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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Tesco you are a History Major (?)! I am working on a Major in History and Minor in Anthropology. Any advice?
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
No. I was psychology with a minor in political science. Then I went back to school and studied Electronics. ( Oh and somewhere inbetween EMCA studies as well )
But I did take 3 history courses. and 2 anthropology courses. I was going to go back and pick up an engineering degree. But I think I want to get out of the corp world. And with my love of history. I am thinking of taking History major and Geology Minor and fill out the anthropology electives to add it to my list. Then as this dream plays out I would like to travel to battle grounds and write some new materials on the battles from a geological point of view. But right now that is a dream. Advice. Always make sure you read the course material before it is presented in class , that way classes are used for questions and answers. Attend the History and Anthropology Social events and get involved in the society. Take part in any field trips that are available that you can afford. Don't mix red with white wine on a boat. History are you going to specialize or keep general. What is you goal with your studies. It is an interesting combination. I do think some geology would really help round it all out. As the lay of the land itself is very important. |
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Also, the EU will in all probability eventually fall apart in another bloody war in Europe. You can not deny the fundamental aspects of the human psyche. Quote:
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
I was going to get my degree in Psychology and after the move to Texas changed my mind back to History, I love the field although my wife has declared it a “Soft Degree”.
Why not mix the wine? I would like to specialize in either the Hellenistic or the Roman “time frame”. But then I am sure you can appreciate the tie in. Don’t get me wrong I am not ignoring the Greek part of the picture. I have extra electives so I will most certainly look into the Geology aspect. I have decided to take an intro course to geology (by coincidence) this semester. You have a good point about that tie in, The Battle of Thermopylae. |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
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Merriam-Webster Online http://www.m-w.com/home.htm Look it up yourself. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Dictionary definitions are almost always lacking in their definitions of complex terms. |
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Its interesting that you completely ignored the post and just focused on the aside...
Perhaps you need to stop looking at the military from the bottom up, and look from it from the top down. You will then be able to see other points of view on this issue. |
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[ January 09, 2004, 17:08: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ] |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Ok... try to think of the military as the military, not as the faces of the soldiers themselves. The soldiers make up the forces of the military, but not the ideal of the military, nor the decisions of the military, nor the overall purpose and goals of the military, etc. Just looking at the specific people in the military is looking at it from the bottom (the people) up (the abstract nature). It is focusing not on the military itself, but on people. Looking from the top down is instead focusing on the military itself. It is directly akin to saying that the tech supporters and the programmers working for Microsoft are evil people because Microsoft has some evil business practices. The people working those jobs do not necessarily represent or embody what is done with their skills overall by the company (and its top level executives). It is looking at the issue from the wrong angle.
As for your definition of military, it is most certainly not the definitions on m-w.com. Quote:
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
I think what you are referring to is called the Department of Defense. AKA: DoD, that would be more accurate I think. As for the other side of your explanation I served for 11 years, and now my wife serves. With that said, and using an analogy since you did. It would be similar (in an analogy sort of way) to asking me to think that dogs are really cats and cats are really dogs. But it goes even deeper than that, what you are asking me to do is divorce myself from over a decade of first hand experience to substitute the concept of DoD for the concept of the military. Substitute a disembodied organization for a group of men and women that I know, that I served with, that I call my friends. If I stretch my understanding than I can see the point of view you are coming from, but I am sure you can appreciate mine? I will not undo what I have learned, and honestly since I have more first person experience I feel that you should at least give a few minutes consideration to revising your terminology. Not to say that I am telling you that you need to or even that you must. No, that would way out of lines for my beliefs, I would never dream of imposing my will on another. But simply that it would not kill you to try a little. As for my part I agree to ask others to clarify whether they mean DoD or military (the men and women) before I offer my opinion.
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Bump for my buddy Fyron, who has posted elsewhere since mine, but must have just overlooked this thread.
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Don't be so impatient. Those Posts took very little time to write and could be squeezed in between turns for various PBW games. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
You do not have to classify "the military" as the Department of Defense (assuming you are talking about US military in particular) in order to still not have it be directly about the soldiers personally. Doing so certainly helps in some regards, but it is not necessary. "The military" does not equal "the soldiers" any more than "the government" equals employees of various agencies. Now about cats and dogs... "the military" is "cats" and "the soldiers" are "dogs" (for purposes of reference to your post only, no real connection with either animal). Two separate entities that should not be confused. Of course, there are some soldiers that deserve to be made fun of (such as Jessica Lynch), but that is another issue. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif I understood your point of view from the beginning. I have been trying to portray the other point of view (the less "sensational" one). If I did not understand your point of view, how could I hope to explain another to you? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
It is very easy to debate a point without understanding the other persons point. I see where you are coming from with your Version of the cats and dogs analogy, but I sense that you missed mine. Mine was that a cat is a cat and a dog is a dog, nothing to do with soldiers or military, which is why it was an analogy. In my framework (of the cat and dog) you are asking me to reverse the names. I am very disheartened by what seems to be a lack of compromise on your point, and an attempt to prolong this debate so that you can avoid reaching a compromise. Do you agree to meet me half way or not Fyron?
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
JurijD I am not too sure about that. I think there is alot of truth in what Fryon stated about one nation in Europe. Germany tried it before using a military conquest. This time it is the corportations and governments attempting to do it in an economic conquest. I hope it happens. As a strong economic Europe is good for the world.
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Funny I think European History would have been very different if Napoleon III had backed down from Prussia in 1870. France would not have lost Alsace-Lorraine. 2 world wars have been fought over the fall out of that event.
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[ January 09, 2004, 12:22: Message edited by: Narratio ] |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
It is quite possible that we have reached a cultural impasse here with our terminology. The terminology is not so important, as the concept is. Call it what you wish, but just keep in mind that there are many people that mean the organiztions of the military rather than the specific soldiers in it when they use the term "the military."
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Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
First I am not sure what you mean by cultural impasse, it just sounds to me that you are digging for a means to avoid saying yes or no to my question. Secondly if I am to assume that my speculation is correct than I can see that you are incapable of meeting me in such a simple request. Opinions are based upon the growth and learned experiences a person passes through in ones life. If you can not compromise than you can not grow or learn. It would have been very simple for you to have said:
You may have a point; I will take it into consideration. |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Grr.. seems I forgot my old login password and the system doesnt seem to have the correct e-mail address for me. Anyway.. I was mostly a lurker so it doesnt matter.. Im nobody anyone here would know anyway http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
As for election results.. Its one of my pet peeves when people spout off numbers with no backing documentation. So.. here are some numbers relevant to some of the um... arguments going on here. Election 2000 Total cast votes: 105,405,100 Bush 50,456,002 votes, 47.87% Gore 50,999,897 votes, 48.38% Total Electoral Vote = 538 Total Electoral Vote Needed to Elect = 270 Bush 271 Gore 266 Sources Official 2000 Presidential Election Results CNN 2000 Presidential Election Results So, Yes, Gore won the popular vote by 543,895 votes. That was 0.51% of the votes cast which falls well within the margin of error for the voting machines used throughout most of the US. The reality is that the election was so evenly split that neither Bush nor Gore could claim a clear victory in the popular vote. This split was mirrored in the state of Florida where the final results for Election 2000 were determined. Both political parties pulled out all the stops to manipulate the vote counts in that state. It so happens that the LAW and voting standards agreed on BEFORE the election started were upheld in the state, giving Bush the edge necessary to win. It was the right decision to make at the time even if the voting standards were not optimal. To do otherwise would be to invite chaos. Hopefully, the problematic standards experienced in Florida in 2000 have been rectified for the next election. Now, moving on to the so called "Extinction" and "Slaughter" of the Natives by "Americans". I happen to BE one of those Natives.. or at least a decendent of one. My mother is Cherokee and we are both very much alive and well. I also happen to be Greek by ancestory as well. I will admit that the traditional culture of my Native American ancestors is not practiced much anymore due to being absorbed into the "European" culture of my OTHER ancestors. All of which has evolved into a new culture that the rest of the world calls "American". And finaly, on the topic of the military and morons, I have a comment. The popular concept of a military full of morons is rather.. well.. moronic in itself. To make the assertion that the only people who re-enlist in the military are people of lesser intelligence is incorrect. The people who re-enlist are simply the people who have found that the military lifestyle suits them. It says NOTHING about their level of intelligence. The same incorrect assumptions are made about Sports Stars. It is automaticaly assumed that talent at playing football (or any other physical sport) means the person is intellectualy challenged. As if playing sports is a less desirable job, only suitable for people unable to learn to do a more usefull job.. like software engineering. I guess what I am saying is that choosing a Military lifestyle does NOT make the person "Stupid." The reason some people think that it IS stupid is pretty simple to figure out realy. Humans have a tendency to think that anyone who thinks differently than they do, must be stupid. Therefore, those people who think that the military is a bad choice of career (those who serve one tour of duty) conclude that people who think otherwise (Lifers in Military Speak) MUST be stupid. Rob |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Yep. It was a close election because of apathy and dissalusionment. no one cared who won, and it was reflected in the national culture and in the polls. hardly any sense in arguing about it now.
And yes, people already chased themselves in circles just to decide that no one actually had anything against the military, nor thought that all re-enlistees were dumb. We dont actually think that all people working in an office are from Dilbert comic strips, and not all career academics are directionless and without practical value to society. but some generalizations are ammusing to joke about. like dilbert comic strips, and military inteligence, and hippies from berkeley. As you say, someone's long term career choice is more of a reflection of what fits their personality and desired style of living, than anything else. There used to be a popular generalization that those who were unfit for any other kind of work, became teachers. Certainly there are some poor teachers out there, but most of them have chosen that role because it fits their personality and their lifes goals. As for being Greek, you have my condolences regarding the Eastern Roman Empire. They really had a good thing going, and I'm sorry it didnt Last. Unless, of course, you consider your heritage to predate the Levant and stem from the Greek city states of antiquity, in which case my sentiments have been wasted. But if it helps, you have my condolences about them too, as they also had a good thing going. I myself have no heritage to speak of, and am a sorry example of random breeding. |
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[ January 16, 2004, 10:17: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ] |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
Puke;
Better be careful with postings like that. Keep it up and you will ruin any cred you have as an obnoxious wiseass http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif |
Re: OT: Galactic sterilisation
This topic started out talking about "Galactic Sterilisation" as a scientific hypothesis based on some astronomical observations.
I want to briefly interrupt to bring it back to that and suggest a PBW game based on it. My purpose in posting the following game idea and settings is to see if there is sufficient interest in the game described below. If so, I will get to work on making it happen. Let me know if you would play such a game as described below. ------------- Backstory for Zeta Quadrant Game: Your people expanded into your galaxy for over a hundred years, and created an interstellar empire. In that time, your archaeologists and scientists occasionally found ruins of some long extinct ancient and powerful civilization. Some of these sites dated from billions of years ago, some as ?recent? as a few hundred thousand years old. And some of the sites were guarded with Machine Entities left behind by the ancients, as protectors. As your race expanded into the galaxy, your scientists made an alarming and incontrovertible discovery: the galaxy is doomed. Your space telescopes confirmed that giant black holes were forming at the center of your galaxy. These doomed your civilization, for just before their formation, these black holes released a huge shockwave of Gamma radiation that overwhelmed the galaxy in so much energy that no life in your empire escaped. Your scientists also discovered evidence that indicated that this has been occurring almost regularly every billion years or so. But, it was clear that at least one race survived this tragedy in the past: the Ancients. Your scientists speculated that only through the creation of a giant sphereworld (to provide a safe haven behind millions of miles of dense armour shielding) could any race survive these periodic galactic sterilizations. That must be how the Ancients did it. That became the Last best hope of your people: to find a Sphereworld of the Ancients in which you could obtain a haven inside to survive the radiation shockwave. And, over the years, as the shockwave approached, your space telescopes and instruments did detect, in a far off and isolated quadrant of the galaxy, readings that can only be indicative of just such a sphereworld. A massive expedition was launched under your command, in which giant colony ships carried billions of your people to the distant Zeta quadrant. The trip took hundreds of years, as there were no warp points to the quadrant. But the survival of the race was your goal, and cryo chambers are wonderful things. Behind you, the advancing shockwave destroyed all those left behind. The Galaxy was laid waste and the shockwave continues to expand, and will soon encompass the Zeta Quadrant as well. Time is not your ally. As your colony ships approached the Zeta Quadrant, your frozen crew members were awoken, and massive colonies were established to begin the detailed search for the Sphereworld and your race?s survival. The advancing shockwave from the core of the Galaxy will reach the Zeta Quadrant in about 45 years, lending a keen sense of urgency to your efforts. The strange properties of the Zeta quadrant that prevented warp holes to connect to it, also tragically prevent your current deep space arrays from zeroing in on the exact location of the Sphereworld you seek. But, your ships? recording systems did notice a danger: you are not alone. Other races have come to the same conclusion and also arrived in the Zeta Quadrant. Furthermore, there is evidence that your arrival in the Zeta Quadrant has awoken some of the Ancient?s Machine Entities, doubtless to protect the Sphereworld. The Zeta Quadrant, the Last remaining habitable portion of the Galaxy, will be sterilized in 45 years. The only ones who will survive will be those in the Sphereworld...which is somewhere in Zeta Quadrant. Settings Game ends on turn 450, unless there is an agreed upon end before that (I see that as more likely). The only winner will be those living in the Sphereworld at that time. This Sphereworld is located somewhere in the map. There may or may not be other weird things going on in this map, for it is an anomalous section of the galaxy. Lastly, there is the Machine Entity Race. They are the product of seedings by the Ancients, left behind to grow and evolve and dedicated to protecting Ancient sites. Your scientists presume that the Machine Entities are the Protectors of the Sphereworld. This means that, while they will not enter the Sphereworld, they will do everything possible to defend it and destroy invaders. And they are gifted with knowledge of the Zeta Quadrant, unlike yourselves, who are all new to it. House Rules Communication should be limited to in-game methods to represent the difficulty inherent in communicating with aliens as well as to simulate time delays and their effect in coordination also. Role Playing is not essential, but it is appreciated. Game Settings: The peculiar characteristics of the Zeta Quadrant lead to the following settings: · No mines or fighters (as the background energies and radiations make smaller craft such as these non-viable) · No Ancient Race Characteristic (you?re all new here!) The ONLY exception to this is the Machine Entities, which will have the ancient race trait. (I, the game host, will be playing these guys, since I want to play in this game, but I made the map, so I need to have the Ancient Race trait to account for the fact that I will know that map) · No Stellar Manipulation (the Zeta quadrant?s background energies and the effects of Ancient technologies prevent such technologies from having any effect) · Starting tech: Medium, tech cost: high · No surrender (Hey, the fate of your race is at stake!) · No tech trades, but ship trading is allowed. · Intel will be OFF (since this is a fight for the total survival of your race, your people are far too wary and patriotic to consider selling secrets or letting aliens sabotage their race) · Map is Large, and Unique. · Max of 20 players. · Turns will be Automatic every 36 hours (to make the game run quickly) · Standard SEIV Gold (1.84) · Races: 5000 points. (no Ancient Race trait allowed) [ January 18, 2004, 18:12: Message edited by: alarikf ] |
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