unclevlad

Domingo German tosses a PERFECT GAME! Just finished it. Even if he does pitch for the Yankees, those are always amazingly cool. 99 pitches. 72!!!! strikes. Excellent breaking stuff. Got to 3-1 against batter #24...4 straight breaking balls to get him in the end. Oh my. For that touch of poignancy? His uncle died 2 days ago........

Selective memory at play? Or can you still not find what you're looking for? B sci fi races... Betazoid, from ST:TNG

On a somber note https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/28/americas/titan-submersible-debris-st-johns/index.html I'm glad. Families can get some closure now, hopefully. Pleasantly surprised, too; that tech is GOOD. And my vicious streak wants to find enough negligence on OceanGate's part to rip their liability waivers to pieces.

Huh, I might look Friday, I'll be at Safeway, probably. Just cuz yours has it, doesn't mean mine will; supermarket liquor sections tend to be stocked by the area distributors, and thus stock the brands they have. And size matters...how much space they want to allocate. That Safeway has either NO cognac whatsoever, or maybe 1 or 2 VSOPs in the locked case. Almost nothing in the way of single malt scotch, again, outside the locked case. I have gone through some of the "50 best bourbons you can buy" lists...rather amusing. Almost all of em are a) FAR more than I wanna spend too, and b) many count as Unobtainium. Demand VASTLY outstrips supply. If you want to know what truly, ridiculously INSANE booze can run.... https://vinepair.com/booze-news/25-most-expensive-bourbons/ Scotches? They're worse. There's a longer tradition of aging for a VERY long time. https://mybartender.com/brands/most-expensive-scotch/ Cognac also has an upper, upper tier. I've had Louis XIII once...not a bottle, mind. Most expensive bottle would be Remy XO...the liquor store had reversed the prices on the Napoleon (the step up from VSOP) and the XO (a step above that). So I got it at a really nice price. But yeah, for the most part? They're not enough better to justify the seriously high costs, as you say. I've largely avoided scotch and cognac for several years, because the prices on both blew through the ceiling. When I do get it, I bite the bullet and go for the middle levels of the good lines...Remy Nadurra, Laphroaig Quarter Cask. I mean, if it's gonna be an indulgence *anyway*...get the stuff you really like.

I like the secondary transforms for objects, where there's no atomic change. Physical/chemical yes...convert the carbon dioxide in the air into graphite powder (pure carbon) and O2. Lots of similar stuff, but a lot of it could be covered by Create Object now, with an SFX limitation that the material has to be on hand...somehow. (You'd be amazed at what hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon alone can make, and of those, only carbon is marginally scarce in the air.) Disguise stuff can be set up with UOO Shape Shift.

Yeah, I heard. There was a comment that they imparted many, many lessons about the realities of the NBA. Not many better sources out there...Duncan even moves into the social media era, at least to a degree. Duncan retired after the '16 season. Ginobili too...not perhaps the a star at the level of Robinson or Duncan (no height jokes intended) but one of Argentina's most popular, and he retired in '18. And that really, REALLY brings out HOW FREAKING TALL!!!!! the kid is!!! Cuz that's David Robinson standing on his left. Robinson's 7' himself. No pressure on the kid, tho. Just meet 2 legends...Duncan's arguably a Mount Rushmore level power forward, Robinson made the 75th anniversary all time NBA list, Ginobili is HOF...and Sean Elliott on the other end *only* has his number retired by the Spurs. Slacker.... Way to keep the expectations down, having that group take you to dinner the night you arrive in town. Imagine if the place they went to, had a dress code...and tried to turn away THAT group.............................

My quibble would be that...yes, a severe Transform's priced at the same level as a killing attack, and each has to reach the same degree of effect...but resistant defense is rather more common than power defense. I think it's a salient observation to put a severe Transform in the same class as killing attacks, for how frequent the GM should use one.

I'm taking it a step further. Duplication is a special power, so that's already covered, but nothing says you can't have Dup and Multiform...just not in an MP. I'm trying to make a stronger statement. Most special powers aren't that special; they're just powers you don't want swapping around trivially. Imagine: Duplication, create 4, 500 point duplicates; x2 rapid duplication. Base 135 points. Multiform 500 points; Base 100 points. Now: Extra Time (delayed phase), Concentration (1/2 DCV) on both. 135 -> 90; 100 -> 67. So, 157 of the *base form's* 500. Emphasize defense for the rest. The dups all get the multiform; the base wants to dup first, then shift. If caught out unduplicated...shift. Normally? Dup first, everyone shifts as they can. This'd be bad enough, as the multiform can be combat streamlined. And of course, if one is going to consider maximal abuse...make that 600 point mulitforms, or 650. Every 15 points above the base 500 costs the base 4, after the 1/2 limit...but having *5* 650 point builds at once, in a 500 point game? Of course the GM should probably just bar you from his game for even proposing it.........

So...if the base is allowed to buy Multiform in his MP, the form can't have its own MP because it's nested? I don't see that at all. Multiform itself is a hard separation. Nothing in any of the other forms is available unless it's defined for the specific form, so there's no conjoining frameworks. I think Mutliform and Duplication should be made into their own class...call it Exclusive, maybe. Can't be put into any framework, AND can't have both...which means no alternate form can buy Duplication as well. The base form doesn't necessarily need real power...not if it can duplicate itself, then have the duplicate shift to the combat form.

Why does the chair have no SPD? On what basis? It can't *move*...and in most cases, it can't do anything, so it appears to have no SPD, but that's not the same thing. I'll grant it has no sight, but if we're talking mental powers, which is the key here...that could be the targeting sense. This is why I absolutely LOATHE Transform used like this. Cuz you could be right too. The rules are FAR, FAR too open-ended, ambiguous, and potentially even contradictory, as to what can or can't be done, and the potentially MASSIVE amount of indirect effects. Shut down 200, 300 points worth of powers THAT easily? Grossly ridiculous, IMO. I'm looking at the recovery condition section...where it says Regen might help, oh, but the condition can be stated as "must be healed back at REC/Month." WHAT??? And this is FREE, just because you say it's how it works? YOU define the SFX and you can get a massive benefit? The rules WRT Transform aren't even half-baked, IMO.

6E1 305, last paragraph on the page: The "abilities" you refer to are abilities based on your body, by that statement. Transform someone with wings into a chair, they can't fly any more. They have really limited normal senses as a chair...but their mind's intact, and IMO that says they can use mental powers.

By RAW, it can be included in an MP or VPP. An EC...not simply, because Multiform doesn't cost END. Applying Costs END only to activate, to slide a power into an EC, can be very abusive generally, and I think I'd be even more leery about it with Multiform. Whether a GM would allow this, has to be on a case by case basis. How abusive is the Multiform, what's the overall concept, is the player simply trying to slide a whole ton of additional goodies onto the character for next to nothing, by slapping them into the MP, so the only cost for them is the slot costs? This may not apply to a VPP, because the control cost to cover the active points of Multiform will be quite significant. It'll also factor into the skill roll you have to buy, or the honkin' big cost for No Skill Roll. Might be doable, but initial assessment is that an MP would be easier and likely cheaper...if I was gonna do it at all. Offhand...I think I'd need a LOT of convincing before I'd allow it.

Pretty sure I can get both at the only standalone liquor store left in town. I've had Blanton's regular bottling; it was quite enjoyable. Mind: there *are* different bottlings of both, and some are pretty sharply limited. And neither is something you're likely to find in, say, a supermarket's liquor section.

Others among us of a certain age, may also share a cringe...from that story: Animal "liberation" has some really bad memories...of groups who wrecked years of lab studies by breaking into research labs and, IIRC, destroying the lab animals...rats, guinea pigs, that sort. Used in serious disease research. I can agree with a lot of what PETA wants, but they're far, far too extreme in too many areas for me. I agree with Mr. P. The club's response was spot on. There might be others I might've considered, but nothing that would be family friendly...

Or rum, vodka, tequila, brandy/cognac... I believe there might even be some ice beers that push the proof mark... And of course, if your libation of choice exceeds 80 proof...I've got a predilection for barrel strength Bourbons and scotches, myself...well that's fine too. If you're asking for suggestions? Maker's, Maker's 46, Hennessey VS, Remy VSOP, Woodforde Reserve, Lagavulin Quarter Cask if your budget stretches that far....

We need to remember this link in the event Trump does get convicted...because if it's the 20 years +/- as suggested, we'll still go "TOO SHORT!!!!" This is why. For those of you who watched it all, may I suggest 2 ounces of 80 proof anesthetic?

For L, let's go Lewis. Jerry Lee or Huey, as you prefer.

I note DT skipped X, but I think that's understandable on this one... We end it with, of course the ultimate lazy summer afternoon activity.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Next up: Musical favorite. Individual performer (singer, songwriter, instrumentalist), band name, or even name of a musical, rock opera, opera.....

Semi-freaky stat of the night... We're at pretty much the halfway mark of the season, and the Angels had only 1 walk-off win. On a wild pitch. 1-1, bottom of the 9th. Trout gets on; Ohtani forces a walk. None out, the relief pitcher ignores them. Trout breaks, the pitch is a breaking ball in the dirt. Trout was already diving into 3rd, and it's debatable if the ball got far enough away anyway. One has to be VERY sure there...2nd and 3rd with none out is too good a chance. The batter strikes out...then Mike Moustakas comes up. The pitcher, yes indeed, bounces another...and Trout dives in safe. 2nd walk-off. ALSO on a wild pitch. Cue the Toccata and Fugue in D minor....

(as opposed to plotting?) quitting work early to head to the beach

Oh dear.... Arguably the ugliest words a broadcaster or analyst can say..."I don't think we want to see this one again." CWS. Florida runs out of pitching; they try starting a part-timer who, according to Kyle Peterson, can be great...or terrible. Unfortunately, he's terrible, and knocked out in the 2nd. 4th inning, LSU continues piling it on; it's up to 9-2 with a runner on 2nd. Single to left; 3rd base coach sends the runner. The throw comes up the 3rd base line, as the runner's coming down. The catcher has to move into the runner's line to try to stop the ball...absolutely no choice. The runner awkwardly hurdles the catcher, and comes down on the plate, safe...so the run scores. Do not take that to mean he landed *well*. His momentum carries him forward a few feet, but he's writhing on the ground, holding his, IIRC, left ankle. He ultimately has to be helped off. Landing on the plate generally is not something you want to do. Foot can go out at a very bad angle, very easily; the plate's somewhat slick, and the way the runner's momentum was directed, didn't bode well. Hopefully it's a very bad sprain only, as opposed to a blown Achilles or something along those lines. EDIT: the player came back to sit on the bench, with crutches and in a boot, to be there as LSU flips the script. Florida's pitchers were just worn out. 18-4...and LSU sets a record with 24 hits. Florida only had 23 yesterday.

How often does an ownership change, really turn around a team? It's not like the Rockies are run like the Royals or A's or Pirates, whose owners consistently refuse to spend any money on the team. Trying to retain pitching in Colorado is a nightmare.

jambalaya...that someone else cooked

The Florida-LSU game today got out of hand...it was 8-3 Florida after 5, then the roof caved in. And then the floor collapsed. And the foundation cracked. 9 runs in the 8th and 9th, when it was already a laugher. Freddy Freeman just got his 2000th career hit. RBI double, pretty nice way to do it.

Banning the *((@#$ sugar bomb cereals, and particularly their mascots, is fine by me. And food dyes have been contentious for quite a while. The fact that the US *doesn't* ban any particular additive often doesn't have much relevance. And food import restrictions? The US has a ton of em. Arizona and Cali are 2. A coffee roaster I use from time to time shut down its Minnesota roastery, leaving only the Hawai'i facility...that's what they're known for anyway. BUT...as part of it, they announced they could no longer sell African coffees, because importing foodstuffs from Africa into Hawai'i is not allowed. The big one from back in the day, insofar as Cali was concerned, was the fruit fly; this goes back to the days when Orange County was named that for the obvious reason......massive acres of citrus. This is, of course, before it all got turned into theme parks.