Gromnir

*chuckle* perhaps "widespread" means something different in texan. HA! Good Fun!

I believe you have also read me saying that hyperbole and internet forums go together like peanut butter & jelly. It makes for lively discussion. But I do figure you know where I'll come down on most "public interest vs individual liberty" issues. Besides, democracy isn't the spackle, it's the sand paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/us/colorado-lawmaker-concedes-defeat-in-recall-over-gun-law.html?_r=0 spackle were your metaphor for government excess. the People is the government. *shrug* we do indeed know where you is coming from on "public interest v. liberty," which is exact why we posted the following: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/88595-the-us-election-2016-part-v/?p=1836498 claim you is just kidding is only partial true, no? nothing wrong with using funies to get a point across, but subtlety may not exact be your strong suit. HA! Good Fun!

salmon fishing in CA is a $1.5 billion per year industry. conservation efforts to protect salmon is not specific an endangered species issue (with a couple extreme rare examples,) but rather a commercial concern. HA! Good Fun!

I E

there are a handful o' potential water conservation projects being delayed or altered by the presence o' endangered species. is kinda amusing when a needed dam cannot be built 'cause o' an insect or a mulberry bush. even so, the drought/shortage is only related to endangered species in the most tangential way. HA! Good Fun!

oh, well, 'cause we has been doing something for centuries is always a great excuse for continuing bad behavior. you crazy southerners. eating and drinking while driving is kinda stoopid, even though we all do it. if a majority o' folks in new jersey agree through the Democratic Process that eating or drinking while driving is too dangerous, and there is surely nothing in the Constitution that prevents such a law, then claims that such makes you question whether we live in a free country is... amusing. btw, the People is the folks applying the spackle. so why does gd hate democracy? HA! Good Fun!

yes. the extreme endangered sky whales that cause rainfall has been disappearing at an alarming rate over the past century. ever since folks started going to school and learning 'bout convection in elementary science classes, sky whale sightings has decreased to the point where they now face almost inevitable extinction. ... 'course, a half decade o' record low rainfalls and almost non-existent snow-pack in the sierra nevadas might also be at the root o' the problem. *eye roll* HA! Good Fun!

its not the typical "that guy" however. that guy, in this instance, wouldn't shake hands 'cause his opponent were a jew. bad sportsmanship at the olympics can (and has) resulted in lifetime bans, but this kinda nonsense is a bit different, yes? HA! Good Fun!

*shrug* am thinking that the study ignores that not all freedoms is equal. personal freedoms should be given more weight, no? looks like many o' the southern states have issues with personal freedoms. additional, poor states is understandably gonna have less regulatory laws as they simple cannot enforce even good laws. etc. regardless, its the price o' democracy. act surprised or angry that State and local Government is taking away 'freedoms' is kinda silly, no? is the democratic process at work. enough folks agree that smoking in restaurants is bad and that "there should be a law preventing it," hopeful results in such a law being passed. sure, is an infringement o' liberty rights, but virtual all laws is. prevent small business owners from being unfair to employees or operating without safeguards for the public is an infringement o' liberty and freedom. prevent folks from bringing invasive species o' plants and animals into a state is terrible burden on personal liberty *snort*, but the democratic process often arrives at the reasonable conclusion that west nile virus and dutch elm disease and japanese beetle infestations is stuff folks wanna avoid. 'course, the tyranny of the majority is always a threat. all you need is +50% to take away freedoms o' the minority. is democracy, but it is often stoopid, shortsighted and even cruel. the reason why the Bill of Rights and protections o' fundamental rights is so important is they is a check on the inevitable excesses o' the People. interesting but misleading link. HA! Good Fun! It was just discussion fodder Grom. Tongue was firmly in cheek! kinda tongue-in-cheek, no? am recalling you recent railing 'gainst new jersey and their efforts to limit impaired driving. http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/88392-the-us-election-2016-part-iv/?p=1834051 HA! Good Fun!

fundamental misunderstanding. hobbes' state of nature is undiluted freedom and liberty. "for the laws of nature (as justice, equity, modesty, mercy, and, in sum, doing to others as we woud be done to) of themselves, without the terror of some power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our natural passions, that carry us to partiality, pride, revenge and the like." we purposeful sacrifice freedoms and liberty to acquire comfort and safety. even so, there is particular personal freedoms which should never be offered up on the altar o' necessity. is fundamental liberty values we cannot allow a democracy to offer in exchange for comfort. HA! Good Fun!

Wow that is awful. Shame said human is too small to safely smack around. said human is incapable o' understanding why and how what they did were wrong. is not 'til ~10 years o' age that children have brain development to genuine understand right and wrong. takes even longer to get genuine empathy and a fully developed sense o' morality. children looks like little people, but they ain't. children, particularly young children, is sociopaths. parents tend to project qualities onto their kids that do not exist. the notion o' a good child is somewhat meaningless. a well-behaved child is possible, but good ain't an option 'til almost teens. “there is nothing more atrociously cruel than an adored child.” --vladimir nabokov its not their fault. they don't understand. even so... regardless, am most saddened. when an innocent creature suffers due to the cruelty or thoughtlessness o' men (or children,) it is a tragedy. pointless. meaningless. unnecessary. all too common.

*shrug* am thinking that the study ignores that not all freedoms is equal. personal freedoms should be given more weight, no? looks like many o' the southern states have issues with personal freedoms. additional, poor states is understandably gonna have less regulatory laws as they simple cannot enforce even good laws. etc. regardless, its the price o' democracy. act surprised or angry that State and local Government is taking away 'freedoms' is kinda silly, no? is the democratic process at work. enough folks agree that smoking in restaurants is bad and that "there should be a law preventing it," hopeful results in such a law being passed. sure, is an infringement o' liberty rights, but virtual all laws is. prevent small business owners from being unfair to employees or operating without safeguards for the public is an infringement o' liberty and freedom. prevent folks from bringing invasive species o' plants and animals into a state is terrible burden on personal liberty *snort*, but the democratic process often arrives at the reasonable conclusion that west nile virus and dutch elm disease and japanese beetle infestations is stuff folks wanna avoid. 'course, the tyranny of the majority is always a threat. all you need is +50% to take away freedoms o' the minority. is democracy, but it is often stoopid, shortsighted and even cruel. the reason why the Bill of Rights and protections o' fundamental rights is so important is they is a check on the inevitable excesses o' the People. interesting but misleading link. HA! Good Fun!

We wouldn't run welfare programs the way the feds run them. It would be very difficult to get welfare in independent Texas. Anyway, "how will we ever fund welfare" isn't a burning question on anyone's mind. oh, well then. you wouldn't run welfare "the way the feds run them." excellent. is so much more specific than your previous responses. and given all the folks you got taking SNAP benefits, how to run welfare should be a burning question, 'cause a multitude o' starving and homeless children becomes a burning question very fast. HA! Good Fun!

yes, you were extreme vague about policies in general, which is why we addressed your only concrete claims and concerns. and yeah, we suspect that less people would receive welfare if texas seceded. again, did you not understand the fed dollar differential? texas wouldn't be able to cover the costs o' fed programs as you is a dependent state. you can't afford welfare or a multitude o' other programs. oh, and children is far-and-away the largest age group receiving welfare benefits, and they receive the mostest individual benefits. no doubt once wod cures cancer and patents riding dinosaurs, he will tackle the problem o' reducing welfare recipients w/o punishing the children who is already suffering the most. HA! Good Fun!

'cause the ioc decided it would be a waste o' time to have karate competitions when all medals would be won by chuck norris. chuck is so tough that he would win every medal in every weight class. he would fight multiple opponents at once... perhaps all o' them at once, and just to make it a challenge, mr. norris would fight blindfolded and with a rabid ferret in his karategi. an extra copper medal would need be introduced just to reward mr. norris appropriately... or maybe platinum, or painite. HA! Good Fun!

the children of illegal immigrants? they aren't illegal if they are born on US soil. duh. california has 1/3 more population and 2x as many illegals than does texas. nevertheless, the % o' the california population benefiting from SNAP is also significant less than texas (just north o' 10%) and making it #10 on list o' lowest % o' SNAP beneficiaries, in spite o' more ca illegals and their underclass children. and we already mentioned the much skewed tax dollar issue which you mischaracterize. ca does not have a higher percentage o' upper class than any other state, so kinda misleading. and there is a .1% difference 'tween high income in ca and texas, in spite o' significant higher cost of living. ca has also only benefited from a 1.3% gain for upper class since 2000. texas has increased 1.9% since 2000, so since figures is accurate only to 2013, texas has likely already surpassed ca for % o' high income citizens. "We wouldn't be a pauper nation, without the federal government pulling us back, we'd be the most prosperous, freest nation in the world." sure. sure. right after wod discovers the cure for cancer in armadillo p00p, every texan would have his own private 18-hole golf course, and you would all ride the lab-created dinosaurs wod created. when you get tired o' living in the fantasy world, come back to us. HA! Good Fun!

http://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/boxing/story/_/id/17327993/aiba-removes-several-olympic-judges-refs-results-stand caution: sweary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNKUoAmgDb0 HA! Good Fun!

illegals don't get SNAP. 'cause, y'know, they is illegal. *chuckle* california gots loads o illegal immigrants-- 2x more total in point o' fact, but CA taxpayers get less than $1 o' fed benefits per $1 o' tax payer contribution. oh, and is not the fed that put texas on the boarder with mexico. you think becoming independent would stop illegal immigration? HA! sure, many illegals would leave texas if it weren't US, but to get to real US, you would still get illegal immigrants in texas. maybe look at a map? is texas policies that is causing texas poverty, and decades o' bad texas private business. wod may wanna leave, but the actual folks in power in texas know what an utter disaster that would be. can't even pull own weight with influx o' excess fed dollars and you think going it alone would improve the situation? add a new pauper nation on US southern boarder? gosh, why wouldn't the USA want that? HA! Good Fun!

I have three problems with dialogue wheel. 1, Needless obfuscation: written "yes", says "sure". 2, When the short written sentence doesn't match what my character says and/or does. 3, When the dialogue wheel is used to hide my lack of choice. Two or more written choices, but they all lead to my character saying/doing the same thing. #2 and #3 really are the worst. It's crazy how often it seems to be done, though. bring up #2 and #3 is why we got banned from bioware. complained 'bout how frequent #3 were happening in mass effect, so chris priestly locks thread-- insists that our complaints could lead to spoilers. no actual spoilers, but potential were too great. okie dokie. so then a dragon age dialogue wheel thread gets started by somebody other than Gromnir. no possibility o spoilers, yes? we get banned 'cause priestly told us we should "drop it," and we ignored his directive. *shrug* no big loss, but we bring up to show just how little the dialogue o' the dialogue wheel has changed. dialogue wheel has been broken from the start. minor improvements have not improved the dialogue wheel enough to make it worth the trouble. for a game with enormous amounts o' dialogue, the dialogue wheel is a developer time/resource saver, but somehow it gets sold as a boon to role-play. is pt barnum game design. HA! Good Fun!

texas need to pull its own weight before it can complain 'bout the fed. near 15% of the texan population is benefiting from SNAP, and texas also receives more fed dollars than its citizens contribute... make it one o' the many dependent states. there is 14 states that get back less than $1 in fed benefits for every $1 o' citizen contribution. texas in Not one o' the 14. texas is ranked 32 outta 50. until texas steps up, they might wanna shut up. HA! Good Fun!

six times? six? http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/8/2/3214407/2012-olympics-video-boxing-bad-decision-shimizu-abdulhamidov now that is brazen. HA! Good Fun!

we like the olympics, but am getting annoyed by the sensitivity level. got numerous athletes open weeping 'cause o' social media comments. so much for mental toughness o' elite athletes, eh? and how many stories need we endure that ain't 'bout the sport, but rather 'bout the commentators, social media pundits, or random guy on the street who were insensitive. didn't give a female athlete enough credit? made too much o' athlete being female, thus diminishing her accomplishments? can't win. is ok to highlight the first african-american gold medalist swimmer or is doing so racist? a commentator is awed by biles power and mentions that she is getting more air than the men on her bar dismounts... and the commentator then needs apologize ad nauseum. why exact? nbc exec mentions that women viewers o' the olympics outnumber men and that they are more intrigued by the human stories surrounding the olympics than they is 'bout the actual competitions. *shock* etc. olympics would be better for us if there were absolute no social media related stories, and the threshold for culture and gender insensitivity need be adjusted a fair amount. its freaking sports for chrissakes. HA! Good Fun!

"There is no right or wrong answer, this is your personal views on what matters to your view of a citizen." make us feel a bit dirty to quote bruce. shame on us, and shame on you. *shrug* we agree with bruce that the opinions in this thread ain't wrong. sure, if somebody gets a fact wrong 'bout how polygamy is advocated in the US Constitution and it is required that every male must have at least three wives, we would point out error, but am not honest seeing benefit in a thread such as this to critique feelings 'bout citizenship... though such is only our opinion. and heck, we didn't even answer the original question, so what do we know? just seems like off-the-rails blather is counter-productive to encouraging folks to post their own opinions. HA! Good Fun!

What? Why? If you're of an Abrahamic religion, you believe that God will either return to Earth or end all things in some manner or another anyways. Regardless of your immortality, I think God should win here and he renders judgement unto you as he does all others. If you're Hindu or Buddhist, you'd just be allowed to keep living your one life instead of living out many different ones. I can't think of many specific faiths where you believe you really lose if you're immortal. The answer to that is in the Gospel of John, 18:36 am suspecting that the verse in question is not about becoming a telepathic god-puma. HA! Good Fun!

doesn't say who filed it, could be a joke Most likely is. Although there is always hope. I'd trade Pillars of Eternity 2 for Fallout by Obsidian any day of the week. we wouldn't. obsidian would have to get bethesda approval for any number o' fallout development choices. would be kinda amusing to have tim cain need convince bethesda that obsidian story and design choices were fallout appropriate, but such is life. poe were the first game in a new IP-- we expected growing pains. the thing is, obsidian can fix poe2 whatever and however they choose. that is not the case if obsidian were to do a fallout game. no doubt there is an enormous list o' improvements the obsidians would have in mind for fallout after having played fo4 and its dlc. unfortunately, to make any changes to fo, the obsidians need stand, hat-in-hand, and request bethesda's indulgence. as 'tween an obsidian fo game and poe2, seems like an easy choice to be making. ... 'course money is a major difference. make a fo game on bethesda's dime is also presenting opportunities not availble to obsidian if they try and makes their own poe2. am aware that the choice is not simple poe2 freedom v. bethesda's fo shackles. HA! Good Fun! ps we liked poe, so there is that as well