Cataphract

back around late 90's early 00's I was pretty lucky to have a group of friends that all just hung around together. Talking like 8 or more of us and it always wound up that 3 of us would have a place together out in the sticks (it changed locations/roommates from year to year but we had a good long 5+ years of everyone being consistently together). We ended up playing basically any tabletop we could get our hands on or pirate (napster/limewire back then) and print off (we still ended up spending 100's a piece though on dice and official releases), we even ended up starting to make our own games that I still think about doing something with to this day. (all just context for how we could pull off some of what I'm about to say)

Getting EVERYONE together was rather difficult at times, people would come into stories and be quickly rotated out if they had to work or weren't available when we were wanting to continue running a story-line (multiple different DM's and storylines from different games going on in concert, still can't fathom how that all worked out looking back). So we all got pretty used to being fluid about it and no one really had any FOMO unless their character was low-level versus everyone else.

At that point it became apparent on my storyline that I was going to have to catch some people up so we started doing 1-on-1 DMing where I would spend a few hours running someone basically on a solo mission that I could tie into the rest of the story and give them something to catch up to everyone else. Sometimes we would do it before a bigger session and people showing up early could sit in or do cameo appearances to help out/etc. People are a lot more comfortable to ask questions and be involved with the story that way and translates well to the group play.

It ended up being a huge success and had some of my favorite interactions. Sometimes we would have a bunch of people over and some wanted to play and some wanted to listen to music and party so it just always felt natural and those involved really wanted to be there for it.

Even with consuming mostly left-leaning media I keep seeing right-wing content hitting my feeds CONSTANTLY. It's so insane that one video has "Destroyed X with this debate" while the next is "X Won debate against crazy rhetoric". I'm not even singling out right wing with this either, everyone is just horrible with the click bait titles and I can see how powerful the bubbles are to expand yourself out of even if you have a desire too.

you think libraries are free?

most public libraries and librarians spend a great deal of their time applying for grants, asking for donations, and parsing out the meager state and federal funds they receive. You can tell that a lot goes on in a public library besides what patrons see!

Did you know that staff salaries, books, other library materials, office supplies, and utilities are funded primarily by city and county taxes? (link)

Taking this chance to say support your local libraries! Even just being a patron will show that it's a necessary resource that needs to continue. My partner and I just were talking about the library today and how we both used to go at least once a week back in the day but we've fallen off in the past decade.

but.... you were wrong? There were hundreds of thousands protesting today, very small amount of turmoil. You would be more statistically likely to get hurt playing any type of sports or exercising at this point. Some people aren't safe just "staying home" with ICE and authoritarian raids, make sure your son knows that you're privileged to be able to feel that way.

I was a wee little lad when a neighborhood friend showed me what happens to a slug when you pour salt on it, how anyone can see that and condone or joke about the use is akin to gas chambers being "effective" for the nazis or death sentences.

Slugs are amazing, their benefits are like worms, birds, and legumes super packed into tiny squishy guys (they compost, spread seeds, and are a good protein source for nature (link)).

Slugs also don't just "show up" and sneak into the house. If you've got a gap under the door like that then EVERYTHING is getting in and your entrance is about as energy efficient as a barn door (for the love of god just get an under door weatherstrip for 10$ even if you rent).

Slugs rely on very moist conditions, your gutter/foundation drainage at that point should be a priority and will 100% make the problem naturally go away. If they're in your house, you should be concerned about possible health complications with whatever conditions are making it a viable habitat for them (probably an open crawlspace with plumbing leaks and water pooling from improper grading). I would probably be worrying about mold and termites more at that point than some slimy guys.

Your stances are admirable and I understand your sentiment but they are relics of a past you were privileged to live in for those decades (others didn't share that experience and have been going through this without national attention). Your reality has now shifted and I hope that you'll be able to come to terms with those changes and not regress into authoritarian sympathies like your relatives thinking "if only they could do it peacefully".

Enough people have pointed out the flaw in the "self-defense" scenarios you're imagining, I don't believe you will come around to those without heavy education/exposure on past & current events involving police interaction and constitutional rights (there are a lot of good resources and public "auditors" online you should seek out). I will just point out the slippery slope that exists with the Sheriffs statements, "What is a brick?" - at what point does a brick become a rock/pebble or vice versa? "What is a firebomb?" - if any incendiary device is considered lethal, do firecrackers or sparklers count since it ignites?

An officer in full tactical/riot gear getting hit with a brick isn't lethal, yet a "non-lethal" firearm can kill from a shot in the face or beanbag to the chest in close range. Teargas can cause a fatal reaction if not treated in time. The "law-enforcement" in this instance have decided due-process (once again) isn't necessary and will pass judgement on your actions while punishing you with state-sponsored violence and/or death.

The lines have already been drawn, "People that want to protest will be met with big force... this is people that hate our country. They will be met with heavy force." -Trump

People have already decided on their stance, the various and numerous polls show basically the same support that Trump was elected with. Their goal is to silence the 30-50% that heavily oppose and demonize them in the eye of public opinion. It's an effective campaign. Trump supporters who still follow want the chaos and clap-down of rights to "protect them" from their perceived threats. The neutral parties just want to be left alone in their comfort and don't want to be imposed upon (these are the same neutral parties like in Nazi Germany) and will take any excuse to condemn "violent protestors" whether it's factual or actually representative of the movement as a whole. There will be no "reconciliation" or changing of people's minds till the fascists come directly for them and effect negative outcomes in their lives (just like they condemn peaceful protests because they're in a street).

love how you crumple from any push-back on your false narrative.

This is the type of Pearl-clutching/fear mongering that lives in a head filled with propaganda. There are already laws in place which cover this type of fake scenario, the article itself dismisses the claims you're trying to make. Find me a valid use-case for this law, there are hundreds of instances where the exact opposite happens and vehicles are used as a weapon to assault protesters but all you got are fictional "what ifs"? Don't drive into a protest..... Use common sense when you see a group of people gathered on the street like any sane person would.

Ran into someone with that attitude, their sole purpose on this site is to parrot the same crap over and over. They're just instigators who don't really care, should always take the time to call out the BS. In reality, they would probably be voting for Trump if they lived in the states since they seem like the same kind of personality that would falsely believe he's their savior and a "strongman".

This is such an insane and imaginative comment. Are the century old Americans that talk to you in the room with you right now? It's absolutely crazy how you've taken some individual comments or perceived attitudes and created this fantasy land where you now have "owned the dipshits". Let's ignore the assassination attempts, current and planned protests going on through-out the country, people getting arrested for standing up for their fellow citizens, LUIGI!!, the college protests going on for months/years, this is such a selective memory you're touting. This isn't like the UK/Scotland police that just sit there peacefully (5 people were there initially and stopped their immigration enforcement per the article). Yet still we have hundreds and thousands of people still showing up and continuing to fight while you whine and complain online.

Holy shit, your entire engagement in this site is just comments about American "cowards". Why haven't you tried to immigrate and show Americans how it's really done since you're such a mister big boy bad ass? You seem to care enough to removed about it everyday but not do anything about it?

"What you presented does nothing to substantiate or refute"

There is nothing in the TOS that requires you to submit to a rootkit

We also may use internal and third-party anti-cheat technologies

prepare to be even more profoundly jealous because I'm profoundly dumbfounded at this point.