Guard Dog

Those are my views but many fall right in line with the party platform. A political party really is just a collection of people who have similar beliefs. The democrat party is not socialist but there are socialists in the party because they find common ground with the party philosophy. Ditto with the Christian Right and the Republicans. Not every LP member agrees with me on every isse but we ALL agree in a strict and literal interprtation of the framers intent and letter when it comes to the role of the US government is American society and the world. Check it out for yourself here: www.lp.org

I am a card carrying, registered voting member of the US Libertarian party. I even ran for a seat in the Florida State House in 1996 when I got out of the military (don't ask how that went!). We are big believers in the 10th Amendment. The words Gay, Abortion, or Marriage do not appear in the US Constitution, therefore should never be uttered by any US government official. That is purely a State issue. If South Dakota wants to ban abortion, that is their business. If California votes to allow gay marriage, good for them. But don't be mad if Tennessee does not. You get the picture. Personally I believe in a totally free society. My religous convictions tell me abortion is wrong and I would never condone anyone having one. At the same time, it is not my place to tell anyone they can or cannot. Nor is it anyone elses. If you want to smoke dope, that should be your business and not a legal problem. At the same time, if the company you work for fires you for it, that is their business. You knew they administered drug tests when you lit up. A Libertarian society would be a free one but not an easy one. No welfare. Yep, you can work or not as you please but do not expect the government to hand you a check to stay home. If you will not work you must live on the charity of others. At the same time, no Federal income tax. That is right. The US constitution provides ample means for the Federal Governement to fund itself without taxing it's citizens. As to state taxes. That will depend on what programs the voters want in their states. If California wants socialisim, California can fund it. Don't ask Florida for help. US forgien policy would be simple. All US troops in non treatied forgien commitments (i.e. not NATO or UN) would be redeployed to the US. Also, all US forgien aid to any non western hemisphere country would come to a screeching halt. Tsunamis, floods, earthquake? We'll look after our own and ask the rest of the world to do the same. If another country seeks war with the United States, we would give it to them with all of the power at our command, and when it is over we would leave. No more Marshall plans, no more nation building. The military is no good at it anyway. I saw that first hand in 1992-93. So that is Libertarianism. Anyone interested? I am.

Heh! No actually I am far more worried about State rights vs Federal rigths (Kelo v New London ring a bell). Individual freedoms, like firearm ownership for example. Crippling business growth with punative taxation. Trying to assault the First amendment with their "Fairness Doctrine". And the biggest American tradition of all, smaller governement. Not that the Repubs are any better. One is growing the government slowly, one wants to do it quickly. Like I said eariler, it's the lesser of two evils. As for Dem socialisim, last time they were in power they tired to nationalize 1/7th of the US economy. QED! What we need is a libertarian government that will restore the Monroe doctrine to US forigen policy. And an immediate cessetion of ALL US aid to any non-western hemisphere country. So vote for me in 2008! :D

Looks like Dems won the House and may yet get the Senate. It's going to be a long two years. But after two years of their unique blend of American socialisim, massive tax increases, and nasty condescending attitude towards all things traditionally American, the voters will show them the door in 2008. Just like in 1996.

So lets see, this year I got to choose between a Republican Party who could not lead a drunk to a bar, or a band of raving communists who took over the Democratic Party in 2000. Ugh! I voted republican top to bottom but felt like I needed to take a shower afterwards. Once again choosing the lesser of two evils.

I wonder, is it really fair to compare NWN2 to NWN as it is today? I mean, NWN 1.69 is a hell of a long way removed from 1.0. For example, after 5 years we have unlockable cameras, ridable horses, CEP, etc, etc, etc, etc. All of which were done by modders or Bioware keeping up with modders. If there are aspects about the game you don't like, just wait a bit. Bugs? They'll be fixed. Heck the game has aready had a patch so we are off to a great start. With the exceptions of new animations (going to be hard to get around that one) there will be haks and overrides aplenty within the coming weeks. Don't sweat the reviews of beta versions, or early concerns about charachter gen. Just buy the game. Like I told someone else once, you can blow $50 US on three pitchers of beer and an order of hot wings and not get half as much enjoyment out of it.

Don't know what it is Kaftan, but take heart, you ain't it!

For a non fiction book to get lost in, "Winterdance" by Gary Paulsen would be fun. For fiction, hands down "A Salty Piece of Land". Tully Mars is a literary figure I can definitely identify with!

Looks better, runs worse. What does it tell you when a game gets patched 8 days after release. Wait a while for a few patches, or modders to fix this one. Plus the way it's going it might be in the bargin bin in no time.

FYI all. Do NOT buy this game. It is a bug loaded NIGHTMARE. Crashes to desktop frequently, switches to windowed mode spontaneously, etc. And looking at their forums, I am far from the only one. Forewarned is forearmed.

LA is a problem because their post-release support is nil. They throw games over the fence and never mind whatever bugs they may have. The average number of patches on Atari games is 3. On LA it'a .97.

Why the heck would a PC gamer be pissed at a console port of a PC only game? Or vice versa? Who the heck cares anyway? Of all the things in the world to be pissed about that has got to be near the bottom of the list. There are games you can play and some you can't. If porting NWN2 to console makes the brand name more succesful then I'm all for it. So long one version does not get "dumbed down" to accomedate the other. Oblivion anyone?

Nuts to KOTOR 3. No matter who makes it LucasArts will still be involved and the ARE the problem. More than anything else I'd like to see them run with NWN2. NWN was the gift that kept on giving for 5 years now. With a few expansions, premium content and a little TLC, there is no reason NWN2 can't keep it going another 4 or 5.

GalCiv 2 is fair at best. The campaign gameplay is well done but the interface leaves a lot to be desired. The lack tactical combat is a huge problem with that game.

SE5 is out. Has anyone tried it yet? I keep thinking a 4X game will come along and revive the genre like MOO2 did but I wonder if this is it. All of the forums complain about bugginess but do not get into details of the game mechanics. The Demo game crashes constantly. Anyone seen it, tried it, have any thoughts on it? Even heard of it?

I thought after surviving that 9th inning Cardinal rally in game six the Mets were a lock in game 7. But, the Cards are a great team. I'm pulling for them in the WS. But then, I always root for the NL because the DH rule sux.

I just put in for a weeks vacation beginning October 31!!!! Congrats Obsidian, I can't wait to see it!

You, sir, are a hero of epic proportions for giving all those dogs a loving home. Dogs are fantastic. I've always had a dog in the house growing up, and I love 'em. Once I get settled and get a house with a yard (for room to run... gotta have room for them to run) I'll go get one from a local animal shelter. Probably won't be for another year or so, though. I feel the need to assert that dogs are great.. probably because the denizens of this board seem to favor cats. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thank you for the kind words. But I'm no hero. Just lucky to be able to help. And be in the right place at the right time to help.

No pics of me on this computer, but I do have pics of 8 of my best friends. From right to left Cosmo, Zoe, Gator Bait, Tommy, Macy, Oliver, Cheyenne, Desiree. Cosmo was recued from an abusive home, Zoe was found in the Katrina aftermath swimming in a flooded paking lot in Miss. Tommy and Oliver were pulled from a shelter the day they were to be put to sleep. Ditto for Gator. Macy was wandering around downtown Ft Lauderdale when we found her. Cheyenne was found walking next to I-95. Desiree was found nearly starved to death near Big Cypress in the everglades. Most likely she had been driven out there and abandoned.

Actually, Bioware has spoiled it's bboard crowd. Their devs frequently post and usually will answer an intelligent question. The DA forum in particular has a really high amount of dev participation. It's easy to forget that is not the norm. Even here, except for Josh, the obs devs almost never post here.

Dealing with insomnia

Consider THAT done! Happy Birthday!

West Palm Beach, FL. I help run a dog rescue here and live on the edge of the everglades with 16 of the best friends you could ever ask for!