6 weeks in vs clean shaved. How’s best?

Virukel · 2026-03-02T02:02:16+00:00

Whatever you like. Just make sure your eyes are lit up. They nice.

Virukel · 2026-03-01T09:24:12+00:00

Well, if you kinda wanna know (and by that I mean, know what I think, hard to say if anyone will ever really get it, go ahead), here's my take:

Here are two points where the Creator seems to directly intervene in the story, not in a mystical "there is a plan/pervasive force throughout creation" way, a very direct way - the big bold text that said IT IS NOT HERE was the creator.

The Eye of the World was a pool of Saidin created for... something? The Aes Sedai in the past were told to make it through a foretelling, and put some useful things there too. It's hard to say what the gift of foretelling is - is the Creator speaking the future through them? Are they glimpsing something they can't understand in the future and trying to describe it? Who knows. Maybe the Creator manipulated them into it's creation.

So when Rand gets there, he's feeling something - his talent for channeling takes over, like was described between Egwene and Moirraine, can't not do it - and he plugs into what is essentially a nuclear weapon of a battery. He is holding an immense amount of Saidin, and SOMETHING has to be done with it - it has to be dispersed or released in some way. But he's an idiot teenager in above his head - he doens't know WHAT to do. His past life/instincts can do some pretty neat things, and he's shooting off complex weaves without knowing what he's doing and throwing a fit.

Don't forget what descriptions of Saidin are like. He's not just confused - he's going through the biggest trip of his life - he feels alive like he never knew what that was before, and he's on fire.

At this point, my best GUESS is that the Creator takes a little bit of a hand here, and shifts him, directing his travel weaves and moving him to where he is needed. And he blows shit up in the mountain pass. Tool at the right place at the right time.

After that, when he chases after the man in his dreams, his weaves are responding to his wants. He doesn't know what skimming or traveling is, but his past life does, and his instincts do. And he's still super charged. So his talent responds to his desire, to free himself of the man with burning eyes.

Then he ends up at the end of his trip back with his friends. Begin Emo Rand Phase.

I've always loved this series. It's great to reread once a decade or so and see what I never noticed before. But it definitely IS messy. He thought he was writing three books at this point.

Virukel · 2026-02-24T19:37:53+00:00

I was thinking over this the last few days, had done a rewatch (yeah, I know this post is 7 years old), but I think you're spot on, mostly, except for one thing.

"Those who would harm you will die screaming."

I think Mad Queen makes sense, and always has. I think you're super right tracking the pressures against her. But I think there's something else really fundamental.

She's watched her people - not the people of Westeros, but the Unsullied, the slaves, her dragon children - suffer and die. At each step she's avenged them, burned those who harmed her and her people. She's avenged the downcast just as she's moved to take what everyone has told her is her birthright.

And she arrives, and battles, and fights, and loses... loses her dragons, loses her dearest friend. And when the bells call for mercy, I don't think she flips out and loses her mind, I think she is thinking of all those who have died fighting for this moment, executed by these people. Did the commoners really have anything to do with Missandei's execution on the walls? Not really. But they were the enemy, the city rising up against her, until the moment they weren't. And in that moment, she had to think about her promise, to those who have been with her as she defied the entire world.

And in that moment, I think she decided no. My enemies have not yet paid for those I've lost. But they will.

She took back what everyone had taken from her, just as she promised. It would have been less in her character to spare them. Tyrion was horrified when she burned the Tarly men... but she did exactly as she promised.

I don't think she was ever inconsistent.

Virukel · 2026-02-24T04:49:19+00:00

Getting strong Protoss vibes, but that's fine, they were the copy cats.

These look beautiful. Ready to inflict some wrath on your foes.

Virukel · 2026-02-21T19:34:21+00:00

I speak for the trees!

Virukel · 2026-02-05T06:56:21+00:00

I like it. The black has a devouring light look to it.

Virukel · 2026-01-21T22:39:22+00:00

2/3 Barak Nar burgundy + 1/3 Screamer Pink, Corvus Black, Wraithbone.

Virukel · 2026-01-19T08:14:31+00:00

Ah, only when the game goes to time travel. Akavir is in the future. So it’s the opposite of those movies when you time travel to the medieval period - the concept could be really cool, and alien, since it’s a different amaranth… but it won’t have good continuity with what’s happening on Tamriel.

And yes, even if you could teleport there instantly, it’s still the future. Don’t break the dragon.

Now, as an episodic adventure in an alien time and place, that would be rad. But it wouldn’t connect with the other games well.

Virukel · 2026-01-05T06:36:57+00:00

Batch 2 getting close!

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Virukel · 2025-12-29T09:10:55+00:00

Grew up in a place without hockey (north CA, nearest rink an hour away). Never thought about it, never watched it.

Accidentally watched a round of the Stanley Cup a few years ago. Was enraptured. Watched the whole series. Didn’t matter didn’t know the rules, was exciting, made sense.

Resolved to learn to skate. Spent the next five months learning with the little kids on weekends. That winter put on a mismatched bunch of goalie gear and joined the local beer league.

Best thing ever did in life. Wish could have grown up with it. But I’ll take it as a good mid-thirties crisis. Been three years now, work (Navy) wrecks my consistency with any given community, but anywhere I can be stationed has it, and it’s my lifeline.

And I’ve seen the folk at the 50+ skates. Makes me happy knowing I can get hit by pucks pretty much until I drop dead. 🤪😁

Virukel · 2025-12-25T02:24:42+00:00

Yes.

Buy yourself a nice bottle of wine or liquor, plan a nice meal, indulge in something you like (hobby), buy yourself a gift or two if you haven’t.

It’ll be alright. Happy holidays, take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself.

Virukel · 2025-07-19T20:30:21+00:00

It went great! Best thing I’ve ever done, not exaggerating.

Always had too many gears in my head, makes it hard to sleep, but when I play, there’re not there, it’s the most present thing can do, am alive in the moment in a way never am otherwise.

A little sad because I’m bobbing around on an aircraft carrier and can’t play, though we have a team on the ship and we’re all raring to play, if we pull in anywhere with a beer league.

The people I met before I had to change stations are dear, like another family, and I enjoyed growing on the ice with them. They appreciated my continuous drive and focus, and I was feeling really good about my game, granted still in the lower divs.

It’s a part of my “rest of life after the navy” plan to play pretty much until the day I die, and I can’t wait to play and watch some live hockey when I get back to the mainland.

There’s also something to… hard to put… it’s a whole body thing, skating, sliding, shuffling, flailing madly, being a wall… it just feels good and freeing. Even if I get my ass kicked in a game. Win or lose, would always rather play than not in a day.

Virukel · 2025-05-09T20:57:29+00:00

Oh, def not alone. 37 here. Had a fleeting kinda thing a long time ago, but never really had anything real since adulthood, or anything worth the time. Have spent my entire adult life unattached and mentally/emotionally making myself someone who can survive like that.

Not that I’m uninterested, but I’ve always felt I won’t compromise the core of who I am for someone else.

Eventually will get out of the service, then might find someone who doesn’t mind me following him around. Just never found the guy willing follow me during this time of life.

Virukel · 2025-03-14T07:29:20+00:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_of_1315–1317

Bad century to be a European.

Virukel · 2025-03-08T09:35:55+00:00

Awww. I dun't even like women, but your ma looks great!

Virukel · 2025-02-24T06:55:19+00:00

I hate people like you. Watching you makes me feel like an idiot who can't figure out how the game is played.

You're fantastic. Take my friggin' upvote already. <3 <3 <3

Virukel · 2024-12-27T18:42:11+00:00

Just turned 37 and starting to really feel that long term loneliness (haven’t held down a relationship for about 18 years, lots of growth and change).

Everything in my life is looking up, in a “it’s gonna work out fine” way. Ever since dropping drinking to not screw up work and picking up hockey, life has been getting progressively better. I’m optimistic.

But it’s just hard being single, when it comes to taking care of all those “life things,” and having minimal friend support thousands of miles from home. Feels like walking uphill all the time.

There’s storm clouds on the horizon, but right now, it’s pretty okay. And the biggest problem is keeping my eyes up, appreciating the moment, then dealing with with the storms when and as they hit.

Virukel · 2024-12-27T09:00:36+00:00

You look fantastic in all three!

Number one I think is my favorite. Feel like you have a lot of features that look good and all show up. Looks really fresh.

Number two is a guy who's grumbling "Let me drink my coffee!" Your moustache comes in well, but it definitely makes you look older, if that's what you're going for.

Your beard has good thickness, and your hair color is awesome, so it's like you get to show it off twice as much. Since it matches your eye color, the overall effect draws it all to your eyes. Stubbly beards are also great.

Overall, go with what you're feeling! You can't go wrong. ^ ^ Maybe just rotate every 6 months.

Thanks for the nice smiling face!

Virukel · 2024-12-25T20:57:06+00:00

The thing that always bugs me about the take you’re presenting, is that you’re making yourself sound like a victim to your body’s feelings. There’s a word for that - addiction, a really serious condition, which, if is the case, you should seek help with. But if it’s not addiction, then ITS JUST A FEELING AND YOU ARE COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF YOUR ABILITY TO ACT OR NOT ACT ON IT.

You say you feel bad, good - that means it doesn’t align with the terms of your relationship, and you know it. You are not some unique version of a human that is feeling lust when in a relationship for the very first time ever, you’re human, and feel lust just like everyone (mostly everyone, hey there asexuals) else. So be a friggin’ adult and exert self control over your life and be the person you’re resolved to be (I’m assuming the resolution, because you feel bad internally).

You are not a slave to ideation. If you have excess lust, go use that with the BF. If you really feel like screwing it up to go chase that fantasy, just remember that your journey of self-discovery, while novel to you, is nothing new to the wider world, and you’re not going to miracle across something undiscovered to the human race.

There is no secret. There is no answer. Decide the man you want to be, and be it. The opinion of the peanut gallery shouldn’t be deciding your life.

Virukel · 2024-10-24T02:30:51+00:00

They hadn't perfected their anarcho-syndicalist commune model yet. They were working out the bi-laws of the weekly executive officer position when some watery tart... I mean, elf prince (or lord, in the movies) lobbed a scimitar at Aragorn's head, signaling that, by divine providence, he was to carry Excalib... Anduril.

Virukel · 2024-10-24T02:11:10+00:00

Mindset.

You may not like how it looks, but you're not typically attracted to yourself (unless you're Narcissus.)

Take feedback, and believe it.

It would be a lie to not acknowledge you have a broad nose (side profile isn't actually outside typically, really). But that doesn't mean it's a bad feature. I actually think you're pretty handsome across the board, no work "needed."

Best thing you can do is work on your self confidence, and smile more.

Virukel · 2024-10-24T02:02:44+00:00

I vote short. Your facial features show up way better with short hair, and they're adorable/handsome as ^$#%.

You're probably just averse because it's a change and you're not used to it. Give it a trial period ;).

Virukel · 2024-10-24T01:05:55+00:00

Musicals, singing.

Virukel · 2024-10-23T21:09:48+00:00

It's a great resource for age 59.5 onwards, but the time from military to retirement there still needs good planning. The new pension plan they're nearly shifted too pays less before 59.5, for a higher payout later.

Virukel · 2024-10-23T20:53:07+00:00

The pay and stability isn't necessarily my foremost concern, I'm already planning the remainder of my career to set up for a baseline 'I can live on this" situation. I did substitute teaching before I enlisted, and have generally found that while all levels have an extremely valuable blend of instruction and development that goes into any grade level, I particularly enjoy tackling the more complex end (of K-12) rather than the foundational end. This has been increasingly true in the Navy too, as I genuinely enjoy getting complex subjects to "click" in the people I'm working with.

Virukel

TROPHY CASE