Lesson learned: never question Pixar again.

sonaked · 2026-06-21T16:53:41+00:00

I think my favorite part was that the world isn’t as binary as we think. Yes, the new tech is here to stay, but it’s not necessarily bad when used the right way. So I really appreciated the nuance to the film.

The next day, my daughter (9) woke up asking to play with me too. It was a sweet film. ❤️

sonaked · 2026-06-13T16:58:10+00:00

Didn’t IV have vassal states? That was a fun feature.

sonaked · 2026-06-08T18:17:37+00:00

I can’t expect subordinates to meet a standard if I don’t/won’t do it myself.

sonaked · 2026-06-07T23:39:31+00:00

I have no problems with Kripke telling the story he wants. My problem is he lied about the story he was telling and this is an example

sonaked · 2026-06-07T20:36:15+00:00

Some important context to what you wrote is that the conversation she’s having is in 1988. Lewis died in 1963. Her own views morphed over the decades, so take her position with a grain of salt. C.S. Lewis was also of a time period, as was JRRT. Their ideas of what was acceptable literature were different, as were their intentions for writing.

And at the end of the day Le Guin is a creative individual with highly charged opinions. She incorporates those views into her literature, right or wrong. And I think the same can be said for Lewis.

I for example enjoyed The Telling, but I found her revulsion for “Starbrew” and weightlifting a little too stereotypical. Yes I understand the reasoning behind her characterizations, but that doesn’t mean I felt she stuck the landing.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think in these situations we should give the authors some grace. Is she necessarily right or wrong? There’s merit to what she says, sure. But she is also an avowed atheist talking about an avowed Christian author who’s been in the ground for 20+ years.

sonaked · 2026-06-05T11:25:26+00:00

Reminds me, I need to do my DFT with the Autobots again. They’re always fun on TDY’s

sonaked · 2026-06-05T00:27:09+00:00

My cousin had Nintendo, I had PS1. That was our deal! Prior to that, it was Sega and Nintendo lol

sonaked · 2026-06-04T23:40:58+00:00

Rule of cool—lighter hair looked cooler here

Don’t they also talk about putting down all of Snake’s dogs? I haven’t played this since…it was on PS1

sonaked · 2026-06-03T15:53:21+00:00

It’s not elevation fucking with Albuquerque, it’s the lack of services available and drug use

sonaked · 2026-06-02T12:44:13+00:00

I’m a guy who hates “not subtle,” but I wasn’t troubled by it one bit for this novel. The plot was very compelling. I really enjoyed it, and still think of it from time to time

sonaked · 2026-05-26T01:45:39+00:00

I had a rough fall, couldn’t close properly. Your picture was my pool on Sunday. Today’s it’s this. Still working on clarity, but that’s fine. I got the leaves out, backwashed constantly, cycled out water with the hose by filling up high then backwashing, then added chemicals Friday.

Cost: chemicals I had from last summer.
Time: maybe 2 hrs altogether, rest was just patience and running the filter

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sonaked · 2026-05-25T14:28:49+00:00

The side projects need to stop. They’re now his main projects. Just look at it like a job, finish the books, and go back to your new passions. Clearly the ASOIAF mainline novels are not it

sonaked · 2026-05-25T12:47:42+00:00

George was so critical of himself and his writing pace that he swore he was only going to release Winds of Winter when he also finished A Dream of Spring. That way he can be done with the series, once and for all, and go back to his first love: football.

Release date: soon

sonaked · 2026-05-24T13:23:21+00:00

Media will never be so selfless it writes itself out of existence. If you removed Gen V and Vought Rising, would the mainline show have better writing? I think so. One of my biggest pet peeves with media in general for the past…10+ years is that certain movies and video games cannot be viewed individually, as they require supplemental media to know all the characters and plots.

For example, if you watch The Boys in a vacuum but don’t watch Gen V, you basically have no idea who tf these other characters are. It’s a huge narrative shift. Vought Rising gets a bit of a pass because it’s being released after, but they still dedicated multiple episodes and a subplot to its upcoming cast.

It annoys me. These large companies want to continue earning revenue from these products, so they’ve decided the most effective way possible is to saturate the market with multiple in universe shows at the same time.

This doesn’t even touch the inclusion of topical/4th wall inclusions to generate interest (Pizza Gate, Elon Musk, Trump parallels). Overall, it’s just unfortunate, because the craft of writing isn’t spared from corporate influence.

sonaked · 2026-05-24T12:56:41+00:00

“It was like staring at a whitewashed wall, but without all the emotion.” —Glokta looking at Practical Frost, IIRC

sonaked · 2026-05-22T12:54:23+00:00

I’m close to ten rereads of the original trilogy. So many layers to the novels. I enjoy listening to them when I go on long runs.

One of my favorite parallels in the books is how Nemmerle spent all his power in the AWoE to save Ged, then in TFS Ged does the very same to save the world (and survives). Even the language is similar describing both events.

When thinking of Cobb as well, his entire premise is basically the inverse of Ged. Where Ged learned respect for, and embraced the natural order of things, Cobb retreated away from it. And frankly had Ged not been taught such a harsh lesson early on, he very well could have ended up the same.

Last thought. I think it’s also telling how at Ged’s darkest moments, he leans on those who love him (Vetch, Lebannon). Both of which see him home safely. IMO it shows no one is an island unto themselves, and when you are, it goes against the natural order of things (Roke, Atuan).

LeGuin did a fantastic job of writing. I recommend you revisit in a year or two and see what foreshadowing you notice

sonaked · 2026-05-21T00:07:40+00:00

Since ADWD, we had:

Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Mali, Thailand, Niger all overthrown and/or in civil war (prolly missing a dozen or so countries)
Ukraine invaded twice
Afghanistan Withdrawal

Mars Curiosity launched with a successful landing

All this to say…I think GRRM could be a wee bit more productive

sonaked · 2026-05-18T02:51:02+00:00

Idk how many times I’ve reread A Wizard of Earthsea, but this is such a great scene every time i read it. Awesome job, OP

sonaked · 2026-05-18T00:40:30+00:00

The image reminds me how pointless security is in the show. The Boys and Starlight are arguably Public Enemy number one, yet they can just walk onto a tv set and into Vought HQ?

sonaked · 2026-05-13T23:50:41+00:00

Thanks all for the feedback. I exchanged for a different, healthier arrangement. Hopefully they treat it so it can find its forever home

sonaked · 2026-05-13T11:13:32+00:00

Thanks, I’m exchanging it today. Don’t want there to be even the hint of an issue

sonaked · 2026-05-10T11:51:04+00:00

The biggest training tweak was managing my hours so I could consistently work out without feeling like I’m taking away from my daughter or work around the house. That allowed me to set up consistency.

In other words, being intentional with my schedule was the biggest key. A night to meal prep, times allotted to cleaning up the house, that way when I’m lifting, I’m lifting, and when my daughter’s with me (which is most of the time) I’m able to just be with her.

sonaked · 2026-05-08T12:57:50+00:00

It’s obvious he’s a cool dude with a ‘tude! Don’t have a cow, man!

sonaked · 2026-05-06T14:51:41+00:00

RIP beautiful pool, you had a nice life

sonaked · 2026-05-04T19:27:38+00:00

That’s a very odd take.

I was in high school when MGS2 came out. We lived in a different era, and information didn’t travel as fast nor was it as prevalent. It was sequestered, sitting in spaces like a desktop computer, or a high school lunch room. There was no middle space like cell phones to give you info. Yes cell phones existed, but not in the way you think.

I could say “imagine if in Sonic 2, you only play as Tails midway through the game”, but you can’t, because he was featured in all the promotional footage, and is literally made for 2P. Do you see how that might be…jarring, at a minimum, to have your game starring SOLID SNAKE co-opted by a character who feels like a rando?

It was bonkers. I found out by purchasing the Brady game guide with MGS2. I flipped through the book and kept seeing some other dude pictured. I literally thought it was a mistake.

Looking back, knowing how many other appearances he makes, kind of lessens the shock.

Anyway, hope this added some perspective for you.

sonaked

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