These are the voyages of the Dauntless
Today, in our ongoing campaign of Jay Treat's Stranger Gravity:
... On ship, the Counselor who is a sentient cloud, Ferengi Diplomat, and Holographic Preacher are at the bar, discussing how good it is to have the XO off the ship. The Diplomat and the XO have been sleeping together, and he (Diplomat) feels he has to walk on eggshelves due to the volatile nature of our XO ..
.... On the planet, the XO was sent on an away mission to a planet of sports fanatics. Our intrepid XO first tries to befriend a fan of another team by offerieng a drink after it is suggested the obvious think is to disown family if they like the wrong team.
... Meanwhile, back on ship, the Engineer tells the Captain he wants to reconjigger the engines to get another 20% out of them, and we'll just need to turn off all primary ships functions especially thrust while he does it. The Captain agrees.
... Our XO, meanwhile, is in a drunk tank talking about team membership. We discover your team has to bail you out.
... The Diplomat sits on a sofa talking to the Counselor, who mirrors the position of anyone he talks to. They talk about the XO, and what the Diplomat means by walking on eggshells. They talk about the difficulty of relationships.
... The XO is offered a way out of the drunk tank: become a free agent. Her fanatic card is out of date, and she's offered a position -- a way to use the script of any Team and buy stuff from all of them. It's call the black market.
... The Captain, on the bridge, has a real conversation with his friend the diplomat about why the Captain can't talk to anyone about his problems.
... The XO frantically tries to call the ship with the subdermal comms implanted in her wrist when she came to this planet. The Diplomat hears "and they don't have money", and comes straight away.
... The Engineer and Diplomat argue about why on earth they shut the ship down. The Captain tells them to send a shuttle. The Diplomat leads the away mission.
... The XO and the free agents talk about what it means to exist in this world. It means dedication to a single sports team and, if your team loses badly enough, death. If they win well enough, life?
... The Engineer fixes the engines, with the assistance of the Counselor who almost gets the Engineer to really open up.
... The XO meets up with superfans during a game, and we all notice that as the team gets close to victory the fans are full of life-energy. As they get further away, the superfans literally lose life. They slump over. The XO tries to make a deal of being a free agent with one, but isn't so good at making deals.
... The Diplomat gets to the planet, and has no difficulty at all navigating the streets and finding where the XO must be. He negotiates past bouncers.
.. The XO tries to explain basic concepts of the free market to the black marketers, who are now sequestered. One of them falls into a coma at the idea of no one believing in you.
... The Diplomat, witha superfan in tow, enters where the XO is. They converse. The XO does an about 180, and convinces the Diplomat that it is a bad idea to teach these people free market economics.
... Meanwhile, onboard ship, the ship's systems are fixed and operations.
... The XO, using some pretty unsophisticated leadership skills ("They don't have space flight. Therefore, what applies?" "pr--pp" "That's right, the prime directive. It's wrong to teach them about money")
... Everybody goes home. We kinda won?
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
I might wind up being invited to run three games at Dreamation. That's delightful!
I might wind up being invited to run three games at Dreamation. That's delightful!
Monday, January 29, 2018
Just read a thing, and would like to see if the internet destroys it the same way I think it can be.
Just read a thing, and would like to see if the internet destroys it the same way I think it can be.
The claim is: Poor white people and poor black people have equally hard lives. That police shootings affect poor people more than black people, and that black lives matters should be porlivesmatter.
Here's my thought:
Grant the premise that, as the argument claims, poverty is a more important variable in police shoots than is race. [ Please Note: Granting the premise is a rhetorical technique, and in no way should be taken to denote my own beliefs. ]
It is still easily the case that poverty more easily affects people who society does not view as white, perhaps most obviously African-Americans. That is, poor white people have resources -- including societal privilege -- that is not granted to African-Americans. I'd suggest the burden of proof is on anyone arguing against this.
Which, in case I need to go further, means that race is more important than class when it comes to such matters as police brutality.
That's how I'd quickly deconstruct that argument. Anyone else want to take a shot?
The claim is: Poor white people and poor black people have equally hard lives. That police shootings affect poor people more than black people, and that black lives matters should be porlivesmatter.
Here's my thought:
Grant the premise that, as the argument claims, poverty is a more important variable in police shoots than is race. [ Please Note: Granting the premise is a rhetorical technique, and in no way should be taken to denote my own beliefs. ]
It is still easily the case that poverty more easily affects people who society does not view as white, perhaps most obviously African-Americans. That is, poor white people have resources -- including societal privilege -- that is not granted to African-Americans. I'd suggest the burden of proof is on anyone arguing against this.
Which, in case I need to go further, means that race is more important than class when it comes to such matters as police brutality.
That's how I'd quickly deconstruct that argument. Anyone else want to take a shot?
Sunday, January 28, 2018
SNL was on point.
SNL was on point.
Two sketches:
-- The group having dinner, talking about metoo and Aziz.
-- The deodorant Next for men who know the metoo movement is about to get.
On my end, I've been present in some workplace conversations that went about like this:
Workplace proximate colleague: The metoo movement is trying men without a trial or evidence.
Me: ... Isn't it more like people don't want to work with those men, and folks are finally saying so in public?
Workplace proximate colleague: Weinstein is gross, sure. But, come on, Kevin Spacey?
Other Person # 1: He raped a kid!
Workplace proximate colleague: It was 30 years ago. he was 19. The "kid" was 14. And it's he said, he said, and you're all choosing to ignore what Spacey says!
Me: ... How about Azis?
Workplace proximate colleague: Whose that?
Me: ... A comedian. He did some shitty things.
Other Person # 1: Nothing he is accused of compares. That's metoo run amuck
Workplace proximate colleague: And now people won't work with him! Typical.
There's this toxic combination of ignorance and a disregard for the perspectives of others that I'm never sure how to handle. Usually, at this point, I ask if they've heard about Tom Hanks. Who, by all accounts, has been nice and kind to everyone.
I'm not really sure what to do in that conversation. I've considered:
Workplace proximate colleague: The #metoo movement is trying men without a trial.
Me: It's not a trial. It's whispers moved to conversation, we've become privvy to what people have had to whisper about these men for 100 years. It's the underprivileged finally about to stand up to the powerful, and about damn time.
Or even:
Me: That's the stupidest thing you've ever said. You are a danger to this company. You should quit before you say this in front a client and HR has to fire you.
Maybe, just:
Me: That's the sort of opinion that causes unsafe workplaces. I think it best if you not say it where other people can hear you.
Or, perhaps:
Me... ::leaves::
Two sketches:
-- The group having dinner, talking about metoo and Aziz.
-- The deodorant Next for men who know the metoo movement is about to get.
On my end, I've been present in some workplace conversations that went about like this:
Workplace proximate colleague: The metoo movement is trying men without a trial or evidence.
Me: ... Isn't it more like people don't want to work with those men, and folks are finally saying so in public?
Workplace proximate colleague: Weinstein is gross, sure. But, come on, Kevin Spacey?
Other Person # 1: He raped a kid!
Workplace proximate colleague: It was 30 years ago. he was 19. The "kid" was 14. And it's he said, he said, and you're all choosing to ignore what Spacey says!
Me: ... How about Azis?
Workplace proximate colleague: Whose that?
Me: ... A comedian. He did some shitty things.
Other Person # 1: Nothing he is accused of compares. That's metoo run amuck
Workplace proximate colleague: And now people won't work with him! Typical.
There's this toxic combination of ignorance and a disregard for the perspectives of others that I'm never sure how to handle. Usually, at this point, I ask if they've heard about Tom Hanks. Who, by all accounts, has been nice and kind to everyone.
I'm not really sure what to do in that conversation. I've considered:
Workplace proximate colleague: The #metoo movement is trying men without a trial.
Me: It's not a trial. It's whispers moved to conversation, we've become privvy to what people have had to whisper about these men for 100 years. It's the underprivileged finally about to stand up to the powerful, and about damn time.
Or even:
Me: That's the stupidest thing you've ever said. You are a danger to this company. You should quit before you say this in front a client and HR has to fire you.
Maybe, just:
Me: That's the sort of opinion that causes unsafe workplaces. I think it best if you not say it where other people can hear you.
Or, perhaps:
Me... ::leaves::
Saturday, January 27, 2018
I woke up thinking about the Convocation of Malqort, known to legend as the Caliphate of Azithan, and to it's...
I woke up thinking about the Convocation of Malqort, known to legend as the Caliphate of Azithan, and to it's neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom....
Or, more precisely, about buildings.
Design goal: a single building, buildable by Lifeless labor, that can contain nearly everything needed in a city. I need some ideas as I woke up, then walked around the neighborhood and thought about it some more.
The six or so story tenement is as old as Rome, then called the Insulae. Running water and sanitation, somehow. All but the poorest could live here.
We can do one step better.
Different cities experiment with different ways to shelter the Faithful. One version sounds like this:
-- Six stories. The first floor is given over to retail, maker spaces, kitchens. Almost always, a church. Basement is Lifeless and other storage
-- Obvious frontage, with a concierge. The majority of the first floor is communal spaces, and a few apartments.
-- Windows are covered in a loose leather, giving light and keeping out bugs. If you want glass, you can pay for that yourself. Glass is expensive. Additionally, in case of storms, storm shutters.
-- Temperature is regulated by cistern of water at the top, which is refilled and used through the day. This water gets warm during the day, and the heat released during the night -- keeping the building within liveable temperates.
-- Some first floor shops we'd recognize: school, restaurant, grocery, gym, useable green space.
-- Rent includes access to these, essentially a fiat currency. Not a company script, a fiat currency. What's the difference?
-- The grocery does as much prework as possible, selling ready meals for different sized groups.
-- Communal kitchens are available.
These are as long as a city block, as deep as needed. Each one is essentially a city, with some shared services. That is, each one has maybe 80% of what is needed, and folks flitter from one to the other as need be.
Private orphanages are unheard of in the Convocation. Instead, if children do not have parents -- or if their parents suck -- they are taken care of by the buildings. These children often grow up to be priests or other workers in the church. Not always, and it's not a rule. It's just common -- the same way teachers kids grow up to be teachers, and lawyers kids grow up to be lawyers.
The priests, of course, can and do marry. While their kids often become priests, there's a general rule against hiring people you are related to. You want them to go far away and learn different perspectives.
That's one version of a city in the Convocation of Malqort. What's another?
Or, more precisely, about buildings.
Design goal: a single building, buildable by Lifeless labor, that can contain nearly everything needed in a city. I need some ideas as I woke up, then walked around the neighborhood and thought about it some more.
The six or so story tenement is as old as Rome, then called the Insulae. Running water and sanitation, somehow. All but the poorest could live here.
We can do one step better.
Different cities experiment with different ways to shelter the Faithful. One version sounds like this:
-- Six stories. The first floor is given over to retail, maker spaces, kitchens. Almost always, a church. Basement is Lifeless and other storage
-- Obvious frontage, with a concierge. The majority of the first floor is communal spaces, and a few apartments.
-- Windows are covered in a loose leather, giving light and keeping out bugs. If you want glass, you can pay for that yourself. Glass is expensive. Additionally, in case of storms, storm shutters.
-- Temperature is regulated by cistern of water at the top, which is refilled and used through the day. This water gets warm during the day, and the heat released during the night -- keeping the building within liveable temperates.
-- Some first floor shops we'd recognize: school, restaurant, grocery, gym, useable green space.
-- Rent includes access to these, essentially a fiat currency. Not a company script, a fiat currency. What's the difference?
-- The grocery does as much prework as possible, selling ready meals for different sized groups.
-- Communal kitchens are available.
These are as long as a city block, as deep as needed. Each one is essentially a city, with some shared services. That is, each one has maybe 80% of what is needed, and folks flitter from one to the other as need be.
Private orphanages are unheard of in the Convocation. Instead, if children do not have parents -- or if their parents suck -- they are taken care of by the buildings. These children often grow up to be priests or other workers in the church. Not always, and it's not a rule. It's just common -- the same way teachers kids grow up to be teachers, and lawyers kids grow up to be lawyers.
The priests, of course, can and do marry. While their kids often become priests, there's a general rule against hiring people you are related to. You want them to go far away and learn different perspectives.
That's one version of a city in the Convocation of Malqort. What's another?
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Lex Larson, who asked.
Lex Larson, who asked.
I'm a new scrum master. Hooray. We're building BI solutions.
The team is largely in south america. That is, everyone more technical than me is down South. We've got a half dozen DBAs, who have a manager.
Up here is me and the PO. The PO is my boss, and the boss of the DBA's manager.
We've got the following problems that I may need help in how to resolve:
1. Our last spring planning session was two weeks ago. It was chaotic, as the PO kept demanding that we take on more work. I told her it was too much a couple of times, as did some of the engineers. She insisted. Additionally, she said our estimates were wrong. It was ... not good. I knew what was going to happen: the sprint was going to fail.
2. It got worse. The DSM's became explanation and micromanagement from the PO, instead of the simple "what did you do yesterday/today/blocks" that it should be. One of them went an hour, and I was unable to successfully intercede.
3. At those DSMs, she was assigning new and different work than had been agreed to. Work assignments for the engineers also changed through the day. It was chaos.
I've done the following:
-- Talked to the manager down South, who called me concerned. She knew as I did that we weren't going to hit any of the goals for the sprint.
-- Talked to the PO, who insisted priorities would continue to change. I've told her that if this happens, we won't be able to deliver.
So ... my dearest internet: What, other than having a backbone, am I to do?
I'm a new scrum master. Hooray. We're building BI solutions.
The team is largely in south america. That is, everyone more technical than me is down South. We've got a half dozen DBAs, who have a manager.
Up here is me and the PO. The PO is my boss, and the boss of the DBA's manager.
We've got the following problems that I may need help in how to resolve:
1. Our last spring planning session was two weeks ago. It was chaotic, as the PO kept demanding that we take on more work. I told her it was too much a couple of times, as did some of the engineers. She insisted. Additionally, she said our estimates were wrong. It was ... not good. I knew what was going to happen: the sprint was going to fail.
2. It got worse. The DSM's became explanation and micromanagement from the PO, instead of the simple "what did you do yesterday/today/blocks" that it should be. One of them went an hour, and I was unable to successfully intercede.
3. At those DSMs, she was assigning new and different work than had been agreed to. Work assignments for the engineers also changed through the day. It was chaos.
I've done the following:
-- Talked to the manager down South, who called me concerned. She knew as I did that we weren't going to hit any of the goals for the sprint.
-- Talked to the PO, who insisted priorities would continue to change. I've told her that if this happens, we won't be able to deliver.
So ... my dearest internet: What, other than having a backbone, am I to do?
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
My dearest internet
My dearest internet,
Please find me the cheapest computer that will run this:
http://support.kleientertainment.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2743818-oxygen-not-included-minimum-system-requirements
http://support.kleientertainment.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2743818-oxygen-not-included-minimum-system-requirements
Please find me the cheapest computer that will run this:
http://support.kleientertainment.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2743818-oxygen-not-included-minimum-system-requirements
http://support.kleientertainment.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2743818-oxygen-not-included-minimum-system-requirements
Monday, January 22, 2018
Black Mirror: Season 4. This is the definitive ranking of the episodes by quality.
Black Mirror: Season 4. This is the definitive ranking of the episodes by quality.
Spoilers, so beware.
spoiler space
spoiler space
spoiler space
spoiler space
Number 6: Crocodile. Bad science, bad noir. Worst episode of the season. Minimal characterizations, no real investigation. Just ever increasing stakes and bad action.
Number 5: Metalhead. Enjoyable, but didn't tell us enough. No real investigation into humanity, just -- RUN. Loved that it was black and white, and shiny and chrome.
-- Episodes beyond this line are frightfully good. ---
Number 4: Arkangel. Good, solid Black Mirror Episode. Delved into helicoper parenting, and how technology warps our relationships. Exactly what I want from BM. Ending was too neat.
Number 3: USS Calister. A star trek homage with toxic masculinity? Yes, please. Ending was too happy for Black Mirror. Bad guy is punished, our protagonist and new friends are free and have a ship.
Number 2: Hang the DJ. What's that, a society that digitally simulations millions of sentient people as a dating app? I adored this episode, every single moment.
Number 1: Black Museum. This episode had everything, even our cowgirl riding off into the sunset on a white steed. References to other episodes, the suggestion that the fall from goodness is an invisible slope and that science creates monsters. And, we know what'll happen when our protagonist disagrees with her copilot... and that monkey won't be happy for long ....
You are allowed to disagree, i suppose. And to discuss. With spoilers.
Spoilers, so beware.
spoiler space
spoiler space
spoiler space
spoiler space
Number 6: Crocodile. Bad science, bad noir. Worst episode of the season. Minimal characterizations, no real investigation. Just ever increasing stakes and bad action.
Number 5: Metalhead. Enjoyable, but didn't tell us enough. No real investigation into humanity, just -- RUN. Loved that it was black and white, and shiny and chrome.
-- Episodes beyond this line are frightfully good. ---
Number 4: Arkangel. Good, solid Black Mirror Episode. Delved into helicoper parenting, and how technology warps our relationships. Exactly what I want from BM. Ending was too neat.
Number 3: USS Calister. A star trek homage with toxic masculinity? Yes, please. Ending was too happy for Black Mirror. Bad guy is punished, our protagonist and new friends are free and have a ship.
Number 2: Hang the DJ. What's that, a society that digitally simulations millions of sentient people as a dating app? I adored this episode, every single moment.
Number 1: Black Museum. This episode had everything, even our cowgirl riding off into the sunset on a white steed. References to other episodes, the suggestion that the fall from goodness is an invisible slope and that science creates monsters. And, we know what'll happen when our protagonist disagrees with her copilot... and that monkey won't be happy for long ....
You are allowed to disagree, i suppose. And to discuss. With spoilers.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
A tale of a mercantile spacecraft, in spreadsheet form.
A tale of a mercantile spacecraft, in spreadsheet form.
Outing 1: No real plan. From Drunia to Solstice.
Time in port: a week. Cost: 1,000 (inclusive of salaries, food, air, water, etc)
Time during outing: 6 weeks. Cost: 6,000
One Hyperspace jump. Cost: 1,000.
Mortgage: 700
Cargos: an unremarkable cargo pod, revenue of 10,000.
Net profit: 1,300
To the company, 20%: $260
To the crew: $1,040
Shares: 13.5 (3 for the Captain, 2 for each other officer (Cargo, Steward, Engineering, XO, 2nd officer), 2.5 for the crew (1 at fullshare, 3 at half share)
Profit per share: ~77. We're in the black, but only just.
Profit per week per share: $10
Outing 2: A plan! From Drunia to Solstice, thinking about profits.
Time in port: 2 days. Cost: $250
Time during outing: 5 weeks. Cost: $5,000
One hyperspace jump. Cost: $1,000
Mortgage: 450
Cargoes: Well chosen priority cargo pod, revenue of $25,000
Net profit: $20,300
To the company, 20%: $4,060
To the crew: $16,240
Shares: 15 (Cap: 3. 4 officers: 2 each. Crew: 4, as all made full share).
Profit per share > $1,080.
Profit per week per share: ~$200
Morals of the story:
0. Making people aware of incentives matters.
1. Revenue matters.
2. Costs matter.
3. If you have time-based costs like a mortgage, leverage each day towards productivity.
4. Train your people. They'll be happier, healthier, and more productive.
5. Companies are rent takers.
Outing 1: No real plan. From Drunia to Solstice.
Time in port: a week. Cost: 1,000 (inclusive of salaries, food, air, water, etc)
Time during outing: 6 weeks. Cost: 6,000
One Hyperspace jump. Cost: 1,000.
Mortgage: 700
Cargos: an unremarkable cargo pod, revenue of 10,000.
Net profit: 1,300
To the company, 20%: $260
To the crew: $1,040
Shares: 13.5 (3 for the Captain, 2 for each other officer (Cargo, Steward, Engineering, XO, 2nd officer), 2.5 for the crew (1 at fullshare, 3 at half share)
Profit per share: ~77. We're in the black, but only just.
Profit per week per share: $10
Outing 2: A plan! From Drunia to Solstice, thinking about profits.
Time in port: 2 days. Cost: $250
Time during outing: 5 weeks. Cost: $5,000
One hyperspace jump. Cost: $1,000
Mortgage: 450
Cargoes: Well chosen priority cargo pod, revenue of $25,000
Net profit: $20,300
To the company, 20%: $4,060
To the crew: $16,240
Shares: 15 (Cap: 3. 4 officers: 2 each. Crew: 4, as all made full share).
Profit per share > $1,080.
Profit per week per share: ~$200
Morals of the story:
0. Making people aware of incentives matters.
1. Revenue matters.
2. Costs matter.
3. If you have time-based costs like a mortgage, leverage each day towards productivity.
4. Train your people. They'll be happier, healthier, and more productive.
5. Companies are rent takers.
How does Games on Demand work?
How does Games on Demand work?
This year, I don't have the emotional energy to prep stuff for Dreamation. Given how work has been, I'll barely have the energy to reg for games.
I've never done games on demand, or IgX in general. Do I just show up, with or without a game and gaming materials, and see what's happening?
Is it like the Dreamation bar, but more focused on gaming?
This year, I don't have the emotional energy to prep stuff for Dreamation. Given how work has been, I'll barely have the energy to reg for games.
I've never done games on demand, or IgX in general. Do I just show up, with or without a game and gaming materials, and see what's happening?
Is it like the Dreamation bar, but more focused on gaming?
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Got to see the VP today. Surrounded by a sea of pink pussy hats.
Got to see the VP today. Surrounded by a sea of pink pussy hats.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EnhcAalqszOuwvPp1
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EnhcAalqszOuwvPp1
Friday, January 19, 2018
Talk to me about spaceships in RPGs.
Talk to me about spaceships in RPGs.
What is important about them, and what do you care about in them?
Some ideas:
guns!
trade!
speed!
FTL Capability!
environmental!
passenger capacity!
freight capacity!
size!
food!
crew size!
What else? Which of these matter to you?
What is important about them, and what do you care about in them?
Some ideas:
guns!
trade!
speed!
FTL Capability!
environmental!
passenger capacity!
freight capacity!
size!
food!
crew size!
What else? Which of these matter to you?
Thursday, January 18, 2018
I'm not sure if it's better for the old, evil, lying man to keep over and die, or publicly put on trial, sins an...
I'm not sure if it's better for the old, evil, lying man to keep over and die, or publicly put on trial, sins an ills made public.
Both prevent future harm, and I don't know which causes more good or reduces the most harm.
Or, if there is some third option that I'm not thinking of.
Both prevent future harm, and I don't know which causes more good or reduces the most harm.
Or, if there is some third option that I'm not thinking of.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
SPOILERS below for the Terra Ignota series.
SPOILERS below for the Terra Ignota series.
The code of universal laws:
First law: It is an intolerable crime to take an action likely to cause extensive or uncontrolled loss of human life or suffering of human beings. [Clarification: Proselytizing outside Reservations violates this law.]
Second law: It is an intolerable crime to do significant and measureable damage to Nature or the Produce of Civilization, or to take an action likely to result in extensive or uncontrolled destruction of the same.
Third Law: It is an intolerable crime to kill or seriously harm a Minor. [Note: This includes high-functional non-human animals and AIs]
Fourth Law: It is an intolerable crime to deprive a human being [or nonhuman Minor] of the ability to call for help or otherwise successfully contact fellow human beings. [Note: This includes destroying or removing a tracker]
Fifth Law: It is an intolerable crime to inflict torturous and unnecessary suffering upon a living animal which is not a human being and thus incapable of fully informed consent.
Sixth Law: It is an intolerable crime to interfere with or disregard reasonable directives issued by a police officer, firefighter, doctor, or other agent or an Authority carrying out a mandate to enforce these Universal Laws or to protect the human race, intelligence life, Nature, or the Produce of Civilization.
Seventh Law: It is an intolerable crime to break a legal contract which one has made voluntarily without duress or pressure, and with fully understanding of its terms, conditions, and consequences, unless an unforeseen change in circumstances renders the contract's terms destructive, absurd, or cruel, in which case a settlement must be found which is as fair as possible to all parties who have acted in good faith throughout.
Eighth Law [added later]: We do not anger the Leviathans. This Eighth Law applies exclusively to those, known commonly as Blacklaw Hiveless, who bind themselves to no laws but these Universal Laws, and it may be applied and enforced only by the same.
What do you think of these laws? Are there others that you, dear young reader, believe should apply to all persons? Conversely, do you believe any of these laws should NOT apply to a human being?
Explain and expand.
The code of universal laws:
First law: It is an intolerable crime to take an action likely to cause extensive or uncontrolled loss of human life or suffering of human beings. [Clarification: Proselytizing outside Reservations violates this law.]
Second law: It is an intolerable crime to do significant and measureable damage to Nature or the Produce of Civilization, or to take an action likely to result in extensive or uncontrolled destruction of the same.
Third Law: It is an intolerable crime to kill or seriously harm a Minor. [Note: This includes high-functional non-human animals and AIs]
Fourth Law: It is an intolerable crime to deprive a human being [or nonhuman Minor] of the ability to call for help or otherwise successfully contact fellow human beings. [Note: This includes destroying or removing a tracker]
Fifth Law: It is an intolerable crime to inflict torturous and unnecessary suffering upon a living animal which is not a human being and thus incapable of fully informed consent.
Sixth Law: It is an intolerable crime to interfere with or disregard reasonable directives issued by a police officer, firefighter, doctor, or other agent or an Authority carrying out a mandate to enforce these Universal Laws or to protect the human race, intelligence life, Nature, or the Produce of Civilization.
Seventh Law: It is an intolerable crime to break a legal contract which one has made voluntarily without duress or pressure, and with fully understanding of its terms, conditions, and consequences, unless an unforeseen change in circumstances renders the contract's terms destructive, absurd, or cruel, in which case a settlement must be found which is as fair as possible to all parties who have acted in good faith throughout.
Eighth Law [added later]: We do not anger the Leviathans. This Eighth Law applies exclusively to those, known commonly as Blacklaw Hiveless, who bind themselves to no laws but these Universal Laws, and it may be applied and enforced only by the same.
What do you think of these laws? Are there others that you, dear young reader, believe should apply to all persons? Conversely, do you believe any of these laws should NOT apply to a human being?
Explain and expand.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
This is going to be good. Burn the old guard.
This is going to be good. Burn the old guard.
https://blackgirlgameworks.com/2018/01/08/kicking-open-the-gates/
https://blackgirlgameworks.com/2018/01/08/kicking-open-the-gates/
https://blackgirlgameworks.com/2018/01/08/kicking-open-the-gates/
https://blackgirlgameworks.com/2018/01/08/kicking-open-the-gates/
Monday, January 8, 2018
Too Like The Lightning: A primer
Too Like The Lightning: A primer
The following contains spoilers.
The world of Too Like The Lightning is near a utopia. The primary governing bodies are the Seven Hives Alliance, and the bash.
What's a hive? To best explain the Hives, let us start with the six-hive transit system. The six hives who participate in the transit system are:
-- Humanists, who believe in maximizing the human capability and maintain the transit car system.
-- MASON, the Empire.
-- Cousins, who help others
-- Europe, which is all those who value location.
-- Mitsubishi, who value land ownership
-- Gordians, who are psychologists
The Hive not participating in the six-hive transit system is:
-- Utopia, who knows cars sometimes crash and is unwilling to accept the failure rate.
Choice of a hive is a personal choice made when one passes the adult competency exams; the different hives have different rules for entering and leaving.
And what of those who do not choose to join a hive? Three options, they:
-- Blacklaw, who accept only the seven "universal laws", and, in addition, have adopted their own eighth law: do not anger the Leviathans.
-- Greylaw. All minors are greylaws until they pass the adult competence exams. They follow the seven universal laws plus adopted "consensus laws"
-- Whitelaw: Follow all laws of the greylaws, plus accepted "character laws".
What, then, is a bash?
-- A chosen family, of 5 to 50 or so adults and their children before their children choose a Bash. Can be entirely one Hive, but more commonly a mixture.
Every adult has:
-- A bash
-- a Hive, or has chosen to not have one
-- a home for their bash
-- a home food-tree, that grows all sorts of plants and meats
-- free access to the six-hive transit system, which can take you from Spain to Tokya in hours.
-- a job of some sort. For non-vocatuers, about 10 hours a week. For those who are vocatuers, work as long as they like.
Every child has:
-- bash parents
-- everything in a bash
-- the protection of the Cousins and the Greylaws.
Religion: Discussion of religion by three or more people without a sensayer present is a violation of the First Universal Law, as it is likely to end with massive loss of human life as it did during the Church Wars.
What, dear reader, do you think of this world?
The following contains spoilers.
The world of Too Like The Lightning is near a utopia. The primary governing bodies are the Seven Hives Alliance, and the bash.
What's a hive? To best explain the Hives, let us start with the six-hive transit system. The six hives who participate in the transit system are:
-- Humanists, who believe in maximizing the human capability and maintain the transit car system.
-- MASON, the Empire.
-- Cousins, who help others
-- Europe, which is all those who value location.
-- Mitsubishi, who value land ownership
-- Gordians, who are psychologists
The Hive not participating in the six-hive transit system is:
-- Utopia, who knows cars sometimes crash and is unwilling to accept the failure rate.
Choice of a hive is a personal choice made when one passes the adult competency exams; the different hives have different rules for entering and leaving.
And what of those who do not choose to join a hive? Three options, they:
-- Blacklaw, who accept only the seven "universal laws", and, in addition, have adopted their own eighth law: do not anger the Leviathans.
-- Greylaw. All minors are greylaws until they pass the adult competence exams. They follow the seven universal laws plus adopted "consensus laws"
-- Whitelaw: Follow all laws of the greylaws, plus accepted "character laws".
What, then, is a bash?
-- A chosen family, of 5 to 50 or so adults and their children before their children choose a Bash. Can be entirely one Hive, but more commonly a mixture.
Every adult has:
-- A bash
-- a Hive, or has chosen to not have one
-- a home for their bash
-- a home food-tree, that grows all sorts of plants and meats
-- free access to the six-hive transit system, which can take you from Spain to Tokya in hours.
-- a job of some sort. For non-vocatuers, about 10 hours a week. For those who are vocatuers, work as long as they like.
Every child has:
-- bash parents
-- everything in a bash
-- the protection of the Cousins and the Greylaws.
Religion: Discussion of religion by three or more people without a sensayer present is a violation of the First Universal Law, as it is likely to end with massive loss of human life as it did during the Church Wars.
What, dear reader, do you think of this world?
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Too Like The Lightning may be the great novel I ever have read.
Too Like The Lightning may be the great novel I ever have read.
Or, it might be terrible. I'm halfway through the third book of the series, The Will To Battle, and I still don't know.
I'm lost about a quarter of the time. Does the novel challenge me, or is it itself confused?
The protagonist has discussions with the Young Reader, Master Reader, and Thomas Hobbes. Is this a poor trick, or is it an expertly used knife searing away avarice and distrust?
The social structures in the novel are nearly as foreign to my eyes as to The Visitor, whom the novel often addresses as The Addressee. I do not know to what extend this is intentional, to what extent I fail to live up to the novel's beliefs of it's readers, or if it is a byproduct of the Author taking more upon herself than any of our dear Hobbes's Leviathans ever could.
There are exchanges in this novel that, when I reread them, I feel the turn of the ages and the swelling of humanity. I do not know, dear reader, if this is merely a product of my own dreams and faverstate, or if this Author has written a poem worthy of the Visitor.
In short, this novel is either among the greatest that I have ever read, or it is a foolish endeavor that has momentarily deceived me. I knowest not, and pray you would help me understand.
Also, no spoilers.
Or, it might be terrible. I'm halfway through the third book of the series, The Will To Battle, and I still don't know.
I'm lost about a quarter of the time. Does the novel challenge me, or is it itself confused?
The protagonist has discussions with the Young Reader, Master Reader, and Thomas Hobbes. Is this a poor trick, or is it an expertly used knife searing away avarice and distrust?
The social structures in the novel are nearly as foreign to my eyes as to The Visitor, whom the novel often addresses as The Addressee. I do not know to what extend this is intentional, to what extent I fail to live up to the novel's beliefs of it's readers, or if it is a byproduct of the Author taking more upon herself than any of our dear Hobbes's Leviathans ever could.
There are exchanges in this novel that, when I reread them, I feel the turn of the ages and the swelling of humanity. I do not know, dear reader, if this is merely a product of my own dreams and faverstate, or if this Author has written a poem worthy of the Visitor.
In short, this novel is either among the greatest that I have ever read, or it is a foolish endeavor that has momentarily deceived me. I knowest not, and pray you would help me understand.
Also, no spoilers.
A conversation that happens often!
A conversation that happens often!
Individual: William, I used to play D&D and would like to again. You play games! Will you teach me D&D?
Me:...
Me: I'm not competent to do that. Can we talk about what you love and hate about D&D?
Individual: Sure! I love a group getting together, talking about cool, hot, hard adventurers travelling across the world overcoming monsters and taking their loot. That's so metal, and D&D does that.
Me: ... And what do you hate?
Individual: Oh man, I remember doing spreadsheets for the math. So much math. And the books were always hard to find the numbers I needed. And why oh why is a magic weapon boring?
Me: Can we talk about a game called Dungeon World?
Individual: ::Suspicions:: What's that?
Me: It's a love letter to dungeon and dragons. Let me print out the character sheet right now....
Individual: THIS IS METAL!
This happens to me almost once a month. Highly recommended.
The conversation can go other ways, of course. Sometimes, they want D&D AND THEY MEAN IT, and I cannot help them. Sometimes, they want a different genre and I recommend a different game.
But, by and large, in my experience, people only know one option. Opening up other options shows them that the bonds and chains they have accepted are only in their own mind.
This applies to other areas of course, too. Sometimes -- very rarely -- it is the first time they'e become aware of a chain that isn't real. Then I have to be really careful.
Is this just me?
Individual: William, I used to play D&D and would like to again. You play games! Will you teach me D&D?
Me:...
Me: I'm not competent to do that. Can we talk about what you love and hate about D&D?
Individual: Sure! I love a group getting together, talking about cool, hot, hard adventurers travelling across the world overcoming monsters and taking their loot. That's so metal, and D&D does that.
Me: ... And what do you hate?
Individual: Oh man, I remember doing spreadsheets for the math. So much math. And the books were always hard to find the numbers I needed. And why oh why is a magic weapon boring?
Me: Can we talk about a game called Dungeon World?
Individual: ::Suspicions:: What's that?
Me: It's a love letter to dungeon and dragons. Let me print out the character sheet right now....
Individual: THIS IS METAL!
This happens to me almost once a month. Highly recommended.
The conversation can go other ways, of course. Sometimes, they want D&D AND THEY MEAN IT, and I cannot help them. Sometimes, they want a different genre and I recommend a different game.
But, by and large, in my experience, people only know one option. Opening up other options shows them that the bonds and chains they have accepted are only in their own mind.
This applies to other areas of course, too. Sometimes -- very rarely -- it is the first time they'e become aware of a chain that isn't real. Then I have to be really careful.
Is this just me?
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
In a post a few days ago, I inadvertently caused emotional harm to people I care about.
In a post a few days ago, I inadvertently caused emotional harm to people I care about. If you don't know what this is about: great, good! If you do and the following is insufficient, please ping me privately.
To start: I apologize. I screwed up.
Folks harmed have created games that have, among other things, made me laugh, cry, sing, dance, prepared me for a promotion, expanded my empathy and perspective, made me a better person, man, and husband.
That what I was said was taken as not valuing that took me by shock and surprise. Those conversations have deep and abiding meaning for me. I left the thread for real world concerns, and did not reopen it as I needed to process that. I read everything.
The truth of what I was talking about is one I discovered real quick is one that my friends are vested in in a way I don't really understand, and I'd prefer to have you all as friends than to investigate the truth of the statement.
I don't have to understand it -- and may not be able to understand it -- to know that my relationships are more important to me than being right.
To start: I apologize. I screwed up.
Folks harmed have created games that have, among other things, made me laugh, cry, sing, dance, prepared me for a promotion, expanded my empathy and perspective, made me a better person, man, and husband.
That what I was said was taken as not valuing that took me by shock and surprise. Those conversations have deep and abiding meaning for me. I left the thread for real world concerns, and did not reopen it as I needed to process that. I read everything.
The truth of what I was talking about is one I discovered real quick is one that my friends are vested in in a way I don't really understand, and I'd prefer to have you all as friends than to investigate the truth of the statement.
I don't have to understand it -- and may not be able to understand it -- to know that my relationships are more important to me than being right.
Monday, January 1, 2018
Joshua Fox
Joshua Fox
You have hit all my buttons at once. I want your game. Help me get it?
https://twitter.com/rabalias/status/947938399545102341
Thanks to Misha B for the link share. She knows my buttons.
https://twitter.com/rabalias/status/947938399545102341
You have hit all my buttons at once. I want your game. Help me get it?
https://twitter.com/rabalias/status/947938399545102341
Thanks to Misha B for the link share. She knows my buttons.
https://twitter.com/rabalias/status/947938399545102341
This may be the greatest thing I've ever read:
This may be the greatest thing I've ever read:
It does us no favors to imagine that we can ever become immune to darkness. Fear, hatred, and jealousy will always come back for us, and we will always, sometimes, fail to resist.
Star Wars spoilers in comments.
It does us no favors to imagine that we can ever become immune to darkness. Fear, hatred, and jealousy will always come back for us, and we will always, sometimes, fail to resist.
Star Wars spoilers in comments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)