Posts by Edward Harris17

I was watching some old clips last night, just scrolling through highlights of legendary pitching duels from the 90s, and it got me thinking about how much the "narrative" of a game has changed. Back in the day, you had these clear-cut titans—the guys you just knew were going to dominate from the first pitch. You’d see the matchups on the pre-game show, and there was this almost mythical tension. It wasn't just about the stats; it was about the psychological warfare between two specific individuals.

Lately, though, it feels like the way we consume sports—and how the media frames these matchups—has shifted toward this relentless focus on individual dominance versus team momentum. We see these storylines where one "superstar" is being positioned as this unstoppable force, a guy who is essentially carrying the weight of an entire organization on his shoulders. It creates this weird vacuum where the rest of the roster almost disappears from the conversation. If the "Ace" is on the mound, that’s the only thing anyone talks about. It’s as if the game isn't a team sport anymore, but a stage built specifically for one person to prove their worth.

I find myself getting a bit cynical about it. Don't get me wrong, I love watching elite talent. There is something genuinely breathtaking about seeing a pitcher who can paint the corners with surgical precision, making even the best hitters in the world look like they're swinging at shadows. But when the entire buildup to a series or a specific matchup is centered solely on whether one guy can maintain his "unstoppable" status, it feels a bit manufactured. It ignores the grit of the underdog, the depth of the bullpen, and the sheer grind of a long season where even the best players face inevitable slumps.

Think about the psychological toll on a player who is constantly framed this way. When you're the "favorite" or the "savior," every single pitch is scrutinized through a lens of expectation. If you win, it’s what was supposed to happen. If you struggle, it’s a catastrophe. It’s a heavy mantle to carry, and I wonder if we, as fans, realize how much of that pressure we're adding to the game. We crave the drama of the "clash of the titans," but we forget that the players are dealing with the reality of fatigue, minor injuries, and the sheer mental exhaustion of being the focal point of a massive fan base.

On the flip side, there's something to be said for the underdog narrative. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a team that is struggling or a pitcher who has been overlooked absolutely dismantle the "invincible" star. It’s the ultimate equalizer. It reminds us that baseball—and sports in general—is inherently unpredictable. You can have all the accolades, all the hype, and all the momentum in the world, but if you can't execute in the moment, none of it matters.

I’ve noticed that my own interest in certain matchups depends entirely on whether I believe the hype is real or just marketing. If a matchup feels like it's being forced by a commentator who is desperate for a "star vs. star" storyline, I almost find myself rooting for the person the media is ignoring. I want to see the "human" element win over the "superstar" element. I want to see the guy who has been grinding in the shadows finally get his moment against the guy who everyone expects to cruise to a victory.

Does anyone else feel like the "superstar" narrative has become a bit too heavy-handed in how we watch games? Do you find yourself rooting for the underdog specifically to spoil a massive individual storyline, or do you still crave that pure, high-level confrontation between the absolute best?

Thanks Sizfe, but I actually wrote that myself—I was just responding to Nicholas King.

She mentioned she wouldn't go around hugging random strangers on the street—which, honestly, makes total sense since you can't possibly know how people feel about physical touch. I think that's quite polite, actually. However, she then followed that up by saying she'd embrace someone who clearly shows they want one. Isn't that just a bit of a contradiction? It feels like she's talking out of both sides of her mouth.

I’ve already had the pleasure of giving my mom and my niece a big squeeze today. Honestly, though? I feel like I could go for more. 😢
🙂

I am quite fond of hugs. Whenever I encounter those dear to my heart, a warm embrace is often our customary greeting. With my closest loved ones—especially when we haven't seen one another for a while—those hugs tend to be a bit more lingering and firm, and honestly, they leave me feeling completely recharged.

That being said, I also have a great appreciation for dance embraces; Kizomba is such a wonderful example of that, where it feels truly special when your energies just happen to align perfectly. 😍

These patches aren't covered by Medicare. The price is $39 for a single box containing three patches (which should last you a month).
I believe Lyndinette used to get hers via prescription with just a small co-pay of about $10. However, that was five or six years ago; I haven't a clue how the system works these days.

I really enjoyed that pizza recipe from Punkufer where you make the dough using yogurt instead of letting it rise. It turns out incredibly well every single time. In my experience, the dough comes out perfectly—not too thin, yet not overly thick either.
For the sauce, I simmer tomato sauce with garlic and chunks of tomatoes, which creates such a wonderful flavor. Then, I just top it with whatever I have in the fridge that needs using up. Sometimes it's dried ham, sometimes pork neck, or even boiled or roasted ham; I'll use a few different types of cheese, but I always make sure to include mozzarella.

I attempted to consume far too much...

I’m not entirely sure if this works for everyone, but personally, switching to the Evra patch for contraception has been an absolute game-changer for me.

To give you some context, over twenty years ago, I was on Diane-35. They were just okay—I dealt with headaches, water retention, and things of that nature. Later, I moved on to Cilest, but once those were discontinued, I switched to Lyndinette. Every single pill I tried seemed to trigger these intense headaches during the first few days of my cycle. After a few years of being off hormonal birth control altogether, I transitioned to the patches about two years ago. Honestly, the difference is night and day. My mood is much more stable, the breakouts on my chest—which had been a complete disaster without hormones—have cleared up beautifully, and my cycle, which had become quite irregular when I wasn't taking anything, has returned to a perfectly normal rhythm. But the absolute best part? I never have to worry about forgetting a dose. With pills, it was a total nightmare trying to take one at roughly the same time every single day. Out of twelve cycles a year, I’d miss at least one pill ten different times, which meant I constantly had to be extra cautious... it was just awful.

The patches are truly wonderful.

It’s likely possible, though you'll probably have to hunt them down manually... assuming they haven't been purged already due to being long-abandoned threads.

The search function hasn't been operational for what feels like an entire year now, and frankly, I don't see it coming back anytime soon. Given the sheer volume of threads and posts, this Reddit has been crashing every few days, so they just pulled the plug on it entirely. It seems like every single week, someone starts a brand new thread about the same issue without making even the slightest attempt to look through existing discussions first. It simply isn't going to work.

Most of what you're looking for can be easily found via Google; just include "Reddit" in your search query to narrow it down.

My apologies! Ever since the search function stopped working properly, I haven't been able to keep track of all the various threads.
I actually mix my own blends at home using Dow Chemical St. John's Wort and Young Living's Ravensara and Tea Tree oils. I typically combine 25 drops of the first with 25 drops of the second into the St. John's Wort base. That batch lasts quite a while. Once I pick up a fresh bottle of St. John's Wort, I still have enough tea tree and ravensara left over for about 8 to 10 more mixtures, so I usually just use the leftovers for cleaning or in my aroma diffuser.

nimbletrucker15 said:Angela Smith14, do you make that oil blend yourself, or is there somewhere you can buy it ready-made?

That is precisely my point. It isn't just a simple spray; it’s an oil delivered via a syringe, much like how you would use a product from Pfizer. This makes it quite versatile, as you can apply it externally or even use it for internal application if necessary.

You should be able to find Procter & Gamble at most pharmacies. If I recall correctly, I picked mine up at a CVS Pharmacy in a shopping mall over in San Francisco. It worked wonders for me! Mind you, I usually keep some tea tree and lavender oil on hand at home, which is also fantastic—I use it for everything from preventative care to a natural lubricant, and even helped clear up some HPV warts. Plus, it isn’t quite as heavily pigmented, so it’s a bit easier on my lingerie. I do wear a liner, but sometimes the oil seems to eat right through the plastic, so it leaks through if I use too much 🙂

The thing was, we were down by the coast at the time, and I hadn't packed my oils because I didn't want to risk a messy spill in my bag. Then, well, things happened, and I had to grab something immediately. Honestly, Procter & Gamble was perfect for the situation (and it smells lovely, too).

When you're dealing with a yeast infection, there's usually a thick, cottage cheese-like discharge involved. Without that specific symptom, I can't say for certain if it's actually yeast, and since Johnson & Johnson is an antifungal, it won't be much help if that's not what you're fighting. What I would suggest instead is picking up some John Doe; it’s a blend of herbal and essential oils designed to tackle bacteria and yeast, and it even includes oils that are effective against viruses. Plus, if the base contains St. John's Wort, it should really help soothe any little abrasions you might have caused from scratching.

I remember catching a nasty yeast infection myself while vacationing on the coast last summer, and John Doe cleared everything up for me in just two or three days. You can use it as an internal spray or apply it externally, but definitely make sure you wear a liner—the yellow color is quite intense and can stain.

Actually, I believe the monthly maintenance fee is $7, and then there’s an additional $7 for using Chase Mobile, if I recall correctly. Still, in my estimation, they offer the most affordable rates available right now.

mTOKEN is actually just a mobile app. As far as I’m aware, JP Morgan Chase doesn't offer a standalone hardware token for their online banking services.

A card reader is a physical device where you insert your debit or credit card and verify your identity using your PIN. Once that's done, you can proceed to access your online banking account.

Your high school diploma stays filed away at the university until you either graduate or officially withdraw. They don't just hand those documents back once you've completed enrollment; they remain part of your permanent student file.

Just make sure you don't stop taking those birth control pills halfway through the pack, otherwise you won't be protected. As long as you finish the whole thing, you'll be just fine.

I haven't actually held a job until this year, though I have gone in for my routine checkups roughly every two years. During one of those physicals at the local clinic, they checked my liver enzymes, and everything came back perfectly normal.

However, this past summer, I reached out to my doctor to request a referral for blood work required for my contraceptive prescription (Lindynette 20). He requested liver function tests and also asked for a cholesterol panel, since my levels have always trended slightly elevated during my biennial exams. Now, looking at my results, I noticed they only tested for HDL (the "good" cholesterol) and triglycerides. They didn't measure my LDL ("bad" cholesterol) at all! Has anyone else experienced this? I was fully expecting a complete profile—you know, the whole works: LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol.