u/Emeraldsinger

I finally listened to every single song they ever made and compiled my top 10!

But before the list, I'll start with my honorable mentions: Something More, Calling All Angels, Save the Day, Ordinary, For Me It’s You, All I Ever Wanted, This Ain't Goodbye, If It's Love, Parachute, Mermaid, When the Fog Rolls In, You Can Finally Meet My Mom, Sing Together, I Will Remember, Don't Grow Up So Fast, Lost and Found, Drink Up, AM Gold, and Pennsylvania Turnpike.

10. Shake Up Christmas. A song that instantly puts you in that gleeful holiday spirit, and it tells us to be kind and wish for hope in order to ensure everyone can feel welcomed, happy, and fulfilled.

9. Bruises. An uplifting message about staying strong and positive by looking at all the good we have, despite past pain and losses we have experienced.

8. When I Look to the Sky. A reminder that if we have people who have since passed, they’re always watching over us and ensuring that we remain on the right path through our mourning.

9. Bulletproof Picasso. A telling of a care free journey many of us wish we could take with a special someone where we leave all the extra baggage behind and only need each other in order to have the time of our lives living moment to moment.

10. Cab. A pouring out of emotions that encompass the feeling of loneliness many of us feel on certain nights when we know absolutely nobody is thinking about us.

11. Hey, Soul Sister. An iconically catchy tune that captures the feeling of the honeymoon phase. Being in such carefree bliss with your significant other whom you share the perfect chemistry and are anxious to spend every single minute with.

12. 50 Ways to Say Goodbye. A hilarious and super entertaining breakup chorus of hype needed for when we need to move on from our breakups through the use of humor instead of anger. The mariachi spin really makes this unique for Train.

13. Angel in Blue Jeans. A beautiful and all too familiar retelling of those times we've fallen head over heels for someone we just met. Holding onto faith that one day, we'll be able to wake up in their arms and realize, they were indeed more than just a dream.

14. Drops of Jupiter. An incredibly captivating message about how after death, our loved ones will continue to live on amongst the heavens, gloriously transcending the galaxy and beyond. And one day, we'll be eventually reunited.

15. Drive By. A joyful song that tell us to remain hopeful about falling in love and to work on yourself while embracing new relationships, despite past heartbreaks. This is mainly at the top of my list because it always puts me in a happy mood anytime I listen to it, and because of my nostalgia. I remember being in 4th grade when it came out and was on the radio everywhere. It's such a perfect song to recapture the vibe of fun summer times in the early 2010's. And now as an adult, the message is much more meaningful to me. Plus, it's always my go to karaoke song. Drive By is what helped me discover Train which since then became my all time favorite band.

Nobody I know relates to me in my favorite band. Or even in being a fan in general. Kind of sucks. Especially when they’re coming to town in a few days and no family members or friends care to go. Before you all say go by yourself, I totally am cool doing a variety of things by myself. Such as movies and travel. I do it all the time. But to me, concerts are best when you’re with someone else who shares your same passion and energy for what is being performed on stage. I went last year when they came. I took my sister, and she was bored for most of it unfortunately. Also wanted to leave early.

IDK. Just wanted to rant. Does anyone else relate to this?

Train really only has about 5 big hits in their history of making music.

There are SO many other songs in their discography which only hardcore fans would know, yet they’re so catchy, meaningful, fun, emotional, and/or beautiful.

And I notice myself calling all of them “underrated”.

An underrated band as a whole to be honest.

I’m Gen Z and personally never faced bullying from elementary all the way to graduation. Despite being an easy target for it. So to me, it does seem to be considerably better today. But I just thought to ask this here to clarify. If so, why has it changed?

I felt my disappointment when I first saw it on opening night. But I convinced myself that I loved it. That it was the best Spider-Man movie ever. That it was one of my top favorite movies ever in general.

Nearly 5 years later? No. Not even close. It’s such a mess of nonsensical plot points and missed opportunities.

That said, I will start with that I like about the movie.

I love seeing the 3 Spider-Men and the villains together. Having all the actors come back was such a treat. It’s heavy fan service and nostalgia bait, but that aspect still really works on me.

MCU Peter finally facing losses with his aunt and then everyone else in his life was needed and adds a lot of great drama.

The action sequences are still well done and really entertaining.

Peter’s relationships with MJ, Ned, and May add a lot of heart. I love the theme on helping everyone, no matter who they are.

Seeing MCU Peter reach the more darker side of himself was due at that point.

The whole last hour is extremely satisfying. And the ending with having Peter make the ultimate sacrifice to save his world which puts him to a street-level Spider-Man I thought was perfect. That final swing with the theme music is seriously amazing.

So what does this movie get wrong?

Based on how they advertised it, I expected this to be a fugitive movie of a much more serious tone than the last 2. Peter’s identity is revealed and he‘s framed for the London attack. He loses all of his resources and is separated from his allies and loved ones. Hounded by authorities everywhere, he can only rely on his powers and his street smarts to save the day and clear his name. But no. The charges don’t stick. He’s free to go. Half the city still supports him. He’s even allowed to return to school?

Doctor Strange willing to brainwash the world just to help Peter get into college was weird enough already. But the fact he doesn't tell Peter the conditions until they started was stupid. And that mishap is what causes the entire conflict of the movie.

The middle act is a drag. With all the villains just chilling together in Doctor Strange’s basement and then Happy’s apartment. The Covid restrictions are so apparent with this movie.

Sandman randomly turning on Peter doesn’t add up. Especially when Tobey's Peter arrives. Flint was never really a bad guy to begin with.

Curing villains is a good idea. But when you actually think of the return to their universes, they’ll probably still die anyway. And how does that not alter Tobey and Andrew’s timelines? We see in the MCU that messing with time makes branch realities.

Electro knowing Peter’s identity has always been a plot hole. Also, why does he look totally different than he did in TASM 2?

Ned suddenly being magic is stupid. The dude only previously existed for comedy relief and maybe being a reliable computer guy.

To conclude, I'm probably coming across more negative than I view this movie as. I still would say I, kind of, like it. Mostly due to the second half being much better. And the other positives I listed. But this truly could’ve been great. And it’s frustrating how it comes close at some points but then totally drops the ball at others.

Recent university graduate with my bachelor’s in education. Summer’s winding down. Over the past 4 months I have applied for 40+ positions in my county. I had to do 12 essay/video response sessions. I had 7 job interviews.

Zero success.

Where the hell is the so called ”teacher shortage” I heard all about since I was in middle school? I thought everyone was leaving this profession in droves and that supposedly the nation as a whole was in desperate need of new hires?

A lot of people from my cohort are in a similar boat. A lot of teachers I’ve worked with over the years have recently told me it’s a new shift.

My state is Utah if that’s relevant. I know we do have the highest percentage of kids in the country. I’m not sure if that would make my local job market better or worse.

Anyone else in a similar boat? Or does anyone have any insights?

For Amanda, it works. As a one time twist, it is surprising. And you can buy into the fact that her near death experience pushed her to the edge, and she came to love her would-be killer. Especially considering she was presumably a mentally unstable person before her game.

Anyone else? No. The vast majority of people who survive murder do not in fact come to love and follow the perpetrator. Especially when they’re just regular people with families living a normal life.

That's why I hate the twist in 7. Apart from it being super predictable.

Amanda should’ve been the exception.

10 movies in, and these killers seemingly have a perfect track record at taking people without resistance or being detected by bystanders. Could make for a cool change of pace in the next installment to see otherwise.

I’m writing a story meant to be set sometime around 2012-14. Though I haven’t found a perfect year for it yet.

If anyone could list things that were relevant to the year 2013 specifically, I’d appreciate it. Technology, movies, songs, current events, trends, video games, sports, sayings, etc.

For context, the characters are teenagers. And it’s set in the U.S.

Not sure what other sub to ask this. So I hope it’s okay.

If they have the buckets, is it only select locations in the valley? Which ones typically do?