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#41

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 09:48:30 AM

Every month he travels to Moscow and comes back with a "new peace plan". Every month it's the same plan.

Of course it's the same plan.  It has the same author.  Why would Putin change it?

#42

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

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 09:43:22 AM

And Halligan can't go back to the Grand Jury because the statute of limitations has been reached.

This is where it gets interesting.

There is a safety valve for the government in criminal cases where the limitations period has passed.  18 U.S. Code § 3288 provides that if an indictment or information is dismissed, the government has 6 months to secure a new indictment and it will deem to relate back to the return date of the original indictment.  So for example, if the District Judge dismissed the indictment for any number of reasons - e.g. because Halligan made false statements of law or because the sole witness improperly presented privileged information - Halligan would still have six months to try again and fix the mistake (assuming she was still in "office").

But what if the deficiency is the failure to return a valid indictment in the first place? Under the plain language, it seems like § 3288 would not save the case, because it only applies if there is an "indictment [that is] dismissed for any reason."  Technically, the Judge wouldn't be dismissing the indictment, he'd be ruling that there wasn't an indictment returned in the first place that could be subject to a dismissal.

#43

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

Last post by DGuller - Today at 09:28:28 AM

My interpretation of the "Bubba blowjob" story was it was just a vivid hypothetical, not based on actual knowledge.  It's like "does Putin have pictures of Trump with a live boy?"  The point is to ask whether Putin has kompromat on Trump, not to discuss the knowledge of what exactly Trump did.

#44

Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 09:23:53 AM

Yes, I think that is the story. There is nothing wrong with decentralisation per se, but it is easy to become prey for centralising predators. In our own time the EU is one of the best places to live in the world, with prosperity and great culture, but it is militarily and politically impotent when faced with an aggressive shithole like present day Russia.

Similarly, the French got to stomp around the HRE causing havoc for about 200 years (1618-1815). The HRE was fine as a culture and civilisation, but it took the rise of Prussia to stop the great powers using it as their sandpit.

#45

Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 09:16:00 AM

Not to mention many folks crying about low control in locations and that there "need" to be more ways to project it basically from day 1 of a campaign. "Second capitals", "provincial centers" etc., and while not completely invalid it's also increasing the chance to make the mechanic meaningless.

Yeah. I think I'd maybe tie it to estate satisfaction.

Less things you build and more "are the local grandees satisfied"? Thinking of either formal local offices like justices of the peace or the parlements, or more abstractly whether "the estates" are satisfied with and broadly enforcing the centre's law locally.

It might make balancing the estates more important/different too eg if you're town heavy etc.

#46

Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 09:10:24 AM

The period, at a bird's eye level, has centralised states triumphing over decentralised states. There is also an arms race where countries gain huge but temporary leads, the UK with very powerful finance, or France with conscription. There seem to be different viable ways to get that strong control, from the UK's parliamentary system to Russian autocracy.

The way to "balance" the game imo is to make a decision to decentralise good in the short term, interest groups are placated for example, be they old fashioned methods of commercial organisation, regional peculiarites or class privileges. But long term, for this period, the "meta" is that centralised states have the edge over the decentralised ones.

I suppose that sort of goes to what type of game EU is - and I think the start date is relevant here.

I listened to a podcast a while ago with a Ukrainian academic talking about Medieval Kyiv as this different alternative model of state building that was decentralised regularly splitting and surprisingly successful. But it was slightly challenged by the host that while there was a vibrant culture and economy the same system also made the state vulnerable contributing its colapse.

As I say I think this ties into the start date, because it starts in late Medieval period you kind of need to have that type of decentralised state as a plausible alternative. If it's a bit later and more clearly Early Modern then I think you can frame it more around centralisation, state control etc.

#47

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by celedhring - Today at 07:23:51 AM

Here it is.

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/new-stargate-tv-series-amazon-martin-gero-1236585606/

It's a series order, so unless something goes really wrong before they begin production, looks like it's happening.

#48

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 06:55:13 AM

Jos, an actual announcement not just some video.

#49

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by garbon - Today at 05:49:00 AM

Hey Viper, just hesrd theres a new stargate project in the works at amazon

Actual new news and progress?
Or the vague rumours that have been around for years with the rights transferring et al?

There was a video about it specifically going to occur.

#50

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

Last post by Josquius - Today at 05:47:53 AM

I find it a bit funny how people are saying the Epstein files are going to be released. Nothing with Trump's name in it will be released. Those will be held due to the newly started investigation into Bill Clinton and other Democrats.

I've seen quite a lot of really conspirational talk of a secret government facility somewhere scrubbing all MAGA names from the physical records.

The Trump gave a blowjob to Bubba stuff coming lately is just...bizzare- has me wondering if this is all part of handling the release. Go over the top with crazy stories to poison the well and mask the more believable and very real stuff he got up to.

It all sounds really mad. Making a conspiracy theorist of me. But we are dealing with an authoritarian regime here and very par the course for such governments when faced with potential embarrassment- always the key weak spot for fascists.