Pox22

One thing I completely missed until AFTER I finished all divine beasts was the armor upgrade system via Fairy Fountains. I kept wondering why basic monsters and temple combat challenges would just chew through all my hearts. So definitely upgrade your armor if you haven't already.

I've been at it for almost two years at this point--but every week or so I plunk an hour or two into Persona 5 (as a married PhD student, my free time is nil). It's unevenly paced, there's a gulf between the characters I like and those I don't, but GOODNESS GRACIOUS does this game have styyyyyyyyle. Art design, UI, and music are so on point. I watch the full animated intro every time I boot it up. At 90 hours in, the story is finally delivering huge payoffs that were set up dozens of hours ago. I wish I had more time to give it.

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus - 3/5

It's been fifteen or so years since the last new episode of Invader Zim aired, which perhaps leads me to reflect on mortality and the passage of time more so than anything else. I was in 7th grade when Invader Zim debuted, so I was right on the target demographic. I think some of Zim has aged better than other bits. The absurdism and juxtapositions hold up (ridiculous tech and weaponry in service of convoluted, impotent schemes), but the dadaistic humor hasn't quite done it for me for a long time (GIR's non-sequiturs, random-for-the-sake-of-random gags). So despite my love for Zim which persisted long after my teenage years, and my nostalgic excitement that new Zim had finally been made, I actually waited almost a month after Enter the Florpus had released on Netflix before watching it. I was too nervous. Would it be an awful movie, propped up only by nostalgia? Does Jhonen Vasquez really just appeal to disaffected teens? Has Invader Zim aged too poorly?

The answers respectively: No, disaffected adults too, and my prediction on Zim's aging rang true for me. Enter the Florpus dials the random lunacy of the series up quite a few notches, but it also takes advantage of its 71-minute run time (over the typical episode length of 12 minutes) to tell a more fleshed out story than the series has ever undertaken. So it was a bit of a mixed bag for me, though mostly positive, as I welcomed actual story-telling while rolling my eyes at the nonsensical gags. Enter the Florpus was not as funny as I'd want a cartoon to be, but it was certainly more interesting and engaging on both the narrative and character development fronts.

That said, the story does go full circle by the end of it. No spoilers, but it's true to its format where nothing truly comes of it. If you're wondering if Zim finally conquers the Earth, if Dib finally exposes Zim, or if meaningful progress is made with either ultimate goal, you're going to be disappointed. And that might be what has aged worst for me with Invader Zim. After fifteen years of incredible television--including cartoons with continuity, forward momentum, and lasting consequences--I'd prefer to see characters making progress toward achieving their goals over fast-paced random outbursts and yelling.

Recommended for dedicated Zim fans, but its too esoteric for a general audience. And that caps off a far-more detailed review than I intended to write.

Free stuff!

I played EVE Online for about 9 months and oscillated between loving the microscopic slice of the universe I had carved out for myself and being completely terrified and stressed at all times. Took me awhile to learn the lesson "never fly a ship you can't afford to lose." My first PVP kill gave me an adrenaline rush that no other game has given me.

Yes. 24 year old living in central IL--I work as a Youth Director for my church and am preparing to move to Boston to attend seminary at Boston University on a full-ride for my masters and eventually doctorate in theology and ethics to get ordained as a Deacon in the UMC and teach at a seminary or university. My undergrad was High School History Education.

I didn't watch much of it, because I felt that doing so would on some level admit that there's something worth debating. Creationism requires a fundamentally flawed interpretation of both Scripture and scientific data. Debates like these are also rather disingenuous--it not only elevates creationism as a legitimate position worth pitting against observable and testable positions, but also suggests that it's a central or commonly-accepted tenet of faith (those "50% of US Christians believe in YEC" stats are from the 80s). The Bible is not a textbook, nor does Christianity claim to answer any scientific questions. The doctrine of biblical inerrancy is actually very recent, and demands terrible theology and a lack of historicity.

But hey, I'm just a seminarian with post-liberal leanings.

I absolutely love that this thread has come back. I am pleased to report to you duders that I have developed quite the taste and appreciation of scotch. On some bombcast, Jeff mentioned that a user approached him with some Yamazaki at a PAX or something. I bought a bottle of the 12-yr and fell in love with it. I've branched out and enjoy Speyside (Glenlivet, Glenfiddich) and Highland (Glenmorangie) whiskeys--among others. I've recently started chatting with my favorite professor about scotch, and he wants me to try peatier brands like Laphroaig.

I'd say that I'm still pretty new and have a lot to learn, but my tastes have broadened and I really appreciate the spirit.

EDIT: Definitely echo the suggestion of just trying many kinds. Obv a glass of scotch at a bar is a little pricey compared to other drinks--but not nearly as expensive as buying a bottle of scotch you end up hating. Try before you buy, and throw down on a bottle you love. I have friends interested in trying scotch, so I keep some brands that are pretty approachable--Glenlivet and Glenfiddich for example. Yamazaki is my favorite so far, and I'm looking to expand my collection with peatier stuff to have a good range.

I like it. I didn't have a problem with the broad usage of the "quick look" brand, but I'm all for clarifying expectations with videos AND giving you the freedom to cover what you want--the same game could get multiple "Unfinished" videos at different stages. Or an Unfinished video during early access and a Quick Look after release. Seems good to me.

@rorie: Of course I finally get staff to respond to a thread after quests are gone!

It's been a whirlwind of a day. I've been affirmed and supported by my pastors (who are in the interesting position of being both confidants and bosses) to move forward and see what I can see. I reached out to Rev. Dr. Olson today and she was excited to hear back from me. She's going to help me set up an individual campus visit this spring, get me in contact with her husband who's a professor in the department of my preferred program, and hype me up to the Director of Admissions of the School of Theology.

It was indeed the suddenness that gave me any sort of pause. Appreciate the support, duders--this community is consistently fantastic.