Tom

While I'm inclined to believe the Ukranians scored with missiles, sacking the responsible admiral doesn't prove the argument. Commanding officers, and commanding flag officers, get sacked and/or disciplined when major losses occur due to accidents which "should not have been possible" if appropriate training and leadership were in place.

I’d say Tornado and Brazen for co-leaders. As noted, Arctic Fox hasn’t really seemed a “people person”. Viewpoint and Slime have been more accustomed to running solo (and Slime may not have quite enough experience with Earth culture to ride center seat - though Viewpoint might appreciate an opportunity to go someplace where he doesn’t have a reputation to live down) I also don’t see Pinprick leaving Lady O without pressing need, and moving cities would also likely impact time with his kid. Tornado has the experience and people skills and Brazen can probably keep him grounded and on track. Plus, being in a different city will make it easier for her to keep from falling back into the “base support” role (imo) Hussar makes sense to PC, both because it puts a brick on both teams and because he and Eel tend to rub each other the wrong way. Aspirant is going wherever Pogo goes, the question is whether she feels ready to maybe step out a little (and I’m not 100% sure she isn’t a minor still). I can see Bramble maybe stepping back to reserve status(?) - depending on how hard she plans on hitting the books. Where depends on who has the better botany program and how much she feels the need for space. I like the idea of Trailblazer staying to fill the speedster role, plus I like how her powerset and Eel’s clash (my inner GM just starts cackling and rubbing his hands together diabolically for some reason).

…and Russia says he’ll leave if she agrees not to join the neighborhood watch (NATO), gets rid of her gun and dog (demilitarizes), doesn’t disagree with him ever in public (becomes officially “neutral”), and abandons “woke” ideologies (ok, so I have no more idea what de-nazification is supposed to be than anyone else). Sound about right?

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60746557?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=62324a91ec502b53cd48275f%26Biden 'war criminal' remark a new phase in US-Russia relations%262022-03-16T20%3A55%3A16.448Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:b4f0c1cd-ddd5-46bd-91b6-896d469940fa&pinned_post_asset_id=62324a91ec502b53cd48275f&pinned_post_type=share Biden 'war criminal' remark a new phase in US-Russia relations Ukraine conflict: Biden brands Putin a 'war criminal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60773626

I’m thinking I’ve seen where he said something similar fairly recently. Though unless he backs it up with something egregiously stupid, it’s just posturing. Attacking a NATO country, or pretty much any other country, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when he apparently has his hands full militarily with Ukraine. I’m in the camp that suspects he’s just trying to convince everybody else that he just might be crazy enough to do the unthinkable if he’s pushed too far and maybe we shouldn’t be too enthusiastic with the implementation of sanctions. Hopefully I’m just not trying to reassure myself that Putin hasn’t really gone crazy and he’s trying to convince himself (and the people who would have to actually push the buttons) that he’s justified in trying to destroy world in self-defense.

Just saw from BBC that Putin has placed Russia's nuclear deterrent on "special alert". Seriously? https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60542877?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=621b82160ce87e491a0ed58b%26Russian move does not signal intent to use nuclear weapons%262022-02-27T13%3A56%3A05.258Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a0123d9e-83d8-4199-be2f-92361aab4ea7&pinned_post_asset_id=621b82160ce87e491a0ed58b&pinned_post_type=share

Joe Biden one year on: Has the United States become ungovernable? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60036911

Canada: Unvaccinated father loses right to see his child https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59979408

Covid: Quebec to impose health tax on unvaccinated Canadians https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59960689

Pretty much. I've already been having to listen to the ads for the ReTrumplican candidates for the open Senate seat in Ohio, each one trying to out-Trump the other...

With a more appropriate combat optic, this thing would make a good anti-super rifle.

I think if you’d left off the winking smiley it would more accurately represent their thinking…

Yeah, well, these people aren’t exactly poster children for “responsible gun owners” - but I’m fairly old school and out-of-touch, so what do I know. (Darn, failed my EGO Roll too…) I am curious to see if the charges against the parents stick. I’ve read Michigan doesn’t actually have any laws requiring safe storage, but their reported behavior makes it seem unlikely for them to escape a courthouse entirely unscathed.

yeah, that didn’t take long at all…

You mean the next shooting that makes national headlines. Otherwise we’d be stuck on the topic daily.

Gun magazines are still fairly popular, at least in my area (NW Ohio). I invariably see them gas stations/truck stops that carry magazines and I've seen them in my local B&N and Meijer stores though I haven't read/leafed through one in ages. I wasn't really into tacticool, which seemed to just really be building in popularity while I still worked in a gun club/store back in the 90s, and I've no idea what to make of the CoD/PUBG cosplay set which keep popping up as right wing demonstrators so I definitely don't have a clue of what seems to be passing for gun culture these days.

There are some non-big company stuff that is at least drinkable. Beer is one of those things where there is so many varieties, there is likely something you would find tolerable (if not actually likeable) but unless you really feel the need to find a beer to drink it's not worth subjecting yourself to the costs of finding it. Though random chance can provide unexpected opportunities, which is how I actually know of beers/ales I will drink by choice.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/26/us/arvada-colorado-police-shot-good-samaritan/index.html Fairly recent example of “good guy with gun”. Also an example of why inserting armed civilians in a police response situation can be a bad idea.

And I'll second the thought about American beer...

Exactly. One of the core rules of gun safety is to never point a firearm at anything you aren't prepared to see destroyed.

Which is why using a firearm is considered the use of deadly force and is only “justified” to defend against death or great bodily harm. Having worked in armed security, and having had similar use-of-force training as military law enforcement, you are trained to shoot to “stop”. Which if you’re aim is good, your opponent will be in need of medical attention at a minimum. However, assuming you have not inflicted an immediately lethal injury, if you continue to fire once you are no longer under threat you are no longer considered to be acting defensively. That does not always seem to be reflected in courtroom proceedings, but that is the way it is supposed to work.

Wasn't it Kissinger that supposedly said "Power is an aphrodisiac"? Judges have power - some people are all to willing to abuse power, regardless of the source. Weapons are a subset of tools. It's not much of a stretch since not everyone uses firearms as a weapon.

I’ve got a pretty good idea who Ophiotaurus is, but I’m curious about Eel’s hobby project as well.