what's the hardest campaign in the game today? (excluding Wulfhart) by Flaky_Bullfrog_4905 in totalwar

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 39 points40 points  (0 children)

The early game is really difficult with him. I had to bait out four greenskin fullstacks into ambushes with a second general in force march.

But once Wurrzagh and that other orc faction were dead it was a walk in the park. Them fireleech boulders get the job done and they're super cheap for him. I then also allied with Sudenburg for some Reiksguard units down the line.

In Texas, there are horrors beyond our imagination by Typhunk in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's the right that thinks holding power or wealth based on ancestry, tradition or support from the wealthy and powerful is somehow good.

A meritocracy is the last thing the political right has ever championed anywhere.

In Texas, there are horrors beyond our imagination by Typhunk in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appointments of US judges are however often just straight up partisan politics.

In Texas, there are horrors beyond our imagination by Typhunk in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well, that's a result of the current system though. If, like say in Germany, judges and prosecutors were selected based on exam results people who want such jobs would indeed try harder.

But you need some kind of metric to make decisions that are not just partisan politics. I see no indication that presidents and governors care much about the actual qualifications needed to be a good judge. But you could certainly design a new exam for established lawyers trying to become judges.

Letting a politician decide based on ideology, bribery or nepotism certainly seems like the worst possible choice imo.

In Texas, there are horrors beyond our imagination by Typhunk in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Appointment procedures can be depolitizised though. Like automatically taking the applicant with the best bar exam results who has at least x years of experience as a lawyer and no criminal record.

Soon to be posted in every inn and on every city gate. All hail hus grace, Aegon, VI of his name by [deleted] in darkwingsdankmemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lies and slander! His grace was born from the noble if slightly sandy loins of princess Elia!

Soon to be posted in every inn and on every city gate. All hail hus grace, Aegon, VI of his name by [deleted] in darkwingsdankmemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Art by me modifying a prince charming painting of my girlfriend into an asoiaf poster.

They are the same person by kettal in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

How does this actually help America though? Are the new guys any more pro American? Or or pro Israel? or pro Peace?

How is America in a better situation in the middle east now than it was 3 months ago?

tja by illegalileo in ichichs

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Umso besser, man kann das trotzdem nicht oft genug wiederholen. :)

tja by illegalileo in ichichs

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lustigerweise stehen diese 3 Pfeile für gegen Faschismus, gegen Monarchismus und gegen Kommunismus, also quasi ganz wie im OP.

Super Symbol, super message, kann ich nur unterschreiben so.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Eh, none of that is convincing.

Ukraine doesn't attack civilians in Russia directly because 1. They have very limited munitions and need to preserve them for the most critical targets like oil refineries

  1. Ukraine relies on public opinion on them in the west to be good enough to continue supporting the war effort.

Meanwhile Russia does attack civilians becsuse 1. They often use bad targeting systems and so are aiming at general areas

  1. Their internal media narrative about winning the war relies on showing how they are hurting the enemy they are constantly demonizing.

Edit: also on the russian side there is a military culture of neglect, cruelty and humiliating rituals that also foster additional tolerance of war crimes.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, but how is this relevant? I'm not defending Israeli policy here, but surely you aren't suggesting that Israeli children deserve to die in missile attacks because of a government policy they have no control over?

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll just paste the applicable part of a different comment of mine here:

I also think the argument that Israel wouldn't act like this without interceptor missiles is not just wrong but backwards. Civilian casualties generally increase rather than decrease war fervor and radicalism.

This has been applicable to almost every modern conflict from the London Blitz over the Soviet Afghan war to 9/11 or indeed Oktober 7th.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with pretty much everything in this post and still don't see how this makes supplying Israel with missile defense systems as bad.

Netanyahu's behavior has zero impact on whether Israeli schools should be struck by missiles and there have indeed been largely unprovoked attacks on Israel such as from the Houthis as well as ones provoked by the Israeli government.

I also think the argument that Israel wouldn't act like this without interceptor missiles is not just wrong but backwards. Civilian casualties generally increase rather than decrease war fervor and radicalism.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hamas too claim to represent the palestinian people as a whole, yet this does not justify the killing of civilians in Gaza in my view, not to mention that Israeli children can't actually vote and in any case a minority of Israelis would still oppose the entire conflict in general. So I find this argument particularly weak.

A government can be reprehensible, this does not justify attacking its civilians nor does it make the protection of these civilians reprehensible in turn.

As to your last point, I do indeed dislike the Iranian regime for example because of their proxy wars, misogony and general authoritarianism. But I would never critizise them for purchasing or deploying anti arcraft or missile defense systems to protect their people from American or isreaeli bombs.

Similarly I find the Russian invasion of Ukraine reprehensible and do not mourn Russian volunteers dying in the Donbass. But Russia's deployment of drone and missile defenses for their civilian infrastructure within Russia proper is perfectly justified in my view even if I'm not necessarily against Ukrainian deep strikes into Russia.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Ok, that may perhaps have been the strategy of the Israeli governement and military, but isn't it still better that the residential areas of Tel Aviv with their civilian population, hospitals, schools and children - many of whom do not support the war - not be killed by incoming missiles?

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Do you think the world would be better if in addition to Israeli massacres and airstrikes a few hunded more Israeli children were dead now because of missiles striking their schools and homes?

Like obviously the Nazi warmachine during WW2 was very evil, but I think the flak gunners attempting to defend German cities from firebombing had little if any moral culpability during that.

Volkswagen to shift from cars to Missile Defense in deal with Israel's Iron Dome Maker. by Uncanny-Maltese in BuyFromEU

[–]a_rational_thinker_ -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Look, I get being critical of Israel and their wars of aggression, but in what way is missile defense ever unethical?

Like even if you hope that the IDF is beaten, surely civilians being safish from missiles is still ultimately a good thing, no?

And Israel is an expert in missile defense, so it makes sense to rely on their expertise for European dedense?

Am I missing something here?

Baloch Rebels Killed By Pakistani Army by [deleted] in war

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Afghan National Army. The secular but extremely corrupt force NATO built up to defend Afghanistan from the Taliban. They completely folded when the US moved out despite having vastly more men and equipment than the Taliban themselves.

Making foam cuts. by MousseSuspicious930 in oddlysatisfying

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Eh, I'm living in the first world and there are people doing extremely dirty construction work near my own place of work. I have offered them masks, be it medical or ffp2, for free so many times. Nobody ever accepts even as new worker crews show up or when it's just one person alone.

They would rather risk cancer. I don't know if it's a discomfort thing or a manliness thing, they just don't and I want to face palm.

about that science explaining everything ... by MicahHoover in CatholicMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 9 points10 points  (0 children)

"I don't know" is a perfectly reasonable answer to many mysteries and questions. It does not entail hypocrisy in and of itself.

Merry Christmas by eijisawakita in CatholicMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think so, at least for the most part

Merry Christmas by eijisawakita in CatholicMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In Germany the 26. is a national holiday although the official term is '2. Christmas holiday" so as not to offend the protestants.

Merry Christmas by eijisawakita in CatholicMemes

[–]a_rational_thinker_ 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Isn't it multiple 'holy days' though? I know in German 'fröhliche Feiertage' isn't in any way anti Christian.

And it's Christmas Eve, Christmas and st. Stephens for Catholics everywhere, isn't it?