unclevlad

Massive disclosure. Couldn't watch it. Too nerve-racking, especially when I saw the Lakers up 8 in the 3rd. Nononononononooooooooooo.....ARGH!!!! But YES!!!! If I counted from the play-by-play...6 ties, 9 lead changes in the last 8 1/2 minutes. Murray takes the ball, moves into the lane, hits a midrange with about 2 seconds left for the lead; Lakers don't have enough time to do anything but a heave that fell well short. Wolves-Nuggets is starting up a tad early...Saturday, since they both finished early. First 2 games are 4th-6th, then a "bye" on the 8th (that's sorta the catch-up for the other series, which can't start that early) then games on the 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th.

Or the, IMO, even better version. I had this poster at one point; probably of all the things I had in college that got lost during the various moves/over the years, this is still the one I wish I'd kept. You can still find them, but you'll pay for one. Day is ended, dim my eyes, but journey long before me lies. Farewell, friends! I hear the call. The ship's beside the stony wall. Foam is white and waves are grey; beyond the sunset leads my way. Foam is salt, the wind is free; I hear the rising of the Sea. Farewell, friends! The sails are set, the wind is east, the moorings fret. Shadows long before me lie, beneath the ever-bending sky, but islands lie behind the Sun that I shall raise ere all is done; lands there are to west of West, where night is quiet and sleep is rest. Guided by the Lonely Star, beyond the utmost harbour-bar I'll find the havens fair and free, and beaches of the Starlit Sea. Ship, my ship! I seek the West, and fields and mountains ever blest. Farewell to Middle-Earth at last. I see the Star above your mast! Oh, and as musical accompaniment:

We cannot allow a maple syrup gap!!!!!!!

It's OK to bet the long shot when you get the odds to do so...but you're only getting +1800 on the Lakers to win the series. That number, I think, is driven by the fact that the Nuggets have had to come back in every game. And pull a rabbit out to win game 2. OTOH, how likely is it they'll shoot the ball well again?

Break out the brooms!!! <GONG> Break out the brooms!!! <GONG> Despite rumors to the contrary, the true eclipse happened in Phoenix...just now.... OKC can complete their own, tomorrow night. Nuggets can banish the Lakers back to the nether depths from which they sprang, as well. If both of those happen...well, they may be in for a bit of a vacation, as Dallas/Clips is going at least 6.

I'm thinking, perhaps lengthening your VPP listing, but also simplifying the construct. I've had issues with compound powers in frameworks at times, and in general I find how a compound power is laid out to be very disruptive. So, instead, I use custom powers to "group" into what I mean to be a compound power. Like this: Cost Powers 75 Variable Power Pool, 50 base + 50 control cost 1) Leopard: Speed and accuracy Real Cost: 0 2) +10 STR (10 Active Points) Real Cost: 10 3) +2 SPD (20 Active Points) Real Cost: 20 4) +2 OCV (10 Active Points) Real Cost: 10 5) +2 DCV (10 Active Points) Real Cost: 10 6) Rhino: Power and toughness Real Cost: 0 - END=0 7) +15 STR (15 Active Points) Real Cost: 15 8 Damage Negation (-3 DCs Physical, -3 DCs Energy) (30 Active Points) Real Cost: 30 9) +5 REC (5 Active Points) Real Cost: 5 So, lines 1 and 6 are custom powers with a cost of 0...or alternately, you could set the cost to be the total cost of the parts. Then, lines 2-5 define the "leopard" variant, emphasizing speed and combat; 7-9 are the "rhino" that's moving to the classic brick. I also do this with, let's say, a mage-type...almost all his powers are in the VPP. The VPP will be big enough to support multiple powers. I'll use the custom powers to split things into sections...most commonly, offense, defense, movement, and potentially a section for special/miscellaneous. This would the start: 188 Variable Power Pool, 150 base + 75 control cost - END= 0 1) ------- Attacks: 12 DCs, 1/2 END (75 Active Points) Real Cost: 75 - END=0 0 2) Blast 12d6 (vs. ED), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4) (75 Active Points) Real Cost: 75 [Notes: 12 DCs...PD, ED, AVAD Power Def] - END=3 0 3) -------- Movement (50 Active Points) Real Cost: 50 - END=0 0 4) Flight 28m, Position Shift, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (49 Active Points) Real Cost: 49 - END=0 0 5) Flight 20m, x16 Noncombat, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4) (44 Active Points) Real Cost: 44 - END=1 Here, line 2 is an *outline*...I'm not gonna list every SFX variation...for a broad swath of single-target, single-shot attacks. I do note the AVADs under consideration. I'd probably toss in another line for Flash...or not, as my default Flash is Sight and Hearing, and that's just 1 die less to get both. I could do the same for Entangles, altho those are more complex, so might need specific listings. Then the movements...pick one. There's a combat movement trying to avoid END costs, and a pretty decent non-combat move. Then there'd be a defenses section...altho, to be honest, since defenses *tend* to be less variable, I might just slap those into a list, outside the VPP. In a list, I can apply a Common Modifier like Nonpersistent, that couldn't be a common modifier on the VPP. This can help clean up the listing, IMO. In general? I've also often found I prefer using a list, rather than a compound power. Compound powers don't support Common Modifiers...they should, but they don't. I'll just toss in "treat as Compound Power" sometimes, if it really matters, in the list's Notes.

This could make Mideast politics even more complicated... https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/28/world/middleeast/icc-arrest-warrants-israel-hamas.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oE0.x-W6.Kvkqc2sXu0Hx&smid=url-share

That's part and parcel of supplying an agent; the agent becomes the scapegoat...and where possible, the target. LL's right there. There's plenty of people that would far rather say that, say, COVID was a bioweapon being developed by China, that got away from them, than it being something that we simply have to face periodically. They also want some way to affect things...sensible or not. Arguably, this is how the practice of sacrifices to the gods developed...to cultivate good favor, or to try to ward off bad outcomes. The concern that we are nothing but scraps of lumber to be swept up in the next tornado of events, and we can neither predict when it will happen nor do squat to avoid it, terrifies MANY people. Dean: I agree that conspiracy theories...and certainly the social manipulations...predate Smith, but he might have been the first to use it consciously in popular fiction. I'm not that well read in pre-WWII sci fi...but I've read some Burroughs, Lord Dunsany, Lovecraft, and some others. They were fantastic stories.

What I'm saying is back it up a step. it's not the mechanic I'm questioning, it's the motivation behind doing it in the first place...and therefore, does draining END make sense to achieve that goal.

With the Broncos, a lot of the draft grade is what you think of Nix. I remember seeing a site that aggregated ALL the draft grades, which was actually very interesting. The grades run all over the place, quite often...with exceptions. I've yet to see anyone give the Falcons a decent grade. Flip side, Washington's new front office got consistently high grades. Can't find anything like that right now.

That would be fine, I'd say. Another one might be a Flash attack versus Touch...the pain lasts for multiple segments. What's the goal? Why is the person inflicting the pain? How does draining END achieve it?

If it's a mental illusion of pain being caused, too...the target gets a breakout roll, and if he makes that? No more pain. That doesn't fit the notions of an agonizer or pain box at all. The pain is real. Mind, I agree mostly...a mental illusion can be a devastating approach. it's been used in books a few times as part of a torture regimen. I think, to work tho...the illusion has to be of some injury, and letting the victim's brain impute the damage. I don't think I'd allow "you feel intense pain" without the clear source of pain. And if you think of it that way, there's no limitation at all.

To riff on LL...svartalfar. "Dark elves." And if you have brownies and leprechauns and sprites and the like? The flip side is lyjosalfar...which is much more of a pain as a word, but hey.... Norse myth, the terms encompass broad collections of critters. For those that more specifically have some form of exotic power, there's also seelie and unseelie...which are much less about "light" and "dark" cuz *neither* group is what one would call 'nice.'

You don't need to have it do Drain per se, since that has secondary considerations, and it's just unnecessary. The pain itself is the motivator. Heck, the *threat* of pain is very likely going to be enough. And in general, it feels like Change Env is making things FAR too complicated. Causing pain without doing any damage is not that hard. The pain is only the means. It isn't an end in itself. It doesn't have to "Drain EGO"...when it can inflict a penalty to EGO rolls. See Interrogation...skill vs. skill contest, where the victim makes an EGO roll. 6E1 78. Then, Resistance...6E1 114. One of the optional applications is dealing with the pain of wounds. 6E2 108 offers up some rules for how lost BODY might impact EGO rolls here...left to GM discretion. THAT opens the door to a different interpretation: the agonizer/pain box does "killing damage" that actually does no STUN or BODY per se...but the pain's real enough to impose penalties as if the victim had taken the damage rolled. Conceptually, this is a lot like Disabling strikes...where you do BODY, sure, but to specific areas, and the victim isn't at risk of dying from it.

Porcupines aren't cute, they're a massive annoyance. When you see a half dozen trees with completely crowned tops...porcupines eat the bark around the entire tree, near the top, which kills everything above it...and the first time your dog has to go to a vet to get quills removed...you get to LOATHE them. Heck, look at the damage here. Many states give them no protection...for good reason.

For the next 4 years, Penix's total cost is about $22M. Not per year...that's the total for all 4 years. The most likely scenario there is trading or, more likely, releasing Cousins after 2 years. Not saying it's likely, as overall...it's still moronic IMO to sign him to a contract like this, then immediately go all-in, essentially, on a kid. An OLD kid, at that, push come to shove...Penix's 24th birthday is 2 weeks away. Plus...that article was written by a Penix fanboy, cuz he's the local. When's the last time UW had a QB make it in the NFL? Say...start at least 50 games? Jake Locker had 23 starts in 4 years, and wasn't signed to his 5th year...nope. Marques Tuiasosopo only played in 13 games, with only 2 starts, in 6 years. Brock Huard had less. Damon Huard...started 27 but was bypassed several times/was a 3rd stringer. Mark Brunell...well, OK, he had a real career. 151 starts. But Brunell's last college season was 1992. So I basically tune it out. Written by someone looking for ANY excuse to make sense of it. And what's worse to me? It STILL makes no real sense, because Cousins is there, and he's basically untouchable for 2 years. Insurance? You don't draft at #8 for insurance purposes...especially when you're a bad team, as Atlanta is. They were 7-10...that doesn't look horrible, but that was in the AWFUL NFC South. They played against the AFC South, with 3 weak teams. Those 10 games gave em 5 wins. The Charmin-soft schedule is why they only ended up with the 8th pick; it easily could've been 5th or 6th. Of course I'm biased here too. That franchise has made multiple blunders since the SB run, so IMO it's MUCH!!! easier to ascribe incompetence...particularly given that they didn't even TELL Cousins in advance...than to believe they have some secret master plan.

That would explain it, but they had several hours last night after the pick. You'd think, the trade would have to be VERY close...and thus, get announced last night...before they'd risk wasting the 8th pick. Also: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/falcons-gm-explains-shocking-selection-of-michael-penix-jr-that-left-kirk-cousins-disappointed/ So, doesn't look to be the case.

First round draft picks get paid by the slot they're drafted. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-much-money-the-top-2024-nfl-draft-picks-will-earn-on-their-rookie-contracts-ff3edc7d This is why it's so foolish, and why the rookie contract years for a QB represent a special window of opportunity. What it means is, they basically had no first round pick in this draft. Oh, and they never told Cousins about this, so reports are, HE isn't happy either. The look is...ok, we'll groom Penix for 2 years, then boot Cousins once the guaranteed money's paid out, according to CBS Sports.

Methinks da Lakers gon be blowed up Real Soon Now. Denver spots LA the first 8 and the last 6...and still wins by 7. Neither team shoots the 3 ball worth a darn. Lakers force 6 more TOs...but Nuggets win the boards by 13 (!)...that's an area where the Lakers should win. It's reasonably fair to say that the Nuggets didn't play a great game...and still won on the road, basically dooming the Lakers. Again. The James-Davis pairing simply is not working, barring the COVID season. I'd even assert that their 2 round wins last year, were more the aberration...a short-term hot streak. It happens; look at the D'backs last year.

6 QBs, 7 WRs, 8 OTs and 1 center. 4 edge rushers, 1 DT, 1 DE, and 3 CBs. And 1 TE...guess who did this one. (Prisco gave it a C.) The strangest single move to me...Atlanta. Penix? After signing Cousins to a megadeal that basically runs the entire period of Penix' rookie deal? Yeah, it's only 1 draft, and factors exist like depth at some positions (CB in particular)...but it does suggest the broad priorities around the league. QB of course...Prisco dinged Denver because he thought Nix might be available later. WRs...never enough. Pass blocking...never enough. So I kinda get it, but yeah...it's a big shift to the offensive side of the ball. Or maybe the thinking is, other than the impact rusher...good players can be had later, and they can be fit into a decent scheme.

6 QBs, 4 OTs, 3 WRs...and a TE by the Raiders. THEN the first defensive player...listed as an edge rusher. Yeah, get your QB or get protection for the QB, or get him another target. Talk about your lack of drama, at least so far. Vikes and Jets swap picks, with Vikes sending a bit more along with it, but nothing real major. Makes you think the Jets, who also need a QB badly, were perfectly happy to pass on both McCarthy and Nix...makes ya think they're in the "McCarthy didn't show much" category, at least.

Just for grins... Who's going to actually watch the coverage, versus checking in periodically through your outlet of choice? I'll just check in. Only need the results, but I'll admit to enough morbid curiosity that I'll look round, not just wait until tomorrow.

Hey, if you want to give your QB a real shot, you DON'T improve your offensive line.......... I'll see myself out...

Talk about an amazing experience... You're Darwin Blanch. You're 16. You're a pretty good tennis player...for 16, you're REALLY good. Junior Davis Cup. The Madrid Open, an ATP 1000 event, the top level just below the Slams, gives you a wild card, most likely at the behest of USA Tennis, cuz you're not in the top 1000. (Just outside of it.) Which means you couldn't get in ANY other way, cuz you'd need a wild card to get into qualifying. Cool, right? Even losing should double his total points, and move him inside the top 1000. And your opponent? Rafa Nadal. Oh lordy....oh my gosh. Nadal had 3 Slams under his belt *before you were born*. It's Madrid...Rafa's #2 tournament. (Barcelona is his home event.) It's Rafa's 20th Madrid, an event he's won 5 times. It's likely Rafa's LAST Madrid, given his health. Storyline has been that he chose to play Barcelona (lost 2nd round) and Madrid...when he said, he wouldn't have played Roland Garros. And this is after not playing at all in '23 after the Aussie Open, and barely anything in '24. The place is utterly packed, and Rafa owns it. Still gonna be the coolest thing a 16 year old kid experiences for YEARS...possibly ever. EDIT: unfortunately the kid was rattled and never got his game together. 15 unforced errors in the first set alone. 6-1, 6-0.

Holy incineration, Batman! The Athletic has a story today on the Coyotes' failure in Arizona. They basically attribute it to Alex Meruelo, the owner, almost entirely. Gutierrez is Meruelo's right hand man. They ran construction companies. They have suppliers and employees there. Sounds like the Oakland A's owner. Lots of other bits and pieces. He basically was better at burning bridges than trying to build them.