Search found 5499 matches

by Lothar
Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:37 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Going Rambo on D1 level 6 (And other levels)
Replies: 417
Views: 826127

Re: Going Rambo on D1 level 6 (And other levels)

*I use 25 because two very well known games from around that era were programmed specifically with that number in mind: Doom and Diablo II. Both run their game engines at 25 "ticks" per second That's actually the number we chose for homing missile behavior in Retro -- it's what felt "like old ...
by Lothar
Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:55 pm
Forum: Descent Single Player
Topic: Going Rambo on D1 level 6 (And other levels)
Replies: 417
Views: 826127

Re: Going Rambo on D1 level 6 (And other levels)

Stx-vile played it with that buggy version, where one fusion shot hits the reactor multiple times. .... I think this bug doesnt work in original game.. Or am I wrong? It's an original-version bug. "Which version" is a pretty big deal for comparison of speed runs. The collision fix in Retro Mod was ...
by Lothar
Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:41 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Duke Engines
Replies: 33
Views: 8529

Re: Duke Engines

I got it off-lease with about 18,000 miles on it. Thus far I'm really happy with it. It's a little dirty because I park outside in the snow and stuff.
by Lothar
Mon Mar 28, 2016 12:50 pm
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Duke Engines
Replies: 33
Views: 8529

Re: Duke Engines

The big problem with gasoline vehicles is energy loss, where as the big problem with electric vehicles is energy capacity I recently started driving a 2013 Chevy Volt. Seems like a solid interim solution to the problem -- it's an all-electric drivetrain with a gas generator to supplement the ...
by Lothar
Sat Mar 19, 2016 2:02 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Privacy Trumps Free Speech
Replies: 7
Views: 2181

Re: Privacy Trumps Free Speech

what this comes down to is that "free speech" is misleading terminology. What the law actually protects is more accurately termed "free exchange of ideas". So, for example, you don't have the right to yell incoherent nonsense at 3 AM in a residential neighborhood (but if you're yelling a tsunami ...
by Lothar
Sat Mar 19, 2016 12:58 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing....
Replies: 102
Views: 11625

Re: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing.

one portion of one party is ALONE in going completely off the rails. That group and that tangent is, to my mind, the most dangerous development I've seen in US politics in my 61 years. So, yes, I am going to focus on one party at the moment I think part of what makes that "one portion of one party ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:25 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Trump supporters need to be studied...
Replies: 11
Views: 2572

Re: Trump supporters need to be studied...

What I get from the few people I know who support Trump is the following: 1) a feeling that America is "failing" for various reasons that none of them agree on (including but not limited to Obamacare, gay marriage, unemployment, high taxes, a hamstrung military, Islamic refugees, illegal immigration ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:14 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are America's Morals
Replies: 76
Views: 13599

Re: Where are America's Morals

Both are cases where both sides of the issue have a point, and they differ simply because they're weighing two issues very differently (life and lifestyle of the mother vs life of the child; ability to defend yourself vs risk to innocents). And both are cases where one side believes the constitution ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 4:41 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing....
Replies: 102
Views: 11625

Re: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing.

Tell me something slick, whens the last time you posted a link that made Dems seem stupid? http://www.descentbb.net/viewtopic.php?p=332667 Wow you found one from 2 years ago. I think you've taken the wrong lesson from my criticism. The thing is, slick is usually willing to criticize Dems. He's ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 3:51 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are the Skinheads
Replies: 77
Views: 12744

Re: Where are the Skinheads

callmeslick wrote:
woodchip wrote:Always finding some excuse to defend your side...as a true party hack would do.
ok, Lothar, whatever you say.
Wow, dude. Just wow.
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:30 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are America's Morals
Replies: 76
Views: 13599

Re: Where are America's Morals

but, to outlaw it makes no sense as that has proven unconstitutional Get used to it. Those of us who believe the unborn are entitled to life will keep trying to outlaw it. Just like those of you who believe guns are dangerous will keep trying to restrict them, even though the second amendment is an ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:25 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing....
Replies: 102
Views: 11625

Re: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing.

you seem to be contrary to him for no reason at all except to restate the things he says in a different way ... to restate the things he says in a better, less partisan way. Yes, I know I'm doing it -- it's an intentional teaching tool. I'm modeling the correct way to argue the position, in ...
by Lothar
Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:16 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are America's Morals
Replies: 76
Views: 13599

Re: Where are America's Morals

which allows for a window in which any termination can be challenged in court. The language is not that vague. This wouldn't allow abortion to be "challenged in court", it would straight-up outlaw it. There's no "parental rights" or "rapist's rights" here; it's a bill entirely about fetal rights ...
by Lothar
Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:12 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing....
Replies: 102
Views: 11625

Re: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing.

You've been singling me out as a 'partisan hack' for months now You shouldn't be a partisan hack, you've proven you're not a partisan hack, and then you act like a partisan hack at seemingly random times. That's why I call you out in particular. You should know better than to make the argument that ...
by Lothar
Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:48 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: If You Are White
Replies: 26
Views: 4439

Re: If You Are White

If someone makes a statement, you need to know the context As a general principle, I agree. But at the same time, I don't see any reasonable circumstance in which the fuller context would significantly change the meaning of the statements made in the shorter video. So I will make a provisional ...
by Lothar
Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:14 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing....
Replies: 102
Views: 11625

Re: lazy federal employees costing us a fortune for nothing.

The argument about 'letting the voters decide' is utterly ridiculous, given that we elected Obama to be President until next January. the voters elected Obama to be president until January, and the current Senate for the same term. Don't be the sort of partisan hack who thinks only one side of the ...
by Lothar
Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:45 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Encryption
Replies: 14
Views: 3173

Re: Encryption

if the FBI wanted in to the phone, they'd talk to the NSA, the Air Force, or any of the other agencies that are good at hacking. But this case isn't about this phone. This case is about precedent. The FBI wants to establish a legal precedent that compels tech companies to create backdoors for them ...
by Lothar
Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:47 am
Forum: Overload
Topic: Mouse/KB time for a change?
Replies: 24
Views: 30853

Re: Mouse/KB time for a change?

at the top end, there are pilots on kb+mouse and pilots on joystick. Some use old MS 3D Pros, some use the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro (main downside: it has a very stiff spring), and I've just switched to the Thrustmaster T16000M (main downside: had to modify the hat switch so my thumb doesn't slide ...
by Lothar
Mon Mar 14, 2016 3:00 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are the Skinheads
Replies: 77
Views: 12744

Re: Where are the Skinheads

Why ANY Christians would vote for Trump really astounds me. :shock: From the data I've looked at, Trump pulls a lot of support from Evangelicals who don't go to church. "Evangelicals who don't go to church" are an odd demographic -- they have the highest divorce rate in the nation (whereas ...
by Lothar
Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:23 am
Forum: PTMC Cafe
Topic: Ideal KB+mouse config to learn?
Replies: 10
Views: 4074

Re: Ideal KB+mouse config to learn?

http://descentchampions.org/forum/viewt ... ?f=4&t=661

see, in particular, Drakona's post at the top of page 2
by Lothar
Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:22 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are the Skinheads
Replies: 77
Views: 12744

Re: Where are the Skinheads

As I saw someone note the other day, the truly depressing thing about Trump isn't the sort of ★■◆● he's spewing...it's just how many people are lapping it up. That's the true problem that needs solving, and damned if anyone out there knows how to do it. Here's what I said about this a few days back, ...
by Lothar
Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:37 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are the Skinheads
Replies: 77
Views: 12744

Re: Where are the Skinheads

callmeslick wrote:Am I the only one wondering if Trump is allowing this sort of disruption for theatrical effect to further whip up the faithful?
oh, I think it's obvious he is, and lots of Useful Idiots are playing into his hands.
by Lothar
Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:41 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are America's Morals
Replies: 76
Views: 13599

Re: Where are America's Morals

Star Trek's "prime directive" is widely lambasted in other works of sci-fi. IIRC both Larry Niven and Howard Tayler have variants of "cultural uplift protocols" instead.
by Lothar
Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:23 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Where are the Skinheads
Replies: 77
Views: 12744

Re: Where are the Skinheads

Even so, if you are invited into a place, and you decide to disrupt the event, the host can ask you to be quiet or leave. If you don't be quiet or leave, you can be legally removed, as you have no legal right to remain on the premises. except, as I've pointed out to you repeatedly, no one is ...
by Lothar
Fri Mar 11, 2016 5:30 am
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo

A little less than 4 hours and $12k left.

by Lothar
Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:50 pm
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo

Kickstarter is about $34,000 short and ends in the morning. If every backer adds $9 to their pledge it'll make it. Or if about 400 more backers join at the same distribution as current backers they'll make it.

Pull out your wallets, people!
by Lothar
Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:40 am
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo

Their second giveaway of a boxed copy of Descent is happening right now!
by Lothar
Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:06 pm
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo

I went through 2 and a half Logitech sticks in 2 and a half years of playing D1 at the highest levels of competition. They can stand up to abuse. I'd definitely recommend the Thrustmaster T16000M over it, though -- it's a better quality stick. The only down side is the hat switch is flat, so your ...
by Lothar
Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:03 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: some businessman, huh?
Replies: 27
Views: 5027

Re: some businessman, huh?

oh, and while I'm quite aware of the concept, details and active practice of income shelters, some completely legal, others questionable to varying extents, I am aware of no one sheltering 99.999% of their income Then, to be blunt, you're not very aware. Again, "returns" and "income" are not the ...
by Lothar
Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:28 pm
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo





both are solid sticks with all the functionality you need.
by Lothar
Wed Mar 09, 2016 3:02 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: some businessman, huh?
Replies: 27
Views: 5027

Re: some businessman, huh?

it sure doesn't fit the narrative, now, does it? I'm sorry, but you can't be this ignorant, surely? If you have 8 figures of assets, surely you know enough about the tax code to know that one of the major goals -- which the IRS even tells you to do explicitly -- is to structure those assets in such ...
by Lothar
Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:48 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: earth one in 700 quintillion
Replies: 42
Views: 6813

Re: earth one in 700 quintillion

That's not occam's razor in the slightest. It's actually "Among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected". Using that premise, assuming that we don't know how to simulate the universe accurately enough, is the hypothesis that wins out. Interestingly enough, Occam ...
by Lothar
Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:29 am
Forum: Overload
Topic: OVERLOAD Playable Demo
Replies: 47
Views: 52767

Re: OVERLOAD Playable Demo

They need to extend their pledge time or something. Even if I threw in $100 bucks tomorrow, they still won't have enough and I'd love to see this developed. :frown: Kickstarter campaigns usually get a big bump in the last 48 hours, as long as they're somewhere semi-reasonably close. Anyone who ...
by Lothar
Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:32 am
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Hold onto your butts.
Replies: 26
Views: 4555

Re: Hold onto your butts.

it sounds like they captured car exhaust in a jar and then used it for homeopathy. Uh... is there something of value to be gained here?
by Lothar
Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:02 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Trump's long list of failures...
Replies: 44
Views: 8126

Re: Trump's long list of failures...

do you have data on how often those types of ventures fail?
by Lothar
Sun Mar 06, 2016 8:44 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Trump's long list of failures...
Replies: 44
Views: 8126

Re: Trump's long list of failures...

By what metric? Total number of ventures launched. Which is a terrible, awful, no-good, very-bad metric. Seriously. You can't do anything with that information unless you understand the risk profiles and the goals. There are some types of investors who aim for a 95%+ success rate of marginally ...
by Lothar
Sun Mar 06, 2016 3:20 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Election predictions....
Replies: 32
Views: 7477

Re: Election predictions....

How about California and New York How about Texas and the south? Compare https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/01/how-close-is-the-2016-election-going-to-be-one-projection-has-democrats-in-a-nail-biter/ to https://www.economy.com/dismal/topics/election-model?utm_source=thestreet ...
by Lothar
Sun Mar 06, 2016 2:46 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Trump's long list of failures...
Replies: 44
Views: 8126

Re: Trump's long list of failures...

Successes vs failures tells us a lot of value... Only if you have the right context to evaluate it. Pretty worthless to just count successes and failures. Some types of businessmen go for likely successes; others go for riskier ventures. speaking of ycombinator, they look like they have triple the ...
by Lothar
Sun Mar 06, 2016 1:10 pm
Forum: Ethics and Commentary
Topic: Trump's long list of failures...
Replies: 44
Views: 8126

Re: Trump's long list of failures...

honestly, this is a worthless thread. Anyone who has been involved in a lot of business ventures will have a lot of failures. And some successes. What sets good and bad businessmen apart is whether they conduct themselves with integrity, and whether their successes outweigh their failures. If I were ...