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#51
Off the Record / Re: What are your favorite Chr...
Last post by Josephus - Today at 10:10:31 AM
Around this time of year I'll play a lot of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They're a prog metal arena rock act that have released several Christmas themed albums and there are several versions of them touring North America in December. The Lost Christmas Eve is one of their best.

Also proggy is Jethro Tull's The Christmas Album.

I also like Jon Anderson's Three Ships
#52
Gaming HQ / Re: What are you playing? (Red...
Last post by frunk - Today at 10:08:54 AM
Played 4 Slay the Spire-esque games this past month.  Here's what I think, from worst to best.

The Royal Writ - Pretty simple deck builder.  Not a whole lot of depth, except the fact that cards can be eliminated in a battle makes for a nice wrinkle.  Probably worth a bit more time than I've put in (<2 hours).

Tactical Breach Wizards - Neat X-Com style combat with a bit of character development and a pretty extensive story.  I'll definitely be getting back to this one, as there's more to see with 5.2 hours played. However I got distracted by...

Rogue Waters - Pirate themed Slay the Spire using X-Com style combat.  Heavy focus on pushing and positioning.  Quite a lot of fun, although I think I'm mostly played out after 14.5 hours.  The winner so far in this group is...

Spiritfall - Hades merged with Super Smash Bros.  Very fun combat, if you wanted Hades in a 2-D platformer here you go.  I can tell I'm getting old as my daughter beat the final boss before me in half the time played.  The one failing of the game is that the permanent upgrades appear to be quite overpowered.  After finishing the majority of the character upgrades I didn't lose a run until getting ending credits.  Admittedly I've gotten better at the game, but compare to say Hades where I still struggle on some runs.  I blasted through easily on the last four runs.  There is challenge mode unlocked (as well as boss rush and other modes), but I'm tempted to go back and start with a fresh save file to see how quickly I can get to the end.  17 hours played.

#53
Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...
Last post by Josquius - Today at 09:40:04 AM
I'm very much down with more decentralisation.
Though reluctant around what that means for money. We don't want regions being responsible for setting their own taxes as I just don't trust a lot of people to look beyond their immediate income and to recognise the value of investing in their area.
Itd be a race to the bottom.
What the solution is though I don't know.

One partial help I do like is the hometown tax they have in Japan. By this even if you're working in Tokyo or wherever a portion of your tax can go back to helping your hometown.
Seems it would work very well with the UKs dynamics.
#54
Off the Record / Re: What are your favorite Chr...
Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 09:27:36 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on Today at 08:13:50 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on December 21, 2025, 07:59:32 PMMy English language favorite is Michael Buble's Christmas album.

My favorite favorite is a French Canadian Christmas country album by a singer call Paul DaraƮche.

I could only find DaraĆ®che's songs as part of a compilation of French Canadian Country Christmas music, but that was interesting.  I didn't realize that French Canadian Country was such a well established genre.  (It makes sense, French Canada had a tradition of folk music, like the United States, so that morphing into country would be logical.)

It's from 2017.

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mwxYt2faIgTrBxXJdqdE5chqyi2-OK4Po&si=oHb3JbkRQbzdW4sJ
#55
Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...
Last post by Razgovory - Today at 09:17:35 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on Today at 01:45:32 AMI think it more likely that, rather than all of them being paedophiles, that these rich and powerful people simply didn't care.

This is what I believe.
#56
Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...
Last post by Josquius - Today at 08:42:48 AM
My interpretation from what I've heard about it is epstein had quite the reputation, self built entirely intentionally, as a central guy in rich an powerful social circles.
He was the one you got to know to get access to everything.
For most I expect this wasn't young girls - though some people would have gone why the hell not and tried anyway when offered - but rather the network.
Also it's been said epstein was a very charming and likable guy.

There's definite questions though even for those we are pretty sure didn't get with children how much they knew /should have suspected.

Also I wonder whether epstein could have been pushing kids on people  to collect black mail material. Just in case.

All said though I do think it's pretty clear that trump like prince Andrew was inner circle enough and involved enough he absolutely did get involved with the kid stuff.
Not convinced Chomsky or Mick Jagger or many others had any part of that.
#58
Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...
Last post by viper37 - Today at 08:40:02 AM
Jim Beam pauses production at main distillery as bourbon inventories rise 

Kentucky has problems.

Some other States have too, apparently.

Oh well.  Not that it will change anything for the mid terms.  It's all the Dems fault anyway.
#59
Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...
Last post by Syt - Today at 08:36:06 AM
A lot of those alerts are stupid.

"Hey, your heir is underage." Ok, so ... what do you want me to do?

"Hey, the building you finished a second ago STILL doesn't have full employment!" Jeez, just wait a bit@

Not to mention none of them  an be permanently dismissed. :lol:
#60
Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...
Last post by viper37 - Today at 08:26:22 AM
Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say

Tough time to be a Russian officer.  If you are not killed by your own people, it's the enemy that kills you.  Not fair. :(