Yeah it is a pretty neat idea. Not sure how I'd feel reliving the idea. I got goosebumps just writing the post.

It was around the time that game L.A. Noir first came out. I ended up getting really sick with the flu and I was having these really vivid dreams where I was a detective investigating gruesome crime scenes and questioning suspects.

Anyways, my girlfriend at the time worked a lot of odd hours and she had a late shift on one of the days I was sick. So I crawled in bed around 6 or 7 pm hoping I'd get to see her and be feeling a bit better when she got home at 11. I'm exhausted so I immediately fall asleep.

So, I end up having another detective dream where I'm going over this murder scene where this lady was butchered in her kitchen. It's even in black and white. I'm gathering evidence, questioning the neighbors and other passers by and talking with my partner who reminded me of Robert Stack from Unsolved Mysteries.

While all this is going on I start hearing someone calling my name. Real light and slow like it's far away. At this point I feel like I'm obsessed with the case and really closing in on a suspect. My partner and I stop to take a smoke break and go over some ideas when I hear my name called again only louder. At this point it's been escalating louder, closer, and clearer for what seemed like an hour.

I look at my partner and he's reacting as if he heard it. So I ask him if the stress of the case was cracking me up or if he'd heard someone calling my name too. He just kinda wryly smiles as he looks down stamping out his cigarette under his polished black leather shoe and then just sort of chuckles to himself. He says, "Yeah.... I heard it... I guess we'll have to finish the case some other time."

I start to argue with him asking him what he means. We can't stop now.... we're getting too close to an answer! That's when he finally lifts his head, sort of tips his brimmed hat back, and looks me dead in the eye as he puts his hand on my shoulder. We stand there in silence for a second when we hear someone call my name again only louder and closer this time. That's when he squeezed my shoulder and calmly yet sternly tells me "None of this matters, none of this is real.... It's time for you to wake up now."

I instantly shot up wide awake. It felt like I was pulled back into reality, like a rope literally tanked me upright in bed. Now, I'm sitting there just heavily breathing and sweating bullets when my girlfriend walked in and asked me how I was feeling and that she'd been trying to wake me up for like 5 minutes because she's gotten some soup and crackers ready for me to try and eat.

The whole experience was just so odd I couldn't shake it for like a week. She'd been the one calling me but that 5 minutes in dream time felt so much longer. Also, it felt surreal how my partner seemed to have real agency and how it all felt so real.

In the end, I never ended up having another detective dream or finishing the case. It's like the facade of the dream world was shattered in that moment and my partner was kind of saying goodbye. I don't know why I dreamed of a good man, friend , and partner like Stanford McCallister but I still wish I could thank him for waking me up.

Reminds me of Stan saying he passed way bigger squids than the one he harpoons when Francine was documenting and researching colossal squids on that episode of America Dad.

Opposition party? We shouldn't even need one of those. To me, a sane, educated, and healthy society with a legitimately working legal and justice system should never fall to fascism. Period. There should be too many checks and balances in place to allow greed and oligarchy to settle in while rights get whittled away. Unfortunately, the US is neither sane, educated, or healthy and that directly effects the leadership we've chosen to elect. So, now we reap the non existent benefits we've sowed through cynicism, apathy, and bigotry. It isn't about right or left or some bullshit political or economic spectrum anymore. It is about whether you want to live in an absurd world or not. Unfortunately, those of us that want to live in a more progressive, less absurd world are the counterculture now, but instead of getting our message out through the media, music, literature, and other means it seems our voices are slowly but surely being quieted. We've got a major uphill battle ahead.

I kind of agree.... I hated it at first but it grew on me.

It already realistically needs to be between 25-30 an hr to even be considered a living wage.

In the US it's probably because literacy and reading comprehension is the lowest it's been since the 80s.

I was cleaning around the house today and thought to myself "I count the days between loading and unloading the dishwasher."

It'd be an awful shame if a nuclear bomb went off during the parade. The news the next day would probably read: Nuke in downtown DC, nothing of value lost.

The DJIA has lost over 10% in just five days and nearly 12% this year. This is a bear market regardless of what the news wants admit. You've got them all speculating on recovery, but I fear it is only going to get worse.

His face looks like a mental illness.

The 1st and 2nd Amendments exist for a reason. If powerful captains of industry and elected leaders don't want to comply with the Constitution and pulse of the people we're allowed to revolt. It's fucking written down. Voting isn't our only civic duty. Sometimes "good trouble" and non violent Kumbaya sit-ins aren't enough. The rich and powerful have convinced multiple generations that it isn't democratic to revolt. It's bullshit and anyone paying attention knows it.

Edit: A lot of the arguments below prove my point that they've been successful in convincing us not to fight. It isn't just about the guns it's about the will and tactics more than anything. Rebels can do the same thing with some gas and a bit of gunpowder that a multifaceted multi billion dollar army can.

My wife and I are in very similar circumstances. We do try but I will admit it's become so easy to be a homebody. We've had some health scares this past few years and been focusing on that. We've finally been getting out more again and trying to branch out and make good friendships. I'll definitely take some of your suggestions.

Right? I dwell and think heavily about the meaning of things, the reasons for injustices, philosophical flaws, historical events, the paths that got us to today, and general answers to things. I love deep dive conversations about just about anything from movies, to history, science and tech tech, or just general catching up. I'm up for anything and yearn to share or learn something new. Yet, I can't count on my fingers and toes how often I get called "heavy" then shortly thereafter hear some major bias or hangup that effectively stops the conversation because that friend's comfort or energy has waned. I assume my comfort level is just higher than average. Odd, considering I'm pretty introverted but can really open up once I've gotten to know you. I've been to therapy, faced a lot of adversity and abuse in life, and I've been to the brink more than once.... Maybe fewer people have faced that or are willing to share than I thought. I sometimes think it is me but anymore I wonder if maybe it's the culture. The US definitely has a friendship pandemic and the reasons for that weigh heavily on me. Culture in the US has become so isolated and xenophobic. What are we to do when everyone is becoming lone wolves that refuse to be apart of a community or something real?

Edited for context and sentence structure.

Anyone else feel like they're great at making friends but then something gets in the way to just end it? Moral compasses, politics, work culture, religion, race, taboos, talking points, intellect, gender... Like all that has become so weaponized that it ruins conversations and friendships now. I feel like I'm too open and honest and willing to build love and trust that it puts people off.

I hope we get rid of all these bastards once and for all. Their entire party and platform is and always has been a giant fucking sham that preys on the gullible.

Maybe they also get tortured and beat to live or have to SPIN THE WHEEL!? Oh no... You've lost your fortune and you got CHEMICAL CASTRATION! How unfortunate!

Introducing Firing Squad! The working man's favorite gameshow! Tune in each week to see a random billionaire kidnapped and put on our island of death. They have 2 choices, give up all their assets but a million dollars and live or see if they can survive playing the most dangerous game against our.... FIRING SQUAD!!! It's like the running man but for rich greedy assholes! Who will fold? Who will die? Can anyone escape? Find out every Wednesday night at 9 PM on you local CBS affiliate! Firing Squad! The schadenfreude you've been looking for!

https://www.platformer.news/leaving-substack-platformer-year-four/ This looks to be straight from the person that BroBot9000 was referring to. Interesting read.

What a thing to Bragg about.