4 hours ago, GoldenAge said:

Ecdysozoa - This group includes arthropod-like species such as the Cephalopods (e.g., Edgar the Bug from Men In Black) and the Crustacea (e.g., Mon Calamari from Star Wars).

Nitpick: RL cephalopods are mollusks. The inner anatomy of an octopus is more like that of a snail or a clam than it is like a lobster, bee, or any other arthropod.

But thank you for the background information. And some of the "alternate" phylum names are rather clever.

Dean Shomshak

I would qualify this article's claim: Conspiracy theories existed long before Paul Linebarger, a.k.a. Cordwainer Smith. But it does show an unsettling link between conspiracy theory, fantasy/SF, and propaganda.

The Sci-Fi Writer Who Invented Conspiracy Theory (msn.com)

Storytelling is powerful. Use it responsibly. And some people use that power with malicious intent.

Dean Shomshak

6 hours ago, Doc Democracy said:

But OMG. The use of modern concepts of Empire and nation, the relentless subtext of "Empire is bad!!!!!!" combined with footnotes where the author directly speaks to the reader explaining "EMPIRE IS BAD" just in case you missed the subtext. Made my eyes roll hard.

So, propaganda rather than art. It will not endure.

6 hours ago, Doc Democracy said:

I have no idea how this attracted so many plaudits, not least Blackwell's Book of the Year award.

I have my suspicions, but this is likely not the thread to discuss them.

6 hours ago, Doc Democracy said:

Not recommended.  I will abide by my pledge never to buy one of her books.

Thank you for the warning. And it is sad, because the magic system does sound interesting.

Dean Shomshak

So, this is apparently transplanting D&D races into a space setting. OK, why not. But do goblinoids have some distinct common origin that distinguishes them from other "bumphead" aliens? (I suppose that's implicit in the original "goblinoid" descriptor, but it doesn't hurt to check.) *Are* there other bumphead humanoids who aren't obvious animal-people or D&D expies?

Dean Shomshak

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

13 hours ago, wcw43921 said:

This is an article by Kevin D. Williamson of The Dispatch.   It was behind a paywall so I'm reposting it without permission.  Makes an excellent point, I think.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is No Neville Chamberlain

 

Irritated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s tireless dedication to serving Moscow’s interests, Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz offered an amendment to the Ukraine aid bill that would have renamed her office the “Neville Chamberlain Room.” It was an ugly, stupid, juvenile insult. 

 

Say what you will about Marjorie Taylor Greene, she is no Neville Chamberlain.

 

Neville Chamberlain was an honorable and decent man, a patriot and a statesman who led the United Kingdom during the first months of World War II before serving honorably in Winston Churchill’s war cabinet for the few months he had left to live before dying of cancer. He retired, as it were, at the end of September 1940, and he was dead by November 9, having labored through the excruciating pain of intestinal cancer as the Blitz raged overhead. When Churchill, acting on behalf of the king, offered the dying Chamberlain the Order of the Garter, Chamberlain declined. “I prefer to die plain ‘Mr. Chamberlain,’ like my father before me, unadorned by any title,” he said.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is no Neville Chamberlain. 

 

Chamberlain came late to national politics. He was about to turn 50 when he was elected to the House of Commons. (No British prime minister ever has been first elected to Parliament later in life.) He had failed at one business and prospered at another, and much of his political career had been spent in unglamorous municipal government, first as a city councilman and planning commissioner and then as mayor of Birmingham during the austerity of the Great War. He cut spending, reduced the scope of his own office, and cut his own expense account by half as a seemly wartime measure. His performance in office was enough to get him appointed director of national service. In the position, he oversaw Britain’s military conscription while securing an adequate workforce for war-production industries. He disagreed with the prime minister, David Lloyd George, and resigned from the prestigious and influential post. 

 

Marjorie Taylor Greene is no Neville Chamberlain. 

 

After the war, Chamberlain decided to run for the House of Commons and won a seat with a 70 percent majority. He was a legislative workhorse but declined a ministerial appointment under Lloyd George. He worked his way up to the position of chancellor of the exchequer—secretary of the treasury, approximately—and narrowly turned back an electoral challenge from Labour candidate Oswald Mosley, the future leader of British fascism. By the early 1930s, Chamberlain had helped to lead the United Kingdom from a position of debt-ridden near-ruination to a budget surplus. He quipped that the country had turned the last page of Bleak House and opened the first chapter of Great Expectations.

 

Marjorie Taylor Greene is no Neville Chamberlain. 

 

As prime minister, Chamberlain miscalculated in what turned out to be the most consequential decision of his political career. He believed, wrongly, that he could buy off Adolf Hitler and thereby avoid an unprofitable war with a continental tyrant. Avoiding unprofitable wars with continental tyrants has historically been a considerable part of British foreign policy, and it has often been the right policy. It wasn’t the right policy vis-à-vis Nazi Germany. It fell to Chamberlain to admit his error and to announce the declaration of war. He forthrightly addressed his fellow countrymen on the radio:

This country is at war with Germany. You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. … We and France are today, in fulfillment of our obligations, going to the aid of Poland, who is so bravely resisting this wicked and unprovoked attack upon her people. We have a clear conscience. We have done all that any country could do to establish peace. … Now may God bless you all and may He defend the right. For it is evil things that we shall be fighting against, brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. And against them I am certain that the right will prevail.

Honor even in disappointment. Standing by his pledge to help an occupied people resist a “wicked and unprovoked attack” from a tyrant. Telling the truth about it. 

No, Marjorie Taylor Greene is no Neville Chamberlain. 

What was Winston Churchill’s judgment? He eulogized his former rival in Parliament: 

It fell to Neville Chamberlain in one of the supreme crises of the world to be contradicted by events, to be disappointed in his hopes, and to be deceived and cheated by a wicked man. But what were these hopes in which he was disappointed? What were these wishes in which he was frustrated? What was that faith that was abused? They were surely among the most noble and benevolent instincts of the human heart—the love of peace, the toil for peace, the strife for peace, the pursuit of peace, even at great peril, and certainly to the utter disdain of popularity or clamour.

Neville Chamberlain made the wrong decision at the most important juncture of his public life. But he was an authentic statesman who put service over self, even at the cost of his reputation, personal fortune, and health. For most of the world—and particularly for Americans, who care so little for history—all that remains of Neville Chamberlain is his worst mistake. But he did what he thought was right, received very little thanks for it in the end, and never stopped working for his country until the last few weeks of his life, when he was physically unable to continue. He died, as he wished, plain Mr. Chamberlain.

 

Marjorie Taylor Greene is no Neville Chamberlain. Not on her best day.

 

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:

Quote

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of any character or incident to any real person, living or dead, or any real event is accidental and unintentional.

 

Occult themes, traditions, and lore are used only for entertainment. This work should not be regarded as endorsing such beliefs or practices. There are no demons. There are no Satanic sorcerers. There is no magic.

 

Evil, however, is real.

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.

16 hours ago, unclevlad said:

"...crackpot in the growing pool of cringe politicians."

 

I'll put that up with the "half partisan, half courtesan" line about the House Republicans for Line of the Month.

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

3 hours ago, Cygnia said:

Trump’s Brain Is Not Okay

 

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

10 hours ago, unclevlad said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/opinion/republicans-congress-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jk0.enen.h5AAWeCFJQTT&smid=url-share

Quote

They’re half partisan, half courtesan.

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

On 4/7/2024 at 11:03 AM, Lord Liaden said:

 

I suppose every place name that's mentioned in the Bible gets turned into one in the US eventually. I imagine that's all that the vast majority of Americans know about Nineveh, if that. It is odd, though, in that the Bible calls that city a place of great "wickedness" that was placed under "the Lord's burden." Doesn't sound like a town I'd want to raise my kids in.

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