u/Infinite-Condition41

I could totally be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but over the last few weeks, maybe a month or more, I have noticed podcast ads have hugely multiplied in number, like on the order of 100% more ads.

And this isn't just iHeart podcasts, but others as well.

Podcasts that I thought previously were outlandish at 2.5 minutes of ads on the front end, are now rocking 4.5 minutes of ads on the front end.

Podcasts that previously did 1 minute (two 30 second ads) are now doing 2-3 minutes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly complaining. I like not paying for podcasts. And at the same time, longer ad breaks are actually better because they're easier to skip through. And I am happy for the podcast producers (some of them) to get good and paid, while I don't listen to ads.

But I just wanted to see if anyone else had noticed the same marked increase in the last month or so.

There is no point in continuing to use this system. I'm not learning anything. And even when I tank my XP and do the bare minimum to maintain my streak, I can't even drop below Obsidian League.

What is the point? It is just a waste of money. It is not fun, and I'm not learning. It is drudgery. It is just another chore I have to do every day. And apparently I can't even lose if I try.

So the only thing I have left to do is get to 1000 days. Or I might grow a pair and give up before then.

I am learning Hawaiian, I find one of the best ways to do this is by learning and translating songs. Many of the songs I get interested in have no posted lyrics, much less translations, so I think it is a good skill to listen and dictate to help learn how to hear as well as how to write.

I dictated this chant, I know there are mistakes, and I'm missing all the kahakō as well as some ʻokina. And then I included Googleʻs translation which generally makes sense, but I have no idea if it is accurate. Please correct me. I hear being wrong on the internet is the quickest way to find out information.

Thanks for your time

Ki’ina Ia Aku Na Pae Moku - Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Ki’ina ia aku na pae moku
I ho aku i lima no i kalani
Ma ʻia mau alanui malihini
E ‘au ‘i o lali ho’okahi ai
E lilo a’i me ʻa’ole na e nemi 
Helehele ‘eu’eu hana loko ino

Malamalama ko’au ko kokua
E na ho’okoloa ko a alaka’i
E ola ’o kalani a mau huloa
Puka i ke a’o malamalama
E o mai e kalani
O Kalākaua no he inoa

The island groups are gathered

Placed in the hands of the Chief

Along these unfamiliar paths

Traversed as one

To be held fast, beyond the reach of detractors

And the mischief of those who work malice

My guiding light shines clear

O leader, guide us onward

Long may the Chief live

Emerging into the light of wisdom

Answer the call, O Chief

A name-chant for Kalākaua

I grew up loving Batman and Superman and all the rest of it. Later on, I realized just how fanciful these characters are.

Firstly, how many billionaires are there? I don't know, at least thousands. How many Batmans are there? None. If there were good billionaires, billionaires would do good things. But most of them don't, and the ones that do, only a handful have ever given meaningful portions of their wealth.

Secondly, how many vigilantes are there? Like, people that do vigilante as a side gig, take it seriously, not talking about people who have, once, done violence against an individual or small group who was getting away with crime. "Good" vigilantism has happened, occasionally, but nobody makes a hobby of it.

But vigilantes who make a habit of it? Almost all of them are horrid people who do things like lynch black folk, shoot homeless children, or destroy aid meant for people crossing borders.

I would love to hear of one case of one real vigilante who during peace time did consistent meaningful good, instead of doing racist classist evil shit.