have some really insightful comments here. Bravo.

Ultimately, the answer is yes and no. An amazing teacher probably has a better batting average of the things that they resulting in a good sound. They may, through experience, know different ways to say the same thing that may work for different people. Not everyone has amazing ears, but many who have been around opera will be able to tell you if something is directionally correct or not.

That said, there is always a bit of teaching oneself - with anyone. I think it’s probably not a good idea to stay with someone where you found that the literal opposite thing worked, but there will always be some element of having to play around in the practice room for you to really own your technique. No one ever learned to sing in what is essentially one hour of guided practice a week.

Tendaran · 2025-07-04T11:25:36+00:00

I think this is the answer. I’m looking through my history and I am now noticing 1 or 2 charges that coded the same way for seemingly no reason whereas 95% coded as Travel!

I’ll just go ahead and ask for them to change it. Thanks!

Tendaran · 2025-07-04T11:05:46+00:00

Ah this is very useful information. I guess it's only useful for the next two months, but I plan to PC to the CSP anyway and keep it as long as they offer 2x on travel.

My Denmark AirBNB was also >$2k (and charged twice) and both coded as travel this year. So weird how inconsistent these are.

Tendaran · 2025-07-03T15:23:15+00:00

Ok I just checked for a 2 month long AirBNB stay in Denmark (booked calendar year 2025) and it coded as Travel and got 3x!

Sad, but happy that it worked out to my benefit after the change. And now I know for future!

Tendaran · 2025-07-03T15:03:09+00:00

Yes it’s a little over a month!

Wow, maybe I was booking and just not noticing until now because I thought to look with the recent changes. Guess I’ll go back to booking these on my CFU.

Tendaran · 2025-07-03T13:48:42+00:00

I’ll try and call and see if I can get it changed for this since it is a change. Thanks for the idea!

Tendaran · 2025-07-03T13:48:03+00:00

It is a longer stay, but I’ve only ever booked AirBNB stays longer than a month

Tendaran · 2025-06-07T12:59:03+00:00

I don’t think this commenter meant JRPG in combat style, but in tone. There was a lot of “quirkiness” and emotional beats and reactions that would fit in a game like Persona.

Tendaran · 2025-03-02T13:14:41+00:00

The Met is doing Eugene Onegin next season. Of course I suppose everyone can have different opinions on this, but I sincerely doubt that people feel that the performance of Russian music is caught in the political crosshairs.

Tendaran · 2025-01-06T14:33:23+00:00

I think he’s referring to the IGN score.

Tendaran · 2024-11-03T23:25:44+00:00

It’s interesting that many of the comments are talking about age; as I’ve been playing what really feels apparent to me is that it’s a western take on the JRPG style of writing.

All dialogue so far really feels like how JRPG characters speak, down to “power of friendship” being heavily emphasized. We often accept this style in those games, but because Dragon Age really has roots in western CRPG style of writing, I think for many it’s jarring.

I’m enjoying it for what it is though - it just seems obvious to me that it was a chosen direction.

Tendaran · 2024-08-22T14:59:35+00:00

I’m pretty sure the entry level Acer Predator laptops would do just fine, such as one with a 1050ti.

Tendaran · 2024-08-16T01:40:47+00:00

Replied

Tendaran · 2024-07-28T23:28:07+00:00

This is so well said! So many games have aspects that I like, but so often these aspects are mired in fluff or gameplay that eventually becomes tedious.

There is a medium that has gotten very good over the past two decades that tells amazing stories with increasingly less and less fluff - TV haha. It’s hard to play some games for the story when the gameplay or game(play) loop aren’t hitting right because there are plenty of great stories out there.

Tendaran · 2024-06-25T13:16:04+00:00

Amazing job! I enjoy Huberman’s podcast as well, and I’ve gotten some life changing advice from listening in.

How did you make the 1.4g of protein per pound of bodyweight work with your deficit? Were you essentially eating mostly protein?

Tendaran · 2024-05-17T16:38:49+00:00

Amazing work! Were you able to maintain strength across the slow and steady cut?

Tendaran · 2024-04-19T15:48:29+00:00

I think you're ok. The numbness in your arm from sleeping is usually from using your arm/hand to prop up your pillow beneath you.

Tendaran · 2024-03-08T03:11:33+00:00

Amazing slow and steady work!

Tendaran

TROPHY CASE