Ben Cook

Husband, father, choral music teacher. National Board Certified Teacher. Ph.D. in secondary music education. Opinions are my own.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@Criminalsimpson If you think seasons 1 and 2 are better than season 9, I don’t know what to tell you.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@dafiercediety @ProfNoctis

[Trussville City Schools @TrussvilleK12]

For the third consecutive year, every Trussville City Schools campus has earned an A on the 2025 Alabama State Report Card — and the district scored an impressive 96 overall!

School Highlights:
• Cahaba Elementary – 99
• Magnolia Elementary – 98
• Paine Elementary – 99
• Hewitt-Trussville Middle – 92
• Hewitt-Trussville High – 96

Congratulations, Trussville! Excellence in Academics, Athletics, and the Arts continues to shine across our district. Go Huskies!!

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis 1. Puff out your chest. This will make you seem more attractive as a friend and more threatening as a foe.
2. Make—and do not break, even for an instant—eye contact.
3. Slowly and articulately say, “I would like to be platonic friends with you.” This establishes expectations.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis The “Whee–Whoo” dichotomy.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis That’s exciting. I’m in the canyon!

[Classical Studies Memes @CSMFHT]

Roman numeral puns are great and I for one will continue to make them

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis Same. Em dashes are NOT the same as hyphens, and I’ve used them for decades!

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis Oh, that’s a tough call. I probably lean toward Expedition 33, as it feels more like a complete product. Still, World is an absolute blast.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis The pig level was bizarre in a way that I loved, but I’ve hated most of it. The writing is so bad.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis It’s also clear why those women are unpublished: their stories are as awful. I’m not sure if that’s intentional, because every scenario and bit of dialogue are poorly written. It has to be intentional, right? It’s hard to write that poorly.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis We call it “Divorce Game 2”

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis Having said all this, it’s mostly frustrating because the core of the game is so very, very good.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis Right? Vs. mode essentially lets us create a custom Grand Prix, so the tools are there. It seems like a grand slam and OBVIOUS feature that was left on the table. As expensive as it is, it’s gobsmacking how feature-incomplete it is.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis 3. 15 was excellent at launch. If the release order of 15 and 16 had been reversed, 15 would’ve been more appreciated at launch.

4. 5 is an excellent game with a dumb story and you’re a hater.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis 1. FF7R… could go either way. I think you’re right now, but that series doesn’t exactly give off big “consistent plan” vibes.

2. 9 has above average plot and above average play propped up by spectacular music and encounter design. Still mid-tier to me.

[Ben Cook @CptOppositional]

@ProfNoctis TotK is amazing. One of the best of all time. BG3 just happens to be better.