Civility according to Dr. Lector
on
Cell-Phone Wars
·
· Score: 1
I'm sorry but I've had a dozen or so encounters with cell phone users and, other impolite people, who have crossed the lines of decorum in public places. I consider myself a polite person that won't allow myself to be bullied so these conflicts are sure to continue. This led me to my conclusion to build my own ECM. As of yet, I have not used ECM but will not hesitate to defend myself after fair, polite, warning has been given and ignored and the authorities have refused to help. Physical encounters are too risky and I'd rather not go to prison over some stupid selfish idiot rather simply and covertly end their conversation using nonviolent means. It still galls me that this doesn't address the real problem of correcting the person's rudeness and instilling some measure of civility.
I'm beginning to understand Dr. Lector's reasoning. Eat rude person "yes" "no".
I still think the Simpson's are great and they have never "dipped" in appeal. Screw the ratings. Long live the Simpson's! Ok, maybe it's time seeing the makers complaining about losing interest.
Top three favorite Homerisms Homer singing The Joker. Homer and President Ford talking beer and falling down. Ummm, forbidden doughnut...
The war was pitched to the American public and to the U.N. as pre-emptive self-defense against an enemy that was poised to launch a deadly attack against the U.S. Most of the world's countries were skeptical of those claims, yet the U.S. invaded Iraq anyway.
I know just as well as anyone that the rhetoric thrown around was only propaganda to sway constituents into accepting a fight that Bush and company felt was necessary for whatever agenda they have. Question one: Was it right to depose Saddam? Question two: If so, is it right to manipulate constituents into accepting deposing Saddam?
I followed the world media quite closely during the build up for Saddam's destruction and the rhetoric coming from Bush sounded more like "We're sick of Saddam breaking the UN sanctions and constantly being evasive". The feeling I got from Bush/Saddam was more akin to the frustration two kids have in the back of a car vying for parental attention. Both kids antagonize each other and finally one snaps and hits the other then the parents punish the one that lost his temper while consoling the one hit... neener, neener, neener;-)
The media hype did sound like we, the world, were in immanent danger of Saddam's WMD threat.
I look at this mess as being an example of many wrongs (governments, corporations, media, etc...) doing something right (eliminating Saddam). That's not to say doing something right doesn't have consequences though.
The funding of human space research is a noble effort with eventual huge long-term benefit. I'm all for it and don't give a dam who's side claims dibs on it as long as it actually happens! The concept of money being wasted on space via social program diversion is flawed and irrational due to the fact that large sums of money poured into the effort simply stimulates the economy even more through greater employment by the aerospace industry and the flow of the very same money to business and the individuals supporting the infrastructure. This same concept also applies to the military.
What really should be looked at is the process by which government entitlements are approved and move through the system and how corruption drains these funds.
"Can you please explain to me who we are defending ourselves against? We are surrounded on each side by 2 oceans and a pair of countries we dwarf in population and production capacity. The only reason we spend so much "defending" our interests is because our "interests" are largely in other people's countries. For God's sake, look at Rome. They tried to occupy the world, and hollowed out their own economy in the process. There are no communist threatening us with nuclear missiles. There are no Fascists sweeping over the world with tanks. At this point we are tripping over the results of our own occupation of hostile countries. If we weren't in Saudia Arabia, we would have no Osama Bin Laden. Simple. Our being jack-booted thugs gives everyone else a common enemy."
1. The US is not simply defending its own interests; it's defending its interconnected allied world economic interests. Most of the allied nations allow these forward deployed troops so the US can quickly and efficiently handle the various unstable types who threaten the status quo. Yes, the US foots most of the bill for these troops with some varying contributions included by allied nations. All allies' benefit to some degree while those who are not club members suffer to varying degrees. 2. There are questionable types possessing or trying to possess NBC weapons. That constitutes some measure of threat that is responded to via military and or diplomatic pressure. Remember, one nuke is still a city killer. There is no excuse for dropping ones guard when the stakes are this high. Also, the danger of Communism (Stalinism) still lingers everywhere. Those bastards are not gone yet. 3. Fascism is growing in power in all countries especially the Middle East; even the US liberal and conservative leadership are influenced by this philosophy. It is a threat to world stability that should be eliminated using a combination of education and people of integrity deterring fascisms followers at every turn. 4. OBL isn't mad at US troops being in Saudi. That's an excuse for his real quest of uniting Muslims under one banner. The US just happens to be a convenient scapegoat that has no option but to react to his manipulations. One alliances Jack-booted thug is another's liberator and protector. The 20th Century paradigms are mutating. Lines are forming and sides are being taken forming the next. Hopefully we can avoid conflict on the scale of the last century but it is rarely the case during changes such as these.
It's horrible to think a law allowing forcible entry by citizenry into another citizens dwelling or place of business without official law enforcement representation and without evidence of eminent danger can be allowed in any supposedly free and democratic nation.
If confronted with this scenario and the visitors presented no valid credentials or confirmation from the police or courts then anything goes. How is a citizen to know the people at his door are truly represented by the law? Documents can be forged.
The courts can decide if my riddling trespassers with bullets constitutes a breach of law if forcible entry is involved.
I do belive bounty hunters and collection types can forcibly enter without direct legal presence. I might be wrong though.
Like so many businesses, once they become successful they grow and soon incorporate. Eventually they gain a board of directors to provide expert guidance to ensure further prosperity and growth. These managers come and go but eventually enough selfish individuals slip through to turn the board into a parasitic entity. Most businesses stumble along this way for decades but the entertainment industry has a much shorter half-life in that pop culture shifts this way and that almost unpredictably.
In Treks case, we saw the standard progression in which good writing and cheesy effects targeting a certain smallish audience was slowly overwhelmed by statistics targeting the largest possible audience to gain the biggest advertising revenue. In other words, over time the corporate's insisted on fine-tuning costs to maximize income. With most entertainment this means more flash (flesh?) and less substance. Using this formula, Trek became big bosoms, lots of computer graphics and recycled old script ideas i.e. pabulum.
I like the concept of Enterprise and enjoy much of the cast but the writing just doesn't get me and could be so much better if the leadership dumps TV formula and marketing input and tries writing something with a bit more substance. Example: Stop having god, super beings, higher tech, time travelers etc. involve and then save the crew from outlandish incidents. Write more stories on the crew getting themselves into and out of trouble. And quit making humans the good guys so often. A lot of us are evil you know!
Viewing preference 1. TOS 2. DS9 3. Enterprise/TNG 4. Voyager
Re:Militarisation of space - one option
on
The Future of NASA
·
· Score: 1
It is one nasty vicious cycle other nations and empires in history have experienced. I feel the world today is doomed to repeat but this time it's the US's turn to inflict and learn the pain.
Re:Militarisation of space - one option
on
The Future of NASA
·
· Score: 1
On a political note [not for moderation]: America, the rest of the world is praying that you wake up and dump Bush this year. It may be 50:50 in the polls in the States, but from outside your continuing refusal to realise that he is a dangerous, incompetent, scheming, money grabbing, corrupt fool is increasingly alarming. Mod -100000 for flamebait, but that's how it is. Please realise though: I love the US, I just wish someone would drive it in the right (or should that be centre-left) direction.
One: It's not 50/50 in the US. The real fact is that it's more like 20/20 and about 60% don't care or are to busy trying to survive to be involved in Party politics.
Two: It's not just Bush or the Republican Party it's both parties. There is no politician in the US party system, with the right combination of political power, ideology or integrity, capable of bringing the US government back to its senses because about 60% of the public doesn't just give enough of a dam about party politics to get involved. Currently all the politicians brought to the front of the party system for the coming election are a waste of time.
So don't worry, it will all be over soon one way or another when the 60% wake up realizing the intent of the US Constitution has been bypassed and or the other 40% implode when overextending themselves in another power grab. (Probably when the 60% realize they've been had)
I give the US about 6 to 10 years before one path is clearly chosen. It's going to be ugly either way because people used to having power rarely give it up willingly.
As for the new space initiative. I don't care if the military and NASA sleep together. An exchange of knowledge between the two would greatly benefit space exploration in the long run.
I don't really like the attitude of much of the world right now and think having a whopping big stick to beat idiots who support idiots who crash planes into innocents is a wonderful idea. On the other hand I also support using the carrot but I still feel more of the stick is needed for the next few years. The Democrats are incapable of doing this properly so, I support Bush and will reelect him and other future Republican candidates because I feel sure that they will continue to use the stick more than the carrot until the insane parts of the world are made to come to there senses.
Oh the sweet, sweet sounds of a US election year. I love this crap. It's like sharks in a feeding frenzy. This country is going to eat itself some day soon.
OK that's it; you all are in heaps O trouble! I've just gotten my patent approved on the periodic table of elements. I'm going to sue every last one of you for everything! Cool, on another thought, now I can sue those morons who think they can own the human genome. Muhahahhahahahahahaha......
NO wait, someone else just got the patent on strong and weak nuclear forces. Nooooooooo...
I am not a fan of the Bush administration, or any US political party for that matter but, I do support the administrations decisions made in response to 9/11 and I will vote for the Republicans only because I feel they can better handle this international crises and not make more of a mess of it like the other parties would.
There are a lot of selfish people in the US government, military and business but from my experience; they are far outnumbered by pragmatic bureaucrats and decent people trying to make the system work, not work the system.
Yes, history has shown that the US isn't above pulling a dirty trick or two to get what it wants and that US political, military and economic leaders have been known to take advantage of a situation. Corruption will happen and does happen to this day but I disagree to the extent to which you carry this conspiracy.
I place most of the blame for the current crisis on the 20th century dead end experiments with fascism and communism and the failure of recent weak world leaders, who being more into the big party following the communist blocks downfall, mostly ignored pushing the reform of brutal dictatorships or establishing order in the countries in chaos or down on there luck. Instead, we probably had one of the greediest periods in recent Western history. It's no wonder the underprivileged world got angry with examples like the US President breaking the law, getting away with it, living high off the hog and flaunting his Willie at anyone with the guts to speak against him. There where simply too many examples of this kind of decadence going on all over the affluent world. Now we are paying for the complacency of past administrations and finally getting to the task of cleaning up the mess. I just hope the current administration doesn't make a similar mistake with these Iraq contracts but I think no matter what it does, someone will see a conspiracy simply because all trust was broken long ago. Sorry, I'm going off on a rant. Back to the subject...
There will be military spin-offs from the technology of permanent facilities on the moon and expeditions to Mars and the military sector will likely covertly exchange information to accelerate this development. It's happened this way since the beginning of the space age. So what? I feel it is more important to go to these places than fret over which power block will gain advantage using this technology and furthermore, I don't see the money spent on US and allied space exploration as sustenance being taken away from the needy here or abroad especially when it's such a tiny fraction of the governments revenue spent over decades. Projects like these employ people who spend money on business that employ more people and so on.
As for the US government/military world dominance takeover conspiracy, you're right, there is one. If you threaten to slaughter innocents or support those that do, we will come buy land, sea, air and now space;-)
Don't feed the monster excuses to put you down. Be nice and it will consume itself in due time.
Why waste time with this car crap and other social control issues? Why not go to the root of the problem and make it mandatory for all citizens to have an electronic implant with tracking, data/bill collection and remote lockout or better yet, kill switch? Now you can prevent all sorts of nasty social issues right at the root!
"That doesn't mean all environmentalists are idiots" Translation: Most environmentalists are idiots.
My answer to environmentalists is this.
Save the planet LEAVE!
As for the prepackage adventures, yes, way to linear and easy to predict. I'd rather read a book it's cheaper.
The NWN engine itself has tons of potential and is very flexible. I can't wait to see what people out on the web will make with it.
This will prolly get yanked by the copyright Nazis but what the hell it fits...
Here crucify me.
My uncle has a country place
That no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm
Before the Motor Law
And on Sundays I elude the eyes
And hop the Turbine Freight
To far outside the Wire
Where my white-haired uncle waits
Jump to the ground
As the Turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind
As excitement shivers up and down my spine
Down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me an old machine
For fifty odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream
I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant red Barchetta
From a better vanished time
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime
Wind
In my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge...
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase
Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud with fear and hope
I've got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded at the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle at the fireside
Rush
You ever so gently touch the heart of the biggest economic problem in the US today.
The economy is going to tank if the buying power of your average (lower 90%) consumer remains low.
Increase salaries (to the lower 90%) so more people buy more things or lower the prices and don't layoff. Money will circulate faster through more hands and the economy will strengthen.
Oh, but corporate greed has no bounds and the CEO's will still make 572 times more than everyone else combined not considering bonuses, perks, expenses, tax loopholes, blah, blah, blah. And, even as the company goes belly up, they'll bail with a few paltry 100 million while the floor worker gets the boot, bankruptcy and repo men descending on him like flies on......
Milk the cow don't eat it!
Whatever happened to the Aerospike, or was it plug nozzle? I can remember reading some book years back on SSTO spacecraft based on this engine design. It was a pretty cool idea to use the rocket engine (think inside out bell nozzle) as the heat shield for reentry but nothing seems to have ever become of it. Does anyone know if the concept fizzled due to problems like weight or materials? Did it even work?
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I'm sorry but I've had a dozen or so encounters with cell phone users and, other impolite people, who have crossed the lines of decorum in public places. I consider myself a polite person that won't allow myself to be bullied so these conflicts are sure to continue. This led me to my conclusion to build my own ECM.
As of yet, I have not used ECM but will not hesitate to defend myself after fair, polite, warning has been given and ignored and the authorities have refused to help. Physical encounters are too risky and I'd rather not go to prison over some stupid selfish idiot rather simply and covertly end their conversation using nonviolent means.
It still galls me that this doesn't address the real problem of correcting the person's rudeness and instilling some measure of civility.
I'm beginning to understand Dr. Lector's reasoning. Eat rude person "yes" "no".
Now all we need is a South Park parody of Galactica Mormons!
I still think the Simpson's are great and they have never "dipped" in appeal. Screw the ratings. Long live the Simpson's! Ok, maybe it's time seeing the makers complaining about losing interest.
Top three favorite Homerisms
Homer singing The Joker.
Homer and President Ford talking beer and falling down.
Ummm, forbidden doughnut...
Oh great, here come the Orc's.
The war was pitched to the American public and to the U.N. as pre-emptive self-defense against an enemy that was poised to launch a deadly attack against the U.S. Most of the world's countries were skeptical of those claims, yet the U.S. invaded Iraq anyway.
;-)
I know just as well as anyone that the rhetoric thrown around was only propaganda to sway constituents into accepting a fight that Bush and company felt was necessary for whatever agenda they have.
Question one: Was it right to depose Saddam?
Question two: If so, is it right to manipulate constituents into accepting deposing Saddam?
I followed the world media quite closely during the build up for Saddam's destruction and the rhetoric coming from Bush sounded more like "We're sick of Saddam breaking the UN sanctions and constantly being evasive".
The feeling I got from Bush/Saddam was more akin to the frustration two kids have in the back of a car vying for parental attention. Both kids antagonize each other and finally one snaps and hits the other then the parents punish the one that lost his temper while consoling the one hit... neener, neener, neener
The media hype did sound like we, the world, were in immanent danger of Saddam's WMD threat.
I look at this mess as being an example of many wrongs (governments, corporations, media, etc...) doing something right (eliminating Saddam). That's not to say doing something right doesn't have consequences though.
The funding of human space research is a noble effort with eventual huge long-term benefit. I'm all for it and don't give a dam who's side claims dibs on it as long as it actually happens!
The concept of money being wasted on space via social program diversion is flawed and irrational due to the fact that large sums of money poured into the effort simply stimulates the economy even more through greater employment by the aerospace industry and the flow of the very same money to business and the individuals supporting the infrastructure. This same concept also applies to the military.
What really should be looked at is the process by which government entitlements are approved and move through the system and how corruption drains these funds.
"Can you please explain to me who we are defending ourselves against? We are surrounded on each side by 2 oceans and a pair of countries we dwarf in population and production capacity.
The only reason we spend so much "defending" our interests is because our "interests" are largely in other people's countries. For God's sake, look at Rome. They tried to occupy the world, and hollowed out their own economy in the process. There are no communist threatening us with nuclear missiles. There are no Fascists sweeping over the world with tanks. At this point we are tripping over the results of our own occupation of hostile countries. If we weren't in Saudia Arabia, we would have no Osama Bin Laden. Simple. Our being jack-booted thugs gives everyone else a common enemy."
1. The US is not simply defending its own interests; it's defending its interconnected allied world economic interests. Most of the allied nations allow these forward deployed troops so the US can quickly and efficiently handle the various unstable types who threaten the status quo. Yes, the US foots most of the bill for these troops with some varying contributions included by allied nations. All allies' benefit to some degree while those who are not club members suffer to varying degrees.
2. There are questionable types possessing or trying to possess NBC weapons. That constitutes some measure of threat that is responded to via military and or diplomatic pressure. Remember, one nuke is still a city killer. There is no excuse for dropping ones guard when the stakes are this high. Also, the danger of Communism (Stalinism) still lingers everywhere. Those bastards are not gone yet.
3. Fascism is growing in power in all countries especially the Middle East; even the US liberal and conservative leadership are influenced by this philosophy. It is a threat to world stability that should be eliminated using a combination of education and people of integrity deterring fascisms followers at every turn.
4. OBL isn't mad at US troops being in Saudi. That's an excuse for his real quest of uniting Muslims under one banner. The US just happens to be a convenient scapegoat that has no option but to react to his manipulations.
One alliances Jack-booted thug is another's liberator and protector. The 20th Century paradigms are mutating. Lines are forming and sides are being taken forming the next. Hopefully we can avoid conflict on the scale of the last century but it is rarely the case during changes such as these.
It's horrible to think a law allowing forcible entry by citizenry into another citizens dwelling or place of business without official law enforcement representation and without evidence of eminent danger can be allowed in any supposedly free and democratic nation.
If confronted with this scenario and the visitors presented no valid credentials or confirmation from the police or courts then anything goes. How is a citizen to know the people at his door are truly represented by the law? Documents can be forged.
The courts can decide if my riddling trespassers with bullets constitutes a breach of law if forcible entry is involved.
I do belive bounty hunters and collection types can forcibly enter without direct legal presence. I might be wrong though.
Success and money killed the Trek franchise.
Like so many businesses, once they become successful they grow and soon incorporate. Eventually they gain a board of directors to provide expert guidance to ensure further prosperity and growth. These managers come and go but eventually enough selfish individuals slip through to turn the board into a parasitic entity.
Most businesses stumble along this way for decades but the entertainment industry has a much shorter half-life in that pop culture shifts this way and that almost unpredictably.
In Treks case, we saw the standard progression in which good writing and cheesy effects targeting a certain smallish audience was slowly overwhelmed by statistics targeting the largest possible audience to gain the biggest advertising revenue.
In other words, over time the corporate's insisted on fine-tuning costs to maximize income. With most entertainment this means more flash (flesh?) and less substance. Using this formula, Trek became big bosoms, lots of computer graphics and recycled old script ideas i.e. pabulum.
I like the concept of Enterprise and enjoy much of the cast but the writing just doesn't get me and could be so much better if the leadership dumps TV formula and marketing input and tries writing something with a bit more substance.
Example: Stop having god, super beings, higher tech, time travelers etc. involve and then save the crew from outlandish incidents. Write more stories on the crew getting themselves into and out of trouble. And quit making humans the good guys so often. A lot of us are evil you know!
Viewing preference
1. TOS
2. DS9
3. Enterprise/TNG
4. Voyager
It is one nasty vicious cycle other nations and empires in history have experienced. I feel the world today is doomed to repeat but this time it's the US's turn to inflict and learn the pain.
On a political note [not for moderation]: America, the rest of the world is praying that you wake up and dump Bush this year. It may be 50:50 in the polls in the States, but from outside your continuing refusal to realise that he is a dangerous, incompetent, scheming, money grabbing, corrupt fool is increasingly alarming. Mod -100000 for flamebait, but that's how it is. Please realise though: I love the US, I just wish someone would drive it in the right (or should that be centre-left) direction.
One: It's not 50/50 in the US. The real fact is that it's more like 20/20 and about 60% don't care or are to busy trying to survive to be involved in Party politics.
Two: It's not just Bush or the Republican Party it's both parties. There is no politician in the US party system, with the right combination of political power, ideology or integrity, capable of bringing the US government back to its senses because about 60% of the public doesn't just give enough of a dam about party politics to get involved. Currently all the politicians brought to the front of the party system for the coming election are a waste of time.
So don't worry, it will all be over soon one way or another when the 60% wake up realizing the intent of the US Constitution has been bypassed and or the other 40% implode when overextending themselves in another power grab. (Probably when the 60% realize they've been had)
I give the US about 6 to 10 years before one path is clearly chosen. It's going to be ugly either way because people used to having power rarely give it up willingly.
As for the new space initiative.
I don't care if the military and NASA sleep together. An exchange of knowledge between the two would greatly benefit space exploration in the long run.
I don't really like the attitude of much of the world right now and think having a whopping big stick to beat idiots who support idiots who crash planes into innocents is a wonderful idea. On the other hand I also support using the carrot but I still feel more of the stick is needed for the next few years. The Democrats are incapable of doing this properly so, I support Bush and will reelect him and other future Republican candidates because I feel sure that they will continue to use the stick more than the carrot until the insane parts of the world are made to come to there senses.
Oh the sweet, sweet sounds of a US election year. I love this crap. It's like sharks in a feeding frenzy.
This country is going to eat itself some day soon.
OK that's it; you all are in heaps O trouble! I've just gotten my patent approved on the periodic table of elements. I'm going to sue every last one of you for everything!
Cool, on another thought, now I can sue those morons who think they can own the human genome. Muhahahhahahahahahaha......
NO wait, someone else just got the patent on strong and weak nuclear forces. Nooooooooo...
I am not a fan of the Bush administration, or any US political party for that matter but, I do support the administrations decisions made in response to 9/11 and I will vote for the Republicans only because I feel they can better handle this international crises and not make more of a mess of it like the other parties would.
;-)
There are a lot of selfish people in the US government, military and business but from my experience; they are far outnumbered by pragmatic bureaucrats and decent people trying to make the system work, not work the system.
Yes, history has shown that the US isn't above pulling a dirty trick or two to get what it wants and that US political, military and economic leaders have been known to take advantage of a situation. Corruption will happen and does happen to this day but I disagree to the extent to which you carry this conspiracy.
I place most of the blame for the current crisis on the 20th century dead end experiments with fascism and communism and the failure of recent weak world leaders, who being more into the big party following the communist blocks downfall, mostly ignored pushing the reform of brutal dictatorships or establishing order in the countries in chaos or down on there luck.
Instead, we probably had one of the greediest periods in recent Western history. It's no wonder the underprivileged world got angry with examples like the US President breaking the law, getting away with it, living high off the hog and flaunting his Willie at anyone with the guts to speak against him. There where simply too many examples of this kind of decadence going on all over the affluent world. Now we are paying for the complacency of past administrations and finally getting to the task of cleaning up the mess. I just hope the current administration doesn't make a similar mistake with these Iraq contracts but I think no matter what it does, someone will see a conspiracy simply because all trust was broken long ago.
Sorry, I'm going off on a rant. Back to the subject...
There will be military spin-offs from the technology of permanent facilities on the moon and expeditions to Mars and the military sector will likely covertly exchange information to accelerate this development. It's happened this way since the beginning of the space age. So what? I feel it is more important to go to these places than fret over which power block will gain advantage using this technology and furthermore, I don't see the money spent on US and allied space exploration as sustenance being taken away from the needy here or abroad especially when it's such a tiny fraction of the governments revenue spent over decades. Projects like these employ people who spend money on business that employ more people and so on.
As for the US government/military world dominance takeover conspiracy, you're right, there is one. If you threaten to slaughter innocents or support those that do, we will come buy land, sea, air and now space
Don't feed the monster excuses to put you down. Be nice and it will consume itself in due time.
Why waste time with this car crap and other social control issues? Why not go to the root of the problem and make it mandatory for all citizens to have an electronic implant with tracking, data/bill collection and remote lockout or better yet, kill switch? Now you can prevent all sorts of nasty social issues right at the root!
"That doesn't mean all environmentalists are idiots" Translation: Most environmentalists are idiots. My answer to environmentalists is this. Save the planet LEAVE!
As for the prepackage adventures, yes, way to linear and easy to predict. I'd rather read a book it's cheaper. The NWN engine itself has tons of potential and is very flexible. I can't wait to see what people out on the web will make with it.
This will prolly get yanked by the copyright Nazis but what the hell it fits... Here crucify me. My uncle has a country place That no one knows about He says it used to be a farm Before the Motor Law And on Sundays I elude the eyes And hop the Turbine Freight To far outside the Wire Where my white-haired uncle waits Jump to the ground As the Turbo slows to cross the borderline Run like the wind As excitement shivers up and down my spine Down in his barn My uncle preserved for me an old machine For fifty odd years To keep it as new has been his dearest dream I strip away the old debris That hides a shining car A brilliant red Barchetta From a better vanished time I fire up the willing engine Responding with a roar Tires spitting gravel I commit my weekly crime Wind In my hair Shifting and drifting Mechanical music Adrenaline surge... Well-weathered leather Hot metal and oil The scented country air Sunlight on chrome The blur of the landscape Every nerve aware Suddenly ahead of me Across the mountainside A gleaming alloy air car Shoots towards me, two lanes wide I spin around with shrieking tires To run the deadly race Go screaming through the valley As another joins the chase Drive like the wind Straining the limits of machine and man Laughing out loud with fear and hope I've got a desperate plan At the one-lane bridge I leave the giants stranded at the riverside Race back to the farm To dream with my uncle at the fireside Rush
I prefer another title for The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World. "Programming for Packleds"
You ever so gently touch the heart of the biggest economic problem in the US today. The economy is going to tank if the buying power of your average (lower 90%) consumer remains low. Increase salaries (to the lower 90%) so more people buy more things or lower the prices and don't layoff. Money will circulate faster through more hands and the economy will strengthen. Oh, but corporate greed has no bounds and the CEO's will still make 572 times more than everyone else combined not considering bonuses, perks, expenses, tax loopholes, blah, blah, blah. And, even as the company goes belly up, they'll bail with a few paltry 100 million while the floor worker gets the boot, bankruptcy and repo men descending on him like flies on...... Milk the cow don't eat it!
Whatever happened to the Aerospike, or was it plug nozzle? I can remember reading some book years back on SSTO spacecraft based on this engine design. It was a pretty cool idea to use the rocket engine (think inside out bell nozzle) as the heat shield for reentry but nothing seems to have ever become of it. Does anyone know if the concept fizzled due to problems like weight or materials? Did it even work?