Lord Liaden

I wish I could feel some anticipation, but for me the year divisions are wholly artificial. All the complications we're living with don't magically disappear because a number on a calendar changes. But I do have hope that things will eventually get better -- just not all of a sudden on Jan. 1.

Oh, please let me watch. I loathe those characters. (Not meant as criticism of people who like them. Well, okay, I guess it is.)

You can't have Bradley Whitford. He was my second favorite human after Ken Watanabe.

I actually enjoyed the final fight in Wonder Woman, because it fit where the story had led. Most of the movie Diana was fighting like an Amazon, against mortal opponents. In the end she had to fight a god, on his level. I very much enjoyed the rest of that movie. I enjoy a good origin story/hero's journey. I welcome superheroes who stand for principles and ideals, who inspire the best in us. I particularly appreciated that the movie showed the traditionally "feminine" virtues -- compassion, protectiveness, love -- as a source of strength, not weakness. I haven't seen WW84 yet, and probably won't for quite some time. I can't get to an open theater in my region, and I don't stream.

I wish giant pandas didn't get all the attention. Red Pandas are concentrated cuteness.

Teaser for Thanos?

Marvel has been giving them a run for their money over this millennium. E.g. the Hulk can punch Time, and is now immortal, because his power literally comes from the Devil.

Chuck Norris brings him his coffee.

This goes beyond the stimulus bill, or control of the Senate, or electoral college votes. This is a power struggle for who controls the Republican Party for the foreseeable future, McConnell or Trump, with factions of the GOP lining up behind either. McConnell isn't trying to reign in spending. He supports lower taxes and massive spending to boost the profits of corporations, which can weather COVID fallout far better than individuals, because they put money in his pocket. Trump's call for bigger individual stimulus checks and his veto threat after the package was negotiated was a challenge to McConnell's authority. It's forcing Republican legislators to declare with whom their loyalty lies. Same with Trump's continuing dispute of the election result -- you're either with him or with McConnell.

I debated putting this in the "Random Videos" thread, but I think we need it here more.

Truth has become what enough people say it is. Which, to be fair, has been the case through most of our history.

The takeaway is that if you break the law to the benefit of the President, you're protected.

I'll have to think about the list longer myself, but the top would probably be Gul Dukat (Mark Alaimo) from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I don't remember anyone actually punching that smug smirk off his face. Another candidate: Carter Burke (Paul Reiser), the "company man" from Aliens. That deceitful, backstabbing little weasel got what he deserved in the end, but I still would've liked to get a shot in first.

I believe the author's analysis is reasonably accurate, but her overview is too short-term. America has been through multiple profoundly divisive, existential crises in its history, like the civil rights movement, the Great Depression, the Civil War. In their aftermath came large-scale social reorganization, which for the most part brought progressive changes. Some of the "American values" she decries the loss of are generational. I can remember when they weren't prevalent. The values of an era are always going to be challenged at some point, and have to be defended by those who believe in them. The battle may be long and hard, but in the end progressive ideas have always won out, because the only way to adapt to change is to move forward.

I've become convinced that a great many of the elites trying to squeeze everything out of society that they can for themselves, don't care if the world goes to hell as a result, because they figure they'll be dead before they have to face the consequences, and the rest of us don't matter.

If only they could see that for the vast majority of his followers, Trump is Not Like Them in nearly every way except skin tone. When he isn't orange, of course.

IMO Donald Trump's choice to make the response to coronavirus part of his self-serving propaganda campaign has changed it from a public health issue, to one of demonstrating support for him, and of accepting his unfounded conspiracy theories. The fact that he and his followers have raised the profile of those attitudes has contributed to citizens in other countries taking them up.

Oh, I thought you were using the generalized "you" as in, "anyone." FWIW I've been pronouncing it, "AW-droo-gar." Its native inhabitants being "AW-droo-GAR-ans." But I'd be glad to hear from Darren or Steve as to what it should be officially.

Nah, only the four letters together were problematic. At this point tiger's series has name recognition, and it wouldn't pay to change that too much.

If the reaction here mirrors the broader popular consensus, I feel really sorry for Patty Jenkins. After the success of WW she could have had her pick of directing projects, and deservedly so; but she chose to commit to the sequel, and that may damage her future prospects.

Micromice!

Lyonesse in 4E Kingdom of Champions was an aquatic, technologically advanced community, descended from Celts who discovered islands in the Atlantic on which the Progenitors had accidentally left some of their devices. The Celts learned to use certain of those devices, but later ignorantly. opened portals to the realm of the demonic Fomori, who invaded Earth. The Fomori were ultimately driven off with the aid of a sapient Progenitor probe, called "Danu." Danu sank Lyonesse to prevent a repetition of that accident, but the Lyonesseans used biological science to change themselves into water-breathers. In that book Merlin was a sorcerer of uncertain birth, who was also trained in science by the Lyonessean adventurer Nimue. He aided the Roman-Celtic war chief Artorius to become king of Britain, fashioning a powerful sword for him out of a Progenitor artifact. KoC goes into quite a bit of detail on the history of Lyonesse and Camelot, but very little else about Merlin, and no character sheet. The current official Champions Universe source book also specifies that Arthur ruled Britain from Camelot from 490 to 540 ACE; but this was the Camelot of Romantic era tales by Mallory and Tennyson, anachronisms and all (not explained . One modern official villain, Giles de Morphant aka "The Black Paladin," was an enemy of the Round Table, particularly Sir Launcelot. But again, aside from BP we have little concrete detail about Merlin, Arthur, or Camelot.

You'd best ask Darren Watts about that. He wrote 'em, I just read 'em.

The Star*Guard has an entire chapter devoted to it in the book, Champions Beyond, which describes in great detail the "space" side of the Champions Universe -- alien races and civilizations, individual NPCs heroic and villainous, cosmic entities, and the like. That chapter details Star*Guard history, structure, technology, major enemies, and types of StarGuards (the term "Star*Guard" refers to the organization as a whole, while "StarGuard" designates an individual operative). In many ways the Star*Guard is analogous to the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. It exists to protect sapient life in the Milky Way Galaxy from all manner of threats, to foster cooperation between civilizations, and to help integrate species into the wider galactic community; but doesn't involve itself in "local politics" (which can even include interstellar wars, depending on the circumstances). Individual StarGuards may be recruited from any sapient species in the Milky Way. They're intensively trained on the Star*Guard's home base, the planet Odrugar, and given an extraordinary technological weapon, the Star-Staff. Once their training is complete a StarGuard is assigned duties, most often as the guardian of a particular "sector" of the galaxy. The current StarGuard for Earth's sector is a Human, a Spaniard named Andre Almena. Almena is featured on the center of the cover of Champions Beyond: https://content.invisioncic.com/s285913/packages-0614345001387422035.jpg A million years ago the Odrugarans were the most advanced species in the Milky Way. At that time their greatest genius and hero, Gloran, was born. Gloran used his gifts to become a superhero, battling evil both to protect his people and other worlds in the galaxy. He created an incredibly sophisticated AI computer, called CONTROL, to assist him, and recruited other heroic individuals to fight alongside him. That was the genesis of the modern Star*Guard. When Gloran died his knowledge, memories and personality were downloaded into CONTROL -- this has become the pattern for preserving other notable StarGuards and Odrugarans after death. Over the eons Odrugaran society has shaped itself to support the work of the Star*Guard, and CONTROL became the benevolent ruler of the planet and director of the Guard, assisted by an appointed Council of Overseers (many, but not all, former Guards themselves). CONTROL possessed telepathic systems enabling it to communicate directly with StarGuards anywhere in the galaxy, and to scan minds to find worthy recruits. However, an attack on Odrugar by the treacherous former StarGuard, Mordace (more-or-less an analogue for Sinestro) in Earth year 2009 left CONTROL severely damaged, forcing the Guards to become more self-reliant. Based on the notes in Champions Beyond it may be that repair efforts on CONTROL still have not returned it to full functioning. The majority of StarGuards are assigned to protect specific sectors of space, aided by one to five Marshals they recruit as assistants and companions. However, others are inducted into specialized units within the Guard and sent to wherever they're needed. These groups are the StarScouts, trained in reconnaissance and diplomacy, whose Star-Staffs and other tech are optimized for rapid travel and communication; StarAvengers, whose staffs have greater offensive powers; StarKnights, more heavily armored, whose priority is protecting threatened innocents; and Anodynes, who carry medical equipment and aid in disaster relief. If considered desirable, a new StarGuard may also complete their training by being sent to "apprentice" to a veteran Guard. A standard Star-Staff can fire potent offensive blasts of energy in various configurations. It can also telekinetically manipulate large masses at a distance. It surrounds its Star-Guard with a protective force-field, and can also raise a "wall" of energy to protect other beings. The Star-Staff allows its wielder to fly very rapidly through atmosphere or across space, even to other star systems. However, a StarGuard can't use all these powers at their full strength simultaneously. The staff's reserve of energy requires direct exposure to the light of a star to recharge. A Star-Staff can also be used as a hand-to-hand weapon, and all StarGuards are trained in staff fighting techniques. Every Star-Staff is "attuned" to its designated wielder and its powers can only be used by him/her/it. The golden alloy a Star-Staff is made from is extremely durable; and a StarGuard can mentally summon it to his hand if it is taken away, as long as it's fairly close by. Should a StarGuard die his staff will fly back to Odrugar of its own accord, to be "cleansed" and given to a new Guard. If a StarGuard's species lacks the anatomy to handle the traditional staff, the Odrugarans build its powers into a helmet, suit of armor, or whatever would be appropriate. The standard StarGuard uniform is armored for added protection, and also allows them to survive in extreme environmental conditions including space. Star*Guard training enhances their resistance to mental control or influence.