Gorth

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57339989 "More than 100 baby squid and 5,000 microscopic animals are set to be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. The creatures, along with other equipment for experiments, will head to the ISS aboard Space X's Falcon 9 rocket. Its hoped that the experiments will be able to help scientists understand the effects of spaceflight. The launch at 13:29 EDT (17:29 GMT) will be broadcast live by Nasa." From this To this?

As long as he goes to jail and stays there for good, they can argue, split, breakup, devolve into parliamentary chaos for all I care. The world will be just a little bit better for it.

Nothing keeps the Florida Man locked up!

Heh, I could probably ramble on for a long time time and completely missing the point, because the things I like may not be what other people want to focus on in a game. There are a number of youtube videos with a combined few hours of arguments why you should play Guild Wars 2 in 2021 and they focus on slightly different things. The core game has a nice story (imho), combat is very dynamic and fluent. No romance arcs. I know this would be worth mentioning It does have plenty of romance, love, despair, politics, betrayal, racism, misogyny, hatred, wisdom, lgbt friendliness and bigotry. All depending on which faction, race and political class you're dealing with. Graphics are very nice. Not at least considering the game was launched in 2012. Something that mattered to me, *especially* after having played swtor for a number of years, is a very friendly and helpful community. Only exception I've been told, is the pvp community, but that seems to be a universal law that this particular subculture is toxic as part of its nature But elsewhere in the game, don't be surprised to see people go out of their way to resurrect you or pitch in if you're in the middle of a fight in the open world. Unlike swtor, the loot in GW2 is shared. It means everyone who participates get a copy of the loot. No rolling off against each other or the first one to tag an enemy gets it all. You participate where you can and welcome help when other people participates. Personally, I hate pvp, not at least because of the nature of pvp communities, but I do love what is called wvw (world versus world), which is large scale, open world pvp where you fight in a separate set of open world maps in a three way free for all, server vs server (the servers being the "worlds"). Large scale as in sometimes featuring hundreds of players, sieges (complete with siege engines and boiling oil to pour on your enemies at the gate). Another important thing for me is the story. The core story (the free to play part of the game) is great. I love it. Self contained and you get a closure and a ceremony with a slide show. But, Anet keeps adding to the story. Something called "Living World" which is a constant addition to the story. Every two-three months, you get a sizeable chunk of new story, missions, achievements, new maps to explore etc. The two expansions are for me a must. First one adds a new base class (taking the original 8 to 9) and 9 "elite classes" and something called "gliding skill". Oh, and a lot of story. *LOT* of story... as well as new events, bosses, missions etc. Second expansion adds similar 9 new elite classes and more epic story than you can shake a stick at. Elite classes are variations of the base classes. E.g. a thief can become either a daredevil (my main character) which fights with a Bo staff as a main weapon. Think Shao Lin style monks with staves. Alternatively, the thief can become a sniper with a long rage rifle and lots of stealth to shoot at enemies from very far away and the stealth to get in and out of combat when so desired. Similar for the other classes who now has two specializations each. A note about the living world seasons, at this very moment, Anet is running a campaign in preparation for the announced third major expansion (which is all East Asian themed) giving away the living world season episodes for free. Two episodes every week. The current season is available to free to play players too (players who haven't bought the expansions). They are normally available for free to players who have logged in at least once during the release of an episode. I.e. the 2-3 months windows where it is the "current" episode. People who don't log in or are late comers normally have to buy them for cool, hard cash. So if in doubt, I would recommend to asap create and account, install the game and just log in. Even if you don't do anything else in the game, just log in once a week for a while to get this first season for free. Then you can always regret wasting those 30 seconds of your life late if you decide this isn't really for you. Alternatively (preferably) you like the game and stick around long enough to play those episodes (which takes place immediately after the core game ends). Edit: I'm a sucker for nice music. Someone edited a number of in game cut scenes together, recreating the mood of the game with it's main theme as background track

"Asparagus recipe appears in Belgian law database" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57315748 "The text appeared to have been accidentally copied and pasted into legislation on the price of drugs and medical supplies. "Bon Appétit!" read the final line of the recipe, before returning to more serious issues. The text has now been deleted from the database. The error was discovered following an update made to the French-version text of the Belgian official journal, or Moniteur Belge, where laws, decrees and other official notes are published."

That's not how cashflow works... (yeah, my inner developer chiming in there)

'Time heals all wounds'... Speaking of which, I should try Dragon Age: Inquisition again (for the sixth time) and see if I can't motivate myself to at least make it out of the tutorial railroad track before putting it aside again. Unlike ME3 where the ending sucked, it's like in DA:I it's the beginning that sucks At least I hope so. I better put it on my to-do list for when I finish/grow tired of my current batch of games (Monster Girl Island, Dungeon of Naheulbeuk, Nier: Replicant and the ubiquitous Guild Wars 2). Speaking of the latter if anyone here plays it, more than welcome to hit me up in game. Message me for in-game contact details.

You could argue that it was the first of two acts of international terrorism in New Zealand. The second being that deranged Aussie running amok with his guns, killing dozens of people. (with friends like these...)

Speaking of nuclear tests... that one time the French won a naval battle!

I'm sure many people have heard the horror stories about how the US tested nuclear weapons on their own "volunteer" soldiers, to see if their WW II steel helmets would protect against nuclear blasts or some similar nonsense, just to see how close to ground zero troops could survive. But they weren't the only ones. The French tested it almost exclusively on Polynesians (with a guest appearance of nukes in Algeria), no doubt the Soviets did similar back home in Mother Russia and while the UK didn't have the decency to test their nukes on some remote Yorkshire farm, they had other options. Send all their **** to Australia (just like they did a century before) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57157476 "When David Purse was sent to Australia, he thought it would be a "wild adventure" in a little-explored place. However, the RAF flight lieutenant's posting to a remote area called Maralinga was to test atomic weapons. Son Steve, 47, from Prestatyn in Denbighshire, puts his own "unique" condition down to "a rare genetic mutation" caused by radiation The Ministry of Defence said three large studies found no link between the tests and ill health." Yeah, right "In all, about 40,000 British personnel took part in the testing of atomic and hydrogen bombs in the 1950s and 1960s. Most were in the Pacific - the biggest being Operation Grapple, where about 22,000 people oversaw the exploding of bombs in 1957. Maralinga, in South Australia, saw the first test launches of atomic weapons from aircraft in 1962. "He was told at short notice and was looking forward to visiting a warm country, a relatively unexplained place, and having a wild adventure," Steve said of his father. However, he was "close enough to ground zero to see sand to turn to glass" during tests, with no protective equipment."

Those treacherous Danes... never trust them any farther than you can throw them ! https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57302806 "Denmark's secret service helped the US spy on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014, Danish media report. The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information, according to a report by Danish broadcaster Danmarks Radio. Intelligence was collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway, according to the report. Similar allegations emerged in 2013."

Not just any great power. All great powers throughout history must eventually succumb to entropy (and this guy is happy then) (that's Coaxmetal from Planescape: Torment for the heathens that don't recognize him)

That has to be the most PG rated sex scene ever

Latest purchases... Rogue Squadron (because I like my hotas stick), Dungeon of Nahelbeuk (sp?) and Nier: Replicant 1.22.... (because I love Nier: Automata). Regarding Nier... Kaine's swearing is just otherworldly bizarre But it runs smoothly without hiccups, which is a relief considering what I had heard about the PC port.

I played the demo for a while. It really looks like a complete game up until it ends if you want an impression @BruceVC It is too "cutesy" for my cynical old Danish self, but it a well made with a very high degree of spit and polish added to it. Right down to funny little remarks and conversations with just about anything you would expect would be able to have a conversation. I.e. talk to the towns people, not the road signs (although you can read those).

Poor Melbourne. Headed into total lockdown again for an unknown time. This time a somewhat severe outbreak with a still unknown number of people affected. All starting with a returning international traveler that brought "gifts" from abroad. He spent the mandatory two weeks in hotel quarantine in Adelaide and tested negative before leaving. Yet 5 days after that (last time I read it) started developing symptoms and tested positive. In the meantime, he had been all over Melbourne infecting a number of people. Didn't help that contact tracers messed up badly by announcing the wrong grocery store as a possible infectious spot (as they forgot that particular area had two grocery stores from the same chain) and didn't start tracking people who had visited the correct store until way later... Edit: this is from before the weekend: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-27/victoria-covid-cases-melbourne-outbreak-lockdown-restrictions/100169172 "The state's outbreak has now reached 26 cases, with 11 new cases recorded from Wednesday to Thursday. Around 14,000 Victorians are either required to quarantine for 14 days, or test and isolate until negative. One of the cases was in hospital on a ventilator, but it is understood they were moved out of intensive care on Thursday night."

I remember 'Canardo' from way back in my younger years, as it was one of those comics that got translated to Danish. RIP Sokal

Maybe put this in the obituary thread too if not already there? I don’t know if I’m the only GW2 player around here, but if anyone is interested in trying it out, Arenanet is currently offering the first episodes of “The living world season 2” for free if people log in for the time being. This is also for “free to play” players (players who haven’t bought either expansion) edit: this is part of a campaign as preparation for the upcoming third expansion

Wont violate his own mandates and eat indoor... yeah right

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p09jq1sy/how-close-are-we-to-driving-flying-cars-

True. And the peaceful use of nuclear power has caused almost as much death and destruction as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But ask yourself, who is running the facilities and what could their motivations be for running them? Could be dual purpose. Same as Iran and it's nuclear power project, also a dual purpose endeavor, energy and nuclear weapons. What doesn't help is the complete denial and shutdown of any attempt at allowing independent verification of their claims. It could be like Iraq back in the day, they really didn't have chemical weapons, but short of invading and digging up every possible site (and looking stupid with your hands empty), the complete lack of trust in the Beijing government means they will never get the benefit of the doubt. I suspect dual purposes were the case, but since senior UN personal was not allowed anywhere near the facilities, I obvious know even less facts. For someone with nothing to hide, they sure put a *lot* of effort into hiding it.

Well, yes and no. More about calling them out on it and holding them accountable for the allegorical playing with fire when doing biological weapon research. As much as they were mortal enemies at some point, even the Soviets and the US *eventually* realized the same as my old training officers in the civil defense, if you thought chemical and nuclear warfare was bad, it's nothing compared to biological warfare. The only component of 'abc' (atomic, biological and chemical) there was no provision for in the training, because, the 'b' type warfare means we're all ****ed, friend and foe, nothing you can do to protect a population in any way. I know the Soviets and the US never fully dismantled their biological weapon research, but they kept it low profile in the big picture.

Don't underestimate the PR damage and the propaganda value. Both are currencies that means a lot to the Beijing leadership and countries have been "preemptively" bombed before when doing things that poses a significant threat, whether nuclear or chemical weapons. Only few countries in the world have biological weapon capability (China and the US being two of them). I don't think Russia and the US would nuke Wuhan or similar if they locate more of those bio weapon facilities, but as said, don't underestimate XI going all apoplectic and red faced (complete with sweat drops and burst veins) if it comes out that China was just being careless with one of their test subjects. Not to mention the lawsuits and compensation claims they would subject to (not that they would pay, but Xi is a nationalist and ridiculing his country is something he reacts very badly to)

One of the few conspiracy theories I probably would buy. Ok, maybe not outright, but would definitely like to know more about. I remember all the humorous pictures of that level 4 "institute of virology" with the Umbrella Corporation logo. No kidding, the same as the company that made the zombie virus in Resident Evil, making you wonder where the game developers got their inspiration from??? The Wuhan lab was only one of the planned five to seven similar labs throughout China. I do remember my very first thought in late 2019 was "Oh no, they didn't!" (and cursing the usual sloppy quality assurance on all things Made in China) when reading about a dangerous virus escaping from the city from the Umbrella Corporation memes. Still could just be a bat with Dracula ambitions... let's make the humans miserable. edit: Maybe Biden reads Washington Post too? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57260009 "US President Joe Biden has ordered intelligence agencies to investigate the emergence of Covid-19, amid growing controversy about the virus's origins."

Bought two games recently on steam. Nier: Replicant for the depressing stuff and Dungeon of Naheulbeuk (no idea how to pronounce it, it's based on a French comic series) for the more lighthearted stuff