You know, the first season, it wasn't a /huge/ departure. Just some tweaks here and there with the timeline. It was watchable enough that I kind of enjoyed it, and was looking forward to seeing what they do with the second.

The sneak peek for the second season? Looks like they looked at the books and were like 'Yep, we can use some of these things, but let's stir 'em all up so it's DIFFERENT' just for the sake of being different.

Like...I'm sure it's cool, if you can watch more than five minutes without going 'That's not how that's supposed to go', but I'm not one of those people.

As a big Terry Pratchett fan, I watched The Watch. It was, unwatchable.

Interview with the Fanpire was one of the most egregious examples I can think of. Anne Rice would be rolling in her grave over the steaming pile of turd that show turned out to be.

Wait, they made a TV show of Interview with the Vampire? Glad I missed it. The movie was bad enough.

I'm really, really beginning to hate how everything is either phone verify and/or captcha.   I can't even set up a new email without giving out my phone number anymore.

No, I don't want to give you that information: I consider it a breach of privacy.   And no, I can't seem to get captcha without at least three tries anymore.

At least RPOL is still user friendly.

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2234):

First off, I sympathize. More so than just casual sympathy. I have a long memory of your many vents, and put that into perspective.

I completely understand both sides of the aisle. I was a novice white hat in the late 90's early 00's and dealt with the novice black hat. Nothing like it is now, but I recovered three of my friends' e-mails from people that hacked their e-mail using old methods (that were exploits back then). Is it, however, very conspicuous to have a phone number, especially SMS for verification. Cloning was easy enough in 2012, and with 2020 Paradigm, it's basically just another lazy and corrupt exploit like Win XP was for vital care. Lazy places staying on a dying zeitgeist.

Captcha I have nothing to comment on, beyond "it sucks. Half are making you work for free labor"

I have three things to add.

• If you use a cell phone, consider this: change the number, and buy a burner. This serves three purposes. Your main cell phone is accessible by debt collectors but you can blanket blacklist, and then white list people you want to hear from.
  
  1. Your burner can, as indicated, be burned if you start getting too much incoming calls.
  2. You can set up Google Voice to act as a second phone number for texts, that will "ring" your burner, but only have Google let you know someone if calling. Leave the burner off if you can unless you need it.
  3. You can split the load if need be (and you can afford multiplicative ~$60) by targeting your services by "security grade". For sites that I seldom use, or even just use once, I have have low security. For Amazon and Google I have mid security grade. I know the security team will crack my bio anyway, and I know I can recover it through channels. For e-mail I have super high security. This is my secondary authentication. You may have different priorities. Each of these has different e-mails and numbers, for me.
• Finally, should you receive collections, which I know you've had other troubles like mine, so figure I would pass this on; If you live in certain places, like most US states, you can legally tell a bill collector you have minutes on your phone if you have major burner you use for business; such as banking, or other bios. If they pursue you after you tell them you have limited minutes, you have two options, file suit, or counter claim.

If you have a landline, your carrier may have options for you for very little extra cost. The one and only reason I don't have landline is that I save money by having cell phone from ACP, and then my two burners with total ~300 prepay texts. I use Google voice. So have four numbers I can access, for $0 a month since April 2023.

TL;DR: It's dumb that bad actors force people to do this. Whether through complacency, ignorance, or malice. You can't, at least I can't, put privacy beyond an upkeep cost. So I recommend having alternate methods of texts. That solves many issues. Google voice is what I use. I also use burner phones, and white list my main cell phone. My biometrics appear clean having since used this practice.

In reply to V_V (msg # 2235):

I'll just say thank you.  ^_^

Trying to lose weight. One BIG thing I have to cut out is beverages. I'm making black tea but always, always add sugar. I can fix that fairly soon, but money is tight and sugar from the food pantry is much more likely that stevia or some other better sweetner. Sooo...I tried aspartame, which is also readily available. It tasted fine, that was nice, but either I had a nocebo effect, or I had reactions within 30 hours. I also drink Mountain Dew Throwback. I used to smoke, and quit, I miss it, the addiction lingers when I smell people smoking, even ratty ass cigarettes. I can't drink alcohol, not that I ever did much, but both are vices; so food replaced that. Between that and sitting, often over the last....15? 15 months for shelter and lack of space in homelessness, obesity needs to be cut off before it becomes severe. I'm entering a critical age I can stave off having life long illnesses. So I want to be in less pain, and that means losing weight.

Anyway, I'm upset the diet version just made me feel worse; and I know that has been reported by other people. It's also not only not good for me, but bad for me.

It's a gripe though, in my control of my decision. I have solutions I have to tactically meet head on despite past alibis and tolerance of my youth. I work out twice a week, due to sun allergy I work out by walking to the gym, and then working out for about 40 minutes of workbike or treadmill, and then 20 minutes of lifting. Nothing high strain, yet at least. It has to be handle by changing my diet. No going "on" but adopting a diet. I have lost three pounds in one week. I have target weight to mark me so my anorexia from a 9 year gold doesn't resume, but I don't think I'll have that problem, so much as shedding the weight. Medication is also a cause; a side effect, I may deem worth changing.

Liquid intake however, that alone, if I can just manage that; be on my feet four hours each day, work out thrice a week, and eat like a everyday is just like the other; no holiday BS beyond five portions a year, I think I can do this. I want the outcome, I have to earn it while paying for time borrowed from me, that my past self never made good on repaying.

I have a home though. My case worker emphasized this was not about diet  change yet. My doctor just wants me to take steps. He volunteered to me that 15 pounds is still not a failure. Food pantries have some garbage though. I'm very proud of myself as a youth for never donating food I wouldn't eat myself. Some very charitable people extended the same courtesy. I wishj it could have been better timed. WE had steak and ribs, but no...oven. >:( so I had...*seethe* to cook them in the motel microwave. Yeah...they were very generous though. Tasted...edible, but definitely not cheap meat.

It's slim pickings these days, but I've also half given into my own freedom of paying rent and not motel bills. So I could probably cut that back and focus on bi weekly boxes.

Anyway, not much was conveyed here, despite being quite verbose. I lack the finances with a needed brake pads replacement on the car, to get dietitian, but that's on my case manager's list to help me with. In three months if not sooner. I need to assure myself three pounds, while I'm told is just "water weight" is loss, and in a week. Steady and smooth operation is all I believe it will take. I slept in filthy car, I can ween myself off of the drinking sugary drinks. It won't be instant, it won't be permanent the first time. I just have to treat this addiction like any other.

As someone who has been battling a similar war with regards to sweetened drinks for several years thanks to the big D running in the family, I'd suggest trying as much as you can to go cold turkey and forego the artificial sweeteners. This is hard to do - in my case, I drink a lot of unsweetened coffe, tea and water, but still allow myself the occasional (like, 1x a day) diet soda. It's still really, really easy to fall off the wagon.

Because, as you said, it is very much an addiction, keeping things sweet for the taste also keeps your brain craving the sweet. In some cases, artificial sweeteners are worse for that than real sugar, because the taste is there, but your body doesn't get the calorie satisfaction of feeling like it 'had something' that it would get with real sugar, so the craving never really goes away.

(There's some interesting science out there about how decades of consuming sugar-free "diet" drinks contribute to obesity, but that's a deep-delve for another time.)

You can do it, though - I believe in you! You'll be surprised just how much difference losing liquid calories makes, and remember, if you can cut out just 500 calories a day, that's a pound a week. The first three weeks will be the toughest, if you go cold turkey, but you got this. You can do it. :)

Plus, once you quit, you'd be surprised how little you actually miss the stuff! I stay away from anything with aspartame in it, mostly because it kicks my boyfriend's migraines up a notch, but it's sorta hard since the stuff is in pretty much everything.

Gatorade and coconut water worked pretty good for me when I was kicking the soda habit a few years back and needed something sweet-tasting. YMMV though! :)

I like the various Ocean Spray products myself. The Cran Tropical is very nummy.

I have come to realize that I've reached the point where I feel I can no longer be a productive member of RPOL.    So, after these many years; I'm hanging up my apron and preparing to log off for the last time.

Thank you to everyone who's both been a fellow player and participants in my usually crazy game ideas.   And good bye.   :(

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2241):

I don't know you Hunter, but I'm sorry to see you go. The door's always open if you find that you miss it. Very best wishes IRL.

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2241):

That is very unfortunate. Don’t deem yourself as unproductive. Keep your head up high and good luck to your future endeavors.

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2241):

Hunter I feel you brother. I won't now, but later, to show I care, I'll hit "reply to msg..." to show you how much of an impact you made on me. I do hear you though! Some may not, but I've been there. You may not see this, and if you don't, maybe one day you'll come back and I can shoiw you "hey, yeah, people replied go look!". I know health, in more than one way have adversely affected your life. I know your ideas were just not coming together, whether through players, or the timing of pbp. I know you posts within the last year many yellow and then red flags that you were waning of RPoL. even if you didn't consciously know it, you were readying yourself to do something else.

You are welcome. This is not reply to say you owe anyone thank you, but to remind you...you\, like all of us...have an open invitation, any time of day or night, any day of the year, any year you wish to return. I will ask, if you see this, let us know how you are, even if it's less than once a year.

There will only be one Hunter. We know that the wolves are at many of our doors, we'd like to know you're alive, and not hospitalized, imprisoned or grieving. If it's the latter, let us grieve with you. That is the core of a good community, even if we can't help celebrate your victories, some of us really invest to help grieve with each other.

---

I won't hit the "reply to" nor double post, but in reply to...ShadoPrism, Genericous_Maximus and especially SunRuanEr: I agree with the validity of these methods. I, unfortunately, have put myself at a losing war, battle by battle, and need essentially reinforcements with more than one physician and therapist. I will need four fields of medicine to treat what is both physical addiction, AND the psychological trauma. I WILL fall off the wagon. I wish I wouldn't, but I can't ignore I have to address my trauma for 17 of my first 24 years of life, no consecutively. I was anorexic as a child to deal with abuse, and when I was declared unable to work, as in verified, I only got one meal a day while awaiting my SSI (Not SSDI yet). Food and especially sugar are an emancipation. I have Tourettes, and it was believed at the time sugar was the cause. I won't use hyperbole, but I felt enraged and resentful of the psiciatrist that belived in that debunked BS. Were I to use hyperbole, I would say I wanted to <blank> that woman. She ruined a portion of my early life, and was aan enabler.

All that said, there is recovery for that too, it just has to be tackled individually. I have case manager and medication manager, and General practitioner. I need dietician (( have no teeth but can eata  steak, so I have options. Brocolli, though I love it! Isn't an option right now). I also need a therapist that just handles my trauma, which is full blown non-combat PTSD. I have more, after living in a car during 2022 spring. PTSD "stacks" and "overlaps" as D&D would put it. ;) So I know that cold turkey is the best in one avenue, but likely to prompt worse addictions or behaviors in many others.

This is good advice though. Aspartame is not the option for me. I have part of a container I'll throw out. I am having it tonight, as I through out sugar from...well pests. It's been there since...April. Anyway, I have a fight ahead of me, and I can't do it...on my OWN, but I will be the star player. I just need to get some doctors to help me navigate this safely. I'm in contact with my case manager tomorrow and will go over that; it's two of three goals I have, getting doctors, and hitting the gym. My other is replace my stolen Social Security Card and Birth Certificate whom I know who stole it, but they won't admit it.

Anyway, this is good advice. I appreciate it. :D I especially appreciate your expressed belief in me SunRuanEr. You're a player I know from D&D 3.5 IIRC and so I feel like I know you better and call you more of an acquaintance, so thank you. That means alot! Little encouragement by people in my life help make balloons to give buoyancy. Even though these can't nearly lift me, they lighten the load. So again, thank you for expressing your belief in me. I believe in me too. :D This borders into good territory and I'll leave the vent on a positive note, but end the song. If and when I struggle I'll be vocal here *chuckle* I have loud "mouth". If I strike a goal, I'll post it as a good thing. I am in a race only against my set goals, no one else. I have enemies, but my fight is with my own problems, I set my standard against myself and my ability and limitations. I measure success by personal growth.

---

I do hope Hunter finds some solace somewhere. I'm glad I'm not the only one to validate his place here. There is a place for people on just communbity chat, or Rmail, or lurkers, or niche games. If he feels he needs a break, I hope that break brings him enjoyment; whether it's "productive" or not, I hope he finds some enjoyment. If he sees this, I hope...Hunter that you know we can't be procutive all the time, even in group activities. I'm legally disabled and so receive social security. I have abusive past for over half by life. I will be almost 50 before I'll have regained that lost time. I was constantly told I was not productive, but I learned, and I hope you'll know, everyone, everyone, who does live in terrible abject slavery, has leisure that isn't "productive". I play video games. I do so with my roommate and do so, less than I'm encouraged to, on my own. I have trouble justifying that time, since I'm at home all day. My case manager talks to me about how much leisure time I spend; on my own. It's staggeringly little. Less than one hour a day; and I am at home almost 24/7. You deserve recreation. All people do. I hope you'll consider whatever it is that brings you that worthwhile. Enjoy someone else's creation if you can't produce your own creativity into product. It waxing and wanes. I wish you well. I mean what I say, I'll reply and list the messages that resonated with me, to show you you were not marginally noticed. I got to know you, just through CC alone. WE may not be friends, but you were a support for me, and showed solidarity. That's more than most on RPoL, certainly more than those that whom have vilified me. Consider that, after I show you hard numbers. Best wishes Hunter, keep on the hunt.

Take which ever you want, and know the rest will not go to waste
*hug*
*fistbump*
*pat on the back*
*smile*
*nodding validation*
*quiet ear*
*invitation to Rmail*

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2241):

Thank you Hunter for your time on rpol

In reply to Hunter (msg # 2241):

I been unproductive for years but still stick around to haunt the forums. But I hope you do well in what ever endeavors you take on from here. Good luck out there, your welcome to come back and join me in haunting to :D

The Struggle Is Real
Age seems to make it worse and not better.
"I'll have time later" is an illusion you want to believe.

In reply to GreenTongue (msg # 2247):

I got to much time, I am stuck in a bed in a nursing home do to a back injury that left me unable to walk. But I am trying not to let it get me down as there is a surgery I can get in November that may fix my leg, but learning to walk again is going to be a Banana, cause of the progressive arthritis in my knees and ankles.

In reply to GreenTongue (msg # 2247):

I certainly did (want to believe that). I watched my weight, when I should have does something against it and not stood idle gawking, in my early 30's. Took me over six years to approach 90 kg, another three to get to 110, and just one year to gain another 10 kg. So I sit, quite literally many days, at 120+ kg.

I know there are people ahead of me, older, that have averted the worst, and I know younger people who will be just like me, or like those that are tempted by that "I'll have time".

@ShadoPrism

Best luck with Surgery! I hear you on having A LOT of time though. TS (Tourettes) shuts me down, and on good days I feel like I have too much time to fill. For me, it's also the other disorders, that lead to lack of organization. Prepared for that, I plan to use that time better.

It sucks being bed ridden! I had a 104.9 F temperature in College, when I lived with my parents, and my mother (though in many ways deluded) was on the speed dial to get me to ER if I hit 105. It felt like forever, and it was, truth be told over a week. That was, it was largely forgotten, but I'm told I felt like I was ready to jump out of bed on one side and fall out the other. l

In reply to ShadoPrism (msg # 2248):

VR Headsets are amazing.

Too many people in my local face to face life ragging on me and moaning and groaning, instead of being helpful or appreciative. My roommate stole from me and has the nerve to constantly complain she doesn't have money for this and that, and hates the food I bought for her. She says "I said thank you" and "I AM appreciative!!!" but doesn't act in any way but the opposite. She also wracked up over $530 in debt with my name, just in the last 8 months. I'm furious. I paid for the starter for a car I never use, and bought for her to use, that all I ask is she run errands on her way back from work.

Last night, my one and only dedicated night to RPoL, she made my night miserable with that bombshell. Ruined the whole evening. I woke up to more of her crap which then my own mother jumped in on. Not to even mention my roommate's mother's selfish attitude. Who also stole from me. I knew she would, I knew the woman was lying when she said she'd pay me back, I'm not dumb. I just didn't expect my former best friend to be so consistently deceitful. I hate that! I have sacrificed my time and energy, my home and soul, and she just gives me empty words and otherwise nothing more than a buddy at the LGS. Someone I wouldn't even expect to ask me for a cigarette much less be surprised if I brought them to court for taking money out of my wallet. Nor would I expect anyone at the LGS to do that!

Things just....*sigh* Making the best of a horrible situation. I'll be shot of her in July if she can't correct course and make up a swath of mistakes, and rebuild the ruin she lied about and stills probably more exists I don't know about.

J and Scott, and those are my good friends. So many regrets.

Anyway. The straw was just hearing her complain. My mother isn't face to face, but she might as well be, with how possessive and pervasive she is. Forget my soul, save me the smothering in this life!

This message was deleted by the user at 04:05, Wed 01 Nov 2023.

Gender "fluid" can leave a mess stay virtual.

In reply to GreenTongue (msg # 2253):

Not sure what you are meaning.