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tcpipIf I ever had doubts that Libertarians didn't include a sizeable selection of the wilfully ignorant, the recent discussion on global warming have put my concerns to rest. Special kudos to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
evil_genius for his noble attempt to provide educational links. On topic, the Brits have experiencing the hottest weather since their records began in 1659.
Still we have our own issues in Australia; where a wave of bushfires has swept Victoria and is now in Tasmania. All during last week Melbourne's air was of full of smoke and included the hottest day in 53 years (keep in mind it snowing here less than six weeks ago). So now our own nutbars come out, not only those who wrongly claim that ban on alpine cattle farming is a cause of the fires, but now the Federal Forestry Minister who blames too many trees!
The new Labor leader Kevin Rudd confused himself over whether he really rejects socialism. Meanwhile "clever" ALP preference deals initially seemed to suggest the election of two DLP Councillors later revised one. Rank-and-file Labor supporters are not happy; sensible alternative is both above the line preferential voting and Robson Rotation.
In that most enjoyable social experience that is gaming,recumbenteer has taken over France in Diplomacy just as we're about to crush the rabid English bulldog. On a related topic spent an very enjoyable (albeit very drunken) evening at Trades Hall bar for anthanum's going-to-Sydney gathering. I believe I ended up on video explaining GNS Theory and later more dramatically giving the Orcish point of view. Playing Everyway Aesheba tonight with the "Melbourne Role Playing Salon" and AD&D Norman Britain on Sunday. Have also recently purchased Chivalry & Sorcery (3rd edition) and the Lord of the Rings RPG. Still writing out several hundred words a day for the Dragon Lords RPG.
evil_genius for his noble attempt to provide educational links. On topic, the Brits have experiencing the hottest weather since their records began in 1659.Still we have our own issues in Australia; where a wave of bushfires has swept Victoria and is now in Tasmania. All during last week Melbourne's air was of full of smoke and included the hottest day in 53 years (keep in mind it snowing here less than six weeks ago). So now our own nutbars come out, not only those who wrongly claim that ban on alpine cattle farming is a cause of the fires, but now the Federal Forestry Minister who blames too many trees!
The new Labor leader Kevin Rudd confused himself over whether he really rejects socialism. Meanwhile "clever" ALP preference deals initially seemed to suggest the election of two DLP Councillors later revised one. Rank-and-file Labor supporters are not happy; sensible alternative is both above the line preferential voting and Robson Rotation.
In that most enjoyable social experience that is gaming,
recumbenteer has taken over France in Diplomacy just as we're about to crush the rabid English bulldog. On a related topic spent an very enjoyable (albeit very drunken) evening at Trades Hall bar for anthanum's going-to-Sydney gathering. I believe I ended up on video explaining GNS Theory and later more dramatically giving the Orcish point of view. Playing Everyway Aesheba tonight with the "Melbourne Role Playing Salon" and AD&D Norman Britain on Sunday. Have also recently purchased Chivalry & Sorcery (3rd edition) and the Lord of the Rings RPG. Still writing out several hundred words a day for the Dragon Lords RPG.![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:33 am (UTC)I must confess I haven't been keeping up with the most recent changes to the Victorian fires.
OT, just to show that the Libertarians aren't alone in foolishness, I reprinted Joe Toscano's letter to The Age on a federally funded fire service to the anarchist community... and ended up in some interesting discussions.
http://community.livejournal.com/anarchists/1948312.html
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 12:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 08:58 pm (UTC)Dr. Joe Toscano is Melbourne's most well known anarchist, indeed spokesperson for the Anarchist Media Institute. He gets himself in the papers with fairly good suggestions every few months.
As an anarchist he's calling for federal government funding and intervention for a public purpose.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-16 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:11 am (UTC)To be fair to the forestry minister (not that there is any reason to be, but still), it's my impression the exact way in which fire and the ecosystem interact and the way that that interaction has been changed by European intervention are still very hotly debated. There is probably a need for fuel load reduction in a lot of areas; though that is better done through controlled fires than logging.
I can't believe the DLP is back either. It's like return of the night of the living dead.
What's the LoTR rpg like?
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:25 am (UTC)Heh. Nice one. I'm not sure whether to post that to Libertarians or Anarchists ;-)
There is probably a need for fuel load reduction in a lot of areas; though that is better done through controlled fires than logging.
Quite possibly, but one certainly gets the impression he's saying "No Trees = No Bushfires".
What's the LoTR rpg like?
Physically it's very pretty. The game system looks fairly simple, but the notation is unusual. Haven't had a chance to go through it in any great detail.
I've been more amused by C&S. Oh god, the tables...
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 11:34 am (UTC)Don't poke the animals. It's not nice.
Personally, I think either group should be allowed to live in the conditions they claim to want - for Libertarians, Iraq and for Anarchists, the Congo?
Physically it's very pretty. The game system looks fairly simple, but the notation is unusual
*Phew!* When I think of RPGs and LoTR, I think MERP (Middle Earth Role-Play) - which is a cut down version of Rollmaster. (Odds are that for LoTR, I'd use D20, Fudge, or GURPS anyway).
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 11:49 am (UTC)Oh, the choice for Libertarians has to be Somalia..
http://community.livejournal.com/libertarianism/1635339.html
I think MERP (Middle Earth Role-Play)
I actually quite like MERP (being the author of a Rolemaster Companion also means I like Rolemaster). The system wasn't as hard as people made out, and the modules (especial the early ones) were a wealth of material.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 01:18 pm (UTC)O_o
I didn't think any of them would actually advocate it even if it is what they seem to want.
The system wasn't as hard as people made out, and the modules (especial the early ones) were a wealth of material.
Re: Rolemaster, I agree that it wasn't hard - just big. And if I were designing a computer RPG, I would probably use Rollmaster. However, I can run a game of D&D (3rd/3.5) referring to scenario notes, a DM screen (usually I don't need that) and the PHB and DMG maybe twice each. (I assume players write down some relevant details of their spells). I can do simmilar things with GURPS (without vehicles which are just too much effort), Storyteller (under duress, anyway), and FUDGE. With Rolemaster, every time someone swings a sword I need to go flipping through the books (or at least using the bookmarks) and reading off an obscure line on a table.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 08:52 pm (UTC)Traditionally one simply added the favoured weapon table for a character on the character sheet; and of course in MERP *all* weapons of a particular class fall on the same table.
The other thing to keep in mind is that Rolemaster (a) wanted to resolve 'to hit' and 'damage' on a single roll (b) wanted 'damage' to be in proportion to the effectiveness of the strike (so no, like in D&D, rolling 5+ over what you need to hit and then a 1 for damage) and (c) to simulate the different abilities of different weapons (thus animal attacks are devastating against low ATs but relatively ineffectual against high ATs where their claws and bite have limited penetrating power).
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:39 am (UTC)My great concern - and confirmed mere seconds ago - is that when the facts do not suit their ideology they will claim that the facts themselves have been distorted.
cf.,
http://community.livejournal.com/libertarianism/1884210.html?thread=54909490#t54909490
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 11:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 04:36 am (UTC)Anyway, I think you should try using a narrower brush. I hope you noticed the other libertarians who do agree that global warming is a reality, even if they don't agree on what, if anything, can be done about it.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 05:38 am (UTC)Well anyone with an inkling of a rational mind is a skeptic about most things.
That said, I think your analysis that the reaction is reflexive is correct - which is very sad.
One particularly good comment in the thread recommended the use of carbon trading.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 12:59 pm (UTC)skeptical ≠close minded
gullible ≠open minded
I am very open minded. Extremely so in fact, yet deeply skeptical. I will listen to new ideas and opinions and then research them intensely. I do my best to be the antithesis of gullible. While still hearing out peoples Ideas.
The unfortunate byproduct of all of this research is I've heard and looked into most of the more popular claims about the subject that interest me. So when someone comes along spouting pseudoscience or superstition I see it for what it is and label it as such. People don't like being told they're wrong. They get exceptionally pissed off when their error is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 04:13 pm (UTC)Indeed not; in fact I was going to point out to Lev that there's a fine line between skepticism and head-in-the-sand obstinacy. And I won't defend such mulishness even among fellow libertarians. But let's not also assume that it's a hallmark of libertarianism--generally I find it to be among the most rational of political philosophies, and there are plenty of libertarians who accept the scientific consensus on global warming.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 08:45 pm (UTC)To give credit where credit is due there is a real attempt to build from unambigious first principles. I like that.
and there are plenty of libertarians who accept the scientific consensus on global warming.
I wish I could find more :(
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 08:55 pm (UTC)People don't like being told they're wrong. They get exceptionally pissed off when their error is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
See, this is the bit I don't get. I like being introduced to a new knowledge. Maybe they still have a high school approach to knowledge tests.. you know, if you don't know something or your knowledge is wrong you fail and failure is bad etc.
Of course, part of it for my part probably comes down to not holding strong views on subjects I don't much about...
no subject
Date: 2006-12-16 04:14 pm (UTC)-- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson
even in this age of virtually free limitless access to information(at least in the developed world). Most choose to remain ignorant.
"There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking."
-- Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)
Chivalry & Sorcery
Date: 2006-12-15 08:18 am (UTC)Re: Chivalry & Sorcery
Date: 2006-12-15 08:59 am (UTC)An earlier edition I take it...
Third edition is streamlined. Not by today's standards, but certainly by C&S standards.
And it did/does make great source material.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 09:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 12:02 pm (UTC)You wouldn't think it was possible would you? They are far more loathesome than Family First.
It's like have the Pope elected to parliament.
Sometimes my distate for the stupidty of the ALP organisational leadership becomes seething hatred. This is one of those moments.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 10:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 11:54 am (UTC)Well, the DLP voted to disband in 1978 but there was a handful who refused to recognise the decision. They have run in every election since then calling themselved the DLP... So there is actually more than a semblance of continuity.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 12:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 12:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-15 09:05 pm (UTC)Damn... Someone deleted the thread.
I was going to grab your links :(
no subject
Date: 2006-12-16 05:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-16 06:29 am (UTC)Ah, bom dia hau-nia kolega, di'ak ka lae?
You've heard of my travels? Goodness news gets around..
So ask away!
no subject
Date: 2006-12-17 04:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-17 04:52 am (UTC)D:
no subject
Date: 2006-12-17 11:00 am (UTC)I know, I know.. And they use images for text. My poor brain.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-17 11:02 am (UTC)It's not a cost it's a gain ;-)