Backstop's recent activity

  1. Comment on Red Dead Redemption 2 review – gripping western is a near miracle in ~games

    Backstop
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    They never did release the first game for PC though.

    They never did release the first game for PC though.

    3 votes

  2. Comment on Anyone still listening to music with files instead of streaming? in ~music

    Backstop
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    My car has an SD slot in the dash so I keep a 32GB card in there fairly full of my favorite albums. It's a lot easier than plugging an aux cord or the terrible Bluetooth interface of the car.

    My car has an SD slot in the dash so I keep a 32GB card in there fairly full of my favorite albums. It's a lot easier than plugging an aux cord or the terrible Bluetooth interface of the car.

    5 votes

  3. Comment on The Southern barbecue you’ve probably never heard of: In a narrow swath of Kentucky and Tennessee, the specialty is a pork-shoulder steak, grilled and dunked in a tongue-torturing hot sauce in ~food

    Backstop
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    It's worth a try, I had it on the way to Nashville for the eclipse, but you're right about the texture. It's thin and not tender.

    It's worth a try, I had it on the way to Nashville for the eclipse, but you're right about the texture. It's thin and not tender.

    3 votes

  4. Comment on 25 Mistakes that Peg You as an Amateur Writer in ~creative

    Backstop
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    His rules are probably too strict because new writers are too in love with their words. I doubt specifying a tree-lined suburban street is too detailed. But go the other way to techno-thrillers...

    His rules are probably too strict because new writers are too in love with their words. I doubt specifying a tree-lined suburban street is too detailed. But go the other way to techno-thrillers where the author details the exact grain weight of the bullet fired from the exact model of the pistol using exactly this much pressure on the exact aftermarket trigger... Ugh.

    As for writing patois, I much prefer the author that says "he said in a thick Southern drawl" compared to all the apostrophes and painful phonetics through a long conversation. If the pronunciation matters to the topic, say it causes a misunderstanding, sure, show me how they said it.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on 25 Mistakes that Peg You as an Amateur Writer in ~creative

    Backstop
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    Elmore Leonard had two writing rules on the topic. 3: Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue: The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose...

    Elmore Leonard had two writing rules on the topic.

    3: Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue:
    The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied.

    4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said”
    … he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange.

    https://www.liferichpublishing.com/AuthorResources/General/Elmore-Leonards-Ten-Rules-Of-Writing.aspx

    4 votes

  6. Comment on What are some of your favorite "lost" games? in ~games

    Backstop
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    Day of Defeat, before the Source re-design. I don't know if that game was as good as i remember, but I just really miss the clan guys and the tournaments we got into back then. Seemed like after...

    Day of Defeat, before the Source re-design. I don't know if that game was as good as i remember, but I just really miss the clan guys and the tournaments we got into back then. Seemed like after the Source version everything fell apart and now I'm too old and rusty for FPS games.

    3 votes

  7. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~food

    Backstop
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    Liquid smoke in stovetop red beans and rice. Not necessary if you are making it from scratch, but the boxed stuff for a weeknight dinner is much improved by smoke.

    Liquid smoke in stovetop red beans and rice. Not necessary if you are making it from scratch, but the boxed stuff for a weeknight dinner is much improved by smoke.

    2 votes