YouTube link here. Who’s gonna get the thumbnail?
This week, we learn how William’s life isn’t worth talking about, and Tony discusses random stuff that annoys him. Plus movie, TV, and game reviews. So the usual. But then we dig into the ephemeral nature of modern products, and the lengths we will or will not go to maintain the things we love. Sort of. Enjoy!
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Expedition 33 has sold 3.3 million in 33 days. I’ve even heard YouTubers make “… waiting for the Paintress to update the number” type references in videos, without mentioning what that even means. Remarkable how quickly this game’s popularity has exploded. I’m really not far in but considering moving to the French audio, as I tend to read every cut scene subtitle anyway. It is pretty bleak though, and I’ve had to drop to story mode difficulty because I can literally never time dodge/parry mechanics, and it seems to be central to this where in AC it’s mostly incidental.
I lost track of which episode you first talked about this so am putting this gaming news here.
I’m kinda hoping Hot Topic do some sort of subtle t-shirt with 33 on the arm, in the correct font. I love those sorts of “if you know, you know” type merchandise. I’ve got a blue hoodie with a Vault-tec logo on the front and a giant yellow 33 on the back (coincidentally).
If they don’t, Insert Coin Clothing will do it. They’re like the grown up Hot Topic, but just for video game clothes.
I’m into Act 2. Things are starting to… well, not make sense, but add more detail, I guess? It’s surprising how often it makes me tear up, but then crack up laughing at another part.
I love the English voice cast. But to be fair, I’m a sucker for a Brit accent, and they’ve got some heavy hitters in the cast.
For those who didn’t notice. Maelle IS Shadowheart from BG3. Same actress. She’s not even really using a different voice!
Certain appliances are definitely a good example of something you can keep going. Apparently, newer model KitchenAid mixers have a vinyl gear where older ones are metal. People suggesting you’re better off picking up an old one from Goodwill.
I do try to keep appliances going through. Had to repair our dishwasher about a year after we had it, but it’s been fine in the years since. Finally got sick of repairing the refrigerator fan which kept freezing up (bad design on internal seal) and its constant leaking so just replaced that.
I guess I’m trying a lot harder to be less consumer-y and make things last, if possible. I know things aren’t engineered to last like they once were, even good brands. My sister has my grandmother’s 100 year old Singer sewing machine which is built into a lovely wooden table. It’s not ideal to use (nothing fancy about these stitches!) but it works.
Actually, I remember repairing TVs, too. Perhaps around 2005-2006 I remember I had a nice widescreen CRT which was excellent for gaming, needed a simple fuse changed. We have a slightly older than that (I think) Sony CRT in the basement. I have the Wii connected to it and you will prise that out of my cold hands. So good for retro gaming.
I will say though, I suspect the true cost of a new smart TV is somewhat subsidized by the selling of your data (Vizio were saying half their money comes from that, a few years back). But yeah, almost not worth repairing one these days, even if you could.
There’s some level at which the complexity forces us to go buy a new whatever… but we try and buy a fair bit of second-hand stuff, and repair what we can. Well, Trish does. My whole life revolves around incredibly complex electronics that break if I sneeze too loud, so I’m pretty much just Capitalism’s ideal foot soldier. :/