JCPhoenix's recent activity
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Comment on Cloudflare down again in ~tech
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Comment on Formula 1 2025 Final Race Predictions? in ~sports.motorsports
JCPhoenix LinkPersonally, I think Lando takes this home. The cards are very much stacked in his favor (take that how you will π). I think Oscar mathematically has a chance, but it's very unlikely. Even between...Personally, I think Lando takes this home. The cards are very much stacked in his favor (take that how you will π). I think Oscar mathematically has a chance, but it's very unlikely. Even between Max and Lando, Max's chances are less than Lando.
I'd prefer if Oscar won the WDC, or even Max -- what a story that'd be, to slog his way up the standings, basically without a teammate to help, to clinch the WDC -- But a win for Lando would be well deserved all the same.
OK unhinged take: Both McLarens take each other out in the first turn. Max takes some damage from debris but still manages P4 (Bearman takes P1 this weekend), which makes Max and Lando tie the WDC. Which means both have equal number of wins in the season (7 wins each). In order to determine the winner, both drivers must race go-karts around Monaco (because they'd already be at home by then and it's just convenient). Max wins because of course he does and wins his 5th WDC. He then promptly retires from the sport to manage his sim racing team and be the family man his dad never was.
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Formula 1 2025 Final Race Predictions?
Happy Friday -- It's the final race weekend of the 2025 season. McLaren captured the WCC races ago, but the WDC is still up for grabs between Oscar Piastri (392pts), Lando Norris (408pts), and Max...
Happy Friday -- It's the final race weekend of the 2025 season. McLaren captured the WCC races ago, but the WDC is still up for grabs between Oscar Piastri (392pts), Lando Norris (408pts), and Max Verstappen (396pts).
Who do you think will take it home?
Any other predictions about what will happen in Abu Dhabi? Who will win Formula 1.5 this weekend? Will we get a replay of AD 2021? Will Michael Masi be revealed at the last moment to the Race Director? Will Yuki say "Screw Redbull!" and bin it into Max? Will Max say "Screw Redbull!" and just drive off into the desert sunset? Will Kimi channel his inner Bottas and have a 5-day pit stop? Will Alonso take P1 on Sunday?
All takes -- serious and unhinged -- welcome.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
JCPhoenix LinkFriend recommended "Lord of Mysteries" to me. And when I say "recommended," I mean he was like "YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS SHOW." So I started it. And it's pretty good! I like the aesthetic and...Friend recommended "Lord of Mysteries" to me. And when I say "recommended," I mean he was like "YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS SHOW." So I started it.
And it's pretty good! I like the aesthetic and art-style a lot. It reminds me of Steampunk without the steam. So I guess that's just Victorian. Either way, it's cool.
A little lost on the story even though I'm like 6 episodes in, but my friends says that's normal *shrug*
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
JCPhoenix LinkAlright let's see what we got here... Top 5 Songs: Sutomore - browse Tito, lost tapes Humans - Night Tapes Je t'aime Encore - Yelle Ovo je kraj - browse Tito Noir - Yelle Top 5 Albums: Armando...Alright let's see what we got here...
Top 5 Songs:
- Sutomore - browse Tito, lost tapes
- Humans - Night Tapes
- Je t'aime Encore - Yelle
- Ovo je kraj - browse Tito
- Noir - Yelle
Top 5 Albums:
- Armando Young Vol. 1 - Armando Young
- Volcano - Jungle
- The Age of Pleasure - Janelle Monae
- Lost Cargo - Galimatias
- Yacht World - Englewood
Top 5 Genres:
- Lo-Fi Beats
- Bedroom Pop
- French Pop
- Electronic
- Pop
I had 18717 minutes of listening, while I listened to 15 albums and 852 artists.
My listening age was 20 (practically half of my actual age) and my "Listening Club" is Cloud State Society, where I'm a 'specialist.'
Your club finds peace through music. New members are gifted house plants.
You explore experimental sounds, refining your clubβs sonic boundaries.
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Comment on Virginia's Long Bridge Project will improve rail capacity around Washington DC in ~transport
JCPhoenix LinkThat's genuinely exciting! It's so weird to me that the VRE, which is a commuter train for the Virginia side of the metro, only has morning service and afternoon service during weekdays, and no...With the completion of the Long Bridge Project and other improvements along the corridor, we look forward to expanding VRE service to include our first-ever weekend and late-night service,β
That's genuinely exciting! It's so weird to me that the VRE, which is a commuter train for the Virginia side of the metro, only has morning service and afternoon service during weekdays, and no service during the weekends. Like it's truly only for commuting to/from work. When I lived in Chicago or visited, I'd sometimes use the Metra, which is Chicago's commuter train system. While it's not 24hr service like parts of the CTA 'L,' some of the lines run all day from early morning to like midnight, including weekends. And even on the weekends, the Metra is well used by both suburban and urban residents.
As bad as the traffic is here in the DMV, even on the weekends, the VRE (and MARC on the Maryland side) should be running on the weekends to allow those who want to go into the District, or out of the it, the ability to do so without having to jump in a car and deal with the miserable highway traffic. I know Amtrak can serve some of that commuter rail traffic, but I don't think service is frequent enough. Which is fine for Amtrak since it's not meant for that anyway. The VRE should be taking care of that.
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Comment on CGA-2025-12 π΄ββ οΈποΈπ INSERT CARTRIDGE π’ The Secret of Monkey Island in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkJust got back from Thanksgiving travels, so I'm ready to play! Between my younger brother and I, pretty sure we played all of the Monkey Island games, except that one that came out within the last...Just got back from Thanksgiving travels, so I'm ready to play! Between my younger brother and I, pretty sure we played all of the Monkey Island games, except that one that came out within the last few years. I don't remember how we came across the series. We're Millennials, so it's not like we played these in the 90s as they came out. Think it was in the 2000s that we came across the series, probably via "Tales of" or "Escape from," then we found the rest online on, appropriately, the high seas and played them.
The series wasn't necessarily a part of my childhood (I was probably close to graduating high school or already had when I played them), but collectively with other point & click adventure games that I did play from the mid/late 90s through the 2000s -- Sam & Max Hit the Road, Day of the Tentacle, Leisure Suit Larry (my parents had no clue what we were doing on the computer...), one of the Space Quest games, etc -- it's definitely part of that "canon" for me.
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Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkSo I didn't end up adding any more games after the Week 4 post. But that's OK, because I am plenty happy with the 16 games I did this year! This time last year (I skipped May's round), I finished...So I didn't end up adding any more games after the Week 4 post. But that's OK, because I am plenty happy with the 16 games I did this year! This time last year (I skipped May's round), I finished 11 games. So that's an improvement. Not that I need to do a full card or anything (Idk how you guys do it...).
On top of trying those 16, I did finish two of them: Nine Noir Lives and MAKOTO WAKAIDO's Case Files. And I'm still active playing another three: Murders on the Yangtze River, Eastward, and Intravenous.
I think my favorite game this round has been Eastward. There's something really cool about this game that I can't put my finger on yet. Because it's not normally a type of game I play, action-adventure types. But I get such strong nostalgia from it. Maybe it's the Earthbound/Mother 3 vibes. Idk, but I'm having fun with it regardless.
Anyway, I'm glad to have completed another Backlog Burner! Definitely time a for a break. Here's a BTS spoiler: I play and record and write and post on one day each week and it's a lot and it's kinda tiring by the end of the day, lol. I could just not do that and do like one game a day like a smart person, but that's how I do. So back to just normal vidya game playin'.
Thanks to @kfwyre and @wes for arranging this as always! Hope anyone who watched my mini LPs enjoyed them. And thanks to all the other participants and your posts and reviews. I've certainly added some of the games you all played to my backlog! Along with a few other games I purchased last month. It never ends, does it? π
See you all next year and around the site!
JC's Final Nov 2025 Bingo Card
Mode: Custom Winning Bingo! Finished 16/25 Collectathon
β Cassette BeastsProgramming
β HacknetVisual novel
β Until ThenTower defense Horror
β Tokyo DarkPoint & click adventure
β Nine Noir LivesEscape room
β Zero Escape: Zero Time DilemmaBase building
β PatronPuzzle platformer
β Murders on the Yangtze RiverStealth
β IntravenousExperimental Cozy β Wildcard
β Still ThereShoot 'em up Beat 'em up FPS Action-adventure
β ArcoComedy
β AKIBA'S TRIP: Undead οΌ UndressedMystery/investigation
β MAKOTO WAKAIDOβs Case Files TRILOGY DELUXETactical shooter Life sim
β Chef RPGCRPG JRPG
β EastwardTurn-based strategy/tactics Tactical RPG
β Fae Tactics -
Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentBtw...I bought another detective game over the weekend!Btw...I bought another detective game over the weekend!
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Comment on Tips for FL Studio in ~music
JCPhoenix LinkI got nothing for you as it's been like 20yrs since I last played around with FL Studio. And not even that much. But now that you've mentioned this, you have to share with all of us what you'll...I got nothing for you as it's been like 20yrs since I last played around with FL Studio. And not even that much.
But now that you've mentioned this, you have to share with all of us what you'll eventually make, please π
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Comment on Netflix kills casting from phones in ~tech
JCPhoenix (edited )Link ParentI know some hotel brands have the ability on their TVs to allow streaming service sign-in. And it'll log you out and erase your details once your stay is done if you forget to do it yourself....I know some hotel brands have the ability on their TVs to allow streaming service sign-in. And it'll log you out and erase your details once your stay is done if you forget to do it yourself. Which makes me wonder if there's some kinda data harvesting partnership going on between Netflix and the hotel brand where casting from a personal device obviously doesn't allow the hotel to harvest that data.
Well jokes on them. I always travel with a laptop, a travel router, and an HDMI cable. There's only been a handful of hotels where I couldn't just plug in from my laptop because the TV or media box thing was locked down, or it was basically impossible to get access to the cables behind the TV. And if all else fails, I'll just use my laptop. Nbd for me. But most hotel TVs I've seen and used are essentially wide-open devices.
(Yes I'm aware that Netflix has also started restricting or limiting viewing on devices that aren't at "home." Which is what the travel router is for. Still BS.)
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Comment on Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion in ~sports.motorsports
JCPhoenix Link ParentI was actually in Vegas for the inaugural FP1! Well, part of it anyway. 100% a cluster as you say. Haven't been back to a race weekend here since, but I'd like to attend again at some point. Maybe...I was actually in Vegas for the inaugural FP1! Well, part of it anyway. 100% a cluster as you say. Haven't been back to a race weekend here since, but I'd like to attend again at some point. Maybe when it's a bit (lot) cheaper, if that ever happens.
McLaren strategy is so questionable at times. They have a rocketship of a car, two excellent drivers, but they still haven't got the strategy part down. Too cautious or indecisive at times. Or both. They act like they're still a mid-field team. The cars and drivers can only do so much, especially against a resurgent Max and Red Bull.
It was great -- and funny -- to see RB's Hannah Schmitz on the podium today. Because she clearly understands strategy. In some ways, having her up there was its own strategy: a psyop against McLaren!
At least McLaren isn't Ferrari when it comes to strategy. Though seems like these days, Ferrari's problems are less about strategy and more about their car and their second driver. The one who happens to be a 7x WDC...
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Comment on βZootopia 2β jumps to $556.4m global opening for biggest WW start of 2025 in ~movies
JCPhoenix Link ParentIt's just a joke. But... Certainly anyone who's seen a Disney movie, especially as a kid, has had some kinda crush on a Disney character. Like Simba and Nala from the Lion King. Or like Lola Bunny...It's just a joke. But...
Certainly anyone who's seen a Disney movie, especially as a kid, has had some kinda crush on a Disney character. Like Simba and Nala from the Lion King. Or like Lola Bunny from Space Jam? π³
So that part isn't so weird. I think it's the fur suits that are taken as the weird part. Especially in public. Ofc, if consenting adults are enjoying themselves, then who are any of us to stop them? But it can still be weird, something that's pretty out of the ordinary like that. Though at this point, the novelty has started to wear off, given that furries are kinda mainstream. At least on the Internet.
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Comment on βZootopia 2β jumps to $556.4m global opening for biggest WW start of 2025 in ~movies
JCPhoenix LinkHave the furries become mainstream finally? /sHave the furries become mainstream finally?
/s
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Comment on Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion in ~sports.motorsports
JCPhoenix LinkApologies on the lateness on getting this posted. I'm outta town during this US Thanksgiving long weekend. Didn't even get a chance to watch quali. I'm actually in Vegas...would've been cool if...Apologies on the lateness on getting this posted. I'm outta town during this US Thanksgiving long weekend. Didn't even get a chance to watch quali. I'm actually in Vegas...would've been cool if I'd been here a week ago!
Anyway, kinda boring race, but it was definitely interesting on the strategy side. Even with the stint limit of 25 laps. Thankfully, Hulk made it interesting. As did McLaren and their, once again, terrible strategy calls.
Hard to believe we're going into the season finale next weekend as a 3-way battle. I started watching F1 in 2021 which was a great time to start watching because of the fight between Lewis and Max. But obviously in the years since, we haven't gotten another repeat of the season going down to the wire. Then it finally happens again? With a 3-way? With Max as the dark horse who can still clinch it?? What a script!
I'll end with two things:
- Kimi is a monster rookie, but he's still definitely a rookie. He managed to keep Lando behind for however many laps, but then makes a dumb mistake and gives up his like constant seven-tenths lead and the position. Feel like that's common for Kimi, but he's also a rookie who's doing great, so really can't be too disappointed.
- SAINZ BACK ON THE PODIUM - GO WEEUMS!
See you all next weekend!
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Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025 - Race Weekend Discussion
Warning: this post may contain spoilers
Qatar Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit
November 28-30, 2025
Qualifying Results -- SPOILER
Pos. No. Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps 1 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:20.234 1:19.650 1:19.387 18 2 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:20.157 1:19.861 1:19.495 17 3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:20.472 1:19.985 1:19.651 23 4 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:20.074 1:20.186 1:19.662 26 5 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:20.576 1:20.084 1:19.846 22 6 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1:20.603 1:20.350 1:20.114 20 7 55 Carlos Sainz Williams 1:20.520 1:20.251 1:20.287 25 8 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:20.598 1:20.219 1:20.418 21 9 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:20.681 1:20.324 1:20.477 21 10 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:20.564 1:20.343 1:20.561 23 11 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 1:20.630 1:20.353 20 12 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1:20.539 1:20.433 15 13 87 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team 1:20.548 1:20.438 20 14 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber 1:20.653 1:20.534 20 15 23 Alexander Albon Williams 1:20.629 1:20.629 19 16 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing 1:20.761 9 17 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team 1:20.864 11 18 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:20.907 9 19 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:21.058 10 20 43 Franco Colapinto Alpine 1:21.137 9 Source: F1.com
Grand Prix Results -- SPOILER
Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time / Retired Pts. 1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 57 1:24:38.241 25 2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 57 +7.995s 18 3 55 Carlos Sainz Williams 57 +22.665s 15 4 4 Lando Norris McLaren 57 +23.315s 12 5 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 57 +28.317s 10 6 63 George Russell Mercedes 57 +48.599s 8 7 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 57 +54.045s 6 8 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 57 +56.785s 4 9 30 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 57 +60.073s 2 10 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing 57 +61.770s 1 11 23 Alexander Albon Williams 57 +66.931s 0 12 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 57 +77.730s 0 13 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber 57 +84.812s 0 14 43 Franco Colapinto Alpine 56 +1 lap 0 15 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team 56 +1 lap 0 16 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 56 +1 lap 0 17 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 55 DNF 0 18 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 55 DNF 0 NC 87 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team 41 DNF 0 NC 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 6 DNF 0 Fastest Lap: Oscar Piatri // 1:22.996 on lap 44
DOTD: Max VerstappenSource: F1.com
Next race:
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Yas Marina Circuit
December 5-7, 202513 votes -
Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentMainly played via my two Windows gaming PCs. But also played some on Steam Deck and even my MBP.Mainly played via my two Windows gaming PCs. But also played some on Steam Deck and even my MBP.
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Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games
JCPhoenix (edited )Link ParentLol, Backlog Bingo for me this year was just "JC LARPs Being a Detective." I finished Ace Attorney Investigations 1 and 2 earlier this year and then I was just like...I need moar. This is why I...Lol, Backlog Bingo for me this year was just "JC LARPs Being a Detective." I finished Ace Attorney Investigations 1 and 2 earlier this year and then I was just like...I need moar.
The cooking was fun... but maybe don't quit your day job.
This is why I barely cook IRL. I'd either poison myself or set the house on fire. Like I can cook spaghetti and that's the extent of my cooking. I joke, but it's mostly laziness on my part as opposed to lack of skill. But if I can't even cook in a game...π«
The one game I'm still playing regularly is Eastward. That game is so good. Even though I'm garbage at the combat, it's just...Wow. There's some deeply nostalgic about it. I think I mentioned Earthbound/Mother 3 in the LP, but I don't think that's fully the factor. I'm only in the the second chapter, but I'm enjoying it so much.
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Comment on Which grand strategy are you? in ~misc
JCPhoenix LinkI'm American, so I'm kinda used to being the "Arsenal of Democracy," even if we haven't always and sometimes still aren't always spreading and maintaining democracy (sigh). Even at home (double...Liberal Hegemony
You believe a major power should lead in upholding a liberal international order, promoting democracy, and strengthening institutions and alliances. Activism abroad is necessary to prevent instability and support liberal norms.
A (Isolationism / Restraint): 0 B (Selective / Deep Engagement): 2 C (Liberal Hegemony): 5 D (Conservative Primacy): 2
I'm American, so I'm kinda used to being the "Arsenal of Democracy," even if we haven't always and sometimes still aren't always spreading and maintaining democracy (sigh). Even at home (double sigh).
Some of these were tough to answer, because I believed in multiple answers.
I think this would be a more interesting quiz if it wasn't so black or white. If you could rank the answers and then get scored that way, with some other categories of strategies. That said, I don't know much about IR grand strategies, so maybe these are the only strats.
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Comment on November 2025 Backlog Burner: Week 4 Discussion in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentI really need to give They Are Billions another go. I grew up playing RTSs. C&C and some of its spin-offs, Warcraft II, StarCraft. Even a bit of WC3 and SC2 later on (still need to finish SC2). So...I really need to give They Are Billions another go. I grew up playing RTSs. C&C and some of its spin-offs, Warcraft II, StarCraft. Even a bit of WC3 and SC2 later on (still need to finish SC2).
So I picked up They Are Billions, sat on it for awhile as I often do, then spun it up one day. And I just didn't feel it. I knew it was like a "reverse" of a standard RTS in a way. Rather than trying to break into an enemy base, you're trying to keep the enemy out your own. Zombie masses of enemies. That sounded really cool. The pictures and videos on the Steam page look awesome!
But I played the first mission or two and was just like "OK, that's enough of that." That was 4.5yrs ago. Haven't been back since.
Alright your post is gonna be my impetus. I'll play some before I go to bed.
Separately, I don't know why I didn't think about the NYT games for Backlog Bingo or even just the weekly "What have you been playing?" posts. I play so much of it. I play it at work during my breaks. Sometimes when I'm not on breaks. When I'm on the train. Waiting for the train. Waiting in line at the grocery store. In bed, even. At this point, I have an NYT subscription not for the news, but for these games! I play The Mini, Connections, Strands, and Spelling Bee. The Spelling Bee is the one I play the most. So addicting.
There are times I hate the Internet and times I love it.
This definitely falls in the latter camp.