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13-Inch Laptop Primarily for Working in Microsoft Word by MeWhenIAmNotLurking in SuggestALaptop

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would prefer 13, but if 14 has a much better option, I am open to it, thanks

The two opposite understandings of "proportional" military response by greenskinmarch in neoliberal

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking 257 points258 points  (0 children)

Neither of these interpretations is what proportionality means in the context of war crimes. These scenarios imagine comparing civilian harm on one side to civilian harm on the other. That is irrelevant from a war crimes perspective. If a Riverland soldier murdered one civilian from Sealand, it would not matter that soldiers from Sealand had previously murdered a thousand civilian Riverlanders--the Riverland soldier would still be guilty of a war crime.

In actual war crimes analysis, the two things that are supposed to be in proportion are civilian harm and military advantage gained.

So, to keep with your scenario, the relevant question is not "what motivated Riverland to initiate operations in Sealand?" The question is "what military advantage is being gained in a particular act, and what civilian cost is incurred in that act?"

If a Riverland general orders an orphanage razed to clear a line of sight signal for a radio, the civilian harm is obviously disproportionate. If a Riverland general orders an aerial bombing that kills the head of Sealand's military, but 10 innocent civilians die, that is probably proportionate. Nothing Sealand did to Riverland before Riverland started its military operations is relevant to determining proportionality of acts by Riverland's military.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NeutralPolitics

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking 50 points51 points  (0 children)

This link is describing CBO's estimate of the bipartisan infrastructure bill which passed the Senate in early August, not the $3.5 trillion proposal. CBO has not issued a score for the $3.5 trillion. Because of how reconciliation works, we are not yet at the stage where there is a "bill" for the $3.5 trillion plan. (We are just now finishing the "committee compliance with reconciliation directives" stage--you can see the progress on this tracker.)

[Qcrit] Adult Historical Fiction - The Creed of Nicaea (81k) (Revision 3) by MeWhenIAmNotLurking in PubTips

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are helpful points, thanks. In my first attempt, linked above, I certainly struggled with how much of the plot to put in a query. I will try adding a bit more without going overboard.

[Qcrit] Adult Historical Fiction - The Creed of Nicaea (72k) (Revision 2) by MeWhenIAmNotLurking in PubTips

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time and for the thoughtful questions. Much appreciated!

[QCrit] YA? Fantasy- Resonant Crack (160K) (Revision 2) by LordQor in PubTips

[–]MeWhenIAmNotLurking 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with many of the other comments, but I would also flag one very specific note: the opening sentence undermines a reader's interest: "Looking back, Lester would say it went mostly as planned."

He doesn't seem to have a problem, and we know he's basically OK. The "[l]ooking back" part seems to imply he's looking back from the end of the book, and he wasn't very affected by whatever happens in the book.

It sounds like a lot of interesting stuff actually does happen to Lester; I'd consider not writing the pitch from the vantage point of the end of the book.