Guard Dog

This has to be the most disingenuous thing I've ever read on this board.

Nah I've never been a big fan of a true laissez-faire system. There do need to be some restraints to keep things in balance but it should be a silk rope, not heavy iron chains as our current President believes. And auto insurance does not compare to health care because you are not required to own a car an do not have to pay for auto insurance if you don't. Obamacare is inescapable. But what is so terrifying about it is they do not have the authority to do it, yet is has been done. Do you realize that under the precedent this sets they could require everyone to buy a GM car? And have the IRS come after you if you don't? Oil production in private land and leases is up. That is only because Obama can not do anything about those projects. Yet. And he can certainly not take any credit for that since all he has done is shut down domestic oil drilling and exploration everywhere he was able to. I read in Forbes a few weeks ago that US oil companies are overproducing for fear of interference from him in a second term in their own private leases. As far as how states would behave left to the own devices, I'm sorry Calax, you are just wrong on that one. But that's ok, We are not going to come to any kind of agreement there. I though you'd get a kick out of this. All the gun manufactures must be rooting for Obama to win: http://business.time...ff-the-shelves/ One note on unemployment numbers though. There have been a lot of outcry that the numbers are skewed to make Barry O look better. I doubt that is true but I do know one thing that IS true. If someone is unemployed long enough for their benefits to run out, they are no longer counted as unemployed. That unemployment number is not the number of people who cannot find work, it's the number of people who cannot find for and are still receiving benefits. The real number is a lot higher than what you see in the media. Anyway, the Obama admin has done a lot of truly stupid and frightening things the past four years. But this is the one that made me maddest of all and if they did nothing else, this would still make me vote against them: http://www.infowars....-as-terrorists/ Especially after refusing to call the real terrorists what they are.

Sigmund Freud once wrote “A man with a toothache cannot be in love" Pretty true isn't it?

In all honesty enthusiasm levels are just not quantifiable. From what I read the polling data is weighted to reflect the turn out of the last election which is anywhere from D +7 to D +15 in some places. That's not new, they've been doing that since the 90's. There really is no way to know who is going to vote and who isn't but I suspect a big turn out this time. That's not to say the claims of poll bias are without merit. I really don't know personally but I suspect there are biased and unbiased polls out there. It's all a bunch of hooey actually. The voters are going to do what they are going to do and the polls are really just grist for the media mill while they count down the days to the election. I know no one has called or polled me but them my state is really not in contention.

Hey Calax. You have never heard me say that government does not have a role to play in the economy. As far as I know the constitutionality of the Sherman Anti Trust Act, the Clayton Act, The FLSA, Robinson-Patman, Glass-Stengal, just to name a few that provide protections against the things you just named and a somewhat level economic playing field has ever been called into question and no one that I have heard has ever called for their repeal. Now what I do have a real problem with is the Federal Government using taxpayer dollars to perform a leveraged buyout of a private company, forcing bond holders of said company to relinquish their shares at 10% of their value or face prosecution. And then turning management of that company over to the union bosses who supported the election of the President whose administration seized the company. I also have a serious issue with a government that passes a law that compels private citizens, on pain of penalty, to enter into a private contract with a third party solely as a condition of being a citizen. To make matters worse the US Constitution does not grant them the power to do any of this. They just do it because who will stop them? I'd also take exception to your notion that state governments are incapable of managing themselves and left to their own devices will become dens of corruption and tax havens. Politicians at the state level face reelection more frequently than at the federal level and with smaller constituencies are far more in tune with the needs of their state and people than the Monster-On-The-Potomac. On top of that, many appointed positions at the federal level are elected offices at the state level. I know you've heard me say this before but my home is in Tennessee. The government of my home should be in Nashville, not Washington. Now I'll grant you that the government is only going to get bigger, more intrusive and more destructive no matter who wins. That is why I believe with complete certainty there will be a break up at some point. Hopefully not in my lifetime but I think it is inevitable. As for the short term, voting pragmatically means picking the guy who will screw you the least and that for me at least is Romney, hands down. Unemployment is way up over the last four years. The value of the dollar is falling. Costs of everything are rising. Obama terminates the off shore oil drilling leases, puts the majority of the gulf coast oil production out of business then sends US tax dollars to Brazil so they can drill for oil off shore. Meanwhile China is building rigs on the oilfields we have abandoned in the gulf and contracting operation of those rigs to Cuba. I assure you neither country gives a damn about environmental concerns in the gulf. For the first time in our history we are importing refined fuels. Canada wants to help build a pipeline to sell us their oil and Obama tells them to bugger off and then blames the rising costs of fuel on a guy whose been out of office for four years. (Yes there is a lot more to fuel prices than that but declining supplies never, ever make anything less expensive.) Anyway I've rambled enough.

Skipping SoU? HotU is definitely the highlight of NWN. The original campaign and SoU are both decent, but HotU is flat out awesome. I've played through HotU probably nearly a dozen times, it's just that much fun. Altogether I've logged somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 hours in NWN, including the mountains upon mountains of user created content. Did you ever notice the writing between Ch 2 & Ch 3 of HotU was a little disjointed? Like it was written by two different people with very different back grounds? It was. I posted that on the Bioware boards a long time ago, DG responded that I was right, they were written in there entirety by two different guys.

Buy the way, you think the current election is bitter, check this one out: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57544621/tough-campaign-much-worse-in-1800/

I've never understood this rabid hostility some of you harbor towards libertarians. Of all the political philosophies out there it is the only one, and I do mean the ONLY one that actually wants real freedom for everyone. Using myself as an example I personally thin abortion is horrible. But who am I to tell someone they can't have one. I'm not gay so I'd never marry a gay person but who am I to tell them they can't get married? I don't use drugs but what is it to me if someone else wants to and does? Freedom is never more important than when some one is doing something you don't like. Most of you don't own guns, but I don't want you guys telling me I can't. You get the idea. The biggest flaw in the leftist viewpoint in the US is the the government should stay out of their personal lives and be used as a club to suppress religion, capitalism, and other things they don't like. The conservatives think the government should stay out of their economic lives and be used as a club to suppress gay marriage, abortion, and other things they don't like. They are both wrong. Libertarians do not, as a rule, want to destroy all government. What we want is a government that has a clearly defined role and power limited to what is required to fulfill that role. And nothing more. The truth is Ayn Randian objectivisim just is not something that American libertarians embrace. The US really got off track after WWI when politicians began consolidating power in Washington at the federal level. Our country was founded on the federalist concept on the majority of power being kept at the level of government closest to the people. Now the tail really is wagging the dog and we have this all powerful behemoth sitting on the Potomac sucking more and more money and power to itself and imposing it's will on a nation that it is becoming completely alienated from. I know electing Romney will not turn back the tide of that process but it might slow it down. Electing Obama would be like hitting the accelerator. I think he envisions and America where state and local governments are irrelevant. I hope that never happens.

I know I'm way late to the party but I finally tried playing Dragon Age last night. You guys were right, it's pretty good. It's been a hell of a long time since I was hooked on a game.

Meh, fiction is just not my thing. But I have been working on a non-fiction book for a long time now.

Home again! Another project completed before deadline and under budget. Yea! I'm done for the year now unless something else comes up. No to the subject at hand. You are all discussing one of my favorite topics, however I'm a little disturbed to find you diluting good whiskey with "mixers". I find that vulgar and uncivilized. Unless you are buying the cheap stuff. Then mix away, you have to make it palatable somehow. No good quality hooch is meant to be enjoyed in a glass alone or maybe with ice. I prefer a high quality bourbon like Knob Creek or Makers Mark (only if Knob Creek is unavailable). I used to drink Woodbridge but I find it's light, fruity aftertaste does not conform to what a pure Kentucky Bourbon ought to taste like. No Vodka and other grain liquors were not meant to be taken straight. They have no taste, no character. Scotch is always a good bet but I've never cared for it. Too bitter and imposing. I think that;s why lawyers drink it. Right Enoch?

I hear you there Nep. I don't do MMO's and have never even looked at WoW. Heck I haven't even bought Skyrim yet. I've got DA 1 but never played it. I'm way behind on my geek stuff. Or I'm just getting too old. Anyway, it was nice to sleep in my own bed for a change but it's time to go back to work. I'll see you guys in December. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!

I really don't have time to go through this whole thread but I'll just say that for the 2012 US Presidential election Guard Dog endorses and is voting for......Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan. I know that will shock most of you...

I thought about you a few weeks ago Calax. We've been working with the city planner's Project Manager and his executive assistant pretty closely. Anyway the assistant is around 25, nice looking if not quite hot and she's addicted to WoW. Her and her friend date guys they meet on WoW apparently because at least they have that in common. As good a place to start as anywhere I guess. I know you were having a tough time in the romance department before, it seems you should get WoW.

Hey Calax how's life treating you?

I read about that and donated right there and then. If they are successful with that they will have changed the game industry. Plus I expect it's going to be awesome! I started to read through the Obama thread, but I just don't have time. I've got two months worth of yard work and only a day and a half to do it!

Six of one, half dozen of the other!

You have my pledge! If you guys are successful, make the game you want to make and have it be a financial success you will have changed the industry. And that alone will be worth every cent!

Hiya everyone. I'm still alive, just busy with work these days. I'm back in town for the weekend, but heading back up tomorrow night. Work is great but I'm sharing an extended stay suite with one of my partners. I had never met him before this job. He's an ok guy and a talented engineer no doubt but he calls himself a walking wiki for Star Wars, and that is the only subject he ever wants to talk about. That's bad enough, but he finds comparisons to Star Wars situations in every day life. It's really irritating. Hope your wife is doing better Hurlie and the rest of you are keeping it together.

Adios and so long for a while everyone. I'm leaving tomorrow for a job in South Dakota and I'll be gone for a few months. The pay might not be as good as it was in Mexico but at least I don't have to worry about getting kidnapped or getting amoebic dysentery. Plus on this job my dog can come with so that will be good. I'm down to just one now. All the old guys and gals have passed on now. It's sad and I miss them but they were all over fourteen and one made it to sixteen so I can't complain. The one left is only six so we've got a lot of time left. He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a little mastiff in there. Big boy but he's sweet as could be. There is a great quote by Steve Allen, "Old men miss many dogs". That is so true. Anyway I'll see you guys in the fall and if you live in the rural areas around Sioux Falls your days of relying on dial up are numbered!

I'm becoming more and more like those old men I drink with at the VFW. Beginning every story with "Back in my day..."

Wow, everyone is going to such exotic places. Except Calax.

Getting promotions for non-service activities depends entirely on the branch of service you are in. In the USMC it just did not happen. If you could see lightning and hear thunder and stayed out of trouble you got PFC (E2) after 6 months but unless you got it meritoriously you had to do the six months. I don't think any service takes scouting into consideration at all. Nor should they. It is not a military activity. If they do they should stop because Enoch has a point and the military takes great pains to be a bastion of equal opportunity.

Now reading Sharpe's Victory by Cromwell. Every time I read one of these I get the urge to play Empire:Total War

I don't know about that one Hurlie. If I had a kid in Boy Scouts I would not yank him out over their discrimination practices even though I do think they are a little dumb. If he was enjoying himself and getting a benefit from the experience I would not take it away from him just because they would not allow gays. Unless he was gay then I'd tell him too bad, pick another activity. The funny thing is if they discriminated on the basis of race I think I would have a problem with that. Go figure. I guess I just don't see gays as really being discriminated against. Really, if you have two adult white males, one is homo, the other is hetro then they can both vote, both join the military, both live where they want, go into any store or restaurant they want, go into any kind of business they want, get any kind of job they want and marry anyone they want. (Even if the legal arrangements are slightly different the end result is exactly the same). When you get right down to it the only difference between them is who-sticks-what-where in the sack. So the way I see it being gay is no different than preferring tea over coffee. Just my $.02