Lurker > streamofthesky

Strider102 posted...

Oh yeah, I'm sure they're suffering really bad.

Shouldn't an investigation of their wealth and finances by the government (the defense, in this case) be mandatory to "substantiate" their claims of financial hardship?
Could be entertaining. If the government lawyers are smart, they'll push for that up front, probably have these plaintiffs dismiss their case immediately, before the charade goes on for long, because *shocked Pikachu* "you mean it'll become public knowledge?"

Presidents have been stuck at $400K for like 25 years now.
They deserve the increase way before worthless Congress.

https://www.thoughtco.com/presidential-salaries-through-the-years-3368133

darkace77450 posted...

All three former members filing the suit now work for government relations or lobbying firms and are spotted on Capitol Hill with regularity.

I wonder if these clowns would be ok w/ indexing Congressional pay to inflation but also in the same bill forcing Congress critters into a permanent lifetime ban from lobbying activities if they serve in the office, and a ban from owning anything but general index funds for stocks while in office?

I'm guessing no...

Jiek_Fafn posted...

If I'm watching a 90s dystopian future videogame movie I'm checking out Double Dragon instead. It's got Mark Dacascos (the bald guy from John Wick 3) doing cool shit at least

Oh damn, Mark Dacascos, the star from Only the Strong?
Didn't realize he was in Double Dragon.

Centrist

I mostly don't care?
Tiktok is Chinese malware and a cancer on society. But I don't think the government needs to ban it.
It also has been a useful window into Gen Z popular culture to see how utterly fucking screwed society is going to be. Like, I know I sound like a boomer there, but holy shit is there such a massive amount of concentrated stupidity and fascism on there. Probably why Hasan does so well on it.

So...mildly oppose, more b/c this is a stupid waste of time than any particular thoughts on the issue itself.

Humble_Novice posted...

Both sides of the political spectrum oppose TikTok being banned for different reasons with right-wingers accusing Congress of trying to stifle the free speech of MAGA users and leftists believing Israel is behind the policy in order to silence pro-Palestinian supporters.

God, they're both so fucking crazy and deplorable

They're both ass holes.
Convertible driver should've caught charges for obstructing traffic and (apparently) fleeing the scene of a crime.

viewmaster_pi posted...

i don't even understand how that happened

SUVs roll over stupidly easily, all the advertising about them being "safer" is total bs, all they do is make the roads more dangerous for everyone.
Though, even knowing that, I was impressed that it can roll over THAT easily, like holy shit... they're even crappier than I thought!

I have to get thru allergy season, but after that it's totally worth it.
Winter sucks.

CobraGT posted...

So I am reading this article on VOX news
https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2024/3/12/24098422/haiti-prime-minister-ariel-henry-resigns-gang-violence-g9

Well, at least he's stepping down from his unelected position as tyrant.
Now deport his ass back to Haiti so he can face justice for the murder of the last legally elected leader Haiti had.

but I have never figured out who VOX is. There is a right wing Spanish party called VOX.

They're a news media website. Seem left-leaning, if anything.

Man, I was just randomly thinking about Marc Summers the other day, wondering what happened to him.
He was a huge part of a lot of our childhoods.
*googles* Wow, he's 72 now and doing a podcast

"I didn't even know it was a game"

That's because this ain't no game, it's a live action thrill ride!
Sorry, had to do it. Still have the t-shirt.

Hayame_Zero posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/295ff04b.jpg

Something to remember the next time some edgelord tries to say the people making the movie and diverting completely from what the game was are some kind of misunderstood artistic geniuses that are masters of their craft, bold and daring for "subverting expectations".
Like, god damn do I hate that kind of argument in general, but the above shows they didn't even have basic competence at their fucking jobs, artistic decisions aside.
And yes, I've seen that argument made multiple times.

CrimsonGear80 posted...

it actually isn't...

Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it.
Mark Twain

It literally is.
And I'll take legendary author Mark Twain's word on it over some random censorship PR account on gamefaqs.

WingsOfGood posted...

Reason it isn't legal is your house isn't your own in that law enforcement and emergency services must be allowed un-booied trapped access at all times. Also to prevent someone innocent from getting caught in it like a little kid.

Imagine if your house caught fire and the fire department went in to stop the fire and hit a landmine or above poster shotgun trap.

I understand that. And traps outside the house are pretty obviously always unjustifiable.
But it never sat right with me that burglars entering your house got such protections.
Like yeah... if you trap your house/door/etc... and it harms a legit emergency services person, through the book at you. But if your trap harms/kills someone breaking into your house or otherwise engaging in criminal activity... you should get a pass legally.
Yes, I know that would "encourage" setting up traps and thus endangering innocent people. I get why the laws are the way they are. But I really don't like it. It only ever seems to be prosecuted when people who deserve to get hit w/ the trap are, probably b/c the "what if" scenario is so rare.

Hayame_Zero posted...

Yeah, the current Prime Minister planned the assassination of the last one per the judge who oversaw the case.

Pretty much.

Which is why I've constantly pushed back at the calls for the US to "intervene" militarily. Because those requests came from the illegitimate government of Haiti, asking us to help them quash the rightful protests to their usurpation of power via a coup.
Seriously fuck the current Haitian government and I hope the "tree of liberty" is nourished soon (which is about as vague as I can get w/ my sentiments on here, I think)

If the right is so concerned about this, they can help pass campaign finance reform laws.

We weren't supposed to change the clocks in November last year.
Exactly a year ago was supposed to be the last time, ever.
Even had literally unanimous Senate votes.
Congress still managed to fuck it up.

#PermanentDSTForMe

Possibly the greatest card game ever, or 2nd to Munchkin.

That said, card games are low tier for games overall and I'd play most video games and at least 20% of board games before I'd play Uno, given the choice.

Special Unit 2
Outsourced
Mortal Kombat Conquest
Human Weapon
Chivalry of a Failed Knight

All ended way too soon w/o resolving things. Several were even really popular but cut short due to studio meddling or other bs, especially MKC.

Axiom posted...

A lot of people can pay for it straight out. Doesn't mean that's smart

The fuck it's not.
My car loan was 8.55% and that's with really good credit.
I paid that shit off as fast as I could.
Where the fuck are you getting guaranteed AFTER TAX (cause you sure as fuck aren't writing off your auto loan interest on your taxes) 9% returns that justifies carrying such a debt when you have the money to pay it off?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z08GJ0Z5eM

Stellar has a lot of songs that fit that "theme"

Mask
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy-0Etfr1vI

Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UbNTbreDtk

Sting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVPQ0Bgw54g

andel posted...

p sure tc has shilled for the russians who have been waging a genocidal war in ukraine

The Venn Diagram of leftist tankies shilling for Russia and progressives posting rabidly anti-Israel shit incessantly is a god damned circle.
I had a lot of them tagged from the Ukraine topics before Oct. 7th, and it's pretty fucking uncanny.
Makes me wonder what % of them are genuinely psychotic "true believers" (ie, tankies) vs. insincere Russian trolls spreading propaganda

So, how much death and destruction are going to be tolerated before Iran pays dearly for what they've wrought?
The world's already let them get away w/ Oct. 7th; Biden already let them get away w/ murdering a bunch of US soldiers. No one even seems to bring up how many Ukrainian civilians are killed by Iranian Shaheed terror drones. How many more atrocities will they get to cause w/ total impunity?

Anyone remember the Somali pirate issue in the same region, that was a big deal at the time and looks downright quaint compared to the missiles and bombardments of the Houthis? Notice how that stopped being a problem? Ever wonder how that happened?
I'll give you a hint: It wasn't through "peaceful dialogue" and asking nicely.

EVs definitely have a lot of problems from what I've read. I'm not anti-EV, I like the idea, I just want the problems addressed:

• No process to recycle and repair battery cells, so a new battery costs as much as the damn car does (apparently used EVs have been going to Ukraine b/c THEY figured out a process for it, so why can't we?).
• Lithium in general has so many fucking problems. From the sources to how toxic and hard to dispose of it is, to how heavy it is. Oh, and the fires require so much fucking water to put out, it's insane. We need better batteries.
• Because of all the weight and (supposedly?) the regenerative breaking, the tires do wear down a lot faster (which their study referenced in the emissions from the degrading tires)
• EV makers seem to have no interest in making an affordable sedan, instead they stuff them full of fucking awful tech no one (well, not I) wants to justify keeping the prices above $30K. You may consider it minor, but using a god damned touch screen to open the glove box is an atrocity.
• Insurance costs (due to many of the above reasons) seem to be very high for EVs, and apparently should be even higher but the rest of us are subsidizing the cost w/ our premiums (mine sure as hell have skyrocketed the last 1-2 years).

DragonClaw01 posted...

Instead of fist fighting, sword fight instead?

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxcvOF1GxYZ4toJdKQKWHxvCCctFcjTgF8

I'm still trying to get an answer on how churning out more Republicans to vote for the Republican sank Katie Porter.
Those people were never going to vote for her. Why couldn't she turn out enough progressives, those mythical beings that exist in huge numbers and are just chomping at the bit to have a Democrat option that isn't "establishment" or "moderate", to surpass the Republican in votes? In literally California?
People think AOC can become president some day by inspiring millions of stay-at-home on election day progressives to finally come out and vote nationwide, but that feat couldn't even be accomplished at the state level in one of the bluest states in the country?
Maybe the truth is that there's way less people in this country that are leftist than you wish to accept, and that's a bitter pill to swallow?

CobraGT posted...

I wonder why GOP voting block never complain about being taken for granted?

Republicans drifting far right and kowtowing to the extremists has been an unmitigated disaster for our country. Your solution to the house being on fire is to start swinging a wrecking ball at it?

Good, she was by far the most guilty of wrongdoing and I hope she gets prison time.

Mistere_Man posted...

He will probably go back to his life living in a mansion, getting laid, and paid huge sums of money. That poor poor bastard.

He's charged w/ involuntary manslaughter just like she was convicted of.
I don't think even if he's guilty he should get nearly as harsh a sentence as her though, and he probably won't get jail time. But it's possible.

Block_that_Kick posted...

It doesnt work that way. The clock doesnt start until the passengers are in the car. They dont get paid on the way to pick the passenger up. You can reasonably get about 2 1/2 rides per hour, so really youre looking at about $14-$15 per hour with time. Still a hefty pay raise on pay per minute.

And the vast majority don't get paid for driving to their jobs. Some crazy people commute like 2 hours each way. *shrug*
I have no idea why an Uber driver would drive (for example) 30 miles just to do a 20 mile drive, you'd think they'd pass on such requests and let someone closer handle it.

In any case, if the concern really was that the companies take too large a % of the fares compared to drivers, why not just mandate that "drivers must receive at least 70% of all fares as pay" or something?

Block_that_Kick posted...

Supporters, including organized groups of drivers and some labor advocates, say the set of minimum pay scales and other protections, is the best way to ensure drivers earn the equivalent of the city's $15.57 hourly minimum wage. While driving for Uber or Lyft is often seen as a side gig, it has become the sole source of income for many drivers.

What drivers get

The plan approved Thursday guarantees a floor of $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute.

Frey had been pushing a plan that set a minimum payment of $1.20 per mile and 35 cents per minute.

The plan approved by the council also includes some of the following provisions:

* $5 minimum payment for any ride
* Annual increases in line with the city's minimum wage rules
* If a ride is canceled while the driver is en route, the driver gets 80% of the fare
* Restrictions on how money can be deducted from drivers' wages, and a prohibition for cutting into the drivers tips
* Protections from retaliation

$0.51 per min x 60 min/hr = $30.60 per hour, just from the fucking per-minute portion, never mind the $1.40 per mile that's in addition to that, you absolute fucking clowns.

CountCorvinus posted...

Adam Shit donated millions to help the republican win. The "game" fucking sucks. Instead of playing a game, maybe the so-called "Democratic Party", could I dunno.. try being democratic?

And you think the Republican voters who turned out were Katie Porter voters who got flipped to conservative? Get real. While I agree it's kinda dirty, that's what politics is, and it's no different from when Dems donated money to Todd Akin to help him win his primary to be an easier opponent in November, which was a celebrated tactic at the time.
Katie could've done a better job turning out this supposed "progressive vote" that seems to have trouble proving itself to exist, and it wouldn't have mattered. Him propping up a R should've been amazing campaign fodder for her to drive the vote, too.
Schiff wanted the R in 2nd place so he'd have an easy general election, it didn't help him win the primary. If anything, as the most moderate of the 3 Dems, he sacrificed some of his own potential votes now b/c he figured he had a better chance w/ Lee splitting the vote now than 1 v 1 w/ Katie later. I don't know how anyone can think it helped him in the primary, it was to push his toughest rival out of 2nd place.

With the benefit of hindsight, it looks like Schiff didn't even need to worry about Porter, he had such a wide lead over her in the 4-way, it was probably in the bag for a 1 v 1 considering the vast majority of the R votes would either not vote at all or vote for him over her.

Both of them running for the seat was always a colossal fuck up, I didn't know the ramifications. She should've kept holding her House seat that to her credit she guarded quite well in a very tough district. I guess now the best thing for her to do is to campaign for her Dem replacement hopeful and then look for a new spot to run next time, like governor or something.

TimeForAction posted...

Defund Planned Parenthood was around for a long time and people knew exactly what its backers meant. Then came Defund The Police and people are literally trying to argue it means something different.

Especially since on the leftist fringe, "abolish the police!" is a mantra that's been used.
The well was long ago poisoned, even if you really meant, "reduce police budget to pay for more appropriate emergency services for stuff like mental health calls".
It's just clearly terrible sounding messaging to anyone not living in an echo chamber.

I thought that she and Schiff could still run for their House seats if they lost, and that was the only reason her running when he already is wasn't fucking stupid (his seat is safe I think, hers was super tight and basically only being held by Dems b/c it was her).

So now she's out of politics and Dems are losing a House seat, probably.
This fucking sucks.

As for her statement, it doesn't bother me, she was talking about campaign finance, not actual voting. But Trump has tainted the word "rigged" pretty badly

megamanfreakXD posted...

https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/03/06/woman-who-bashed-cello-player-arrested-again-police/

Got arrested again LOL

She was probably released immediately after being booked again, too

AceVanquish posted...

This is harsher than most murderers and rapists, not to mention how many child predators use discord and dont get punished for it.

If it's the one I'm thinking of, his leaks forced Ukraine to delay their southern advance b/c he gave away all the plans, giving Russia several more months to harden the defensive lines and prepare.
We may never know how many Ukrainian soldiers that fuck wad got killed.
I hope he rots for the maximum sentence.

Block_that_Kick posted...

Also, Phillips only got 14% of the vote in this own district last night.

So he's about as popular in his own district vs. Joe Biden as the Uncommitted vote is nationwide vs. Joe Biden? (actually still better than it)

Did he get his Magneto powers after all those shots?

I was promised them by Republicans and still don't have them, so I figured maybe I just haven't gotten enough of them yet.

"Get off my plane!" has got to be the absolute top example of "would've gone viral / would've become a huge meme if it came out once internet culture existed" missed opportunity

If I ever get a chance to banish an outsider in a D&D game, I'm totally shouting, "Get off my plane!" in-character when I do it

Ricemills posted...

Then let me ask you, what's the 90% has to lose to gain the approval of the 10%?

Are you saying that Biden will lose support if he stopped funding the genocide? Is the 90% voting him because he did that?

Just because you call it a genocide doesn't mean everyone agrees with you. People were saying for years before this that just controlling the borders into Gaza was genocide by Israel (conveniently ignoring that Egypt did the same thing for the same security concern reasons), even though Oct. 7th showed exactly why those borders need to be secured (and clearly weren't secured enough).

The pro-Gaza side made it clear: If you oppose Biden's Israel policy, come out and vote uncommitted. Frankly considering any primary has a contingent of uncommitted votes, it's disingenuous to even try to credit all of every "uncommitted" vote as someone protesting his policies. Like in Michigan where 11% voted uncommitted in 2012. But we pretend they all are. But now you want to claim not all of the votes for Biden were showing approval for his policies. You can't have it both ways. Your side was very vocal about what these primary votes meant, even had The Squad signal boosting to vote against Biden. So yes, the 70+% voting Biden are, with their votes, saying they don't care or they approve.

Ricemills posted...

How do you not understand my post?
It would be bad the uncommitted vote decide to still not vote for Biden even in the general election.

Like i said before (can't remember which topic), the primary result will be a warning for the potential lost vote in general.

I understood your post very clearly.
You want Biden to reconsider his policy even though he's getting election win percentages that any sane person would label a mandate.
Then threatening that if they don't get their way, these protest voters will try to cost him the election out of spite. Which flies in the face of "we'll unify for the general" claims that are clearly false.

Why do you think 20% (it's actually fallen to 19% now... in one state... most states Biden's cruising to high 80's to low 90's % of the votes) of the Democratic base, which itself is maybe 1/2 of all Dem voters in the general (probably less), so let's say... 10% of his voters, pretending MN represents the entire country (it doesn't) and being as generous as absolutely fucking possible....

Why do you think those privileged 10% get to demand a position from him against the will of the other 90%?

Biden keeps DOMINATING these primaries.
All the lies of, "we're just making our voices heard! we'll still vote Biden in November!" are getting pretty annoying.
If that were true, they'd take the L, pack it in, and support our president. But even though a vast majority of the base (let alone independents and general electorate, which care about this issue even less) clearly are fine Ridin' with Biden, they stomp their feet and demand he appease a small % of a fraction of Dem general election voters.
If they can't have it their way, they'll burn everything down out of spite.

Case in point:

Ricemills posted...

I hope this will make Biden to reconsider his stance.
Losing those 20% voters will be bad in general election.

Freudian slip?

FreeTaxUSA for federal

State has its own electronic filing for state, to avoid paying FTUSA $15, but if I had to I wouldn't mind.
I'm strongly debating trying to go to a professional this year, though. My tax situation got more complicated and as it stands now, I own nearly triple what I normally do at tax time according to FTUSA...

Back when I made less, I used VITA. They're a nice service.

Ubergeneral3 posted...

Good riddence. She sucks and got what she deserves. She can be replaced by a real leftist senator.

Arizona is all blue for now b/c Republicans went super hard right and insulted McCain. But it is still very much a moderate/purple state.
So don't have unrealistic expectations if you want to keep that Senate seat. Fight for leftists in solidly blue states if you want more of them.

I'm sure this warning will fall on deaf ears, though.

Umbreon posted...

And the coward who made the list closed their account once they got a taste of their own medicine instead of accepting fault

Actually even worse. Made a new account like a day later to continue being a vile little shit stain while hoping the name change would throw people off the trail.

Humble_Novice posted...

Speaking of lists, some protesters have been creating one made to specifically boycott or condemn celebrities. The problem with them though is that innocent people or pro-Palestinian supporters who aren't vocal about their stance tend to get caught in the crossfires.

No, the problem is creating fucking harassment target lists to send your death threats to just b/c some celebrity doesn't fully vocalize support for your cause, in the first place.
Not that they "misfire" and get people on their side occasionally.
These people are fucking deranged. They think it would've been ok to tell Christina Vee to kill herself if she hadn't publicly affirmed their beliefs.

It's amazing how quickly and pointlessly she destroyed her own political career.

KiwiTerraRizing posted...

Time for those lobbyist dollars as a consultant.

SaikyoStyle posted...

She got her money.

MC_BatCommander posted...

I'm sure we'll find out the real reason whenever she pops up on some right wing grift in the near future

I don't know... Sure, she obstructed like a champ, but she also didn't really get anything done for her corporate sponsors, and ended up getting both Dems AND Republicans to hate her. And she was only there on term, hardly much time to make illicit connections.
I don't see her getting a Fox/OAN tv deal or sweet lobbying gig. I think it's quite possible she goes out with a whimper and nothing to show for it.

Yes, she deserves it. In the same way every single other "leopards ate my face" instance deserves it.

Don't get in bed w/ extremists. FAFO.

Aside from his incessant push to tax the poor and give money to the rich (student debt cancellation) and weak response to Iran, he's been pretty damn good. I'll be gladly voting for him in November, though dreading that it probably means I'm voting for President Kamala Harris when he steps down for health reasons next term...

1 > 2 >>>>>> 3

I think 1 had the best game play and balance (Umbran Climax OP, pls nerf), Jeane was a more fun rival battle than Masked Lumen (it's close, though), and the story was the least bad. Also the side character in that game (Cereza) was actually pretty charming, while as Loki was annoying and Viola...made me miss Loki so badly....

Only major knock against it is the instant death QTEs, but if you fail them you restart right from there anyway so unless you're chasing platinum trophies (I wasn't), it doesn't matter much. And if you are...then git gud?

2 is nearly as good. I should also say that I tend to give more credit to the first game in the series that actually establishes the formula, game engine, etc... Because let's be real... Bayo 2 basically just cribbed everything for gameplay from 1. Which is fine, all we wanted was more Bayonetta gameplay (*glares at Bayo 3*), I'm just saying...I award more points to the game that created it than the follow-ons.

3 is absolute fucking dog shit in every possible way compared to the other two. Viola fucking sucks, the gameplay is worse, the character designs are worse, even the impeccable music of the series is notably weaker, and most of all the plot is no longer merely bad but downright insulting to your intelligence and to the characters, the villain a fucking faceless nobody, and stuff just literally makes no god damned sense, like not even internally to the Bayonetta universe where yeah, you accept a lot of shit like lolipops healing you and so on.