Guard Dog

If this whole thing is a publicity stunt then it would be one of the greatest of all time. This movie had box office bomb written all over it. Trust me, the only way someone was going to see this is if they sat in the wrong theater by mistake and didn't feel like getting up again. No everyone wants to see it. If they wait a week or two and release it it will be a huge success... for a week or two at least. But it's not a stunt. Sony is not THAT smart.

That's it! Thanks, I barely got any work done today because of this. It was driving me crazy!

this week has been huge for the Grizz. a big win against Golden State and a bigger win against the Spurs. Just keep it up gents!

I need some help because this is driving me nuts. I'm trying to remember the name of a game from the 90's. I think it was a Sega Genesis game. It was a sword & sorcery type fantasy RPG where a farmer sends his three sons (the players 3 lives) out on some quest. I forget the details but it was a pretty big world with different landscapes. I always thought it was a little ahead of it's time. I'm afraid I can't remember much more than that. I do remember there were some big ruins in the middle of the game world that some wraith chases you around in. I remember that was a tough area. Not much to go on I know but any ideas? I got nothing from Google.

The damned Tampa Bay Rays are driving me NUTS. Yes, I get that they sometimes need to trade their best players to make ends meet in the market they are in. But is it too much to ask that when you trade a valuable asset you get a valuable asset in return? Apparently the answer is yes..

I wouldn't get down on Bruce too much Val, he's a good sort. Plus he doesn't spend s lot of time in the US so he's not expected to know every detail of the local politics. Heck I consider myself pretty well informed on the rest of the world and I couldn't give more than the broad stokes on the politics on any nation other than the US

Just to be clear, because I'm obviously not American, now that the US government can monitor your communications why is this such a contentious point? Are you worried people will suddenly just get arrested for no reason? What are you worried about ? Well, let's see Bruce. In the last 6 years this administration has asked local police to take particular notice of people with pro-life or other religious freedom message bumper stickers. They have marked out veterans, the people who I'd argue love the country the most as likely terrorists, all while refusing benefits to victims of actual terrorism. They have "weaponized" the IRS into their own private thought police by using them to persecute people who participate in unapproved political activity. They asserted it would be ok for the President to order the summary execution of American citizens using drones. They set up a website where citizens could report people who were speaking ill of the affordable care act. They have admitted they are already monitoring every e-mail and phone conversation. Now they want a peek in our private internet use. What could possibly go wrong with that huh? Fat chance Obama will veto this. The words freedom and liberty do not exist in that despicable little man's vocabulary. I don't know what kind of country these people want to turn us into but it will look nothing like the one I served and lived my whole life in. The best we can hope for is this trend continues will be benevolent despotism. But I think Americans will wake up one day in the years ahead and realize they are living in Orwell's Oceania. But I won't be here to see it. They will have to kill me . But GB wasn't the support for this bill bipartisan? So you have even been betrayed by your own side....also if Republicans supported it as well can it really be so bad ? What in all my posting history gave you the notion I was a republican? No sir, far from it. I am a dues paying, card carrying member of the US Libertarian Party. I've often said the only thing I hate more than a republican is a democrat. Although I do line up and vote republican from time to time it is usually to vote against a democrat rather than supporting the merits of a republican candidate. I wasn't always this way. I once worked for a republican congressional candidate. I also once worked for the Florida Republican Party. The truth is though they are less "anti-freedom" for want of a better term than the Democrats they are still all for big and intrusive government. As long as they get to be in charge of it.

Just my opinion here but I've found games to be a poor medium for story telling. I'd imagine it's difficult in the extreme to strike a balance between all the elements that have to work in a game from the visuals, gameplay mechanics, and plot (if it has one). It seems so few have ever really "hit" on all of them at once. And the ones that do we end up talking about for years after they have disappeared from the shelves. Like Torment for example. Someone once said, it was here but I forgot who, the biggest problem with Sci-Fi writers is they decide to write a Sci-Fi story first. Then they try to decide what that story will be. A better approach would be to plot out a story THEN see if it needs to be sci-fi to be plausible. One of the best Sci-Fi stories I've ever read was a short story called The Cold Equations. It's short, around 15k to 20k words I'd guess but it packs a lot into that space. It's an example of a story that required a specific setting to work, rather than the other way around.

Now here is a blast from the past! They are still around too (the coyotes not the pork loin, it didn't make past the next day). But ever since I shot that big one right after this they stay away from the house.

I don't know why exactly... but I just have a feeling this thread won't survive to page 2. I might be wrong.

Today I drank a lot of coffee, revised a DAS design plan, played with my pups, took a nap and now I'm gonna make dinner before Mrs. Guard Dog gets home. It was a pretty good day.

I thought this was a pretty interesting piece: The whole thing is here: http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/nov/28/science-fiction-writers-must-battle-video-games-with-words I thought this was a pretty interesting take and I know it's an idea we've batted around before. Now that "video games" (for want of a better term) have become mainstream entertainment rather than a fringe thing is there a danger that the written novel gets shuffled off to the side? This really should be the golden age for written fiction. With the proliferation of e-books and places like Amazon that have made it easier than ever to self publish. In terms of choice it has never been easier to find something good to read. Of course that also means sales of individual titles may never be as strong. If a sci-fi novel sold half as many copies as Destiny did on just it's first day of release it would be a huge best seller. If increased competition makes sci-fi writing better that would be a good thing though. My biggest problem with the genera is that most of it isn't that good. There are some pearls to be had but you have to shuck a lot of oysters to find them. Yeah I'm talking about you John Scalzi. Do you guys think computer/console game could (or have) supplant the literary work as an entertainment form?

If Peter himself came down, stood next to Francis, put a hand on his shoulder and says "Listen to this guy" THEN I'll listen. Until then he can go pound sand. He's a nice man with some good things to say but he's not an authority on anything. Besides, he puts his pants on the same way I do and he's read the same Bible I have. He's no more of an expert than me.

Sounds awesome! I love Nobu but my wife liked Sushi Roku (also at Caesar's) better. Either way I'm jealous You gotta love Vegas. Are you brining the kids or is just a getaway for you and your wife?

Whatever. When he goes to heaven, sees for himself, then comes back to tell about it then I'll consider him an authority. Until then I figure my dogs have a better chance of going to heaven than I do,

Watching the Army-Navy game. My grandfather played in this game in the 1930's. He was a West Point man. Despite everything he did in his life from serving in the war, raising a family and have an all around good life his favorite story to tell was a win over Navy he played in and the size of the steak he has that night. Too bad for him I was in the Marine Corps so I say: GO NAVY BEAT ARMY

No joke there. Only two games separate 1st & 4th in the Southwest. The Grizz are tough this year. I love a team that works hard and plays with grit. I've only been to one game to far but I'd like to go to a few after new years.

So now the catholic church thinks dogs do have souls: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/12/12/pope-francis-dogs-can-go-to-heaven/20296955/ I always been amazed at the arrogance of people who have never set foot in heaven or conversed with God asserting with absolute conviction who gets in and who doesn't.

Just to be clear, because I'm obviously not American, now that the US government can monitor your communications why is this such a contentious point? Are you worried people will suddenly just get arrested for no reason? What are you worried about ? Well, let's see Bruce. In the last 6 years this administration has asked local police to take particular notice of people with pro-life or other religious freedom message bumper stickers. They have marked out veterans, the people who I'd argue love the country the most as likely terrorists, all while refusing benefits to victims of actual terrorism. They have "weaponized" the IRS into their own private thought police by using them to persecute people who participate in unapproved political activity. They asserted it would be ok for the President to order the summary execution of American citizens using drones. They set up a website where citizens could report people who were speaking ill of the affordable care act. They have admitted they are already monitoring every e-mail and phone conversation. Now they want a peek in our private internet use. What could possibly go wrong with that huh? Fat chance Obama will veto this. The words freedom and liberty do not exist in that despicable little man's vocabulary. I don't know what kind of country these people want to turn us into but it will look nothing like the one I served and lived my whole life in. The best we can hope for is this trend continues will be benevolent despotism. But I think Americans will wake up one day in the years ahead and realize they are living in Orwell's Oceania. But I won't be here to see it. They will have to kill me .

Just for laughs:

That's still going strong? I used to play that game religiously, but then they started changing the way they rated pitchers and I found it really messed with the "accuracy" of the game. A pitcher like Tom Glavine, who wasn't exactly a fireballer and who walked a decent amount, always sucked in my games when I'd replay historical seasons, even though in real life he was tremendous during that same stretch. I finally gave up historical replays and created an all fictional game with fictional teams. I've enjoyed it so much more since. The problem with the historical games is when excellent players aren't excellent it just ruins the immersion. Plus I found I always had biases against certain teams because of what they've done to my favorite teams in real life. You should go give the web site & community a look. Markus & Co. have come a long way over the years. Plus there is just a TON of user made mods & content :http://www.ootpdevelopments.com

Ditto. Although maybe I'm becoming more jaded in my old age. I really can't seem to rile up any strong emotions over a story like this. I guess when it comes to governments my expectations of them are so low when something like this comes to light I'm just not surprised.

Here are my babies, Tommy & Sunny Smiles:

Out of the Park Baseball 15. I've bought every version since 8. It's only the best sports sim ever. Except the last three versions of Football Manager I guess.

Oh wow. The government lied about something it was doing. I'm shocked.