Colrom

Sort of. I'm wondering whether alot of the basis was just race and religion. Or even color. For sure that fellow they shot dead in teh subway would almost certainly still be alive if he had been white. I don't know what they had in mind, but I don't assume they are acting rightly. There are too many recent examples otherwise.

In more seriousness, I am kinda confused about why some folks view this fellow as a reasonable suspect to be rounded up - given that he turned out not to be detained for anything. Is there something about him that makes him more reasonable a suspect at the start than someone else? I understand that he should be happy that he didn't get a bullet or two or three in his brain during the original round up - which might have happened if he had hiccuped at the wrong time - and he should stop making claims about a police state - which us white folks know is nonsense. But that doesn't explain why he was arrested to start with. He just seems a bit of a wuss and someone prone to exagerate the risk they are in. Not a terror suspect. Exaggerating the risk is the norm these days, isn't it?

Well. There were the Crusades. Very enthusiastic about them. But the Irish were good for a whipping too for a while. For how long was that? 800 years or so, wasn't it? But you did come out against the slave trade in about 1800 or so. Very progressive of you. :D It's all very confusing. Part of the white man's burden is keeping it straight I think.

That's right, It's "cheque", mate. And don't you forget it! :D X-men 3.

I really have no expertise in handguns. Strictly an anti personel weapon as I understand it. So does your local target range provide for night shooting practice? If you have occasion to use a sight are you really engaged in self "defense"? It seems to me your setup might be good assassinating intruders before they know what is happening to them. Or perhaps for murders. Not something that appeals to me.

I agree. Having the alignment visible to the player can lead to unwanted meta gaming. It would be better if the alignment considerations were completely hidden from the player. You might even be able to have a situation where the player thinks their character is "good" but the game mechanics has the character as "evil" - presumably a liar/thief/murderer. Of course the player can never know otherwise they might get pissed.

I would rather the parents left the physical development of the child alone. I think I understand their rationalizations. I just don't agree that they should mutilate the child because they think this will eliminate problems in the future. I actually wonder if they should even be allowed to do this.

For there to be light, there must be dark. For there to be good there must be evil. For there to be Heaven there must be Hell. edit: That was a bit over dramatic, wasn't it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh my! You want a fight don't you?! Well, nah, nah, nah. No fight for you! You are not worthy! :D

:D

Whats the meaning of suffering to a Christian and why is it positive? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I didn't mean to imply that suffering is positive. It isn't. Christianity mostly tries to focus on the positive that remains when suffering is removed - a positive that is present to some extent, although not always appreciated, even when suffering is the focus of our experience. I can only speak for my understanding of Christianity.

Christianity is not about human sacrifice. On the contrary it attempts to place a positive environment around our experience of suffering - experience which causes many, if not all, to doubt God. Big topic.

From a game point of view I suppose it makes sense to portray those places which are most influenced by good NPCs as ordered, beautiful, and safe. It is a challenge for a game maker to make beauty a pleasure for players who are probably looking for challenge. Perhaps a different kind of challenge. Riddles? (Some folks hate riddles.) Level ups. (Most folks like that.) Nice rewards. (Greedy bastards arn't we?!) On the other hand the places which are most influenced by bad NPCs might be disordered, ugly, and dangerous. No rewards. No level ups. Things are taken away. Greedy bastards might even get angry! Lead them to the dark side!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> He seems to have not enjoyed much in life or to have wished for more and been disappointed. Too bad. I have experienced memorable moments admiring girls, flowers, bees, birds, dogs, cats, trees and such. I remember the pleasure and experience it again in the memory. I may have wished for less and been pleased. :joy:

My younger son doesn't wear a watch. I wear a watch sometimes so that I can be on time. My older son has a tatoo on one leg - a picture of a dragon. My wife has pierced ears. One hole for each ear! That makes two - two holes for earings. She wears two rings also. She's a flashy one she is! Hmmm. We are not into body modifications or decorations much I guess. :D But I can appreciate them on others. (w00t)

I will ask around and let you know what comes up. Edit: Try www.beanbags.com or similar. The usual beads are polystyrene. Earthy sites talk about using dried food - perhaps even beans (who would have thunk it)! :D

Well the human hive is certainly working to metamorph into something else. Evidently chickens will have an important role to play!

You could make more complex observations too: "On the one hand ......; On the other hand .....; On the gripping hand ....." See: "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Nivan and Jerry Pournelle and "The Gripping Hand" by Larry Nivan. A very nice Sci Fi series.

You know I'm not sure I like the way you conduct yourself and manage your life. I'm feeling responsible. More importantly, I'm feeling that I have the authority to sort you out. After all, I'm white and I'm Christian and I'm right and I have a manifest destiny. :joy: So don't be giving me no lip when I come over and take over your life and make you do what I want until I decide it is sorted out. Because I am the Decider and don't you forget it. :D I just don't think you are the right kinda guy to be running Rosbjergland - at least not until you are properly trained and can show me that you have the necessary skills and judgement. Yup. That's how it should be.

Also, don't forget the Zeeman Effect when you do Quantum Mechanics.

Which they is the "they" you have in mind? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Iraq as a country. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Did they attack us sometime when I wasn't looking?

It's amazing you are actually able to type such drivel, considering you are living in a country whose safety was guaranteed by the US Cold War victory. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm not sure there was a cold war victory. You might even consider that we all of us on this planet lost the "cold war". Look what we have now. :crazy: I'll say this about the cold war - at least back in the cold war days we didn't all piss in our pants in fear of some arab with a bad attitude leading a camel across the desert.

Which they is the "they" you have in mind?

Clausewitz discovered that by applying greater force to a smaller one, the greater force loses less casualties. So your over-simplistic model fails. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There is no question that the number and quality of troops committed to a battle makes a difference in the outcome. You can even develop equations for attrition processes. The problem is that while the event of winning a battle can be reasonably well defined it is not as easy to define the event of winning a war. It is historically common for folks to imagine that they have won and be dismayed that the war continues and then later to decide that they have lost. Regarding the specific case of Iraq and now. If the additional US and UK forces are intended to be used to kill Sadr - which is what I think they hope to accomplish (according to my reading of the news stories over the last few years, US and UK forces and agents have tried several times in several different ways) - then I think they may very well succeed if they act quickly and with great force. On the other hand, I think success in accomplishing that event will lead to great harm to the interests of ordinary US, UK and Iraqi citizens and most US, UK and Iraqi businesses. It will destabilize Iraq by eliminating a popular and strong leader. It will alienate Shiites. It will alienate many others in the world - reenforcing the all too common image of the US as a bully state which seeks to control world events by assassination and overthrow of leaders who do not conform to US demands - especially demands relating to US business interests.

If you portray "evil" characters who are inspired by one or more of the seven deadly sins they should be convincingly corrupt.