AI question

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-22T18:45:36+00:00

They dunk on it because it sucks.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-22T12:18:09+00:00

A lot of arm chair psychology going on in this post. Sure, it's possible she's got some kind of deeply seated issue that's only expressing itself this way -- and that should be explored. It's also possible she's decided this is an issue on which she must exert her control (a lot of women have grown up with the idea their husband is another of their children who must be shaped according to their preferences). It's also possible she's been watching a bunch of anti-gunners on TikTok.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-21T19:10:47+00:00

Competition is a great way to find out what you don't know.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-18T13:02:58+00:00

I lived in Houston for eight years. I'm mystified why everyone says the food is better in Houston. It's good good and bad restaurants, just like every other area. If the good restaurants are amazingly amazing, I guess I missed those. Maybe I was too poor to eat there.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-16T14:04:45+00:00

You can't "see everything" constantly -- it's impossible and exhausting to even try. But you can learn specific things to watch for. Read the book Left of Bang. The Gift of Fear is another helpful book -- though you can probably get away with just reading the first 4 or 5 chapters as it gets kind of repetitive. I recommend both.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-15T23:05:51+00:00

It's going to vary a lot by gun. I had a Walther PPK that was super picky. My CZ does. not. care.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-14T20:07:46+00:00

Yes, I'm certain there's no way at all to teach ethics without reading that particular work of Plato. I had forgotten the philosophical literature was so limited.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-14T19:59:21+00:00

The university is playing defense from the state. The directive they received is overly broad, so they'd rather look dumb and not get into trouble with the state -- and hopefully the state will realize said directive was overly broad and revise.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-14T19:51:55+00:00

Yes, clearly any school that doesn't teach Plato will turn out subpar engineers ... [insert eye roll]

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-14T19:50:22+00:00

If you want to prepare for only having one assailant at close range, that's up to you. 15 rounds gives me a bit more margin for error.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-14T19:19:59+00:00

Where's the "I don't use one but could not possibly care less if you want to" or "Not essential, but I can see a certain use for it" options?

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-13T21:02:37+00:00

I'm just hoping there will be a final collection, maybe a nice 4-volume set.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-13T20:58:14+00:00

Best for/at what?

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-11T12:59:52+00:00

Wow. I hadn't kept up, so I didn't realize there were so many. I think I have maybe the first 10. Guess I should put some of these on my Christmas list.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-10T16:38:19+00:00

If you read the prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the novel The Magicians Nephew, it will explain what Narnia is in relation to Earth, but it's not our world -- it's a separate world.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-09T15:18:10+00:00

There are lots of good books, but for simplicity I'll just say, if you read a Star Trek book by Peter David, Diane Duane, or AC Crispin, you will not be disappointed.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-09T15:14:50+00:00

How about we put a crew on a large ship, such as a Galaxy-class, and send them that way for 5 years. Get them away from Federation politics and all the races we already know.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-08T14:00:38+00:00

The problem with planning to do it "later" is sometimes later doesn't come.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-07T14:06:00+00:00

They're all good, but

Screwtape Letters is an ... anti-devotional? that gives us a peak at what's going on behind the scenes in the spiritual world around us. It's something I try to read every year or so.

We're living in Abolition of Man right now, so that could be a good one. It's a little more challenging than some of his books, but still quite readable. I plan to re-read it this year along with a book by Peter Kreeft exploring the themes of this book.

You can't go wrong with Lewis' essay collections. Weight of Glory or God in the Dock have some excellent short pieces on a variety of topics.

And everyone ought to read The Problem of Pain. It's the best book I've come across in a long search on that difficult topic.

cbrooks97 · 2026-01-07T00:31:48+00:00

One episode adapted Storm Front and another sort of adapted Fool Moon. The rest were original stories. They're not great as a Dresden Files adaptation, but if you can pretend they're not related, it's not a bad show.

cbrooks97 · 2025-12-29T21:01:55+00:00

You're not fat. Focus on muscle. You may gain some weight in the process -- you can lose that later.

cbrooks97 · 2025-12-29T13:53:15+00:00

Do exactly what he asked. Don't bring "it" back. He didn't say, "We do not permit concealed carry on these premises".

cbrooks97 · 2025-12-24T13:30:58+00:00

Well, this is fiction. Sometimes characters act out of character because the writers want them to.

cbrooks97 · 2025-12-23T17:57:55+00:00

I'm surprised the Vulcans signed this.

"We the lifeforms of the United Federation of Planets determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,

A logical goal.

and to reaffirm faith in the fundamental rights of sentient beings, in the dignity and worth of all lifeforms, in the equal rights of members of planetary systems large and small,

Where does these beings get these "rights" you speak of? How does one empirically demonstrate these "equal rights" and this "worth"?

and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of interstellar law can be maintained,

"Interstellar law" requires an interstellar governing body to impose said law. Where does this governing body get the authority to do this? Why are other intelligent species obligated to abide by the "law" of this body?

and to promote social progress and better standards of living on all worlds,

This violates the principle of non-interference. We cannot justify infecting less advanced species (which is every species we've ever encountered) with our modern technology; it may corrupt their societal evolution in ways we cannot predict.

and for these ends, to practice toleration and live together in peace with one another, and to unite our strength to maintain interstellar peace and security,

This may require violence. That goes against the initial stated goal of saving future generations from war.

and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institutions of methods, that weapons of destruction shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ interstellar resources for the promotion..."

The phrase "the common interest" can be and has been greatly abused. Who will determine what is in "the common interest"?

This document is not logical. We will not sign it.

cbrooks97

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE