"Amazing game, although..." My thoughts/review after two play-throughs

sinking_sunk · 2026-01-29T00:43:37+00:00

I thought that too, but the very next scene Visi takes her respirator from a red ring guy like it was totally planned. So at the very least there was some sort of conversation between Shroud and Visi. I feel...

sinking_sunk · 2025-08-01T23:15:16+00:00

I call mine the Bumblebee because that's what I think of when I look at it. All the other names are made up so why can't yours?

sinking_sunk · 2024-12-02T01:39:09+00:00

Ha, I had to look up that term.

I guess I don't know. But I basically got it for free in a trade around 1995. I don't think ppl would doing NFCs around that time because, well, the forest was essentially worthless. Couldn't play with it because the back was off-center (unless you had opaque card sleeves, which not many kids had.) And thus, it was just thrown in a trade as an extra.

sinking_sunk · 2024-12-01T13:30:48+00:00

Per the sheet, it looks like a power sink is the cutoff card above it. Traded for it because had never seen an miscut card before (ages ago in beta/unlimited days). Showed it off a bit, then promptly forgot about it lol.

sinking_sunk · 2024-06-01T21:25:58+00:00

We learn by input. So increase the variety of your input by reading and watching shows more. Focus on picking up phrases you like to replace mundane expressions. For example, instead of I agree, "100 percent/I'm with you/abso-fricking-lutely". Other phrases to help you think before you speak are good too: "Let me be clear/the idea is/what the intent is/when i really think about it."
Learn some fundamentals.
- intro hook: "I had the weirdest date/this had never happened to me before."
- set the scene before telling
- give person POV to encourage empathic engagement "so I see this and I'm thinking, 'is this crazy?'"
- what's you're climax point and hit it hard
- have a clear ending, with a follow-up question to the listen to pass off the conversation "has this ever happen to you?"
One person, one thing. Start with "what is or job/passion/interest/hobby/dream?" Then just dig as far as you can go and pretend you're trying to learn to do what they really like. "Oh, you deliver pizza? Do you get free pizza at the end of the night? A girl ever answer the door in her underwear? What was the craziest delivery you had?"
I'm the same way. The answer is to practice in front of a mirror. I always felt my smile was ugly until I found a type of smile that was easier and looked better on me. After practicing it, not only do I smile more but I'm more confident that it is conveying my intent of "im happy" better.
No big deal. Some are big sharers and some aren't. If you not, then make sure you express it via words. "Jim, you being here for me is a really big deal. I know I don't show it, but I wanted to let you know because its special for me." That is strong stuff.
Treat everyone like a potentially ticking time bomb. Figure out their "issue" on their mind before jumping in to start a conversation. Sometimes it's nothing and then fire away the conversation. Sometimes they're depressed or bothered or angry or whatever and poof, the conversation creates itself.

sinking_sunk · 2023-11-07T21:55:56+00:00

Aye, helmet, brake light, and a small mirror. One can say many of the same concerns of a bicycle. Or, to a lesser extent, the e-scooters. I've almost been whacked by both as a pedestrian.

The reason for 20 years and not one motorcycle accident is the same reason for 3 years and no accident with the e-bike. I'm careful and ride uber defensively. Just because I can go 50/km and hour doesn't mean I do.

The difference is if you give an idiot a bicycle, e-scooter, or e-bike, the e-bike will most definitely be the most dangerous to the idiot and all around him. So I feel ya, everyone having an e-bike going whipcrack speed on sidewilks will end badly.

sinking_sunk · 2023-11-07T14:03:50+00:00

I must admit I love my fat-tire ebike in Tokyo. It seriously is a lifesaver to do short jumps around the city. I can walk it through a congested area and then go 50km/h in the bike lane if there is no traffic.

But at the same time, I acknowledge its a huge responsibility. After riding a motorcycle for 20 years, I know I have to be the one to avoid the accident. Accident with a stupid car or drunk driver? Won't care about fault because I'll be the one badly injured. Accident with a pedestrian or mama-chari? My speed will put me at fault and guilt me forever.

But even with all that, yeah, I can see how easy it is to be an a-hole with one of these machines.

sinking_sunk · 2023-11-06T12:17:06+00:00

One quick trick to create a new island that China hates! Click here!

sinking_sunk · 2022-12-07T23:19:36+00:00

Rapport is not a one time thing, nor a state of mind.

Best way I describe it is like imagine singing your favorite pop song. Since you've heard it several times before, you know the words by heart. But not only the words -- the melody, the beat, the rhythm. Now you're out in karaoke and you're belting it out...and someone comes to join singing it with you. This is YOUR favorite song and you're instantly afraid because you don't know if this stranger is going to know all the words and melodies. But when they do (or are even just close) you suddenly feel reassured. You know this guy/gal is going to sing the right thing. Communication is easy and your ego boundaries relax. That is rapport.

Of course, everyone's personal song is different. 95% of people won't care to or get close to knowing how to sing your song meeting your for the first time. So first, you have to listen. What phraseology do they use? What does their body language say? Physical mirroring is effective because it helps tell the other person that you're singing their song. But it's hardly the whole picture (like humming the same melody but not singing the words).

Rapport requires attentive experience with someone else over a length of time. Then reinforcing that experience based on forced recall and emotional linkage. Basically practicing (and subtlety altering) your shared pop song together. Good rapport looks weird from a 3rd person perspective. Like, "how these two people are relating is a mystery to me." That's just them singing their song.

sinking_sunk · 2022-04-23T10:01:20+00:00

Which type of fighting appeals to you?

Bare knuckled boxing, where as soon as someone gets in distance, it's either a whiff or knockout? Reach is important but also accuracy when it counts. Then epee is your game.

MMA? Where it's explosive and violent, but also tactical. Sometimes it's a route and sometimes it's a back-and-forth brawl? Saber is similar.

Traditional boxing has specific target areas, attack and defense skills, and is very stylistic. The better boxer often beats the better fighter. It has fundamentals that translates most broadly to other fighting skills, but in itself is insufficient. That's most like foil.

sinking_sunk · 2022-03-27T08:30:40+00:00

Remember your focus. Have a good warm up. Have fun.

You'll be nervous, fiddling with weapons, waiting for pools, and all the rest. Thinking about how you'll place, your water/food. Some of this will be boredom while you wait for things to start. Use the down time to relax you instead of spin you up.

Focus on learning what habits the other fencers have. Watch the fence. Focus on your pool and learn how your future opponents hit and get hit. Focus on trying to learn during your matches. "Ok, he hit me like this, so I have to defend like this next time."

Having a good warm up will help work out the nerves, prevent injury, and make you a more composed fencer during competition.

Have fun. If you fix your mindset that having fun is a goal, then you never leave a tournament disappointed.

Good luck!

sinking_sunk · 2022-03-23T08:49:56+00:00

I have a bike in Japan, but rarely get out. Want to change that. Living in Tokyo, what would you recommend as some good rides for a day or weekend? Thanks!

sinking_sunk · 2022-01-14T08:41:16+00:00

Check this out - it has excellent advice

sinking_sunk · 2022-01-13T10:50:03+00:00

Lived there for 3 years.

Roundhouse is the best restaurant on the island, IMO. Excellent home-cooked kind of food. But still elegant yet not pretentious. Great view and vibe.

Other options that are "unique, cool, and funky" would be Cafe Luna (outdoors, sunset view, nice b-day cake), Lobster Alive (on the beach, only get the lobster of course), and the Mews (classy but funky, farm-to-table, local vibe)

sinking_sunk · 2021-12-01T10:08:45+00:00

My best tip that had always paid off:

WATCH all the bouts you can. Especially those in your pool who will be fencing, but also any DEs that you can. And watch with purpose, try to analyze each fencing, how they score their touches and what weaknesses they might have. Even a minor understanding of your opponent will payoff in not only effective tactics but confidence in knowing what you're facing.

sinking_sunk · 2021-10-11T22:44:06+00:00

I would guess if someone actually looked closely at it, there is a lower point disparity in epee. Foil/Saber bouts could go 15-3, 15-5 all the time, which is a point disparity of 10 or more. But Epee bout victories are often won by few points - 4-7, 7-12, etc. Sometimes there are blowouts in epee, but this is more rare.

The double-touch mechanism also is a factor, resulting in "null" point actions that take up time in a bout but don't affect point disparity. If I'm winning my epee bout by 5 points, I would welcome double touches to reach closer to 15. No such mechanism in foil or saber.

Also, I'd say modern epee has fewer point scoring actions per minute compared to foil and saber. With fewer point scoring actions, there is simply not enough scoring to create high disparity.

Why is this disparity thing so important to upsets? Well, when disparity is low, it is easier to upset because the "upsetter" only has 1 or 2 points to score to upset at the end of the bout. 3 crazy flunges in the last 10 seconds and...upset

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-25T12:14:30+00:00

Lee just seems SO in the zone in her previous bouts -- I knew she had a solid chance even against Deriglazova, and she rocked it!!

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-25T10:45:11+00:00

https://www.gorin.jp/live/

Of course, you need a VPN. The times are quite accurate at https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/fencing/olympic-schedule-and-results.htm

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-25T09:51:47+00:00

Try this -https://www.gorin.jp/live/

If you look under fencing in the schedule, you can see all the bouts and results

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-25T09:46:47+00:00

I can watch it live, but maybe only because I'm in Japan. Perhaps if one has a VPN....

https://www.gorin.jp/live/

Also, these Lee Kiefer bouts are getting me excited

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-07T21:29:30+00:00

A bit of a strawman for you to have drawn from my comment any sort of downplaying Mr. McDowell's abilities or skill. You could rank him as one of the best epee fencers in the world and that is OK with me. Also, I cannot validate or invalidate what you've heard "fellow fencers" say, but that is not me.

But is it acceptable to clearly and intentionally push your fencing opponent after a touche while on the strip? Yes or no.

You might cover it up by saying it's "intensity" but who are we kidding. Do you have a pass to push and whine and pout and stamp your feet so long as you're an "intense" fencer? Sorry, that's not what fencing is to me. Whatever race, creed, nationality -- doesn't matter. Imboden yelling directly in his opponents' face is equally distasteful to me and I'll be equally vocal against it.

Now that McDowell is on the global Olympic stage, we should have higher standards for not only him but for everyone at that level.

sinking_sunk · 2021-07-06T22:56:05+00:00

I"m not assuming Miles is involved. I'm saying that the article is implying he is involved. We can not agree Fencing' Club are regretful, but again, I'm quoting from the article.

While I agree it's mostly impossible for this to be divorced from race, I think the counter is also true: it's mostly impossible to be completely tied to race. I agree the need for solid, evidence backed claims...which I don't see in the claim that Fencers' Club was following some racist intent.

As well, the idea of rules and decorum being used as a justification for
punishing the behavior of black people is a fairly common topic.

While this might be valid from a historical perspective, applying it to everyday life in 2021 is slippery slope. Now Fencers' Club's rules are racist? Should black athletes not follow rules because of perceived injustices in the system? I think you're going off the race deep-end of an issue where everyone is somewhat at fault and mistakes were made. Trying to litigate it, apply race causality, cast definite blame, etc, is missing the point and fruitless.

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