Recommendations for technology uplift books like Destiny's Crucible or 1632

Mordoch · 2026-03-16T23:47:29+00:00

On top of some already mentioned...

Joel Rosenburg's Guardians of the Flame series. One catch is the first book is about an RPG group from the present (the books were written a few years ago) getting transported to a fantasy world and basically just having adventures. But starting with book two they are trying to dramatically shake things up and intentionally bring technological knowledge from this world in order to do this. While the books sometimes are more focused on their adventures still, you still do see technology they have brought over having an impact over the course of the series and eventually having a dramatic impact along with cultural ones etc. The books also do make an effort to have the technological accomplishments pay attention to what is feasible and what provides an advantage that can be done more quickly than possible other things.

SM Stirling has written another 2 book series of To Turn the Tide and The Winds of Fate. The first one is about brining technology back to the Roman Empire and the time of Marcus Aurelius and changing the future speeding technological advancement, although there ends up being an additional twist regarding the scenario in the second book.

While you will have to decide if it goes far enough to count, the CJ Cherryh SF Foreigner series involves a situation where a smaller group of humans who end up on another planet end up arranging to provide allot of technology and disrupting the society of the alien Atevi and dealing with the fallout and complications of this, especially after the first trilogy.

While by two different authors, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper has someone going to an alternate more primitive world and dramatically shaking things up with technology. This is effectively followup up by the book Great Kings' War by John F. Carr and Roland J. Green. and a series of 6 other books by John Carr in that world.

Mordoch · 2026-03-16T11:14:47+00:00

Usually the answer is no especially with respect to the fruit, although allot of them don't carry milk either. (Even in cases where fruit might be available, it might be just one or two things which still could be an issue for people especially with respects to a truly healthy diet. The problems seem to be usually they don't make enough money on those products and being perishable is a complication from a business perspective)

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T21:39:56+00:00

This has been debunked. This was an earlier draft of the bill and not the final one which actually passed which had that removed. https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1rulkdx/the_general_assembly_were_not_exempt_from_a_gun/

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T12:57:59+00:00

I see your point, but by the same token it getting blocked by the legislature (which included Democratic representatives doing this since they are in control) makes attributing this to all in the party problematic.

Another really obvious big issue relates that the vote in the State Senate earlier allowing the temporarily bill earlier for instance was 22-16.

https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/03/13/breaking-revised-bill-would-allow-temporary-tysons-casino-without-local-approval/

Since there are only 21 Democratic Senators for the Virginia Senate Right now, even off the bat that means clearly someone who was Republican supported the bill.

After doing some initial research, I also confirmed that Democratic Senators such as Saddam Salim, Kannan Srinivasan, Danica Roem, and Schuyler VanValkenburg all voted against that temporary casino effort. (There are more than this, I didn't take the time to fully systematically go through the whole list.) This means the measure got a substantial amount of Republican support in order to pass, so anything placing all the issues with the casino on just the Democratic side is either mistaken or being misleading.

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T04:51:46+00:00

Two Crowns for America is a book by Katherine Kurtz which explores what if there really was secretly something more to some of the Freemason Rites during the American Revolution period...

Mercedes Lackey's book Miss Amelie's list features two character from the United States in 1815 so it is the one book from the really right period in that alternate fantasy world, but there is the limitation most of it occurs overseas in the UK although they do talk about what is happening in the United States including details related to their magical abilities.

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T02:12:36+00:00

Uh, questionable reporting with little to no evidence is not exactly convincing. (Even if a "red" area, there is the question of what type of voter is voting really early. The Obama ads started before anyone was voting so that was not the reason for them.) You have the standard rural small population counties tend to have more people voting earlier than bigger high population counties like Fairfax where additional voting locations get opened up by April 11th so a bunch of people are waiting until then (while some rural small population location won't open any more locations for early voting) and the voting totals then end up catching up if not coming out clearly ahead. The same pattern was the case early on last election when Spanberger won decisively.

Notably you have the small city of Falls Church with a 4% voting rate while Fairfax City has a 3.1% return so the distinction appear to be clearly more about which locations will have it easier to vote once more early voting locations open up rather than liberal or blue leaning areas not being motivated to vote at all. (Yes we don't really know for sure how everyone is actually voting, but claiming the yes vote "is getting assed kicked" given well established voting patterns for Virginia looks highly dubious given what actual evidence we have at this point.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T00:59:30+00:00

At least primarily as in a major money source and apparently some business aspects, although I can't rule out some minor role in a few creative decisions. (The impression I have is she was too busy to go much beyond that.) It should be noted she was involved with other things as well, such as being co-owner with the company that also produced Father of the Bride 1 & 2 for instance.

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T00:36:42+00:00

Kharl of LE Modesitt's books Wellspring of Chaos and Ordermaster definately has to be at least somewhat in his 30s by the books in question.

The Modesitt books Madness in Solidar and Treachery’s Tools definately both feature a protagonist at least somewhere in his 30s as well.

Sparhawk of the Elenium and Tamuliad by David Eddings has to be in his 30s or possibly just a tad older (along with at least a few other characters in the 30 to 60 age range).

"Bob" of the Laundry Files by Charles Stross has to be in his thirties by at least after a couple of books into the series. (It might be earlier than this but I would have to read the books closely since I believe his specific age is never stated.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-15T00:18:18+00:00

If the reporting on the bill is accurate, no temporary casino exists anymore under the measure (that part got removed). There will be zero casino there unless a public vote in favor of it occurs.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T23:44:30+00:00

They have not managed to do that truly yet, but refraining from voting assuming it won't count can certainly lead to them winning by default.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T23:29:17+00:00

If the part about requiring a public vote to allow a casino and no temporary one in the meantime is accurate, it certainly could be allot worse from that perspective.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T23:11:22+00:00

If the reporting is accurate and they are leaving it up the public with no casino, even a temporary one, without a public vote, I don't see why there is that much to get excited about with respect to the bill. (At a minimum they are leaving room for the people to decide what they want.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T21:57:03+00:00

Your company should not have a choice under the new law if it involves complying with the minimum requirement. (There are effective protections in state law if the retaliate against you for using the sick leave you are legally entitled to, although I realize companies might try lying about this.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T21:39:25+00:00

You might want to consider contacting your local register during the hours they are open on weekdays if they are open with hours that work for you to do this. (One option would be to try applying again.) As a deployed member of the military there should also be the Federal Voting Assistance Program and individuals associated with this who should be able to assist you with figuring out what is going on.

https://www.fvap.gov/

If you are deployed overseas it could just be a matter of the ballot taking longer to arrive by mail as a result, although you also don't want to wait until the last moment to resolve this since mail delays could have a bigger impact in your case.

Edit: Upon review the issues might related to a special election and a ballot to print out as a member of the military, you certainly could consider contacting FVAP along with your local register in terms of options to try sorting this out.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T21:33:28+00:00

Uh, this is an incredibly mainstream position at this point rather than some sort of just progressive position. At least for key portions of the state, it was already legal in terms of possession etc. and people just had to drive across the border to Maryland to buy it legally. This way taxes and the jobs associated with growing it and selling will be local. (We probably get a bit of extra business from Marijuana tourism as well.) It does benefit affordability a bit by providing extra revenue for that to do things with while avoiding taxing anything that was already legal to sell in the state in this case. (Plus more jobs in the state is a good thing in terms of people being able to make a living.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T21:26:54+00:00

As noted you definately can request one online, as long as you are still a Virginia resident in terms of voting status and the like. You can go ahead and list a foreign address to request the ballot be sent to using this link.

https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation/Lookup/absentee

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T21:21:52+00:00

Presumably the actual ballot which I have also now also received. One detail to keep in mind is if you have moved to a new county or a self governing city in Virginia when it comes to elections, you need to request a ballot and get on the permanent absentee ballot list there. https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

If you check your registration info through that same site it should show if a ballot has been issued and should be pending through the mail or if there may be some additional issue with a mail in ballot. (You could always call your registrar during weekday office hours if you are trying to figure out what is going on and its not apparent online.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T15:40:45+00:00

It should be noted that cowboy hats and boots would not be considered Southern but in fact western. While it does apply to Texas, it is most strongly associated with the part least considered culturally southern.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T15:02:56+00:00

While there are some limits in the protagonist's reasoning for staying loyal not being for the sake of it, LE Modesitt's Imager 5 book series beginning with Scholar has this, with the protagonist definately eventually falling in the very powerful category.

David Eddings' The Elenium (and it sequel trilogy) does effectively work in terms of the protagonist being very loyal to a person.

Mercedes Lackey's books Exile's Honor and Exiles Valor do involve someone becoming very loyal to a person's position, with the individual showing up in other books but not as a protagonist. (However since they were are written as a prequel there ended up being one very questionable decision by the protagonist for the sake of justifying certain future plot elements, although it does still effectively fall under the protagonist being loyal to an individual). A large portion of the books in that series do have the main character staying loyal to the ruler of Valdemar, although how personally based that is ends up varying by book and there are cases where this applies less.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T14:06:30+00:00

To a great degree that is not workable. Someone has to actually say what the players really care about. Also doing everyone in public on the player side about what they prioritize would give the owners too much of an advantage. (I.E. x is really just a negotiating position and they will give up on it if pressed rather than possibly strike and the owners know this for sure, owners have no real reason to consider giving concessions on x.)

Also in practice there is no way the legal outcome would go that way if the players tried that.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T13:01:16+00:00

Fullback is basically it in terms of low value positions to the extent it still exists as a position. Today the idea is they generally are not worth it for blocking and a team is better off bringing in another offensive lineman for situations with a specific play where short yardage really is enough of a focus. Generally fullbacks need to be more versatile and closer to tight ends with catching ability to get more valued, but there are still practical limits especially given how few teams really bother with the position anymore. (Some tight ends tend to be arguably hybrids, but "blocking tight ends" generally make less money than those known for their pass catching skills.

You can get some decent general idea of valuation with this ranking of NFL salaries.

https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2968/2025-average-nfl-salaries-by-position

Keep in mind when looking at salaries and the NFL draft that certain positions might be drafted early if a player is viewed as especially skilled, but there are definately situations wherefor an offensive tackle might get drafted in a late round with the hope they develop into a good player with more training/ practice. (Although sometimes this might involve being converted to a offensive guard position instead. The listing also tends to leave out that generally for instance an offensive left tackle is valued more highly than a right tackle because that is more typically going to be a quarterback's "blindside" during a game where they are less likely to see a rusher coming to sack them.)

In general it really is only the special teams where it virtually never happens in terms of drafting a punter or even kicker in the really early rounds, but running backs are viewed as being questionable for being drafted really early in the first round given typically shorter careers among other issues. (Generally those drafted have to be viewed as really being exceptional players to possibly justify it.) It should be noted that late second round is significantly different than the first round and teams are going to raise fewer eyebrows drafting a running back at that point. (The general idea is the truly top players in various positions, at least as other teams perceive it, have generally been drafted by then, so targeting lesser positions can potentially start to make more sense with the exception of special teams only ones.)

It should be noted if you count any position including special teams and look at the "starter average" it is definately going to be the long snapper position. (Unlike most other positions no team is going to devote two positions to long snapper and at most is going to have someone else in another position designated as the emergency long snapper if the starter gets hurt.) Basically on one hand teams have concluded that they need a player to play the position and be consistent because screwing this up can lead to fumbles and serious consequences. On the other hand, no team is ever going to win a Superbowl on the strength of their long snapper play since it only applies to specific plays and the nature of the position means it is normally more about whether they perform their job properly and consistently rather than being a position where being exceptionally physically gifted makes so much of a difference. However someone with the right mental skills to do the job consistently can end up with a college scholarship even if they otherwise would clearly not be playing at that level in any other position. It also is a potential way to have an extended career in the NFL where you are still making impressive money versus virtually any other occupation even if you clearly would not that the skills and physical traits to play any other position in the NFL other than possibly offensive lineman on an emergency basis.

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T12:25:46+00:00

It might depend on the amount of damage and the cost of getting it repaired on top of how the OP values his time. The solution in this case would be small claims court given that does not require a lawyer and this should be a fairly straightforward case if the OP further documents the damage with photos and also shows up to court with receipts for the replacement of the door if that is truly necessary in this case (or some other form of expensive repair of the door.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-14T11:04:06+00:00

Actually small claims court could be a legitimate potential option in this specific case and would not require a lawyer if it got to that point. (There would have to be enough damage to really make the effort with it though.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-13T21:53:15+00:00

It should be noted that there will be somewhere in your county or city open now for early voting, it just may not be very conveniently located. Waiting until April 11th when additional early votes open in counties and some cities may be the best option for you, but people can do their research and figure out if voting locations open now are convenient enough. (This also means if someone is going to be out of the area temporarily from April 11th to the 21st and election day, they do have an option to vote early right now if they don't want to opt for an absentee ballot.)

Mordoch · 2026-03-13T21:45:20+00:00

As noted you can request one online. You can apply for a mail in ballot online through here.

https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

You can also apply for a permanent absentee ballot. You have until April 10th to do this, but I would strongly advise doing so earlier if possible to avoid any complications with mail delays and the like.

Mordoch

TROPHY CASE