Promethianfire

695666 pts ยท March 9, 2015


I'm a guy who likes to snuggle with floofs, fix things, listen to prog rock, and watch well made movies and tv. I like history, SF, architecture, butts, and doggies and kitties. I think skepticism is a virtue, (I hasten to add that "assuming the consensus / popular notion must be wrong" is not skepticism, just being a hipster about information) and believe we're all better off trying to understand and learn from each other rather than assume the worst of those we disagree with. Also butts.

That goodness comes from professing a hatred of evil rather than right action. I don't think your attitude will produce the results you desire.

2 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Cosmetic changes are done to maintain an image of being fresh, cutting edge, best of breed - whatever you want to call it.
Functionality changes SOMETIMES are a response to security vulnerabilities, even if it doesn't seem to make sense. The network printing clusterfuck a few years back is one example.

2 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 0

I am not a moderate. And it's ironic that you're citing MLK when it's his strategies I favor, and he opposed the violent action or rhetoric that you are defending.
We both want the same things here. We simply disagree on tactics.

2 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

Yes. "Everything in their power" / "any means necessary" - this is the problem. Especially in an age of mass media, political violence benefits the recipient of it unless the violence is being wielded by a nationally overwhelming force such as a supermajority of the population. This is why the brownshirts incited riots that could be blamed on the left. It's why right-wing extremists infiltrate left-wing events such as BLM protests and try to turn them into riots. The fascists know this works.

2 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

And that wouldn't have been necessary had facists not gained power in the first place. I don't want to help them do so again.

2 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

You say that as if violence, or at least violent rhetoric, is a sound political strategy. It can be if you already control the police and military. But it's much more effectivre to convince people that it's your opposition who is violent and dangerous. That's how Hitler came to power, after all. His brownshirts would incite brawls at Marxist events, blame it all on them, and present themselves as protectors of the peace. It worked.

2 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Also, that's not a dual standard. That's sound political advice regardless of where someone stands on an issue. On the rare occasions when a democracy falls to violent demagoguery, it doesn't end well for anybody - including the demogogue (they usually wind up dead).

2 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Imagine a GQP congress and Trump presidency with the power to decide what people can say. That should scare the hell out of you.

2 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"Any means necessary." That is the issue. That is what is unacceptable.

2 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

Um, what would you do if you saw a guy run into a school with a rifle? I'd probably call 911. After that... I don't pretend to know what I'd be capable of doing. I'd like to think I would try to do something. Hopefully, I'll never find out.

2 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

That was a fun romp.

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Loud, intimidating gun sounds (which would be realistic, after all) would make the protagonists feel tougher, and by stripping the bass from them, their weapons, to paraphrase Newt, "won't make any difference."

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Now that I think about it, it might have been intentional - a way to make the humans seem more vulnerable. Much of the first 2 acts of Aliens is about stripping away the humans' advantages. They lose contact with the dropship, the APC has to stow its turret to fit into the power plant entrance, the Marines have to give up their ammo, their commander buckles, the tough Sergeant is killed, and then they lose the dropship (Dammit, Spunkmeyer!) It could be that Cameron thought --

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As a fellow Xer, I agree. We're not special. Generally, our experiences were different from those of other generations, but that's true for all modern generations. Perhaps we have advantages that others don't, but if we do, we certainly have disadvantages as well.
All anyone can do is try to learn from the successes and failures of those who came before us and pass on that knowledge.

2 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

#19 I think it's 911, but I get the point.

2 years ago | Likes 158 Dislikes 2

Friend shaped!

2 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Fury was irritating. Some day, someone will make a good tank movie...

2 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

What were they chanting?

2 years ago | Likes 111 Dislikes 0

Some of these bricks explode!

2 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Do you have a website or Etsy-ish thing? My wife loves this style of jewelry.

2 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

You compressed a Labrador into a bead??? You monster!

2 years ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 0

Incredibly likely, yes.

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I am more concerned with defeating the right than I am with feeling good.

2 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

I think they were trying to make them sound future-y.

2 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Maybe they did, but no, we do not *know* that. You assume that.

2 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 4

I think he may have started earlier

2 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I must be reading the wrong male authors because I hardly ever run into boob descriptions.

2 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Do you mean Aliens? The guns do sound odd in it. They always have.

2 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This will be a coup for the far right. A woman trying to kill a "Man of God?" They'll be waving this bloody shirt for months. And every negative comment made about Olsteen will generate fresh pearl clutching. Hooray!

2 years ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 6