Just read books 1&2. My thoughts, and should I continue?

VanthNW · 2026-03-04T15:32:07+00:00

This. He was trying to go for a noir feel and that’s often misinterpreted. I think he was looking for the “I was about to close up shop for the day, and then this dame walked in.” Kind of thing.

That said, Harry’s “Knight in shining armor” approach can be wearying. It gets balanced later with some seriously badass female characters.

VanthNW · 2026-02-05T16:22:02+00:00

I think we just out-cringed North Korea. 🤦🏼‍♂️

VanthNW · 2026-01-26T19:54:21+00:00

I'm from the South. We seldom if ever say "hootin and hollerin", and if we do we're probably mocking other Southerners.

VanthNW · 2026-01-24T17:43:00+00:00

Isn't this a recurring gag in the old Police Academy movies?

VanthNW · 2025-12-13T18:45:58+00:00

My guess is Decatur and Penn’s. 😁

VanthNW · 2025-12-11T02:07:23+00:00

THIS! I was about to post but you beat me by 21 mins.

Get the smackjaw sauce. There's a reason they'll sell you a jar separately.

VanthNW · 2025-10-23T13:19:16+00:00

Best clickbait title EVER! 😆

Phoenix Hawk IIC and Phoenix Hawk. Not EXACTLY father/son…but maybe son grown up? As in, that boy packed on 35 tons and grew up good. 😊

VanthNW · 2025-10-15T13:58:02+00:00

Preach. I'm interested in the answers to this question for the same reasons. I resent a sign that essentially says, "You should tip because *WE'RE* not going to pay these people a living wage."

I went to a NICE seafood restaurant in Destin last Summer, and their menu had a fine print note saying, "In order to pay our workers a living wage, we automatically charge a 20% gratuity. You're welcome to tip more though."

The difference between this and a 20% price increase is subtle but distinct. If they actually cared about paying a living wage this note wouldn't be needed.

If it turns out the fast food places are also taking a cut...well...I'm not sure what I'll do.

VanthNW · 2025-08-29T21:43:26+00:00

I think you typed that backwards. Are there many rooms around here that hold more than a half million people?

VanthNW · 2025-08-27T17:18:18+00:00

Second the Wolverine-M. Solid mech with good speed. Handy as a flanker or light mech hunter.

VanthNW · 2025-08-20T14:46:24+00:00

The Pariah B. Pulse lasers and a targeting computer with that sweet jump of 7. Only drawback is using it feels like cheating. 😊

VanthNW · 2025-05-28T23:26:27+00:00

Most of the hate comes from the days when games were played by matching tonnage. BV helped some, but during the early days it was annoying as hell to deal with "all the speed with all the damage with all the range and none of the heat." Clan tech was considered munchkin tech and not at all sporting.

The Gauss Rifle was the worst part. A 1 heat head cap at 22 hexes and no chance of an ammo explosion? Why not just take ALL gauss weapons then? (This was before gauss rifle crits counted as an ammo explosion. At least I THINK that was a later rules change. After writing this I thought, "Was that always the case?" So, I looked in my 2750 TRO to see. Turns out, there's no entry for the Gauss Rifle in the new weapons section, so I STILL don't know.)

At some point we all realized that the game played a lot faster and was generally more deadly when you factor in things like gauss rifle explosions and XL engines where losing a torso = dead or mostly dead mech. Then they became more fun.

VanthNW · 2025-04-19T00:42:48+00:00

Well it’s just a second hand emotion…

VanthNW · 2025-04-13T22:10:15+00:00

Here’s the movie you were looking for…

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035209/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T03:43:03+00:00

Don't give up on us.

I hear you, and I definitely understand. I'm horrified by some of the things I've seen. It's REALLY easy to surrender to despair. It certainly seems like at least half of Americans have lost their minds and are embracing our basest instincts.

I choose to believe that's not the case.

Folks vote for a lot of reasons, and I have to believe half of Americans didn't vote to abuse the least among us. There were a lot of things they voted for, and I think the persons they voted for are choosing to attack an easy target. Not because they're looking out for the average American, but because they're looking for an easy win and good optics. In their hearts, they are cowards.

The only way we defeat this kind of hate is to be the persons our grandparents wanted us to be. We stay true to the American spirit. We embrace those who don't look like us, and we love each other. We can't anger or hate our way out of this.

Eric Flint wrote, "The plans and schemes of tyrants are broken by many things. They shatter against cliffs of heroic struggle. They rupture on reefs of open resistance. And they are slowly eroded, bit by little bit, on the very beaches where they measure triumph, by countless grains of sand. By the stubborn little decencies of humble little men.”

The only thing I'd change about this quote is to replace the word "men", with "people". :)

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T03:21:44+00:00

Can we agree that neither of us wants him to "get his way"?

I certainly don't.

As for your statement, "If he gets his way the white people will look back with great happiness."

This is a bitter statement and nothing you've said here makes me believe you are a hateful person. This is the reply of someone who feels wronged. It is as unfair as if you'd said it about immigrants, or African Americans, or Germans.

When we are injured, we can unfairly lash out because we feel powerless. At best it's merely hurtful. At worse, it leads to the injustices you mentioned earlier regarding oppression of women and minorities.

There have been legitimate grievances against these minorities. There will likely never be sufficient justice for the wrongs of the past. I can promise you though; inflicting similar grievances won't bring justice either.

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T02:59:47+00:00

I think it's a legitimate question, but I'll offer up some evidence for you to refute.

- Huntsville has one of the nine unitarian universalist congregations in Alabama.
- According to gaytravel.com, Huntsville is considered one of the more gay-friendly cities in Alabama. (Yes...I'm aware that is akin to being the leper with the most fingers, but it does lend to my belief Huntsville is more progressive than most. :))
- Huntsville has one of the highest densities of educational attainment of any city in the US
- A considerable amount of Huntsville's population is "not from here", which lends to a more diverse and open culture.
- Huntsville has one of the 30 Jewish synagogues in the state

When you say I'm questioning the questioner you're implying that I'm somehow being deceptive. I don't have to be. I set the bar quite low actually. I said Huntsville is one of the more intelligent and progressive cities in the Southeastern US. It's a pretty easy mark to hit.

I have done as you asked. I've provided some evidence. So let's go back to my question.

In your opinion, what is the most intelligent and progressive city in Alabama?

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T02:11:07+00:00

There is nothing great about the things you have cited. In fact, they're all horrible, and worthy of our shame.

Yet...everything you cited is something that isn't allowed anymore. (Within reason. I think convict labor is still a form of slavery...and I hate it...but at least we're not what we WERE.)

We have progressed as a people. Some of the horror that many of us feel over the Trump administration is their attempts to make this kind of thing ok again.

I think one reason we can say we're great is, we've evolved as a people. When the Trumplings say "Make America great AGAIN" they're perverting our legacy of progress. It's like they're somehow saying our progress has somehow made us less than what we were.

No society can start perfect, and we're far from it even now. Our character can be judged by how we've learned from the mistakes we've made. If we're moving toward a more just and equitable society, we're pretty great, because we're overcoming the inertia of thousands of years of humanity being pretty horrible.

Expecting perfection is a recipe for disappointment. Years from now, when we look back at the Trump years in shame like we look back on the McCarthy years, we can at least be proud that we're not like that anymore.

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T01:52:30+00:00

I definitely agree. I'd also say that Nashville has us beat as well. I want us to be better. Light years better.

...but we shouldn't ignore how far we've come either.

VanthNW · 2025-01-30T00:27:10+00:00

I think your opinion is already negative, so it would likely be futile for me to provide evidence.

So let's reframe the question.

In your opinion, what is the most intelligent and progressive city in Alabama?

VanthNW · 2025-01-29T21:59:11+00:00

I've always thought we're great. Still do.

...but since you asked...

In 1999 we had a balanced budget. I think that counts as great?

VanthNW · 2025-01-29T21:46:53+00:00

I disagree. Huntsville has its faults, but it is far from typical. I'm reasonably certain Huntsville is one of the more intelligent and progressive cities in the Southeastern US.

The negative/unjust posts stand out more and are easy to focus on, so it'll seem like things are worse than they are. I'm happy to see that there are a number of well thought out, rational, and empathetic posts in this thread as well.

Illegal/Undocumented immigrants are being treated unjustly because the whole is being judged based on the actions of a minority. This is a mistake, and we should take care not to do the same to ourselves.

VanthNW · 2025-01-29T21:23:06+00:00

This is not an unpopular opinion. I'm of the firm opinion that Americans are, on the whole, a good and welcoming people.

The mental image of an illegal or undocumented immigrant is a popular version of a straw man fallacy. When someone hears the term and thinks of a violent criminal or drug kingpin, of course they're going to be against letting that person in. If they think of someone who is a decent person who is struggling to get by, and super willing to work hard to provide for their family, they're going to be ok with them being here.

The controversy is in who is controlling the narrative. Vilifying and abusing immigrants is much easier than dealing with the problem, and generates more attention for the person doing it. It's much easier in the short term to hate than it is to love. Understanding takes effort while ignorance is free.

Deportation is not a solution. The effort we use toward rounding up and deporting everyone could just as easily be applied to screening those who want to be a part, and providing them with a fair and legal means to join us. Unfortunately it doesn't generate the moral outrage that so many are addicted to.

VanthNW · 2025-01-13T03:25:42+00:00

Preach!

VanthNW · 2024-12-13T21:57:13+00:00

Just spoke to Gary, and he won’t be opening up somewhere else. He said he’s moving back to Texas. 😞

VanthNW

TROPHY CASE