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It looks impressive, but I'm not all that up with the cast. Particularly, I just don't see Matt Damon as a good Odysseus, even though I like him as an actor. Nor do I think much of Zendaya as Athena. Although I do think Charlize Theron as Circe is really great casting. I'm also a little iffy on trying to do the Odyssey as a single movie (as near as I know, he's only doing the one). To me, in order to do the story justice it'd have to be either a 2 or 3 part movie, or a TV series.
Gil Gerard, actor best known for playing ‘Buck Rogers,’ dead at 82 So sad to hear. His Buck Rogers was an a big part of my youth. Rest in Peace.
Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michele found dead Sad to hear. He used to make some great movies. Rest in Peace.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, actor who performed in ‘Mortal Kombat,’ has died at 75 NOOOOOooooooo!!!! Such a wonderful actor. One of my favorites. I think my favorite of his films are Mortal Kombat (of course) and Rising Sun, but he had many other great roles. I think he was one of the few things that made the godawful Tim Burton Planet of the Apes worth watching. And he was vastly underused (but still memorable) in The Phantom. And he was the voice of Sword Father in Blue Eye Samurai. I think that was his last role.
Steve Cropper, Blues Brothers guitarist and Stax Records legend, dies at 84 A brilliant guitarist. Rest in Peace.
A wonderful, but kind of sad documentary about the life and career of the great John Candy. He was an incredibly talented and funny man whom we lost way too soon. It's been out for awhile, but the wife and I finally got around to watching it last night. I hadn't realized just how long it's been since he passed. 31 years now. Surprisingly, this was directed by Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hansk), and put together by Ryan Reynolds. I heard a story about the making of the documentary - one of the most difficult parts was actually finding Dan Akroyd for an interview. Apparently, he's VERY private. Supposedly, Reynolds arrived at his house, spent the night, had breakfast the next morning, then they interviewed for several hours. After that, he had to leave.
This is a new show on Netflix. Chapter One, consisting of 6 episodes, just dropped last Thursday. Think Squid Game meets The Last Samurai. Here's the synopsis: During the Meiji era (late 19th century), 292 fighters came together at Tenryū-ji Temple in Kyoto after sunset, drawn by the chance to win a grand prize of ¥100,000. The challenge was clear: take each other's wooden tags and make it all the way to Tokyo. The winner would get the prize. One of the warriors, Shujiro Saga, joined the dangerous contest with a personal mission: to help his sick wife and child. Some great characters. Fantastic fight choreography. And the story has more to it than just a bunch of folk fighting. It's got political intrigue and personal drama unfolding as well. Really entertaining.
Diane Ladd, Oscar-Nominated Actress and Mother to Laura Dern, Dies at 89 Sad to hear. She was a wonderful actress. And she gave us Laura Dern, who helped give us Jurassic Park. Rest in Peace.
I finally got around to watching this movie last night, after hearing so many good things about it. Great film. The story was solid. The acting was great. I think it lived up to the hype. Amy Madigan (nearly unrecognizable) was delightfully creepy as Aunt Gladys. I thought Josh Brolin might be a bit too old to play the father of an elementary school student, but it's not unpossible. And he's such a great actor anyway. It's reported financial success is pretty impressive as well. A box office of something like $267 million off a reported $38 million budget. Even factoring in marketing, that's impressive. I heard there was also a bidding war among studios for the movie. Julia Garner did well. As did Alden Ehrenreich and Benedict Wong.
June Lockhart, warmhearted star of ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost in Space,’ dies at 100 A legend from Hollywood’s golden age. Rest in Peace.
Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ dies at 79, reports say I've enjoyed her acting since I first saw The Godfather as a young lad (this was sometime back in the 80s). Rest in Peace.
It's been 5,567 days since the release of A Dance with Dragons, and I thought the Game of Thrones TV series ended horribly. Nevertheless, I've enjoyed House of the Dragon, and am looking forward to this series as well (also enjoyed those stories). Here's the Trailer. It looks a bit more light-hearted than the other series. If I recall correctly, the stories were the same way.
Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride meets Bonny and Clyde. Could be interesting. Though the movie premise also has me a bit leery. I'm trying to recall any decent movies released in the last few years with the "classic" monsters, and I can't. Plus, this is only Maggie Gyllenhaal's third turn as a director (I think), and it might be her first turn at writing. Not to mention this has already been delayed twice it seems, which makes me wonder if the studio doesn't have a lot of confidence in it. So I shall be I shall be cautiously pessimistic. I probably won't see it in a theater, but might give it a go when it drops to streaming.
I didn't see a thread for this, so.... Anyway, I heard about this series awhile back from some youtube personalities I watch. Several of them recommended it, but at the time I was busy with other things and didn't watch it. Finally got around to seasons 1 & 2 a few months back. And now season 3 dropped yesterday. I love the characters. Ann is probably my favorite. Though all the main characters are very interesting. I didn't like Chishiya at first but warmed up to him by the end of the series. The setting and story itself was intriguing. I'm toying with the idea of getting the manga to read, but that'd be a lot of effort. Plus, I'm not sure I have the shelf space. Season One was pretty cool. Though I thought it could have been extended a bit and have the Beach only come in towards the end. Season two could have focused more on the Beach itself, culminating in the Witch Hunt (one of my favorite of all the games). As is, I loved the structure of first gathering all the number cards, then unlocking the face cards. The death matches against the citizens were cool. I wish we'd seen more of them. That King of Spades was a beast. Anyway, now I'm four episodes in to Season 3. I'm enjoying it, especially the creativity of some of the games (despite how brutal they are), with mixing aspects of the different suites (Clubs & Hearts, Clubs & Diamonds, etc.). Still, it feels rushed. There hasn't been enough time to really build up a lot of the new characters. And with only two episodes to go, I worry they won't give a really good ending (like they did with Season 2).
Polly Holliday, 'Alice' actress, dead at 88 Younger folk around here might not remember her, but I recall watching the show Alice with my parents as a young lad. I remember she was always pretty funny. "Kiss my grits!" Rest in Peace.
Graham Greene Dies: Oscar-Nominated ‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor Was 73 Very sad to hear. I have two favorite movies he was in. Maverick, with Mel Gibson and James Garner. Greene was funny as hell in that. Then there was Thunderheart, with Val Kilmer. Rest in Peace.
Terence Stamp, General Zod in 'Superman' and 'Billy Budd,' dead at 87 Sad to hear. He was fawesome! Rest in Peace.
Famed Apollo 13 moon mission commander Jim Lovell dead at 97 Wasn't sure where else to put this. I consider him an American hero, and a legend of space exploration. Rest in Peace.
Loni Anderson of the hit TV series 'WKRP in Cincinnati' has died Sad to hear. I liked her in WKRP.
Hulk Hogan, WWE legend, dead at 71 Damn, that sucks. Hogan was weird, but entertaining. As I recall, he once lifted Andre the Giant off the mat in a match. Rest in Peace.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner 'Cosby Show' Alum Dead at 54 ...Accidental Drowning Very sad to hear. Far too young. Rest in Peace.
Another Robert Eggers film. From what I've read, it'll be set in 13th century England, and they're trying to use period language. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been reportedly set to star. Willem Dafoe is said to also have joined the cast. Lily-Rose Depp is apparently in talks as well. I've enjoyed several of his other films, including Nosferatu. I'm looking forward to this. We'll have to wait until Christmas of 2026, though.
‘Legend of Zelda’ Live-Action Movie Casts Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Zelda and Link Although I haven't played a Zelda game in a long time, I've been a fan since the original game. I'd heard they were coming out with a live action movie, but this is the first news I can recall seeing. Seems like decent casting choices. I'm familiar with the dude. He was in Haunting of Bly Manor.
Julian McMahon Dies: ‘Nip/Tuck’, ‘Fantastic Four’, ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Star Was 56 Many years ago, the TV show Charmed was kind of a guilty pleasure. I also liked his turn as Doctor Doom. F#@k cancer. Rest in Peace.
'Reservoir Dogs' actor Michael Madsen dead at 67 Sad to hear. I liked a lot of the movies he was in. Rest in Peace.
Jim Shooter, Former Marvel EIC, Dead At Age 73 He had his share of controversy, and was by no means perfect, but he certainly left a mark on the industry. F#@k cancer. Rest in Peace.
‘Bad Company’ Guitarist Mick Ralphs Dead At 81 Great musician for one of the all-time great American rock bands. Rest in Peace.
I've yet to watch any other shows Jeremy Clarkson is part of, but I kept hearing good things about this one. Since it was only four seasons, with 8 episodes in each, the wife and I decided to give it a go. It's been pretty entertaining. For a "reality" show, I was surprised to see it steer clear of a lot of personal drama and focus so much on the actual running of the farm, with all the insanity that entails. Clarkson himself is funny, although occasionally comes across as a stubborn jackass. He does genuinely seem to care for and enjoy the farming and want to make success of it. I like all the other characters as well. My favorite is Gerald, mostly because I can barely understand a word he's saying. Cheerful Charlie comes across as really practical and highly intelligent. I've heard that other farmers in the UK really like the show and the spotlight it shines on how difficult they have it. The go through a lot of crap (especially from the vagaries of weather and bureaucratic regulations). Anyway, it's fun to watch. The scenery of that countryside isn't half bad either.
Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson dead at 82 Sad to hear, but he had a good, long life. Rest in Peace.
It’s not actually called Guillermo del Toro‘s Frankenstein, but I thought that’d be a nice distinction. Anyway, here’s the Trailer. It looks awesome. Of course, I’d expect nothing less from del Toro.
Trailer for a documentary: The Vincent Price Legacy I would make the argument that he was one of the greatest horror actors of all time. Definitely in the top ten. Maybe even the Top 5. I have several of his movies on physical media, including The Last Man on Earth (which I feel is the best adaptation of I am Legend). I will absolutely see this one day.
Legendary Comics Writer Peter David Dies At 68 Sad to hear. He was a great writer. Rest in Peace.
This is a documentary about Paul Reubens/Pee Wee Herman. The trailer was released awhile back, but the documentary just dropped on HBO within the last few days. Two parts - each over an hour and half long. I watched both parts last night. It's a fascinating look into the life of a man who was extraordinarily creative and talented. At one time, he was one of the biggest celebrities in this country. The last bit of audio from Reubens, which he recorded himself and sent to the people making the documentary, you can just hear the change in his voice as the cancer got to him.
Jackson 'Butch' Guice, Acclaimed Longtime DC and Marvel Artist, Has Passed Away Sad to hear. He was a magnificent artist. He was one of the big artists from my early collecting days. Rest in Peace.
I keep hearing good things about this movie. It's Ryan Coogler doing horror - a vampire movie set in 1930s Mississippi. I was impressed that it's Friday to Friday drop from opening day was only 32%. And it's second weekend Saturday and Sunday were higher than the opening weekend Saturday and Sunday. I might not get a chance to see it in the theater, but will make an effort to see it on streaming.
Assurance just compares badly to other such skill feats. Skill feats ride in three flavors:
Consider these level 1 feats: Forager: You cannot fail and you get extra. Student of the Canon: Cannot critical fail, failure becomes success. Success becomes a critical success. Ride: You just succeed. Recognize spell: Automatic success if it is below a level for your proficiency Quick Squeeze: 10 times faster on success. Assurance does none of these. If instead did it's current situation it allowed you to spend extra time to negate penalties it would be more inline with other skill feats at level 1. If it required expert or master proficiency and allowed the old take 10 it would be paying off an investment, but as it stands now it is just a way to prevent the whims of the dice from distracting from the player's agency in the story with bad rolls. Basically it is an anti-gambling feat for the players. For a second level feat Assured Identification is much more inline with what might be expected of a feat named assurance. Unmistakable Lore also hits this itch.
So got playing around with the Tian Xia options and realized that if you take the Leungli heritage sprites, go monk, then take Kaiju stance you basically have the magikarp to gyarados evolution. Since sprites can get permanent flight and Leungli heritage gives amphibious and a swim speed this matches Gyarados as well. A couple of ki focus spells and you can thrash around to your heart's content, and even utilize ki blast as your breath weapon. Anyways, felt that should be shared.
That is what I expected the answer to be. I will admit to being a bit disappointed, as it seems a clunky mechanic that means any time a feat or ability comes up they have to spell out if it has to specifically mention all the move speeds. Thank you for your responses!
I like the fact ancestry is a thing that is not simply a quick skin at level one and then rarely matters from that point forward. I like the general set up of the action economy in combat. I do not like the "everything scales" nature of proficiency, but otherwise like the proficiency system. I am a fan of the non-scaling proficiency alternate rules. I get why they did what they did with fighter, it just stands out compared to everyone else. I think there was a little room for a main focus for the fighter but at the end of the day I will still play one on occasion so maybe they were right. Heck they probably were, they are selling books and I am not so what do I know? All in all it is a solid system that I have minor issues with, so a great effort.
MREs are not rations in the traditional sense. Each package of MRE is 1250(ish) calories. A "typical" diet could survive on 3 MREs every 2 days (3700 calories) easily. MREs are rather bulky because they aren't preserved in the ways traditional rations are; a beef stew MRE when opened is already stew, not a concentrate to be mixed, and fully cooked. In addition you will have some form of drink mix, eating utensils, a wet wipe, coffee, some gum, a desert, et al.
What you dirty heathens call "the drift" is simply the warp, and your "starstone" beacon simply yet another cheap heretical chaos copy of the true Emporer!
It drove me crazy that if I wanted a shotgun toting dwarf I had so many levels between better gear. And no underbarrel grenade launcher? In fact I want lightning spewing guns, and Sonic wobblers that hit a cone... Cryo weapons that entangle you in a layer of ice... So I make a system for developing such. Next I am going to revamp the light and heavy armor because it's video game +1 chasing bad right now.
First off this is very much a work in progress. So use as you like, but if something doesn't really work let me know. Second the why I made this. I didn't like buying a shotgun at level 1 and not having another avialable until so much later. With all the tech available and skill it seems really odd to me that there is no way to actually improve an item. I imagine that Paizo will eventually get to this but for the time being I figure this should help. Finally as I mentioned its still not finished. I have not put in a DC for skill check because I am uncertain what it should be. I am thinking the (new item level x 1.5) + 10. Now I apologize for taking so long but here it is: Upgrading Weapons (for fun and profit).
It's a level 1 item.
So no, not really. However my personal short term solution is simply to use the weapon design system from Pathfinder. My homerule is you can upgrade an item to the next item level for the cost of the item. This gives you a points you can use to improve the weapon characteristics of the weapon (improving the damage or such). Each weapon can only be upgraded 4 levels over it's original item level. This will also allow better/more fusions to be added on. I intend to do something similar for armor.
So I considering a single level of mechanic on an icon soldier to have an automated camera so he can live stream his firefights without having to worry about a weapon camera or shoulder/helmet mount that might miss the action.
Magical checksums using the magical version of ssha3 (spell secure hashing algorithm).
...
Yeah, it is really going to come down to setting material and such support... I did jump in on the jumpstarter for this one. I am really looking forward to seeing what I get from it.
I won't pretend to fully understand it. Wizards kept most the IP, but the name and something similar in mechanics were allowed. They have their beta rules out, it's functional and suppose to allow for more narrative based story telling and action sequences... so I would imagine a bit more like AD&D in that regard. Of course that's always GM dependent too.
Alternity was an excellent setting with working mechanics. There is a company doing a new version.
With GenCon over I wanted to stop by and say hello to the wonderful people I finally got to meet and play with thanks to GenCon. If we ran into each other and I didn't recognize you or say he it wasn't an intentional snub. I hope everyone had a good time.
I'm guessing it's a cruel weapon.where does the sickened come from? I checked vicious and hurtful, didnt see anythingbut how many of them were offensive spells that required enemies to make saving throws? That's kind of the issue, there aren't any ways to make a viable offensive spell-using half-caster (except magus because they rarely use spells with saves) without potentially ignoring their physical combat focused abilities. The average half caster builds I see have a 14 in their casting stats, other than dex magus builds that try to split dex/int 18/18 or higher and dump str/cha. You're almost never going to get a failed save with that stat unless they're really bad at it. It's also completely ignoring the "spells" portion of what we are talking about. No one said it isn't possible to make debuffers or battlefield control with martial means. It's a non sequitur.
Eh, they have more than enough buffs on the list to never take spells that need a save. My argument isn't that they can't be another buffer, my argument is when I think"raging magic" with a spell list full of blasting spells using blasting magic shouldn't be a trap option.
I would argue the only 4th level caster that honestly suffers is the Bloodrager. They are loaded with offensive magic and suck at using it.
This good news on page 256? I would call that an auspicious sign.
Lesbians rule! Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. But I think I could get behind your model.
And now, for a bit of nostalgia, Windows 1.01 I had a commodore colt growing up. The screen would roll. I made it to level 98 on Tetris with the screen rolling before dad messed with it and cost me the game.
Bob I am happy to see things going well for you. Selene I hope your friends come around and it's just jitters on their behalf. I would like to ask a favor of everyone for a friend. She and her partner are trying to get pregnant through invetro. I don't want to hand out her personal information to everyone in the forums but she has a GoFundMe page. If you are interested pm me and I will give you the link. Thank you everyone for your forbearance.
Not to cause a panic but then there is the fact he is putting Bannon in a position of power too.
Iron gall ink (the ink that bonded so well to parchment that we still have texts older than 1000 years that are still perfect) required technique to prepare properly, but still was fairly cheap to produce... Only spurious "gold rush economics" justify a single vial of it costing more than a year's of a farmer's revenue. The average farmer earns significantly more than 16gp in a year.
Truth That's why I don't tell people to stay or be brave. My Great Uncle was Jewish when his family immigrated to the USA from Germany. I can't and won't blame people for fear. I can't and won't blame them for getting to safety when they can. Maybe their fears will be for nothing. But I understand not taking the chance when we have the history we have not only in the world but in the USA too. Even if their lives aren't threatened (and I wish that was less likely than it is), the desire to not going back to being the target of gross discrimination (instead of the "soft" discrimination of today) is enough to understand trying to get somewhere where the poem on Lady Liberty's tablet is still true.
My biggest worry as a custom white male is my friends that are not will not trust me anymore and my life will be duller and less full for that loss. Selfish I admit, but I would hate to lose all that is good and beautiful that the entire LBTQ community brings to my life, culture, and the world.
What if I don't want to continue fighting? What if I'm tired of getting my ass handed to me? What if I don't really want to be a part of a world that doesn't want me here? This has been a struggle for nearly 40 years for me. It's tiring. I'm so close to being done. In the military we go on ruck marches. "Full kit" 12 miles plus affairs. We stop for breaks occasionally of course. When we do no more than half the unit breaks at a time, the rest pull security. Then we trade places. So take a break Bob. You've earned it. Just be you. All of you including Cindy. We got your six. And when you are recovered we'll keep moving. No Soldier left behind. Don't think that just because you got your butt kick that we think less of you. You can do everything right and still lose sometimes. That doesn't make your efforts any less and should not diminish the pride you take in doing the right thing to the best of your ability. Rest, recover and do so knowing people have your back
People stay safe and know you aren't alone. Tangent:
Mark Kirk literally tweeted Duckworth didn't stand up for Illinois back in March. He can get bent at that point.
Set, I'm not excusing anyone ever doing that stuff. I would consider them all on the same level. Which is why you are just as vocally chasing downn Trey Gowdy, and Darrel Issa right? After all you were obviously paying attention so you are aware they both actually released information publically instead of had some after the fact inadvertent possible spillage? And you are just as vehement in chasing down the AOL account of Powel (that he admitted was for avoiding public scrutiny) and the RNC servers the Bush administration used right?
Also Hillary didn't lose her ability to practice law due to corruption. She lost it because she didn't keep up the maintenance needed to do so. Bill Clinton was temporarily suspended but he can be reinstated now if he wanted to be. Most lawyers that are elected president let their license lapse while in office.
Hookers and Blow.
Normally because if they worked for the military or had a clearance they know people who DID go to jail or were prosecuted for doing the exact thing that Clinton did. Also the RNC who ran servers for the White House and destroyed the evidence rather than turn it over to Congress as required by law. But I'm noticing a distinct lack of calls for Gowdy and Issa who both did actually release material to go to jail as well.
Yeah... unless O'Keefe releases all of the unedited film I have no reason to even watch the video. Quite frankly as a source of information he is shot. Nothing he has produced has been even close to what actually happens once the unedited paperwork is released. Basically he is bad and if he's your source then you should feel bad too.
HOW THE HELL DID RED BULL GET AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BIOWARE Money, and that worries me even more for the game being worthwhile.
In other news, Trump is now trying to tell the people of Nevada how to pronounce their state's name. Which explains why Nevada went blue in the polls recently.
WWhat would be worse is if Pence does significantly better than Trump did then Trump might shoot him in the foot for making Trump look bad. I could see Trump shooting off at the mouth because his second fiddle guy out plays him.
Honestly for a very long time I was a believer in the "thin blue line" and as a concept I still believe it has merit and value. However as a concept compared to the modern practice I have several worries in how it is being executed. I pointed out before and I will again how it seems just having a weapon and being black is grounds for police to treat you as a hostile force. I do not see how the NRA can abide by that at all if they are honest in their mission. We have people that will state as their sincerely held belief that merely disobeying a police officer is grounds for summary execution. This is not an exaggeration; the idea that a police officer is allowed to use lethal force in order to illicit compliance with his orders is giving him carte blanche to perform summary executions to those who offend him by not complying. The fact that we as a society seem comfortable with the idea that someone can be arrested only for resisting arrest is unfathomable to me. I cannot be punished in the military simply for existing. I cannot be ordered to confinement and restricted rations simply as a course of action. I must confess it worries me that behavior that is unacceptable in a war zone seems to be acceptable for the defenders of the public.
Just so you know I'm not avoiding an unpleasantness; I accept that allegations have been raised and it is my hope and desire that the truth of these allegations is established and any wrongdoing is appropriately punished.
Well I think the discussion certainly has room for questioning why the police felt she had to be detained as that certainly colors all further conversation about expectations from the police. This merely confirms if they were in the wrong from the start or not. Added to this the fact that their stated cause fails in that their actions after that point do not meet the requirements placed upon them by that cause means their motives are suspect as well. As such while their initial reasoning was sound the fact they failed to follow up on the obligations they saw for themselves followed by their actions against the person in question leads me to conclude not only did they do wrong by her but they also were negligent in their duty as well. One or the other would be bad enough, but combined their treatment of the girl is well beyond the limits of what is acceptable. So I guess I should have said: A requirement to detain is not the question for me, its the activities taken after they had her in the car and the fact they failed in their stated duties towards the girl. The pepper spraying after the door was closed, and then failing in a duty they placed upon themselves willingly, is beyond the pale of what anyone could call acceptable
A requirement to detain is not the question for me, its the activities taken after they had her in the car. The pepper spraying after the door was closed was beyond the pale of what anyone could call acceptable. She wasn't even particularly combative.
What I keep wondering is where all the 2nd amendment people are each time a police officer states, "the perpetrator was armed." as if that was an excuse for an execution. Supposedly being armed in the USA is not a crime, and yet we keep hearing how that one fact somehow changes everything and makes shooting the person okay. In Afghanistan everyone is armed (slight exaggeration) with full automatic weaponry, and yet that is not an excuse for Soldiers to go around shooting anyone that looks at them wrong. I don't see how it's an excuse for police officers.
If I was in a warzone, in a firefight and my squad captured enemy combatants and after we had them secured I chose to then use attack the detainees, I would have committed a war crime in violation of the Geneva Conventions and should be brought up on charges, stripped of rank and sent to serve time in a military jail. Realize that detainees are generally belligerent and have a recognized right and duty to attempt escape. In fact while the military force is expected to work diligently in retaining prisoners they are not supposed to punish those that attempt escape for the attempt in and of itself (the detaining force may however increase security measures so as to prevent escape). The fact that an authority having gained control of the situation where someone (regardless of status of being a minor) who was already injured in a peaceful country and then the authority figure pepper sprays the injured and detained person angers and disgusts me. The fact that someone would argue that what is not acceptable in a warzone with belligerent detainees is somehow acceptable in a peaceful environment with civilians for the sole purpose of not being cooperative when the person was injured in an accident, is appalling, and blows my mind. Please note this is not questioning the detaining of the individual itself, merely the actions taken from there.
I think I said all that needs to be said (that being there is little benefit from raging for an android) but with that yes an android can rage, it's just a penalty for them to do so (-2 penalty to AC no bonuses). However yes you will have the use of your rage powers, so I guess that's something.
Can Christian bakers refuse to bake cakes for interracial weddings? They could... IF they refuse to bake any wedding cakes at all. At which point they don't provide the service to anyone and therefore no one could claim they are being denied due to considerations base on religion. But that is a deceptive answer because the question presupposes that the homosexual bakers would not refuse a non-Christian. And as a leftist I take some umbrage at the accusation that I "bash Christians", those that follow the teachings of Jesus Have my utmost respect. Those that try to claim a title without following the teacher get my contempt. Again, it is the acts I judge. If you claim a faith and don't live up to the tenets then I don't owe you respect for the faith you claim.
All I can say is if I acted like that in warzone I would be spending many years in Leavenworth and rightly so. Yet with police deaths and crime in general at an aall time low somehow police are under seige and responding as if everyone owes them obedience and their first duty is to come home alive. It is personally offensive to me on a professional level.
Sounds like being a jerk. It's a common debate tactic and what's more I owe you no explanations or apologies. If you would like to contribute then I might do so anyways but I won't wait around for it.
Yeah that's all that can be done. Context is important. For example I train regularly on being able to kill people. Without the context that I'm in the military that statement looks really bizarre and worrisome. Occasionally I'll make the statement that everyone is pro-gun control. Someone will inevitably state that they are not pro-gun control. Then I'll ask why they favor allowing serial murders, rapist and child molesters access to firearms. They'll state they are not and how dare I suggest they are? Reply, "Congratulations you just advocated for gun control." It's always a matter of degrees and extremes.
See I've flipped this on many conservatives. I've pointed out that my religion requires that we allow those in love be married and asked should my or their religion take precedence over the other. Then I point out that if we were to eliminate marriage as a government institution as a whole and instead had everyone get legalized partnership contracts only then that would mean marriage would be whole defined by the churches. What my church states a marriage is would have no bearing on what their church states a marriage is. Everyone could literally use their own definition and be correct. What they would not get to define are the terms and conditions of the partnership contract. The only arguments I've received back from that is what I call "Christianist's Supremacy" arguments and those are easily fought back by pointing out that if that is the war they want to declare then I am well within my rights pushing for my religion's supremacy. Which then gets us into a discussion of the origins and constitutional role of religion in government. Please note this is not to argue the legitimacy of your statements; I believe you are correct on all points and my own antidotal experiences match yours.
How much money would businesses save if you separated healthcare from employment? Huge amounts. It would be a big boon to our private sector especially when compared to international corporations. This would also benefit the healthcare consumer too, as there wouldn't be money wasted on competing systems, and additional overhead for advertising, if we used a single payer system. In addition if a single payer system was used (and allow to negotiate) then bulk savings would help even more. Even a hybrid system such as what Britain has would help significantly.
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