Magic literally exploded in my city. FNM is a big mess though. You have to know which store you're going to well in advanced because the FNM's get 50 people minimum and showing up to a place that is full blows. Sign up takes forever and then everything must be manually typed into the computer. At the biggest FNM, which has over 100 people regularly, they have Standard AND Modern and so there are two lists for pairings that can be easily confused.
But I wouldn't trade the play environment for the world. Its the best its ever been! If there is a real demand for more and/or bigger tournaments where you live you should speak up. Don't give money to lazy shop owners who have the space to fit more people but don't want to give prize support! Heck, see if a local business can help out if space is an issue. One local store held parts of FNM at a nearby pizza place until they moved to a bigger space last week.
I'd be kind of amazed at a store that's having a draft at 4:30pm on Friday and it's attended by anyone over the age of 15. Nuts! Even with summer vacation coming soon, in the next two weeks for college students, people still work and many don't get out until 5pm at least. *shrug* Maybe people asked for an earlier draft.
That guy just didn't know what he was talking about. Ignorance and competitiveness are quite different!
I enjoy competition because it matches my wits and deckbuilding prowess against another person's. After 10+ years of playing it just feels normal to me to expect a certain level of sportsmanship, skill, and spirit in an opponent. I understand that others may feel no need for these things but without them the game just lacks some vital essence that gives it more than a facsimile of life.
Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland. I take wasteland to mean that civilization has collapsed and formal structures of government are no more. Survivability really depends on the reason for the apocalypse. Anyway, less people is what's best for the Earth anyway. If we don't destroy ourselves something else will. Probably some sort of super virus.
Looks like a lot of fun. I like complexity and Hex has just the right amount of it. Now that a job is on the horizon I'll be needing a non-Magic money sink and this looks reasonably affordable. I've been AWOL for a while but I might want to play this with my guild.
I saw Cap 2 a second time last night. Had some more thoughts...
-Question for Agents of SHIELD fans: does it make any sense for May, Ward, and Coulson to have a higher rank than Captain America and Black Widow? The AoS agents are levels 7, 7, and 8(respectively) while the movie agents are both level 6(It was Pierce who says this to the Winter Soldier in the kitchen scene). To an extent I can understand why Cap would have a lower rank. His moral compass is an asset at times but a huge burden at other times. But Romanov is clearly a high level specialist and seems at least as experienced as May. Her being a foreign national wouldn't matter to Nick Fury so her somewhat low rank makes no sense. Maybe it was just a writer's flub but it seems weird that two of the greatest heroes are only one level above Fitz and Simmons.
-The Worf effect bothered me even more this time. I'm not a huge Black Widow fan but if I were unaware of the trope that plagued her throughout Cap 2 I would assume she's an incompetent agent. She already got Worf'ed in The Avengers so that Hulk's fight with Thor would seem more badass. In Cap 2 she's utterly competent until some big action sequence or plot mover needs to happen and then we get reminded that she's just some frail human and that Cap is the hero.
-There was a ton of Apple and Chevy advertising. I laughed so hard when I saw that the fake cops AND Nick Fury were all driving Tahoes! Then Cap and Black Widow escape in a Silverado. The Apple advertising is so pervasive now that I look for people without iPhones or MacBooks in movies now.
-The writing of Black Widow needs to make up its mind. Is she someone born in the modern era or is she, like the Winter Soldier and Captain America, all that remains of a bygone era? Zola said she was born in 1984 and even if that's a lie she wouldn't deny that yet Pierce made it clear that she had some secrets that she wouldn't want released. If he means agent stuff then a lot of people are going to have blacker eyes than her. Who is the Black Widow and what are her deep, dark secrets?
So two years ago I broke up with a guy I'd been with for 3 years. He had substance abuse issues and had begun to be abusive towards me. I'm not a terribly vengeful person and so we remained friends. Over the past two years it came out that he didn't love me throughout our romantic relationship but now he is in love with me(and now I don't love him!). The tragedy of our situation isn't lost on either of us and he's been asking for a second chance. I've been quite clear in saying that I don't want to start over with him and would prefer to remain friends with benefits. He agreed to that but every once in a while he'll cry about how much he's changed and wants to get back together. Seriously, nothing is a bigger mood killer than having a guy sob loudly and uncontrollably after sex because he can't accept reality. I know for a fact he has not changed at all! He's a self-centered **** who is addicted to cannabis and alcohol and has gender dysphoria issues. I've felt terribly uncomfortable dealing with him lately and it feels like a good time to stop hanging out with him.
I know I'm not a perfect person. I've done some emotional damage to this guy and for the most part have acknowledged and apologized for it. It's just that my life is coming together right now and my relationship with him is the biggest negative. I'm about to graduate from community college, am transferring to a 4 year school to study social work, and have a guaranteed job waiting for me this summer. I am back in counseling and ready to deal with my depression and ADHD in a constructive manner. I wish he could be a part of that but he wants me to be his mother/personal savior and I am simply not capable of being that right now nor would I ever want to be anyway.
Should I just shun him or try to be graceful about this? Moral superiority would have been important to me two years ago but now I'm just cutting out the least important and most draining aspects of my life. He has threatened to kill himself several times in the past, which I now know was just a way to try and control me, and there are these two parts of me at war about that. The social worker in me wants to ensure that he comes to no harm but the humanist in me wants to respect his right to live or die as he chooses. There's a small chance that he'll become vengeful and try to strike out at me but at this point its an acceptable risk.
I think that even when these laws go away, companies will still hire minorities who are less qualified than their White counterparts. They're already used to patronizing minorities into thinking they're doing them a favor and they can also continue to pay them less than their White peers. I know some people are kicking up their heels and think that now they won't be denied that cushy job at Nasa/Google/Cornell/etc because affirmative action may be on the way out. But it's cheaper to get a minority who it is assumed will need some guidance because their lifetime earnings will cost the company less than to hire a White person whose competence is assumed due to their Whiteness. I don't condone this behavior but it's something that people need to be aware of and hopefully fight against it.
I expect most of the education based affirmative action laws to be done away with over the next 5 to 10 years. More minorities are going to college than ever before and having to have a quota of them will not increase diversity in any meaningful way. If a college wants a diverse student body they should make themselves attractive to the students they want to attend their school. I'd like race to be removed from all college applications because ultimately it only adds a prejudicial element to evaluating a student's worthiness for admission. Honestly, there is a bigger class barrier to college admission right now than there is a race barrier. I know so many White people who are either swimming in debt or just didn't go to college because it costs them more to go to college than it does for me, even though they are just as poor as I am. *sigh*
I'm sorry but I'm not really willing to clarify what happened in regards to why we had to move. It's a very private situation. For here, let's just say it had to do with both mental and physical health reasons and leave it at that.
I really shouldn't have posted this when all of it centers around those issues. There's a reason I wouldn't be able to find a roommate, there's a reason I roommate would make me uncomfortable to the extreme (I'm talking panic attacks and literally constant stress/uncomfortability type of uncomfortable, not just "oh, yeah, I don't like that.")
I'm not going to be looking at or responding to this thread anymore, and that's not your fault, any of you, it's just due to the fact that I'm realizing that the part I left out is probably key, and unfortunately, so long as I'm not willing to share it, I'm not going to be able to get complete or helpful advice for my situation.
Thanks for responding anyway, however.
Your therapist may be able to help you with these issues. S/he knows your exact situation and can help you tailor a solution that is right for you. The thing is that this help would most likely come in the form of a social worker. Social workers are often overloaded with work and may sometimes give incomplete help because they have to help so many people. If you're interested in working with a social worker try to get one with a clinical degree. They're qualified to give therapy in many places and are held to a confidentiality standard that is the same as a therapist. Clinical social workers have the resources of two professions at their disposal and can give you a better outcome than a therapist or social worker can alone.
I'm sorry you had to take charge of your physical and mental well being in such a sucky way but it is your responsibility now. Taking control of what's inside of you is probably the scariest thing you'll ever do. In the end you'll be happy you did.
It sucks but things could be a lot worse for you and you're lucky you're still young. Hardship is easier to take when you're young than when you're older. Get your GED, get a job, and do a year at a community college(apply for EOP!). If you really want to go to Yale you will still be able to do so but you may have to give a statement explaining the gap in your education. Since you're still under 21 I suggest you take the SAT, if you haven't already, to give any colleges you apply to more context to base admission on.
At this point you and your mom should suck it up and utilize local charity resources to help make ends meet. Pride doesn't fill your stomach or keep you warm at night! Supplement your food budget by getting one meal a day at a local soup kitchen and sign up for a food pantry. I just can't believe that there are no free GED classes, even in the summer. You should check your county's 211 website to see what resources are available in your area. The local school district and your local One Stop may offer additional GED resources. Job Corps is another option and might actually be ideal for you. You get to finish your GED, you learn a skill that can help pay your way through college, and generally, you live on-site so you would not be a financial burden to your mother.
Do be angry at what has happened to you. Don't decide that anger is enough. Get up and take charge of your life.
When it comes to romance, everyone ends up compromising. If you're amazingly wealthy or a paragon of virtue you may do so to a lesser extent but it will still happen.
Don't feel bad about wanting to be with someone who is like you. America is extremely homogamous(to prefer marriage to someone who is culturally similar to you) and endogamous(to prefer marriage within your specific ethnic group) and so its normal to feel how you do. 95% of Americans marry within their ethnic group and the numbers are just as high for religion, political stance, age group, and several other factors.
What tends to be a deal breaker is what sub-cultures potential dates are involved in. Magic the Gathering is a good example of something that might turn a woman off. I know you expect potential dates to accept you for who you are but I would wait to give out any real information about yourself until the 3rd date. By then you will both be more comfortable and genuinely interested in knowing more about each other. Telling someone all about yourself on the first date is like starting a book on the last page.
Ask your female friends for dating advice and maybe see if they can hook you up with someone. Unless you live in a small town you probably don't know everyone they do. It's heavily implied by popular culture that only women can friend zone people but that's so not true and I'm pleased to see a guy firm in his resolve not to date someone he doesn't want to merely because of proximity.
I think ghosts are one of many common beliefs that are wrong. I am open to being wrong on this though. Not because I want ghosts to exist but because humanity is incredibly intelligent and I don't want to believe that everything our ancestors believed was wrong.
Ajani...to quote an internet video "Is this real life?". Wow! The implications of this card in EDH are obvious and I can't wait to use it with Doubling Season. I'm actually more interested in seeing it in some Junk Midrange or even just GW in Standard.
Draft Bestow is okay. Since I quit playing Limited during Shards block I have nothing more to say than that.
Cap 2 was kind of like an episode of the Power Rangers. Fantastically choreographed fight scenes, cool gadgets, and nonchalant collateral damage! The latter bothered me until I remembered all the other movies where no ****s were given about lessening the carnage or damage to infrastructure. So yeah I loved it and will likely see it again some time soon. As said by others, there wasn't enough of The Winter Soldier in this movie and I wonder why he got billing as the main villain.
One thing that I loved was that watching Agents of SHIELD actually enhanced the experience. There are many small references to the show and even a semi-regular character from it(and a few one shots). Also, what has been happening in the background of what we see each week now makes a ton more sense. The MCU seems to have goodies for fans of all commitment levels and I'm pleased that AoS fans weren't left out.
Movie Stuff
-I was bothered by the fact that Nazis were the bad guy again. But when you look at the main character I can't really imagine him fighting any other villains with the same level of heart or ferocity.
-Gary Shandling's cameo made me so happy!! I bet Tony Stark is drinking a toast to his downfall right now.
-The Winter Soldier was a terrible bore. He was only brought out to let you know when an action sequence was about to begin. His fight with Black Widow was a blatant Worfing and the actual boss fight wasn't even as exciting.
MCU Stuff
-For Agents of SHIELD and comic fans, seeing The Triskelion for the first time was amazing. We've seen The Hub on AoS and so that means we've seen half of the named SHIELD locations in the MCU. We've yet to see The Fridge and The Sandbox.
-Speaking of AoS, given her high level I'm surprised Victoria Hand wasn't in this at all. At this point I can't tell if she's HYDRA or SHIELD and waiting until Tuesday to know for sure is killing me! Her association with Agent Sitwell doesn't really assure her guilt and yet her cagey attitude and questionable actions don't make her look innocent either.
Mid-Credits Preview
-Marvel just won't let the Nazi's die. Can't we move on to the Reds at least?!?
-I'd wondered what happened to Loki's disco stick after the Avengers(storage at The Fridge seemed logical)and now we know.
-I really hate the fact that Wanda and Pietro's past has been changed due to the property split with Fox. Fox continues to spit out inferior movies(as much as I want DoFP to be good X-3 and both Wolverine films make me doubt it) just so they can keep the property and we continue to give them our money.
We always end up singing Still Alive at the shop for one reason or another. Usually because someone mentions the cake, which is both delicious AND moist. The only song that inspires more lulz is Ninja Of The Night.
Who cares about this? Probably only the 12 year old boys who have a crush on her(or Zack).
But I wouldn't trade the play environment for the world. Its the best its ever been! If there is a real demand for more and/or bigger tournaments where you live you should speak up. Don't give money to lazy shop owners who have the space to fit more people but don't want to give prize support! Heck, see if a local business can help out if space is an issue. One local store held parts of FNM at a nearby pizza place until they moved to a bigger space last week.
I'd be kind of amazed at a store that's having a draft at 4:30pm on Friday and it's attended by anyone over the age of 15. Nuts! Even with summer vacation coming soon, in the next two weeks for college students, people still work and many don't get out until 5pm at least. *shrug* Maybe people asked for an earlier draft.
I enjoy competition because it matches my wits and deckbuilding prowess against another person's. After 10+ years of playing it just feels normal to me to expect a certain level of sportsmanship, skill, and spirit in an opponent. I understand that others may feel no need for these things but without them the game just lacks some vital essence that gives it more than a facsimile of life.
-Question for Agents of SHIELD fans: does it make any sense for May, Ward, and Coulson to have a higher rank than Captain America and Black Widow? The AoS agents are levels 7, 7, and 8(respectively) while the movie agents are both level 6(It was Pierce who says this to the Winter Soldier in the kitchen scene). To an extent I can understand why Cap would have a lower rank. His moral compass is an asset at times but a huge burden at other times. But Romanov is clearly a high level specialist and seems at least as experienced as May. Her being a foreign national wouldn't matter to Nick Fury so her somewhat low rank makes no sense. Maybe it was just a writer's flub but it seems weird that two of the greatest heroes are only one level above Fitz and Simmons.
-The Worf effect bothered me even more this time. I'm not a huge Black Widow fan but if I were unaware of the trope that plagued her throughout Cap 2 I would assume she's an incompetent agent. She already got Worf'ed in The Avengers so that Hulk's fight with Thor would seem more badass. In Cap 2 she's utterly competent until some big action sequence or plot mover needs to happen and then we get reminded that she's just some frail human and that Cap is the hero.
-There was a ton of Apple and Chevy advertising. I laughed so hard when I saw that the fake cops AND Nick Fury were all driving Tahoes! Then Cap and Black Widow escape in a Silverado. The Apple advertising is so pervasive now that I look for people without iPhones or MacBooks in movies now.
-The writing of Black Widow needs to make up its mind. Is she someone born in the modern era or is she, like the Winter Soldier and Captain America, all that remains of a bygone era? Zola said she was born in 1984 and even if that's a lie she wouldn't deny that yet Pierce made it clear that she had some secrets that she wouldn't want released. If he means agent stuff then a lot of people are going to have blacker eyes than her. Who is the Black Widow and what are her deep, dark secrets?
I know I'm not a perfect person. I've done some emotional damage to this guy and for the most part have acknowledged and apologized for it. It's just that my life is coming together right now and my relationship with him is the biggest negative. I'm about to graduate from community college, am transferring to a 4 year school to study social work, and have a guaranteed job waiting for me this summer. I am back in counseling and ready to deal with my depression and ADHD in a constructive manner. I wish he could be a part of that but he wants me to be his mother/personal savior and I am simply not capable of being that right now nor would I ever want to be anyway.
Should I just shun him or try to be graceful about this? Moral superiority would have been important to me two years ago but now I'm just cutting out the least important and most draining aspects of my life. He has threatened to kill himself several times in the past, which I now know was just a way to try and control me, and there are these two parts of me at war about that. The social worker in me wants to ensure that he comes to no harm but the humanist in me wants to respect his right to live or die as he chooses. There's a small chance that he'll become vengeful and try to strike out at me but at this point its an acceptable risk.
Your therapist may be able to help you with these issues. S/he knows your exact situation and can help you tailor a solution that is right for you. The thing is that this help would most likely come in the form of a social worker. Social workers are often overloaded with work and may sometimes give incomplete help because they have to help so many people. If you're interested in working with a social worker try to get one with a clinical degree. They're qualified to give therapy in many places and are held to a confidentiality standard that is the same as a therapist. Clinical social workers have the resources of two professions at their disposal and can give you a better outcome than a therapist or social worker can alone.
I'm sorry you had to take charge of your physical and mental well being in such a sucky way but it is your responsibility now. Taking control of what's inside of you is probably the scariest thing you'll ever do. In the end you'll be happy you did.
At this point you and your mom should suck it up and utilize local charity resources to help make ends meet. Pride doesn't fill your stomach or keep you warm at night! Supplement your food budget by getting one meal a day at a local soup kitchen and sign up for a food pantry. I just can't believe that there are no free GED classes, even in the summer. You should check your county's 211 website to see what resources are available in your area. The local school district and your local One Stop may offer additional GED resources. Job Corps is another option and might actually be ideal for you. You get to finish your GED, you learn a skill that can help pay your way through college, and generally, you live on-site so you would not be a financial burden to your mother.
Do be angry at what has happened to you. Don't decide that anger is enough. Get up and take charge of your life.
Don't feel bad about wanting to be with someone who is like you. America is extremely homogamous(to prefer marriage to someone who is culturally similar to you) and endogamous(to prefer marriage within your specific ethnic group) and so its normal to feel how you do. 95% of Americans marry within their ethnic group and the numbers are just as high for religion, political stance, age group, and several other factors.
What tends to be a deal breaker is what sub-cultures potential dates are involved in. Magic the Gathering is a good example of something that might turn a woman off. I know you expect potential dates to accept you for who you are but I would wait to give out any real information about yourself until the 3rd date. By then you will both be more comfortable and genuinely interested in knowing more about each other. Telling someone all about yourself on the first date is like starting a book on the last page.
Ask your female friends for dating advice and maybe see if they can hook you up with someone. Unless you live in a small town you probably don't know everyone they do.
Draft Bestow is okay. Since I quit playing Limited during Shards block I have nothing more to say than that.
One thing that I loved was that watching Agents of SHIELD actually enhanced the experience. There are many small references to the show and even a semi-regular character from it(and a few one shots). Also, what has been happening in the background of what we see each week now makes a ton more sense. The MCU seems to have goodies for fans of all commitment levels and I'm pleased that AoS fans weren't left out.
Movie Stuff
-I was bothered by the fact that Nazis were the bad guy again. But when you look at the main character I can't really imagine him fighting any other villains with the same level of heart or ferocity.
-Gary Shandling's cameo made me so happy!! I bet Tony Stark is drinking a toast to his downfall right now.
-The Winter Soldier was a terrible bore. He was only brought out to let you know when an action sequence was about to begin. His fight with Black Widow was a blatant Worfing and the actual boss fight wasn't even as exciting.
MCU Stuff
-For Agents of SHIELD and comic fans, seeing The Triskelion for the first time was amazing. We've seen The Hub on AoS and so that means we've seen half of the named SHIELD locations in the MCU. We've yet to see The Fridge and The Sandbox.
-Speaking of AoS, given her high level I'm surprised Victoria Hand wasn't in this at all. At this point I can't tell if she's HYDRA or SHIELD and waiting until Tuesday to know for sure is killing me! Her association with Agent Sitwell doesn't really assure her guilt and yet her cagey attitude and questionable actions don't make her look innocent either.
Mid-Credits Preview
-Marvel just won't let the Nazi's die. Can't we move on to the Reds at least?!?
-I'd wondered what happened to Loki's disco stick after the Avengers(storage at The Fridge seemed logical)and now we know.
-I really hate the fact that Wanda and Pietro's past has been changed due to the property split with Fox. Fox continues to spit out inferior movies(as much as I want DoFP to be good X-3 and both Wolverine films make me doubt it) just so they can keep the property and we continue to give them our money.