Moe Lane

At least, the first run-through of it.  Clocked in at just under 41 hours, Level 23 Rogue (decided to go with that instead of my usual Mage).

Thumbnail review: Dragon Age 2 is not the unmitigated awesome that was Dragon Age Origins (or Mass Effect), but like Mass Effect 2 it does not embarrass its predecessor.  Things that I liked: they streamlined some of the combat stuff; made it harder to properly balance the various NPC’s various “issues” with you, the missions, and each other; and had a lot of pretty scenery and background.  Things that I didn’t like: Bioware loves a little too much to give you either-way-you’re-screwed choices; the romance timeline seemed a bit compressed; and as usual, the intro’s too damn long.

Bottom line: if you like DA:O, you’ll like this.  I’m going to play it again, only this time with a specific goal in mind.  And maybe not so Lawful-as-much-as-I-can Good this time.

“…it’s no surprise” excuse for a gang rape in Texas.  The victim was 11.

Residents in the neighborhood where the abandoned trailer stands — known as the Quarters — said the victim had been visiting various friends there for months. They said she dressed older than her age,

The victim was 11.

wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said.

The victim was 11.

Via Ace of Spades, which also has some details about the alleged perpetrators that the New York Times inexplicably forgot to mention: to wit, that the victim was Hispanic and the defendants are all African-American.  And, in case you were wondering… when they covered the Duke case, the racial makeup of everyone involved was on page A-1, above the fold.  Apparently the definition of “that’s fit to print” can vary.

Moe Lane

And it wasn’t all that long ago, either.

(Via @calebhowe)

Let me see if I can guess the contents of the article, based on just the title (“Governor Walker’s Coup D’Etat”): Robert Reich is going to use the Rubber Bands of Mendacity, Hyperbole, and Bad Polling to create a Frankenstein’s Monster of an assertion that somehow Governor Walker – with his voting majorities in the state legislature, not to mention his actual election last year – was the one illegitimately using his power, not the state Democratic Senators who hid out in Scottish Hooters-clone theme bars for the last two weeks.  This, despite the fact that the last time I checked, the phrase “run like scared, petulant little bunnies” appears nowhere in the Wisconsin Constitution*.

(peruse)

Called it in one.  That link goes to the Google search for the title, by the way: I see no reason to reward any of the spluttering Lefty sites out there that republished this tripe just because they got short-breathed over the idea of an actual former Cabinet secretary writing what was essentially political pornography targeted for their particular demographic.  It’s actually worse than the title looks: Reich simply assumes that everybody already agrees that Walker staged a coup.  This is a disappointment: I was hoping for some sleazy rationalizations along those lines, but apparently that’s too much like work for Reich**.  To those inclined to argue the point, here’s the problem: Walker won an election last year.  So did enough Republicans to flip both houses of the state legislature.  Now Walker and the GOP intend to use those working majorities to pass legislation.  If they get it wrong, there’s a mechanism for fixing that: in this business, we call it an election***.

To use the Democratic Mob’s phrase – only, correctly - this is what democracy looks like.  Specifically, representative democracy.  And until Reich concedes that point, there’s no reason to discuss this further: of course, since his argument (such as it is) depends on him never having to concede that p0int, there’s probably no reason to discuss this further, period. (more…)

It would seem that loyalty to their union masters take precedence over loyalty to the people of Wisconsin. From a contemptible letter written to M&I Bank threatening a boycott:

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company.

Now, this would not be a contemptible letter if it were signed by members of private sector unions. Private sector unions work in trades, and they have the right to make informed business choices (and even uninformed ones). But public sector union members are supposedly public servants – and they are expected to avoid even the hint of impropriety in their labor disputes. This is a barely-veiled threat from the cops and the firemen that organizations subject to the anti-labor reform boycott cannot expect a prompt and effective response from them in case of emergency. Simply put, there are different standards of behavior for emergency responders. Stricter ones, because being a repository of the public trust carries with it an expectation of behavior that is appropriate for that trust. This letter harms that trust. (more…)

I’m noting that now.  This is what they’re expecting and forecasting.

Madison Police predicted the 27th consecutive day of demonstrations against the law to severely restrict the power of public sector unions in the state would approach the 70,000 to 100,000 a week ago, the largest demonstration at the state Capitol since the Vietnam War.

[snip]

“Saturday’s going to be huge,” said Terese Berceau, a Democratic member of the state Assembly who represents Madison, a university town that has seen its share of protests over the years. “Absolutely huge.”

I don’t particularly care if they hit that number, mind you – but the protesters do, so I’m noting it here and now.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

I probably needed it, though.  All work, dull boy, that sort of thing.

Since I’ve Been Loving You, Led Zeppelin

Really, these guys were at their best when they were as close to blues as they could get.

Well… no.  But I had once made a joke elsewhere to the effect that if I ever ran a restaurant I would totally have “Build-a-Burgers” on the menu, complete with obscure conspiracy theory puns.  And lo! – Back Yard Burgers is plotting to extend its tendrils through American cuisine via the insidious use of Build-a-burgers.  You can get guacamole on yours: guacamole.  Which is made from avocados.  And I need hardly remind you of the NAFTA trade wars over avocados, now do I?

I didn’t think so.

Moe Lane

PS: Explanation more or less here.

This… may not have been the nicest video that I have ever thrown together. Then again, scenes like these show us the true majesty and power of America. Only in a country as rich, powerful, and protected as ours could an entire class of people who Really Should Have Known Better congregate to cast some fairly straightforward fiscal reforms in terms of the Descent of the Dark Night of Fascism.

Excuse me: ‘facism.’ The word gets misspelled that way that often that it’s practically an alternate spelling by now.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

I mean, there’s nothing particularly unusual about Paul Krugman not reading conservative/libertarian material: I for one don’t waste my professional time reading any more liberal/progressive opinion pieces than I absolutely have to, and frankly I don’t usually have to.  Of course, I am more or less a political agitator and instigator – but then, that is what Paul Krugman really is, too.

Only, I’m better at it than he is.  Honestly, the poor man should stick to economic theory.

Before we go any further: no, not every Democrat is this vile.  Not even most.  And lots of Republicans can be this vile.  But the former has not been collectively taught when to keep the Bad Voices in their heads from getting out, and it shows.  Dear God in Heaven, but it shows.  It’s very fortunate that it’s (thankfully) a lot harder than it looks to incite violent actions via hate speech; because the Online Left pushes the envelope every time a new scene from the class struggle in Beverly Hills the online world plays out.  I dread the day that they stop getting lucky with that.

That’s it.  Just expressing a bit of worry, that’s all.