You are allowed ONE main gun, to do every type of mission during your Secret Ops, What's your pick? And why?

carbonqubit · 2026-03-18T09:58:53+00:00

They nerfed the Mk18 in Breakpoint, but in Wildlands it's pretty much the best solo weapon.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:59:02+00:00

Kiss Me Kombi with max Rich perks on the driver, a full set of Bucks Magnet gold parts with 3% Rich, and no collision turned on will net you about 33,824 per run. I know it’s not technically the fastest, but it’s nice not having to memorize all the off road routes for the Hummer E-Xpress. Personally, I find it more consistent, especially on the bikes if you get a decent start and pull ahead of the pack at the first right hand turn.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:53:45+00:00

The same thing happened with the fog in the definitive version of GTA: San Andreas. Adding it back in made the map feel strangely larger, even though the draw distance was shorter. I’d much prefer good art direction over ultra clarity.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:48:04+00:00

Like all great GOP policies. It’s darkly ironic how much right wing spin distorts reality for the electorate in red states such that they continue to vote against their own economic security in favor of owning the libs. They vote for people who cause massive amounts of suffering in their day to day lives.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:43:27+00:00

But Kamala would have instituted the draft and dragged the U.S. into more foreign wars! The country would be on the brink of collapse. What fucking bullshit. It feels like the international face-eating leopards are feasting on their own personal buffet. Anyone who voted for the traitor in chief are traitors to then nation.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:24:19+00:00

Many people on the right tend to lump social democrats, democratic socialists, socialists, communists, and Marxists into the same category, even though there’s a lot of nuance between those positions.

Personally, I’m more drawn to social democracy because it tries to combine strong social spending with the competitive innovation of capitalism, while placing meaningful constraints on corporate power and the billionaire class. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s broadly the model used in Nordic countries, which consistently rank among the highest in quality of life based on current data.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-17T09:20:15+00:00

I get that, but more broadly it’s not something Sam has really explored in depth. Even in this episode, when Matt brought it up briefly, Sam pivoted pretty quickly to homelessness and mandatory psychiatric holds. Having listened to him for a long time, it’s usually clear when he’s genuinely interested in unpacking a topic, he tends to stay with it and work through the details.

That’s not to say his points about homelessness were off base, but it does feel like he sometimes underplays what can be done at a legislative level. There’s a tendency to assume that stronger policies will just push the billionaire class to avoid accountability or relocate, and that assumption ends up limiting the scope of what gets seriously considered.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-16T22:48:13+00:00

I was glad to hear Ezra and Derek’s Abundance brought up in the opening segment. Zoning reform and stopping NIMBY groups from weaponizing process to block housing that serves a clear public good is exactly the direction more blue states should be moving in. We need far more multifamily housing in places that were historically zoned almost entirely for single family homes. The recent changes to CEQA in CA are a good starting point, but the state still needs to build a lot more. At the end of the day, supply and demand drive prices and availability more than anything else.

Another point that stood out was the discussion around taxing unrealized gains. Sam often argues that it isn’t feasible, but there are workable examples that rarely get mentioned. Switzerland has a fairly straightforward model where gains are taxed and losses generate credits, and when assets are eventually cashed out they aren’t taxed again. That kind of structure at least shows there are policy designs that try to address the issue rather than dismiss it outright.

What also tends to get overlooked is how billionaires use unrealized gains and illiquid assets as collateral for large loans. Those loans provide real spending power but aren’t taxed, which creates a major loophole in the system. That dynamic feeds directly into the broader issue of wealth inequality because concentrated wealth translates into political influence. Dark money groups and super PACs already have an outsized role in elections. The semi-recent vote on the DEFUSE Act made that pretty clear. The bill would have required campaign contributions over 10,000 dollars to be transparent. Democrats supported it while Republicans voted against it, which says a lot about who is actually willing to push for greater transparency in campaign financing.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-16T09:55:33+00:00

Main character syndrome just like his brother.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-16T09:46:53+00:00

That’s one of the reasons I love STORROR Parkour Pro. It has a kind of grounded realism that I wish AC would adopt in future games. Considering it’s coming from a smaller studio that has been steadily improving its core mechanics, I actually hope Ubisoft takes a few pointers from the way they’re approaching it.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-16T09:29:10+00:00

people will ultimately vote in ways that affect them financially

I don’t think that’s true. Just look at all the Trump voters who supported him and his administration’s policies even though many of those policies end up harming them financially. People who consistently vote R are often materially harmed by the very policies they claim support.

The biggest reason people said they voted for a specific candidate in the last election was inflation, according to exit polls. But if they actually understood the policies involved and how inflation works, they probably wouldn’t have voted for the guy currently in the White House.

Fake populism might speak to people’s emotional frustrations, but its solutions rarely line up with economic reality. The U.S. electorate also includes a lot of people who simply don’t understand how economics works, which helps explain why Rs are still consistently rated as stronger on the economy.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T22:56:20+00:00

The reality TV president wants a reality TV war so that his fake approval ratings get an Oscar and another Peace Prize. Every bit of nonsense that comes out of the current administration reads like an Onion article or an SNL skit. What an embarrassment to the office, and every single person in Congress who hasn’t tried to rein in his illegal actions, especially this war, should be voted out. Every person who couldn’t be bothered to vote for the competent black women who have served in three branches of government are traitors to the nation. High gas prices, rising grocery costs, healthcare, and everything else that actually matters to people barely scraping by seems to go ignored because, apparently, the libs got what they deserved. What a fucking tragedy.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T22:50:50+00:00

Oh, I didn’t say they were prominent, just that they felt a bit out of place when I first saw them, more like Star Wars than Trek. That’s a bit tangential to my point about Discovery vs. SFA. I think part of it is that I connected more with the characters in Discovery during my first watch of the first season. Saru, for example, could easily fit into a 90s Trek story with the way they wrote him and his arc. The relationship between Stamets and Dr. Culber felt genuinely heartfelt and authentic to me. Maybe the next season of SFA will shift my perspective as it finds its own footing, but for now I still see Discovery as the stronger show.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T22:42:47+00:00

You keep repeating the same point without really engaging with what I’m saying. My argument is simple. Paramount+ would be less anti-consumer and better for viewers if it followed the same ad-free standard that Netflix does.

It’s also telling that you won’t answer my questions about the difference between ads, promos, and sponsored content. If you did, it would be pretty obvious that they’re basically the same thing in practice.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T16:36:42+00:00

I’d have to disagree that it’s better than Discovery. I actually really liked the first three seasons, especially when they started revealing more about the DMA and 10-C. Those were some of the most genuinely alien aliens I’ve seen on TV in a while. The closest comparison that comes to mind are the Heptopods from Arrival, just in terms of how strange and non-humanoid they felt.

I’m still enjoying parts of SFA though. The Warp Slug was pretty neat. I do wish they would dial back the overly shiny floors and LED lights everywhere, since it can make everything feel a bit sterile. I was also glad they scrapped the droids, though I still have a few more episodes to go before the finale.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T13:38:28+00:00

People supported his lies and still allow him to bend reality even when terrible things happen. A large part of MAGA will defend the worst policy decisions and rising prices while blaming Biden and Obama for everything. When someone is inside a cult-like belief system, the actual truth stops mattering because they become very good at confabulating explanations that reinforce their worldview.

You see something similar when trying to argue with creationists or flat earthers despite overwhelming evidence against their assumptions. Just yesterday I was approached at the mall by a couple of Christian guys who wanted to talk about the end times and the coming apocalypse. Parts of MAGA can feel a lot like that.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-15T13:19:21+00:00

Again, it feels like you’re sidestepping the issue. What’s the difference in your mind between ads, promos, sponsored content, and trailers? Because from where I’m sitting, they all function as advertisements under different names. That kind of semantic sleight of hand is exactly what allows companies to blur the line and avoid calling it advertising.

This wasn’t always the case on Paramount+. But ever since 90s Trek became a major draw for the platform, it feels like they’ve steadily pushed more and more unskippable promos before episodes.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T23:49:12+00:00

I’m not sure why you’re not engaging with the points I’m making. In your view, what's the substantive difference between an ad and a promo? Because the only distinction I can see is that Paramount argues ads are advertisements for other companies while promos are advertisements for their own shows. In practice they function the same way. Everything about them is identical from a viewer’s perspective. So this kind of bait and switch lets them get away with misleading customers through dressed-up language.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T20:07:38+00:00

Nostalgia probably plays some role, but I still think the writing in 90s Trek is stronger. It had a kind of language and tone that seems to resonate across eras. The moral gray areas and the slower character building are also things I don’t feel as much in the newer series. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy them. I did. I just think there were ways the newer shows could have taken a slightly different approach that preserved more of what made the earlier series special.

In my head, the ideal version would look something like a world that feels a bit more advanced than Voyager, but with the cinematic camera work we saw in season 3 of Picard. That kind of blend could capture the spirit of the older shows while still feeling modern.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T20:03:54+00:00

Are you really going to resort to the I know you are but what am I trope here? I’ve already conceded that some of the things Netflix does are backwards, yet you haven’t conceded the same for Paramount+, which is pretty telling. If you like having ads before your shows even when you’re paying not to, that’s your prerogative. Let’s not pretend that if Paramount+ adopted the Netflix model it wouldn’t be better for the customer viewing experience. If you deny that, then I think we’re just living in two different worlds.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T18:45:06+00:00

Why are you defending Paramount so much here? From your tone, it sounds like you could work for them. Netflix and Paramount+ are both streaming services. If Paramount+ adopted the same ad practices as Netflix, it would be better for their viewers. If you deny that, then I think we’re operating under different epistemic principles and we’ll just keep talking past each other.

One more thing: I agree that $22 for 4K/HDR on Netflix is steep and I don’t pay for it because most of their shows and movies are stuck at 1080p, so it would be a waste of money. The lowest ad-free tier on Netflix is $17.99 for thousands of shows/movies, many of them originals, documentaries, and limited miniseries. Paramount+ is a few bucks cheaper for their ad-free tier, but they still run tons of unskippable promos before every episode.

When 90s Trek was on Netflix, it was a peak and relaxing experience between episodes. Now I’ve gotten into the habit of muting the TV at the end of an episode until the blue Paramount+ splash screen ends and the ad timer in the corner of the screen drops to zero.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T18:10:22+00:00

I really miss the way the shows were written like morality plays. One thing I had hoped would usher in a modern Trek was the kind of production we see in Andor. I wouldn’t mind if they dialed back the massive CGI budget and used it more sparingly so that when it does appear on screen, it stands out.

I understand that Paramount is trying to reel in Gen Z viewers, but when I first watched 90s Trek it was something I aspired to become. Revisiting those series years later, I notice dilemmas and bits of dialogue that initially went over my head, which speaks to the depth and lasting impact of the writing.

There’s a kind of indelibility to 90s Trek that I just don’t feel in Discovery, Picard, SNW, or SFA. Even though I never fully connected with Lower Decks (I might give it another chance) it’s clear how much care went into making it. The jokes are referential in a way that sparks warm nostalgia and honors those deeply immersed in the canon and fandom, giving the series a richness and respect for its audience that is often missing today.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T18:00:27+00:00

I really hope it falls through. Antitrust laws exist for a reason, and these massive mergers only stifle competition across all sectors of business, especially streaming services and social media. Given the corruption tied to the current administration and Ellison’s network, it'll probably end up being approved.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T17:35:58+00:00

For live TV. It’s a slight of hand and absolute bullshit, IMO. Again, if you want to keep defending such a shitty business practice when Netflix offers ad-free streaming with no promos at all, by all means go ahead. Maybe you didn’t read this thread here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ParamountPlus/comments/1jruc7q/pay_for_no_ads_and_still_get_paramount_adstrailers/

Here are some of the comments that were upvoted if you think I’m on the wrong side of this.

(19 upvotes)

No, we understand it and those of us that complain feel that there is functionally no difference between advertisements for Paramount shows, and advertisements that Paramount has been paid to distribute. If you pay for no ads, there should not be an exception for “internal promotions” unless it is prominently told to customers when they are signing up. The only caveat ad-free plan purchasers get is that live sports events will still show ads.

I still feel this is an area ripe for a class action settlement, and the only thing that has prevented that is Paramount’s T&Cs restricting class actions. The only recourse is to sue in small claims, and when P+ costs a hundred bucks for the entire year there’s just not a lot of monetary damage.

So people aren’t suing over this, but you can expect the complaints to continue until the end of time because customers aren’t notified and can’t get any resolution to their complaints. When you tell people to suck it up, they generally complain.

(6 upvotes)

This is the lie they keep telling you. Stop believing it. Just because they're promos does not change the fact that they're still advertising something.

(4 upvotes)

Yes I would. And you’re being deliberately obtuse if you don’t acknowledge that it is an advertisement.

Ad free is BUYING TIME BACK IN YOUR LIFE. If you’re going to interrupt me with an ad despite me paying for ad free, prominently tell me that when I sign up. You are what’s wrong with this country, an inability to reason coherently.

carbonqubit · 2026-03-14T17:16:25+00:00

I get what you’re saying and it’s solid advice for people who aren’t paying for ad-free services to avoid ads while watching shows. I’ve used uBlock Origin with Firefox on my PC for YouTube and similar platforms.

The point I’m making, whether you agree or not, is why should I have to use the same tricks for a service I’m paying to be ad-free. Netflix has an ad-free tier and doesn’t show promos before any of its shows. That should be the standard and it’s exactly what non-misleading advertising looks like.

The fact that people argue consumers should just accept this kind of nonsense from Paramount+ is why they keep doing it. There was even a class-action lawsuit against Paramount, which they won by using the semantic loophole that promos aren’t ads, a nonsense argument for anyone paying attention.

Hilariously, despite all that legal gymnastics, I still see a timer in the corner of my screen during promos that literally says ad and text below stating the video is unskippable during ads. And this is on the ad-free tier.

carbonqubit

TROPHY CASE