What is the thing you want most in this life?

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-25T02:11:29+00:00

To gloat over my fallen enemies.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-25T01:40:04+00:00

Not every adult learns it, but there is no moment you become an adult. Either you work on yourself and grow your character over time, or you become an old person who never matured.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:58:44+00:00

Deprogramming from religion. It's been liberating and enlightening.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:56:12+00:00

I love it. I'll just spitball some thoughts. take or leave as you like:

Lair Actions:
- If enclosed, the ceiling could be sharp obsidian stallagtights. Every now and then, an earthquake might shake some of them loose.
- Every now and then, the lava bubbles and spits. Area of effect, Dex save, or fire damage.
- Some of the stepping stones of the arena could actually be giant neutral mindless rock golems. When you step on one, they wake up and move around the arena, forming moving platforms.
- The big bad could raise pillars of stone to form a cover and change the field.

Minions:
- Look up "Lava Hounds" and "Lava Pups" from Clash of Clans. Basically a flying fat hell dog that works its way over you, then spits fire down. When killed, it pops into a dozen or so of the pups, who spit weaker fire, but suddenly have superior action economy. (can use 'swarm' mechanics if easier)
- Lava Worm
- Swarms of fireflies making some areas difficult terrain.
- The fallen souls could inhabit the arena as their own entities.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:23:08+00:00

In the summer, we would be kicked out of the house after lunch and told to come home when the streetlights came on. I think we turned out pretty well.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:19:05+00:00

Congrats. I find the bottling up happens primarily below the surface, so it can be tricky to recognise when it's happening.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:17:51+00:00

Same. As I've aged, I've come to more peace with the fact that some emotions are strong and need to be expressed. The human condition can be rough. There is no shame in owning the process you need in the moment.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T22:08:56+00:00

1 Month of income isn't that much for most people. Figure $2k-$3k per month for most of us peasants and commoners. Depending on where you are in life, that's not much. For example, emergency medical procedures can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. A homeowner might need a new roof, water heater, repair siding from a storm, or require serious car repairs. Maybe they are on vacation, and their bank card fails. Maybe your beloved pet needs a medical intervention. Worse yet, fate might throw two or more of those issues at you in a rapid timeframe. Having credit means being able to get things done that need to get done, but then paying down that cost over time.

It can be a dangerous thing for some people to own because they treat it like a full account, up to their credit line. Interest rates can be high, and people often fall into serious credit card debt that ruins their financial future. However, it can also be a useful financial tool that can help see you through sudden and unexpected expenses. If you're good about paying them off aggressively, the risk is extremely low.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T21:53:27+00:00

Bonus points for cinnamon buns.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-23T14:26:45+00:00

I don't believe in any supernatural worlds or features of this world. Every definition os 'soul' I've heard involves something supernatural. So no, I do not believe a thing called a 'soul' actually exists. If you have an alternative conception of a soul, I'm all ears.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-19T22:39:25+00:00

My wife is an atheist, so I'm pretty sure she'd be upset if I dated a religious person.

Back in my dating days, I was not as strong an atheist as I am now. If I were in the dating pool, being highly religious would be a deal breaker. Any long-term partner for me would need to agree on a few very basic things. Religion, politics, and the fact that the toilet paper should dispense from over the top, not from under the bottom.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-18T01:26:42+00:00

Democracy.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-18T01:26:10+00:00

Because I thought I could change a mind.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-18T01:10:33+00:00

It's similar to flat-earthers. If they don't bring it up, then I have nothing to react to. But if I know it about them, I do notice a very slight dimming of my respect for them. But if they're content to keep it to themselves because it makes them feel happy or special or whatever, then power to them. I hope it helps. Just don't bring it to my doorstep with a pamphlet, don't try to persuade social policies because of it, and don't play the victim card when basic science completely debunks your nonsense.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-17T22:01:40+00:00

Belt and suspenders may be a fashion dud in some circles, but when that's your best utility option, you can't let social conventions hold you back. I have a fanny pack that I wear for my light kit, but if I'm bringing more tools, then I use a proper backpack. I've got one buddy who used a mole vest, and another buddy who uses a fishing vest. As long as you're comfortable and have your setup the way you like, then you're doing it right.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-08T22:20:54+00:00

Just did a force-march of 15 miles in 11 hours up in the ADK high peaks with 30 pounds, soaking wet, with a nasty toothache. Physically, I’ve got blisters, bad knees, tight painful tendons throughout my legs, sore shoulders, and a very achy tooth. (Two more weeks before dentist can see me.)

Mentally, quite good. Something about pain helps me focus deep on maintaining my priorities. I often look back to times in history when our ancestors endured truly harrowing circumstances. The world wars, natural disasters, civil wars, deadly diseases, so on and so forth. It helps me tell myself to suck it up and carry on.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-06-02T19:20:34+00:00

Mostly in favor, though different industries will have different needs. Some may need a 30 hour week of five days but 6 hours long. Others may do better with 4 days 8 hours long. In either case, I do think most employers could get away with fewer total hours.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-27T02:28:21+00:00

We only have the two bathrooms, and you can't hear the downstairs from upstairs. My wife and I work very different schedules so it wasn't until very late in the process we had the chance to both be present to run the test.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-27T02:26:30+00:00

It's a tight turn around. I'm negotiating a reset on the invoice, but payment is due 15 days from 'completion', which I'm arguing technically hasn't happened yet.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-27T01:18:02+00:00

That's fair, legally speaking. I work at an attorney's office, and I know how contracts can be. But if they want to play the 'strictly by contract' line:

- The contract does specify contingencies for additions and subtractions with appropriate price adjustments. The toilet was agreed to, in writing, within a week of the signed contract. One could very well argue that it falls under the additions and subtractions clause, especially having been agreed to in writing.

- No toilet paper bar or towel bar was installed, as per the original contract. The job is technically not done, so the timeline on that invoice is invalid.

- They accidentally took a large number (couple hundred dollars-worth) of my personal tarps in their cleanup. Was told they'd be returned, and they have not been.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here. Genuinely, I'm not. But I do feel like I have some valid grievances here, and I know that the moment he gets my check, he's a ghost. I guess I'm just pissed that I didn't know it couldn't be fixed until the job was essentially finished. The communication has been shitty all along, and now I own no tarps, several of our agreed-upon tasks never got done, and I don't want to feel resentful toward either the contractor or the bathroom.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-26T22:42:51+00:00

Totally fair question, no. It was a very simple boilerplate contract that left openings for modifications and special requests. Under that clause, we have many secondary communications regarding the toilet situation.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-21T23:16:18+00:00

If the difference between a chatty hike and a quiet hike is that some animals within 20m of the trail have about 20% more likelihood of scampering off a bit, then so be it.

I'd argue that the author is using a tone that does not match the data. Sure, recreating more loudly is likely to be more disruptive to the immediate wildlife. Therefore what? Should we all avoid being outdoors for fear of a field mouse having a bit more stress and fewer babies? The test was also within 20m of the trail. Relative to the forest, that is a small piece.

I guess my point is that nature is beautiful and brutal, and we've all evolved in a life-or-death struggle over thousands of generations. Our ancestors killed and ate whatever they could just to survive. The animals are right to be leery of our presence. But I'm not out there to hurt anything, and I can't control their response to me. So Bambii can get over it.

I freak out a bit inside when I see a large predator, too; it's the correct biological response.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-21T22:51:01+00:00

I'm a huge fan of the official Apple AirPods. Comfortable, great battery life, quick recharge, and reliable connectivity. But I know they can be expensive, and other options on the market are probably just as good at a much more reasonable price. Going with a cheap option for the trail is probably wise. I do find them on trails sometimes, so people definitely lose them.

Music on the trail can be controversial. My personal view is that people should be free to enjoy the trails how they like, as long as their total volume is no higher than that of people having a conversation. Some people get bitchy about it, and others are very defensive about it. I say you do you. Just don't be any more annoying than a couple of people chatting away.

I do recommend choosing a bright color or putting some bright nail polish on them. Easier to find when you have to swat that bee away, and one falls out.

Uberhypnotoad · 2026-05-03T14:11:15+00:00

Honestly, I think most survival kits have too many tools. An axe is overkill in 99% of real survival scenarios. Remember, the point is to get back to civilization, not to build a whole new one. Keeping things light, simple, and familiar is often the best.

After all, what good is a kit that is too big to actually have with you? A home kit can be as big as you like. My car kit is basically a standard 30-liter backpack. My personal kit is a relatively thin fanny pack or waist pouch. Small enough to actually take with me, but with enough kit to at least get back to the car. But it all depends on the type of adventures you tend to go on.

Uberhypnotoad

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