Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Norgy - Today at 01:50:11 PM

Another narrow 5-0 win for Norway in the qualifiers. Israel may have the IDF, but defending in football, that is different. Two own goals, three by the force of nature that is Erling Haaland.

#2

Off the Record / Re: Dead Pool 2025

Last post by Josephus - Today at 01:36:27 PM

RIP John Lodge.  No one remains of the Moody Blues original line up, only Justin Hayward is left from their classic period and Patrick Moraz from their comeback era.  I'm glad I got to see them a couple of times, I wish I could have seen them with Mike Pindar, but I was six when he left the band.

Yeah been playing a lot of the Moody Blues of late.

Off topic, I asked AI to name me "some of the best moody blues albums." and it gave me a list of moody blues albums. that is blues albums that are moody. LOL

#3

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 01:13:47 PM

Concentrating power just concentrates power - you concentrate power in a few hands with no checks in balances to fight the rich and suddenly you have created your own enemy.

Checks and balances are annoying when your guy is being checked and balanced but the best system invented so far to maintain a democracy.

Where are the checks and balances to which you refer? Sounds great in theory - it's in practice that it starts crumbling.  Take the US as the most recent tragic example.

Sure but no matter what system you build (and this is in reply to Sheilbh as well), anything beyond sheer physical coercion requires the consent of the ruled and the powerful to accept the rules.

First stop is the ones in power agreeing implicitly not to use their power to diminish other branches of power. If they try those other branches should push back before it is too late. Failing that, the electorate should step in to stop those efforts.

Obviously if all those steps fail then the system fails but this is not something you can remedy except by giving up and just going straight for your preferred form of autocracy.

#4

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Maladict - Today at 12:36:26 PM

Freiburg is also a interesting seeming city. Frequently pops up on lists of the best people focussed cities.

Freiburg is a great city. Very progressive, focused on sustainability.

University cities and towns have not only the means to focus on sustainability, but the mindset to do so. Their downside is that they are usually quite expensive places to live.

True, housing costs tend to be quite high.

#5

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by The Brain - Today at 12:16:32 PM

I wanted to read the news articles to find out more about this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner.  One thing I learned about her is that she's not Trump.  Still going through them to see if I can learn anything else.

I am very confused by the oh wow it wasn't Trump angle.

It is incredible how much everyone is under this guy's spell. As if there was even the remotest chance that a destructive aggressive asshole would get it.

#6

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 12:01:44 PM

True

#7

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by grumbler - Today at 11:55:59 AM

I believe his "argument" was again being more about Tylenol than the circumcision itself...so that is kind of a mix of RFK nuttery and misleading reporting.

His statement was a direct one about circumcision, and an indirect one about Tylenol. The reporting is quoting him and so not misleading.

Quoting can be misleading as well if done out of context.  That's especially so for incoherent or rambling people who may require a very large context window for their quotes to be interpreted as intended.

I am not sure what point you are making here. What do you believe RFK Jr intended us to take from his statement, and how can you tell that that is what he intended?

I'll stick to the main point then: quoting someone does not necessarily make the reporting not misleading.

I think that we can agree that truisms are true.

#8

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by DGuller - Today at 11:45:26 AM

I believe his "argument" was again being more about Tylenol than the circumcision itself...so that is kind of a mix of RFK nuttery and misleading reporting.

His statement was a direct one about circumcision, and an indirect one about Tylenol. The reporting is quoting him and so not misleading.

Quoting can be misleading as well if done out of context.  That's especially so for incoherent or rambling people who may require a very large context window for their quotes to be interpreted as intended.

I am not sure what point you are making here. What do you believe RFK Jr intended us to take from his statement, and how can you tell that that is what he intended?

I'll stick to the main point then: quoting someone does not necessarily make the reporting not misleading.

#9

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - Today at 11:43:03 AM

Probably, yes. It's lukewarm or average for me. Not a disaster of epic proportions such as Episode I but nothing special.

Did not watch it in 3D, however. Might give it another shot.

I'm about to find out first-hand.  As a long-time fan of the original (which I just re-watched last weekend), I will report back.

#10

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by grumbler - Today at 11:42:30 AM

I believe his "argument" was again being more about Tylenol than the circumcision itself...so that is kind of a mix of RFK nuttery and misleading reporting.

His statement was a direct one about circumcision, and an indirect one about Tylenol. The reporting is quoting him and so not misleading.

Quoting can be misleading as well if done out of context.  That's especially so for incoherent or rambling people who may require a very large context window for their quotes to be interpreted as intended.

I am not sure what point you are making here. What do you believe RFK Jr intended us to take from his statement, and how can you tell that that is what he intended?