Tuesday Open Thread
MSNBC has an article - Report: Al-Qaida eyes Iraq ties for U.S. attack :
The terrorist network Al-Qaida will likely leverage its contacts and capabilities in Iraq to mount an attack on U.S. soil, according to a new National Intelligence Estimate on threats to the American homeland.
This is an Open Thread. What are you guys up to?
(edit by Specter): More News--Political theater or finally doing their jobs? The Democrats plan an all-night debate on Iraq tonight.
Contrary to Bill Kristol's claim that Iraq is not in a civil war , Sunnis attacked and killed dozens of Shiites
and a bomb exploded near an Iranian embassy.
In business news, Rupert Murdoch is set to buy Dow Jones & Co.
Vitter both apologizes for and denies his behavior.
Submitted by Ender on Tue, 2007-07-17 08:52
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Comments :
Weird code at the top of my screen on this site
(edit): moved some stuff to the OT diary.
Code says: user warning: Error writing file '/tmp/MYtFe36b' (Errcode: 28) query: SELECT c.nid, c.subject, c.cid, c.timestamp FROM comments c INNER JOIN node n ON n.nid = c.nid WHERE n.status = 1 AND c.status = 0 ORDER BY c.timestamp DESC LIMIT 0, 20 in /home/swordscr/public_html/includes/database.mysql.inc on line 121.
Also, I have no recent comments on the left side of the screen.
modify my story and put all this stuff in :)
Yeah there is something going on with the site - if it doesn't disappear soon I will contact the tech support. It is affecting the comments.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Thanks
I did not want to step on any toes. :-)
don't worry
you never are :) I emailed the tech support.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
The Forvm
was down yesterday with something oddly similar.
I wonder if there is a drupal exploit out?
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
I dunno...
It just suddenly happened a few mins ago as far as I could see.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Sent you an email just in case it could help
I'll see if there's anything obvious in the logs.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Hmm
What are all those duplicate entries on page 6 of the logs? Just curious.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
have no idea...
hmm
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Mysql errcode 28 = full disk n/t
skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...
Heh
Of course the simplest explanation is correct.
Thanks skymutt!
P.S. So what are your rates for tech support? =)
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
yeah I found the error on drupal.org
but could not believe that the hard drive would just be filled up when we have so many uncounted gigs of storage space in our plan :) Of course I know that the promises of uncounted gigs on shared servers depend on 95% of other users using 1% of their space... Still I could not believe it.
When I saw that I stupidly went to our database and emptied access logs thinking to free up some space but then though that DB might be on a different server? In any case that didn't help.
The Tech Support probably just cleared some room after hearing from me. :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Why have error codes?
Wouldn't be so much easier to simply read out "Disk full" instead of "Error writing file '/tmp/MYtFe36b' (Errcode: 28) query: SELECT c.nid, c.subject, c.cid, c.timestamp FROM comments c INNER JOIN node n ON n.nid = c.nid WHERE n.status = 1 AND c.status = 0 ORDER BY c.timestamp DESC LIMIT 0, 20 in /home/swordscr/public_html/includes/database.mysql.inc on line 121."?
Just an idle question.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
Well
I guess my simple answer would be that most errors would require lengthier explanations than "disk full." The error code indexes the explanation, so that you can look up the full explanation online, with any extra meta information; and that infomation can be kept up-to-date, corrected, and added to by the software publisher and the user community.
At least with mysql they keep a decent website with good documentation. The real problem is when you get a cryptic error message for something and there's noplace to go for answers.
skymutt: wise and powerful... enlightened...
Saudi Arabia & Pakistan.
Yea them again.
Today's SF Chronicle
has an Op-Ed titled: When a 'friend' of the U.S. also comforts our enemies.
It goes along the now familiar lines of talking about how Pakistan is a center for those that want to oppose the US. I'm more interested in the Saudi Arabia portion of the article though. For example:
"For years, the Bush administration has portrayed Saudi Arabia as a close ally of the United States, and while it is true that the monarchy has made laudable strides in the battle against international Islamic terrorism, there remains far more to be done. Concrete numbers from a U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers reported Sunday in the Los Angeles Times now reveal what has been known since the beginning of the Iraqi civil war: the vast majority of foreign insurgents, around 45 percent, are from Saudi Arabia. This percentage dwarfs that of the next highest exporter of insurgents, Syria, who stands at a modest 15 percent....In June 2004, Faris al-Zahrani (once a leading Saudi terrorist) confirmed that the assistant interior minister offered him safe passage to wage jihad in Iraq....The Saudi interior ministry claims that it does not know who is recruiting young Saudis to wage war in Iraq. This is simply not true. In November 2004, 26 Saudi clerics, 21 of whom are government officials, issued a fatwa calling on Muslims to join the jihad in Iraq. The leading figure behind the fatwa, Sheikh Salman bin Fahd Al-Odah, has heavily financed Saudi insurgents in Iraq and other locations. Al-Odah has three television programs that serve as a forum for his extremist views. One of these programs is on the official Saudi government Channel 1....eyond al-Odah, the highest ranking Saudi official to openly support terrorism is Sheikh Saleh al-Luhaidan, chief of the Saudi judiciary. In April 2005, the Institute for Gulf Affairs (then called the Saudi Institute) gave NBC a tape of al-Luhaidan instructing Saudis to send money and men to Iraq in order to aid then-al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. NBC confirmed the authenticity of the tape by calling al-Luhaidan. To this date, al-Luhaidan remains in his government position without censure."
Imagine that, the country where 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers came from is still the largest thorn in our ass. Now I'll agree the US should never have gone into Iraq. But to have purposefully ignored the Saudi's role in the international struggle of moderate vs extremists is doing the US not just no good, it's doing us grievous harm. 3500 plus GI's so far harm.
And the Bozo's that run our government still won't touch who's really threatening us here in the states.
We should certainly put more pressure on SA
although sometimes it's hard to tell who has the leverage in that relationship.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Yea, I agree.
There are good folk there, and then there are the people that really do wish the US harm.
I can't tell you who is on who's side. But I figure the locals (over there) know.
So, continuing our
previous discussion, since you think (like I do) that the Saudis are such a big threat, then what do we do about Saudis living in the USA--our country. If they support Jihad attacks around the world and/or establishment of Sharia law do we deport them? I say yes. What do you say?
name the enemy, win the war
define "support." -nt.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
I say, get a warrant and spy on them if they
appear to be doing anything illegal. If you can get enough evidence, charge them with a crime. If you can get a conviction, go ahead and consider letting them serve their time in their home countries jail.
We agree on many things. It's the fine points that I can't get from you. For example:
If a green card resident expresses anger or unhappiness with a political situation here in the US, that shouldn't put him at risk for losing his residency. If you catch him planning attacks and have documented proof, bust him and send him away.
It's the details that I'm not so sure you and I agree on. I've gotten the impression from you that you would like green card holders to either support the government or not say a word about it. That, I don't agree with.
OK, from your statement above:
Let's say that Sheikh Saleh al-Luhaidan, chief of the SA juidiciary decides he wants a tourist visa to the USA. I would deny him based on your assessment. I assume you agree. Then let's say his secretary wants a tourist visa--but we can't prove the secretary has openly supported terrorists (based on previous history). I would deny the secretary a tourist visa based on his association with the aforementioned Sheikh. Do you agree?
To repeat, IMO it is just as important (maybe more important) to our national security to indentify, take into custody, and deport islamofacists who are now living the US than it is to go fight the same islamofacists in Iraq or Yemen or Afghanastan.
name the enemy, win the war
answering you.
re - the SA Chief Justice - I'd talk to the Saudi's first. Tell them what we & they know and ask them what they think. I'd lean heavily against giving him the visa but I'd let the diplomatic channels talk to the government heads.
re - his secretary. I'd give her a visa. I don't think it'd be right to deny someone a visa because their boss is a dick.
Mind you, I'd watch (and listen) to them both like a hawk when & if they came over.
Visas are denied for lesser reasons
Visa approval are subjective thus US has no obligation to give the secretary a visa.
Deny the visa of course.
Sorry I didn't reply last night.
I was busy preping for my visit east to visit my family.
One thing that I think distinguishes yours and Sandbox's approach to terrorists in the US and my own appears to be fear. I get the impression that many on the right fear the terrorists more than I seem to.
The 9/11 hijackers weren't technologically sophisticated, but they used very basic tools to do what they did. They were able to exploit the system because up until that point, no one thought anybody would use commercial aircraft as suicide vehicles. So they were able to crash 4 planes and hit 3 buildings using very basic tools. I'm not afraid of that happening again because 1) airport security is much better now. It's hard to hijack a plane with nail clippers or a set of keys. 2) If anyone did try to hijack a plane now, the passengers wouldn't let them. It's not a free trip to Havana anymore, it's your life on the line and I think the passengers would would tear any hijackers apart.
I'm not afraid, also, because I listen to what Osama has said he wanted to do and has done. He stated (before 9/11) that his intention was to goad the West (America in particular) to over-reacting. By over-reacting the west would do two very important things for him. They would 1) bankrupt the west and 2) cause ordinary non-aligned muslims to take sides with him because of what they see as the Wests trashing muslims countries and cultures with their reactions. He has been wildly successful on both counts. No, I think a far greater danger that we face is ourselves, not them.
Look at what bush43 did in response to 9/11. They immediately went totalitarian. The one shining beacon we had to the rest of the world, as far as what our form of government had to offer it, was the openness and the honesty our democracy was supposed to offer. bush43 immediately trashed our Constitution. They started spying on their own citizens without warrants. They started holding their own citizens in jails without charges, they immediately started governing through executive fiat rather than group consensus. Each of those things is a far greater danger to us as a people than hijacking planes and blowing up buildings because it takes away from the legitimacy that our form of government had to show the world what they could aspire to. I don't fear Al Queda, nor Osama. I fear bushco way more. They've made a mockery of our government and now NOBODY, anywhere in the world wants to emulate us.
If all Al Queda wanted to do was to terrorize, all they'd have to do would be to rent U-Hauls, mix fetilizer, diesel fuel & blasting caps just like Timothy McVey did when he bombed the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
So, you see....the presence of radical Islamists within our borders isn't a huge threat in my mind. In fact, they'd be easier to bug and spy on if they were here.
On a side note - why do you think we haven't captured Osama yet? I'll tell you what I think: we know exactly were he is and we're watching and listening to his every move. The Bush family has long ties to the bin Laden family through The Carlyle Group ever since bush41 was the head of the CIA. That's were most the Bush families current fortune is coming from. They all made a deal. They agreed not to kill the wayward son of a close family clan so long as he stayed in the hinterlands of Pakistan and we were allowed to spy on him. That's what I think.
Yes...
...but only with a valid FISA warrant.
The 4th amendment is too important (to me, at least) and there is no need to violate it to "protect our freedoms".
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Clinton/Obama '08
MSNBC (the TV version) seems stuck on the idea that Hillary and Barack are going to run together as an unstoppable team. The only obstacle the analysts see are their combined minority status.
Running together, what would their chances be? Will it hurt them that they are both minorities? Pipe dream altogether?
Pipe Dream
I hate the media coverage of Presidential politics. They act as if we are in England and voting which royalty to crown.
I also hate incessant non-stop talk about the war. Same old things for how many years now. Ack! Beating the war drums.
Some say more and more soldiers are losing faith in the mission.
In an interview this morning the wife of a soldier with five kids, says she dreads the prospect of her husband coming home in a casket. If her kids ask the question why did daddy die, her answer would be for Iraq, not for the US.
It is the economy, stupid.
maybe the girls
who did the Obama/Hillary and what the hell Giuliani videos on youtube can get together and sing for a combined ticket.
Seriously though, I think their chances will be ok together but far from unstoppable. At some point their minority status will stop being a novelty and the country will be split along the ideological lines again. I see it as another 50-50 election.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
50-50
God I hope you are wrong.
Who has it on the Republican side? They can't even raise money!
How can you run a campaign on pay more for your health care, pay more for you gas, pay more for your food, pay more for everything, but we will cut taxes to the wealthy. Well, I suppose if there was another terrorist attack that could benefit the GOP. But it could also backfire.
It is the economy, stupid.
I think
Giuliani and Thompson are in very good shape. Ultimately I think either one of them will be a very formidable challenger to the Dems. Especially Giuliani.
I'll skip on your talking points about the GOP.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Fine!
Depends on how much control the GOP has over the sales job media, imho.
Thompson was involved with Watergate, and Giuliani...... has m any of his own special kinks.
And BTW I hate the way the media is selling Hillary. She is running her campaign just like W did, trying to suck up all the money and bulldoze every other candidate behind their back!
It is the economy, stupid.
But...
Will conservatives support Guiliani? That is, the small government Goldwater-type conservatives? Guiliani is a big-government conservative all the way. He's anti-gun, pro-torture (pretty much anti-Bill of Rights). If you think Bush was bad, take a close look at Rudy.
Another thing to look at is the Ron Paul effect. Many people who vote for Ron Paul will not give the time of day to any other Republicans. Those conservatives and/or Republicans are going to either stay home or vote Democratic or possibly Libertarian. It seems to me that paleoconservatives have had enough of their party being hijacked by the neo-cons and the religious right. This seems to be a turning point for the Republicans. They can either embrace watered-down fascism in the form of Guiliani or Romney, or they can return to the Reaganesque roots of Ron Paul.
I never broke the law; I am the law! --
George W. BushJudge DreddI'm listening to...
Don't ask too many hard questions...
Conservatives (social ones at least) don't want to face the reality of this years Republican crop. The "conservative" (again social) machine wants them to march lock step. I think the machine wants Freddy because they know Brownback and Tacanado (sorry for misspelling it) don't have a chance. The fiscal conservatives...I think the social ones are holding the fiscal ones in a dungeon somewhere. They have yet to be heard from.
Guiliani will likely make his
VP running mate a "real" conservative, which should help bring along the conservative base.
name the enemy, win the war
This far out
I would agree with you; it seems like it could really be another very close election. People are unhappy with the war and spending, but are they unhappy enough to cross their own ideological barriers on other issues? The Dems really need to be careful and not alienate potential swing voters with extreme-sounding rhetoric. IMHO of course. I just don't think that getting the base to the polls will be enough to ensure a victory.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Clinton/Obama '08 Won't Work
I just think that would be a Hollywood-movie type ticket. It looks good on paper, but I just don't see Clinton choosing Obama--which, if she wins the nomination will probably be her undoing because people will probably support her only if he's in the #2 seat. But there's no ticket balance really. It would just be two "superstars" who would have to work to not be in the limelight.
Plus, every time I hear (non-political junkie) people mention why they like Hillary its because they can "get Bill back in the White House." It's like "let's go back to the 1990s again! We'll have internet stocks, Spice Girls, and everything. It'll be great!"
At this point I predict that Clinton will probably end up choosing Tom Vilsack--all the behind-the-scenes goings-on between those two (along with Vilsack's sudden drop out and endorsement of her). Obama or any other winner would probably choose Richardson since he is perhaps the most qualified #2 in the group.
The same on the Republican side--you have the G-man, Thompson, and Romney battling, and I think you'll only see on of these guys on the ticket at the same time. I actually think you'll probably see Giuliani/Thompson/Romney at the top, and most likely Huckabee at the two spot.
http://wealthweekly.blogspot.com
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Brawl: 2277-7051-2186
your analysis
sounds spot on.
Actually pretty exciting to think of a Rudy/Huckabee ticket. Huckabee is a pretty nice guy and sharp as well.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Obama/Richardson would be a great ticket...
Richardson would shield Obama from the "inexperienced" charge.... it would be historical in that both are of mixed heritage (Obama black/white, Richardson hispanic/white).
Richardson has LOADS of foreign policy experience and knows his way around the west wing.
I could get excited about an Obama/Richardson ticket.
A Hillary/Jesus ticket wouldn't inspire me. Hillary is the most ungenuine personality I've ever seen. Everything she does on the trail screams "Phony!" at me.
Maybe that's just me. But I think it's a large chunk of Democrats as well.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Well, the Spice Girls are reuniting
I liked the '90s (especially comparatively), but I agree that Hillary is riding on Bill (well, his name at least--ha, ha) and his popularity.
No one else said it, so I will. Do you think a Hillary/Obama ticket would do well in any of the South or is that a guaranteed loser? I hope we are beyond that, but I doubt it. Losing the South would almost guarantee a dem loss.
No offense to
any southerners here (pico, quaoar, and anyone else I'm missing). I'm not trying to make blanket statements; I'm just looking at voter tendencies and such.
Hillary/Obama Carry South?
Hillary won't carry a single Southern state if she at the ticket's top. Unfortunately, people have done a great job making her out to be the White Queen, or Shrillary, or whatever nickname she got back in the day. Perhaps she's improved though--back in the 90s they were burning her in effigy (literaly and figuratively) for trying to sort through the convoluted health care mess. (that might come back, I don't know).
That being said, as a former Southerner, I think there is a bit more faith that Democrats could possibly flip a few Southern States they lost before, maybe Florida, Missouri, or Arkansas. The deep South will most likely stay pretty red no matter who is on top for the Democrats. I don't think it's really an issue of race or sex even--it's more about policies (abortion, gun control, abortion, same-sex marriage, abortion, and same-sex marriage are some of the various issues where Ds cannot get any traction). In fact, I think if Gov. Sebelius of Kansas aspired to federal office she might not have much of a problem at all.
What's interesting is the Democrats' "Western Strategy" of trying to flip states like Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, etc, where you have a different type of conservative voting bloc. And then there's the all-important Ohio.
I think other areas would be pretty steady in the other camps (Republicans may try to flip states like Minnesota and Pennsylvania, states that barely went to Kerry in 2004, and carry large swaths of electoral votes. If the Democrats lose any of those, its over.
I'm actually afraid that Hillary will have that Kerry Disconnect Syndrome--she will think all she has to do is "reach out" to voters when unfortunately the voters just don't like her. At this point, even if she is genuine about an issue, how would anyone know? I think Time put it best last week when they said "Bill Clinton sounds intimate and conversational when he’s discussing energy policy. Hillary Clinton sounds like a policy wonk when she talks about her mother’s childhood struggles..."Maybe she can change that perception but I doubt it.
My point in this rant--if the Democratic Party goes "status quo" in this election, I know I'll be less likely to work/donate on anyone's campaign (unless the Republicans nominate someone off their rockers--and after Bush, the topic three candidates on the R side don't bother me all that much...)
Oh, and LOL @ Hillary/J. Christ '08!!
http://wealthweekly.blogspot.com
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Brawl: 2277-7051-2186
Hillary
I honestly feel there are far too many people in this country that would never vote for Hillary, no matter what, that the electoral math just isn't there for her to win.
She sounds calculated and ungenuine every time she speaks... even when you think she is being candid, it still SOUNDS rehearsed.
I dont think, frankly, that she'll be able to overcome that. People want to have a personal connection with the person they're voting for... and NOBODY I talk to feels that way about her.
I know Pennsylvania politics pretty well... and I think she is the only major Democratic candidate that could possibly lose Pennsylvania. Most of my family are Democrats (my cousin is a county commissioner here in Washington county) and I would say that over 50% of the Democrats in my family have a negative view of Hillary.
This next election, I'll vote for any Democrat over any Republican... but only Hillary leaves me uninspired on our side and not willing to put time and money into it.
BUT! and Obama/Richardson ticket would have me breaking out the checkbook and taking vacation days to work for the campaign.
that's the main reason we have to get over this "Hillary Inevitability Syndrome" in the Democratic party and go in a new direction.
She's a bad choice... electorally, and every other way.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
That's a good question.
And I honestly don't have a good answer.
Take Louisiana, for example. Conventional wisdom was, the aptly-named Blanco beat out Jindal because of his skin color, and no one would vote a "colored" man into the governor's mansion. Now, conventional wisdom is that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans could field anyone to beat Jindal should he run again. That's quite a flip in only a few years.
Is that a sign of broader minds, or just Jindal-specific? I honestly don't know. I think Obama faces greater challenges for being a big city Chicago candidate than a black candidate, although one never knows. Anecdotal: I actually find people dislike Edwards more than either Obama or Clinton, which is interesting.
But yeah, I have no idea.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Re: Edwards Dislike
Wow, I thought it was just me. I can't put my finger on it, but I just don't like Edwards. He seems so... I don't know... I just don't like him all that much. Maybe he just comes across me as a class warfare poverty pimp. I don't know. When he announced his Poverty Tour '07, I was kinda like "So what?" I know that makes me uncaring, but OK.
Still, if he were able to pull out the nomination I think he would have a better chance of getting elected than Clinton could ever wish.
http://wealthweekly.blogspot.com
Wii FC:2805-8311-8040-2678
Brawl: 2277-7051-2186
cool, it's fixed! :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
That was quick, too
Wonder what happened...
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
dunno what happened
but the tech support wrote me back to check if it's ok now so I think they fixed it! Pretty quick response.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
heartbreaking games
I've generally really liked video games as another form of storytelling. When done well they can be very immersive and, well, cool. But the last several years has seen a long series of disappointments as far as I'm concerned.
Mindless RTS clickfests have become ridiculously popular. Halflife 2 sucked. Call of Cthulhu sucked. Knights of the Old Republic 2 was so buggy and unfinished as to be nearly unplayable (and would have been awesome if they'd just taken the time to finish it).
But I was just reading yesterday that Fallout 3 is going to be a 3d realtime first person shooter with tacked on rpg bits ala Oblivion/Morrowind. Jeebus. The term "screwed the pooch" seems appropriate.
The only good games I've played in the last couple years have been the God of War games (really epic in scale which is hard to do in a third person platformer) and Psychonauts (which is older).
I'm trying not to get my hopes up for Bioshock opr Spore given how crappy the games industry has gotten.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
KOTR 2 was buggy?
I don't know... I finished it without any problems...
I am going to have to read about that Fallout 3. I enjoyed most of the previous Fallouts (you ever play Wasteland, the precursor from the 80s?).
I liked playing the Mass Multiplayer games online from Star Wars Galaxies and Everquest (back in the day) to FFXI, City of Heroes, WoW and Vanguard later.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
perhaps buggy is not the right term
It had a huge number of objects that were associated with quests that ended up being cut from the game. There were a large number of cut scenes that made no sense and had no purpose because the associated quest/events were cut out of the game. There were a few bugs where the game would freeze up but that happened with KotOR 1 too.
I never played wasteland but I heard good things about it.
Personally I get really bored by all the MMO's I've played. Level grinding holds no interest to me and the vast majority of MMOs are so derivative and boring. I played EQ, DAoC, CoH/V, EVE, and a couple others that I can't remember. Never got a character past 15th level because I'd get so bored. Plus it's really frustrating what twink fests they are, there's no actual roleplaying just a scrabble to find the most "leet" character that week and get the "phat lewt".
Blech.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
hehe
Yeah, different things to different people. I didn't mind some of the grinding if the rewards are decent...
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
MMOs
I would be more willing to play them if they could just be a bit more creative.
I remember seeing Auto Assault ads and thinking "Finally, a different MMO." The game is a road warrior kind of setting and you drive around through a post apocalyptic setting. Cool!
And then I read up on the game, guess what? There are "fighter" cars, " cleric" cars, and "thief" cars. I kid you not. It's EQ/DAoC/WoW/AC plus wheels. All they did was replace the models.
Similarly City of Heroes/Villains didn't feel like superheroes. It felt just like Everquest.
The only MMO I've played that I found to be at all different is EVE Online but the focus there is on making a running a corporation. Granted the depth of the game detail is impressive but if I find real world financial markets tedious, guess how I feel about paying money to pretend to be merchant banker. Go on- guess.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
City of Heroes
is really not that bad. It just gets boring after a while. The action is very distinct and much more bad-ass than any of the regular EQ,DAoC,WoW stuff.
The breakneck speed at which you can play that game is amazing. The outfits were pretty damn cool too :)
I tried EVE online a long time ago but got bored after a week.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
hell yeah.
Oh yeah. The chargen was great. I spent way more time making characters than playing the game. In fact if they just packaged the chargen utility with an ability to save the results as JPGs I'd buy it for $20 easily. It'd be great for creating pics of characters for superhero RPGs.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
You should try Second Life
Unless you really just enjoy killing people ;} I am told you can do that in SL in the combat sims and have seen some of the weaponry. You could even build your own weapons and shields and such. Scripting would be a breeze for you.
My hubby is/was a big Unreal fan. But, now in SL, he has bought a nightclub and is rebuilding it for a grand reopening this weekend. He's having a blast creating things. He may yet turn to murder and mayhem. I do know he's having a fabulous time.
EDIT: You'd also bring some cool to the Dem side of the SL political spectrum. They desperately need some character.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Purpleface...
you're supposed to be recruiting SL people to come play here, not the other way around =)
I'd try SL if I had a better computer. Maybe in a few months.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Yeah I know
But the pickin's are might slim so far. The Rep's at last night's meeting were not entirely suitable and I did not have the patience to sit through the whole meeting. I think the best ones avoid the meetings, so I have to wait for a group event. They do have a much better turnout versus the Dems. They average about 20 to 30 at each meeting, where the Dems are good to get four people (including me!). The Dems really need a shot of cool and enthusiastic people. The Dem party chair has a good vibe, but that's about all.
But hey, you can talk in SL, you know. Just like you can here. Except there you add the dimension of actually seeing whom you're talking to. And the music is better.
A Swords Crossed meeting in SL would be cool, IMHO. Very cool. I'd host it and manage the group notices if any of you would bother. And it's no less real than communicating via this site is.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
My main avatar in SL...
...is named "Prime Peart" and she's an absolute knockout.
Yes.... in SL I am a "girl". ;-)
I don't go in there very often anymore, but if you are having a meeting in there I'll get back on.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
You're on.
I'll send friendship. Accept when you're on next time.
You get extra points for the Rush reference ;}
Nearly everybody's hot in SL. I mean, if you can be, why not?
Anybody else?
EDIT: Admins, any objection to my setting up a SC group in SL and using the name?
Also, if you want to know of any meetings, let me know your name and make sure you're set to get your IMs sent to your email.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Sounds great to me (nt)
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
It might also help drive traffic here
When I joined SL, I searched for political groups. Others may do so as well. I can also include the site's web address in the group information.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
yeah
you know I am in if you warn me in advance :) And if I am around of course!
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Okay, I've succumbed.
So far it's not running great on my dinosaur of a computer, but I'm getting there. My avatar's about 80% me, and the other 20% only because I can't figure out what to do. I'm not exactly a skillful gamer, even when it comes to getting the haircut right.
I joined the SC group, and it should be pretty obvious which one is me.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
you can buy various custom thingies
like hair but P can really clue you in much better :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I can't do it.
Out of self discipline and self restraint.
I already spend too much time on the computer as is.
Just as well, I would probably be assisinated or hauled off to prison.
It is the economy, stupid.
Missliberties
It's way fun. . . seriously ;} And you could create marvelous things with your photographs. There's also a woman in the Dem party group who loves to garden, and others who share your zeal for progressivism.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
I know myself too well
I have too many other things going on, and it is too easy to procrastinate as is, without the added lure of creating my undercover identity in a game that I am absolutely positive I would not have the discipline to stop playing.
It is the economy, stupid.
Who says it has to look like you?
My avatar is a hot red-headed babe.
If I've got to look at this avatar for the hours on end that I'm in SL, I'm certainly not going to make it look like an out-of-shape 40-year-old man.
I want something visually pleasing.
;-)
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Heh, but
I'm an in-shape 20-something. :D. Seriously, though, I kinda dig the challenge of creating a virtual me that at least resembles the real me: I don't hold it against people who don't, but I enjoy the challenge.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Pico
Describe the hairstyle you want, and I'll see if I can find it for you.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
What's funny is,
it couldn't be simpler: I basically take clippers to it on a low setting, so evenly cut and very short. Right now I'm bald, because I'd rather that than the deformed rat-skin I was trying to manipulate on the head that only barely looks like me.
Thanks for checking!
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
I created one like me
to the mockery of many there. I did not realize the place was so built on vanity. It's like high school all over again.
Yep...
...and if you want to hang out with the "cool" kids, you have to conform.
;-)
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
I have a simple rule of gaming-
I try never to play a game of something i could just do in real life. I've on rare occasions made an exception for the sims. Then again in the sims I can wall people up in my house until they expire then reanimate their corpse as a zombie and make them work in my