Recent posts

#1

Gaming HQ / Re: The NEW New Boardgames Thr...

Last post by Tamas - Today at 03:19:20 PM

Yeah to be fair I don't think it'd be THAT fun as a multiplayer game. Seems to me like eliminating factions is a core strategy in the big campaign.

#2

Gaming HQ / Re: The NEW New Boardgames Thr...

Last post by Habbaku - Today at 03:05:08 PM

Burning banners is surprisingly fun in terms of all the spells and such offering tactical options despite the game being pretty light - don't bother with limiting yourself to the basic rules if you have played any other modern boardgame really, although I guess they would be good with kids. Gorgeous looking components, too.

Yeah, Burning Banners is a lot of fun. The dream of a 6-player mega-campaign is there, but it's probably more realistic to just do a 2-player of that with both controlling all factions of their side.

#3

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 02:46:16 PM

It was, and is really, a great idea. Parents fear about being disconnected to our children were unfounded. It's probably annoying for the older kids that have jobs to get to after school but they'll manage and adapt.

My 14 years old still bring her phone to school but leaves it in her locker during the day and actually partake in the social life of her school, unlike the previous 2 years. She was always in favor of them ban tho. She's a jock, having more friends to participate in sports is a positive for her.

My 12 years old, him and his cohort never had the opportunity to bring their phones to school since it was already banned in elementary, have very different school experience from the older kids and more akin to what we probably had. It's not something he misses or cares about. He rarely, if ever, brings his phone to school.

A often unmentioned facet is that the ban also applies to teachers and other school team members. They were quite apprehensive about it but I haven't heard anyone complain about having to actually interact.

Another interesting unintended consequence is that some schools have starting to realise that the tablets they provide are causing the same issues as the phones were and are now thinking of bringing back Laptops.

[Four months after Quebec schools ban cellphones, impact 'is major']

#4

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 02:22:06 PM

Four months after Quebec schools ban cellphones, impact 'is major'
By Stéphane Blais, The Canadian Press

Four months after Quebec banned cellphones in primary and secondary schools, many school administrators report positive effects on social life, physical activity, and academic performance.

At École Monseigneur-A.-M.-Parent in Longueuil, the day before the holiday break, students flooded the hallways at lunch. Some played cards, others ping-pong or board games.

"Before, everyone was on their phones playing games, but now we play together and talk to each other," said Constance Boie, a Grade 11 student. Her classmate, Shelby Miclette, described herself as "introverted" and said the ban encouraged her to make new friends. "I'm more open to others than before. It got me out of my bubble a little."

The school principal, Mélanie Lacourse, said the benefits were apparent almost immediately, particularly in fostering authentic relationships between students. "It's a more friendly environment. Yes, it's sometimes louder because they're talking to each other, but it's wonderful to see. I've noticed a decrease in isolation," she said. She believes that activities like playing foosball, ping-pong, going to the gym, or spending quality time with a friend positively affect focus, attention, and learning.

Miclette added that without checking phone notifications before class, students' concentration has improved.

...

Full article here: https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/12/24/four-months-after-quebec-schools-ban-cellphones-impact-is-major/

Sounds good to me.

Grey Fox, what's your perspective?

#5

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by OttoVonBismarck - Today at 02:21:41 PM

I view Europe as the political equivalent of a concept in the business world, that of the "lifestyle company."

A lifestyle company is a business created primarily to support the owner's desired lifestyle, allowing them to maintain a work-life balance while generating income. These businesses often focus on personal fulfillment and flexibility rather than aggressive growth or high profits.

The term is most frequently used as a pejorative by people who consider the firm to be a "laggard" that doesn't pursue growth opportunities because it would upset the comfort of the leisure focused owners.

#6

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 02:20:23 PM

And what will happen to the dogs 

Dogs are fine in a house by the sea

The pigs are very much temporary residents. I think the current ones are named "pig 33" and "pig 34" :ph344r:

those could run for parliament?

Overqualified.

#7

Off the Record / Re: Vacations Visions

Last post by Caliga - Today at 01:59:15 PM

We are supposed to go to St Lucia in a few months. I have concerns about how things will go. 

My wife and I have been talking about going there too later this year.

#8

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Jacob - Today at 01:54:58 PM

Huh? Not sure how that follows from my post.

Let me outline the reasoning (and you can point out what I misunderstood and/or where you disagree with my reasoning):

• Zanza: There's a lack of political will to pay the necessary price.
• Zanza: I guess there's a need for something worse to happen for that political will to exist.
• Zanza: Things will get worse if the political sell-outs and traitors like Bardella, Farage, and Weidel get power.
• Jacob: If things get worse (satisfying point 2) in the case of Bardella, Farage, and/ or Weidel taking power (as per point 3) that may generate the political will required to pay the necessary price (step 1).
• Jacob: ... though I suppose that if Bardella/ Farage/ Weidel gain power they might fuck things up enough that Europe becomes less able to take the necessary steps, even if it generates the political will to take them.
• Jacob: Therefore, the path to generating the required political will and for it to lead to the necessary action is for the traitors to gain enough power to make sufficient trouble to make the need obvious to a large step of the population, but not so much that they damage Europe's ability to actually take the step (assuming such a condition is possible).

The line of reasoning may contain somewhere between 10 to 70% bleak humour rather than being a serious suggestion for the path forward.

#9

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tamas - Today at 01:43:03 PM

those could run for parliament?

 

#10

Off the Record / Re: US - Greenland Crisis Thre...

Last post by Zanza - Today at 01:40:24 PM

... so the path to taking it seriously is for traitors to get into positions of influence, fuck over Europe (but not enough to permanently cripple Europe), and thus cause the population to take things seriously enough to create the conditions for necessary reform?

Huh? Not sure how that follows from my post.