Does this make any sense?

Does this make any sense?

Rabbit Stoddard, Mo Jave maybe have insight. Implementing scrum or something like it. It is likely we'll have this discussion with the cruise end of the business next week.

This group has always provided analytical services for the company at large. With the departure of , we have the opportunity and need to pivot. We're at a saddle point, and pivoting will let us increase what we deliver while honoring current commitments.

Starting next week, we are moving to a 2-week release cycle for each of our major components. Each client -- briefly, air, hotel, and cruise -- will have a specific primary point of contact who is responsible for prioritizing work. We'll have standing every two week meetings to show what we've done.

Our goal is to automate our current work, freeing us up to do higher value work -- and then automate that. The center piece of this for each client is the business data architect. Ad Hoc work and work we haven't yet automated rests wth the architect. I'll act as lead architect, and the champion of this methodology.

Doing the automation are our DBAs. The business data architect will help the DBAs understand the business and develop products that solve problems for our clients. The DBAs will be in South America, and their work will be directed by the product owner and Architect.

This is where we're starting. If we need to make changes, we will. If we need to put more resources towards a specific client or product area, we will.

I want to talk about the calendar. Again.

I want to talk about the calendar. Again.

As is: we have 12 months, with days varying between 28 and 31. Holidays occur at essentially random, though preset, intervals.

Let's do this, which Kodak used for decades:
-- 13 months, each 28 days long. A single day -- a holiday -- outside the week at the end of the year.
-- Put Holidays on the first of the month. So, every first Monday is a holiday.

Let's do it.

Friends

Friends,

Please help me with something. I get into my head.

If I seem to be in my head, please -- please -- tell me to go workout.

Self-care: It is important.

Is "sweet" the proper word for me here?

Is "sweet" the proper word for me here?

Con Runner: Cons are expensive to run. We may run into problems.
Me: If so, let me know. I um... can maybe help?

What am I being here?

Perspective is everything!

Perspective is everything!

I'm going to a con next month. Currently, plan is to sleep alone, in a heated barn, in my sleeping bag. I'll need to transport it, and that's kinda annoying.

Due to changes in whatever, the con runner offered me a slot in a bed. A shared bed. With a dude.

Realization: feeling of dread. Dudes are gross.

Is this what every woman feels all the fucking time? Jeez.

Wanted: a mwans of playing video games such that:

Wanted: a mwans of playing video games such that:
-- Games can be played by two people in the same place
-- Games have simple controls, like Tetris or the original Doom
-- Games more as social activity than as soul burning need
-- Preferably, at least one building game like SimCity. But not that, we've played it.

Your crew is returning from the dungeon. You are exhausted, injured, and your soul feels dirty.

Your crew is returning from the dungeon. You are exhausted, injured, and your soul feels dirty.

Each of you has picked up a purse of silver and a backpack of silver, and a handful of gold.

The only inn in the village is the only commercial location to eat, drink, or take a bath.

Who are you, and what do you do?

My god, an asshole on the radio suggested Roy Moore should step aside for the good of the reputation of evangelicals.

My god, an asshole on the radio suggested Roy Moore should step aside for the good of the reputation of evangelicals.

No.

Roy Moore should step aside because he is a child molester. He won't, because he sees nothing wrong with molesting children.

The people of Alabama should vote for someone else, because he is a child molester. They probably won't, because he is a Republican and claims the tribe evangelical. Somehow, that is more powerful that being a child molester

What comments can go here: Saying bad things about Roy Moore. Suggesting the good people of Alabama will vote against that asshole. I'll even allow a debate on the good versus bad qualities of evangelics. Perhaps even their reputation, but, here's the thing: if you are an evangelical, you do not get to say what the reputation of evangelicals is.

To be clear: Defenses of roy moore do not go here. Like, I will auto delete and a second offense I'll just ban hammer.

Dear friends

Dear friends,

What have you done to make the world safer for your neighbors?

As a followup, what have you done to stop the child molester roy moore from joining the senate?

What else can we do to stop him?

The primary coin of The Village is the copper piece.

The primary coin of The Village is the copper piece. Silver pieces are treated with respect, and there's simply not enough liquid capital for gold pieces to flow well. Platinum is right out. A copper piece might buy a meal, or a night's stay in a barn alongside the animals.

Before inflation, a single silver, or a handful of copper, might buy:
-- cheap communal room and board. You won't starve.
-- a chat with the barkeep about what you've seen. Lose 1 Witness.
-- A night alone, with or without strong drink. Lose 1 Exhaustion.
-- Bandages, applied inexpertly. Lose 1 Harm.

Before inflation, a purseful of copper, a handful of silver, or a single gold, might buy:
-- Everything on the smallest list
-- bronze sword. Use up to give 1 more attempt in a dungeon
-- Leather jerkin. Use up to ignore 1 harm
-- Cheap, wooden holy symbol. Use up to ignore 1 Witness
-- Skin of water. Use up (by drinking) to ignore 1 exhaustion

If you've got a handful of gold, you can probably buy all these things.

After you've spent about a purse worth of silver, expect the local polity to want their fare share. Taxes, in other words.

If you manage to spend a backpack worth of silver, The Village has enough wealth to have inflation. All prices increase; what used to cost one now costs a handful; handful to purse; purse to backpack; backpack to trunk.

At this rate, it won't be long until you spend a trunk full of silver, at which point the Village has attracted enough people pursuing wealth to become a Town.

The primary coin of The Town is the silver piece. Gold pieces are treated with respect, and there's simply not enough liquid capital for platinum pieces to flow well. Astral Diamonds are right out. A silver piece might buy a meal, or a night's stay in poor accommodations.

* But, William, how much is a backpack of silver or whatever worth?

Here's the breakdown.
The sizes increase one, handful, purse, backpack, trunk.
Copper values: 1, 5, 25, 100, 500. That is, a trunk of copper is value 500.
Silver values: 5, 25, 100, 500, 2,500. That is, a trunk of silver s value 2,500
Gold values: 25, 100, 500, 2,500, 10,000. That is, a trunk of gold is value 10,000.
Platinum: 100, 500, 2,500, 10,000, 50,000. That is, a trunk of platinum is value 50,000. But, let's max that out at 10,000 because omg these numbers are too large.

But, William, those don't increase in step! It's inconsistent!
Yep, and a smart bookie could probably take all my money. Except there's not a lot of money changers in this, and the player characters are essentially mining, and using the money to buy better equipment.

Wait, is this fun?
I dunno yet. I think it might be.

When you make a character

When you make a character

So, the stats, see, are maybe:
Hard, Cool, Hot, Sharp, Weird

You get access to the basic moves as you gain those stats. If you don't have a stat, then you fall back on Do Something Under Fire, based on cool. That's the primary move. And everybody has a cool score.

So, at chargen, choose a primary stat. Put it at 2. It can be cool, but if ti is then put another stat at 0. Everybody else has cool 0.

So now everybody has two stats, and can access a few moves. Cool.

Now, we go do adventuring. You're gonna go down into the Dungeon, see.

Why? Figure out a motive. Hint: It's probably money. Don't spend too much time on this.

For each stat you've got, you can raid the Dungeon.

When you raid the dungeon from the Village, roll with stat On a 10+, choose 1 or more. On a 7-9, choose 2 or more. On a 6-, choose 1 and the MC will mark another badness:
--- You journey to a floor cleared of monsters and recover a silver.
-- You find a handful of silver, but it is hard. Mark exhaustion.
-- You save victims of the monsters, and take some loot. Mark Witness and recover a purse of silver.
-- You defeat a boss monster! Mark harm, and recover a backpack of silver.

~5 coins to a handful, ~5 handfuls to a purse, ~5 purses to a backpack. There's also a trunk. It's ~5 backpacks to a purse. I say ~5 as it goes 5-5-4, so it comes out to an even 100. There's a table.

Consequences:
Exhaustion: If you mark Exhaustion three times, you drop everything as you return to town.
Witness: If you mark Witness three times, you lose control. You become a monster, and resurface covered in the blood of your enemies. You slink back to town, and need to seek help before you can go back to the dungeon.
Harm: If you mark Harm three times, you are dead. Make a new character.

In The City

In The City

If you go far enough into the Dungeon and spend enough money in The Settlement, it may grow into The City.

The City attracts all sorts! The City is focused on the wealth coming up from The Dungeon, including any service profession the PCs may ask for.

Before Inflation, the basic unit of currency is one platinum piece. After inflation, this increases to a handful of platinum.

Purchaseable in The City, for the standard unit:
-- Fancy room and board for a couple of days. This is individual, with servers at your table.
-- A forgiveness ceremony by the Bishop. Lose 3 witness.
-- A night in medication, with 20-year old single malt whiskey, or delightful compansionship. Lose 3 Exhaustion.
-- The care of a doctor. Lose 3 harm.

Next Largest:
-- Everything on the smallest list
-- A week's fancy room and board, for yourself or another
-- Magic sword. Use up to give 1 more attempt in a dungeon, at +2
-- Full Plate. Use up to ignore 3 harm.
-- Holy Symbol, prayed over by a the bishop. Use up to ignore 3 Witness
-- Sudafed. Use up to ignore 3 Exhaustion

Even larger:
-- Everything on the previous list
-- A business manager, capable of returning you your money after going to the Dungeon
-- A Butler, who will maintain a residence until you return.
-- one-hour of labor requiring special labor skills
-- a horse
-- a feast for everyone in the city.
-- clothing for a king
-- A secret message, sent instantly to anyone in the City with magic
-- Nearly anything else.

To make a new character:

To make a new character:
-- Choose a stat from Sharp / Cool / Hot / Weird. This is at 2.
-- Put your Hard to 1. Everybody who goes into a dungeon is tough.
-- Choose a name. Choose a peasant name.
-- Choose one person from the group who you know best. You may, once per dungeon delve, negate something bad from happening to them.

You level when all your stats have been used in a delve. When you level up, choose one and mark it off:
[ ] Stat at +1
[ ] Stat at 0
[ ] Stat at minus 1
[ ] Describe why you know someone else well. Now you can negative a badness for them, too.

When you've done all these things, you get a playbook. More on those later, but, recommended:
If you start with Sharp 2, become a thief
If you start with Cool 2, become a battlebabe. (Fighters are stupid, battlebabes are great.)
If you start with Hot 2, become a Bard
If you start with Weird 2, become a wizard.

What Money Gets You
Village
smallest piece still accepted:
-- cheap communal room and board. You don't starve.
-- a chat with the barkeep about what you've seen. Lose 1 Witness.
-- A night alone, with or without strong drink. Lose 1 Exhaustion.
-- Bandages, applied inexpertly. Lose 1 Harm.

Next Largest:
-- Everything on the smallest list
-- Rusted sword. Use up to give 1 more attempt in a dungeon
-- Leather jerkin. Use up to ignore 1 harm
-- Cheap, wooden holy symbol. Use up to ignore 1 Witness
-- Skin of water. Use up (by drinking) to ignore 1 exhaustion

If you've got something larger, you can get multiple of these for it. Maybe all of them.

Town
smallest piece still accepted:
-- Inexpensive room and board, with few others. You don't starve.
-- A chat with a priest about what you've seen. Lose 2 Witness
-- A night alone with your thoughts, whiskey, or companionship. Lose 2 Exhaustion
-- one-hour of easy labor, such as waiting in a line
-- Bandages and ointments, applied with care. Lost 2 Harm

Next Largest:
-- Everything on the smallest list
-- A week's room and board, for yourself or another
-- one-hour of semi-skilled labor not requiring dangers or intimacy
-- Steel sword. Use up to give 1 more attempt in a dungeon, at +1
-- Scale plate armor. Use up to ignore 1 harm.
-- Crafted holy symbol. Use up to ignore 1 Witness
-- Canteen of water. Use up to ignore 1 Exhaustion

Even larger:
-- Everything on the previous list
-- A bank, who will keep it for you until next time.
-- A manger, who will ensure you have the necessaries when you return.
-- A rented room that will remain empty while you are in the dungeon
-- one-hour of service requiring dangers or intimacy, such as sex work
-- A donkey
-- A poor feast for all and sundry
-- Clothing fit for a travelling merchant
-- A secret message, sent quickly to anyone in The Town
-- Many other things.

If you've got something larger, you can get multiple of these for it. Maybe all of them.

I've got this nutty idea for an RPG. Bear with me, this is all a cluster.

I've got this nutty idea for an RPG. Bear with me, this is all a cluster.

This is one part press your luck, one part inflation.

Press your luck Dungeon move:
When you delve into the dungeon, roll 2d6 + unmarked stat. On a 10+, choose 1 or more. On a 7-9, choose 2 or more. On a 6-, choose 1 and the MC will mark a track for you.
-- You journey to a floor cleared of monsters and recover the smallest unit of coin not marked off.
-- You journey to a deeper floor. Mark Exhaustion, and recover coin at the next level.
-- You save victims of the monsters, and kill some monsters. Mark Witness and recover coin two steps up.
-- You defeat a boss monster of a floor. Mark harm, and recover coin three steps up.

Mark the stat you role. You cannot use it again until you recuperate.

Tracks:
Exhaustion: If you mark Exhaustion three times, you drop everything as you return to town.
Witness: If you mark Witness three times, you lose control. You become a monster, and resurface covered in the blood of your enemies. You slink back to town.
Harm: If you mark Harm three times, you are dead.

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village for the first time, mark the type or amount. Choose 1:
-- You can buy anything for sale, or an item or two that are not.
-- You can buy weeks worth of fancy room and board.
-- You gain hangers on, while the cash holds out.

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village that is marked, scratch it out and you can buy a few days fancy lodging.

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village that is scratched out, no one cares, and you can get a day or two of poor room and board.

Spending in The Village:
-- The best The Village can offer is a room with hay mattresses, but at least alone. there is ale and easy food on hand for purchase, and the minimal weapons necessary to delve into The Dungeon.
-- The Village has shit for adventurer-oriented R&R. You can buy 1 lower Exhaustion, talk to a priest for 1 lower Witness, or see a medic for 1 lower Harm. Only 1 per adventure.
-- When you have spent the equivalent of a trunk of silver, The Village becomes the Town.

Spending in The Town:
-- The best The Town can offer is a single room with feather mattresses. There is ale, wine, fancy cheese and crackers on hand for purchases.
-- Weapons become available for purchase. When you use a weapon, mark it off and gain a +1 to the Dungeon roll it affects.
-- Services become available. You can buy poor services at the MC's discretion.
-- The Town has reasonable adventurer-oriented R&R. You can lower exhaustion by 2, Witness by 2, or see a medic to lwoer Harm by 2. You may do this twice per adventure.
-- Training becomes available. You can train a stat once at the MC's discretion.
-- Real Estate becomes available. You can buy poor locations at the MC's discretion.

As you spend wealth, the Town grows:
-- When you spend equivalent to a trunk worth of silver, the Town grows into a City.

Then more rules for The City, where you can buy just about anything as it grows.

Watching Star Trek: The Next Generation after reading a bunch of Culture novels is an odd experience.

Watching Star Trek: The Next Generation after reading a bunch of Culture novels is an odd experience.

Season 2, Episode 9: Measure Of a Man
Central Question: Do non-biological lifeforms have rights?
Federation: Err, maybe. Let's ponder this. We'll have to have a hearing and our initial judgement is totally wrong and it's only because Picard and Guinan are so awesome that we don't recreate slavery.
The Culture: Are you idiots?

Season 3, Episode 11: The Hunter
Central Question: Do we interfere when a civilization is treating its soldiers poorly?
Federation: Err, maybe. It'll take us a long time to figure out that's what's going on, then we'll make some speeches and then let them figure it out.
The Culture: Here's a SC operative and a drone. In a month, this society doesn't violate the liberties of sentients.

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village for the first time:

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village for the first time:
-- You can buy anything for sale, or an item or two that are not.
-- You can buy weeks worth of fancy room and board.
-- You cause inflation
-- You gain hangers on, while the cash holds out.

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village for the second time:
-- You can buy a few days fancy lodging

When you spend a type or amount of coin in The Village for the third time:
-- No one cares, and you can get a day or two of poor room and board.

When you come back from an adventure, roll 2d6. On a 10+, choose all. On a 7-9, choose 2. On a 6-, choose 1:

When you come back from an adventure, roll 2d6. On a 10+, choose all. On a 7-9, choose 2. On a 6-, choose 1:
-- You brought back 20 silver pieces
-- You are exhausted and brought back a rusty sword
-- You are stressed the fuck out and gained xp.
-- You have seen some shit and brought back a magic item.
-- You are broken and in utter pain, and brought back 100 silver.

I'm up for more negatives, and for other positives. Gimme.

Last night, we had a delightful couple over who we're getting to know. Adult dinner party, hooray.

Last night, we had a delightful couple over who we're getting to know. Adult dinner party, hooray.

Sitting around after dinner:
Her: Have you guys ever heard about dungeons and dragons?
My wife: Yeah, we played a Fourth edition game for years...
Him: Huh. We really want to try a roleplaying game!
Me: Do you remember .... Night Court?

And then Ghost Court happened!

Followup: What one piece of future tech from any science fiction franchise would most positively affect the world?

Followup: What one piece of future tech from any science fiction franchise would most positively affect the world?

Constraints:
1. R2D2 size or smaller.
2. Not R2D2, but other are ok.
3. While offensive weaponry and replicators are obvious, try to find a more creative solution.

Uh.... uncanny coincidence?

Uh.... uncanny coincidence?

Me, last night: We should put up pictures from our Hawaii trip.
Google, this morning: Your Hawaii trip was two years ago today! Here are some pictures.

If you could have one piece of future tech from any science fiction franchise what would it be?

If you could have one piece of future tech from any science fiction franchise what would it be?

Constraints:
1. R2D2 size or smaller.
2. Not R2D2, but other are ok.
3. While offensive weaponry and replicators are obvious, try to find a more creative solution.

GO.

I am sometimes shocked by things that people don't know.

I am sometimes shocked by things that people don't know.

Tell me something awesome that you think I should know! Maybe I won't know it!

Examples: Mentos and pepsi. xkcd. The trig to prove the world is round.

If I didn't know these things I'd be like ::mind blown:: Show me some stuff that'd blow my mind if I didn't know it!

Think about your favorite game. Or system of games, whatever word you think expresses the concept.

Think about your favorite game. Or system of games, whatever word you think expresses the concept.

Maybe that's D&D 5e. Maybe that's some Fate stuff. Maybe that's Carcassone. It's probably something pbta, but maybe it's Stranger Gravity by Jay Treat. Maybe it's something osr.

Now ask yourself: How is power and leadership handled in this game? Is one person in charge, or distributed? Are there specific roles that the game gives out? How are these enforced?

Pause for a second. Think about if that affects your enjoyment.

Now, think about how your workplace distributes power and leadership.

how do you feel about the differences?

*Please Share* I'm a queer feminist creating diverse games.

Originally shared by Kira Magrann

*Please Share* I'm a queer feminist creating diverse games. Writing at home recently has been so healing for my chronic nerve pain & I'd love to continue. If I can hit 1500 a month on my new Patreon, I can begin to support myself with ttrpg game writing! https://www.patreon.com/kiramagrann
https://www.patreon.com/kiramagrann

I was misinformed regarding the Virginia race.

I was misinformed regarding the Virginia race.

The base of the democratic party remains black women.

https://twitter.com/nealcarter/status/928131070209462272
https://twitter.com/nealcarter/status/928131070209462272

What factors influence rent?

What factors influence rent?

Here are a few categories:
Location (for ex, what town or city)
Proximity to stuff (for ex, is it close to mass transit?)
Size (for ex, number of bedrooms/bathrooms)
Amenities (for ex, washer & dryer in unit / floor / building / not at all)
Perceived Safety (for ex, eyes on the street)
General Niceness (for ex, granite counter-tops are totally a thing)

Are there other categories?

Jesse Cox asks:

Jesse Cox asks:
1) How did this system start? Was it a clear twist on a pre-existing set of cultural practices? The pet project of some necrologist that became the basis of everything during some crisis? Something else?

2) Can you name three major events that have shaped how the Convocation of Malquort works now, such that it would be very different today if any hadn’t happened? We’re these obvious crisis points at the time?

At some point, I had exemplified an originating Prophet, but at this point this is revised to a set of people who came together in discussion. I like that.

Each had a different issue they wanted to solve, these necromancers. They divided these into four broad categories: Disease, War, Famine, and Death itself.

The Necromancer of Disease took the name Nayor The Eradicator. Before Nayor, the dead would accidentally come to life, wander a while, then fall apart. Often as they stumbled into a well. She learned the early secrets to eradicating disease through safe water, baths, and controlling wild undead. Nayor was the first to control the wild undead.

Widhos Carnage looked into warfare. Like Nayor, he first used the wild undead, using the dead of other kingdoms as emergency troops to fight defensive warfare. In a break of offenses from their neighbors, Widhos developed a means of modifying Nayor's lifeless to take a hit and carry a spear.

Akrelekai The Harvester was concerned with famine. Unable to reduce how much food people need to survive (though she tried), Akrelekai instead found ways to get food from where it was plentiful to where it was not. Later, she took the spear-wielding proto Lifeless, and extended their ability to use tools, as well as their ability to walk long distance.

Greqir The Haggard looked at what Nayor, Widhos, and Akrelekai had done. His followers pledged themselves to eradicating unintentional, wasteful death as far as they could. Gregir learned to make the Lifeless more potent as people prayed, thus making the Lifeless last longer and able to do more laborous chores.

It was Gregir who built the first tenements for the Faithful, bringing together the fresh water, defenses, food, and shelter the Lifeless could build.

Death became something those who asked for it could have, rather than something that came like a thief in the night. Accidental death still occurred, but with illness, shelter, and food.

As the number of Lifeless grew, the backbreaking labor required of it's people diminished.

Signal booster.

Signal booster.

Originally shared by Misha B

Signal boost!
https://blackgirlnerds.com/calling-women-color-need/

This is the post where I go crazy on my happness of my state's govenor's race.

This is the post where I go crazy on my happness of my state's govenor's race.

Some moments from the advertising campaign for the VA elections. Paraphrased, of course.

During the primary.
Northram: I'm a doctor. Donald Trump is a narcissistic madman.
Every other democrat: Uhhh... You go right ahead. We'll sit this one out.

Gilespe, the R who was running for the governors house: Abortion should be banned.
Dr. Ralph Northram: Uh... Did I mention I am literally an OBGYN? Abortions should be safe and available for everyone.

There was this fantastic attack ad from Northram. Went about like this:
Gillespe: Abortion should be banned.
Woman: If Ed Gillespe wants abortion banned..
other woman: then I want...
other woman: then I want..
other woman: then I want..
last woman: For Gillespe to never be govenor.

Not following through with the "Be banned"? I thought it was weak sauce, but it keeps things nice.

Gilespe: The military is great!
Northram: Son, did I mention I am a veteran of the army? Sit down.

Gilespe: Immigrants are bad!
Northram: Immigrants: They get the job done.

Gilespe: Statues of traitors need to be maintained.
Northram: Let's take them down.

Republican party: Let's call poorer democrats in northern Virgina to tell them their poll places moved. It'll be funny.
Democratic party: Let's go knock on doors and remind poorer democrats where they vote! Hit every door four times!

80% of my county of Arlington County has gone for the democrat.

80% of my county of Arlington County has gone for the democrat.

80%.

That's huge. I love this county.

On the benefits of scrum: Avoiding Chaos

On the benefits of scrum: Avoiding Chaos

Does this sound familiar?
VP of sales: Can I get ?
Tech lead: Sure! We'll get right on that.
Tech lead, to worker bees: Do that thing!
Worker bees, drop everything, does the thing: Here's the thing.
Tech lead, to VP: Here's the thing!

--- a day later ---
Worker bee: where was I with the long term project I was working on? Huh, guess I'll start over.
Tech Lead: Why are we behind?!?

In my experience, that is both altogether common and complete chaos. The big items don't get done, because we understate the cost of task switching.

Within Scrum, this might look like:
VP of sales: Can I get ?
Any member of the dev team: That sounds really important. I'll have a talk with the product owner. We'll scope it out, and see if we can do it in this sprint, or if it'll need to wait.

Scrum Scenario 1
Product Owner to VP: is going to take about a day, and will cause us to be in jeopardy of not completing the sprint. You are the client. Is more important than ?
VP: No. No way. I need .
Product Owner: Cool. Then we'll do it next sprint. It sounds real important, so I'll put it top of the list. For now, let's scope it out more....
Worker: work work work. I know what I'm doing. Each day, I have a brief chat and know what to take on.

Scrum Scenario 2
Product Owner to VP: is going to take about a day, and will cause us to be in jeopardy of not completing the sprint. You are the client. Is more important than ?
VP: Yes. I need this within 2 days. Nothing in the sprint is as important as this. Product Owner: well dyamn. Abnormal sprint termination it is.
Tech lead, to worker bees: Do that thing!
Worker bees, drop everything, does the thing: Here's the thing.
Tech lead, to VP: Here's the thing!

I think this is right. I think it suggests a much lower level of chaos, where technical workers can continue to, ya know, focus on the hard technical problems.

Did I get this wrong? Does one seem better or worse to you?

Does mass transit cost $500/month?

Does mass transit cost $500/month?

Where by "mass transit", I mean:
1. Actual cost spent on metro / subway / BART / whatever.
2. Difference in rent to be close enough to use mass transit.
3. That may be it.

$500 is the number we go to in discussing car-ownership, and is total cost of ownership in the DC area from someone who rarely takes mass transit, ie drives to work. And doesn't have any kids.

For me:
(1) I spend very little per month, thanks to a subsidy from work. I spend maybe 20-40/month on metro. And I metro everyday.
(2) This is the kicker. Rents near to metro for a one-bed are easily $1,500. Rents out in the sticks are what, $1,200?

That's 350. If that is close to true across the board, then metro is cheaper than car ownership.

Easy ways to prove this is false:
A. I've got a fairly sweet deal, I admit.
B. I could be massively wrong about the cost of apartments out in the sticks. Do tell!

Probably some other things! But, it looks at first blush that not owning a car and living closer in due to it is cheaper than living further out and owning a car.

Virginias: Have you voted?

Virginias: Have you voted?

If not, do you need help voting?

Dianne Harris asks: Why are Culture Orbital's circles and not mobius strips?

Dianne Harris asks: Why are Culture Orbital's circles and not mobius strips?

I have no idea! Would this be awesome?

Alternatively, would everyone die?

Tony Lower-Basch asks: So what happens to the bodies of those who aren't becoming Lifeless?

Tony Lower-Basch asks: So what happens to the bodies of those who aren't becoming Lifeless?

Is there some sort of standard (quick-and-dirty) purification or incineration that needs to be done in order to keep them from catching free-floating necromantic energy and becoming weird critters the way you can (if you're patient or lucky) make sour-dough bread with wild-caught yeast just out of the air?

The world the Convocation is within have a large amount of magical background radiation. There are adventurers that can't fireballs, heal the sick, seemingly disappear and backstab, and who can take a dozen stab wounds and continue to fight.

So, short answer is: Yes.

The long answer is: Yes, absolutely. Before the convocation, the dead would rise and need to be dealt with. The Convocation reduced the number of dangerous undead dramatically. The adventurers and others could then focus on other work than dealing with these dead.

Exactly what to do to prevent the rise of the dead changes almost as a matter of fashion; burning and burial, praying and embalming have all worked at different times.

There's that magical energy laying around, and it's got to go somewhere. It is undirected and untrappable, like entropic energy.

Where's it go?

Does a car cost ~1,000/month?

Does a car cost ~1,000/month?

Where by "car" i mean:
1. Payment or annualized cost. That is, if the car cost $36,000 and I'd keep it for ten years, then that $3,600/year or $300/month. Similarly, if the payment $300/month on a loan, then that goes here. So, this is either upfront payment or monthly payment over the life of the car.
2. Gas
3. Insurance
4. Parking
5. Tickets
6. Maintenance and upkeep.
7. Taxes and other routine fees.

My guess is this is close to right, but I'm not sure. I don't have first-hand experience, as we've been a car-free household for eight years.

Is this anywhere close to right? If not, what am I missing?

On Games As Cultural Activity

On Games As Cultural Activity

Preface: I've got some fantastic gamers. Like, if they filled a table at dreamation it'd be a pretty dang good table fantastic gamers. So, take what I'm about to say knowing that.

Often, when I've picked up a new game and tried to run it -- even after reading it! -- there's something missing. Something crucial that the design knows to bring to the table, but that isn't translated in the text. This has happened with games from big awesome designers, and isn't meant to say their games are bad. Quite the opposite. I'm going to call out a couple, both by people who can take it.

Instead, the knowledge of how to play a game -- especially an RPG -- is transferred culturally by play.

I've heard of people who play Fiasco as a by the numbers enterprise in about 20 minutes, and are totally bored and don't get the point. The first time I played Ghost Court, it was meh. I did an entire run of Apocalypse World still thinking of it as mostly trad, and it was kinda lame. There was even a quest giver, though I kept hoping they'd shoot him.

This relates to kickstarter, of course. I don't need an autographed leather bound copy of a book. I need a paperback I can use and destroy, some pdfs, and a con slot. The games I know best I played at cons, or at least hung with the designer and talked about the game. Those are the ones I feel comfortable running, and where I am pretty sure I'm getting the most out of the design that I can.

Am I the only one?

I'm basically discovering amazonbasics / amazon essentials.

I'm basically discovering amazonbasics / amazon essentials.

These are at once amazing and kind of terrible. I got a laptop bag, and it's great and super cheap and really only good at carrying a laptop.

The USB cabes, for sure. That was the first item.
I just bought amazon essentials undies. They are ... fine. And about a quarter of the price.

What are some of your favorite amazon essentials / basics items?

Josh Mannon asks about the necromancers of Malqort:

Josh Mannon asks about the necromancers of Malqort:

Does debt play into one’s future as a lifeless or is becoming a lifeless seen as a patriotic/religious duty? Is the truth somewhere between?

This is a society where everyone's basic needs are met, thanks to the Lifeless farmers/builders/defenders, controlled by the priest caste.

Becoming a Lifeless is the last sacrament in the life of a Faithful. The best Lifeless require an act of will from the believer, and a priest present.

That being said, of course there are different types of undead in Malqort. The Lifeless are the overhwelming majority (maybe 95%?).

Some others:
Ghosts. The ghosts have a mind and their soul intact, so they have free will. They can move around -- though, some bind themselves to specification locations. Many priests wind up as ghosts, with power over Lifeless.

Objects. There are many objects of power in Malqort. There's even a transmission system between skulls, allowing for communication at a distance. A warrior may embody their favorite weapon with their essence upon death, a craftsman may choose to embody their tools.

Vampires. Undead with free will and bodies and the ability to move around are forbidden. These are anathema. Which is to say, it happens all the time. Some ruiniously powerful wizards / priests / others decide not to become a Lifeless or a ghost, and to build their own little empire in the afterlife. They are dealt with -- what good would necromancer priests be if they allowed the undead to take over?

So, debt qua debt doesn't play into it, though for sure class can.

In the Convocation of Malquort, known to its' neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom, and to legend as the Caliphate...

In the Convocation of Malquort, known to its' neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom, and to legend as the Caliphate of Azithan ...

The one percent own and control and primary means of production, namely the Lifeless. They build and maintain cities, grow crops, and fight. Multi-use public architecture, fields with three crops that work well together, and the dead do not feel pain when they fight.

This leaves the Citizens free to live lives where such necessities as housing, food, and defense are taken care of; by any modern standard, this is a post scarcity life.

What do they do, then?

Some run shops and businesses, participating in an economic system beyond mere survival. Some are doctors, others join guilds to learn crafts.

Some run schools. The priests run schools that act as a funnel into the priesthood, of course, and also to educate the population in the basics of the church. Guilds run their own schools, but the priests ensure some baseline of education is available to everyone.

Some make art; games, music, sculpture. There's a thriving art scene using found materials from the after sites of Lifeless construction, music both refined and street music. Games are a source of some magic.

Some retreat from the cities, taking to land for a family. Many of these still use the crops made by the Lifeless, though they have to go to Church to get it. Others retreat entirely from the Lifeless-fueled civilization, accepting only the benefits of the defenses.

The majority of priests take some time as missionaries; two years where they either bring the Faith to other lands, or work as researchers for the benefit of the Church itself. After this time, priests are able to work on their own, independently of other priests.

Throughout all of these, the Citizens are engaged in an ongoing discussion on the nature of their society, and much of their leisure activities are affected by the presence of Lifeless. This affects nearly every aspect of the society, in one way of another.

What do you want to know more about?

Can we focus on removing the traitor sitting in the Oval?

Can we focus on removing the traitor sitting in the Oval?

Originally shared by Conover Kennard

Whoops!

http://deepstatenation.com/primary-error-donna-brazile-mixed-up-two-different-clinton-dnc-agreements/

Pro tip: a spoonful of sugar can instantly stop hiccups. Depending on the type of hiccup.

Pro tip: a spoonful of sugar can instantly stop hiccups. Depending on the type of hiccup.

Hold it in your mouth. The sugar makes the misfiring saliva glands restart, and one type of hiccup starts with saliva glands messing up.

Weird. Also, gross. Also, effective.

I am pretty sure my taxes should be higher.

I am pretty sure my taxes should be higher.

I am also pretty sure we don't need the maintain a military capable of fighting two wars on opposite sides of the world.

I'd like more, not less, of my tax dollars to go to the needy. Let's write more checks and hand 'em out.

I'd like my tax dollars to go to building public options in a variety of domains. This would save us all money.

For example:
-- Let's allow anybody to get into medicaid. While we're at it, let's pay for all preventive healthcare.
-- Let's allow companies to use TSP rather than getting ripped off by 401(k) providers.
-- public utility broadband and phone service.
-- Roads are expensive, planes are treacherous. Let's build more trains.
-- monthly checks to anybody who, last year, qualified for the earned income tax credit, rather they filled out the earned income tax credit or not? Let's do that.
-- public option bank account. We'll put the checks there, not through a middleman.
-- public option car insurance
-- public option housing. Not "the projects", but units in buildings that are subsidized / buildings in fancy places that are subsidized / etc. I want the people who work in my apartment building to be able to live there. (And, sure, the folks who actually work for the mega corp get nice housing vouchers and can, but there's a whole slew of subcontractors who don't and can't)
-- public option student loans, cutting out the bank middlemen.

See, the thing is? These'll all have upfront costs. And then they'll all pay huge dividends. So, I have entirely selfish and economic reasons for wanting them, over and above them being the obviously right moral option.

These are the ones that seem pretty clear cut to me. Do you disagree? What else do we need?

Self-care Advice for cons, based on limited personal experience.

Self-care Advice for cons, based on limited personal experience.

Remember to bring:
-- your pills
-- a water bottle
-- snacks you trust
-- games or whatever, i guess.

My first Dreamation, I brought ibuprofen, apples, snack bars, a water bottle.

I had so much ibuprofen and so many apples I started giving them away. This scene played out multiple times:
Person: I am in pain. I wish I had some pain medicine.
Me: Here are 4 ibuprofen. Take as many as you want, and I will take the others.
Person: ... ::takes three, watches me::
Me, swallows the other one. "Now you know they are really ibuprofen."
person, swallows.

Also, this scene happened once:
Person: I am hungry. I don't want bar food. I could really go for an apple.
Me, sneakily puts an apple where they'll see it: Oh hey, there's an apple.
Person, dumbfounded: WHERE DID THIS COME FROM. I WILL EAT IT IF THATS OK

First, take care of yourself. If you are lucky enough to be able to offer help to others, do so with respect for their ability to say no. Don't let the helping others ruin your own self-care.

Cons are great. And its real easy not to realize how hard we're pushing ourselves.