Usagi Yojimbo's page

You can dismiss it as "not very well-thought out" if you like, but, honestly, I believe ending the war on drugs would be an easier, and more humane, way to address gun violence than criminalizing a bunch of hick gun-nuts who want to own high-capacity magazines and/or AR-15s.

Snipped a bunch of stuff that I think most of us mostly agree with, just wanted to say that I don't think the "not very well thought out" bit was aimed at anything you said. It was talking about fighting off Canada or the 1st Armored with our AR-15s.

Sadly, ending poverty and/or the War on Drugs isn't all that popular with a lot of people.

[Obligatory/] You're still a dirty commie, though. [/OBL]

But when you read a book penned down by someone alive today, and his views of gender are less advanced than those of Shakespeare, there is room to be a trifle upset.

:)

I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but I can confirm that the moments you'll spend less time thinking "Dude! Stop telling about how you are compelled to Save The Day for women in danger", after the first book or two.

I think it's partly because his writing style matured, he just plain got better at writing, and someone probably told him, "hey- you sound a bit sexist".

I wholeheartedly endorse the recommendations to keep going to at least the third book. The series really starts to take off.

DarkLightHitomi wrote:

Are we somehow the center of the universe again?

I believe that was a rhetorical question to demonstrate the idiocy of the previously described concept, that would result in the earth being the center of the universe, but would also be the logical follow up to one of a couple fallacies I was pointing out.

CBD- this is actually true. DLH does not understand uniform expansion and stated that the rest of the universe cannot be moving away from Earth because that would mean we would have to be at the center.

So, there was a misunderstanding, but it wasn't the exact one that you thought. ;)

Just to iterate, I don't have the power to boot him.

Also, quitting is something I would only do when all other options are gone, or absolutely all the fun is gone.

Have you considered not sitting next to him? Possibly asking the person between you or the GM, "What do you think about that?" Just don't engage.

Krensky wrote:

Seriously?
Your argument against solar power is orbital death lasers?

(Snip)

Even at the center of the rectenna array the microwave intensity is so low as to be safe for indefinite exposure. You can't focus it tighter because physics gets in the way.

D>%¥it, Science! No flying cars, no jet packs, and now no orbital death rays? Seriously, what's the point?!

Do we at least get the mind-control lasers? I was looking forward to those.

DarkLightHitomi wrote:

f course maybe I just hate the idea of some union guy I never met, telling me whether I'm allowed to work or not.

I am curious as to what you mean exactly, DLH.

For example, no union guy ever tells me whether I am allowed to work or not. In fact, I am the union guy where I work and I never tell someone whether they are allowed to work or not. That's management job.

Isn't that a fairly standard line in support of 'Right To Work'?

It's one of the ways they get working class folks to support stomping on the unions.

Because of his face in almost every piece of art featuring him, I can't not think of him as M. Bison.

And here I was hoping for "Cosmo"- I think he'd appreciate it.

"What did Obama do for them?"

He made sure that none of them will ever face prosecution for fraud and then hired Timothy Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury so that no hedge fund billionaire or financial speculator will ever have to worry again.

Take your horrible communist ideas and GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

(closes eyes- "the invisible hand will save us, the invisible hand will save us...")

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Any other fans of the Lensman books out there?

Absolutely! They are great fun.

Tarrintino wrote:

Okay, I'm kind of interested in what an "unmelting ice shard" is, and its functionality.

It's just a weird, exotic piece of valuable art, like a "time jewel," a "mithral tribar," or "crystallized god breath."

That's what I was hoping! Nifty.

It is estimated that there are over 250 million gun owners in the United States, and the yearly statistics for people getting shot (including suicides AND accidental shootings) does not even go into triple digits...

Triple digits? You mean less than a hundred? The FBI disagrees with you. According to them you are off by at least two orders of magnitude, even counting only homicides involving firearms.

(for 2009)

P.S. An AR-15 is not an assault weapon. It may look bad ass but its semi auto and .22 caliber by in large.

It isn't an assault weapon, but there is a huge difference between a weapon firing .22 LR cartridges and one firing .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO.

The AR-15 is *not* a pea-shooter by any stretch of the imagination.

Yeah, I forgot a government that assassinates its own citizens without any charges or due process or that assists state governments with oppressing and brutalizing people exercising their First Amendment right to peaceful assembly could never be considered "fascist". Mussolini, Pinochet and Franco weren't half as bad as Hitler, but they were still fascists. Fascism, last I checked, meant government oppressing the populace while allowing industrialists to get richer...

This is more of a quibble than a disagreement, but classicly fascism is more about state control of (important) industry in support of the National Will than it is about enriching private business. Maybe authoritarian would be more precise?

Auxmaulous wrote:

I

Why do you hate the show Pawn Stars so much?

1. It's on the "History" channel.

2. It is mindless tripe.

History channel?! Huh, that is a bit offensive. Not as bad as 'reality' ghost shows on Discover, though.

Bitter Thorn wrote:

We didn't lose in Viet Nam, Iraq, and Afghanistan because they had huge navies and air forces and vastly superior technology. We lost to poorly trained insurgents with (largely) light weapons.

...and diplomatic and political ass-hattery.

I think the NVA may want to talk to you about the 'poorly trained insurgents' bit.

IOW, his own link makes ClimateGate out to be criminal act by parties unknown, who probably were global warming deniers, that definitely shifted public opinion, but revealed nothing wrong with the science.

Bets on whether this will be acknowledged? Anyone?

I'll start holding my breath now, shall I?

To answer the last question.

The global warming alarmists are attempting to use cap & trade.
Along with that businesses ranging from fast food restaurants to grocery stores around the nation are paying fees to local and state Enviromental offices for having combustion equipment like HVACS & grills. Its a money grab and they will twist the data to support their argument.

Climate change is a vast conspiracy to profit local and state governments through fees on grills and HVAC equipment?

Thank you, I'm sure that's the funniest thing I'm going to read all day. :)

Are we quite sure Aretas isn't just an extremely dedicated Poe?

Pretty sure, with the discipline he'd need to have stayed on message this consistently, you'd think a Poe would have come up with some arguments that weren't so easily dismissed.

Doug,

So you want to support the guy who actually instituted 'Obamacare' when he was a governor and who publicly called for the President to adopt a simialr model to protest the President who listened to him and adopted that policy? Could you explain how this makes sense, bercause as a foreigner it seems totally nuts.

Unfortunately, it doesn't make sense to us, either. It really is nuts. :(

Usagi Yojimbo wrote:

It may be (probably is) harder for us to pay for a visit, but there is no mechanism to stop someone from seeing a different doctor.

Depends on your employer (since no one here except millionaires can afford health insurance independently). Many of them offer an HMO, in which you're not fully covered if you go to someone other than your "Primary Care Provider," and aren't covered at all if you go out of network.

Sir, I demand that you take your "fact-based" arguments away from my Internets!

But otherwise, okay, yes, that's true. But if your health insurance will let you, or if you are rich, it's easy to switch doctors.

Usagi Yojimbo wrote:

Gentle Giant, *why* do you hate our freedom so?

No, the only freedoms I hate you guys have, which I don't, is being able to buy cheap egg whites in big cartons, buy pink or blue extruded foam easily and Paizo Con. Oh, Krispy Kreme doughnuts too!

Not sure about the foam, but you aren't really missing much on the KK doughnuts. Too much sugar and too much grease.

GentleGiant wrote:

What foreign hostile power is on the verge of invading the US?

All of them...duh.

That's right! Because they hate our freedom!

Gentle Giant, *why* do you hate our freedom so?

Now, of course, you CAN see another doctor, e.g. if you're visiting someone else in another part of the country and get sick, but when at home you have one primary doctor whom you see if in need of medical advice or attention (unless it's an emergency or other such circumstances where you need to go to the hospital).
And, of course, we don't pay for seeing our doctors (through taxes, yes, but not cash in any way).

Interesting, that looks more like what we would call a health insurance card than a Social Security card.

Weird, I just noticed that I automatically capitalized that and you did not.

We normally only ever have the original SS card, but will have many different health insurance cards throughout our lives ( note that we don't capitalize the health insurance ones)

So, again, please define these freedoms which are special to the US and how the enormous amount of money spent on the military protects these freedoms is better than providing (or at least not making things worse) for the ordinary US citizen who might need a helping hand.
Otherwise it's just empty rhetoric and we can dismiss it with the same ease you proclaim it.

I can't respond to the question on freedoms and I don't think this is the right thread to talk about how much the US or the EU *should* be spending, but I believe it is worth noting that during the conflict in Libya it was widely claimed that our European allies were running out of supplies and were being supported by the US. The reports claimed that a lot of communications, recon, and command&control were provided by the US because we had the infrastructure and nobody else did.

Usagi Yojimbo wrote:

GentleGiant wrote:

...Diagnosing mental illness takes much longer time and should be done under proper circumstances.

I do not disagree with you, but remember most of us are talking about the US, the people in question are probably lucky to have a primary care doctor or someone they see at a free clinic

As I also commented on in my first post, something I'm definitely not envious of. I seriously have a hard time grasping how anyone can see this as a great or beneficial system (unless you're making money off of it).

I'm not making any money off of it. :(

As an aside, regarding your post above on... courteous use of language to refer to those receiving benefits. I would not use the phrase to refer to you (or most people) but I have had friends who I believe were legitimately receiving benefits for mental/nervous conditions who referred to their benefits as "crazy pay". I think that phrase is not unknown over here and is not (necessarily) meant to be insulting. YMMV

I have ONE primary doctor/consultation, whom I see when I need medical advice. I think that's the standard for most single payer/universal health care programs (anyone living in other countries can chime in on this if I'm wrong). Now, it might be a small clinic with a couple of doctors, but, at least over here, you can't just go to any doctor you like (if your primary doctor is on vacation, then all patients are referred to another doctor/clinic). Sure, you can change doctor/practice, and some do if they don't feel like they are getting the care they need, but it's a bit of a hassle since you have to get a new social security card each time (and pay for it if it's not because of you moving to another address).

You have to get a new government ID and pay for it yourself in order to switch doctors!?

Wow. I think we can safely say that your experience of healthcare access has been very different than for us USians.

It may be (probably is) harder for us to pay for a visit, but there is no mechanism to stop someone from seeing a different doctor.

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If people get disability because of mental illness, based on notes from their regular doctors (or any free clinic they attend) then I will give that there's a problem with the system. Those kind of diagnoses shouldn't be given by anyone but professional psychiatrists, who are trained to diagnose them. It also shouldn't be as simple as just visiting one for a session or two. Diagnosing mental illness takes much longer time and should be done under proper circumstances.

I do not disagree with you, but remember most of us are talking about the US, the people in question are probably lucky to have a primary care doctor or someone they see at a free clinic

<ninja'd by damnitall- cut that out!>

I suspect the cost of administration/enforcement is greater than paying the additional benefits...

I can (anecdotally) confirm this. It is a common situation in benefits of this type- the administrator may suspect that someone is exaggerating their illness in order to qualify, but there is a pretty strict limit on the number of private investigators that can be paid for- or even the number of claims that can be sent for medical review.

On the other end, many of the people who have the most problems with providing documentation and navigating the system are the ones who have the worst problems.

The system really isn't as easy to fix as it may seem from the outside.

<ninja'd by thejeff>

No, I was responding to "bloated, corrupt military-industrial complex."

To be fair, I don't think that anyone meant to imply that those serving are the ones benefitting from spending on the 'military-industrial complex'.

Having known some of them, I can assure you all that enlisted folks are NOT getting rich from our wars. :)

Invisible Kierkegaard wrote:

Oh, yeah, sauerkraut-breath?

Lies. My sister whored my works. She's a philosophical prostituting redacting harpy.

A) Is this our favorite. Bolshie goblin arguing with himself? If so, I may need to admit error and say that performance art may have a place in this world.

B) If not, then my congratulations, gentlebeings, on your ability to stay focused on your mano a mano textual struggle to the death in the middle of this thread.

Urizen wrote:

I blame the true Scotsman.

Aye. Those Scots are to blame for damn near everything.

Duh, not the *real* Scotsmen!

Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll wrote:

I just realized the post where Spanky called me Uncle Che was deleted.

:(

I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings; I was just joking.

I'll put five Fake Internet Dollars down on 'he thought it was a compliment'.

I haven’t played a Druid since 3.5 and then only to about 5th level. My group is going to be playing through Skull and Shackles.
 
What are people’s thoughts on Saurian Shaman Druids? The archetype seems to allow you to be flexible in your Wild Shapes, the DM says Pterosaurs are ‘close enough’ to dinos to count, plus there’s the various sea snakes, swimming dinos and so forth. Have you tried it and has it worked for you? If not, was there anything you didn’t like?
 
What is the class’s power level like? We will have one or  two munchkin-ey types who will be optimized to hell and back, one who will design something to fit an interesting concept and a few others who may or may not be optimized. Will a Saurian Shaman feel weak and useless, or will it be able to at least stay within shouting distance of the power gamers?
 
Thanks!

Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll wrote:

Darkwing Duck wrote:

They just defenestrate academia and speak exproctophatically.

I hate it when they do that. (?!?)

I thought defenestrate meant "throw out the window." :P

It does. :)

Also, I salute you, Citizen* Duck, I believe 'exproctophatic' is not a word, but I now feel that it should be. Well done. :)

*I used that salutation without thinking. That darn commie goblin is contagious.

...haven't been able to name a prominent religious scholar in a secular University who shares your opinion about Paul's stance on homosexuality.

Do they have to be left-handed red-heads as well?

Why those particular qualifiers? I have not attended a non-secular uni, do you know something I do not about the quality of their religious scholarship?

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I'm rather confused by the last few comments that equate having manners with tricking people into liking me. That's like saying going to a formal event in a suit and tie is lying because when I'm at home I wear jeans and a tee shirt.

You wear WHAT?!

Liar!

I'm going to tell you a big fat story, baby, it' all about my town

Yeah, down by the river, down by the banks of the River Charles
Ah, that's where it's happening, baby
That's where you'll find me, along with lovers, buggers and thieves
Ah, but they're cool people
Well, I love that dirty water,
Oh, Boston, you're my home

Wait, are you sure? I always thought it was 'Lovers, muggers and thieves'.

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Whatever Zimmerman did, seeking justice means waiting until we have all the evidence before making a decision. Making a decision before all the evidence is available, in this case, is racist.

I think you may be unclear about what the word 'racist' means- because that isn't it.

Besides increasing the character’s Wisdom score, is there any way to increase the DC of Wild Shape special abilities? I assume Spell Focus (Transmutation) would not work because Wild Shape isn’t a spell – How about Ability Focus (Wild Shape)? What about Ability Focus (Trample) or (Poison)?

Is Wild Shape meant to top out around 10-12th level?

Thanks

Interesting art style, will the art style very per issue, story arc, etc.?

That is a very distinctive art style. Are you locked into using that artist after the first arc is done?

If you do have to keep the same artist... Can the fans do a kickstarter to have WAR tutor this guy in how to do faces?

Thanks

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Kthulhu wrote:

Ringtail wrote:

Pfft. I'm going to say the new Batman movie is awesome no matter how much it sucks.

Ah, well if your'e a Nolan worshiper, that explains it.

Nolan? No. Bale? Yes. Makes me forgive casting Morgan Freeman as anything but an untalented corpse.

But... But... Are you posting from opposite land? Morgan Freeman!?

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Removed some posts. Play nice, people.

How can *this* thread need to have posts removed? I feel like I'm watching a salon:

"Tosh and fiddle, my dear sir! I shall demolish your arguments thusly- but first, may I offer you a glass of this fine tawny port?"

Back to eavesdropping. Thanks, you two. :)

Solar power aside...isn't there some crazy relationship between matter and energy that science might someday exploit?

You may be thinking of 'Zero point energy'. Something that Star Gate latched onto in its fictional setting. The 'Zasimir effect' (Casimir?)? Hold two plates a bare fraction of space apart and an amount of force is some how generated. I think is the current example of such? But yes, supposed an amazing amount of potential energy in 'Nothing'...*Bows*

:) I think it's more likely he is talking about that new-fangled partial matter-energy covers ion known as nuclear fission. (also possibly fusion and/or antimatter)

CBDunkerson wrote:

But is my own individual NOT buying of insurance interstate commerce?

Quote:

It doesn't matter because the commerce clause says that the government has the power to regulate interstate commerce. Health care is interstate commerce. Therefor the government can regulate health care. Charging someone a penalty for not buying health insurance is just a WAY of regulating health care.

What CAN"T congress regulate by that logic?

Ooh, I got this one, BNW:

Talk about answers in prophecy!

" ...and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Both the left and right wings have been pushing the limits of government power out for a good long time now.

I'm trying to understand what fabian persecution is. If fabian refers to continually withdrawing until an opportunity to cut the supply lines occurs, is fabian persecution forces pain on someone by retreating against their attack?

Everyone thought he was talking about Fabius Cunctator or "Fabius the Delayer," who was famous for retreating from Hannibal and hiding behind fortified walls until strong enough to win in the field. Those are "Fabian tactics".

It turns out that he was talking about Fabian Socialism, which apparently believes that slow and steady wins the race. The root of the terms may be the same.

The PFS crowd I play with says yes, the home game says no.

I was under the impression that since you didn't actual change squares with the move action that you were allowed to take the step once you stood up.

Thoughts?

Solidarity forever!!
Oh, Johnny X had 17 misloads yesterday and you want to give him a warning letter? I'm sorry, but there is no discipline for poor performance. No. There isn't. Also, we never say "I'll try". When packages are falling on the floor left and right, we just smile and say "I'm doing my best." If management continues to wonder why we failed, we say--"It's your job to make me successful!"

Hi, servant of the Plutocracy here. Am I understanding you correctly? That part (not the italicized bit) seems to be what grumpy old men say about why unions are destroying the country.

Is that what you meant? If so, I'm going to stop listening to Billy Bragg and never sing "Bread and Roses" again!

... bronx zoo for an mri, and they don't get upset when someone starts talking about coke and whores, they show up at the door, and I quip "Speaking of which...."

I hate to break it to you, but being an ass to people who A) don't mind and B) think it's funny means you AREN'T ACTUALLY BEING AN ASS AT ALL. Please turn in your "all gamer men are a!!+%*+s" membership card, as you have confessed to acting in an (in context) reasonable manner.

I really don't think that kind of thing is what people are trying to get at. ;) Sorry if you aren't as offensive to us as you thought.

There's so much more to talk about, but I'm going to go watch some episodes of Rome to further flames my enmity against empires.

Listen to Billy Bragg's "A Pict Song" after, that will heighten the mood. It even mentions Rome...

...you horrible communist humanoid!

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CunningMongoose wrote:

And I don't hate people from the USA, I hate the system

Great values? What were they?

A) It's difficult to keep the 1% from running things no matter what system one chooses.

B) Come now, even at the time those values were not shared by all of the founders, notably slavery. In any event, those were not the values that we aspire to, regardless of the problems we've had in attaining them from time to time.