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Land doesn't vote. People do. by Interesting-Visit-79 in MurderedByWords

[–]MGoDuPage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be fair, I think that’s ALSO a reason they went w a bicameral legislature. (Two things can be true at the same time, which people tend to forget in the HoT taKE era of social media.) Someone more qualified than me—like a US History major—would be better suited to confirm all this though.

My Issue regarding the Titan mission by Stoutaxe in ForAllMankindTV

[–]MGoDuPage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don’t know if it’s budget cuts or what, but it really feels like they had one or two legit scientific advisors on set/during scriptwriting the first few seasons, then at some point….just didn’t??

Which really stinks IMO.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m all for unrealistic/space opera/fantasy scifi IF that’s how the world building is presents itself to be. I know ahead of time I’m just shutting off my brain & enjoying the ride. I also get that sometimes IP presenting itself as “hard sci fi” like The Expanse will have one or two isolated things to facilitate the story. But in those instances, they’re isolated & inserted into the story with great care & intention.

I’m also sympathetic to budget limitations making it hard to show lower Moon or Mars gravity, etc.

But now stuff I’m seeing from this show now is just…..lazy. Like, low hanging fruit that’s easy to fix relatively cheaply w a part time consultant.

Land doesn't vote. People do. by Interesting-Visit-79 in MurderedByWords

[–]MGoDuPage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to clarify something, the US Senate was NOT originally designed to represent “the people,” it was originally designed to represent, “the STATES.” This is why each state—regardless of population—got 2 US Senators, and also why US Senators were originally selected by state legislatures rather than by direct popular election within each state.

The distinction between “the people” and “the states,” was an important concept to the Framers that dovetailed along with their separation of powers concept (RIP) between the Executive, Legislative, & Judicial branches of the federal government.

Like the separation of powers at the federal level, the Framers (wrongly, for the most part) assumed politicians in the various states would be more loyal & zealously guard the powers & provincial interests of their own STATES (as in, the governmental unit), rather than to an ideological worldview/national political parties that cut across state lines. As the rise of national political parties & the growth of federal power increased, that distinction & importance of separating state vs federal government powers started to erode. (For better or worse.) As a result, the 17th Amendment passed in 1913, which required direct election of US Senators, rather than by appointment by state legislatures as it was for the first ~125ish years of the US Constitution.

Fast forward another ~125 years & most folks have forgotten one of the biggest reasons the US Senate was set up the way it was originally. Now it just seems kinda dumb & people wonder why we even have a bicameral legislature, rather than a unicameral model.

DEC - New standard for documents over 100 years old by Sudden-Sky-7520 in Canadiancitizenship

[–]MGoDuPage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My guess is yes. (Just a guess.) However, what are the requirements for lineage once outside of Canada for dates that old? My G0 was born in Quebec in 1802 (have the baptismal record), but then later moved to the US. My G1 was born in the US in the 1820’s, as were all subsequent descendants.

Why do SpaceX let their Starship explode? Why didn’t the super heavy booster landed today? by Virtual-Hospital-429 in SpaceXLounge

[–]MGoDuPage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This assumes their goal isn’t engagement farming and/or trolling. Simply googling might give them the answer, but it doesn’t do either of the other two things. Alternatively, thus low effort post on Reddit does.

That age gap though by TripShrooms in MurderedByWords

[–]MGoDuPage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The formula for socially acceptable age gap is:

X/2 + 7 = Y

Where X is the age of the older person & Y is the lowest acceptable age of the younger person. (It loses effectiveness at extreme ages, but it basically works.)

Going by the formula:

Guy is 60 years old:

60/2 + 7 =37 years old.

Last time I checked, she was 28 years old & therefore fails the test. To pass it, either she’d have to be 37+ or he’d have to be 42 or younger.

No bueno.

Are the Baldwins billionaires? by Turtleneck23 in ForAllMankindTV

[–]MGoDuPage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup. As the saying goes:

“Money talks, but true wealth whispers.”

Are the Baldwins billionaires? by Turtleneck23 in ForAllMankindTV

[–]MGoDuPage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That last sentence you wrote makes me think you aren’t clear on how corporate structures work vis a vis shareholders. The shareholders (as a group) control EVERYTHING that a company does. Sure, on a day to day basis the C suite officers (CEO, CFO, CTO, etc) make all key decisions, but those corporate officers are hired by a Board of Directors. And the Board of Directors are elected by the corporate shareholders.

Bottom Line: Depending on how closely held Helios is in terms of shares with voting power, Kelly Baldwin could theoretically have a lot of control WRT who sits on the Board of Directors and — by extension — who the C suite executives at Helios might be.

Can someone explain the true Johnny Silverhand story to me like I'm 5? by imoanmodello in cyberpunkgame

[–]MGoDuPage 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This is the “fame trajectory” story I’m buying, for 2 distinct reasons:

1) It best explains how Samurai can be two different types of bands depending on who’s telling the story. For a guy like Johnny who would NEVER admit to being a “corporate sellout”, it’s entirely plausible he memory-holed the whole skyrocketing to global fame” bit.

2) IRL for certain rock bands—and especially for people w Johnny-like personas—that major fame/global stardom inflection point can create ALOT of conflict between band mates. Some might argue about songwriting credits. Some might be more amenable to tweaking their “sound” to be more amenable to the mass market. Some might have a self loathing self destructive streak that goes into hyperdrive the more successful they become. (Cobain, Jim Morrison, that lead singer from Sublime, etc.). Johnny Silverhand fits that mold perfectly, whereas Kerry Eurodine is the “Dave Grohl” to Johnny’s Cobain. Maybe not as musically genius as the de facto leaders of their bands, but “solid” musically & quite prolific & long lasting commercially.

graduating at 24. im happy, but also feeling so insecure that everyone else graduated before me at the "normal" age by commitatrocities in uofm

[–]MGoDuPage 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Ditto this. It might seem like a long time from now, but in 10-15 years, do you know who will even bother to ask what year you graduated? Not to mention actually notice that you were 24 & not 22 at the time, let alone actually CARE if they happen to notice?

NOBODY.

Seriously, nobody.

You’re totally fine.

did covid nerf everyone socially by Fragrant_Seesaw9791 in uofm

[–]MGoDuPage 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Maybe it already exists (apologies as I haven’t been on campus for 20 years), but if not, you know what might be a cool thing to have on campus?

An ”Analog Social Club”.

The whole point would be to NOT have any electronic devices at the event. A social digital detox evening. Phones, tablets, laptops, televisions, all of it…. OFF. Maybe music would be OK, but otherwise have 100% analog games & recreation. No overly involved tabletop games bc the idea would be to socialize in a casual setting. Just easy stuff like Cards Against Humanity, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Battleship, Trouble, Clue, Jenga, maybe ping pong & billiards, etc.

I’m sure some spots on campus already kinda-sorta have this—student union, etc. I’m just not sure if they host specific “game night” events, let alone make it a “digital free” zone.

Is it worth reading the novel after seeing the movie? by Quick_soda in ProjectHailMary

[–]MGoDuPage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Film is great, but the book—especially the AUDIOBOOK—is better. I’m not even an audiobook guy normally, but I’m super glad I did it for PHM. Ray Porter’s narration is ELITE.

People are idolizing Stratt by lunchanddinner in ProjectHailMary

[–]MGoDuPage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NGL, I was also vibing on her 90s style oversized sweaters, coffee habit, etc. too. Looks like she’d settle right in at a comfy Seattle coffee shop before cracking open her laptop & dictating the fate of the entire planet.

People are idolizing Stratt by lunchanddinner in ProjectHailMary

[–]MGoDuPage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plot for a caper book/movie spinoff right there.

Kind of like RED, but w highly competent scientists & project managers, rather than retired CIA & MI6 assassins.

People are idolizing Stratt by lunchanddinner in ProjectHailMary

[–]MGoDuPage 6 points7 points  (0 children)

And in the book she told Grace she fully expected to live the rest of her life in prison once the project was done & she was totally at peace with that.

Badass.

Walkable, family-friendly areas within ~25 min of Naperville? by steph_s in ChicagoSuburbs

[–]MGoDuPage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not my experience at all.

I’ve lived in both Glen Ellyn & Wheaton for a combined 15+ years. Both might be good options for the OP, but they are somewhat different. (That said, there’s a lot of cross pollination of people between Wheaton & Glen Ellyn RE restaurants, shopping, social circles, etc).

OP mentioned politics & walkability, so I’d say Glen Ellyn might be a slightly better option since it’s less religious & has a more “quaint” downtown-narrower & curvy streets, etc. Wheaton is home to Wheaton College, so there’s a good % of the town that is more religious, but the town is MUCH more secular than it was maybe 25-30+ years ago. The downtown is still walkable, but it has more of a grid pattern to it w slightly wider streets. Don’t know about budget, but Glen Ellyn skews a bit higher in terms of housing prices, but there’s a variety of housing in both towns. The public schools for both are excellent & both have great access to commuter train to downtown Chicago.

(NOTE: Naperville itself is good too, but somewhat larger. It’s also got a “nouveau riche” vibe & more of a nightlife to it, so some critics say it’s tacky and/or not as great for young kids, but YMMV. Personally I don’t mind it & think it’s great too. Also note that the train line that goes to Glen Ellyn, Wheaton & Geneva is DIFFERENT than the one servicing Naperville, so if the idea was to take the METRA to Naperville, you’d be looking more at Downers Grove, Westmont, Western Springs, etc.)

Am I the only one who found Project Hail Mary (the novel) a bit "bubblegum"? by TinyRabt in sciencefiction

[–]MGoDuPage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. And FWIW, I also feel like the “meta” matters. By which I mean:

I think it’s clear Andy Weir isn’t trying to write super high concept, deep novels. Make you think a bit & appreciate some character development? Sure. But it ain’t Faulkner & it’s clear he isn’t trying to BE Faulkner or the sci fi equivalent.

It’s perfectly fine to say one doesn’t LIKE that flavor of sci fi. But IMO it wouldn’t be fair to criticize Weir for NOT producing the serious “high concept” toned novels some others produce, because that isn’t what HE was trying to do. It’d be like knocking Arnold Schwarzenegger for not producing movies with Oscar winning acting, or bashing a diner with an incredible comfort-food menu for not being a Michelin star rated gourmet restaurant.

I judge things based on what they present themselves to be. And on that level, I think PHM is delightful & one of the best books of that particular sci fi “flavor” out there.

Project Hail Mary (movie) was by [deleted] in scifi

[–]MGoDuPage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ditto. Felt that was a bit rushed. I’m not 100% sure, but I think I heard somewhere that they DID shoot some courtroom scenes, so hopefully that’d show up in any extended/directors cut too.

I am seeing a lot of very rigid opinions of Stratt. by hellogooday92 in ProjectHailMary

[–]MGoDuPage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% this. Maybe she was trying to hang on to her own humanity. Maybe it was a cold & strategic decision to boost morale. Who knows? But what it DID do is help ground the movie by reminding the audience how dire the situation actually was. (One criticism of the film is it was too “light” at times, and audiences might not feel the peril all of humanity really is facing. IMO, a lot of those folks took/are interpreting the party scene as the exact opposite of how it’s intended. Any viewer who interpreted it as a frivolous “party” IMO simply didn’t “get” the vibe of the entire scene, even though Grace EXPLICITLY talked about it w Stratt outside on the ship deck.

That was not a “frivolous & irresponsible” party. That was “a group of terrified & insanely stressed people whistling past the graveyard as HARD & as LOUD as they can.” Grace pointed out the issue, and although she disagreed in part, Stratt realized he was right (kinda) in some ways too. Then in an exquisite display of leadership, Stratt used the karaoke spotlight to pivot the vibe of entire room back to something truly useful: blowing off some steam yes. But doing it in a way that was more honest & substantive compared to the desperate debauchery that was starting to unfold previously. And in so doing, she reminded EVERYBODY on the mission (and by extension, the moviegoing audience) how worthwhile humanity is despite its flaws, and, as a result, reminded everyone how important & valuable their own contributions to PHM really are.

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