This Sunday I played my first session of 4th Edition D&D.
I note with some interest that this is the 13th post I have flagged as "gaming". Coincidence? I hope so.
Anyway, I'm not wild about 4th Ed., but it is interesting. D&D 3.5 had many connections to reality (yes, lots of magic too). I especially noted that carrying capacities for people and animals were very close to reality, bows shot realistic distances, and non-magical items generally conformed somewhat closely to reality.
4th edition... well, I'm still working my way through the rules, but the limited concurrence with the laws of physics present in 3.5 seems to have gone out the window. Carrying capacity? An "average" PC can carry three times the load an "average" person can. Range? Well, they don't explicitly link map squares to feet anymore, but unless the squares got a whole lot bigger... not so much.
This in itself, of course, doesn't make a bad system. In fact if anything 4th Ed seems streamlined - all the nitty gritty bits that can slow things down are filed off.
But I like the nitty gritty bits! OK, I'm weird. I'm sure if I had a pet dragon, he'd be wyred too.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Still Falling...
The close today, at 7,105.94, is less than half of the 14,279.96 all-time max for the DJI... set 501 days ago.
50% in 500 days. Who'd have thought that would happen a few years back?
We're also down a third from the Pre-bailout close of 10,796 in early October.
On the plus side, we've only gone down about 10% since inauguration day. Some silver lining, eh?
50% in 500 days. Who'd have thought that would happen a few years back?
We're also down a third from the Pre-bailout close of 10,796 in early October.
On the plus side, we've only gone down about 10% since inauguration day. Some silver lining, eh?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Falling, falling, falling...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new 52-week low today at 7,249.47. That's only a little more than half the historical maximum, set on 10/11/07 at 14,279.96.
Of course, on the plus side, only about 10% of that drop has been in the last four months.
Of course, on the plus side, only about 10% of that drop has been in the last four months.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Pass this one around!
I don't know if it is real or not. If it is real I know it doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting very far (even in Texas).
Edit: it is real. Washington's can be found at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2009&bill=4009
But I LOVE IT!!!
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2009/02/be-it-resolved-take-hike.html
Excerpt:
RESOLVED, That this serve as notice and demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers
End Excerpt
Basically, the resolution calls on the Federal Government to stop the unconstitutional use of its powers.
I think this may be the first piece of legislation I've seen in my lifetime that perfectly matches my political beliefs.
Have I mentioned that I love this?
Edit: it is real. Washington's can be found at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2009&bill=4009
But I LOVE IT!!!
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2009/02/be-it-resolved-take-hike.html
Excerpt:
RESOLVED, That this serve as notice and demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers
End Excerpt
Basically, the resolution calls on the Federal Government to stop the unconstitutional use of its powers.
I think this may be the first piece of legislation I've seen in my lifetime that perfectly matches my political beliefs.
Have I mentioned that I love this?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Big Picture
I spent some time this past weekend rifleing through magazines. An article in The Economist (I'm pretty sure) is sticking with me.
It had a chart of US Government spending as a percentage of the US GDP going back around 200 years - by far the longest period I've seen such a chart cover. It was somewhat shocking to note that with a few brief exceptions, government spending didn't exceed 10% of GDP until the 20th century, but after the WWII peak to nearly 50%, never dropped back there. Current spending is some 1/3 of GDP.
What I've spent a few hours here and there looking for since is a chart of different countries spending as a percentage of GDP plotted together. If anyone can point me the right way I would really appreciate it.
I've been thinking a lot of just how 1/3 of our GDP can be government spending. How is this sustainable? OK, OK, we've seen quite clearly that it isn't. I see how in the wartime economy of WWII we could spend nearly 50%... but what are we doing today that is anything like the equivalent? In three years the US went from a second-rate power militarily to the overall leader worldwide, doing the bulk of the industrial work in crushing two other world powers in the process. What have we done in the last TEN years that even approaches that? The line continues to trend upwards, BTW.
I've grown increasingly leary of government spending over the course of my life. I'm starting to wonder if we're even able to reverse the trend without destroying the system.
All I hear lately is talk of nationalizing (using different terms most of the time) banks, industry, you name it. I feel like nothing is pushing the US forward except the tremendous inertia built up by the pushing of the prior century, and we've forgotten how to push at all, except backwards.
It had a chart of US Government spending as a percentage of the US GDP going back around 200 years - by far the longest period I've seen such a chart cover. It was somewhat shocking to note that with a few brief exceptions, government spending didn't exceed 10% of GDP until the 20th century, but after the WWII peak to nearly 50%, never dropped back there. Current spending is some 1/3 of GDP.
What I've spent a few hours here and there looking for since is a chart of different countries spending as a percentage of GDP plotted together. If anyone can point me the right way I would really appreciate it.
I've been thinking a lot of just how 1/3 of our GDP can be government spending. How is this sustainable? OK, OK, we've seen quite clearly that it isn't. I see how in the wartime economy of WWII we could spend nearly 50%... but what are we doing today that is anything like the equivalent? In three years the US went from a second-rate power militarily to the overall leader worldwide, doing the bulk of the industrial work in crushing two other world powers in the process. What have we done in the last TEN years that even approaches that? The line continues to trend upwards, BTW.
I've grown increasingly leary of government spending over the course of my life. I'm starting to wonder if we're even able to reverse the trend without destroying the system.
All I hear lately is talk of nationalizing (using different terms most of the time) banks, industry, you name it. I feel like nothing is pushing the US forward except the tremendous inertia built up by the pushing of the prior century, and we've forgotten how to push at all, except backwards.
From the Almost Frontlines: Ithra
Another season, another Ithra.
I made a brass circlet, began work on a leather scabbard (for a sword), attended a fascinating class on the technical and material reasons for cultural bow designs, a less fascinating but still interesting one on Viking technology, especially longships and longhouses, and learned to walk with a sword balanced on my head.
Just another weekend in the SCA. :-)
I made a brass circlet, began work on a leather scabbard (for a sword), attended a fascinating class on the technical and material reasons for cultural bow designs, a less fascinating but still interesting one on Viking technology, especially longships and longhouses, and learned to walk with a sword balanced on my head.
Just another weekend in the SCA. :-)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Its the quiet ones you have to watch
But the loud ones get listened to whether they deserve it or not.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1878358,00.html?cnn=yes
I often think that describing human beings as intelligent gives us far too much credit.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1878358,00.html?cnn=yes
I often think that describing human beings as intelligent gives us far too much credit.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Technical Difficulties and Loose Ends
Note the first: I'm still sick. This cold just won't let go.
Note the second: It may be my imagination, but I think my computer at work has my cold too.
OK, Grey's Anatomy rolled around Thursday evening. Or rather, it almost rolled around. It sorta rolled around. It rolled around without sound. Yup, every other channel had sound, but not ABC. Luckily I was eventually able to watch the episode online... with a few more technical difficulties.
However, I think there were technical difficulties with the production of the show too; I usually associate that many loose ends with a multi-part episode or the season finale. And where the heck is George? He's had no more than a token appearance in the last two episodes (maybe more, I'm not really sure). Don't get me wrong, I like the rest of the cast too, but he seems to be getting left out a lot - ironic considering he was initially left out of promotion to resident.
I spent some time this morning looking over the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corp. I didn't realize they had engineers in addition to the various health care specialties. Since I suspect most of the population of the US doesn't even know that the USPHS has a uniformed branch I don't really feel bad about the lack of knowledge, but I am intrigued.
Note the second: It may be my imagination, but I think my computer at work has my cold too.
OK, Grey's Anatomy rolled around Thursday evening. Or rather, it almost rolled around. It sorta rolled around. It rolled around without sound. Yup, every other channel had sound, but not ABC. Luckily I was eventually able to watch the episode online... with a few more technical difficulties.
However, I think there were technical difficulties with the production of the show too; I usually associate that many loose ends with a multi-part episode or the season finale. And where the heck is George? He's had no more than a token appearance in the last two episodes (maybe more, I'm not really sure). Don't get me wrong, I like the rest of the cast too, but he seems to be getting left out a lot - ironic considering he was initially left out of promotion to resident.
I spent some time this morning looking over the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corp. I didn't realize they had engineers in addition to the various health care specialties. Since I suspect most of the population of the US doesn't even know that the USPHS has a uniformed branch I don't really feel bad about the lack of knowledge, but I am intrigued.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Coughcoughcough
The latter half of last week and this weekend I've been dealing with a cold.
I've tried a great number of things over the course of my life to reduce the frequency with which I get colds and their severity once I get them.
12-hour Sudafed, Airborne, Tylenol Extreme Cold, massive doses of Vitamin C, high fluid intake, low fluid intake, high activity level, low activity level, 6-hour Sudafed, zinc, cough drops, Riccola, tea with lemon, chicken soup, gargling with salt water, sleeping sitting up, Vix, hot showers...
I wonder how much of the human race's theoretical productivity has been lost to colds, directly or indirectly.
What do you do when you get a cold?
I've tried a great number of things over the course of my life to reduce the frequency with which I get colds and their severity once I get them.
12-hour Sudafed, Airborne, Tylenol Extreme Cold, massive doses of Vitamin C, high fluid intake, low fluid intake, high activity level, low activity level, 6-hour Sudafed, zinc, cough drops, Riccola, tea with lemon, chicken soup, gargling with salt water, sleeping sitting up, Vix, hot showers...
I wonder how much of the human race's theoretical productivity has been lost to colds, directly or indirectly.
What do you do when you get a cold?
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