Gorth

How does the saying go? You have the government you deserve?

I know it wasn't directed at me, but you don't have to use more than a couple of the grey cells to figure out its a reverse uno on the law that introduced id requirements. Unregistered and illegal migrants can vote if ID isn't required (and they usually vote democratic). Same shenanigans when people in power resort to gerrymandering (i.e. vote rigging) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

Having tinkered around a bit with Stable Diffusion (and tearing out my hair in frustration at times), I've also been keeping an eye out for interesting videos on the subject of AI image and video generation. Ran across this earlier today, being impressed by the AI algorithms interpretation of the characters of one of my favourite Animes.... in a what if they had been in a live action movie (without the at times exaggerated proportions and stylistic faces of Anime). edit: My own observations and constructive criticism of whoever fed the information to the AI Starks red iris' are overdone. Needs desaturation Eisen is showing too much of his face Flamme is missing her two "signature" earrings, that Frieren wears after her death Ubel is showing too little armpits Denken looks too tall. He's supposed to be short and very stocky (and he's missing his signature monocle) Kanne is the same as Stark, the iris colour is overdone. Needs desaturation Methode looks too "youthful". She is the curvy, "older woman" adventurer that Sein always dreamt of meeting (ironically leaving the party just before the introduction of Methode) Himmel his face is slightly too angular. He has noticeable "soft" facial features to give him that cute baby look in the Anime

Watched fifth episode of Dandadan... got to say, Momo rolling around on the floor laughing was contagious Where are his balls indeed... yup, cat got his balls

I do not believe for a moment that religious doctrine was high on the agenda of Nordic monarchs. Out own king had ulterior motives when he gave in to popular uprising starting in Holstein in the 1520's and spreading. Ironically led by a Knights Hospitaller, Hans Tausen. The political situation was complicated too, because Swedish terrorists had started an uprising against their rightful Danish overlords, leading to political maneuvering and power plays, Game of Thrones style. A few years later, the obscenely wealthy Catholic church had its assets seized and reformation was introduced. Also, the ridiculous number of public holidays (all the St. Gorth and St. Nicholas and St.Mary and what have you holy days) were merged into a single public holiday aptly named (roughly translated) "Great Prayer Day", where the peasants, those who still cared, could worship their favourite saints all at once. Time to get the peasants back in the fields so they could produce taxable income. (see Nordic "history" above ) I was a bit curious about that. According to the local advertisers here in Australia, US citizens are required to pay tax in the US, despite living abroad. Ads everywhere in social media and papers here on how to get rid of your US citizenship (if you have dual citizenship) so you don't get double taxed together with Australian tax. Are you guys supposed to pay tax in the afterlife too??? The hypocrisy of British "expats" in Spain is particularly funny to listen to in interviews. No ways are they immigrants!!!

I'm in the camp of people who quite liked DA:O. The combat and spell combos where you had to explore was just fun (a very subjective thing, I know). Didn't care for the romances and if I had to mention my single biggest grievance it was the npc with the big yellow exclamation mark over his head screaming PURCHASE THIS DLC!!!! in your camp That aside, I quite enjoyed it enough for several repeat playthroughs. I later got an edition with the various dlc's etc. so at least this most obnoxious guy disappeared.

They are separated a bit by time though. The Inquisition was founded in 1186 and most of those famous persecutions took place in the 13th and 14th century. Protestantism rose to power in some countries in the 16th century. I.e. centuries later. Maybe they just felt the pope had "lost his edge"? But seriously, it was a revolt against the increasing obsession with worldly possessions and a lack of (perceived) proper zealotry that inspired Luther. The wars that followed ended with the peace of Westphalia. Not sure if the birth of nationalism was a particularly good substitute for religious wars... Edit: The pragmatism of the Henry VIIII is admirable though. Divorcing and beheading wives were easier without Papal meddling, so did away with both Catholicism and Protestantism and introduced himself as the only official spokesman for God in the form of the Anglican church

Through wholesale genocide and slaughter of entire provinces, towns and communities? It was anything but an amicable split (the protestants of the time were the "Taliban" of its age, killing anything and anyone not showing proper religious fervor) edit: the war didn't really end until the Northern Ireland peace treaty was signed and the end of "The Troubles" in 1998 (after 3000 dead and 49000 wounded since 1968)

Split off from old thread...

Off to a new thread...

I think this guy nailed my own observations (about the writing and dialogue) pretty well... also his delivery is funny if you like snark

Checked out a number of reviews and then reviews of the reviews (no kidding, something stank to heaven about the way the all looked identical). Looks like a bunch of "positive" reviews were so much lookalike, even an AI could do better at pretending not being cut and pasted from the same EA Template handed out to reviewers. Those not on EA's "payroll" seems to mostly focus on the story and characters rather than game mechanics (the latter apparently not being worth mentioning). Summary from almost a dozen videos, the story is bad, like really, really bad (the only exception being the ending last few hours which weren't disastrously bad) and the characters and the dialogue in particular is going to meet Rings of Power in a UFC match for worst writing ever. Edit: I.e. a no interest from me. Fooled me once with Inquisition, shame on you. Fool me twice with Veilguard? Shame on me.

Maybe it was chewed on for too long by turbo granny

Nice change of lyrics

I usually only chase the venomous ones (like that red back family that started an “occupy Gorth’s shower” movement) with the insecticide can. Jumping spiders are just too cute and the larger huntsman spiders do get caught in a plastic bowl and piece of paper slid under it for eviction I usually spend more times chasing lizards as geckos are just a royal pain to catch. Darn sucker equipped feet make them excellent runners up and down walls and ceilings