I stopped at 3. I just felt like the brilliance of Asimov's world building began to be overshadowed by his inability to write characters I cared about at all. Characters are tossed and replaced every couple of chapters, which for the reach of the story makes sense. But when it takes several chapters to become invested in them just to have them get tossed away got in the way of my enjoyment.
Brave New World is a better predictor insofar as how a complacent populace can be controlled be exploiting their vices.
1984 turned out to be pretty accurate for the government telling you not to believe your own lying eyes and it working on a scale unimaginable.
I've just started the 4th book and am very impressed with Jordan's writing. He doesn't get too descriptive for me, which is a constant problem when trying to find good fiction.
My imagination can fill in any blanks that may present themselves better than 2 pages of description down to the depth of the frills in lacy neckline of some lady's dress can. I got through the Hobbit, but man it felt like a slog at times with how much flavor text he used.
One of my favorite sci-fi series is the Hyperion series, but I almost didn't see the 1st books party off of the tree ship.
Sleeper agents just got activated.
There's nothing you can do.
I don't know if OP has children of his own, but I would certainly end that friendship mighty fast. The sacrifice I would make for my family, especially my children, are without limit. I've cut decades old friends from my life because they were bad for me. I'll do the same doubly fast if my friends are bad for my daughter.
There are versions of this for as inexpensive as $1.50. It has loads of material from the best classical minds of stoicism. Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is amazing.
Really reading and contemplation of what these people said has been a huge help for me. I recommend against any modern interpretations. I only started one, because the English is easy to read, but they butcher all meaning, especially when they work so painstakingly to remove any reference to God from the original works.
I got through the first book and a half of the Foundation trilogy. The dude could create a wonderful universe, but holy hell was he bad at writing characters I cared to read about. I don't even need to like your characters, but they should be interesting at the least.
That's how I felt about the first one. It's nice to see what is happening inside the hospital, but I've read, and tried to understand, lots of statistical data, and published and peer-reviewed scientific studies.
The most damning evidence of these vaccines isn't 2 ER doctors and a few nurses calling it bullshit, it's medical scientists publishing their methods, objectives, data, and conclusions. The doctors in hospitals are walking textbooks with a plethora of knowledge, sure. They aren't the one's looking in microscopes, and analyzing what effects the virus and it's (and the vaccine's) proteins are having on the human body.
Ever since I bit the propaganda apple from the tree of Net Neutrality and subsequently looked like a jackass when the internet dark age prophecy I parroted never happened, I realized I needed to work on researching things I think are important and forming my own conclusions as best I can.
Lifelong fan of the Zelda series and the changes you mentioned were why I enjoyed my time with BOTW as a game, but the failure to meet my expectations as a Zelda title were a constant disappointment.
While I'm hesitant to call any Zelda title a metroidvania, I'd they're pretty close neighbors at worst. Open world that is blocked off by item/equipment gates.
BOTW felt like an Elder Scrolls game, which isn't bad, but it definitely didn't feel like any Zelda game before it.
I'm beholden to an employer, but am unsure if/when they plan to put a mandate in place. Should they take that course of action, I will find a new job. I'll shovel fresh shit for 12 hours in the southern sun to provide for my family before I take this shit.
Also, the game mechanic of catching imposters has been around for awhile. Gary's mod had a game, though I forget the name, that's been around forever. Deceit is another one that's been in my library for years. Quite a long list of "catch your friends lying" variety.
Sounds like a good deal for both parties.
Buy or recommend a couple of Sowell books. "Basic Economics" and "Black Rednecks and White Liberals" should suffice.
I'm not transphobic. I'm trans-averse.
I heard somewhere that if you can't explain something to a layman, you don't truly understand it enough. I've always tried to have that level of understanding if I seek to speak with any authority on a subject.
This is true for so many things. Sometimes you have to actually see what evil exists in the world to understand what you're up against. That video of those two Swedish girls begging to see their mom before some fucking terries decapitate an innocent tourist is absolutely heart wrenching.
People are all too eager to import and advocate for opening pandora's box when it's disguised as philanthropy or "bodily autonomy".
"But I'm not a doctor or anything, I'm just some fucking idiot. Don't listen to me."
he has a lack of charisma.
Isn't that the normie's bitch about Trump?
While I approve of a lot of his recent leadership decisions, sans the Gab incident, I would still happily trade Wheels for DeSantis. DeSantis not only makes good decisions, he tells the press to go fuck themselves with just enough hostility to make me feel smug about it.
A Christian leader is far different from a leader who is a pastor.