smiles134's recent activity
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Comment on Moana (2026) | Official teaser in ~movies
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 LinkI watched Honey Don't! tonight and was really into the noir vibe, until about the last 20ish minutes. What the hell was that ending?I watched Honey Don't! tonight and was really into the noir vibe, until about the last 20ish minutes. What the hell was that ending?
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Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentThat's what I'm saying though, there was no actual primary for Spanberger. She ran unopposed for the nomination.That's what I'm saying though, there was no actual primary for Spanberger. She ran unopposed for the nomination.
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Comment on Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor’s race, capping a stunning ascent in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentSpanberger was uncontested as the Democrat candidate, so we didn't really have a chance to see if someone left of her could win. I live in the very blue Northern Virginia region and I know a lot...Spanberger was uncontested as the Democrat candidate, so we didn't really have a chance to see if someone left of her could win. I live in the very blue Northern Virginia region and I know a lot of people who voted for her simply because the other option was so much worse.
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Comment on Why Disney ditched ‘Doctor Who’ in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentMy friend introduced me in college and I got pretty into it, but the very rabid and vocal side of the fandom pushed me away and I didn't want anything to do with it after that. I have been curious...My friend introduced me in college and I got pretty into it, but the very rabid and vocal side of the fandom pushed me away and I didn't want anything to do with it after that. I have been curious to go back and watch the arcs I liked in college again, but I probably won't.
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Comment on Tucker Carlson’s friendly interview with far-right antisemite Nick Fuentes divides prominent US conservatives in ~society
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Comment on Taylor Sheridan poised to set lucrative production pact with NBCUniversal in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentI don't disagree but I also really liked Wind River, which I believe he directedI don't disagree but I also really liked Wind River, which I believe he directed
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 LinkI recently finished Dying Light 2 -- I'd played the first one last year and had heard this one was worse in most ways, so I hadn't gone back to it. But the release of the sequel made me want to...I recently finished Dying Light 2 -- I'd played the first one last year and had heard this one was worse in most ways, so I hadn't gone back to it. But the release of the sequel made me want to dive in, and, well, this was definitely worse than the first one.
I hadn't realized the premise of this game was so wildly different from the first. For those unaware, in the first game, you're dealing with a zombie outbreak that's more or less just started, and playing a character who's been tasked with (as far as he knows) finding a cure. What I liked about the first one was its kind of Heart of Darkness + parkour narrative. You're fighting zombies, yes, but also other humans. There's a faction of humans left by a parkour instructor who's trying to improve the situation, and a faction led by a warlord (or something?) who's just trying to take advantage. The combat and traversal are both interesting.
The story in the second picks up in the world 22 years later. The human centered conflict makes little to no sense. I never really understood what each faction was trying to accomplish. The heart of the story is centered on your character trying to reunite with his long lost sister, but it's never clear why he even thinks she's still alive, or that she'd be where he's looking for her... He was separated from her at like age 5 during the initial outbreak (I think?) and hadn't heard from her in 20+ years.
The combat was boring, there was an increased focus on different types of gear, and somehow they reduced the enjoyment in the parkour aspects, which was one of the defining features of the first game.
Anyway, I've heard the third improves in some ways (and I read there were some hurried changes to the story during the development cycle of the second), so I'm not gonna write the whole franchise off just yet.
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Comment on The goon squad. Loneliness, porn’s next frontier, and the dream of endless masturbation. in ~life
smiles134 LinkWhat a fascinating essay on a culture I never intended to learn anything aboutWhat a fascinating essay on a culture I never intended to learn anything about
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentI love those movies. They get a little worse with each one but they're all enjoyable. I'll throw on Ocean's Eleven any day, doesn't matter how long it's been since I've seen it.I love those movies. They get a little worse with each one but they're all enjoyable. I'll throw on Ocean's Eleven any day, doesn't matter how long it's been since I've seen it.
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Comment on Violent texts from Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general leaked in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentThis isn't a huge deal in the scheme of things, but the Virginia Tech shooting was in 2007. There was a shooting at UVA in 2022. It's extremely sad that these are frequent enough to be confused...This isn't a huge deal in the scheme of things, but the Virginia Tech shooting was in 2007. There was a shooting at UVA in 2022.
It's extremely sad that these are frequent enough to be confused for one another.
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Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
smiles134 Link ParentI recently purchased a townhouse style condo which is in an HOA. But it's a particularly weird setup in that there are only 5 members of the HOA because our condo building only has 5 units. One of...I recently purchased a townhouse style condo which is in an HOA. But it's a particularly weird setup in that there are only 5 members of the HOA because our condo building only has 5 units. One of the units is currently vacant, so on practice only 4 members. No one actually follows any rules -- we presented our "HOA president" with a copy of our keys after we changed the locks, per the bylaws and he was like oh no one has ever done this, it's fine.
So the only purpose it really serves is to provide a way for all neighbors to pitch in for general upkeep and maintenance of the building exterior and roof (and pay premiums for the building insurance master plan).
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Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk
smiles134 LinkI used to live somewhat near this guy who has giant whale statues in his front yard. I've had this article bookmarked for years because I've been meaning to write about it in someway but I haven't...I used to live somewhat near this guy who has giant whale statues in his front yard. I've had this article bookmarked for years because I've been meaning to write about it in someway but I haven't been doing much writing recently.
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Comment on Pete Hegseth announces Qatar will build air force facility at US base in Idaho in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentMidterms aren't for another year. A billion things are gonna happen between now and then and it will be too much to keep straight for anyoneMidterms aren't for another year. A billion things are gonna happen between now and then and it will be too much to keep straight for anyone
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Comment on Burbank Airport resumes flights after hours with no air traffic controllers amid government shutdown in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentI'm really needing the Democrats to not blink on this, although nothing from recent history suggests they have an actual backbone to stand up to the Republicans. This administration is constantly...I'm really needing the Democrats to not blink on this, although nothing from recent history suggests they have an actual backbone to stand up to the Republicans.
This administration is constantly doing illegal things. Make them put it on the record. Don't enable them and continue to empower them.
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Comment on White House in a bind as soybean sales to China plummet to zero in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentThere was a video posted here earlier this week I think about why farmers voted for Trump. They knew this would happen -- similar thing happened last Trump admin -- but they're just waiting on...There was a video posted here earlier this week I think about why farmers voted for Trump. They knew this would happen -- similar thing happened last Trump admin -- but they're just waiting on their bailout money.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump shares seemingly AI video amplifying 'medbed' conspiracy theory in ~society
smiles134 Link Parent3 and 4 seem most likely to me. If I've learned anything in the last 10 years it's that Trump values his ego above all else, and rarely has any clue what's going on. He'll listen to anyone who...3 and 4 seem most likely to me. If I've learned anything in the last 10 years it's that Trump values his ego above all else, and rarely has any clue what's going on. He'll listen to anyone who gives him even a modicum of praise.
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Comment on Draft bill would, if passed, allow US President Donald Trump to wage war against drug traffickers and countries in ~society
smiles134 LinkOh and guess what, the administration announced a third lethal strike on a boat this evening.Oh and guess what, the administration announced a third lethal strike on a boat this evening.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
smiles134 Link ParentI read Player Piano for the first time earlier this year too. I felt it was surprisingly relevant in this age of constant AI salesmen proclaiming AI/LLMs will replace all the "menial" work and...I read Player Piano for the first time earlier this year too. I felt it was surprisingly relevant in this age of constant AI salesmen proclaiming AI/LLMs will replace all the "menial" work and make jobs more efficient.
But overall, I agree, there are a lot of signs of it being a debut novel from a writer who had not yet developed a style with which to say what he wanted to say. As is always the case with Vonnegut, you can see ideas and themes peaking through that he continued to grapple with for the rest of his career.
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Comment on Draft bill would, if passed, allow US President Donald Trump to wage war against drug traffickers and countries in ~society
smiles134 LinkHe's already doing this? And bragging about it? The US has launched two strikes against boats they claim -- without any evidence as far as I've seen -- were trafficking drugs. In international...He's already doing this? And bragging about it? The US has launched two strikes against boats they claim -- without any evidence as far as I've seen -- were trafficking drugs. In international waters, not even on US territory.
At least for this one, Dwayne Johnson wanted to be the live action Maui and he's not getting any younger.