Lurker > CyborgSage00x0

The polls mean nothing. We learned that 4 years ago.

Just gonna stop you there with this tired and failed talking point. No, *you* learned the wrong lesson from the 2016, but the polls certainly mean everything. And definitely more than your random thoughts. We have enough armchair general floating around, take a seat.

For the record, models have already been ran on a "what if the same underestimation of 2016 with the current polls", and Trump still loses handedly. Of course, voters shouldn't get complacent, and should go out and vote like Biden is -5, but that's not even close to the reality. Offs, Trump's OWN internal polling research shows him getting smashed.

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Muscles posted...

Trump is getting reelected whether he says more dumb stuff or not, people forget how loyal his base is, it also doesn't help that the dems brought out another senile racist that can't keep is mouth shut

Nah. He's getting BTFO nationally by Biden by like 11% right now, and is massively losing every single battleground state (even states like AZ, which have been solid Red forever. He's tied with Trump in TEXAS right now).

Of course, the numbers will tighten the closer to the Election we get, and the voting populace has the energy of good fish, but this is Biden's to lose by far.

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I've been trying to write a Lovecraft TV script, with kinda a mish-mash of Lovecraft horror themes and the occasional direct reference to one of his stories. The challenge is definitely conveying unspeakable horror (with mostly never showing it), a sense of looming dread and doom, while trying to make actual characters who care about (something Lovecraft's work never does), while dabbling a bit with the "Mythos", Arkham Horror lore (aka, the heroes can kinda fight back or use magic or whatever).

It's been a pet project of mine to see if I can make it work.

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The best part? The job reports number was a lie. They had to revise it 3 hours later by saying there had been an error, and that unemployment is at 16.6%.

There really is no bottom of the barrel.

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The Wave Master posted...

Any comments or notes follow Geeks?

Well, when they finally make a movie about you after you turn into a superhero, let's just say they are gonna have their pick of flashback, motivational scenes to choose from.

"I'll see your Ben Parker and raise you all of Wave's shit."

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Playsaver posted...

A real republican could have still been worth voting for, if any of them had bothered to stand up against Mr. Trump, but Mr. Trump and those that work with him have worked relentlessly to make sure most of them are gone and been replace by the MAGA party.

Really, this is what "real Republicans" have been for at least the last 3 decades. The slavish devotion to the rich and war profiteering was always obvious, while the racism and bigotry was coded in dog whistles. Trump is nothing more than Frankenstein's monster, saying all the quiet parts aloud and taking 30 years of GOP policy to its logical conclusion.

It may seem different, only because Trump is uniquely crass, stupid, and narcissistic to frankly cartoonish levels, but he's a modern Republican through and through. The only thing he changed was to embolden GOP voters to display their toxic and insane viewpoints into the open, and to more boldly embrace conspiracy theories.

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PyroBlade1985 posted...

Don't tell me you're one of those "A third party vote is a republican vote" types.

No, I'm the "Voting 3rd party for a Presidential race in America is a waste of time" type, probably because it's an objective fact. Voting 3rd party could help a Democrat, after all, depending on those running, the 3rd party candidate, etc. They don't always help Republicans.

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Assuming you were at least 13 when you made your account, you're way too old to be believing in obvious conspiracy shit, Zik. Not that age really ever had anything to do with it...

Then again, you also vote 3rd party, so voting may just not be your thing.

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Over or under 599 US dollars?

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OhhhJa posted...

That's like saying the alt right is just an idea.

Um, yeah, that's exactly right. That's different than an organization. It's apolitical idea, one many don't even realize they are apart of.

OhhhJa posted...

Antifa are masked cowards and so are their leaders. They have a Twitter my dude. They are a group. Who runs their social media? Is that not a leader? Just because their leaders hide behind anonymity doesn't mean they don't have people pulling strings and rallying people

Jesus, are you 15? Having a Twitter account means dick. I could set up one right now.

The KKK is an official organization. It has a charter, president, active leaders, a rank hierarchy, a charter and agreed upon set of rules and customs, trackable and organized funding, etc. It's literally a known entity with a physical address and everything.

An official organization is not remotely the same as a loosely based assortment of protesters with no consistent and identifiable tenants. They are in the same realm as the 99% and Women's Marchers protests, as frequent as they are.

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1) ANTIFA isn't an organization. There's no central leadership, organization, charter, etc. It's a political viewpoint, not a group. Occasionally people with a common viewpoint of such get together and punch neo-Nazis, but you can't be imprisoned for being "apart" or "ANTIFA."

2) That's also not how terrorist designations work, so this is double meaningless.

3) It's telling that the one "group" that routinely has the balls to get into the face of cops and alt-right terror groups is being randomly scapegoated here.

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Luckily, the EC order amount to nothing.

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So far this month, I've knocked out:
-5 films I've never seen before
-4 video games (including the entire Banner Saga)
-2 books
-3 TV shows/seasons

Even that somehow seems low with all the time I have. From what I've done earlier in the year, I'm on pace for by years end:
-72 new movies
-23 video games
-7 books
-24 TV seasons

Going top up the book count a lot, and I very much doubt I hit that TV mark. Also, The Banner Saga games were pretty entertaining. Oregon Trail type gameplay, with permanent causes and effects from your choices, that carry over from each game. Fire Emblem style TBS for the combat.

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Agree, I didn't think Joker was anything special, and felt rather it robbed Joker of his agency by making him just an actual mental loony, rather than someone who acts like one but has methods to their madness.

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No, at least not now. I have the OG for the Wii, so if I ever have a hankering to play, I at least have that (but the graphical updates do look damn sexy). And since X1 was a "pre-order this or basically don't get it" deal at the time at GameStop, and the DE can be gotten anytime via the online store, I don't feel the rush or pressure to get it now. And while I still prefer physical copies of games (especially big tentpole games like Smash and Zelda), I\d be OK if I missed out on the physical version of it.

The biggest factor though is, I'm just not in the mood to take on a huge RPG like that now, as much as I enjoyed the game. COVID is finally giving me time to plow through my Steam backlog (I already cleared my Switch one, and god knows Animal Crossing didn't help matters), so I don't want any sidetracks. It's bad enough I've been having an itch to replay the Metroid Prime and Viewtiful Joe series.

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I agree with my choices, that's all that matters!

Also everybody should officially forget about the Snyder cut of Justice League because apparently there's a Paul Feig cut of Ghostbusters >_>

https://bleedingcool.com/movies/ghostbusters-2016-three-hour-cut-feig-snyder-cut/

It's 3.5 hours long! Think of everything they compromised and cut to get it down to the 2hr14 theatrical run!

Sweet Jesus, no. Also, cute of that article to call the movie a "moderate success." It was a box office bomb that cost the studio at least $75M, according to Wikipedia. Pretty much everyone has moved on and agreed that the movie was trash at this point. Absolutely no one is demanding an extended cut of Ghostbusters 2016.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

The problem is, you need somewhere around 70% to develop effective herd immunity. Essentially, at the current rate, we'd have to stay in self-isolation for something like 7 years (at which point, the economy would be a smoking crater and most of us would be pretty much fucked anyway).

Herd immunity is likely moot, anyways, due to the number of people that had COVID, only to get it again. In some cases, just weeks after getting over it. Anti-bodies have to work for herd immunity to even occur, and so far, the virus' ability to rapidly mutate has left that in doubt. That, and the last possibly permanent damage (mostly to the lungs) means the idea if exposure for herd immunity likely doesn't pass a cost-benefit check.

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Depends on what you mean by "picks up." It's my favorite manga series, due to the wacky characters, powers, and the adventure and mystery of it all.

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Revelation34 posted...

Why not both?

Mostly because Flo looks like a freakish clown mannequin, and everything about her on-screen persona makes me want to chew tinfoil.

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Revelation34 posted...

We all would.

lol no. Now, Lily for w/e from the AT&T commercials...

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Solid Sonic posted...

Excuse me but Sonic was in one of those.

You aren't helping the case, here.

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I want to know how Progressive commercials manage to be so horrible and so cringey every single time.

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Golbat is 5'3, literally taller than Ash. Image a bat with a giant gaping mouth roughly the size of the average American woman flying at you.

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I've had it on Steam since launch, so meh. Cool for those that want to get into it, though.

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ParanoidObsessive posted...

The first topic was about The Dark Knight. Which came out in July 2008.

Oh yeah, that's right. Jesus...

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Revelation34 posted...

How long before they stop releasing new content for it? I want to buy a complete edition one day. Either that or get a good deal on what's out now.

The new Pass they just released will go until next year. I would imagine it'd be pretty easy to get the base + expansions on a Steam sale or something.

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ParanoidObsessive posted...

Though to be honest, after 12 years of these topics, it's not really a huge tragedy if we accidentally reuse a title or two every now and then.

Has it really been 12 years? It feels like it isn't that old. Could have swore I was way more active on PotD before casting it off in favor of just these topics.

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FatalAccident posted...

So playing as Colombia and I spawn right next to El Dorado on my very first turn.

I wonder if some of this stuff is pre-scripted sometimes to introduce you to new content.

I'm gonna boot it up soon and give Columbia a try.

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ParanoidObsessive posted...

The Geek After Tomorrow

Didn't we use that one before? Or does it just keep getting suggested?

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FatalAccident posted...

Way more interesting.

But +1 movement is a little OP no?

Yeah, that seems pretty insane. ALL units. Settlers, builders (!), religious units, navy, and airplanes, even. That's pretty nuts by itself. Siege units can basically move and shoot in the same turn now.

And being able to promote and take an action in the same turn, plus free unique great generals...lots of power in this Civ, and such a weird contrast to the Maya. I think Spies and Rock Bands and Apostles can promote and move now, too.

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Gran Columbia looks way more interesting.

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Bulbasaur posted...

force healing is also in the mandalorian which is also canon.

There's canon, and then there's Disney canon.

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I mean, should I get more angry than the Japanese actresses/singers that were paid to be there, knew what they were doing, and at any time could have walked away?

No? Then I don't consider it racist.

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BigStackPoker posted...

In 2019, he was reported as 243 pounds, which is, according to the BMI, obese.

And I still call BS on 243. The dude is pushing 300 easy.

NFL linebackers and RBs are 6'3, 240 and are basically pure muscle. Hell, linemen top 300 and are way less fat than Trump. Dude is easily 300+.

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Persinian posted...

ummm i hate to tell you this but the "Holdo maneuver" has some precedent in video games too. Starwars Battlefront II (2005) has a space mission where you have to shoot down a rebel cruiser before it can make the jump to hyperspace and "tear through" a star destroyer. I believe the mission is vader's fist strikes back.

Go figure.

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TheWitchMorgana posted...

imagine calling yourself a film expert but not knowing what a retcon is lol

I was piggybacking off of how Rev used it, which gets the point across, but obviously not being quite what a retcon is.

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Kinda crazy how F.E.A.R. exploded onto the map in 2005 and showed how amazing AI could be, and yet combat AI in FPS games seems to have barely moved since then.

Like, they would grenade you to flush you out, call out to each other to where you were, flank you, and stick out just the gun from behind a wall and fire at you. Hell, I would try and outlast the AI at some points, aiming my gun to where an enemy was hiding, thinking the AI would eventually cause it to peak out. I would usually blink first and get impatient, or the AI would leave from the other side of the wall.

Damn, that game was good.

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DirtBasedSoap posted...

because only 1-6 are canon and 7,8 and 9 are all bad fan fiction

/topic

At least Force Heal has some video game link to give it the thinnest veneer or cred. Stuff like the Holdo maneuver just breaks the lore of a leg with a crack.

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Revelation34 posted...

It's a retcon.

Bingo. And this wouldn't be the first, or even biggest example of retcon attempts, or creator's buying into their own cleverness or mythos that others have forced on them.

For the record, Lana said at the 2016 GLADD awards that she didn't mind that people were now looking at their prior works through a trans lens because "art isn't static." Which is fine and all, but themes and motifs you put into a film ARE static, regardless of if someone interprets it a different way down the line, or sees something that seems to align with some view or belief.

Hell, I read "scholarly" papers in college that suggested Dopey of the Seven Dwarves represented a penis/male sexuality, because he's the only bald one and likes Snow White's kisses a lot. While this is far more out there than suggesting The Matrix is a trans love letter,t he point is it's practically a sub-category of film study in terms of trying to retroactively apply deeper or hidden meanings to films.

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I mean, it was clearly a bit of a dig, but she's not factually wrong. She didn't use him being old as a dig, either (which would be a pot & kettle situation).

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I feel like there's a direct link to spilling soda on your system and repeating the dumbass meme line that there are artificial shortages.

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Smarkil posted...

You missed the point to begin with. If a government organization is accepting what ultimately amount to bribes, then they don't deserve to exist.

Might as well fold the entire concept of governments, then.

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ParanoidObsessive posted...

should be shut down to stop draining taxpayer resources

Which is ironic, since it isn't taxpayer funded. It functions in a truly bizarre realm, in that it functions like a private business in almost every aspect, save for profits not being the end goal or point. The point being that is has to serve mail, to every American, at a standard rate. Ironically, it being taxpayer funded would solve a lot of it's problems, since making an entity that is literally required by Congress for the common good to try and act like a business is inane.

Most people forget that the USPS is REQUIRED to exist (it's debatable if Congress could actual abolish it or not, despite them only being "empowered" to make a National Post Service).

ParanoidObsessive posted...

The rise of the 24-hour news cycle and the polarizing effect of biased political pundits probably play a role as well, as US politics have effectively become the Console War of the modern generation, as everybody picks a side and then just attacks anyone who dares to have a different opinion.

This is what really set the pace for today. Vietnam may have disillusioned the people against the Government, but Newt Gingrich leading the way on treating the opposition like an enemy and the idea that news couldn't just be news, but needed a slant (the birth of Fox) really started the era of tribalism. Most political customs started to break down, and the idea grew that it was OK to attack and dehumanize someone of political opposition during this time.

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You're about a decade and a half late and don't *quite* have the right target of your ire, TC. The Republican's 2006 PAEA out of nowhere required the Post Office to prefund up to 70 years of retirement payments, and it nearly tanked them overnight.

Why would the Republicans do this? Some say it was a naked attempt to kill the USPS so a private firm could take over, likely because they actually started believing in their own "small government" mantra to a comedic degree. Others say it's because they are just plain evil and like to see the common man suffer. It's likely a combination of both.

Either way, much like Trump is not a pariah of the GOP, but rather Frankenstein's monster, Trump going after the USPS is just him trying to finish what the GOP as a whole started. Well, maybe- Trump seems to pick new targets at random everyday for his ire, and rarely follows through with said threats.

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I went with Stone, being invisible is fun.

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FatalAccident posted...

Only in the early game though, and even then only for defence. No point running rampant on other civs with your UU cause of the penalty youll get for cities being so far away from your capital.

Hopefully Colombia is more interesting.

Indeed.

I like the idea that you can build off of water by using farms as housing, but that basically limits you to flat grassland, or jungles with plantation for the Observatory. And anything outside of 6 tiles penalizes you.

They really need to increase the tile range to at least 8-10. You'd need like a miracle starting seed to make this Civ work, and it can only really do tall cities.

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FatalAccident posted...

This is how I feel

That said, looking at the Maya reveal, that civ seems garbage. Although the UU can be pretty damn strong.

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October 17, 2007. It was The Orange Box IIRC.

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Aculo posted...

and people actually think computers are smart enough to enslave us one day...

The Top 40's stuff that passes for the most popular songs these days usually makes as much sense and has as much depth lyrically, but with way worse music.

If this was released unironicly and the riffs weren't so blatantly AC/DC, it'd probably be a hit. Well, maybe, rock isn't in style anymore.

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Sonicplys posted...

Anything Apple is trash garbage

Truth.

Also, the hilarious part is, Apple TV was launched with a weak amount of content, and since COVID has completely killed film making for the time being, won't be getting anymore soon.

That said, they are making The Foundation series for Apple, and I know a few people working on that. Not sure how far they got, though.

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I fucking love MM, but saying it was the game of the 00's would be hard for me to endorse. Top 5, but top 1? Problem is, it was the very last of the 64 bit era, and the leaps that came after it were much greater than from 2010-2020.

As for BotW and MM, I find it really hard to compare. You could easily be convinced they were from different series if you squinted your eyes, they are that different. I do usually tend to give MM the edge, since it's dark, disturbing, and generally fucked up in ways that most horror games even aren't.

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