u/Tartersocks307

I imagine nothing I say here will be all that unique, but it’s something I always think of whenever I remember Deus Ex.

I don’t think all media should be like this, but there is nothing more gripping than a bittersweet unfulfilling ending/narrative. Nothing triggers those dopamine receptors like the longing for victory.

I think Adam’s story triggers that from the very beginning, though we (and him) may not recognize it.
“I didn’t ask for this.” His life is upended , and he effectively ceases to exist, driven only by his ideals and his pursuit of truth and justice. I mean, he’s so far down the rabbit hole that his career is just a facade as a means to an end.

Now what if he “succeeds?” According to the original, he doesn’t but I’d like to imagine that it gets a bit of a retcon. It was a product of its time and I don’t think the 90’s/early 00’s cheese holds up well.

So, then what? He dispenses justice on the illuminati and feels happy/relieved? No, he’s probably filled with existential dread. Removing the illuminati’s control frees everyone…to continue to be bigots, commit human rights violations, engage in weapons trade and war, etc.

Logically, he realizes he can’t win. He can’t be happy, knowing he’s years late to stopping the initial tragedy before he knew what was happening, and all the ones after. But if he stops here, the cycle repeats. So he chooses to be a hypocrite because his ideals drove his pursuit of the illuminati and not the other way around. No one likes the sound of a shadowy ruler of the world but everyone thinks a benevolent ruler is better than none.

Adam merges with the finished Hyron Project, effectively becoming the Machine God and AI central to whatever plot may follow. And while you might feel bad for him, you don’t protest this outcome because you know deep down inside that this was the only path for him. His human agency was stripped away long ago, and he became ideology made flesh. With this, his ideals are immortalized. Best he could get really.

I suppose life imitates art, what with the development purgatory the series is in. We don’t get that fulfillment of seeing the story to the end, but we also know it won’t end well.

This post isn’t for everyone, but I know some people take great satisfaction in pimple popping whether it’s their own or videos.

I had a small but mildly painful one under my mustache. When I got home I gave it a light squeeze and it was one of those explosive pops.

Naturally, I go to wipe the tiny speck of that good stuff off the mirror to see that it had launched a single hair out with it.

I’m not crazy about all that pimple popping stuff, but even I was a little tickled to see it.

Location: California

My partner just told me her company is no longer offering PTO to anyone that has worked there for less than 2 years.

They previously had PTO and used it. Now they’re told they have a negative PTO balance. I’m not sure if the negative balance is something they would attempt to garnish in the event that they leave the company. It may just be a way to delay the accrual of PTO.

It seems incredibly shady. Is any of this legal?

Death metal was my main squeeze but I’ve been on a sludge/post metal kick. Looking to diversify my new music playlist a bit more with some new death metal.

I prefer groovier/chuggier death metal. Nothing specifically against old school DM but I hate skank beats and overly wanky sweep picking tech death.

Bands I like include Decapitated, Dyscarnate, psycroptic, Gorguts, cattle decapitation, and probably half of what will get recommended to me so share the deep cuts.

Hey all, I’ve always enjoyed jazz but found it daunting to sort through given how deep the rabbit hole goes.

I’m looking for some places to start with bebop, smooth/cool jazz, fusion, and experimental/avant garde.

I come from a metal background so this journey is being inspired by the likes of Mr. Bungle, Mamaleek, and White Ward. Certainly no stranger to the experimental side.

Thanks!