I was just listening to a podcast that was centered on a central figure in 19th Century German history: Otto Von Bismarck. Fascinating stuff. Basically the podcast host was explaining how he managed to construct this elaborate system of alliances that kept the peace in Europe for decades, despite there being 5-7 'super' powers (by the standards of the time) all living cheek to jowl next to each other. The runup to World War I really began when Bismarck was sacked by Kaiser Wilhelm. The system of diplomatic alliances was so complex that no one could manage it deftly like he had. Thus the checks and balances began to erode and fail, leading to the total war footing we saw happen so quickly after Franz Ferdinand's assassination.
Hmm. That would have been much more impressive had my clothes been rightside out
I was just listening to a podcast that was centered on a central figure in 19th Century German history: Otto Von Bismarck. Fascinating stuff. Basically the podcast host was explaining how he managed to construct this elaborate system of alliances that kept the peace in Europe for decades, despite there being 5-7 'super' powers (by the standards of the time) all living cheek to jowl next to each other. The runup to World War I really began when Bismarck was sacked by Kaiser Wilhelm. The system of diplomatic alliances was so complex that no one could manage it deftly like he had. Thus the checks and balances began to erode and fail, leading to the total war footing we saw happen so quickly after Franz Ferdinand's assassination.
Bismark is one of the most famous and revered politicians in German history. he had his flaws of course but he achived peace and started the foundation of our social security system.
Hi s sacking was the most stupid of many, many stupid things Emporer Wilhelm II. did which lead to WW1. It all started with his inferior complexes and his craving for status and recognitian (there is a great German word to describe it: Großmannssucht, roughly addiction to become a great man)history would have been very different if Emporer Friedrich III. (father of Wilhelm II) would not have died after 99 days on the throne (resulting in the Dreikaiserjahr "three emporer year")
he apparently was a wise and farsighted man who wanted to limit his own power in favor of an democratic monarchy like in GB
I was just listening to a podcast that was centered on a central figure in 19th Century German history: Otto Von Bismarck. Fascinating stuff. Basically the podcast host was explaining how he managed to construct this elaborate system of alliances that kept the peace in Europe for decades, despite there being 5-7 'super' powers (by the standards of the time) all living cheek to jowl next to each other. The runup to World War I really began when Bismarck was sacked by Kaiser Wilhelm. The system of diplomatic alliances was so complex that no one could manage it deftly like he had. Thus the checks and balances began to erode and fail, leading to the total war footing we saw happen so quickly after Franz Ferdinand's assassination.Bismark is one of the most famous and revered politicians in German history. he had his flaws of course but he achived peace and started the foundation of our social security system.
Hi s sacking was the most stupid of many, many stupid things Emporer Wilhelm II. did which lead to WW1. It all started with his inferior complexes and his craving for status and recognitian (there is a great German word to describe it: Großmannssucht, roughly addiction to become a great man)history would have been very different if Emporer Friedrich III. (father of Wilhelm II) would not have died after 99 days on the throne (resulting in the Dreikaiserjahr "three emporer year")
he apparently was a wise and farsighted man who wanted to limit his own power in favor of an democratic monarchy like in GB
Bismarck is viewed less favorably here in Poland, because his internal policies involved using Kulturkampf as a tool to germanize significant Polish minority within Prussia and Germany.
Interestingly, despite his anti-Polish stance he was supposedly godfather to my great-grandfather, though it's only a hearsay...
I need write one day about the possible alternate histories that could be if the Commonwealth absorbed Royal Prussia instead of leaving it in Hohenzollern hands... Would it be possible that without it Brandenburg would never expanded into Kingdom Of Prussia? It might alter the history of Germany and in extension the world after 1700s... We could live in completely different universe.
Drejk, have you ever read the Conrad Stargard series? It features a Polish engineer who ends up being thrown back in time to 13th century Poland. About 11 years before the Mongols are due to arrive. It's a very bubblegum adventure series, but you might like it for the Polish-centric angle.
Drejk, have you ever read the Conrad Stargard series? It features a Polish engineer who ends up being thrown back in time to 13th century Poland. About 11 years before the Mongols are due to arrive. It's a very bubblegum adventure series, but you might like it for the Polish-centric angle.
I love that series! ~looks at my book case~ All five are there!
I heard about them... Mixed reviews.
I heard about them... Mixed reviews.
They are not for everybody. Having said that, they are one of my favorite series. They have my vote for giving them a chance.
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I need write one day about the possible alternate histories that could be if the Commonwealth absorbed Royal Prussia instead of leaving it in Hohenzollern hands... Would it be possible that without it Brandenburg would never expanded into Kingdom Of Prussia? It might alter the history of Germany and in extension the world after 1700s... We could live in completely different universe.
I would have to read about exact role of Brandenburgia in 30-year war and if their possession of Royal Prussia was a vital resource to them or not...
I heard about them... Mixed reviews.
Yeah, I enjoyed the series, but no one will ever mistake it for great literature. The author suffers from what I call the "Swiss Family Robinson" effect, where everything just seems to magically work out for the protagonist. Similar to Mary Sue, but less worshipful. I do like the fact that he is under the gun to do something about the upcoming Mongol invasion, and his efforts put Mark Twain's protagonist in Camelot to shame.
As an aside- If you ever want to experience what must be the earliest Mcguffinish/Mary Sue literature Swiss Family Robinson is it.Those crazy castaways found every animal and plant from every continent on their island. Not to mention all the gear that just 'happened' to wash ashore for them.
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Ro-kala-tava. Retilian counterpart to badgers from the hoemworld, er, moon, of luminars.
*sigh*
Designing monsters settings fiction leads to problems with names...
Problems with names lead to inventing languages, or parts thereof.
Night all. Sleep 2.0 then my 16-hour 4th of July time-and-a-half extravaganza...
'MERICUH!
Sleep well Patrick!
Ehhh, steam should have option "try to run this game on already installed directX" instead of having to go through the installation for half of games...
I am now the proud owner of a copy of Skyrim!
Expect "Jim the Knight's adventures in Coldland" soon.
Have fun! It is an awesome game. Stealth + Archery is almost broken. Do not forget about the (un)holy Trinity! (Smithing + Echanting + Alchemistry)
I find dying to be ridiculously easy, you'll want to find a large weapon and lots of summoning.
Not that it'll matter, you'll still die.
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Have fun! It is an awesome game. Stealth + Archery is almost broken. Do not forget about the (un)holy Trinity! (Smithing + Echanting + Alchemistry)I am now the proud owner of a copy of Skyrim!
Expect "Jim the Knight's adventures in Coldland" soon.
The best one I've had the pleasure of witnessing was using the crafting system to create what was essentially Saitama
Happy 4th of July all you Americans out there!
Happy Monday to everyone else!
16 hours to work today. Not a biggie. It's a split shift so I get to go home and sleep between.
Plus, holiday pay. Time and a half for this particular holiday, so two shifts gets me three :)
Sadly, after this I have no more shifts this week. While this may change, it still worries me.
I hate not having a set schedule. Every two weeks it is another struggle.
But, on a positive note I am updating my PbPs on a much more regular basis. Plus beginning an exciting new one.
If I pull it off I will be crafting my space-based campaign I talked about way back at the start of this thread
Hard to believe that GenCon is but a month away. Time to get cracking! I'll be eating ramen until then. Daddy needs some money to buy all the things.
428 am. I'm so used to this routine I feel like it's noontime.
Upside, inside out
Living la vida de madrugada
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~yawns~ I shouldn't have done that, but it was so nice sleeping in during the night. Tomorrow / tonight is back to the nightshift grind.
Hopefully it has been a quiet night, Patrick. Here is hoping that you get through it without any issues.
So far so good!
*knocks on wood*
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Morning has broken
Like the first morning
Dragon has spoken
Like the first drake...
It was a good weekend to have off. Hopefully this good weather will roll into my days off
My wife's 15+ year old cat really enjoyed sleeping with me last night. He has a very bad habit of peeing on things when he is upset or angry. He was banished from my office, but he is old so I relented. Now I just need to protect my stuff from him.
July 4.
Happy Birthday Dad.
I miss you.
July 4.
Happy Birthday Dad.
I miss you.
My condolences Calex
Yesterday was the three-year anniversary of losing my daughter. It's never easy, but we soldier on as best we can
My wife's 15+ year old cat really enjoyed sleeping with me last night. He has a very bad habit of peeing on things when he is upset or angry. He was banished from my office, but he is old so I relented. Now I just need to protect my stuff from him.
My 7(?) year old pug/Boston mix is becoming very incontinent. I tried discipling him, but he is a rescue, and any type of anger in his direction makes him cower and almost faint from fear. I am attempting to mediate it with pee pads and patience. He deserves a bit of peace in his advancing years. Lord knows he's had a rocky ride.
Fermilab lecture - "Probing the Dark Universe" - A Lecture by Dr. Josh Frieman
It was a pretty good lecture about where we stand (sort of) on the hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Longish, but enjoyable, if you like that kind of stuff.
My wife's 15+ year old cat really enjoyed sleeping with me last night. He has a very bad habit of peeing on things when he is upset or angry. He was banished from my office, but he is old so I relented. Now I just need to protect my stuff from him.My 7(?) year old pug/Boston mix is becoming very incontinent. I tried discipling him, but he is a rescue, and any type of anger in his direction makes him cower and almost faint from fear. I am attempting to mediate it with pee pads and patience. He deserves a bit of peace in his advancing years. Lord knows he's had a rocky ride.
I try to give the cat lots of love, but moving from the desert to the "swamp" was hard for him. Then he lost his dog who was his best friend about 4 or 5 years ago. Plus both the wife and I are a bit tired of the peeing. So yes, he has not been having a good time. I will try to be the good daddy for him. He does deserve it.
I try to give the cat lots of love, but moving from the desert to the "swamp" was hard for him. Then he lost his dog who was his best friend about 4 or 5 years ago. Plus both the wife and I are a bit tired of the peeing. So yes, he has not been having a good time. I will try to be the good daddy for him. He does deserve it.My wife's 15+ year old cat really enjoyed sleeping with me last night. He has a very bad habit of peeing on things when he is upset or angry. He was banished from my office, but he is old so I relented. Now I just need to protect my stuff from him.My 7(?) year old pug/Boston mix is becoming very incontinent. I tried discipling him, but he is a rescue, and any type of anger in his direction makes him cower and almost faint from fear. I am attempting to mediate it with pee pads and patience. He deserves a bit of peace in his advancing years. Lord knows he's had a rocky ride.
It's hard watching them age. Icky is my problem child, but the look of love in his eyes when we are snuggled up in bed makes all the aggravation worth it.
It's hard watching them age. Icky is my problem child, but the look of love in his eyes when we are snuggled up in bed makes all the aggravation worth it.I try to give the cat lots of love, but moving from the desert to the "swamp" was hard for him. Then he lost his dog who was his best friend about 4 or 5 years ago. Plus both the wife and I are a bit tired of the peeing. So yes, he has not been having a good time. I will try to be the good daddy for him. He does deserve it.My wife's 15+ year old cat really enjoyed sleeping with me last night. He has a very bad habit of peeing on things when he is upset or angry. He was banished from my office, but he is old so I relented. Now I just need to protect my stuff from him.My 7(?) year old pug/Boston mix is becoming very incontinent. I tried discipling him, but he is a rescue, and any type of anger in his direction makes him cower and almost faint from fear. I am attempting to mediate it with pee pads and patience. He deserves a bit of peace in his advancing years. Lord knows he's had a rocky ride.
I understand.
The Wife's cat does appreciate the attention given to him, but he is an irritable old man.
Stana Katic: "ATP: Where do you want to go today?" Presentation | Talks at Google
Stana Katic: "ATP: Where do you want to go today?" Interview | Talks at Google
The first is the talk and the second is the Q & A after the talk. I think Freehold DM might be interested in this one.
Grumble, grumble, grumble!!! ~curses under my breath about short term ignorance affecting our long term problems, then just walks away~
Another 14 hour drive today. Not in a huge hurry to get on the road, because coming in late tonight means driving through all those fireworks displays.
Another 14 hour drive today. Not in a huge hurry to get on the road, because coming in late tonight means driving through all those fireworks displays.
Drive safely.
+1
I am so glad that this place and FAWTL are free (usually) politics, religion, and sports. Way too easy to get a prison riot using those topics.
Three Four issues I never want to see here:
- Politics: You got a million other places to post that sh!t. Don't foul up my yard.
- Sports (of any flavor-I hate them all)
- Religion (or lack thereof)
- Edition Wars: Play what you like and don't worry about your neighbor.
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have a good 4th of july, Americans