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Libertarianism - yay or nay? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Friday, October 27 2006 13:31 Profile #54
Doh! Was tired when I typed that. :P

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Libertarianism - yay or nay? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Friday, October 27 2006 09:04 Profile #49
While I've been at my public university, state funding has been cut dramaticallly and tuition has more than doubled. Yeah, private investment in research has gone up quite a bit, but it has not translated to lower tuition. For some reason, as my university privatizes more and more, things get more and more expensive.

Having unyielding faith in the pure free market is little more than a type of religious fundamentalism. Of course competition and free business practices are effective, but not always so. Believing in them to work in all situations is to have naive and oversimplistic (or lower undergraduate levels in economics, if you will) views. They work in many cases, but not all.

There is a concept called Adam Smith's Invisible Hand. To sum it up in simplistic terms, it implies that a free market will always result in a positive outcome for society whether intentional or not. Now, this may work in some cases, but one could find many counter examples throughout history where this is not the case.

Take the late 19th century in the US, commonly called the Guilded age. On paper, the country was very prosperous. However, conditions were quite poor for the common man and woman living at the time. Around that time saw the rise of labor laws, union rights, and the tactics of Teddy Roosevelt which were quite non-free market. As such, conditions improved.

One could even argue that today the US is on the verge of another guilded age. The economy looks great on paper, unemployment is down, but people are working more for less. Take it for what you will, the free market is not always a solution to everything.

Back to education, ET admits himself that the Invisble Hand will not work in really poor areas. Why? Because business has no economic interest to build schools there. As such you have kids with no schooling which I don't see how one could argue as good.

The whole competition in primary education is also a bit too simplistic. The argument would be, well, if there isn't a good school in our area we'll just move to another area with a better school. Not to want to lose "customers" the schools would improve.

Unfortunately, primary schooling and colleges are entirely different. The customers for colleges are adults and mature enough to go half way across the country to another school. With primary and secondary schooling, this is not necessarily an option unless we want to radically alter our family structure.

The reason being that parents with a stable (not necessarily good) jobs somewhere will be inclined to keep it. They could lose the job, move to an area of better schooling, and risk not finding another, or keep the one they have. So you can develop these inherent conflicts of interest so to speak with deleterious effects.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Libertarianism - yay or nay? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Thursday, October 26 2006 20:07 Profile #37
Ok, salmon, that's enough.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Uncle Sam Wants You? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Thursday, October 26 2006 15:09 Profile #9
quote:
Originally written by Dintiradan:

... No.

You mean to say that one of the ways you screen immigrants in the States is by asking them who said a famous line? Or asking them how many stripes are on your flag?
The US flag has 13 stripes, one for each of the 13 original colonies, a valid historical reason. Knowing that there were 13 colonies is an important part about knowing American history. I don't believe the number of points a maple leaf has any real historical significance. What the emblem on the flag is and why it is there would be a good question.

Besides, this is just a CNN, just for fun, poll.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Uncle Sam Wants You? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Thursday, October 26 2006 14:49 Profile #5
Looks like I'm a good American, 100%.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Have you ever finish Avernum?s games in the hardest difficult? in The Avernum Trilogy
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Thursday, October 26 2006 13:22 Profile #2
Looks like some people just aren't up to the challenge... :P

In all seriousness, I just play with normal difficulty. I usually just don't have the patience to play on the higher ones.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
The Abominable Landscape photo thread in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 18:11 Profile #3
6666 posts, gentlemen, to evil!

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
The FRAPGVRUKCP: now with twice the posting action! in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 17:59 Profile #7
Sorry, the 6666 posts is much more evil than 2002.

[ Tuesday, October 24, 2006 18:12: Message edited by: *i ]

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Spiders of all ages... in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 17:49 Profile #42
quote:
Wadge has insulted me numberous times and I think he should get a warning as well.
Everyone who insulted ET is so warned. Don't insult him anymore. If you do, I'll sic Darth Cheney on you. :D

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Lord Raul Boat and Parade in Geneforge Series
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:50 Profile #1
Leave the keep to the south, head to the section just west (Dhonal West Gates or something like that) and look by the water in the northeast part of the zone.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Spiders of all ages... in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:29 Profile #37
quote:
...out off all the times I've insulted people you could have used against me...
Good, you admit it. That's what I was going for. Looks like I win this one, eh? ;)

I'll get you next time Gadget, next time!!

IMAGE(http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/5/5e/Inspector_Gadget14.jpg)

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Living Tools in Geneforge Series
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 15:20 Profile #14
As I said, it depends on your style of play. If you are a combat person, then magic might be more wise. If you are a stealthy individual go with leadership and mechanics.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Living Tools in Geneforge Series
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 15:03 Profile #12
I don't believe you will ever be able to open the really tough doors by way of the unlock spell even with a lot of Mental Magic. Also, mechanics helps with traps and mines, which unlock is worthless against.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Spiders of all ages... in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 14:26 Profile #32
I've already explained everything to you that I need to. Now, if you do not stop doing thinly veiled insults, there will be consequences (i.e. calling people here hypocrites or calling mods insane). Consider this your warning.

[ Tuesday, October 24, 2006 14:43: Message edited by: *i ]

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Spiders of all ages... in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 08:59 Profile #23
quote:
But then I would be calling specific people names. Are you suggesting I violate the CoC, *i? In that case the first hypocrite I would like to name would be yourself.
That is not the case. As Kel pointed out, if you back things up, then I see no problem. Also, as stated, you already called unnamed board members hypocrites, I'm asking for specifics -- for you to justify your claim that you already made.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Ever Wonder How Rotdhizons Get Around? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 07:22 Profile #4
I always viewed the Rotghoth/Rotdhizon as a monster with fast growing flesh that quickly decays and secretes powerful acid. I'd imagine the inner fleshy, living layer has a protective lining much like your stomach does.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Spiders of all ages... in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 07:19 Profile #18
quote:
You know, I got yelled the last time I tried to dispute the wording of a poll. In my case, the wording was actually open to interpretation, in this case, Nioca made arbitrary number selections. Why are you trying to argue against number selections? Why are there so many hypocrites here?
Please name said hypocrites and give references to board postings.

Also, you were not "yelled at" for having a different interpretation. People disagreed with you and said that the intent of the poll was more toward your definition of antagonist. Discussion about what makes a good villain insued.

In this case, people are speculating about a more representative demographic poll. In the villain poll, people were saying that antagonist by your definition was more representative. I really do not see the hypocracy here.

* * *

Also, I agree, the Adult category should probably be more refined as should be Teen.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Exile I, Orb of Thralni problem in The Exile Trilogy
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 05:00 Profile #4
Otherwise, I believe the character editor can help in these situations.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Ever Wonder How Vlish Get Around? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 04:59 Profile #27
quote:
They breath Helium? And if a Vlish is filled by Helium, why he (Note: I deliberally didn't use "it") just don't fly away? Mental Force Field?
And the helium comes from where? There are very minimal amounts in the atmosphere, unless in the Geneforge world everyone talks with a high pitched voice. :P

I just assumed Vlish used their tentacles to propel themselves.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Living Tools in Geneforge Series
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Tuesday, October 24 2006 04:48 Profile #8
Depends on your play strategy. If you are a fighting type, I'd recommend getting around 6 early on. This is about where it starts becoming expensive to train in and you get to open a lot of doors efficiently. If you are playing a stealth strategy, get at least 12, as you will need it to get past a lot of nasty encounters.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
October Posting Stats Thread in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Monday, October 23 2006 20:39 Profile #21
quote:
Originally written by Tyranicus.:

That is really odd. I haven't seen a server error on Spidweb in forever.
Wow, you've been here a long time, Tyran. :P

Yeah, server errors come up periodically and I have to take action on it. Sometimes topics get eaten by a grue as they fall into the darkness and don't come out.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
The Bad Get Polling! in Blades of Avernum
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Monday, October 23 2006 20:31 Profile #97
quote:
-X- will also say anything that he thinks is worth saying.
Oh really now? Let's see what DC says about that... :P

[ Monday, October 23, 2006 20:33: Message edited by: *i ]

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Fantasy writers don't read fantasy books? in General
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Monday, October 23 2006 20:28 Profile #5
quote:
Originally written by Robert Daniel Oliver:

I tend to think of them like I would of a scientist who does not read any publications other than his own to avoid polluting his opinion.
I don't think this is an apt comparison. In fiction writing, and in fantasy, you are free to make it all up. If you can come up with an idea that can be coherently made into an enjoyable story, then you can be a successful fantasy writer.

In science, there is specialized knowledge being discovered and developed all the time. In order to be an effective scientist, one needs to be aware of current and previous work and the conclusions derived from them. In science, you cannot just make up everything you want, it has to follow from existing knowledge and experimental data.

To summarize, in fiction writing, it does not matter what "results" your colleagues have "derived" from their work. The only thing it gains you is certain popular trends and some external inspiration. In science, if you come up with a theory that contradicts experimental results, you are probably not doing science.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Exile I, Orb of Thralni problem in The Exile Trilogy
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Monday, October 23 2006 20:17 Profile #1
Go do a bunch of other stuff until those monsters disappear and come back later? Most monsters like this, I suspect, were randomly generated.

Also, this belongs in Exile Trilogy...

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Ever Wonder How Vlish Get Around? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
*i
The Establishment
Member # 6
 written Monday, October 23 2006 18:13 Profile #22
quote:
Originally written by Major:

Helium is flammable at least as far as I'm concerned. Doubt me? A blimp that was filled with helium exploded into flames once. Why not a Vlish?
Care to provide a reference from a reputable scientific source? Until you do, you are one of the following:

1) Totally ignorant of basic chemistry and fundamentals of the periodic table.
2) The greatest scientist alive because you have shown quantum mechanics, chemistry, and the periodic table to be ineffective at making predictions about simple atoms.
3) Really know the right answer but for some reason like to argue wrong things.

I'm betting on number 1 personally. Read up on the periodic table and valence shells. Wikipedia is a great source, use it. I don't have time to teach you all of chemistry.

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Your flower power is no match for my glower power!
Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00

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