Elerond

You are wrong according to Atheists.org: https://atheists.org/activism/resources/what-is-atheism So I repeat: Christianity is a belief system; Atheism is a lack of belief. Atheism is term that is used to categorize people don't believe in god/gods or in other words people that lack of belief in gods. But that don't mean that those people that don't have belief systems or life philosophies that guide them. So atheism and Christianity as terms aren't comparable as they describe absolute different things. And if we are accurate then Christianity isn't actually belief system but category term for multiple belief systems that are based at least somewhat in same source materials.

Christianity is a belief system, Atheism is a lack of belief. No atheism is term that is used about people that don't believe in god or gods. So if I say that term ahinduim means lack of belief in Hindu gods, then all people that said term applies will become lazy because of their lack of belief in certain thing.

"It's a cute safety net, and an elaborate way to sell "laziness" under the guise of "lack of belief."" So Christians are lazy because they don't believe in Hindu gods (in other words they have lack of belief in Hindu gods)?

Just as I suspected, thank you very much.......... I have had extensive encounters with atheists and the way last act of the game unfolded, it was screaming write in my face what you just confirmed....... But in PoE's world western Atheist can't exist, because it is know that souls exist and samsara cycle exist and karma like rules that determine souls next body exists. So in PoE's world Buddhist beliefs from our world are reality. So it is quite clear that your extensive encounters with atheists have not taught you anything about atheism at least not its most known form in Earth. One radical aspect was put forth rest was ignored.......just trying to get the mind into the door without confusing it, thats what they called it. Bible tells us how there were things that were created by men but were worshiped as gods and how God disliked Israels who also worshiped those gods made by men. Which is why there are commandments like this You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make idols. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. Man made gods in PoE are just clear example of vanity and sinful nature of men. They are product of people that couldn't live without proof about God(s) so they made ones themselves. It is very biblical story.

What radical ideas PoE is pushing to its audience?

Just as I suspected, thank you very much.......... I have had extensive encounters with atheists and the way last act of the game unfolded, it was screaming write in my face what you just confirmed....... But in PoE's world western Atheist can't exist, because it is know that souls exist and samsara cycle exist and karma like rules that determine souls next body exists. So in PoE's world Buddhist beliefs from our world are reality. So it is quite clear that your extensive encounters with atheists have not taught you anything about atheism at least not its most known form in Earth.

Most of Buddhist religions/philosophies believe in existence of souls but not existence of god(s). In their belief there is no divine entity nor there ever has been one. There is just samsara (continual repetitive cycle of birth and death) and karma which is force (like gravity) that decides next body that soul will inhabit according to certain rules. So to me PoE is seem closest to be Buddhist propaganda instead of Atheist.

How to be successful in election, I don't know but it probably helps if you have more air time in TV than all other candidates combined.

Here is an example scenario why PoE's sequel could be postponed 1. PoE has not sold enough copies that Obsidian could put whole studio to make the sequel without outside funding and getting such funding isn't that easy. 2. Because they of first point they need to seek some other project(s) that will bring cash to the studio so that they can pay for their employees. 3. Those projects that they need to take to get money to run the studio may require all their talent to work on them. 4. Which leads to situation where they need to postpone PoE's sequel to somewhere in future where they have time and resources to do it. Obsidian is currently developing Armored Warfare, which is a Tank MMO. For why?, my guess is that it pays bills and it isn't something that Obsidian as company finds objects from doing. As backer I would say that Obsidian is free to do what they want after they have delivered their promises to me. Of course it would be sad it they will not make more games like PoE.

There is no need to worry about rudeness in these conversations. So feel free to express your thoughts. EDIT: removed unnecessary things to make this page more readable.

California has big impact in elections, especially in presidential elections, where they count 10% of electoral votes. Press has habit to dismiss California because it is consistent blue state as last time California give its votes to republican was in 1988 when they supported Bush. Texas is also big state that gets only little attention as they consistent red state. So in it is just assumed that California backs democratic candidate and Texas republican candidate, and other party candidates don't often really put effort in trying to fight against windmills, but if that would not be the case then those states would have quite significant impact on predicted results. In short California don't seem to have impact in election because republicans go in election with mindset that they lost already in California.

I can't say as I object whole delegate system so my view about its particulars especially in this kind election is very biased. But in other hand it is system used by party that those people in that thread seem to support so my sympathy towards them is somewhat limited.

Howard Dean (ex governor of Vermont) is superdelegate (meaning that he has one delegate vote in democratic national convention where 130k people that voted in democratic primary in Vermont are represented by 16 delegates) for Vermont, so he is member of DNC establishment and his vote counts much more than your typical democrat. I didnt know what a super delegate meant, thanks for explaining But does it change my point? Hilary Clinton is going to be the Democratic nomination....its basically inevitable Millions of Americans feel she is right person to be the next president. Howard Dean feels the same way, why should he vote for Sanders? 86% of people of Vermont voted Sanders so they would like to see that Dean would factor in will of people of Vermont when he cast his vote and people in that twitter thread aren't that pleased of his answer that he don't represent people and will vote according to his own views.

Howard Dean (ex governor of Vermont) is superdelegate (meaning that he has one delegate vote in democratic national convention where 130k people that voted in democratic primary in Vermont are represented by 16 delegates) for Vermont, so he is member of DNC establishment and his vote counts much more than your typical democrat.

Sanders keeps raising millions — and spending them, a potential problem for Clinton "Sen. Bernie Sanders’s path to the Democratic nomination may be narrowing, but his record fundraising shows no sign of slowing down, ensuring that the long-shot rival to Hillary Clinton can remain in the race for months to come. Sanders’s unique success at attracting political money, combined with his powerful appeal to young voters, means that he will keep raising and spending millions of dollars across the country — forcing Clinton to spend, too, and potentially allowing him to score enough victories to drag out the nominating contest and delay what is widely seen as Clinton’s inevitable pivot to the general election."

Isn't that the reason why superdelegate system was created in first place (so that those who are "wiser" can correct mistakes that people make in nomination process)

You are one that knows about the crime, you are only one that has any evidence that there has been a crime, so what those people in question deserve hangs fully on your characters judgement. If your character is soft hearted and thinks that people should be able to get another change after bad deed and therefore your character lets said people go, then benevolent is quite accurate way to describe your character. If your character just want to punish them for sake of punishing them then your character could be described as cruel. If your character don't see that deed has been done and nothing will bring said man back and there isn't really need for seeking justice for cruel dead man, then your character could be described as rational And so on. It is how dispositions should work in PoE.

GfWL seem to come up lots with this even though it is great example how little effort MS has been in past willing to put in to take over PC gaming market. In phasing out DOS it wasn't sudden decision by MS but something that took over 10 years and even no they offer environments that can run dos applications and applications that were made for Windows apis running above DOS. There are even companies that get support from MS to their DOS based systems (because over 21 years isn't anything when it comes to manufacturing machines (making software for those companies is quite interesting challenge sometimes)) And one thing that will cause problems for MS if they want to monopolize PC app selling market, is that they have virtual monopoly in PC operating systems and therefore such efforts would seen as preventing competition by using their monopoly state. Of course I can't say for sure but I would bet that MS isn't willing risk again getting billions euros and dollars worth fines from EU and USA like they got form their stunts with Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

The fear is that MS will cease support of Win32 over time, and this will enforce their store as the only option on Windows. This isn't unlikely how they removed DOS from their platform in the early Windows days. I don't think Valve or Tim Sweeney care if the Windows store is required on tablets or Xbox, but only if it is required on PC because it goes against everything that built MS's empire to begin with. It also allows anti-competitive power against other Windows stores: Steam, GoG, Origin, Uplay, Battle.net, etc. It can also inhibit personal sales of any dev's product. It is a slippery slope. Let's not forget that this API likely requires DX12 as well, and that will inhibit competition from Vulkan. In the end I don't the it is so much what are the benefits vs what kind of power it gives MS to leverage a war with a portion of its Windows reliant 3rd party developers in order to siphon their business. It is a scary proposition. That is quite silly fear. This isn't really similar to DOS thing, because DOS was one of their two operating systems and they decides stop developing DOS and focus on operating systems using their NT kernel that they deemed to be much better. Although soon as they did that leap they realized their NT kernel is also pile of **** and they reworked it to new NT kernel that was first seen in Windows Vista. But any way it is silly fear because it would mean that MS would remove support from millions of windows applications and those applications are reason why Windows dominates OS markets. So it they drop support for old apps they just give opportunity for Apple, Google, etc. companies to take over PC OS market at least steal some market share. And we can see in Mac OS that even Apple hasn't been able to tie all software sales to iTunes. UWP lets you use Win32 API in your apps so you don't need to use DX12 on PC apps. And you can make UWP apps that use Vulkan on PC and DX12 on Xbox One.

KS isn't only good just for the money but it also works creating hype and making people engage with project so that they can be used as sound board by the developers to check ideas that they plan to put in the game. Like how for example Larian Studios has done with Divinity Original Sin 2.

I am all for openness of UWP, but I am bit curious what is point to demand openness of cross/multi device platform only on one of the device types. I see quite little benefits if you can install freely UWP apps on PC but if you actually need the cross device/platform functionalities you need to submit your app to Windows Store and Dev Center.

I would guess that Obsidian needs bigger project or several smaller project when Armored Warfare is released, and as Obsidian is looking new employees I would say they have something secured. I they are planning big RPG my guess would go that they most likely have deal with Paradox (World of Darkness, PoE sequel) or Bethesda (Sequel for F:NV). Of course there is possibility for something surprising and different like AW. I find odds for Pathfinder RPG bit lower because I can't think publisher who would be interested to fund one. I would not close out another KS funded game (PoE sequel) addition to some bigger project. I would also guess that this time they would take their time to plan the pitch instead doing it in similar hurry as they did PoE's (at least in document they gave impression that they mostly improvised whole pitch for PoE).

This is a very good post, its reasonable and convincing on resonates with me on some levels, I need time to consider what you say but once again a very good post But let me ask you two questions Do you want the EU to disintegrate and if so what would be the future ...as you mention do you suggest a new EU? What criteria and laws would bind it together... If you want the EU to survive what would your immediate or long term changes to the EU be that you feel the EU has to implement to sustain itself..you say things like " member states need to cooperate and support each other" but thats a little unclear as its not specific enough I would like to see EU work. I would like to see such cooperation as creating clear rules how EU as whole handles refugees and they need to be fair and balanced. We should ensure that no country left alone or or drowned by the problem. There needs to be clear and agreed rules how refugees are divided between countries, how those that don't get asylum are removed from EU. And it must be absolutely sure that registering and controlling refugees could cause problems for country as it can do now. Also EU as whole need to be in charge of refugee issues, like returning them to their home countries, providing shelters etc.. For example so that EU strikes deals with countries like Iraq and Somalia how their citizen can be returned instead of every member country making such deals in bilateral negotiations. Also I would recommend that EU creates refugee fund that pays refugee shelters, returning the rejected applicants, etc. Also EU need institution which job is to ensure that refugees are divided evenly all around EU. Also I would like to see EU institution and court that handles all the asylum applications in EU, because if their applications are accepted they are free to move everywhere in EU so it would be nice if there was uniform rules and institution which decides such things. Of course this are ideas that would mean that EU integrates more and such ideas aren't that popular these days. And things not related to refugee crisis. I would like to see EU finally to abolish mobile phone roaming charges. So that free movement is actually feasible in EU. (This just need cooperation) Also I would like see better economical support systems where member states that have problems because of asynchronous economical issues could get help and ensure that economical bend during crisis is as small as possible and economical crisis is as short as possible. So I would like to better investment and recovery fund systems that can react to problems that single member state face. Especially ECB needs methods how it can give economical support for states which economical growth/decline differs from other Euro countries. Also there needs to be better cooperation how taxes are paid over borders how assistances/pensions etc. are paid to other member states and how they are taxed and how those taxes are divided. Also EU needs clear tax haven rules to make sure that companies can't go around some member state's taxes by creating "office" in another. There are lots of this kind things that in my opinion needs to be better handled on EU level.

Bruce: I think you suffer from same blindness as many of politician. You being South African it is understandable as domestic policy of EU isn't something that would be easy or interesting you to follow. Same can't said about our politician but they seem to be similarly obvious of issues. So lets look this issues bit: In past 6 years anti-EU parties have gained lot of popularity in EU member states. They haven't just been voted in parliaments but they are in lots of governments. Like here in Finland True Finns/Finns Party, which has campaigned against EU from its formation in 1995 (during referendum about joining in EU ), forms now third of the our government and also Centre Party which is leading party in our government is full of anti EU people. Some of them even formed new anti EU and anti Euro party which only purpose is get new referendum about Finland's memberships in EU and EMU. And Finland is not only member state where anti-EU parties and people have become popular. In UK for example current prime minister's party is full of anti-EU members, some even give open support for Brexit. And those boarder closures work well for this anti EU parties. Greece for example, EU forced them in heavy austerity methods, say they need to cut public spending and so on and so forth. Now EU criticizes them because they don't have ability control refugee movement through their country, and criticize them for doing poor job preventing refugees dying in the sea. But there has been quite little enthusiasm to help Greece in current crisis instead other members states threaten to remove Greece privileges in EU if they don't get their border control to work. Golden Dawn (anti-Eu, which many also say to be neo-nazi and fascist party) has already gained popularity in Greece and you can be sure that they will gain more popularity if people of Greece feel that other EU member states have abandoned them. In Austria Freedom Party (anti EU) has gained popularity and you can be sure that they will use refugee situation to gain more support. They tell that Merkel invites refugees to Germany and then closes Germany's borders and Austria needs to take care of these Merkel's guests, see how EU don't work. In France anti-EU party National Front has gained popularity and refugee crisis has given them lots of new support and they will most likely to use Belgium's decision to close borders as ammunition. Like for example see Belgium wasn't interested to control their borders when terrorist brought weapons to France to kill our citizens, but now they are interested to control their borders when it is about their interests. When you add this lots of other problems that there are currently in EU and how there is difficulties to find common goals that EU should aim towards you can see how there disintegration of EU becomes more and more likely outcome if our politician don't soon take their head from sand and start to again see EU as union where member states need to cooperate and support each other. And if there is no willingness to do so we need to let EU go rather orderly fashion as possible and maybe build new union that is more what people now want instead of trying to force old dream to something that it isn't.

Trump is SJW https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/280812064539283457 Video game violence & glorification must be stopped—it is creating monsters!