DShomshak

NASA engineers repair Voyager 1 from billions of miles away, because they're just that smart. They hope they can keep it running and sending back useful data until the 50th anniversary of its launch. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/23/1246682946/good-news-from-voyager-1-which-is-now-out-past-the-edge-of-the-solar-system Dean Shomshak

A lawyer who used to work for the Manhattan DS office gives his take on the 'Hush Money' (reallyElection Interference) case: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/22/1246429903/the-prosecutions-case-in-donald-trumps-hush-money-trial Big takeaway: Pundits who say the case is shaky or unprecedented don't know their legal history of the Manhattan DA's office. Falsified documents cases are bread-and-butter for this office; and some have involved politicians trying to influence elections -- just at much lower levels. Well, I hope it's as strong a case as he suggests, since it's the only one that's actually made it to trial, or is likely to before the election. Dean Shomshak

The Republican plan for entrenched minority rule was in action long before Trump and will outlast him... though his reelection would turbocharge it: Fresh Air for April 22, 2024: How 'Minority Rule' threatens democracy : NPR Though the author interviewed notes the pushback has already begun in some states. For instance, Wisconsin voters shifted the balance of power in the state Supreme Court, in turn bringing a challenge to the extreme gerrymandering that gave Pubs their majorities in the state legislature. All is not yet lost, though hm, we do seem to be in the bottom of the 9th and the other team has the bases loaded. (I hope I got that right, sports metaphors are not my usual thing.) Dean Shomshak

A small note on ST: SNW's episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow": I liked the little exchange about, no, they aren't in New York City, they're in Toronto. I've heard that Toronto is often called upon to stand in for other cities; it's nice to see it on TV as itself. (Though IIRC "Forever Knight" was set in Toronto, so it does get to shine under its own name now and then. I still found it amusing. I also appreciate any acknowledgment by TV that North America consists of more than New York and California. It would have been even funnier if they'd filmed somewhere else and said it was Toronto. But IMDB tells me that Strange New Worlds is filmed in Ontario. Dean Shomshak

You're welcome! DeanShomshak

An excellent case for the honor of Neville Chamberlain. Perhaps MTG's office space would better be named for Lord Haw-Haw. Though I am told the Congress of that time held several members who used their free franking privilege to mass-mail Nazi propaganda to Americans. AFAIK Greene has not yet reached that level of open advocacy for a hostile power. But I do not trust her loyalty to the United States of America that actually exists, as distinct from the fantasy America of far-right imagination. Dean Shomshak

Update on my other project, The Sylvestri Family Reunion. HERO Patreon backers had their chance for a few months to comment on the manuscript, but Jason says they pretty much didn't. I choose to interpret that as the book being so good that no one thought of anything to add or change. Our colleague Lord Liaden also gave it a test read and offered suggestions, but please don't pester him for spoilers. He's sworn to secrecy by dreadful oaths. ("Don't talk about it, okay?" "Sure, whatever.") The manuscript and illustrations have gone to Jason, who will see to it that it will be assembled using actual pagemaking software, not just a simple pdf conversion. He also promises cover art. I'm thinking maybe just the Sylvestri achievement of arms, but there may be time for people to offer suggestions. There will be a disclaimer for people who have difficulty telling reality from fantasy: Dean Shomshak

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two finally came in at the library. I've seen the first three eps and Im impressed. Season One was pretty good overall, but no eps I would call really great. Season Two is starting strong, with three eps I rate as very good. The actors seem more comfortable in their roles, and the writers are daring to push the characters harder. "Ad Astra Per Aspera"deserves special mention as the best attempt at courtroom drama I've yet seen from ST, with a wily lawyer actually finding a way to use Federation law and Starfleet regulations to get the result she wants. Considerably better than "Cpourtmartial" (TOS), "The Measure of a Man" (TNG), or the TNG one with Ardra (though that was still a pretty good story). Dean Shomshak I look forward to the rest of the season.

My last Champions adventure was a fill-in because we didn't have the players for either the regular campaign's ongoing story, or the backup campaign's ongoing story. So we had two members of the Avant Guard hero team, plus a guest hero. Regular member Night Train was out bec ause he caught Covid, and a dragon robbing a biotech supply company in Buffalo, NY didn't seem apocalyptic enough to require his presence. Supers getting sick is something that happens offscreen. Dean Shomshak

For a little better news: The March 23, 2024 issue of The Economist examines immigration in the UK and argues that the country assimilates its immigrants remarkably well. For all the hyperventilating of politicians, immigrant ethnic ghettos where white Britons dare not go are a myth: Britain's immigrants mix thoroughly with each other, and rapidly spread to mingle with the general population.* And, well, the Prime Minister and the Lord Mayor of London are both South Asian chaps. They call it "Britain's Superpower" and suggest the rest of Europe could try learning a thing or two from the British example. Leader: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/03/21/britain-is-the-best-place-in-europe-to-be-an-immigrant In greater depth, with charts: https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/03/18/without-realising-it-britain-has-become-a-nation-of-immigrants A letter in a more recent issue suggested one reason the UK might have an easier time assimilating people from other lands: A national identity as "British," separate from traditional ethnic identities such as "English" or "Welsh." Perhaps our resident Brits can comment? Dean Shomshak * No more Limehouse? No dark and mysterious enclave of sinister Orientals? I am almost disappointed, the place loomed so large in the stories of Sherlock Holmes and Fu Manchu. I suppose it would be culturally insensitive to re-create it as a theme park.

I think Mr Reich said "fringe politicians," but RFK Jr is certainly cringe as well. ADDENDUM: I also appreciate the flash and reference to perennial Green candidate Jill Stein. IIRC in 2016 she did try to mount some legal challenges to Trump's election, which is more than Dems attempted. But is she actually so vain as to run again, knowing that she can only pull votes from Biden? Dean Shomshak

You do notice I said, "might"... I was being kind. Perhaps little Barron has not yet been warped too badly. Dean Shomshak

Even more unfortunately, I can imagine many of his backers thinking this wouldn't be bad. Just sit him behind the Resolute Desk, send in a stream of sycophants, put things in front of him to sign, and you can do anything with, or to, the country that you want. One of Trump's weaknesses as a figurehead for a radical reactionary movement was his tendency to go off script. But if he's coccooned in a layer of movement-loyal underlings and too incapacitated to recognize his confinement, why, such a figurehead President could be quite useful. A horrible thought, but Trump has taught us that what used to be horribly unthinkable is now all too plausible. I do feel sorry for any family members or other people who might care about Trump as a person. Dean Shomshak

Well, *that's* a tease... In the meantime, I shall immodestly mention my Shared Origins: the Dynatron supplement (available in the HERO Store!) as an example of one way to handle the tropes of the "origin machine" and "supoer-powers for sale." Dean Shomshak

The Daily reviews Donald Trump's success in getting his trials delayed until after the election. At this point, it looks like onlhy the hush money case -- which legal experts deem the weakest -- has a trial date. The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics - The New York Times (nytimes.com) As noted, his lawyers have figured out how to game all the defenses developed to prevent rogue prosecutors and judges from railroading the innocent. The host and guest shrug and say, Well, we're stuck. I say, this shows why our legal system *does* need the capacity to railroad defendants -- not easily, Glod forbid, but when it really, really matters -- the state needs to be able to put a case before a judge who knows and accepts that his job is to deliver a swift and guilty verdict. Yes, a political show trial. I could go on, discussing conditions of extremis, but I think that's enough unpleasantness for one post. And the argument does lead into some nasty territory. For now, I'll just repeat the suggestion that the Constitution is not a suicide pact. Dean Shomshak

Best summary I've ever read of Congressional Republicans. Dean Shomshak

Fans of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga" are familiar with the uterine replicator -- an artificial womb that turns out to have all sorts of interesting implications. Well, some scientists are working on making it real. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/10/1243989409/artificial-wombs-could-someday-help-save-babies-born-prematurely So why am I posting it here, instead of "Extra! Extra!"? Because it ends with a discussion of a possible political consequence: It might be used as another excuse to ban abortion, because in principle a fetus could be moved into an artifical womb instead. Though my first thought is: Are the anti-choicers willing to pay for it? I mean, themselves, or through a general tax? Dean Shomshak

"The Truth Teller is wise to keep one foot in the stirrup." -- Mongol proverb Dean Shomshak

Chinese and Japanese ghosts often seem solid. Until they don't. See Chinese Ghost Story or Kwaidan (both excellent movies!) Dean Shomshak

NOOO! Alas! He falls asleep and doesn't return it for a half billion years! Dean Shomshak

While I haven't checked every Biblical place name, a brief Wikipedia search shows: 10 places in US named Jerusalem. Largest, a town in NY, has population a bit over 4,000. Though many places named "Salem," some of course quite large. 16 places named Bethel. (And 4 in Canada.) Places with unpleasant connotations? No place in US named Golgotha, so not *every* Biblical name gets used. But 7 named Calvary (including transit stations), and at least 12 cemeteries. Just one Gethsemane, a cemetery in NJ. For comparison, at least 31 places named Troy (I may have lost count going down the list), not counting subsidiaries such as Troy University, or villages within towns. Only 2 places in US named Babylon. Egypt does better, such as we large and well known Memphis and Cairo. There was nothing to see here in western Washington, because of overcast skies. So, does anyone have demon invasions to report? Places smote with fire and brimstone? 40 days of darkness? Dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria? Dean Shomshak

Writing that last post reminded me: In many RL magical traditions, the powers are also persons. The magician isn't a scientist or engineer, confident that if they use the right tools on the right materials in the right way, the desired result must inevitably happen. Magicians deal with forces that have wills of their own. They negotiate, cajole, bribe, browbeat, bully, grovel, or outright lie to get their way. This is most explicit in dealing with spirits, of course, but may be implied in other cases. In HERO terms, this might supply alternate Skill Rolls for magic. Like, the Chinese sorcerer needs a Bureaucratics roll to make his magic work. (Or Bribery -- spells often involve burning an offering of gold-paper. As with mortal bureaucrats, the spirits are supposed to do their duty to you when appealed "according to the statutes and the protocols," but act with greater alacrity when you grease their palms.) A Hermetic summoning a demon to extort a service threatens dire consequences for failure to appear and obey, delivered not merely by himself but by Almighty God -- Interrogation, perhaps (if seen as intimidation or outright torture rather than shrewd questioning). Shamanic negotiations might suggest Trading. If not a Magic Roll itself, such Skills might be complementary; or perhaps be called upon when the Magic Roll fails, in hopes of mitigating or redirecting the Side Effect of an angry spirit's appearance. Dean Shomshak

I sometimes chide people for ragging on D&D in ways I think are unfair. Nevertheless... For me, magic in D&D feels utterly un-magical. One reason is that despite multiple sources and modes of magic, it all works exactly the same way. Another is that while great effort is made to describe the tactical effects of every spell, the game remains sketchy and incoherent about what magic is and why it works. (Maybe setting books go into this. I've only read the Forgotten Realms Gazetteer, which has some blither about a "Weave" that left me unimpressed.) Maybe I'm unusual, but I don't find resource management enhancing my sense of wonder. Well, what do you expect. D&D began as a wargame, and that remains written into thre game's DNA. I hope I have at times achieved sense of wonder in my own D&D games, but it came from my work, not that of the game designers. For me, at least, part of what makes magic feel magical is the context. Like, let's take Incantations. Fine: It's a -1/4 Limitation, because if something prevents you from talking you can't use the Power. But what are the incantations? For an example, let's say the mage is conjuring that stereotypical fireball. The Hermetic or Kabbalistic magus uses secret names of God to invokes Gabriel, angel of fire, and Phaleg, angel of the fiery planet Mars, to burn his enemies. The Satanic sorcerer calls on Xaphan, who fans the flames of Hell, commanding him by Lucifer and Beelzebub as well as divine names such as Elohim Sabaoth and the Tetragrammaton -- blasphemously treating names of God as arbitrary tokens of power that don't actually mean anything. Or he just uses "barbarous words" -- pure gibberish, void of meaning, but you have to speak it all letter-perfect anyway because you're embracing pure superstition. The Hindu sadhu chants a short mantra that distills both a prayer to Agni,m god of fire, down to a few sacred syllables. He has told the prayer 100,000 times, and the force of his ascetic meditation and ritual is such that even a god cannot deny his will. The shaman has met a spirit of fire in his visionary journeys and made a treaty with it. Tapping his drum, he chants an appeal to the spirit and reminds it of their bargain. The Taoist mystic writes the name of Yan Di, the Blazing Lord and Minister of Fire, on a spip of paper and stamps it with his seal of authority. As he holds it up, he demands that a lesser spirit of fire work his will: "By imperial order, in accordance with the statutes and the protocols!" The Finnish sorcerer sings the story of how fire came to be. Knowing its origin asserts his power to command it. In Earthsea, the graduate of Roke knows the true name of fire. In fact, he knows the specific true name for an explosive ball of fire, and by saying that name he calls it into existence. And so on. Whatever the system of magic, the magic words mean something. Not that the player and GM have to come up with anything. It's enough to extablish that that the mage character is indeed calling on some special knowledge to access something deep and powerful in the world. Dean Shomshak

Snopes.com checks more eclipse nuttiness, this time indubitably from the kookier fringes of Christianity. (Though I was surprised to find how many places named Nineveh are in the US.) Fact Check: About the Rumor 2024 Solar Eclipse Will Pass Over Every US City Named Nineveh (msn.com) Dean Shomshak

I assume everyone here has sufficient scientific literacy to find this funny. April 8 solar eclipse totality will last for minutes, not cause 'days of darkness' | Fact check (msn.com) Dean Shomshak