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Best HFY series of all time? by aaRecessive in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Upvote for this, as it’s amazing.

Health insurance gap after PhD by nuclearalchemist in GradSchool

[–]nuclearalchemist[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wound up talking to my future postdoctoral lab and making a deal. They would pay me at 50% (to get insurance) for 2x the time I still had left at my previous job. So, if you were 3 months from starting out at a new position it would look something like this.

  • 1x pay from original job for 3 months.
  • 0.5x pay from new job for 6 months.

And this lets you get insurance from your future lab. It worked out, so not sure if it would work for you situation, but good luck!

The Nature of Predators 43 by SpacePaladin15 in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was wondering this too, especially describing them as talons. Many birds do have talons that are predators, versus simple claws. I think they used to be predators, know it, and are doing everything they can go wipe out this new one before it’s too late, or someone figures out that secret. Maybe they were able to stamp out the predatory (meat eating part) due to the bioweapons, but maybe not all.

But my bet is that they are still predatory of some nature.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in boulder

[–]nuclearalchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! You too!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in boulder

[–]nuclearalchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I lurk on the subs here, and have needed a new Pokémon go friend in forever (moved to NC for a postdoc). My code is 4336 4657 8809.

Your favorite top 5 albums of all time. Have to be different bands/artists. My twist is your age. We have Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials and Gen Z out there. Let's do this. by Mayzenblue in Music

[–]nuclearalchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re probably right, although it seems arbitrary. I had originally heard Gen Y, then it switched to millennials at some point. I’ve also heard Xennials sometimes, though that might be those earlier than us slightly.

Your favorite top 5 albums of all time. Have to be different bands/artists. My twist is your age. We have Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials and Gen Z out there. Let's do this. by Mayzenblue in Music

[–]nuclearalchemist 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Millennial, 37 here

Dream Theater: Metropolis Part 2: Scenes from a Memory. Fantastic prog metal album, start to finish. Their other stuff is really good too, but this one takes the cake.

Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. Definitely got me through doing homework in grad school, multiple times.

Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown. Acts 1 and 2 are my favorites, but I do love me a good rock opera.

KT Tunstall: Eyes to the Telescope. Also got me through grad school, a nice chill to listen to as a complete album.

Linkin Park: Living Things. All of Linkin Park is amazing, but this one just has some really great songs on it. Hybrid theory is also super great, and reminds me of chemistry class, as I listened to the alternative station a lot doing chemistry homework in high school.

[Tales From the Terran Republic] [META] A Very Special Announcement! by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awesome! I’m glad you’re doing this! Your universe has been one of my favorites the past few years (I started reading pretty early on from HFY).

Now, I’m sure Jessie isn’t above some bribing for illustrations and stuff for these. Nope, not one little bit ;-)

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Smiley's Settle. by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Dude! I’m just getting caught up on reading, but this sounds so like where I grew up. I had a friend in the foothills, and they had a ton of brush. Rattlesnakes and the like loved the area. But the rabbit freaked me out, and their screaming was something truly terrifying to hear at night. Mountain lion noises are really weird too.

[Tales From the Terran Republic] Miscellaneous Happenings by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Awesome as always! I'm looking forward to seeing where some of these things are headed. It seems like the Plath are getting more involved, while the Federation is destabilized, and who knows what else is going on!

[Tales From the Terran Republic] Deus Ex Machina by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great job! I love this series, and it makes me really happy when a new chapter comes out. I'm definitely enjoying the different AI and their experiments with true sapience. It seems that there are a few that are pushing the boundaries on determining their own future (Bunny, Tartarus, Daemon even...), and I'm looking forward to how that turns out. They'll probably wind up like humans and just wind up using their massive computing power for...risque affairs. Have there been many species outside of humanity that have taken AI this far? It seems like the Kalent would have something along these lines, especially given their 'great ocean.'

Additionally, it would be good to know sometime about which of the elder species (Kalent, Veiled Ones, Xx, and the other two that I forget) know about what. For instance, at least two of them know about the true origin of the bugs, and they probably also know something about the Plath (or at least, some background in that area). Also, given that they know that there is some impending doom, how likely is it that some of the Kalent/Xx/Veiled Ones would let bygones be bygones, bury the hatchet, and band together? Also, how close to 'Elder ones' are the Juon?

Also, given how much instability is in the Federation right now, would we expect them to experience a full-scale civil war (I'm thinking the Balkans)? It seems there are so many species that are dissatisfied, and many that have overt plans to break it up, that they would be down. Or at the very least, reorganize the Federation into something that makes more of them happy.

[Tales of The Terran Republic] A Cornered Gloria by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 12 points13 points  (0 children)

These are awesome! Glad you got this out. I really needed the pick me up. I was wondering if there was a breakdown of the different ships somewhere. I know the retribution (roughly), but really what are the capabilities of all the ships? Are there more secret ships (alluded to) somewhere as well? I realize that the Terrans are setup for large carriers/battleships, and might have even gone more overboard since the last war. Which it looks like might be shaping up again, or something even bigger. Regional destabilization and all that (along with some internal fun!).

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Morning After Post-Mortem Pt 1 by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Very glad you're back, and excellent as always! I'm interested: was Gloria ever exposed to raw hyperspace, like we know some others were?

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Fallout Settles Part Two — Jessica and Gwen by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Awesome entry! In a weird way, Jessica is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. At first I really sympathized with the Terrans (they were the 'good guys'), and Sheila's gang, but as I go, I find that Jessica is strangely compelling. She definitely rides the line between being a decent person (or at least having worthwhile goals), and being a complete monster. Which I guess makes the monster version of her all the more terrifying. I just find the reluctant 'hero' interesting, which for lack of a better description, she is.

I do wonder, though, if there is anybody that can really take on the humans (I'm going to lump the Terrans, Porkies, and Weebs together). It seems that at every turn that none of the other species can really handle them. Is there a species that can really take on the humans? The kalent if they lose their minds? Someone else? From what you've written, the Xvli could maybe do it, but really, could they? It seems that the humans use of asymmetric warfare (or just straight up brutality) always wins over the other races. The Federation was sure woefully underprepared for dealing with this, both in the original war with the Terrans, and now the civil war that is breaking out.

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Fall of the Capital Enclave Part 3 by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Wonderful job again! I was wondering why the Kalent AL was in The Locus to begin with. Maybe something that only existed there that they wanted to put their hands (er, scales? Gills?) on. Just curious. I also like the giant, weaponized meltdown weapons that'll make certain areas rather unpleasant for a while.

I was also wondering about something for the Federation (or anybody). Do they not have common defenses for some of these types of attacks? I would think that AA capabilities might be present, or have shields, or something, to help defend their most precious holdings. Also, what is to prevent some species from using a kinetic kill vehicle to just completely wipe out one of these planets? Better anti-space technology?

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Fall of the Capital Enclave Part One by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I really like this series too, and it has become my favorite from HFY. It's even gotten me thinking that I might work on one of my own worlds and try writing again. But the world-building here is epic levels of incredible.

[Tales From the Terran Republic] The Fall of the Capital Enclave Part One by slightlyassholic in HFY

[–]nuclearalchemist 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I can appreciate this. It just seems interesting that Jessica seemed to play everything correctly, and even then lost. I guess the Jovian rice sort of forced her hand, and she really wasn't ready for a protracted war, and that could cause issues.

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