Walsingham

KILL IT WITH FIRE!

I wonder if the entire way the game is played is not based on rational interest, but sub-rational excuse making. Each possible line of action is considered, and rejected if a possible excuse can be made. The last action option not possessed of an excuse NOT to do it is taken. If I may borrow from Prosper, I believe this observation qualifies me as a genius.

I am firmly of the opinion that the only things one shouldn't take seriously are death and love.

When my doctor complained about my high blood pressure, my first thought was this forum.

Depression thread, maybe?

Well, perhaps a more pertinent irony is that Assad has permitted the supply of Hezbollah in Lebanon for many years. how else do you think it has been possible to integrated the Quds into his order of battle so easily? I would respectfully take issue with your point about rogue states. What _is_ a rogue state when the question of intervention in foreign states is still undecided? It is merely someone we say is a rotter. It does no harm to them, and makes us look weak.

He's wearing a mask. Is it something about all actors being weird? Because that's definitely true.

*loud snorts of laughter*

I prefer Winston Churchill's description of the 'black dog'. Like Nepenthe I take the view that society, and particularly business, is not mature enough to handle admissions of depression. If it were I'd be tempted to get treatment on that basis. as it is I apply the socks up, shoulders back, eyebrows down formula.

On consideration I believe that the real dichotomy does not rest upon who used the chemical weapons. The real dichotomy is with regard to the role of the international community. To intervene in internal matters or not, when it is quite obvious that other nations are already intervening.

Well, there's no arguing with that powerful a logical argument.

I DO NOT know what technical and operational similarities there are between this M-14 rocket and the BM-21 rocket systems, but they look extremely similar. BM-21 rockets are practically routine terrorist fodder from the Gaza strip to Ghazni. I do not find it at all credible that 'experts' are stating they could not have been fired by the rebels. Although I do accept that it can't be homebrew.

What smugfunt told you that?

Copy that, gold leader. I am in position your left flank, will provide cover, start your approach.

I just played against elves, drew the first match, went full cripple-the-bastard on the second and won 1-0. On my first proper touchdown I played the Monster Mash, and did a victory dance. It seemed appropriate.

I will place a small wager on Trashmans next comment being " but who says I want to be a gentleman" I will give him the benefit of the doubt. For my part I'd like to be a gentleman because I have had the privilege of knowing some real gentlemen. Gentlemen who are gentlemen all day, not just for the half hour after they arrive and before the first ***ktail kicks in.

Point. Sorry. I always forget that other people's childhoods didn't involve copious rabbit stew.

If you think you're right but can't be bothered to prove it then how is that different but being wrong, and dodging it? So as a gentleman one concedes the point until such time as you CAN be bothered. And before you ask, if you can't be bothered to be a gentleman when you merely have to type to that standard then I suggest that you will never be a gentleman.

I realised fairly quickly that he's basically Avon from Blake's 7- perhaps my favourite character of all time! so not at all a bad thing- with a few more 'muscle' characteristics, much as Mal is basically Blake. They even used the premise of one b7 ep ('Orbit') as the background to a Jayne centric Firefly episode. You saw that they've been doing a reimagined Blake's 7 on the radio? It's actually very good.

I just played a couple of games with Necros against lizardmen and orcs in a campaign. Lost one flesh golem (dead!) on the first match so my assessment may be unfair. ~~ I hate this team! The fleshies aren't tough or skilled enough to outblock other bruisers. The zombies are completely useless at everything. The werewolves can't throw or catch - which is acutely ironic given they're basically dogs. The blitzers are OK, but no better than humans. The only ones I like are the ghouls, and they can't receive medicine for healing! Consequently the lizardmen skinks simply ran right round everybody and kept scoring. The only plus point is that I feel more heroic playing with these losers than with halflings. I only managed to pick up the ball successfully TWICE in about twenty attempts.

Malcador would have been tremendously proud of me on Friday. Went for a "short meeting about work, followed by some home cooked food" with my team, plus the one-up. Meeting bit quite successful, as the whole team very clear of purpose. Few observations made, then some decisions taken collectively about improvements. All good thus far. The food was absolutely superb (not cooked by me, in case you think I'm boasting). But utterly ruined by the one-up relentlessly bringing up niggles with our performance. I just wanted to eat so - ironically - clamped my mouth shut and endured what felt like an hour of supplementary criticism. He gets a lot of loyalty from the team, but I don't confuse loyalty with liking the guy. I was bloody annoyed. Think I'll do what I can to avoid the same in future, on matter how good the food is. I can make my own food. As, indeed, I can make my own self-criticism.

This is a good point and relevant. Iran has committed resources to the Syria conflict and Syria is Iran's only major ally in the region. If Assad is defeated this will weaken Iran. But we need to also weigh up the destabilizing impact for the region if Assad is removed, questions like "who would govern Syria in the aftermath" need to be considered? I am afraid that if Iraq is anything to go by, even democracy won't stop the curse of sectarian violence. I'm beginning to think that maybe a Russian-backed Assad with some negotaited settlement with the moderates is the best we can hope for, so far as the ordinary Syrians are concerned. Of course, whether 'ordinary' is sufficient basis for the future of the country is a point which might interest less ordinary, and more ambitious Syrians.

I might give necromantic a spin on solo, just to get accustomed to the playing style.

BBC provides footage suggesting IRGC assisting Assad directly. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24103801 If this is true then intervention might be more relevant to US policy than previously suspected. That is if it could be a drain on Iranian finances and IRGC manpower. The IRGC is the lynchpin of Iranian hawkishness, particularly with regard to the straits of Hormuz.

By way of contrast: