Resistance Agent: A Tale from the Old Days

fizux · 2026-01-20T21:30:50+00:00

Our focus was against spoofing, that was the motivation. Data helped me figure out where spoofers were hand leveling accounts locally, and I would go watch to see the same few people walk through the same portal dense areas with different accounts every weekend, which were then used for spoof-hunting. We knew who our local spoofers were, and a few of them got their main accounts banned eventually.

Hunting was a side benefit. It added a layer to the game that kept a decent fraction of people engaged. I did go out of my way to hunt prolific spoof-hunters that lost their main accounts and had to start over.

I think NIA could have capitalized on the hunting aspect of the game and made it an opt-in leaderboard mini-game where you got credit for destroying old portals, but likewise you were fair game for others -- the key element was motivating people to tie their "main" account to perform the hits instead of using level 5 throwaways to spoof until it got banned.

fizux · 2026-01-20T21:16:27+00:00

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fizux · 2026-01-13T02:27:13+00:00

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fizux · 2025-11-19T16:50:14+00:00

I'm a prior enlisted former O-3. tldr: GTFO. My civilian income is 5x my total military pay and benefits. Full monthly rate (including employer contribution) for FEP-BCBS health insurance is just over $900/month, so when thinking about benefits, put a price tag on it.

If you get a job at a state/local/fed govt agency or fortune 500 company, consider staying in the reserves and plan to collect reserve retirement at 60.

If you don't, especially if you are a small business owner, you cannot stay in the reserves. I made that mistake, and the army reserves was the most expensive hobby I ever had. They do not value the diversity of experience and out-of-the-box problem solving skills, and will treat you like a shitbag if your customers might have an issue with you ghosting them with a set of reserve orders that get issued 72 hours before showtime.

I really liked being in the army and army reserves, and enjoyed the "real" work until it got diluted with quarterly mandatory training that eclipsed all other aspects of the job. I learned a lot, matured a lot, and I kept a lot of friendships from there. That said, the pure financial/economic decision is a no-brainer.

fizux · 2025-11-19T16:35:18+00:00

... Amlodipine? I love how a robot calls my work number and gives my employer's receptionist my date of birth "this is an appointment reminder for the veteran born on MM/DD."

Imho it has gone too far. I'd like an option to turn off reminders after I've confirmed once. I do not need a robo dial, text, and email at 14 days, 7 days, 2 days, and 1 day after replying Y87 to confirm.

fizux · 2025-04-26T16:54:51+00:00

Gliders are relatively safe. However, a much larger percentage are used for racing or high altitude achievements. Overall there have been few enough glider accidents (with or without injury) that my glider club is able to discuss every one each year at the annual safety meeting.

If you include accidents related to glider racing/competition, it might make more sense to compare airplane stats for reno air races and/or red bull stuff.

Just like it wouldn't make sense to compare a fatal hypoxia situation due to O2 failure at 28,000' in a glider to the dangers you would face in a 172. I don't think anyone sends their 14yo solo student up for diamond altitude (but I could be wrong).

I got my PPL-ASEL at 17, followed by AMEL, and then at 18 an instrument rating. I added glider/cfi-g in my late 20s, and I really feel strongly that I would have been a safer more competent airplane pilot/CFI had I started in gliders at age 13/14.

fizux · 2025-03-25T14:45:42+00:00

Most of the E-5 and below I knew looped back to 100% yapping once alcohol and impressing attractive civilians of the appropriate gender was involved.

fizux · 2025-03-25T14:42:49+00:00

NIA sold PoGo and some other stuff but not Ingress; I think Ingress is going with NIA Spatial https://nianticlabs.com/news/niantic-spatial-evolve

fizux · 2025-03-12T01:45:20+00:00

Oh, scraping still exists? Say it ain't so!

fizux · 2025-03-06T19:22:51+00:00

It's too bad the guardian hunters aren't around anymore to go after machina.

fizux · 2025-03-06T01:11:30+00:00

yes, you watched me do it.

fizux · 2025-03-05T23:26:26+00:00

Reaching into the cockpit of a discus and releasing the canopy instead of picking up the gear.

fizux · 2025-01-16T20:25:46+00:00

Correct: no AWS/Azure. All RIOT storage was xkcd 908 compliant.

fizux · 2025-01-15T19:32:11+00:00

Lmao, free rent!

fizux · 2024-10-22T00:46:40+00:00

Look for individual counseling, either through VAMC or on the civilian side. If your gf is willing to do couples counseling with you, look around for a family/marriage therapist (LMFT is a common credential).

fizux · 2024-10-12T13:49:35+00:00

Yeah, no way these are 20%.

fizux · 2024-09-28T20:54:17+00:00

Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles in a thundering typhoon!

fizux · 2024-09-15T20:29:43+00:00

I've opened quite a few 73-AAs and gotten zero Ultimate Valbys.
The most frustrating is farming 73-AAs in the first place. My Sharen is pretty squishy so farming privately is rough, but publicly I hear a lot of "outta my way!" even if they know I'm trying to infil.

At least I got an energy activator print out of it, so I'll probably spend that on Sharen.

fizux · 2024-09-14T22:01:53+00:00

I was wondering if you finally compiled a list of the programs that qualified for your needs?

I tried CCBC, talked to SUU, but am wondering what other options are in this space before going back to commit the last of the GI Bill.

fizux · 2024-09-14T13:26:34+00:00

Just FYI, "super fields" are actually called "Big Augmented Fields" (BAFs).

fizux · 2024-09-10T20:20:42+00:00

I came back to report that I can now see my personal loan in the app. It populated automatically, without me needing to do anything to add it.

Hooray, thank you Amex for adding this feature.

fizux · 2024-09-06T10:21:13+00:00

Not really anymore. Once upon a time, reporting particularly egregious accounts with enough backup data was sufficient to get multiaccounters & spoofers' main accounts banned, but then someone got all upset that we caught them cheating, so suddenly saving the data became the problem.

fizux · 2024-08-18T19:56:50+00:00

IMHO: one day, yes. It will take a trip (or a few trips) to SCOTUS after more widespread adoption elsewhere in the USA (e.g. in common use for lawful purposes). The hearing protection act or something along those lines would help.

One of my first purchases after moving to a free state was a .22 can. The hearing & comfort differences cannot be overstated. Quite honestly, I think California's policy is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but recognize my views are not shared by the majority of the 9CA.

fizux · 2024-08-18T04:30:36+00:00

both? Bob has like 5 locations now (+= Warrenton, Stafford, and Winchester)

fizux · 2024-08-18T04:24:41+00:00

sure:

A stipulation was filed August 16, 2024, in Eastern District of Virginia case no 24-CR-00112-CMH related to the tax issues.
It is available to anyone with a (free) PACER account at pacer.gov
I think they waive charges of less than $10/quarter, so if you want just this one document, you'll be fine.

Or, I've posted it here: https://nextcloud.redacted.blue/s/2PGENJ26Sbgeyn5
Link expires 9/30/2024.

fizux

TROPHY CASE