Friday, December 30, 2022

Game collecting misadventures in 2022

Another year, another of these blog posts where I gloat about my prowess in collecting video games... However, some of it was just fortunate happenstance. The rest was waiting for sales or receiving holiday gifts. This year is considerably lighter than some of the previous ones. I've been busy living life, finishing my 2nd college degree and had less discretionary income than before. Damned inflation! Let's Go Brandon! 😜

Anyway, economic conditions forced me to buy games at the same rate as a normal person (Damn you, Brandon!), but there were still a few interesting surprises. It's not all just games for Switch or Steam. There's a lot of old Sony hardware that I managed to get this year for free from an old friend. Not to mention new shelves/dΓ©cor for the game room, arcade parts, old PC RAM sticks and more.

Previous Years 





Tuesday, December 27, 2022

22 Things that BPC needs to know...

Once in a while, I check on a certain individual who has been an (unwitting?) annoyance in the past. He has been mentioned various times over the years in this blog by the initials BPC. I won't say if those are his actual initials or reveal his name. Don't ask.

He occasionally complains about me and how he thinks that I mistreated him. Based on the complaints made, I think he doesn't understand the slightest thing about internet culture. He also makes a lot of assumptions about me and my motives that don't conform to objective reality. However, that is due to his limited information... or, perhaps, him being a complete narcissist. I can't tell since I'm not a shrink. So, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time.

He might have spent a few months living with me in Basic Training at Fort Knox, but that doesn't mean even half as much as one may think. I was even more reserved than usual at that time, deliberately keeping people at arm's length. I wasn't sure who I could trust. That would continue throughout the rest of my career. Also, I am assuming that this dude isn't a nut job of some kind, including everything from a psychopath to a simple narcissist or something else. Whatever the case may be, tossing him out of my life was still the correct decision for ALL the reasons listed below and more that I can't publicly discuss.

Anyway, there was one post of his from 3 Mar 2020 that mentioned me and this guy he knew, referred to by the initials DJO. And now, I am going to correct his assertions in the most gentle way possible. No shitposting, no memes, no insults and very few vulgarities. In fact, this may be one of the most family-friendly posts I have ever written. That being said, it will still hold your interest, BPC. Might want to get the bottle right now before you even start. When you realize how badly you really screwed up here, you will want something to calm your nerves.

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1.) Nice to see that your grammar has improved. 

Looks like that Grammarly thing that I saw advertised online is something legit and useful. I'm surprised. Most everything you see online these days tends to be a let-down or a scam. You're formatting still needs some work, but the posts no longer look like word salad anymore. That is an enormous improvement. I am seriously happy for you.

2.) I never got recycled. I retook the PT test, passed and left Knox maybe a week after the rest of you. 

I never looked back. Can't even remember much of my time there anymore. That's fine by me. Some things aren't worth remembering...

3.) I wouldn't say my time in the Army was a complete waste. Probably more like 90%. 

Maybe 87% if I want to be charitable. With enough time passing, we all tend to be more forgiving of things/people that have wronged us. That would include my proverbial 'ex-wife' in the form of the Army. 

Remember how I frequently referred to my career as a 'bad marriage in desperate need of a divorce'? That wasn't a joke. It was my way of summing up a very long and complicated thought process every time someone in my last unit invariably asked 'Why do you want to get out of the Army so bad, LP?'

4.) I was more than just 'pissed off' with you, BPC. Your lame stunt trying to 'praise' my time in service actually could have attracted LOTS of unwanted attention from only God knows who. 

All that time in uniform and you somehow don't understand that OPSEC is forever? You wouldn't like it if I took the pics I have of you and used them to make stupid memes that aren't even funny. OPSEC is why to this very day I still refuse to take pictures of myself at all, let alone post any of them anywhere. 

I'm still pissed at the Army for letting those civilian jackasses that wanted to sell us yearbooks of our time in BCT to take those photos without our permission. That is one Hell of a security risk for what's ultimately a useless product. And to think, the Army also wanted those dumbass kids to STOP thinking/acting like they were still in high school... And yet they also try to sell them yearbooks. Whisky Tango Foxtrot?

5.) I didn't 'blow you off' and ignore you when you tried to apologize. 

I didn't see any message from you trying to apologize until several months after the fact. It went into the 'Other' folder rather than the Inbox. I forgot that Other folder even existed in the FB private message system. It made no difference. You made yourself entirely too much of a security risk without even being aware of it, dude. Removing you from my life was the only thing that I could do.

6.) I don't hack anyone's accounts. So, you're right to guess that wasn't me. 

I'm also assuming that you're telling the truth on that claim since I have no way to prove otherwise or any reason to suspect deceit. If you're lying, make sure that I never find out otherwise.

7.) Why did I threaten to call the FBI? Because you were already out of the Army by that point. 

The Army CID would have referred me to the Bureau instead. Why did that even surprise you? Do you have any idea how many instances of (potential) stalker cases crossing state lines that they routinely handle? You're damned lucky that I didn't call them. That shit is not cool.

8.) Sorry to hear about the TBI and other issues. 

That TBI just might explain some of your strange behavior. Still doesn't excuse things, though. It can't in this case. You went too far to blame it all on grey matter that resembled a scrambled egg.

9.) The 'mutual friend' that suggested I leave NOLA did more than that, BPC. He tried to advertise what he thought was my personal business. Looked like he was trying to shame me into taking his suggestions too. Screw that narcissistic bullshit... 

He also assumed that I was broke and about to lose my house. That was never the case. I guess you could say that he inadvertently violated OPSEC too. All because he took it literally and to illogical extremes when I would lament having to live paycheck-to-paycheck like everyone else. That guy had to be on the Spectrum someplace...

Also, why do any of you think it's okay to publicly discuss someone else's private lives? Or, for that matter, think that you actually know what is going on here? I don't share very much, beyond crazy opinions and insane shitposting designed specifically to throw people off my proverbial scent. I thought that was pretty obvious. Everyone else knew. The internet is NOT real life.

10.) I never got rid of anyone over a minor dispute or them still being in uniform. Who told you that bravo sierra? 

Funny you should mention UFOs as one of the topics, though. There was a guy I knew that was a bit of a UFO nut. He often took part in podcasts on the subject and I think he wanted me to get involved. I declined because I didn't want to attract undue attention to myself. Again, OPSEC is forever

Before I could explain anything to him though, he got pissed off and blocked me. I considered that a blessing in disguise and moved on with life. And no, the Feds didn't tell me anything about any UFOs. I have no idea if they actually have any more knowledge on that subject than the general public.

11.) Did I mock you for considering self-deletion? Or did I do what the Internet always does by joking about inappropriate things?

The internet is filled with a lot of exceptionally dark humor. So dark, I'm surprised the cops aren't trying to shoot at it everyday. Think of it as a coping mechanism for dealing with life's horrors.

Most of it comes from a site known as 'the Final Boss of the Internet', AKA 4chan. I assume you've never heard of that site. If so, that might be a good thing for you, BPC. I don't think you'd like that online cesspool that just so happens to make the DANKEST memes anyone has ever seen.

That site is much like the way that Q described the galaxy to Captain Picard after he introduced/saved the Enterprise from the Borg: "It's not safe out here. It's wonderous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's NOT for the timid."

12.) Based on your comments, it's pretty obvious that you do not understand the Christian Faith at all or any of my spiritual beliefs/practices.

Can't say that I'm surprised. Atheists always act like you. I have forgiven you for your shenanigans already. However, Forgiveness doesn't mean Forgetfulness. That would just be a way to repeat past mistakes. Also, I don't ignore parts of the Bible that I find inconvenient. I'm not Catholic. 

13.) I remove people from my life all the time and not just for being toxic. Sometimes, they're just foolish people who will end up causing trouble for everyone around them.

I can cite numerous examples. I don't have to go looking for a reason, either. They often, quite unwittingly, present it themselves. Some of them even leave on their own and I just let them go, like the UFO guy. Some interpersonal relationships are not meant to last forever.

14.) Opportunist with friendships, religion and business? What gives you this idea? 

I don't have any idea what you're even talking about here. Seems like some kind of delusional thinking on your part. Like some fantasy that I'm some kind of Bond Villain or an evil mastermind. Hate to burst your bubble, but I am not evil. Slightly mad perhaps, but not evil.

Also, being opportunistic in business is how you differentiate yourself from the competition with innovative products/services, develop a market niche and build marketshare. Why would you think this is wrong? You're an accountant. I know you've had a few business and economics classes over the years. All of this should be common knowledge to folks in your profession.

15.) This obsession you have with Marijuana and the fact that I don't want anything to do with it...

You're right when you say I have no issue with weed being used for legitimate medical purposes. It's also true that I don't want it around me. Just like I don't want excessive alcohol consumption or tobacco smoking around me, either. Why is that a problem for you? People who don't drink or smoke find those substances to be extremely unpleasant to be around. 

Also, remember how you kept posting weed bullshit on my music page where you were an admin for awhile, despite me telling you NOT to post that tripe? I was still in the Army at that time, BPC. If anyone from my unit saw that, they would probably think that I was using illegal substances. I did not need that grief, especially after how 4 of my 5 junior-enlisted co-workers in my shop all got busted for smoking Spice shortly before. Starting to understand why I am so hard on you for doing things that you should already know qualify as 'Stupid Private Shit'? Those people were actually watching me online at the time and knew about that music page on FB.

16.) My life actually is in pretty good order...

Far better than many expected. It improves little by little every day. I appreciate your well-wishes in this area.

17.) My FB profile was never deleted. Only abandoned for a long while...

Since my oldest friends BEGGED me to go back, I do still check in on them once every few months. I consider that decision to be highly questionable for many reasons. I tend to use those times as an opportunity to shitpost too. On the most recent check-in, I called the Zuckbot an Autistic Nerd that proverbially fellates various three-letter agencies while also posting an Ozzy video. Good times! 😜🀘

18.) 'Using' me and my blog just for info on games? You don't 'use' people, BPC.

That treats them as a tool instead of a person, which is morally wrong. A means to an end instead of an End unto themselves. You sound like you could use an Ethics class or two. That, or choose better wording... And here you are talking about me being opportunistic and manipulative with people. Way to have the pot call the kettle the N-Word, dude. Also, there will be a video game-related post on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Stay tuned.

19.) You think the Feds are watching me and put me on a few lists? I can guarantee you that I am already on a few of them.

For example, the list of people they will be paying for life via VA disability checks, retirement checks, etc. As for them thinking I'm a threat... Well, probably not. They have no reason to make that inference and never will. Hell, the State Department recently tried to recruit me a few months ago! You think they'd want to hire me if they thought that I was planning a seditious act or some other horrible things?

20.) You say that I had some things in common with this DJO person that you wrote about. Based on your limited description of him, I think any similarities there are surface-level and inconsequential.

However, now your virulent anger at me joking about you POSSIBLY being a Homosexual makes more sense. I didn't even make that one up. Some friends of mine saw what you were doing on FB and thought you might have some kind of man-crush on me. They insinuated that you might be gay. I just ran with the joke because it made me laugh.

Considering the trouble you caused me (without even realizing it in some areas), being called a faggot in some kind of roundabout way should have been the least of your concerns. Again, this is the internet. People get called a faggot all the time. It's one of the internet's oldest running jokes. Just like THE GAME, Rule 34, Pepe the Frog, Pool's Closed, etc.

All that being said, I don't blame you for being disgusted by this DJO person becoming both a Bleeding Heart Leftist and a Tranny. Someone I used to know also decided to become that second* most loathsome form of deviant Homosexual. Glad that I haven't seen or spoken to that freak since 2014. The only reason that I even know about him pretending to be a her is because he liked a post made by a mutual friend on FB. Yes, that is one of the reasons why I consider any use of that site to be questionable. LOTS of weirdos there and not my kind, either. Glad that I blocked that guy's profile quick. He always lacked self-confidence and had some mental health struggles, but I did not expect him to go this route. And I did try to help him with some of those self-confidence issues in years past, as a good friend should. It just didn't work.

(* = The most loathsome form of deviant homosexual is a child molester. They are completely beyond redemption by any means available to Humans and society in general.)

EDIT: Just discovered that, about 9 months ago, that former friend turned degenerate commented on one of the music videos that I uploaded to YouTube 6 years ago. Small world... I guess that was bound to happen since I decided to upload some seriously hardcore early 2000s era Louisiana Death Metal for posterity. And since I've had ZERO interaction with him in over 8 years, he doesn't know who's behind the Lord Publius moniker/pen name/alter-ego/whatever. And some say that anonymity on the internet is impossible now. Don't be so sure... 😜

21.) I really wanted to insert some memes in this post. It could have been hilarious.

However, it would have changed the tone of this post to something much more negative than I would have preferred. So, I spared you from that pain this time.

AND FINALLY...

22.) Friendly advice: Don't advertise what city you're in now.

Someone (not me) will misuse that info. I moved at least 5 times since leaving the Army, just to make myself hard to find. That, and my job at the time involved a lot of travel. I was never anywhere for more than a few months at a time.

I've also considered moving again in the last year or two for economic reasons. I still might. No one on the internet has any idea where the person behind the Lord Publius moniker actually lives. The most they might know is what state I'm in and that might be a lie on my part. No one ever really knows for sure. It would be difficult for the enemy to find you if they are always looking in the wrong place.

Either way, I will still keep an eye on you BPC, just to keep you out of trouble. And if you're VERY lucky, you might even hear from me from time to time. See you out there...

- Lord Publius