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Does Dune Messiah get better? I loved the first book and I am shocked at how much less interesting this book is. I'm 70 pages in and we've had: - A meeting of conspirators to kill Paul - Paul and Chani having a discussion about whether he should impregnate Irulan - A second meeting of conspirators, this time on Arrakis - A meeting of Paul's inner circle in which...nothing much is decided. I haven't finished this chapter, so maybe they actually do something later. I can slog on for a bit longer, but WTF? I was really impressed with how tight Dune was, almost every scene had a bunch of worldbuilding, character development and plot movement woven together. Thus far everything is stagnant and dull.
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UK politics, Truss me, I really am that mental.
BigFatCoward replied to BigFatCoward's topic in General Chatter
Sad news, Laurence Fox loses libel trial and has to pay 180 grand in damages. -
Yes, but I'd like to unerline this passage: I think this points out that it's the specific combination of technology and capitalism that is so dangerous. So it depends how you want to define "Luddism." If we're talking about the historical movement, then yes, we should all be Luddites, because neoliberalism threatens to make any technology terrifying. But if we're using a more common sense of the word, I think it would be better to direct the rage at socio-economic structures instead of technology itself. I'd say Iain Banks had an interesting view of what AIs could provide humanity in a socialist perspective. One could argue that it's a rather paternalistic view, but I think such a view is warranted given history, and I'd rather take that than the absolutely moronic idea that "the market" will allow for the proper development and use of technology. Another way to put it is that I'm a bit reluctant to embrace Luddism, because the early days of computer science and IT offered incredible promises for humanity, that were only betrayed once massive corporations took over and redirected the entire enterprise toward maximizing profit. We still have remnants of the potential though, like wikipedia, and as I said earlier, communication really can be said to be a good in itself, so I'd rather target our corporate overlords than the machines.
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Adrian Tchaikovsky's Empire of Black and Gold and The Tiger and the Wolf are 3.99$ on Kindle.
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straits reacted to a post in a topic: US Poltics: Time for the Stormy season with a chance of conviction
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Larry of the Lawn reacted to a post in a topic: The Small Stuff That Doesn't Need a Thread. #8
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Larry of the Lawn reacted to a post in a topic: Are Generative AI (LLM programs) produced illustrations… art?
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The Small Stuff That Doesn't Need a Thread. #8
BigFatCoward replied to LongRider's topic in General Chatter
I've been offered a vasectomy on my son's birthday, which is ironic as he's the reason i want one. -
Maithanet reacted to a post in a topic: Dating Thread: In Memoriam
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The Small Stuff That Doesn't Need a Thread. #8
RhaenysBee replied to LongRider's topic in General Chatter
Today the cardiologist, the sweetest female doctor I have ever met, asked me what I do for a living. I told her I worked in leadership development. Ah so what kinda software do I develop? It’s not software, basically we train the management. Ah and whatever does one develop on them? Well… Ah is it like communication and the like? Yep, communication and the like. Ah. Imagine, this poor woman with her vast knowledge that she applies every day to save lives must have never heard anything so dumb, insignificant and meaningless to make a livelihood as developing managers in communication and the like. The sheer dumb corporate hubris to spend 50 hours of several people every week on these things. -
Dating Thread: In Memoriam
Reny of Storms End replied to Mr. Chatywin et al.'s topic in General Chatter
Thank you Chats, DMC, Toth, and Liffguard. I just need to say it again outloud, it really sucks to feel a deep and meaningful connection with someone and think you found the one, but they are with someone else (it was all just emotional, nothing physical). She worked from home and I would sit with her when I was able and we'd talk for 8hrs+ every day. Frankly it's made me seriously doubt myself and my ability to discern how I'm seen by the people around me. Like am I even capable of having someone reciprocate these feelings? I had convinced myself many years ago I was happy alone, and then I met this person. Now all I want is someone to love me and care about me, and it's just like I'm putting too much pressure on any new woman I potentially meet. I think it's only fair to myself and others to not be trying to meet anyone right now, but I hate the loneliness so so much. - Today
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20Q 2.0.1 Ask and you shall be answered.
Annara Snow replied to Lilac & Gooseberries's topic in Forum Games
Is that a question? -
Reny of Storms End reacted to a post in a topic: Dating Thread: In Memoriam
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Reny of Storms End reacted to a post in a topic: Dating Thread: In Memoriam
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I completed the main story in Horizon Forbidden West and now I've started the Burning Shores DLC story. I'm 63 hours in the game. At one point I got bored with all the side quests and just shot for finishing the main story. I found the last act of the main story less challenging than in HZD.
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Ser Scot A Ellison reacted to a post in a topic: Treatments for trans children and politics, world-wide
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TrackerNeil reacted to a post in a topic: US Poltics: Time for the Stormy season with a chance of conviction
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Just been reading up on Alleras / Sarella. If there is any doubt left that they are one and the same, then there is one clue which I think has been overlooked. Sarella's mother being captain of the ship Feathered Kiss is more than just an allusion to her being a Summer Islander, and therefore captaining a Swan Ship (swans have feathers, etc). Because Alleras is famed for his archery, as we see in the apple scenes. And what better ASOIAF-style metaphor for an arrow hitting its target could there be than .. a feathered kiss? Arrows use feathers in their fletching in the world of Westeros, as we see many times in the story, e.g.: Jon hung a quiver from his belt and pulled an arrow. The shaft was black, the fletching grey. As he notched it to his string, he remembered something that Theon Greyjoy had once said after a hunt. "The boar can keep his tusks and the bear his claws," he had declared, smiling that way he did. "There's nothing half so mortal as a grey goose feather." - Including those used by Alleras: Far and fast the apple flew . . . . . . but not as fast as the arrow that whistled after it, a yard-long shaft of golden wood fletched with scarlet feathers. And kisses are often used as metaphors when using a piercing weapon: Ebben drew his dagger. "A steel kiss will keep her quiet." Kurleket grabbed a handful of hair and yanked his head back in a hard jerk, baring his throat. Tyrion felt the cold kiss of steel beneath his chin. "Shall I bleed him, my lady?" So it's fitting that the daughter of the captain of the Feathered Kiss would be skilled at producing ''feathered kisses of a more deadly kind.
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20Q 2.0.1 Ask and you shall be answered.
House Cambodia replied to Lilac & Gooseberries's topic in Forum Games
A lotof books knocking around. Let's try the Kingsguard history. -
You're just realizing this now? Silly Sox fan...
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Heresy 245 The Alpha and the Omega and what lies between
LynnS replied to Black Crow's topic in A Dance with Dragons
OH NO! Not the tower of joy This is starting to feel like a scavenger hunt... a little bit here, a little bit there. -
Reports that Florentino Perez is initiating an ownership restructure at Real Madrid to ensure that the club can never be sold to a State, Hedge Fund, High Net Worth Individual or Consortium. As a contingency measure, should the club ever find itself in serious financial difficulties in the future that would require a cash injection, the club would be allowed to convert the 100,000 socios membership into shares to sell with a market limit of 49.9% thus going from 100% fan owned to a 50+1 model.
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It is art, it just sucks. The product itself is ugly, it contributes to a flattening and smoothing of our collective culture, and it increases economic precarity for working creatives. It's bad art with negative social effects, but that doesn't make it not art. PS: I also just want to push back a little on the variations of "I'm not a Luddite but..." type statements. I want to make it clear I explicitly am a Luddite.