Ask MuppetFace Stuff

Re: Dark Souls
Yes and no. You don't really need to play the Souls games in order, and they are all self contained to some extent. However certain themes and character tropes are reused in ways that build on the previous titles, and there is a narrative and continuity lore-wise (especially between the first and third games). Like, certain things that are presented in the third game might lose their impact if you're not familiar with locations and lore from the first.

Personally, I started with Demon's Souls on PS3 and played that game to bits. When Dark Souls came out, it was more like a spiritual successor that has a lot of similar themes and characters and whatnot, but it was definitely a new universe. For whatever reason I just didn't get into the first Dark Souls at the time, and it was only with the sequel that I got back into the series and ended up going backward after finishing it.

DS2 is sort of its own island, though unlike Demon's Souls it does take place in the same universe as DS1 and DS3. It just sort of does its own thing and kinda builds more on the concepts of the series rather than act as more of a direct sequel (which is what DS3 ended up being in relation to DS1). If that makes sense.

So really, my answer would be: start wherever you like, but if you get into it, then check out the others so you can put the pieces of the puzzle together.


Re: what I like...
Close enough, sans the mindless gore and violence. I'm okay with that. It just depends on the kind of narrative.

Also thanks for the recommendations. I'll definitely give them a look!

 

I actually think Tarantino is a bit of a hack, personally. Haha.
Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and the first Kill Bill were fun tho.

Are you familiar with Park Chan Wook? If you like Tarantino, you'd prolly dig his Vengeance Trilogy: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance.

 

The first time I got really sick toward the end of high school---like close to death sick---I went to see the Van Gogh exhibit at the MFAH. Getting to experience Starry Night up close was mind blowing. I remember crying.

I thought, if I were to end up dying then, it would be OK having at least experienced such beauty.

 

@MoatsArt
I think there's going to be some kind of stress with any job, it's just a matter of finding a more positive kind of stress versus a negative / triggering kind of stress. Do you like working with people directly? Have you considered doing social or volunteer work? Maybe something involving rehabilitation?

The first thing that came to mind was helping people with music therapy, or perhaps giving music lessons of some sort.

Or, considering your training in theology and overcoming your own psychological hurdles, maybe working as a part time counselor? This could also provide incentives to learn other languages.

Just spitballing ideas. I remember having some really cool physical therapists when I was in the hospital, and a lot of them had unfulfilling jobs before coming to do something that directly helped others, which they found more fulfilling. Would require some training I'm sure, but that's always something to consider as well.

On the more purely linguistic and technological side of things there's: speech therapy, audiology / working with the hearing impaired, working as a translator in the public sector. Not as familiar with this kind of stuff, but it might be worth looking into.

As for history... maybe a substitute history teacher or working in a museum in some capacity?

 

By the way, I'm an INFJ type too!
Apparently we make up less than 1% of the population.

 

A very interesting question.

I own a set of the 4070 which I got from Tari who in turn got them from n3rdling (IIRC). They seem pretty much identical to the one other set I've seen / tried in the wild, for whatever that's worth. All the flight cases simply say -4070- on them, and I've never seen them labeled differently like with the SR-007. So if there is a variation, it would be more of a serial number thing and nearly impossible to track given the rarity of these in the consumer aftermarket.

I kinda doubt the "mk1" and "mk2" thing though, personally, because Stax made the 4070 to order. So basically they were only made when someone specially requested one, and most of them were sold to recording studios.

Legend has it a certain German automaker came to Stax and had them design the 4070 to be used in tuning cars. I suppose it's possible those made to fulfill that initial request are the "mk1," whereas all the additional ones made to order for studios and the occasional audiophile were "mk2," but honestly I have no idea.

 

No sea shanties, however I was in several bands during my undergrad college days.

I played and programmed synths for a coldwave / industrial /electro-pop group called Bougainvillea for a while. Kinda Sacred Bones or Captured Tracks-y type stuff. We were originally called "Hip Gnosis," but that name was taken.

Then there was the power electronics / crust / sludge band Vulvatic Cockectomy. Which was every bit as repulsive as it sounds. Kinda of a Noothgrush sorta thing.

Also I did some installation art and drone recordings under the monicker Tegucigalpa.

 

That is interesting. I am another 4070 owner and I have never heard about different versions. I certainly did not hear about when I was looking to buy them. The set I got came from a guy who grabbed them from a studio that ordered them.

They are not the most comfortable things to wear. I was able to score what I am told are one of the very few replacement earpads left available. I have not installed them yet, preferring to wait until the existing pads are good and worn out, but that is going to take some time as the 4070 came to me in pristine condition.

Interesting headphone, the 4070.

 

Hmm. That's a tough one. I waited four years for an amp once, but I at least had status updates. I think that communication is really important. Perhaps if you asked him for status updates while clarifying that you're not trying to pressure him to finish, you could at least have some peace of mind?

Therein lies the risk of having someone build an amp for you...

Wish there was more I could say to help.