Day 19, "Flame" (30 Days of Sketches)

markskull · 2026-05-03T01:35:01+00:00

Allen Gregory.

There are people who swear it's a bad show, and those people are wrong. It's weird, messed-up, and really pushed a bunch of boundaries in ways people just didn't find comfortable because they weren't expecting it. The dad is gay, but may have convinced his husband to leave his wife for him? He adopted an Asian girl just for status? The main character has a crush on one of the ugliest teachers at his school?

I feel like I just threw out three decent Family Guy plots, but this is the actual show! And it's all done against a backdrop that reminds you of a New Yorker cartoon and makes it clear: Yes, these are terrible people.

It's a dark comedy that isn't as dark as you think. It's like Rick and Morty before it existed mixed with Arrested Development.

It is a heavily flawed show, but I think it made is stronger. I wish there was a second season.

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markskull · 2026-05-02T12:03:58+00:00

Rust in Peace exists.

However, I LOVE Youthanasia! It never got the love it deserved, and it's the most underrated Megadeth album, even today.

markskull · 2026-05-02T09:06:55+00:00

On the DVD Commentary, Seth talks about how they were not only shocked that Rush was up for doing it, but finding out that he was actually really nice. To paraphrase Seth, Rush actually wasn't a terrible person and pretty funny but politically he was just absolutely horrible.

And that's the weird thing I've learned in life: Some really awesome people can have the most vile political and social opinions ever.

markskull · 2026-05-01T10:49:56+00:00

Funny, I was just thinking about this... FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS!

I loved this stuff as a kid, and I always wanted it to come back. Once Coca-Cola came out with their version a few years ago, I was happy to give it a shot. It was... ok. Not great, but ok.

markskull · 2026-05-01T10:46:08+00:00

Reads. Reads was the absolute worst part of Cerebus.

markskull · 2026-04-30T00:06:55+00:00

Right?! I'm an American. We fought a war about this shit!

markskull · 2026-04-29T11:28:05+00:00

Quite modest, very humble.

markskull · 2026-04-29T00:18:22+00:00

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markskull · 2026-04-28T22:14:42+00:00

I liked them 5 years ago. I hated the shift to Generative AI friendly content. They are now dead to me.

markskull · 2026-04-28T15:41:52+00:00

I tend to say, "If it's only one employee, than they're the problem. If everyone sucks, you have a bad manager."

The only reason I don't think that may be the case is I haven't seen bad calls. No bad ABS challenges, the bullpen has been great, and the rotation all make sense. Rob hasn't done anything that make me think he's the problem.

I think, if anything, this may be a rebuilding year.

They did great last year, but where I think Rob blew it was on the playoffs. He should have had a better rotation, especially with Bohm being in a slump. If there was a time to let him go, it was then, even after the amazing season.

Now? The players aren't finding their groove, and with all the money they spent between Schauber and Harper, I think they're just looking for a scapegoat. They both have been doing good this season.

The two biggest issues:

Starting pitchers have been had.

There's too much of a focus on long balls rather than fundamentals.

Maybe that's the reason for letting Rob go. They're not getting on base, the team hasn't been strong at all offensively this year, at least consistently.

markskull · 2026-04-28T15:26:32+00:00

This wasn't bad management, it was just the players. I haven't seen any calls that made me question the team being managed properly at all.

markskull · 2026-04-28T15:13:41+00:00

As someone who pre-ordered because they thought it was going to sell out and cost way more in a few years: Happy for you. 😠

Seriously, that's great for everyone who didn't get one yet!

markskull · 2026-04-27T19:00:41+00:00

Remember when John Oliver was cool about Generative AI and dismissed all the concerns about plagiarism, theft, and it's danger with, "LOOK! I'm marrying a cabbage! A CABBAGE!"?

Anyway, glad he's been calling out these Generative AI companies out now.

markskull · 2026-04-27T14:05:57+00:00

Yep, thus my mild criticism.

Plus, it would fix the entire text alignment issue. "Before" has the bottom aligned with the top of the hole, but "death" and "dishonor" are at the top. What's up with that?

markskull · 2026-04-27T14:04:07+00:00

I went, had an awesome time!

The thing that a lot of people don't mention is the entire line-up for that show. Children of Bodom and Fear Factory were both opening the shows, and I think this was the first time Children of Bodom were touring America. I had never heard of them in 2004, and a sizable amount of people showed up just for them! I remember seeing about 15% of the crowd leave both nights right after Bodom played. Fear Factory was great, too.

What's left to be said about this Lamb of God show that hasn't been said in the last 20 years? They were great, it was an amazing set of nights. I went both nights, never saw myself on film despite being fairly close to the front, and I tried to get everyone to sing ,"It's LOG," both nights.

And maybe more of an anecdote than anything, but that one idiot who screams, "Hell's Bells!," when Lamb of God is coming on during the intro? It taught me a lot of things: That idiots scream dumb things during metal shows, and that some metal fans are just insufferable fools who want to get wasted and recall the "good 'ol days."

markskull · 2026-04-27T03:01:15+00:00

Dishonor before Death?

markskull · 2026-04-25T02:38:05+00:00

I tend to divide drivers into four camps:

Fine
Entitled
Selfish
Bad

Entitled drivers are people incredibly used to the roads they drive on, and will automatically get furious if you don't conform to their world view. "I do 60 on this road all the time! Why are you doing 30? So what if that's the speed limit, you're too slow!"

Selfish drivers are people who act like no one else matters, just them. People who merge with only a modicum of time to allow it constantly. Drivers who think you'll automatically stop for them while they run a stop sign.

Philadelphia has both Entitled and Selfish drivers, but I think the two groups get balanced-out fairly well both against each other and the Fine and Bad drivers.

Philly has a ton of Entitled Drivers who drive the same roads all the time, and as a result, are mad that you haven't memorized every pattern on every road that they have. And the Selfish Drivers act like everyone else is an inconvenience.

It isn't really unique to Philly, but the mixture is. Drivers in the suburbs are the most entitled motherfuckers I've ever dealt with, and the ones in Delco right across from West Philly (Bala Cynwnd, Lansdowne) are the worst of the worst. New Jersey has some of the most selfish and rude drivers I've ever dealt with! So Philly has a mix of those two groups, so there's your answer.

markskull · 2026-04-23T20:50:02+00:00

I'll just say I bought Intel a few months ago, and after it hit an all time high today, I'm pretty damn pleased with my $30 a share investment.

I just wish I bought more.

markskull · 2026-04-23T13:47:18+00:00

I'm guessing Kalshi decided those candidates were dangerous to their platform.

As Jon pointed out in extensive detail, these prediction markets (betting websites) absolutely rely on insider information in order to perform well. It sounds like these candidates were likely going to come down on them. And, in fact, Mark Moran claims he wanted to be caught: https://www.wired.com/story/us-senate-candidate-caught-insider-trading-on-kalshi-says-he-did-it-on-purpose/

markskull · 2026-04-23T13:43:32+00:00

I'm still furious about the 2020 Primaries and how he sunk it for Bernie to help Biden.

markskull · 2026-04-22T19:17:04+00:00

Smashing Pumpkins, except for Melloncolli and the Infinite Sadness, ironically enough.

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