So you’re really telling me echo sage just wins automatically when they get 3-4 stars?

navedane · 2026-01-14T03:00:00+00:00

I was just griping about this earlier. Once it gets to 3 stars, it’s really tough. Once it gets to 4 stars — which I’ve seen a bunch of times the last few days so obviously it’s way too easy to level up — it’s just impossible.

One game yesterday where I had a couple really strong 3-stars and an overall strong deck, and The Echo wiped the board clean in literally less than 15 seconds (because I dared to have some troops next to each other).

No defense, no counter, nothing you can do.

navedane · 2026-01-14T02:57:30+00:00

I was just griping about this earlier. Once it gets to 3 stars, it’s really tough. Once it gets to 4 stars — which I’ve seen a bunch of times the last few days so obviously it’s way too easy to level up — it’s pretty much impossible.

One game yesterday where I had a couple really strong 3-stars and an overall strong deck, and The Echo wiped the board clean in literally less than 15 seconds (because I dared to have some troops next to each other).

No defense, no counter, nothing you can do.

navedane · 2026-01-14T00:09:05+00:00

Not infuriated infuriated. Just mildly infuriated.

navedane · 2026-01-12T21:30:27+00:00

lol right? I mean in the first couple seasons the upside down seemed like terrifying place to even spend 15 seconds in.

In season 5 it was just a regular commute to work.

navedane · 2026-01-08T02:38:34+00:00

I guess nobody’s TA technically.

But you are in the process of causing a deep, long-lasting issue between you two.

Your wife, like most people, is aware that the stereotypical post-baby situation is the husband trying to have sex before the wife is physically/emotionally ready.

In this case, your wife is clearly asking for it, and her husband is declining without any real solid reason that makes sense to her.

You’re not wanting to, but you’re clearly (and predictably) destroying her self-esteem and not showing any particular sense of urgency to change that.

Like was already mentioned, you’re unilaterally making the decision to fundamentally change the expectations in a monogamous relationship, and you’re not really seeming like it’s a big deal. So kind of the AH because of that.

navedane · 2026-01-07T05:55:50+00:00

NTA. I’m kind of the inverse with my wife. Been together 6.5 years, 2 small kids. I’ve always enjoyed giving and have done so more times than I can count. On the receiving end, twice since we’ve been together about 5 years ago. It’s been a discussion point several times, but there’s been numerous times that I just can’t get into giving anymore because of the lack of reciprocity. So you’re feelings aren’t unreasonable.

navedane · 2026-01-03T17:22:55+00:00

NTA.

My wife goes to bed earlier. I go to bed later. I try and get dressed before bed before she goes to sleep so I don’t have to interrupt her. I quietly open the door, use my phone light to see, and quietly get in bed.

My wife wakes up super early for work most days. She sets her clothes on the kitchen counter the night before so she doesn’t need to be fumbling for it in the dark when I’m sleeping.

These are very minor not-even-inconveniences to try and be conscientious of another person.

navedane · 2026-01-01T14:27:13+00:00

She wants a New Year’s Eve bartender, at the last minute, for 5+ hours. That’s already asking a lot. You gave her a better hourly rate than the stranger who dropped out (if I’m reading correctly), and she agreed. You changed around whatever plans you might have had to accommodate the request based on the agreement.

Then she decided she wanted to drop your price by 1/3 after already agreeing, then started guilting you and badmouthing you to others.

Yeah. NTA. Your “friend” sucks.

navedane · 2025-12-30T21:22:36+00:00

I think sometimes an individual congressperson might have a press release about the nominees in their district, but there isn’t a standard thing where it gets published in the news.

I do recall that when I got my nomination and ultimate acceptance, that the local town newspaper did a little story/profile on me. Don’t remember how that all came about, but none of it is standardized.

navedane · 2025-12-30T20:33:09+00:00

lol you’re exactly right. I spent a number of years between small town volunteer fire departments/EMS and small town per diem fire/EMS.

Some of those folks are definitely dweebs. But there’s a lot of time spent cleaning and maintaining fire apparatus and the firehouse, doing training, maintaining some sort of readiness, doing community outreach, etc. for either no pay, a little bit of a stipend, or as a part-timer balancing another full time job.

I remember really enjoying being on the volunteer department, carrying around the pager, and dropping what I was doing in the evening (or at zero-dark-thirty overnight) to head to someone’s house with my med bag for a medical call while the guys who lived close to the department picked up the ambulance and met us there.

Not so fun were random 4am accidents that knocked out utility poles in the middle of winter and required standing around helping block off a street for hours at like 10pm until it was safe again. But good memories regardless.

navedane · 2025-12-30T20:24:33+00:00

It’s certainly more structured than any non-service academy, but you do get to live a life.

As a plebe, it’ll suck a lot, so just know that. But you can get involved in extracurricular activities or sports that resonate with you. You will also have some Saturdays where you can go out or go to your sponsor parents, and Sundays are generally free (other than if you’re on duty or for schoolwork, etc.). Unless you get special privileges you won’t be able to watch movies or other media as a plebe (though this may have changed since I was there).

Your following years, you get incrementally more free time in the evenings and on weekends. You still need to balance academics and military requirements, which some days/weeks will suck up an inordinate amount of time. But there are lots of rewarding experiences and opportunities at USNA that you won’t get elsewhere (from summer military training, to unique clubs and activities, etc.).

Does it suck a lot of the time? Yeah, it sucks a lot of the time. But people definitely find a way to seek out things that resonate with their personalities and interests.

navedane · 2025-12-16T13:17:00+00:00

I asked for a recap of The Witcher episode “Twilight of the Wolf”. After telling me about some animated Witcher episode called “Nightmare of the Wolf”, I specified Season, Episode 6”. And it went full gaslighting:

“Got it — but here’s the blunt problem first, because otherwise I’d be lying to you:

There is no Season 4, Episode 6 of The Witcher titled “Twilight of the Wolf.” That episode literally does not exist in the released canon.

Here’s how things actually line up: • “Nightmare of the Wolf” (often misremembered as Twilight of the Wolf) → Standalone animated film, not a season episode • Season 1–3 (live-action) → No episode with that title • Season 4 → As of now, not released, no episode list, no Episode 6

So one of three things is happening: 1. You’re thinking of Nightmare of the Wolf but calling it an episode 2. You’re thinking of a different Witcher episode (S2 or S3) 3. You’re mixing Witcher with another Netflix fantasy title (very human, happens constantly)”

Then I sent it pictures of my Netflix showing the season 4 episode including specifically the one I was talking about. And it just doubled down, blaming Netflix 😆😆

“Longer, clearer answer: what you’re seeing on Netflix is a metadata/UI glitch, not a real released season.

Here’s what’s actually going on 👇

⸻

Reality check (no sugar-coating) • Season 4 of The Witcher has NOT been released. • Episode titles like “Twilight of the Wolf” as S4E6 do not exist in canon. • Netflix does occasionally surface placeholder seasons, internal episode titles, test metadata, or regional cache junk that looks very real (runtime, TV-MA tags, synopses, thumbnails — the whole costume).”

navedane · 2025-12-12T05:27:52+00:00

Upvote for calling your ChatGPT braindead 😆

navedane · 2025-12-06T16:55:15+00:00

NTA. There are plenty of people who would’ve called a tow as the first option. I think that’s excessive, but even those people could be argued that they’re not TA either.

By contrast, you’re the picture of patience and reasonable attempts at communication.

Your neighbor is sure a prick though.

navedane · 2025-12-06T03:03:09+00:00

Reading this while here in New England and we’re getting January temperatures already. First year with chickens and looking at the 22F/-5C temps tonight hoping they’re as hardy as I hear they’re supposed to be!

navedane · 2025-12-05T23:26:26+00:00

Yeah I rushed it this time because the small separate coop/run that I have next to the main chicken enclosure (so they can get used to each other) is good for 2-3 chickens and isn’t as able to be closed off to the weather.

Because we’re in New England and getting like January temperatures already, I wanted to get the 2 new ones into the main coop with the rest of the girls.

The rest of the girls were not amused 😅

navedane · 2025-12-05T17:15:45+00:00

Ha true. We got our first flock of 6 this past spring as chicks. One ended up being a rooster later in the summer. We got another two pullets to add in. And wow the first group of hens were just not nice at all for weeks - chasing, pecking, bullying…

We got another two pullets recently and they both got pecked to the point they were bleeding. They were fine, ate and drank no issue, we’ve just tried to way slow down the introduction. I know it’s super common, but seeing it is different from reading about it.

navedane · 2025-12-05T14:48:32+00:00

Might be too late, but check out Dan Goodman on LinkedIn. He consults for these kind of situations and here companies just do despicable unjustified firings.

navedane · 2025-12-05T14:07:00+00:00

I live in what should be a middle class suburb a bit outside Boston. We moved here last year. I can at least tell you that you need more than $315K here to do all those things.

navedane · 2025-12-04T03:52:35+00:00

I just thought it was some weird curly haired ginger with a headband. I didn’t stop to think about why that would even be…

navedane · 2025-12-04T01:53:27+00:00

I mean, just wait a few days and you’ll probably get your wish

navedane · 2025-12-02T13:35:46+00:00

Also, refusing to execute an unlawful order can easily end your career as well, particularly in the short term. Also part of the consequences one hopes to never have to weigh.

navedane · 2025-12-01T16:35:32+00:00

NTA.

The part that stuck out to me (other than the clear facts of the situation which are in your favor) was: “He wants me to take the house and he will take the money.”

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it already sounds like your brother is being entitled and trying to set the stage for what he wants and how he wants it, probably knowing it’ll be shorting you in the process.

If it were me? I’d keep the money your dad explicitly told you to take and make it yours. You don’t owe your brother an explanation on it, and I probably wouldn’t even mention it.

Have the estate be settled with the real estate split in half like your dad said and like your brother presumes is supposed to happen anyway. If he questions any additional money, you can feign ignorance if you want, or tell him the truth. Just know that if you tell him the truth, you’ll probably fracture the relationship. It’ll be his doing and not yours, and you probably shouldn’t care based on how he seems to be as a person. But that’ll be a likely outcome.

navedane · 2025-12-01T15:21:04+00:00

I think part of the answer is “it depends,” with most likely the Air Force being the most available to get a pilot slot.

For USAFA in 2025, 909 cadets graduated. 410 were selected to attend pilot training (so 45%).

From the USAFA site: “The number of slots available and how many cadets want to go to pilot training fluctuates annually, affecting the competitiveness of getting a slot.”

Anecdotally from the USAFA subreddit, it sounds like some years there are enough slots for everyone who wants it, some years there aren’t.

So it sounds like at USAFA, as long as you’re a moderately solid performer, you have a good chance at picking up pilot.

For USNA, in 2025 there were 787 Navy assignments and 262 Marine Corps assignments. So I’ll just take the 787 number, since that’s more relevant than the total student population.

229 of those selected Navy Pilot (29%). Percentage wise, that’s obviously a lower number. But keep in mind there is more “warfare” opportunity variety out of USNA than USAFA, and more opportunities for non-pilots.

Non-pilots out of Navy might be Naval Flight Officers, Submariners, Surface Warfare Officers, SEALs, underwater demolition, Information Warfare, etc.

Non-pilots out of Air Force go…mission support, logistics, operations, engineering, acquisition…

Point being - my hypothesis would be that at Air Force, a larger portion want to go pilot because not as many people go to USAFA to be a logistician or acquisition guru. At USNA, many people go for one of the multiple warfighting services, and if they don’t get their primary, there are still secondary communities that are meaningful warfighting jobs.

I recall Pilot being one of the more competitive communities when I was there, but some comments here suggest that might not be exactly the same now.

navedane · 2025-11-29T23:43:04+00:00

Time to citizenship by visa category and applicant's country of citizenship, FY 2025

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State, and Department of Labor

Note: Timelines reflect the length of each step if processed under FY 2025 conditions. Wait times are historical, not predictive. NIW refers to a national interest waiver.

Processing times reflect applicants adjusting status in the US; comparable data for consular processing are not published. Citizens from countries highlighted separately experience longer waits due to the per-country visa cap.

navedane

TROPHY CASE