The Usual Trinity: Politics, Computing, Gaming

[tcpip]

Composite opinion polls continue to look very bad for the McCain/Palin team, with even Arizona and Georgia within reach of the Obama/Biden team. Palin engages in "appalling contempt" for scientific research as her fellow Alaskan. Senator Stevens, is found guilty of felony. Neo-nazis fail in a plan to assasinate Obama. Finally, a blunt, but rather referenced rant; fuck John McCain.

I've been working my way through various installs of Sakai, a "collaboration and learning environment" of late. It certainly comes with a lot of whistles and bells, but also has some touchy requirements. Alo working my way through a firewall configuration guide for Access Grid, a Drupal upgrade path for said site and an expansion to the Drupal tutorial I gave at the eResearch2008

In the absence of our regular Keeper ran an impromptu game of Call of Cthulhu on Sunday. With an impending new release, I've dusted off my old and very battered copies of Dragon Warriors and submitted a review to RPG.net. My general impressions (true to my recollection as a youth) is that the rules were simple but limited, but the scenarios were very interesting. Overall, I rated it above average. I am currently working my way through John Wick's latest production Houses of the Blooded. Looking forward to having a game of Credo: The Game of Duelling Dogmas, seeming that some kind individual has posted all the cards and rules on boardgamegeek. Finally, something that only indie gamers would understand; sorcemon.

Comments

[greylock.livejournal.com]

as her fellow Alaskan senator is
Small correction, Palin ain't no senator, donchyaknow?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The senator is a fellow Alaskan; but you're right, I should reconstruct the sentence to make it clearer.

[taavi.livejournal.com]

If only all rants were so well researched.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

*nods* Perhaps it should be used as an example to set a new standard in ranting. Next time I see a rant I'll point the ranter to the said McCain site ...

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

You do know that there is a series of such ‘Annotated Rants’...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I didn't; I know of Fuck The South from the last US election of course (although someone did point out *cough* Virginia had something to do with the Founding Fathers).

One of the interesting things about this election it seems that many in the southern states have woken up to the fact that government expenditure and public monies actually benefit them and are voting accordingly.

"Redistributing the wealth", as they say.

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

Quite.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Public rent accumulation of natural resources? Best form of socialism there is. :)

Sorcemon

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

Is that a poke ball in her hand?

Re: Sorcemon

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I know that it's a Vote Democrat scarf she's wearing..

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/us-election/donkey-wrong-sarah-palin-wears-vote-democrat-scarf-at-republican-rally-14011708.html

I mean.... competence?

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

I love Boardgame Geek!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

*nods* Me too, even if I haven't involved myself much in the community (yet).

I would love to see it become a repository of out-of-print abandoned games. I've been trying to hunt down some scans of the cards for the Quirks boardgame for ages...

[lardarsegreg.livejournal.com]

If you'd just mentioned that you were looking forward to playing a card game that has a BGG entry, I would not have guessed that one...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in an evolution game and that's one I played a few times. I know it isn't that deep, but it recall it being quite fun. I wouldn't mind doing a new and improved version.

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

I played and owned a lot of boardgames when I was younger, and in a way it's still a passion for me, but I have no local community in which to play them, nor the time to do so, any more.

[crowroadaw.livejournal.com]

A re-release of DW?

*geeks out*

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hopefully it should be bucket loads of fun. I'm thinking of keeping it on-call for impromptu game nights. Heck, I may even beat a half decent skill system into it...

[ninboydean.livejournal.com]

On the topic of McCain, I would have to agree, except that I also say "fuck Obama" all the same. I am very concerned that, after years of an intense war (and decades of imperial aggression) the U.S. people are electing a "peace candidate" who is quite distinctly a warmongerer. Seems like the corporate powers are getting better at duping us, but this can't go on for too long without them losing critical touch with the people and/or reality. As for the NeoNazis - I only hope that Obama and them would kill each other :D

In any case, are any of your adventures / campaigns published? I would be very interested in looking over them. I have to say that since I recently got into D&D again, it is cool to have a friend so involved in that as well.

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

i think he is just saying the warmonger line to get elected. he cant look too weak vs iran etc. also he seems to now have got the jewish vote in florida with his tough war talk.

u can bet once he gets in the us will eventually withdraw from iraq.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

On the topic of McCain, I would have to agree, except that I also say "fuck Obama" all the same.

I wouldn't oppose a properly referenced rant of the same. Although I do point out that in the US electoral system voters really do have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

... the U.S. people are electing a "peace candidate" who is quite distinctly a warmongerer.

The clearest distinction between military intervention in Iraq vis-a-vis Afghanistan is that the latter certainly has greater support on the basis of just war.

In any case, are any of your adventures / campaigns published?

The first issue of RPG Review has a couple (one for D&D, one for DragonQuest). Each issue of that 'zine will include at least two scenarios.

[ninboydean.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't oppose a properly referenced rant of the same. Although I do point out that in the US electoral system voters really do have to choose between the lesser of two evils.
I would vehemently oppose that notion on the grounds that voting for a listed candidate, or a Dem/Repub, is implicit support for the regime. It doesn't make sense to me to vote positively against your self interest when I consider Obama's extreme corporate welfare, or his pro-war stances. It's kinda like asking Jews to choose between Stalin or Hitler (for lack of a non-nazi-referential simile).

The clearest distinction between military intervention in Iraq vis-a-vis Afghanistan is that the latter certainly has greater support on the basis of just war.
Well, Obama voted for both wars, and has voiced support for anti-Pakistan & anti-Iran military action. And the issue of Afghanistan is murky to say the least - the "evildoers" aren't even apparently there. His stance on Palestine is simply inexcusable, however.

The first issue of RPG Review has a couple (one for D&D, one for DragonQuest). Each issue of that 'zine will include at least two scenarios.
Cool! I will look over it. I'm always interested in new material that isn't 'soulless' as it were.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I would vehemently oppose that notion on the grounds that voting for a listed candidate, or a Dem/Repub, is implicit support for the regime.

I'm of the opinion that you use whatever even vaguely democratic tools are available under all circumstances to protect oneself.

It's kinda like asking Jews to choose between Stalin or Hitler (for lack of a non-nazi-referential simile).

Stalin of course is the better of the two options and if you're options are practically limited (e.g., by the mechanisms of an electoral system) not voting for the lesser evil is effectively a vote for the greater evil.

Well, Obama voted for both wars

Umm... are you sure? He wasn't even a Senator when the two wars were declared. When the Iraq war was declared he was on the frontline against it from day one.

Cool! I will look over it. I'm always interested in new material that isn't 'soulless' as it were.

Feel free to think of contributions as well..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama#Political_positions

[curufea.livejournal.com]

I don't know about Credo - it isn't rated very well on BGG.

If you want a free print and play game, you're welcome to try Medieval Manor - although it's resource management.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Anything above 5.0 is good from the ratings I've seen on BGG. They're pretty tough over there.. Which I like, btw.

I'll have a look at MM. I don't mind resource management games; after all, King of Dragon Pass is very heavily orientated in that direction...

[curufea.livejournal.com]

Plus, I just finished making all the pieces for the game and want folk to try it out (even though I didn't write it).
I'm planning on taking it to gaming tonight to give it a playtest.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Let me know how it goes. It looks interesting.