idigTexas

Very bad juju this year. Did someone drink Jobu's rum?

Yep. Window is closed. Even if it were open, I don't think Bora have the supporting cast that UAE have.

Tell that stuttering ogre Tudball that I would like a stern word with him.

Screaming for Pierce to be fired now is stupid. There is nothing to me gained by it. Most candidates that we would want are likely going to be busy for the next couple of weeks. Any recruits that are committed obviously like Pierce enough to commit in the first place, and aren't going to suddenly jump ship because our season ended in a Regional. Firing Pierce before you have his replacement lined up gives other programs opportunities to poach our recruits. Let CDC do his job.

Get your bingo cards ready.

Yep, except I went bard instead of mage. He's not as strong magically as a mage, but he's more versatile, and the Cutting Words ability is hilarious.

That's good to know. I let Shadowheart kill Lae'zel for the reasons you noted. Her dead corpse littered my camp for a long time before it finally disappeared. Maybe the owl cub ate her? I will be playing a Gith monk at some point, and will see if Lae'zel grows on me. I pretty much roll with Shadow, Karlach, and Astarion all the time with, but will be mixing it up more next time.

This saddens me. He was the best.

I haven't had much time to play, so I just hit 100hrs this weekend, and am somewhere in Act 2, with party at Level 9. One thing I wish there were more of is witty banter between the NPCs. Dragon Age really nailed that, and having played that just last year, I find myself missing it.

Just because you hide in Dak's shower doesn't mean you know him.

And the hitting. And the fielding. And the 3rd-base coaching. And the umping.

Michelle is an enigma. Some challenges really allowed her to show her talent. In others, she was a deer in the headlights. She just couldn't get off the rollercoaster. The worst part of her doing so poorly is that Manny lives to see another day...again. He has to go next week, right? Right? I really enjoyed both the quickfire and the elimination challenge this week, two things that we hadn't previously seen. That table plating concept is a great way to test creativity. Dan is clearly talented, but for him to win, I think Danny will need to have a subpar performance. If Danny cooks his best, I do not think any of the others will be able to beat him in a multi-course meal. With Laura back, I think she edges out Savannah for top three, but Laura sometimes does a poor job of interpreting the challenge. Also, Manny is still in the competition, so obviously anything can happen.

What are you missing? Nothing. Skip Elote. It is really good interior Mexican cuisine, but nothing that you can't get in Texas, and it is a pain in the ass to eat there. That said, dining in Sedona is less about the food, and more about the ambiance. There is decent dining here, but if you are looking for food that you cannot get in Texas, you are missing the point. Here are a few places worth hitting. For vegetarian dining, this guide is still relevant. https://manifestingserenity.com/drool-worthy-sedona-restaurants-worth-trying/ Taking vegetarian out of the equation, Creekside (already recommended), is a sold choice. A few others I like for decent food and ambiance are The Pump House, The Hudson, Casa Sedona, Indian Gardens, and Mesa Grill. For pizza, Picazzo's is probably tops in Sedona proper, but Bocce and Merkin Trattoria in Cottonwood are just as good, not as pricy, and may be easier to navigate depending on timing. Both Picazzo's and Bocce have vegetarian and gluten free options. For more casual fare, Señor Bob's has some great burgers, hot dogs, and a cony dog that will make you forget all about Fletcher's. Hillside Deli is great for sandwiches. I hesitate to recommend anything Mexican, as you get as good or better at home, but if you want a nice upscale experience, Mariposa is decent. If you have more than a day to spend in Sedona, don't sleep on Cottonwood and Jerome. If Native American ruins interest you at all, Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle are worth a stop while you are in the Sedona area. You can skip Montezuma Well.

I've been avoiding this thread because I started watching this season a week ago. I'm caught up now and don't understand all of the hate. Those of you who think this is the worst season with the least talented chefs have short memories. No, there isn't a Buddha this season, but there usually isn't. This also isn't an all-star season, so there are going to be some really good chefs who discover that competition cooking is a different animal, and requires a unique skill set. There are always a couple of chefs who dominate early then unexpectedly go home because they had bad weeks. There's also usually a chef who lasts longer than they should (I'm looking at you, Manny). And there are those whose comfort and confidence slowly grow as the season progresses (Savannah). Feels like Top Chef to me, and that's a good thing. I really like Kristen as the host. She has a fresh authentic energy, and adds a perspective that has been lacking aside from occasional guest judge spots by previous contestants. Her role feels bigger than when Padma was doing it, likely because she isn't burned out. Danny is the obvious favorite at this point, but anyone not named Manny has a shot. Dan and Savannah are hitting their strides at the right time. Michelle has done very well, and very poorly. If she can avoid making bad decisions, she has a chance. Manny should have packed his knives weeks ago.

He's Mormon.

Looks like the guy on the left didn't account for the lift cables.

Username checks out.

I'm not sure where I'd rank them, but they definitely fall below the past two seasons.

Say what you want about Clark, but she certainly generates discussion. This thread (started in 2023) has almost as many posts as the WNBA thread (started in 2020), and will likely surpass it any day now. The Reese thread may have more, but I haven't been able to find it to confirm.

I am disappointed. Nothing against Kenzie, but she just stole $1,000,000. It's not the first time the most deserving didn't win, and it won't be the last.

Me too, though it's tough on the bike.

Well I see you had no choice.

This would just encourage the non-poors to enhance what they can legally do with NIL with bags. So, right back to where we were for schools willing to win at all costs.

My guess is all of it.