Everything posted by Elerond
- US Elections 2016
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Benevolent choices...i beg to differ
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.
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Microsoft wants to monopolise games development on PC. We must fight it
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.
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Microsoft wants to monopolise games development on PC. We must fight it
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.
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March 4, 2016 Josh Sawyer interview ... last part kind of interesting.
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.
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Microsoft wants to monopolise games development on PC. We must fight it
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.
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March 4, 2016 Josh Sawyer interview ... last part kind of interesting.
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).
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
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.
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
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.
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Blame Social Justice Warriors for Donald Trump
Trump is SJW https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/280812064539283457 Video game violence & glorification must be stopped—it is creating monsters!
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
Border control is issue to countries that have lots of non-registered refugees like for example, how Greece feels isolated and Austria has expressed their displeasure towards Germany's plans to block refugees on border. Also France didn't like Belgium's decision to control their border. If this countries can't form some sort agreement how border control in EU will work it will only strengthen anti-EU parties in said countries which will lead disintegration of EU. It as single would not be enough, but there is lots issues which EU member states currently have different opinions and have hard time to come up solution that all would be agree. We can see clear examples for this in how Greece feels that it is closed of from rest of EU and how UK (although border control issue has little do with UK's desires to leave as it isn't part of Schengen area) wants to leave from EU.
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
Although Sweden and Germany have started to close their boarders, even though that goes against those EU framework agreements that I was talking about. Also Greece has problems because others have closed borders for it. If there isn't soon comprehensive solution that all member states will follow, EU will have quite lot of problems to keep itself working.
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
Yes but the initial number is very low, so the figure 822 % may seem excessive but not if you consider there were only 3490 immigrants in 2014 and now there are 32150 Its not a large number? It depends how you look that number. For example UK which has 12 times of Finland's population took only 6k more than Finland. And France that also has twelve time population of Finland took only bit over twice that Finland which seems to already case quite lot problems to them. And when adjust first time asylum applicants to population, then even Germany took less people than Finland. Only Hungary, Sweden and Austria have taken more people adjusted to population than Finland. So 32k isn't that big number put its more than population in most of Finland's cities. Fair enough, I can see the concern both you and Meshugger have..its valid but only if the Finnish government continues to allow 30K of refugees into Finland every year..but it wont. I think there will be far less if any refugees coming into Finland in the future Although this year prediction is that number of refugees will be much higher than last year. And it isn't just question about allowing them to come, but what is number that forces us to break international conventions and go back what we have said to be fundamental human rights. Also EU's framework agreements will come under question and which can lead results like disintegration whole union, if we can't find balance in crisis like this.
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
Yes but the initial number is very low, so the figure 822 % may seem excessive but not if you consider there were only 3490 immigrants in 2014 and now there are 32150 Its not a large number? It depends how you look that number. For example UK which has 12 times of Finland's population took only 6k more than Finland. And France that also has twelve time population of Finland took only bit over twice that Finland which seems to already case quite lot problems to them. And when adjust first time asylum applicants to population, then even Germany took less people than Finland. Only Hungary, Sweden and Austria have taken more people adjusted to population than Finland. So 32k isn't that big number put its more than population in most of Finland's cities.
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European Refugee Crisis : Part 2
In this hard economic times it is good to be number one in something, maybe... Edit: Source http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/7203832/3-04032016-AP-EN.pdf/790eba01-381c-4163-bcd2-a54959b99ed6
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US Elections 2016
He quickly reiterated that he was talking about high skilled immigration and not about H1-B visas. Take it as you will. Politicians gonna politick and all that (thinking about Rubio and Cruz and how they increased the number of such visas). H-B1 visas are meant to be way for companies hire foreign workers to jobs when they can't find American workers. So they are meant to bring high skilled people, but lots of companies are criticized to use them mostly to cut costs. So I would be bit skeptic how Trump plans to change that.
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Movies You've Seen Recently Thread
I would like to see a remake of Forbidden Planet, just to see if it would work for current audience.
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Too much text ......
I can't speak for all dyslexics, but for me writing in the game or fonts they used didn't cause any problems. Although I have got used to read long and difficult texts in language that is much less dyslexics friendly than English. So maybe I am not best example of average dyslexic.
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US Elections 2016
I was more referring to Republican turnout, they have now eagerness and desire to change leadership, like democrats had in 2008. So in general election democrats need to rise movement that gets people to vote, where GOP (Trump) has already one behind him. So republicans have fever for change where democrats feel content to current situation, and those who aren't content how things are run have higher likelihood to vote. Getting people vote somebody just to block somebody else is often more difficult task than continue snowball effect that Trump for example seems to have created (as he just don't win republican primaries but draw new people to vote).
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US Elections 2016
http://dailycaller.com/2016/03/02/democratic-turnout-down-32-in-super-tuesday-states-compared-to-2008/ Overall Super Tuesday turnouts: Democrats -32% compared to 2008, GOP +61% compared to 2008 and +73% compared to 2012. Which don't give democrats best predictions about general election.
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The Weird, Random, and Interesting things that Fit Nowhere Else Thread
17th-Century Female Spies Smuggled Information Through Eggs and Artichokes
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US Elections 2016
He drive his reform (Obamacare) to US health insurance market through. He ended US mission in Iraq. He increase US drone strikes against their enemies. He droved deals lowering sanctions with Cuba and Iran through even though Congress was against them. And so on. So about as memorable decisions as GWB but he didn't start two wars.
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US Elections 2016
I would say that Trump, Kasich and Sanders would be ideal winners. Cruz and Rubio are decent choices and Clinton is probably worse. Trump promises to destroy USA's ability to compete on global market to ensure USA's safety against illegal immigrants from Mexico and Muslims. I predict that his presidency would boost European economy greatly, even if UK closes it borders and exits EU. Kasich promises to give military assistance for Finland even if Finland is not part of Nato, which is always nice and as president he actually would be somewhat capable to keep that promise. Sanders social reform would mean that USA needs to focus their own country instead of meddling affairs of other countries. Also such social reform will give great opportunity for European companies steal market shares from American companies that need to focus their home market. Cruz, seems to be very similar to GWB, which was also excellent president for Europe as his poor foreign policies made rest of world form tighter ties just to balance against those policies. His reign would had given excellent economical boost for Europe if there had not been those big banks in USA that caused economical crash (coincidence??) Rubio seem to be weaker version of Cruz, so not optimal candidate, but I believe that he and GOP will do what is good for Europe like they have done in past. This analyses aren't meant to be take seriously or reflect reality. :)
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US Elections 2016
In poll averages: Clinton vs Trump: Clinton wins with 3% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton-5491.html Cruz vs Clinton: Cruz wins with 1.5% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_cruz_vs_clinton-4034.html Clinton vs Rubio: Rubio wins with 5% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_cruz_vs_clinton-4034.html Clinton vs Kasich: Kasich wins with 7.4% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_kasich_vs_clinton-5162.html Clinton vs Carson: Clinton wins with 1.3% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_carson_vs_clinton-5119.html Sanders vs Trump: Sanders wins with 8% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-5565.html Sanders vs Cruz: Sanders wins with 9.7% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_cruz_vs_sanders-5742.html Sanders vs Rubio: Sanders wins with 3.3% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_rubio_vs_sanders-5564.html Sanders vs Kasich: Sanders wins with 0.5% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_kasich_vs_sanders-5817.html Sanders vs Casrson:Sanders wins with 1.3% http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_carson_vs_sanders-5677.html Match ups against Trumps are polled most and which usually gives highest prediction accuracy about winner. But of course general election has not yet even started so poll prediction accuracy is very in this point of the time. Clinton and Trump both suffer from fact that even within their own parties there are people that will not vote them in any circumstances, which rise possibility of unpredicted result in certain parts of country very high. It also means that third party candidates have high chance to have quite high support if they are Dem and GOP nominees. Although American media seems to want Trump to become nominee (at least) as amount of articles written about him is mind staggering compared to other candidates. Visibility brings votes regardless of nature of that visibility.
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US Elections 2016
Prediction after super Tuesday seems to be same as in going in it Clinton and Trump will be the party nominees and Clinton will win general election. Only interesting thing that I see in predictions is that Clinton is weaker of two democratic candidates when it comes to winning general election and Trump is GOP's weakest candidate in general election.