<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title><![CDATA[betruemydear]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thoughts from a 23-Year Old]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//</link><image><url>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//favicon.png</url><title>betruemydear</title><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//</link></image><generator>Ghost 2.9</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2022 01:36:02 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[new year plays]]></title><description><![CDATA[got some plays over the past week that were pretty good good ol 250 bpm fc. pretty solid acc on this 220 bpm demetori oni the acc on this score was absolutely bonkers also crazy acc here too, almost an fc FINALLY got a 98 on this map. Been trying for that for about a year at this point, very glad 98 acc HD play on an oni with some interesting patterns another dt fc, this time with decent acc 220 bpm camellia map with almost 98% maanged to fc this 260 bpm oni with omega fraudulent acc ]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//new-year-plays/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__61e0d18a19a2e7427e36d830</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2022 01:34:23 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>got some plays over the past week that were pretty good</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot217.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot217.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot217.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot217.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot217.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>good ol 250 bpm fc. </p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot218.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot218.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot218.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot218.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot218.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>pretty solid acc on this 220 bpm demetori oni</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot219.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot219.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot219.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot219.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot219.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>the acc on this score was absolutely bonkers</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot220-6.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot220-6.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot220-6.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot220-6.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot220-6.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>also crazy acc here too, almost an fc</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot221.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot221.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot221.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot221.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot221.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>FINALLY got a 98 on this map. Been trying for that for about a year at this point, very glad</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot222.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot222.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot222.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot222.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot222.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>98 acc HD play on an oni with some interesting patterns</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot223.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot223.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot223.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot223.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot223.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>another dt fc, this time with decent acc</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot224.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot224.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot224.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot224.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot224.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>220 bpm camellia map with almost 98%</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot225.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot225.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot225.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot225.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot225.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>maanged to fc this 260 bpm oni with omega fraudulent acc</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot226.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot226.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot226.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot226.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot226.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>another high acc on a 200+ bpm camellia map</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot227.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot227.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot227.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot227.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot227.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Almost a 98 on this double hell of a map that's given me trouble for the longest of time</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot228.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot228.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot228.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot228.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot228.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>acc improve on my hd play here</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot229.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot229.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot229.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot229.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot229.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>and to cap it off, random 220bpm 99acc on a full length oni. Here's the vod for it (wasn't streaming for all these other plays unfortunately)</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1262824519"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">tragic love derust - stickwarslit on Twitch</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">stickwarslit went live on Twitch. Catch up on their osu! VOD now.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://static.twitchcdn.net/assets/favicon-32-e29e246c157142c94346.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Twitch</span></img></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/cf_vods/dgeft87wbj63p/e05bc9faa17bd353dcf7_stickwarslit_82249257200_6448663789/thumb/thumb1262824519-640x360.jpg"/></div></a></figure><p>good stuff all around. I feel awesome at this game.</p><p>See yall next time</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[yeah Im a hidden player]]></title><description><![CDATA[FIRST ONI HD FC. MOVE THAT BODY. HOLY. HELL. The acc was solid as hell too. Today was a pretty major breakthrough on HD reading. I feel super comfortable on oni's now, it's incredible. Here's the twitch vod + my reaction Move That Body Oni HD - stickwarslit on Twitchstickwarslit went live on Twitch. Catch up on their osu! VOD now.Twitch [https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1249894068] In addition, also got this solid muzu fc on Ooi. There's some tricky reading throughout with finishes. I managed to hi]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//yeah-im-a-hidden-player/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__61d09e6f19a2e7427e36d804</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2022 18:42:02 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot210.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot210.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot210.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot210.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot210.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>FIRST ONI HD FC. MOVE THAT BODY. HOLY. HELL. The acc was solid as hell too. Today was a pretty major breakthrough on HD reading. I feel super comfortable on oni's now, it's incredible. Here's the twitch vod + my reaction</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1249894068"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Move That Body Oni HD - stickwarslit on Twitch</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">stickwarslit went live on Twitch. Catch up on their osu! VOD now.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://static.twitchcdn.net/assets/favicon-32-e29e246c157142c94346.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Twitch</span></img></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/cf_vods/dgeft87wbj63p/da297dd0e540f9e90513_stickwarslit_87058072986_6904350199/thumb/thumb1249894068-640x360.jpg"/></div></a></figure><p>In addition, also got this solid muzu fc on Ooi. There's some tricky reading throughout with finishes. I managed to hit most of them for a 98, pretty happy with that.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot212.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot212.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot212.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot212.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot212.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Also from this session got a couple nice nomod plays. First is a 130 UR on Masquerade Oni. Low bpm is always a challenge, so I am satisfied with getting acc this good on a sightread.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot213.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot213.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot213.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot213.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot213.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Also speaking of sightreads, played this sv reading monstrosity again and managed to tie my best acc after 3 tries. I could get a 97 if I grinded it a bit more, but I'm more than happy to tie what I already considered to be crazy acc.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot215-1.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot215-1.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot215-1.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot215-1.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot215-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Then we have some cool plays from yesterday.</p><p>I always considered HR a "free to learn" mod, and this play is a pretty good example. After not playing HR at all in December, I managed to squeeze this one out after 20 or so minutes. 160bpm Oni with a couple tricky patterns. (UR is like 114 I think).</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot214.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot214.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot214.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot214.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot214.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Also managed to tie acc on this diff of time freeze. I considered top play on this map to be one of my best speed plays, so being able to tie it is nice.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot211.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2022/01/screenshot211.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2022/01/screenshot211.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2022/01/screenshot211.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2022/01/screenshot211.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>All in all, good sessions over the past two days</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[reading gaming]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, been a while. Been playing taiko fairly regularly, but I wanted to get back in the habit of making these posts because they are fun. Been focusing mostly on learning hidden and long streams. I got my best HD pass today: The acc and UR are incredibly scuffed, but the fact that I could 1 miss this reading stamina hell of a map with my worst mod is incredible for my standards. Very happy with this, well on my way to making my goal of getting a 250pp HD play. But as always, I'm a sucker fo]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//gaming/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__61ce327119a2e7427e36d7d0</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 22:38:15 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello, been a while. Been playing taiko fairly regularly, but I wanted to get back in the habit of making these posts because they are fun.</p><p>Been focusing mostly on learning hidden and long streams. I got my best HD pass today:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot207.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/12/screenshot207.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/12/screenshot207.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/12/screenshot207.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot207.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>The acc and UR are incredibly scuffed, but the fact that I could 1 miss this reading stamina hell of a map with my worst mod is incredible for my standards. Very happy with this, well on my way to making my goal of getting a 250pp HD play.</p><p>But as always, I'm a sucker for trying to set cool plays on hard maps, and today I managed to get a couple. Here's the first:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot206.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/12/screenshot206.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/12/screenshot206.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/12/screenshot206.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot206.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>I already had a 97.5 acc play on this map, which I thought was already one of my best 200bpm plays. Since I've been focusing on reading and acc (not so much 200bpm ish range), I thought that being able to top that old play was not for me. Well, it turns out, that reading and acc improve your higher bpm skills even when you don't specifically train those skills. Here's the twitch vod:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1248251610"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Demetori UN Owen Ono 98 - stickwarslit on Twitch</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">stickwarslit went live on Twitch. Catch up on their osu! VOD now.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://static.twitchcdn.net/assets/favicon-32-e29e246c157142c94346.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Twitch</span></img></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/cf_vods/dgeft87wbj63p/710f366da4adb45966e2_stickwarslit_97434451120_9725570530/thumb/thumb1248251610-640x360.jpg"/></div></a></figure><p>Second was a series of 3 plays on the following map:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot205.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/12/screenshot205.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/12/screenshot205.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/12/screenshot205.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/12/screenshot205.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>With my previous personal best being a 95.3, I went to a 96, to a high 97, to a 98.5, all in a row. The map is mostly standard oni patterns, but there's a few 8 note patterns scattered around that used to really trip me up. And now, thanks to that aforementioned reading practice, I was able to hit (most) of them at 1x speed. Crazy. Here's the twitch vod:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1248251607"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Euphoric Pahntasmagoria 96 > 97 > 98.5 - stickwarslit on Twitch</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">stickwarslit went live on Twitch. Catch up on their osu! VOD now.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://static.twitchcdn.net/assets/favicon-32-e29e246c157142c94346.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Twitch</span></img></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/cf_vods/dgeft87wbj63p/5e3573a2ffd96b07a3b2_stickwarslit_44076749072_3483331487/thumb/thumb1248251607-640x360.jpg"/></div></a></figure><p>That's about it for me. See y'all next time.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[night night]]></title><description><![CDATA[night session that had a few banger scores for some reason inner oni 190bpm fc. UR was like 138 I think. Crazy 98% 260bpm oni fc. Also crazy. Would've been the speed play of the night had it not been for... holy shit. what the fuck is this shit. Improvement from 93.7 to 96.6 on a 5.6 start map at 250 bpm. So crazy. I'm crazy. I'm so sick at this game. See you next time.]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//night-night/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__61664a3a19a2e7427e36d7c3</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2021 02:55:27 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>night session that had a few banger scores for some reason</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot195.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot195.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot195.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot195.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot195.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>inner oni 190bpm fc. UR was like 138 I think. Crazy</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot194.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot194.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot194.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot194.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot194.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>98% 260bpm oni fc. Also crazy. Would've been the speed play of the night had it not been for...</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot193.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot193.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot193.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot193.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot193.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>holy shit. what the fuck is this shit. Improvement from 93.7 to 96.6 on a 5.6 start map at 250 bpm. So crazy. I'm crazy. I'm so sick at this game.</p><p>See you next time.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[FIVE THOUSAND]]></title><description><![CDATA[FIVE. K. PP. HOLY SHIT I am so fucking good at this video game AHHHHHHHHH There was a whole smorgasbord of sick and awesome plays I've set over the past two days. Here's a neat little sampler (with the big pp at the end) I have been trying to get 99% on this map for AGES. Finally got it with a sick 3x100 Fc with sub 120 UR. Finally I can put this chart to rest. Speaking of good acc, here's probably my first 285bpm play. UR was garbage, but getting a solid fc on a map like this for my first 2]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//five-thousand/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6161fe7319a2e7427e36d765</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 09 Oct 2021 21:00:03 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>FIVE. K. PP. HOLY SHIT</p><p>I am so fucking good at this video game AHHHHHHHHH</p><p>There was a whole smorgasbord of sick and awesome plays I've set over the past two days. Here's a neat little sampler (with the big pp at the end)</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot182.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot182.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot182.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot182.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot182.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>I have been trying to get 99% on this map for AGES. Finally got it with a sick 3x100 Fc with sub 120 UR. Finally I can put this chart to rest.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot183.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot183.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot183.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot183.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot183.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Speaking of good acc, here's probably my first 285bpm play. UR was garbage, but getting a solid fc on a map like this for my first 285bpm play leaves me feeling pretty happy :D</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot184.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot184.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot184.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot184.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot184.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Here's a good Inner Oni 220bpm pass. Improvement from 93 to 96.5 Being able to comfortably play maps like this is absolutely crazy to me. Very happy with this one.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot186.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot186.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot186.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot186.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot186.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Here's another decent 220bpm play. Would've been like a 2x100 play except I choked near the end. Great UR though, very happy with it</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot189.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot189.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot189.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot189.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot189.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>A little deathstream action here. I got some good deathstream passes in today (not shown), but here's one I'm pretty happy with. Improvement from a 95. Been playing this map in particular for <em>year</em>s. Still not done with it, but improvement is improvement :D</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot187.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot187.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot187.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot187.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot187.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>First big pp play, a 228pp on 185bpm inner oni. This one had some tricky longer streams, but nothing crazy. What stands out about this play is sub 140 UR on 5 minutes of inner oni. Also an improvement from 94 to 97. Great stuff</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot185.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot185.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot185.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot185.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot185.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Second big pp play, a 247pp on a 4 minute 200bpm endurance map. Sub 130 UR? Check. Crazy acc? Check. One miss? Check. My best play of the session hands down.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot190.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot190.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot190.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot190.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot190.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Third big pp play. Honestly not very happy with this play. Most of the misses were on easy sections. UR wasn't that good either. But I did manage to FC the final kiai section, which is pretty cool.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot188.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/10/screenshot188.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/10/screenshot188.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/10/screenshot188.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/10/screenshot188.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>And last, 248pp on Wind God Girl to take me to 5000pp on the dot. Improvement from 96% to 98%, more than halving miss count and x100 count. </p><p>I'm able to be this good, and I'm not even grinding that hard hahaha. Just wait till I'm at full power.</p><p>Fun fact, I got to 5k pp on osu!standard in 875 hours of recorded playtime, but 410 hours for taiko :3</p><p>See you next time </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kinetic]]></title><description><![CDATA[I woke up Saturday morning at 7am in a different house, after only going to bed at 5am. I had went out the night before at the invitation of an old high school friend that I hadn't seen in three years. I saw some old faces, some new ones. We drank. We laughed. We lamented the passage of time, the people who weren't there. We drank some more. We hugged. We went to a shitty bar. We went to another shitty bar. We went to a bar that wasn't so bad. We got some pizza because Alec hadn't eaten anyt]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//alone/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__615d001119a2e7427e36d74e</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Oct 2021 01:47:50 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I woke up Saturday morning at 7am in a different house, after only going to bed at 5am. </p><p>I had went out the night before at the invitation of an old high school friend that I hadn't seen in three years. I saw some old faces, some new ones. </p><p>We drank. We laughed. We lamented the passage of time, the people who weren't there. We drank some more. We hugged. We went to a shitty bar. We went to another shitty bar. We went to a bar that wasn't so bad. We got some pizza because Alec hadn't eaten anything but Jackie got a gyro and now he was hungry as fuck. We took ubers home because it was 3am and we were drunk and Alan was throwing up already. </p><p>I had fun. I got to spend time with people I care about but don't see often. I made a new friend. Her name's Kate. She even complimented my outfit and bought me a drink. I saw Alan again, the platonic love of my younger years. I sat by as he vomited his heart out in to the toilet, just like he wanted. How lucky am I to be there for the people I love. </p><p>I woke up Saturday morning at 7am, groggy and slightly annoyed I could not sleep for longer. I heard Kate and Alan giggling next to me. Alan jokingly asked if he should cuddle with me. Kate reminded him about consent. I knew he wouldn't. He didn't. I got up, saying "I heard all that." We laughed. I couldn't see them, my groggy eyes struggling to paint their faces with the drips of light leaking from the curtains. But from their voices, I could tell they were there. </p><p>Most days, I go to sleep alone, wake up alone, then spend the rest of my day reminding myself that I am not alone. But one night, I didn't have to. I slept and awoke to the warm voices of friends loving with all their might. Even if I don't see Alan or Kate for a month or a year or years, I thank them for this night.</p><p>Happy Birthday Alan</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[On a warm autumn morning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finally a session that's not 1. at 9pm 2. where I feel on point Like: Holy shit this score. 91 x100 -> 42. Bonkers. My 1/6th quads have never felt so good Good acc on a song with weird patterns. Also, here's me holding 99 on a 175bpm inner oni past the first kiai. Incredible!. See you next time.]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//on-a-warm-autumn-morning/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6150bd2519a2e7427e36d730</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Sep 2021 21:51:50 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finally a session that's not</p><ol><li>at 9pm</li><li>where I feel on point</li></ol><p>Like:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot173.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot173.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot173.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot173.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot173.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Holy shit this score. 91 x100 -> 42. Bonkers. My 1/6th quads have never felt so good</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot174.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot174.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot174.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot174.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot174.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Good acc on a song with weird patterns.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot175.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot175.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot175.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot175.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot175.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Also, here's me holding 99 on a 175bpm inner oni past the first kiai. Incredible!.</p><p>See you next time.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[catch up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Okay I've had a bunch of sessions over the past few days and haven't made a post about any of them so here they are first the big pp plays StickWarsLit on Everything will freeze [Fapu’s Oni] · performance | osu!osu! - Rhythm is just a *click* away! With Ouendan/EBA, Taiko and original gameplay modes, as well as a fully functional level editor.performance [https://osu.ppy.sh/scores/taiko/165775053]new top play on everything will freeze (acc improve). Would be my best speed play if it wasn't for]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//catch-up/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6147d7af19a2e7427e36d708</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Sep 2021 01:40:49 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Okay I've had a bunch of sessions over the past few days and haven't made a post about any of them so here they are</p><p>first the big pp plays</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://osu.ppy.sh/scores/taiko/165775053"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">StickWarsLit on Everything will freeze [Fapu’s Oni] · performance | osu!</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">osu! - Rhythm is just a *click* away! With Ouendan/EBA, Taiko and original gameplay modes, as well as a fully functional level editor.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://osu.ppy.sh/apple-touch-icon.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">performance</span></img></div></div></a></figure><p>new top play on everything will freeze (acc improve). Would be my best speed play if it wasn't for...</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://osu.ppy.sh/scores/taiko/165832101"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">StickWarsLit on burn this moment into the retina of my eye [aeonnzr’s oni] · performance | osu!</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">osu! - Rhythm is just a *click* away! With Ouendan/EBA, Taiko and original gameplay modes, as well as a fully functional level editor.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://osu.ppy.sh/apple-touch-icon.png"><span class="kg-bookmark-author">performance</span></img></div></div></a></figure><p>This absolute monstrosity of a play. 220 Stamina reading hell for 5 minutes, ending with 98%. crazt</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot169.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot169.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot169.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot169.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot169.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Shat this one out today, another big pp play</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot166-1.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot166-1.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot166-1.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot166-1.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot166-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>This was almost an fc, got a full combo on the section long stream section. Absolute god-mode of a play</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot165.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot165.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot165.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot165.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot165.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>4* map with tons of awkward patterns in it.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot167.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot167.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot167.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot167.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot167.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>I normally don't post practice diffs, but the diff spike in this map has been a killer for months now. Finally conquered it at 0.8</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot171.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot171.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot171.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot171.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot171.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>best 260 bpm ranked play. Great UR, map felt very comfortable</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot170.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot170.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot170.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot170.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot170.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Good high 5* pass. Improvement from a 92</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot172.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot172.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot172.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot172.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot172.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>This one got some tricky finish patterns scattered throughout, so I'm very pleased with a 98.</p><p>Until next time</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[sou sou sou sou]]></title><description><![CDATA[ooooh what a warmup. SSed the last kiai. Good score. Only got 1x100 on the weird rhythm section. The rest was just my brain being tired. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- okay today's session didn't produce that many crazy scores but I ended it off with a banger holy shit. 98 on 260 oni. Was almost an fc too except I missed on a KdkdK pattern (which I then hit when it repeated right after, of course). also got this solid pass with that, unti]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//sou-sou-sou-sou/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6134fb2619a2e7427e36d6e1</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2021 18:59:42 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot156.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot156.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot156.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot156.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot156.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>ooooh what a warmup. SSed the last kiai.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot157.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot157.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot157.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot157.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot157.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Good score. Only got 1x100 on the weird rhythm section. The rest was just my brain being tired.</p><hr><p>okay today's session didn't produce that many crazy scores but I ended it off with a banger</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot161.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot161.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot161.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot161.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot161.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>holy shit. 98 on 260 oni. Was almost an fc too except I missed on a KdkdK pattern (which I then hit when it repeated right after, of course). </p><p>also got this solid pass</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot158.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot158.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot158.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot158.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot158.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>with that, until next time</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[practice practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[not a lot of scores today cuz mostly deathstream practice, but got a couple bangers Another 110 UR oni score. It's nice 260 bpm ACC until next time]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//practice-practice/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6133c15719a2e7427e36d6d2</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2021 19:29:11 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>not a lot of scores today cuz mostly deathstream practice, but got a couple bangers</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot154.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot154.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot154.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot154.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot154.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Another 110 UR oni score. It's nice</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot155.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot155.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot155.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot155.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot155.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>260 bpm ACC</p><p>until next time</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[score v1 lmao]]></title><description><![CDATA[Imagine beginning your session with a score v1 with nearly half 100s over your fc. rhythm game. Oh well, good score for an inner. Happy with this. ACC GAMING LMAO what. 5.5* fc, I think that's my highest on a non-tv size. Acc was hot garbage though, god-moded my way through the hard section ACC WITH SPEED. For real this is prolly my best 250bpm+ acc play -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spent the rest of the session grinding deathstream pract]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//score-v1-lmao/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6132932e19a2e7427e36d6bb</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 22:43:03 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot150.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot150.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot150.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot150.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot150.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Imagine beginning your session with a score v1 with nearly half 100s over your fc. <em>rhythm game</em>. Oh well, good score for an inner. Happy with this.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot151.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot151.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot151.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot151.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot151.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>ACC GAMING</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot152.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot152.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot152.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot152.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot152.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>LMAO what. 5.5* fc, I think that's my highest on a non-tv size. Acc was hot garbage though, god-moded my way through the hard section</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot153.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot153.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot153.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot153.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot153.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>ACC <em>WITH SPEED</em>. For real this is prolly my best 250bpm+ acc play</p><hr><p>Spent the rest of the session grinding deathstream practice. Gonna get there some day!</p><p>Until next time</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[kk]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm tired of genshin so more Taiko ayyyyy Warm uppppp. Would've been a 99 if it wasn't for that finish section 2/3rd of the way through. Oh well, decent UR Bareeeeeeeely got the 99 on this one. Some weird rhythm switches midway through, but I clutched it.' FC on this out of nowhere lmao decent acc here Crazy acc here. 6 100s on a 4 minute map, okay me, way to show off lmao 2nd best score of the evening. Very close to 98 on an inner oni. Good stuff Man, it feels bad to suck, but also I jus]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//kk/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__61315cda19a2e7427e36d6a3</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 01:11:52 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I'm tired of genshin so more Taiko ayyyyy</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot144.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot144.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot144.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot144.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot144.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Warm uppppp. Would've been a 99 if it wasn't for that finish section 2/3rd of the way through. Oh well, decent UR</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot145.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot145.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot145.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot145.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot145.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Bareeeeeeeely got the 99 on this one. Some weird rhythm switches midway through, but I clutched it.'</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot146.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot146.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot146.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot146.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot146.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>FC on this out of nowhere lmao</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot147.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot147.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot147.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot147.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot147.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>decent acc here</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot148.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot148.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot148.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot148.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot148.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Crazy acc here. 6 100s on a 4 minute map, okay me, way to show off lmao</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot149.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/09/screenshot149.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/09/screenshot149.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/09/screenshot149.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/09/screenshot149.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>2nd best score of the evening. Very close to 98 on an inner oni. Good stuff</p><p>Man, it feels bad to suck, but also I just wanna play this game rn lmao</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[imagine a world]]></title><description><![CDATA[man I can't imagine telling myself from a year ago that a derust session first play would be worth 200pp (197 to be exact). Damn Decent acc play. The SV finishes section midway through caught me off guard, but 5 mins in the editor and I was able to SS them in a run lmao what is this acc. 230 is so comfy omg. the 4 misses were on the longest stream in the song, no complaints 140 inner oni warm up. decent acc OMG. After playing this map for like 2 years, finally got a 98% FC on it. Acc still p]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//imagine-a-world/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__612bdf4c19a2e7427e36d679</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Aug 2021 22:06:47 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot134.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot134.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot134.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot134.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot134.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>man I can't imagine telling myself from a year ago that a derust session first play would be worth 200pp (197 to be exact). Damn</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot135.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot135.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot135.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot135.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot135.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Decent acc play. The SV finishes section midway through caught me off guard, but 5 mins in the editor and I was able to SS them in a run</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot137.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot137.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot137.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot137.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot137.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>lmao what is this acc. 230 is so comfy omg. the 4 misses were on the longest stream in the song, no complaints</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot138.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot138.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot138.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot138.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot138.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>140 inner oni warm up. decent acc</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot139.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot139.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot139.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot139.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot139.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>OMG. After playing this map for like 2 years, finally got a 98% FC on it. Acc still pretty shit, but in terms of beating demons this great</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot140.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot140.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot140.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot140.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot140.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>OMG what acc, what miss count, what a score. Just a 160 oni onslaught with some 1/6th patterns thrown in for good measure. Very pleased with this score</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot141.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot141.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot141.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot141.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot141.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEED</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot143.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot143.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot143.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot143.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot143.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot142.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy"/></figure><p>Improved this score from a 97 to 97.8. Did meh on the hard parts, but kept 99 acc for the first half of the compilation. Gonna need a lot more stream consistency if I want to get 98 on here.</p><p>That's all for this session. Good derust, lots of fun and cool scores</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[mou son nan ja dame dame dame]]></title><description><![CDATA[Coming up with post names is hard lmao Decent score considering warm up and 220 bpm rhythm chart. what a choke omg. In 5 tries brought my ur from 130 to 119, so that's cool at least what a fucking score omg. Grinded that for like 15 mins. Finally got a 97 after playing this map for months. Woohoo! FC is doable but unlikely (managed to get an fc on the practice diff of the hard section) holy shit what an fc. Decent acc too. I thought the finishes would get me (since I'm really bad at stuff li]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//mou-son-nan-ja-dame-dame-dame/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6122772b19a2e7427e36d65a</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:00:32 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coming up with post names is hard lmao</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot129.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot129.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot129.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot129.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot129.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Decent score considering warm up and 220 bpm rhythm chart.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot130.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot130.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot130.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot130.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot130.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>what a choke omg. In 5 tries brought my ur from 130 to 119, so that's cool at least</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot131.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot131.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot131.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot131.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot131.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>what a fucking score omg. Grinded that for like 15 mins. Finally got a 97 after playing this map for months. Woohoo! FC is doable but unlikely (managed to get an fc on the practice diff of the hard section)</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot133.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot133.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot133.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot133.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot133.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>holy shit what an fc. Decent acc too. I thought the finishes would get me (since I'm really bad at stuff like K kdk K dkd D) but I actually fced them holy shit.</p><hr><p>Spent most of the session on practice diffs, want to get back into the groove of death streams again. But still managed to set some cool scores regardless.</p><p>Until next time.</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[HAYAKU HAYAKU]]></title><description><![CDATA[okat last session ending a little bit weird. It felt like I was getting the rhythm yips or something. I'll be more careful about not pushing myself to far out of my comfort zone for too long (like I grinded practice maps that were way too hard for like 30 mins straight last session) Second try on this map (managed to score v1 myself lmao). Missed on a couple of easy patterns. I think my reading got hella messed up from last session. Decent acc regardless. okay this score isnt that good but ran]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//hayaku-hayaku/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6121207a19a2e7427e36d623</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Aug 2021 17:57:54 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>okat last session ending a little bit weird. It felt like I was getting the rhythm yips or something. I'll be more careful about not pushing myself to far out of my comfort zone for too long (like I grinded practice maps that were way too hard for like 30 mins straight last session)</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot117.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot117.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot117.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot117.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot117.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Second try on this map (managed to score v1 myself lmao). Missed on a couple of easy patterns. I think my reading got hella messed up from last session. Decent acc regardless.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot118.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot118.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot118.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot118.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot118.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>okay this score isnt that good but ranked kan saete is hype as fuck so WOOHOO TIED BEST NOMOD ACC IN FIRST 10 HOURS WOOOOOO</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot119.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot119.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot119.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot119.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot119.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>omg what a choke. 99 until the last kiai. Still, decent 220bpm score</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot120.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot120.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot120.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot120.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot120.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>what the fuck is this combo omg. I fc'ed up until the hardest stream section. </p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot121.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot121.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot121.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot121.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot121.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>this play is alright lmao (but top 10 pp I guess). I got most of the streams on the back half, but messed up before both kiais. Still, they felt surprisingly sight-readable, which I was not expecting. So that's a pleasant surprise. Overall, I'm happy with this score.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot122.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot122.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot122.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot122.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot122.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>I guess that's a pass? I bombed the first 1/3rd which has a bunch of tricky 1/6ths/reading patterns, then nearly fced the rest of the map. I guess</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot123.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot123.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot123.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot123.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot123.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>My best play on this map! Like 95/96 is doable in the near future. In this play in particular, I missed a lot on the bridge sections in the intro and after the second kiai. But I was able to read them decently well in other plays, so with time this will become pretty doable.</p><p>I tried grinding those aforementioned bridge sections, but i don't think I've worked enough on pattern reading recently to make it doable at full speed. So it goes~</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot124.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot124.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot124.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot124.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot124.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>I was very upset I couldn't get a score on tpz night of knights, so I got this score on another tpz song instead. Decent acc/ur.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot128.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot128.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot128.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot128.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot128.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Saw this was recently ranked on osu!direct and wanted to check it out cuz I love this song (see the title of this post). Got a lot of hundreds on this DddDD pattern that I can't move my hand fast enough to hit. Also there was a KddK I couldn't hit for similar reasons (which lead to 2 of those misses). Managed to get solid acc for the rest of the chart relative to my 255 skill. Pretty happy with it.</p><hr><p>That was my session for today. Not as many charts as I usually do, but like being able to take the time to focus on a handful. It ensures that I'm learning properly. Deliberate practice, y'know</p><p>See you next time</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Magical Girl Speeeeed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Session time! DOUSHITE fun little speed score here OMG I WANT THaT SHIT nice score. Had some weird patterns that I hit for the first couple minutes. Also I hit all the 1/6th patterns except for the very last (and hardest) one. Easily my best 1/6th score yet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- overall practice day. Not much to show, but that's how it some sessions]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//magical-girl-speeeeed/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__611ed28819a2e7427e36d60b</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2021 23:37:51 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Session time!</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot115.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot115.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot115.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot115.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot115.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>DOUSHITE</p><p>fun little speed score here</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot116.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot116.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot116.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot116.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot116.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>OMG I WANT THaT SHIT</p><p>nice score. Had some weird patterns that I hit for the first couple minutes. Also I hit all the 1/6th patterns except for the very last (and hardest) one. Easily my best 1/6th score yet.</p><hr><p>overall practice day. Not much to show, but that's how it some sessions</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aug 15th FIERY ACCORDION]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gonna try something different today; instead of posting all my scores after the session, I'll work on this post as I play. Anyways: FIERYRAGE ACCORDION FC. What a fucking warmup. Was not expecting to get that lmao I've been trying to get an fc on this map for a long time. Finally got it :D Not bad acc. Could've been 99.5 but I got sloppy in the section right after kiai. huh what what is this score. Why could I read 280 like this huh what. Could not do this consistently for sure, but it's a g]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//aug-15th-fiery-accordion/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__611c3c0119a2e7427e36d5ec</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:10:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gonna try something different today; instead of posting all my scores after the session, I'll work on this post as I play. Anyways:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot109.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot109.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot109.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot109.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot109.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>FIERYRAGE ACCORDION FC. What a fucking warmup. Was not expecting to get that lmao</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot110.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy"/></figure><p>I've been trying to get an fc on this map for a long time. Finally got it :D</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot111.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot111.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot111.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot111.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot111.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Not bad acc. Could've been 99.5 but I got sloppy in the section right after kiai.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot112.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot112.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot112.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot112.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot112.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>huh what what is this score. Why could I read 280 like this huh what. Could not do this consistently for sure, but it's a good sign</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot113.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot113.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot113.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot113.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot113.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>not bad score. Lowest miss count. Acc was kinda blegh though.</p><hr><p>All in all another all over the place day (I seem to get those a lot hehe). All pretty good scores. Some good speed plays, oni plays, acc plays. I like it</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aug 15: weird sess]]></title><description><![CDATA[today was a bit over the place. Mostly focused on oni acc and oni speed. here's some 210+ bpm oni plays. The 99 on 217bpm diff was a nice score. Also very happy to get 95 on necro fantasia 230; 4 mins straight of 230 oni gameplay is nothing to scoff at. Don't let the meh acc fool you, this play took like 30 mins to get. The streams->finish patterns have always been a thorn in my side; this chart was no different. However, my practice on those patterns over the past few months and this session ]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//aug-15-weird-sess/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6119c3e119a2e7427e36d5d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2021 01:52:46 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>today was a bit over the place. Mostly focused on oni acc and oni speed.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot105.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot105.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot105.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot105.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot105.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot103.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot103.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot103.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot103.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot103.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>here's some 210+ bpm oni plays. The 99 on 217bpm diff was a nice score. Also very happy to get 95 on necro fantasia 230; 4 mins straight of 230 oni gameplay is nothing to scoff at.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot104.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot104.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot104.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot104.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot104.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Don't let the meh acc fool you, this play took like 30 mins to get. The streams->finish patterns have always been a thorn in my side; this chart was no different. However, my practice on those patterns over the past few months and this session paid off with a nice fc.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot108.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot108.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot108.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot108.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot108.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot106.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot106.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot106.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot106.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot106.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Some nice Oni acc scores. Terminal had some tricky patterns, glad to keep decent acc throughout it. Dancing Dollz was done after hours actually, so getting acc like that is great.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot107.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot107.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot107.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot107.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot107.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Lastly, my best score of the session. I haven't set a score like this since my world's end DNB score (although that chart is way harder). Some tricky long stream sections that I managed to hit most of the time, which felt awesome to do.</p><p>Till next time.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aug 14: I'm playing here]]></title><description><![CDATA[This was my warm up chart. Some tricky bpm changes in the beginning, but otherwise decent acc on a 200 bpm oni. Pretty solid speed play. Was able to read most of the patterns, which is good for a chart as dense as this one. Best play of the session. I nearly fced the final kiai section, which had quite a few bursty sections that are tricky for me at this bpm. Decent pattern play.]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//im-playing-here/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__611829d419a2e7427e36d5c3</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 14 Aug 2021 20:41:09 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot102.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy"/></figure><p>This was my warm up chart. Some tricky bpm changes in the beginning, but otherwise decent acc on a 200 bpm oni.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot101.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot101.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot101.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot101.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot101.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Pretty solid speed play. Was able to read most of the patterns, which is good for a chart as dense as this one.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot100.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy"/></figure><p>Best play of the session. I nearly fced the final kiai section, which had quite a few bursty sections that are tricky for me at this bpm.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot099.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot099.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot099.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot099.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot099.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Decent pattern play.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Taiko So Far]]></title><description><![CDATA[I've been playing osu!taiko [https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/en/Game_mode/osu!taiko] on and off for about 3 years now. It's my favorite non-dance rhythm game and I'm still having fun improving in the game. My long term goals are to be a competitive tournament player and FC Galaxy Collapse, but I'm not in any rush to get there. For now, I just like pushing my current abilities and setting cool scores. Over the past year or so I've been posting my session highlights to my gaming twitter [https://twitter.]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//taiko-so-far/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__6113eb7f19a2e7427e36d531</guid><category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2021 15:19:46 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I've been playing <a href="https://osu.ppy.sh/wiki/en/Game_mode/osu!taiko">osu!taiko</a> on and off for about 3 years now. It's my favorite non-dance rhythm game and I'm still having fun improving in the game. My long term goals are to be a competitive tournament player and FC Galaxy Collapse, but I'm not in any rush to get there. For now, I just like pushing my current abilities and setting cool scores.</p><p>Over the past year or so I've been posting my session highlights to my <a href="https://twitter.com/StickWarsLit">gaming twitter</a>, but as I've played around with the site I've decided that it's not good for me as an archive of my progress and achievements. So, I'll now be posting it all here along with the rest of my writing works because I said so.</p><p>Instead of just mass exporting all my scorepost tweets, I'll use this post to highlight my current favorite scores grouped by category</p><h1 id="rhythm-scores">Rhythm Scores</h1><p>These are my favorite kind of charts to play in Taiko. Switching between 1/3rds and 1/4ths and 1/6ths will never get old to me. </p><p>This one has a lot of rhythm mixups.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-8.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/image-8.png 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/image-8.png 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/image-8.png 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-8.png 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>If you know this song, you know exactly how tricky the rhythms are. Great acc and FC.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-10.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/image-10.png 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/image-10.png 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/image-10.png 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-10.png 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Not as hard as the highest diff in the mapset, but good acc nonetheless.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-11.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/image-11.png 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/image-11.png 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/image-11.png 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/image-11.png 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>The D in the song's title stands for Doubles (and quads). Lots of uncommon patterns here that I mostly got.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot084.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy"/></figure><p>One of my best scores on a chart with a lot of tricky 1/6ths. It's a rhythm I particularly struggle with, so being able to pull this off was a great accomplishment.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot092.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot092.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot092.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot092.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot092.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><h1 id="speeeeeeeed">Speeeeeeeed</h1><p>At the end of the day, rhythm games require you to hit buttons fast.</p><p>First one is a osu trainer practice diff. I find sped up oni's harder than regular high bpm oni's, so this was a nice score.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot088.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot088.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot088.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot088.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot088.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>This map could belong in 3 different categories. Weird SV changes, rhythm changes, and top 240 bpm. Great pass.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot093-1.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot093-1.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot093-1.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot093-1.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot093-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>This is basically a farm map, but got decent acc so it's here.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot096.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot096.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot096.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot096.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot096.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Lot's of 1/3rds here alond with being 230bpm. Good acc.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot097.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot097.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot097.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot097.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot097.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>4 minutes of 220-230bpm streams. At my level getting through this is a stamina challenge.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot098.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot098.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot098.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot098.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot098.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><h1 id="accuracy">Accuracy</h1><p>Here's a collection of plain difficult maps that I got relatively good accuracy on.</p><p>My best score by far. Death streams are my 2nd weakest skillset, and this score hit most of them along with a 1miss on the ending section. This score was also a complete surprise because I was struggling to get about 95 on my practice diffs. </p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot087.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot087.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot087.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot087.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot087.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Good acc on a map with tricky patterns.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot085.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot085.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot085.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot085.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot085.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>One of my favorite maps. I used to consider a 98 on this map from a year ago as my best score. I improved it last month to show off how much I've improved.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot095.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot095.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot095.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot095.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot095.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><h1 id="passes">Passes</h1><p>Not all scores are super great. It's all about the relative skill level. That means sometimes, just getting a pass is impressive in itself.</p><p>I hit all the streams in the first chrous and only missed twice in the second longer kiai section. Easily my best deathstream score.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot086.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot086.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot086.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot086.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot086.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Brutal 190 stream map. Keeping 96ish for 3 minutes is no easy feat.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot081.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot081.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot081.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot081.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot081.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Also one of my best weird rhythm scores. Tons of quads and 1/6ths patterns here along with a couple longer streams for good measure.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot089.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot089.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot089.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot089.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot089.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><p>Another one of my best passes. I hit most of the longer streams and only missed hard on the 1/6th sections (expected cuz they're way too fast for me).</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot091.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w600/2021/08/screenshot091.jpg 600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1000/2021/08/screenshot091.jpg 1000w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/size/w1600/2021/08/screenshot091.jpg 1600w, https://ghost.stickwarslit.me/content/images/2021/08/screenshot091.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"/></figure><hr><p>And that's all I got for now. There's a ton of other scores I did not include or forgot about. Might post about them later. I hope to make more entries about future sessions cuz it's fun to look back at what you accomplished and are progressing on.</p><p>Until then, see you next time.</p></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cadence]]></title><description><![CDATA[The bass from the speakers vibrates the room and asks if I am more man than machine. I resist the urge to archive the message, since my mentor told me to be open to surreptitious spontaneity. But it's uncomfortable sitting in silence. Or, what would be silence had the dollar store gizmo in the corner of the room not creak like tv static. I begin to notice all the incongruities I usually fold over by assigning myself another ticket at work. Nobody wants to admit they took a wrong turn 5 miles ago]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//cadence/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__600eed484e1249071a001db4</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:05:40 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The bass from the speakers vibrates the room and asks if I am more man than machine. I resist the urge to archive the message, since my mentor told me to be open to surreptitious spontaneity. But it's uncomfortable sitting in silence. Or, what would be silence had the dollar store gizmo in the corner of the room not creak like tv static. I begin to notice all the incongruities I usually fold over by assigning myself another ticket at work. Nobody wants to admit they took a wrong turn 5 miles ago.</p><p>So I march on, fingers walking left-then-right to the beating thumps of Helblinde's 200 BPM collection. How ironic is it that industry stole the soul from society, yet we synthesized new symphonies from their imperfectly regular pulse. But what do I know of the toils of factory works? I'm not a writer.</p><p>To take a break from the noise is luxury. Some march their entire lives unaware that they could change the tempo at any time. They argue that it is not them, but 'they' that controls the speed, and those who think themselves in control are playing into 'their' machinations. Thought I don't really mind that. All of physics and chemistry are the stage, and we are but the erratic afterimages of forces pushing and pulling.</p><p>For I am not drawn to the rhythm of my own beating heart, but of the pace of the world. To the tap dance of fingers on keys and clicks of mice. To the jazz of laughter. To the mellow tides of idle conversation. To the comforting chorus, "I love you." I sing to thee.</p><p>In the silence I find myself, and only myself. I've heard of geographic cures, where exotic locations fill the traveler with such fear and awe of the Lord that their worries become shells then break free from their souls with fully-grown wings. But I've learned that in many cases, you take your problems with you. Such it is with silence, the stimuli making you keenly aware of everything, or nothing but yourself, or what's the difference?</p><p>For kids like me, we've been here before. I know all the good hiding spots. I know where we keep the good blankets. I know which parts of the house are haunted. I know which rooms have spikes on the ground (really, been meaning to change those out forever now. One day...). I know it all. Yet they say this is better?</p><p>Well, not 'they', but my they. Okay not my they, just my expectations. After a lifetime of being a vessel at sea, crashed upon by waves and wind and storm and monster, what else should I want but to rest? Alas, I go back in. All I ask is for waters I understand. Or at the very least, the power to comprehend the waves I am in.</p><p>The solace of the storm remains solace in the sunlight. India would loathe to be a British commonwealth, yet where would they be without tea and cricket? We never stop being a baby wishing to be swaddled in silk and softness. We just buy bigger blankets as we outgrow them. That is not a call to abolish all comfort, but that change is inevitable, and so the resistance.</p><p>So while Google maps said to make a right 5 miles ago, there's an cozy little Italian place at the end of the street. And then we keep coming back, because we already know how to get here. And we keep listening to helblinde, even though we know it's basically just fancier faster nightcore. And we keep the corporate job, because I found meaning anyways. And we keep the spikes on the floor, because dancing around them has come down to muscle memory. And I'm good at it.</p><p>And I keep marching, to the beat of this drum or that drum or maybe her drum, because it's fun, and I can walk along with the people I love.</p><p>See, I'm not a writer, because I would've already come up with something new.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Name: The Meta-tragedy]]></title><description><![CDATA[For a long time, I did not understand the appeal of tragedies like 1997's Titanic and Romeo & Juliet. Yeah, it sucks that their love did not last, but sad shit happens all the time. Hundreds of tragedies occur every day, yet here we are still observing ones from years ago. But clearly, there's something to them. Else, these stories would not have lasted in the popular culture. What was I missing? It wasn't that I believed nothing bad should ever happen to the main characters. In fact, I really ]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//meaning-in-tragedies/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__600703e54e1249071a001b52</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:43:53 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For a long time, I did not understand the appeal of tragedies like 1997's Titanic and Romeo & Juliet. Yeah, it sucks that their love did not last, but sad shit happens all the time. Hundreds of tragedies occur every day, yet here we are still observing ones from years ago. But clearly, there's something to them. Else, these stories would not have lasted in the popular culture. What was I missing?</p><p>It wasn't that I believed nothing bad should ever happen to the main characters. In fact, I really liked Greek tragedies. The main character has some tragic flaw that leads to their demise. Think of Odysseus with his masculine arrogance, or Macbeth with his masculine arrogance, or for a modern-day example, Walter White with his masculine arrogance (I'm sure the similarity is just a coincidence). In these Greek tragedies, there is a clear line between the characters' actions and their demise. Whereas in, say, Romeo & Juliet, there is no flaw outside of them falling in love in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tragedies of circumstance didn't connect with me.</p><p>But, as I've gotten older and consumed more media and thought about tragedies some more (and watched many YouTube videos on the subject), I have finally come to understand the appeal of tragedies. Only with the help of an animated film from Japan called <em>Your Name</em>.</p><p>For those unaware, <em>Kimi no Na wa</em>, localized as <em>Your Name</em>, is a Japanese anime film directed by Makoto Shinkai released in 2016. The film was wildly popular in the anime space, being the third highest-grossing anime film of all time, behind Spirited Away and the Demon Slayer film (not joking btw, <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_anime_films#Highest-grossing_anime_films_worldwide">that</a></em> Demon Slayer). The film's broad appeal is due in most part to its visuals and story. </p><p>Your Name is a great looking film (seriously, if you haven't seen it yet, the film is <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=your+name+screenshots&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images">gorgeous</a>). Before the film's release, Shinkai was already known for his great cinematography. <em>Your Name</em> is the culmination of over a decade of experimentation, and it shows. Regardless of how one feels about the film's story or anime as a movement, anyone can appreciate some pretty pictures. </p><p>Also, the story is simple but novel and engaging enough to get the audience through the whole film. The movie stars two characters: Taki, a Tokyo-dwelling high schooler who dreams of being an architect, and Mitsuha, a countryside resident who wants nothing more than to live life in the city. One day, Taki and Mitsuha find themselves body-swapping, and the two must learn how to navigate life with someone of another gender randomly swapping in for a day. Much hi-jinx and gender-mismatch hilarity ensue.</p><p>Despite <em>Your Name</em>'s popularity, many anime fans deride the film for lacking depth. Even comparing the film to other popular anime, it's easy to see how they come to that conclusion. The romance is less developed than <em>Toradora</em>. The film doesn't tackle philosophical questions about life like <em>Fullmetal Alchemist</em>. The story is less emotionally gripping than <em>Re:Zero</em> or <em>Angel Beats</em>. While the scenery is stunning, the art lacks the creativity and expression of any Miyazaki film. To many, <em>Your Name</em> is very pretty, but does not say much.</p><p>While I understand where those criticisms are coming from, I am of the firm belief that <em>Your Name</em> is good, actually. Particularly, the film is good in how it tackles the theme of tradition and its commentary on the nature of tragedy.</p><p>The film reveals its hidden tragedy mid-way through the film. As a result of all the Freaky-Friday shenanigans, Taki and Mitsuha have started to develop romantic feelings for one another (anime will be anime). However, the two stop body-swapping with neither knowing why. Distraught, Taki goes on a journey to discover where Mitsuha's country village is located, only to find a giant crater next to the ruins of the old village. Taki learns that they were not just swapping across space, but also over time. 3 years ago, Mitsuha's village was annihilated by large debris from a passing comet. Taki shortly finds Mitsuha's name among the list of the victims from that incident. Mitsuha was dead.</p><p>Here, Your Name follows the path of the romantic tragedies that have come before it. The death of Romeo and Juliet was tragic but fated from the start. So, too, were the deaths of Jack Dawson and Rose Bukater aboard the fictional Titanic. Mitsuha was dead long before Taki began body-swapping with her. This time displacement gives her death a sense of inevitability, that Taki was interacting with someone who was all but assured to die.</p><p>Even so, that is where the comparisons end. Unlike Titanic or Romeo & Juliet, the other romantic half, Taki, remains alive. Despite being heartbroken and grieving, Taki realizes he is the only one who can do something. In desperation, he bikes up treacherous terrain to reach a secluded altar that houses ceremonial sake imbued with Mitsuha's spit (she's a shrine maiden, they do this kind of stuff a lot). After drinking the sake, he manages to swap with Mitsuha once more and warns her of her village's demise. Using Taki's warning, Mitsuha collaborates with her friends to evacuate the villagers away from the debris landing site. The village remains destroyed, but everyone survives. The film ends with Taki and Mitsuha meeting each other many years later on a street in Tokyo. Tragedy averted.</p><p>One key aspect of the tragedy, or any emotional story, is how invested the audience gets in the story. We understand what they are going through and relate to what they want. Many people that have experienced romantic attraction as a teen know what Romeo and Juliet felt. We see a part of ourselves in the characters on the stage or screen. This attachment makes their eventual fate unbearable. No matter how many times we watch those tragedies, there's a little hope that maybe this time they will turn out alright. Such hope, and the subsequent losing of it after the characters die, is why some describe tragedies as a way to practice grief. </p><p>While I agree with that to an extent, I believe there is more to tragedies than pure grief. Grief is a negative outcome. Those experiencing grief must perform emotional labor to overcome that grief. Grief is a burden. But tragedies can be more than just work. They can also be constructive. How? Look at Taki from <em>Your Name</em>.</p><p>Taki also goes through grief. After Taki learns about Mitsuha's passing, he is utterly distraught. This person, Mitsuha, that he has spent the past several months getting to know, living with, and falling in love with, has befallen a grave fate. More than that, she died years ago, giving a sense of inevitability. She's dead, and, at first, he feels like he couldn't save her. </p><p>Yet Taki does not give up. He uses his knowledge of Mitsuha's life to reach back in time to prevent the big catastrophe. While Taki's previous intimacy with Mitsuha was a source of sorrow, that personal connection made him uniquely capable of intervening. Knowing Mitsuha and then losing her enabled Taki to save the day.</p><p>Taki's experience of getting to know Mitsuha can also work as a metaphor for the audience in a tragedy. In the body-swapping part of the film, Taki and Mitsuha never have a regular conversation. Sure, they talk to each other in notes left behind during a swap, but they learn the most from living the other's life. Mitsuha never tells Taki that she's a shrine maiden directly. Rather, Taki learns by performing shrine maiden duties inside of her body. Taki steps out of his own world to live in Mitsuha's. This is a parallel to how we, as audience members, consume stories. We imagine ourselves in the lives of characters from books and movies. We suspend disbelief to picture past or fictional events as happening in the present, just as Taki does when he body-swaps with Mitsuha. Consuming stories is a way of putting ourselves into another world.</p><p>And just like Taki, we do not let those characters die. Sure, we don't physically travel across time and space to change the course of events, but we do other things. We write alternate tellings and fanfiction, versions of tragedies where our beloved characters survive and live happily. One could argue that Taki changing the timeline is him creating an alternate universe, just like many fanfiction authors do. Additionally, we let tragedies live on in culture. We continue to think and discuss characters long after their passing. There continue to be countless productions of Romeo & Juliet despite the play being centuries old. By reading, watching, and interacting with tragedies, we give the ill-fated continued life.</p><p>For me, the purpose of tragedy is two-fold. First, we use tragedy as practice. We mourn the loss of beloved characters to prepare for or remind us of tragedies in our own lives. Second, we use tragedy as fuel for our own lives. We take the sadness and the heartache felt from these shows and use it to honor the memory of those who came before or to be more appreciative of those who are still here. Tragedy can be constructive. Look no further than <em>Your Name</em>, created as a tragedy about tragedies.</p><p>Your Name shows that tragedies are a powerful method of acknowledging injustices both past and present, fictional and real. But one thing I still think about is all the hundreds of tragedies that occur which we don't talk about. In Your Name, one could argue that city-boy Taki would have never have met Mitsuha had they not shared such a grand journey together. That works for Taki in the movie. But in the real world, how will we learn the stories of those whom we cannot see?</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Visible Radiation]]></title><description><![CDATA[My parents thought I was crazy when I replaced all the lightbulbs with candles. The candles are a fire-hazard, they said. The bulbs can last up to 10 years plus warranty, but barely a day for a small candle. I never thought I could live in a house designed by repressed dreams, but I have learned that she makes for pleasant conversation over coffee. She said, you don't have to change the walls and the floor yet. Start with the lights, since they change how you view the rest of your life. It sta]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//visible-radiation/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fff1a844e1249071a001aa2</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:59:36 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My parents thought I was crazy when I replaced all the lightbulbs with candles. The candles are a fire-hazard, they said. The bulbs can last up to 10 years plus warranty, but barely a day for a small candle.</p><p>I never thought I could live in a house designed by repressed dreams, but I have learned that she makes for pleasant conversation over coffee. She said, you don't have to change the walls and the floor yet. Start with the lights, since they change how you view the rest of your life.</p><p>It started as a one-day experiment. I built the wick from old strands of hair and used wax from my ears. It smelled like the garbage can I took them from, but it looked right. Wait, not right, not yet, but better. The old bulb covered the room in sterile tones. But in this one corner, with my shitty candle, it looked mine.</p><p>I wanted more. I imagined yanking out every bulb from it's socket then jamming in wax so hard that it caught fire. Then I heard her voice, "Slowly." "Do it properly"</p><p>I visited the local candle maker and showed him my abomination. He said, your heart is in the right place, but you need better materials. Wax from the bees, borax from the lab. He said this while thinking I would one day work my way up to speaking with the bees and the scientists. But I was long tired of building from materials assigned from when I preferred the color blue in 3rd grade. Speaking to foreign species would be trivial compared.</p><p>Some days, as I unscrewed one bulb from its socket, I got frightened. What if the candle falls out? What if I truly preferred the comfort of impersonal tones? She said this is not a commitment. Not now, not ever. But what if they get annoyed? She sips from her coffee. Fuck them.</p><p>I lied when I said I replaced all of them. I've not even changed the ones in my bedroom, just the space that occupies my mind. Even still, while I know how to find my car keys using mechanical radiation, the candles disperse a fluorescence that the old teachers have yet to explain. I feel like I've stumbled onto the Caribbean en route to Asia, crossing an ocean many others have crossed before, to a continent seemingly new, yet, has existed since the very beginning.</p><p>Instead of running from the new land and calling it heathenous, I want to embrace it. I want to wrap it with my arms and legs and torso and soul and delicately whisper, "I'm sorry I didn't see you before, but it's okay, I'm here. I see you. You were always there." Then, she'll maneuver her arms around my contorted form to reach for the last of her coffee, then mutter back, "Took you long enough."</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Virtual and Reality]]></title><description><![CDATA[The nature of reality has been a contentious subject that has rattled the brains of the greatest philosophers and the drunkest college students. That subject has only been further complicated by the increasing presence of internet-enabled machines in every day life, leading to many people living existences primarily in an online world. Is this online world 'real'? Well, yes and no. What got me thinking about the difference between the online and offline world is a passage by Annie Dillard. The ]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//virtual-and-reality/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5ff4990e4e1249071a00188d</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2021 16:37:01 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The nature of reality has been a contentious subject that has rattled the brains of the greatest philosophers and the drunkest college students. That subject has only been further complicated by the increasing presence of internet-enabled machines in every day life, leading to many people living existences primarily in an online world. Is this online world 'real'? Well, yes and no.</p><p>What got me thinking about the difference between the online and offline world is a passage by Annie Dillard. The essay, entitled "Total Eclipse," covers many topics, but what stuck out to me was her distinction between the surface world and the world deep in our minds. The surface world is where life happens. Dillard describes it as where we "join by words and activities the life of human culture on the planet's crust." Notice that there is an emphasis on physicality and connection. We join with others, our bodies intermingling with the bodies of others. The phrase 'words and activities' implies figures moving and talking in a shared space. On the other side, Dillard depicts that "We live half our waking lives and all of our sleeping lives in some private, useless, and insensible waters we never mention or recall." Whereas on the surface we are free and open and connected, in the watery depths of our minds, we are isolated and disconnected. For Dillard, the depths are insensible; they lack the fundamental connector between ourselves and others, our senses. Some may claim that the online world is purely a realm of our minds' depths. But, from my personal experiences, I believe there is more nuance.</p><p>Becoming a member of the social internet was a formative experience in my life. For my younger self, the regular world was rough. A combination of frequent school changes and workaholic parents made it difficult for me to make connections. The social internet gave me an alternative. In the real world, my friends consisted of those two classmates who just happened to play Minecraft. Online, there was a countless number of people who played Minecraft. As a result, the friends I made online liked me not just for my interests, since everyone played Minecraft, but for who I was as a person. In real life, I talked to others out of necessity, to ease loneliness. Online, I talked because I liked the people I talked to. On a Minecraft server, I felt like a human being for the first time. There I made my first honest friends, fell in love for the first time (and the second time), and felt loved and appreciated by others. Turning myself into video game data taught me how to join together with other humans.</p><p>This was all well and good for my online life, but I soon began to feel like my life had two different sides to it. In the real world, I was closed off and isolated. In the online world, fueled by the sounds and visuals of a computer, I felt love and connection. My natural ambition was not satisfied with an existence only half of the time. I thought, "Why not feel human all the time?" Seeking an answer, I turned away from my online life. What followed was years of experimenting, questioning, exploring, success, failure, isolation, and, at last, some semblance of connection with humans in the physical world. While my journey of discovery is far from over, today I know how to join human culture without the aid of digital translation.</p><p>Having lived in both the online and the offline spaces, the difference between them seems glaring to me. The warm hug of a friend greatly missed. The comforting voice from someone who loves you. These are experiences that are so far inexpressible through virtual means. Sure, one can make known the desire to hug through messages and emojis. But those words don't land on your skin and fill your being with warmth. Once you know that physical, real-world experience, anything online feels like a replacement, a holdover until the next opportunity to meet on the planet's crust. Because full connection with others, to join human culture, requires the physical component, many would argue that the online world exists solely in the depths of the mind, away from the surface world. To them, a simulation does not compare to the true experience.</p><p>I understand how someone could come to that conclusion. Yet, I ask myself, hadn't the words and activities online also joined me with humans? The evenings I spent building and playing with friends in a shared virtual world. The 12-hour silent skype calls that wordlessly conveyed "I am here, I care about you, I love you." At that time, I did not connect with people in-person, I connected with them in the virtual world. </p><p>This poses an issue for Dillard's dichotomy. The virtual world is not real by any physical definition. Online spaces exist solely as data on a computer. They only become real in the depths of our minds, what Dillard calls private and useless. Yet, in that virtual world, it is possible to form some level of connection with other people, providing some publicity and usefulness. How can this be possible? </p><p>Because the human brain is vaster than we anticipated. As Emily Dickinson long ago observed:</p><blockquote>The Brain — is wider than the Sky — <br>For — put them side by side —<br>The one the other will contain<br>With ease — and You — beside —</br></br></br></blockquote><p>For Dillard, the waking world, the land of activities and connection, is rooted in reality. However, the brain is capable of recreating reality within its confines, allowing connection to be made through sounds on a speaker and pixels on a screen. Sure, credit must be given to the clever engineers and designers who created the interfaces and programs allowing that connection. But despite their efforts, there is a disconnect between the computer and humans which only the mind manages to fill. Connections in online spaces are only possible because the virtual world is experienced as real despite not being real. Through technology, the surface world can exist in the depths of your mind.</p><p>That is not to say that virtual realities and all connections are good. Filter bubbles and isolated online communities have contributed to an increasingly divided world. However, there are others who are like me. There are many people who struggle to connection, whose endeavors to join the culture around them continue to fail. For those people, going online is their primary path to joining and connecting. Many of them feel self-pity, believing that their connections are invalid for happening online. If you are one of those, know that even though the connections are not physically real, they are still real.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bye Year of Networking: Hello Year of Building]]></title><description><![CDATA[At the end of a calendar year, many people create New Year's resolution, a flimsy goal that rarely lasts beyond January. Instead, I follow an idea called a Yearly Theme. A resolution like "exercise more", for a goal that is supposed to last an entire year, is simultaneously oddly specific (there is more than just exercise in your life) and overly vague (what counts as exercise? what counts as more?). On the other hand, because themes are purposefully broad, they can influence many different aspe]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//2020-theme-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5feb60324e1249071a001770</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Dec 2020 18:23:48 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At the end of a calendar year, many people create New Year's resolution, a flimsy goal that rarely lasts beyond January. Instead, I follow an idea called a Yearly Theme. A resolution like "exercise more", for a goal that is supposed to last an entire year, is simultaneously oddly specific (there is more than just exercise in your life) and overly vague (what counts as exercise? what counts as more?). On the other hand, because themes are purposefully broad, they can influence many different aspects of your life and last the entire year. Today, I will be going over my theme for 2020 and my theme for the upcoming year.</p><p>My theme for 2020 was networking; building a stable network of friends and colleagues that will support me in my endeavors. Although, to be frank, that has been my theme since freshman year of university. Throughout my four and a half years in higher education, I have bounced between different social circles and clubs and everything in between. Drifting from group to group, I was homeless.</p><p>At the end of 2020, I feel quite secure in where I am. I have become a member of two wonderful <a href="https://www.toastmasters.org/about/all-about-toastmasters">Toastmasters</a> clubs. I became an active chatter in a lovely <a href="https://discord.com/">Discord</a> server based around one of my long-standing favorite content creators. I deepened my connections to some good friends of mine that I now talk to regularly. I am very happy to keep coming back to these groups time and time again.</p><p>However, what makes these groups different from all the ones I was previously a part of? The two main reasons are variety and happiness.</p><p>First, my connection to previous groups was built around a singular facet of my identity. I used to be a member of many clubs in university, but all those clubs related somehow to my Asian ethnicity. There's nothing wrong with joining a club for that reason, but I contain a multitude of interests and hobbies. In my Discord server, I can talk about all things nerdy. In Toastmasters, I practice professional development. I have friends for anime, friends for video games, and friends for complaining about life. The result is similar to what Ben Thompson describes in <a href="https://stratechery.com/2020/social-networking-2-0/">Social Networking 2.0</a>; a Venn diagram of different interests and social circles whose primary connecting point is me, leaving no need unfulfilled.</p><p>Second, those groups were lacking reciprocal appreciation. I had joined research and study groups that were mentally stimulating and overall fun to be a part of, but they didn't benefit from anything I contributed. I was a member of cultural clubs and friend groups that constantly affirmed how much they cared and appreciated me, but I didn't enjoy being in those communities. The problem was always one side was happy, either myself or the group at large, and the other was indifferent. In the groups I have now, there is a strong mutual appreciation of myself to the group and the group towards me. This can be seen in my Discord server. I am thankful to the server members for fun conversations and companionship during hard times. Many of the members are thankful to me for being a good listener and providing interesting ideas. Both sides are happy.</p><p>Well, if everyone's happy, then no need for a 2021 theme, right? I think there's still more fun to be had. I believe having a solid and sturdy network is vital to a happy and meaningful life, but it's only the foundation. Now that I have that foundation, I can build something on top of it. Enter the Year of Building.</p><p>To understand the Year of Building, I will break it down like any creative construction project. First, you need a procedure; when and where the building will take place. Second, you need materials to build with. Third, you need a goal.</p><p>For the Year of Building, choosing a proper procedure is vital. Sure, I can say, "Write more blog posts!" and then write some blog posts. But once I've written a few posts, the goal is over. Instead, I need what Seth Godin calls <a href="https://seths.blog/2020/12/a-place-to-write/">A place to write</a>. I need a regular practice that I can come back to over and over again to build with. Sure, not everything I create is going to be spectacular, but if I keep coming back again and again, I will get better. To this end, I have a few ideas in mind. Starting off the year, I hope to publish a blog post every single week. Additionally, I will continue to create Toastmasters speeches regularly and take programming assignments at work. These are not merely one-time goals, but ongoing activities.</p><p>Yet, I can tell myself to write something every single week, but I need something to write about. Thus, I must also consume a lot of interesting ideas and stories to fuel my desire to write. This can come in the form of anything, from books to poems to articles to anime to engaging conversations with friends to plain ol' real-life experiences. In a way, I'm not doing anything new in this regard, since I already know what kinds of things get my gears going. What is new is acknowledging that I need to make an active effort to find and interact with ideas that excite me.</p><p>Side note, I often find that by simply having interesting thoughts and ideas, writing becomes a lot easier. Many writers talk about writer's block, the dreaded situation where you sit in front of your writing device with no idea what to write about. I have found that an active brain solves this problem. For example, I have had the thoughts for this blog post floating in my head for the past few days without putting any of them into word-form. Writing the entire post, with an outline and proofreading, has only taken me one hour. This is only possible because the ideas are so engaging as to spew from my head at the slightest provocation.</p><p>Lastly, you can have a place to write and things to write about, but you also need a reason to write. There will be times during the year where I will be feeling down about one thing or another, and my writing practice must persist in some capacity through those times. I have a couple of reasons. First, writing is an investment. Once you've written something you are proud of and want to share, it exists outside of yourself. You can keep coming back to that writing and share it with other people for the rest of your life. Writing is functionally immortal. It is an everlasting resume of your thoughts and feelings. Most importantly though, writing is fun for me. I like using words to describe my thoughts and feelings about my life and my experiences. I want writing to be a part of me for as long as I can think. The Year of Building is not just about building a writing resume but building a lifetime practice of writing that will hopefully last well beyond 2021.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Live Melee]]></title><description><![CDATA[Super Smash Brothers Melee is a strange passion of mine. Despite never playing the game competitively, I am very fond of its competitive scene. I can tell you exactly where I was when Hungrybox came back on Armada at EVO 2016. I could write an essay about how crazy it was that Mew2King won 3-0 over Armada at Smash Summit 2. Yet, despite my love of the game, I've had my ups and downs. Most recently, I watched Zain, my current favorite player, have a heartbreaking loss at last weekend's LACS3. Fee]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//lacs-recap/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fe4dcb74e1249071a0016c0</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2020 21:39:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Super Smash Brothers Melee is a strange passion of mine. Despite never playing the game competitively, I am very fond of its competitive scene. I can tell you exactly where I was when Hungrybox came back on Armada at EVO 2016. I could write an essay about how crazy it was that Mew2King won 3-0 over Armada at Smash Summit 2. Yet, despite my love of the game, I've had my ups and downs. Most recently, I watched Zain, my current favorite player, have a heartbreaking loss at last weekend's LACS3. Feeling down, I've been thinking about how I got here, and what it is really all about.</p><p>I've been watching competitive Melee since 2016, which coincides with Zain's rise to the top. I remember hearing about this up-and-coming Virginia Marth player who upset the top 10 player Plup at the Big House 6. Then, I watched Zain in 2017 as he pulled a reverse sweep against the 3rd best player, Leffen, at Smash and Splash 3, his best win yet. And again I saw Zain push his limits farther in 2018, getting 3rd at the prestigious invitational Smash Summit 6 and then winning his first major tournament at Shine 2018 over the best player in the world. I followed Zain's meteoric trajectory in complete awe.</p><p>Zain's trajectory came to a peak in 2020. I was jumping out of my chair as Zain won Genesis 7, his first win at one of the hallowed supermajors. Following that tournament, from March to last weekend, Zain has only lost a single set, which was to the 2nd best active player, Mang0. In that time span, he boasted wins at The Octagon, LACS2, Smash Summit X, and 3/4 weeks of Slippi Championship League. At last, Zain was the best player in the world. No other player even comes close to his level of consistency across so many events. As a long time fan, I was glad to see Zain's hard work finally pay off.</p><p>But with such dominance, one may question why bother watching? If you already know Zain is going to win every single tournament, where's the excitement? After all, you don't let go of a ball and wonder if it's going to fall; you know that gravity is inevitable. For some, spectating would get boring after seeing the same person win again and again. So, even if I was a fan, why did I keep watching?</p><p>Well, despite how invincible Zain seemed for most of the year, he proved last weekend that he isn't. At the tournament LACS3, Zain dropped sets to Axe and S2J for a 5th place finish, his worst tournament performance in over a year. Despite how consistently better Zain appeared than everyone else, 2020 ends on the note that Zain is only human. But, is that what I expected to happen.</p><p>Well, there was always a chance that Zain would lose LACS3. As a Zain fan, I would love to see him have a multi-year reign at the top and be put alongside Mango, Armada, and Hungrybox on the all-time rankings. But I don't watch Melee because I want to see Zain win; I watch Melee because I love seeing everyone want to win. At LACS3 I didn't just see Zain lose. I saw S2J's efforts rewarded as he beat Zain for the first time in over a year and a half. I also saw Axe, after a rather quiet 2020, give an excellent performance showing that he still has what it takes to compete at the top. I still wished Zain won, but every loss is someone else's victory.</p><p>Despite being a 20-year old game, people still care about Melee, still want to be the best in the world. People like Zain, Mango, IBDW, and others all continue to spend hundreds of hours on the game a year just so they can beat each other and whoever else can show up. Seeing these players that love the game, how their stories overlap and intersect again and again in new and exciting ways, is why I keep coming back to Melee after so many years. And hopefully, for many more to come.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You can do Better than this]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are some days where I feel like I'm not making progress. I feel like how I did yesterday which is how I felt the day before which is like how I felt the day before... Will now ever be enough? Heather Havrilesky has a book called "What if this were Enough?" Despite never reading it, I ask myself that question all the time. What if right now where all I would ever have? I wouldn't be too upset. My sources of food, shelter, and income are all reliable. I know tons of pleasant people who enjoy]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//you-can-do-better-than-this/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fbc30484e1249071a0015f8</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:57:37 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are some days where I feel like I'm not making progress. I feel like how I did yesterday which is how I felt the day before which is like how I felt the day before... Will now ever be enough? Heather Havrilesky has a book called "What if this were Enough?" Despite never reading it, I ask myself that question all the time. What if right now where all I would ever have? I wouldn't be too upset. My sources of food, shelter, and income are all reliable. I know tons of pleasant people who enjoy my company. I have work that is engaging and meaningful. My lot in life is good.</p><p>But needing that question and its subsequent response feels faulty to me. I'm a human being, and human beings like to feel things. I want to feel like now is enough, not be convinced by a calm and rational argument. That's not societal expectations talking, that's my goddamn bones shouting at me from the depths of my mechanical body saying "please let us feel something". I don't want my life to be a list of pros longer than a list of cons, I want it to be a fucking life, something that fills me with joy, pride, delight, excitement, and all those things I see on the television screen that I know my diluted joints are also capable of.</p><p>I've been trying. Taking up one hobby here, one friend there, one new thing that makes my life a little more brighter than it was before. Even getting this far is a blessing, although I should stop trying to minimize the remaining distance. The only way to the top is one step at a time, and right now it feels like there's so many flights remaining. Other days it feels like the top is right around the corner. Other days it feels like there isn't a top, just a point where you feel like you don't need to climb anymore. I think that's all I really want, is to not climb anymore.</p><p>All of this, this writing, these stairs, these hobbies and friends, is predicated on the belief in that point existing, where I no longer need to climb. Of course, there's always death, but I want to stop before then. I think this belief is what people call hope, and considering how far it's gotten me from where I was, it may as well be. But it doesn't feel like hope. Hope is supposed to be the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words. Whatever I have feels like a teacher handing me a poor test result remarking that "you can do better than this". Although, even without glamour, what I have is what I have, and I love it with all my heart. So I love the teacher, I wake up every morning thinking like the teacher, "you can do better than this." So one more stair I climb.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Believe Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Believe me, I care about you. I want to be there with you through it all. Believe me when I say that I love you Believe me, I am here now, even though I was in the jungle for two months without internet signal and fighting for my own survival. Believe me when I say that I'm okay now. It's just that sometimes I'm a broken DVD player and you don't even know what a DVD is. Sometimes I'm a spilled bottle of pills you are scared of taking. But I'm fixed now. The DVDs are playing the movie. I put t]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//believe-me/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fbc30064e1249071a0015f1</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:56:32 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Believe me, I care about you. I want to be there with you through it all.</p><p>Believe me when I say that I love you</p><p>Believe me, I am here now, even though I was in the jungle for two months without internet signal and fighting for my own survival.</p><p>Believe me when I say that I'm okay now. It's just that sometimes I'm a broken DVD player and you don't even know what a DVD is. Sometimes I'm a spilled bottle of pills you are scared of taking. But I'm fixed now. The DVDs are playing the movie. I put the lid back on.</p><p>Believe me, it's okay you couldn't afford bus fare when I wanted someone to talk to because I learned how to talk to mirrors.</p><p>Believe me, this song I sent sounds just like you. Yes, I know it's in an octave only dogs can hear, but can't you see how much it means to me?</p><p>Believe me, I spent a week putting out the silverware and the fine china. The table is all set. You just need to come join me.</p><p>Believe me, I like ice cream. No, I love ice cream. The last time I had it was in a prison cell, surrounded by cloaked figures, 6 feet away, starting at me, waiting for me to eat it. They were so nice to me.</p><p>Believe me, I remembered your birthday!</p><p>Believe me, I don't mind that you go skydiving unsure if you packed the parachute. It's just part of who you are. I just need to accept it.</p><p>Believe me, it's fine.</p><p>Believe me, I'm here for you. I won't leave.</p><p>Until I do.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Invest in Yourself]]></title><description><![CDATA[Everyone wishes they got in early. Investors with they got on Apple before the iPhone. Influencers wish they were on YouTube back in 2008. Those who got in early were either lucky, or able to recognize something special that most people can't. Opportunities like YouTube or the iPhone come once in a lifetime. Just like you. For your whole time on Earth, you'll be the only you that you know. If there's something special about you, something only you have or not everyone can recognize (you proba]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//invest-in-yourself/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fbc1bec4e1249071a0015d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:40:23 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone wishes they got in early. Investors with they got on Apple before the iPhone. Influencers wish they were on YouTube back in 2008.</p><p>Those who got in early were either lucky, or able to recognize something special that most people can't.</p><p>Opportunities like YouTube or the iPhone come once in a lifetime. Just like you. For your whole time on Earth, you'll be the only you that you know.</p><p>If there's something special about you, something only you have or not everyone can recognize (you probably have one, if not many), why not take advantage of that? Get in on yourself before anyone else.</p><p>Invest in yourself.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Passage]]></title><description><![CDATA[sits in the classroom. beams from the windows reflect the warm Memory. closes eyes. the laughs, the Uncertainty, the Joy, watches it all unfold with tender soft attention as they blossom opens once more. same laughs, same uncertainty, the joy is there, too, but the faces the words the offset textures of their petals inform the slant difference they evolve as yet — still — sits in the classroom.]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//passage/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fac4d9b4e1249071a00152f</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2020 21:01:37 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>sits in the classroom.<br>beams from the windows<br>reflect the warm Memory.</br></br></p><p>closes eyes.<br>the laughs, the Uncertainty, the Joy,<br>watches it all unfold<br> with tender<br> soft<br> attention<br>as they blossom</br></br></br></br></br></br></p><p>opens once more.<br>same laughs, same uncertainty,<br>the joy is there, too,<br>but the faces<br> the words<br> the offset textures of their petals<br>inform the slant difference</br></br></br></br></br></br></p><p>they evolve<br>as yet — still —<br>sits in the classroom.</br></br></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shine On]]></title><description><![CDATA[I stand in front of the door, the mirror. In my hand I hold a key, a lamp, a lottery ticket. Choose one wish. What do you want? What do you desire? What is it that is missing? What is the shape of the hole? But first I must know what is I. I am eclectic mix. I contain wild tangents, cast-away seeds that grew before I realized it. No one branch belongs to any school of thought. I merely take what I like and leave the rest to the followers. Never have I applied for residency, since I always knew ]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//shine-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5fa42ea496a5b305677f4f5d</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:59:35 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I stand in front of the door, the mirror. In my hand I hold a key, a lamp, a lottery ticket. Choose one wish. What do you want? What do you desire? What is it that is missing? What is the shape of the hole?</p><p>But first I must know what is I. I am eclectic mix. I contain wild tangents, cast-away seeds that grew before I realized it. No one branch belongs to any school of thought. I merely take what I like and leave the rest to the followers. Never have I applied for residency, since I always knew my visitor status. I am not permanent here, nor there, nor anywhere that is not myself.</p><p>So you ask what it is that will make me whole, and you shall grant it, but I say that I am whole in that I am not whole. The ship is called Theseus, not because of any plank of wood in its hull, but because I call it so. The shape with a hole can be Mark. The shape without a hole can be Mark. What only matters is perspective.</p><p>Still I yearn to be molded, for my soft fingers to grow callouses, for my unformed tendrils to take shape as to be of use to someone, somewhere, since they are of no use to me now. What use am I to myself? To be is enough, but I want more than to just be. I want to extend. A frame of a movie is not just the frame but all the frames that came before it. Context, complexity, tone, mood, carried over from one frame into the next. Only when all are taken together does it become whole; a story with a beginning and an end. I know stories are only what we tell ourselves, but I still want them to become real.</p><p>If that is your wish, then need tell more. Where does it begin, and end, and go in between? I am benevolent, no tricks. A wish can only be granted if you can chart it's trajectory.</p><p>It could have begun already. Perhaps it already ended. Who's story is it? Mine? Hers? Maybe theirs? Of those who came before or those who have yet to come? God's? Meaning is connection to a past and potential future, but connected to who and what and where?</p><p>What is connected to is less important than what connects, for the energy that flows through all is synonymous with all. It is the me myself, forged in the hearts of stars and passed down through the forces of nature.</p><p>Let them come, for I will shine my light to all corners for all to see. Let them bring opposition, for their answer is as true as mine. Those who see the light will join. But only if they see the light.</p><p>You know that you are enough. You know what you have is whole and sturdy and strong and good. You know this energy, known that it existed before you were aware of it. Now, let them know. Shine on.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How I learned to Communicate]]></title><description><![CDATA[There came a point in my college life where I wanted to put myself out there, to meet others, get myself known. My first attempt was to attend a meeting of the Asian Culture Club, one of the most popular, most attended, and most bustling clubs on campus. I thought that the best way to increase my odds was to put myself in front of as many people as possible. Entering the lecture hall, I saw a vast sea of heads. The tables and chairs were pushed up against the wall to make room for as many peopl]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//communication-style/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5f36c9f596a5b305677f4d0a</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:26:42 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There came a point in my college life where I wanted to put myself out there, to meet others, get myself known. My first attempt was to attend a meeting of the Asian Culture Club, one of the most popular, most attended, and most bustling clubs on campus. I thought that the best way to increase my odds was to put myself in front of as many people as possible.</p><p>Entering the lecture hall, I saw a vast sea of heads. The tables and chairs were pushed up against the wall to make room for as many people as possible. I heard laughter and banter coming from every direction. Having came by myself and being an awkward teen, I had no clue how to join the crowd. Instead, I stood alone in the middle of the room, smiling at anyone and everyone. The night would've been a complete disaster, had he not approached me.</p><p>He exuded a carefree confidence. He walked completely assured of his direction, no hesitation or urgency in his step. Yet, his gaze was unfocused, moving around the room, as if searching for something. His feet knew where he was going, but his face was indifferent. He was the kind of guy I'd always wanted to be like. </p><p>He stops a few steps away from me. He sizes me up, then says, "'Sup. Name's Alex." After an awkward pause, I realized he expected me to respond. "Uhhhhhh, my name is Mark." Alex nods in acknowledgement. "What brings you here?" "I, uh, you know, want to, like, meet some people. Put myself out there, and stuff." Alex raised his hand slightly, signaling that I'd said enough. "Aight. Say no more."</p><p>He looked off into the sea of heads and gestured 'over here' to some people in the distance. "Yo, Anthony, Ashley, get over here." Two faces emerged from the sea and greeted Alex. Turning to me, Alex said, "I want you two to meet Mark." I waved at them excitedly, my hand jolting back and forth in the air. "So," Alex interrupted, "you gonna introduce yourself?" Startled, I responded, "Oh right, my name is Mark. I'm a computer science major. I came from New Jersey. It's nice to meet you two."</p><p>Ashley and Anthony responded with where they came from and their majors. After talking a bit about their class schedules, they went away to talk to some other people. While they seemed satisfied with our chat, I felt like we just got started. "That was it?" I said to Alex, expecting to get more time. "Yeah dude, don't worry about it. You got more people to meet." Turning once more into the sea, Alex called over two named Jordan and George. Wanting to get started right away, I jumped straight to, "Hey Jordan and George. My name is Mark. I'm a computer science major. I came from New Jersey. It's nice to meet you two."</p><p>I didn't have more luck with George or Jordan. Nor did I have luck with the two after George and Jordan, or the two after those, or for the rest of the night. I must have met at least 20 people that night, and spent hours with Alex. </p><p>On the one hand, mission accomplished! I got to meet people, just like I said I wanted. Although, on the other, I felt disappointed. I wasn't fulfilled by any of the interactions I had throughout the night. I didn't know it then, but I was missing a key ingredient to having a successful communication. Until, I learned what it was.</p><p>The next day, I was going through the campus park when I noticed someone odd sitting on a bench. We were the only two people in the area, but anyone passing by would've noticed him. He was tapping his foot incessantly. He was fidgeting with his hands. He was turning his head around hurriedly, as if expecting someone to show up any minute. This man was troubled.</p><p>Upon looking closer, it turned out that this person was Alex from the previous night. Out of concern for my new friend, I approached. I greeted him with, "Hey Alex!" It took him a few seconds to register that I had talked to him. He turned briefly at me, "Oh, hey Mark," before returning to his fidgeting. "You mind if I sit next to you?" I asked. Alex responded, "Sure, sure," patting the area next to him without looking at me.</p><p>Once I sat down, I began talking. "Hey, you doing alright? You look a bit out of it right now." He quickly looked at our surroundings, making sure that there wasn't anyone else around. Once he saw that it was just the two of us, he opened up. "Yeah I'm fine, I'm fine. Just," he glanced away, "got a date in a little bit. Kinda nervous." I was immediately intrigued. "Ohhhhh, a date, huh? Tell me more."</p><p>He told me about where his first encounter with his date, how they hit it off and agreed to meet this day. He told me how this was the first date he's been on in a while, so he was afraid of screwing it up. I listened to all he had to say, giving him the space. I responded with some advice, some of my own stories, but didn't push too hard. I was as calm and supportive as I could be.</p><p>After we talked for a few minutes, his fidgeting had stopped. He took a deep breath, turned to me, and said, "Thanks for being here man. I feel a lot calmer now." I waved him off, "Don't worry about it, any time."</p><p>Alex tilted his head, inquisitively. "Say, you know, you're a different type of guy than I thought you were." I was dumbfounded. "Huh? What do you mean?" I wasn't trying to act any different than I was yesterday. Alex clarified, "I got a different impression of you last night. Yesterday, I thought you were a lame kid with a good heart. Now, you're actually pretty cool. You're a different dude now than you were then."</p><p>Long after we parted ways, I thought about what he said. From my perspective, at both the Asian Culture Club and on the bench, I was merely being myself. The difference was in the environment.</p><p>The Asian Culture Club was fast-paced. You had to keep up, or get left behind. I was talking to person after person after person. With so little time to speak, I consolidated my personality and my ideas into a thiry second elevator pitch. No matter how many times I performed my little speech that night, the format never clicked with me, and I couldn't make any connections.</p><p>Sitting on the bench with Alex was relaxed. It was just the two of us, not needing to worry about any other people around us. Alex could speak his mind as little or as much as he wanted. Likewise, I could share my thoughts freely. In that half an hour, with just the two of us, shooting the breeze, listening to each other, we got to really see each other.</p><p>That's how I knew my communication style was supportive. My best communication style is to give both sides the space to speak, and the encouragement to be honest.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Explaining Programming to My Aunt]]></title><description><![CDATA[I didn't realize before my aunt asked me at a Christmas party, "So, what is it that coders do?" how strange programming is to most people. While I couldn't answer my aunt back then, I have an answer now. I'll start with something most people now, the movies. There is a trope of the hacking wizard; a nerdy-looking, glasses-wearing (usually white) guy staring intensely at a screen while blasting at a keyboard like a sewing machine. In reality, I only write a few lines of code per hour. It's not a]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//explaining-programming-to-my-aunt/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5f24574f96a5b305677f4d02</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2020 17:39:32 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I didn't realize before my aunt asked me at a Christmas party, "So, what is it that coders do?" how strange programming is to most people. While I couldn't answer my aunt back then, I have an answer now.</p><p>I'll start with something most people now, the movies. There is a trope of the hacking wizard; a nerdy-looking, glasses-wearing (usually white) guy staring intensely at a screen while blasting at a keyboard like a sewing machine. In reality, I only write a few lines of code per hour. It's not about writing the most code, it's about writing the correct code.</p><p>I spend most of my time thinking about what is the correct code. Thinking about what I want my code to do. Thinking about how I can get my code to do what I want. Often, I don't know how to do that, so I go to the internet for answers. I read documentation and stack overflow, then think about what they tell me. Once I guess what the correct code is, I type it out.</p><p>Better programmers come to their guesses faster. They spend less time ruminating and researching and more time coding. However, their skill comes from experience. Years of programming and reading has already given them the answers they need, meaning they can get to typing faster. What separates the novices from the experts is knowledge.</p><p>However, it's not enough to just know a lot of things. You can know everything there is to know about advanced database design, concurrent systems, linear algebra, recursive neural networks, whatever. But if you're job is to make some text show up blue, then all that knowledge about databases and neural nets are worthless. Programming is about having the information that is relevant to the code you're trying to write.</p><p>If I had to answer my aunt's question today, I would say that coding is the process of learning how computers and software work and utilizing that knowledge to get the job done.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Make Your Own Site]]></title><description><![CDATA[To many, maintaining a personal website seems like a relic of a bygone internet. However, doing so now is vital in communicating your unique interests and ideas. To understand the flaws in our current communication methods, we first have to look at where we are. Over the past two decades, platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have amassed an enormous amount of creative energy and human attention. Anyone, from a kid down the block to the president of the United States, that]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//make-your-own-site/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5f14e0e1a9243704dfd3200d</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2020 00:13:39 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To many, maintaining a personal website seems like a relic of a bygone internet. However, doing so now is vital in communicating your unique interests and ideas. To understand the flaws in our current communication methods, we first have to look at where we are.</p><p>Over the past two decades, platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have amassed an enormous amount of creative energy and human attention. Anyone, from a kid down the block to the president of the United States, that wants their creations to reach as wide an audience as possible or to know what everyone is paying attention to, goes to those platforms.</p><p>The common thread between those platforms and their growth is the algorithmic feed, which ranks creations based on how likely they would engage people's attention. Creations more likely to interest people become more likely to be found. Thus, having a higher algorithm ranking leads to a higher potential audience, which many creators were keen on obtaining.</p><p>Creators began tailoring their creations to match the algorithm's definition of engagement. YouTube videos have heavy use of jump cuts1. While jarring, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvK8xtVbopA">jump cuts</a> keep the viewer's attention by increasing the tempo of the video. Twitter posters will boil down complex ideas into single sentences. While the idea may lose valuable nuance, their tweets become easier to share and read. Techniques that lead to poor books and films instead fuel creations that rise to the top of the feed.</p><p>However, not everything that gets posted to internet platforms sacrifices all integrity for algorithm rank. Platforms are full of interesting and thought-provoking creations. But they exist in spite of the platform, not because of it. Platforms continue to reward creations that appeal to as wide an audience as possible at whatever cost. Even if that is not your goal as a creator, on a platform, you will fight an uphill battle against those who play the algorithm game as the platform gives them additional support and resources. Not playing the platform's game is fighting an uphill battle.</p><p>Instead of fighting uphill, fight on your own turf. With your own website, you decide the rules of the game. The value of creation is defined not by an algorithm, but by the owner of the website. Text posts can be 140 or 140,000 characters. Your videos can be fast-paced and energetic or chilled-out and thoughtful. You can define what is valuable and what is worth including in your creation.</p><p>Additionally, owning your website lets you control how other people interact with your creation. You choose what posts rise to the top of your site, not an algorithm. You choose who can comment, or if there are even comments at all. Your creations are shown to others as you see it when you create it.</p><p>The best part of owning a website is that you are not constrained to a single platform. After all, a site is nothing but a collection of URLs. Whenever you make a new post, just share the URL to Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, wherever. You can be a part of the greater internet while still owning your creations.</p><p>That being said, it's not entirely possible to break away from platforms. Whether you engage with them or not, you have to live in a world where a majority of people spend the majority of their time on them. That being said, you have a right to express yourself in whatever format you find compelling. If that format is a standard YouTube video or Instagram post, then by all means use those platforms. But if you want something else, make it. Own your internet presence.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Improving Efficiently]]></title><description><![CDATA[At one point or another, you wanted to become a better programmer. Your reasons for doing so may very. Developers make a lot of money. Software can improve the lives of its user. Whatever the reason, increasing the quality of code would get you there. Realizing this now, what do you do? First, you might focus on the code you're writing. You run your code through linters. You write more documentation. You remove duplicate code. You make more descriptive functions. You apply every good idea and b]]></description><link>https://blog.betruemydear.xyz//improving-efficiently/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">Ghost__Post__5f062e19a9243704dfd31fd7</guid><category><![CDATA[Essay]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Nora Del Rosario]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2020 20:35:52 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At one point or another, you wanted to become a better programmer. Your reasons for doing so may very. Developers make a lot of money. Software can improve the lives of its user. Whatever the reason, increasing the quality of code would get you there. Realizing this now, what do you do?</p><p>First, you might focus on the code you're writing. You run your code through linters. You write more documentation. You remove duplicate code. You make more descriptive functions. You apply every good idea and best practice your internet browsing stumbles across.</p><p>But, you reach a certain point in the day. Maybe lunchtime hit and now you feel groggy from a heavy restaurant meal. Or perhaps the effects of two hours of sleep are finally catching up to you. Slowly but surely, your attentiveness wanes, leaving you a shell of your focused self.</p><p>Despite the weariness, you push on anyway. After all, you're a coder (or trying to become one). What else does a coder do but a code? Onward you march.</p><p>Without realizing it, your output quality dips. You copy snippets from stack overflow without knowing how it works. You skip over failing tests so your updates pass. You set random booleans to true and hope the code works. Whatever it takes to get that feature or ticket or whatsoever completed. Just code and code and code.</p><p>What was your goal again? Become a better programmer? You look at your code, a spaghetti mess that will be a nightmare for future maintainers. Have you become a better developer compared to before you set out to work? In the beginning you were implementing good ideas. Yet those ideas are not reflected in the final product.</p><p>This conclusion seems counterintuitive at first. Coding is a skill, and skills need practice to hone. It requires 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. There are dozens of startups that got by through working 10-hour workdays with little rest. You're just doing what you're supposed to be doing, increasing your hours to increase your abilities.</p><p>In practice, there is a limit to how much you can work. It is possible to work too little; writing code every day will get you farther than once a week. But human beings are only capable of a few hours of active concentration every day. During this time is when doing work will sharpen your skills. The question is, what to do with the rest of the hours in the day?</p><p>There are many lower strain activities that can increase your coding abilities. You can read articles about relevant technologies. If you feel comfortable talking to people, you can talk on discussion boards or attend IRL meetups. Maybe, you could even start writing a blog. While doing these will not directly improve your skills, they will hopefully fill your head with good ideas that you can implement when you are actually coding.</p><p>I am not advocating doing something programming or tech-related all the time. You need to take time off. Go for walks. Exercise. Spend time with loved ones. Sleep (please). Also remember that while passively taking in information from reading and talking is well and good, you still have to write code often to make progress. Just remember that coding doesn't have to end when you stop writing into your text editor.</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>