Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 23, 2018, 09:56:
Yeah, it is often overlooked that the "militarization" of the police force isn't just an equipment issue. It is also a mentality issue. Being a police officer is a tough job. Sometimes it is a shitty job. But too many officers have forgotten, or were never taught, their job is "to protect and serve". It is a complex problem which won't be completely resolved any time soon.

The ubiquity of guns in the hands of the citizenry doesn't help either.

Beamer wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 20:32:

DangerDog wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 19:40:

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 18:40:
http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2018/04/22

The comment section is better than the comic, all these atheists and agnostics bemoaning the lack of Christianity in the White House, lol.

Or complaining about hypocrisy of evangelicals loving someone who is divorced multiple times and had an affair with a porn star while his third wife was pregnant. Either or.

DING. We have a winner.

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 17:03:
Random question: Anyone here ever read a sci-fi novel or series of novels where humans have become an interstellar race. But by the end of the story, humans are extinct? In "Childhood's End" the human race evolves away. But I couldn't think of any where we get wiped out...

I can think of two books that don't quite fit the bill, but have some elements of what you're looking for.

No spoiler tags as I only mention the basic premise of the novels and no plot points.

Arthur C. Clarke's first novel, the City and the Stars has the last of humanity confined to one city after having been a space-faring race.
Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time has humanity on the verge of extinction and looking for a new home.. also after having traveled the stars in its past.

Yeah, it is often overlooked that the "militarization" of the police force isn't just an equipment issue. It is also a mentality issue. Being a police officer is a tough job. Sometimes it is a shitty job. But too many officers have forgotten, or were never taught, their job is "to protect and serve". It is a complex problem which won't be completely resolved any time soon.

Have any of you seen Wyatt Cenac's new show on HBO?

He's dedicating the whole first season to the issue of police misconduct, specifically, deadly shootings. A worthy issue. Whether you agree with his points or not, there's clearly an issue when so many people are getting shot while unarmed. That isn't the purpose of the police.

In the first episode, he mostly sets it up, and discusses how it's an incredibly deep, complicated issue with no easy solution. That it isn't just hiring (though, as one person on it says, making certain you hire guardians, not warriors, is a very strong start), nor is it just training.

But then it goes into training, showing the training some officers get, including the guy that shot Philando Castile. (Incidentally, I'd never seen the aftermath footage showing the reaction of his girlfriend's 4 year old daughter, who was in the backseat. It's horrifying.) The training they show, again, that the officer also received, absolutely glorifies killing. Talks about the rush, the high, and how people need to be ready, and that killing isn't really that big a deal.

It's a speech, and a course, by our old friend Dave Grossman. Holy fuck. The guy that says video games are the root of all violence amongst children tells officers that killing isn't a big deal and will result in the best sex they'll ever have. Why does anyone listen to this man? Why does he have a job? I'm certain it was cherry-picking, but this is a man teaching and training people we authorize to carry guns and kill when necessary, and who we very rarely do anything but protect when they do so, except under the most extreme circumstances. This kind of thing, even out of context, should never be said when training officers how to approach potentially deadly situations. It should be exclusively about how to protect civilians above all. Above all, including the officer (again, guardians, not warriors.)

R.I.P. Mini Me

Blue wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 21:14:

Mordecai Walfish wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 17:53:
Saw a video of Joe Rogan talking about Quake today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mo-aV60xA

Apparently he was pretty big into it back in the 90's, knew about Thresh and was talking about a T1 line he had installed in his home because of how addicted he was. He proceeds to start planning on turning his secondary studio room into a LAN party area. Completely out of left field lol.

Joe got himself invited to the Quake III Arena launch party, which was because of how big a fan he was. My recollection is a funny humble brag of sorts... I didn't really watch TV through most of the DOOM and QUAKE years, and Jason (loonyboi) introduced me to Joe at the party because Joe was really excited to meet me, but I had no idea who he was at the time, which was obviously quite backwards.

yep, nothing humble about that XD

subx wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 15:35:
The curse of being the world's oldest person strikes again!

Imagine having a 65 year old grandchild!

Mordecai Walfish wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 17:53:
Saw a video of Joe Rogan talking about Quake today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mo-aV60xA

Apparently he was pretty big into it back in the 90's, knew about Thresh and was talking about a T1 line he had installed in his home because of how addicted he was. He proceeds to start planning on turning his secondary studio room into a LAN party area. Completely out of left field lol.

Joe got himself invited to the Quake III Arena launch party, which was because of how big a fan he was. My recollection is a funny humble brag of sorts... I didn't really watch TV through most of the DOOM and QUAKE years, and Jason (loonyboi) introduced me to Joe at the party because Joe was really excited to meet me, but I had no idea who he was at the time, which was obviously quite backwards.

jdreyer wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 17:55:
I don't know about any novels, but I do know a couple of movies. I'm going to hide the titles, since the fact that humanity gets wiped out in the end is probably a pretty big spoiler:

Knowing, with Nick Cage. It's pretty good.

Melancholia with Kirsten Dunst. Haven't seen it, so can't say whether it's good.

My secret response:

In "Knowing" the human race is not wiped out, many children are moved to another planet. And we aren't interstellar, that said in my example of "Childhood's End" we aren't interstellar either -- but it was the best I could come up with.

Melancholia.. just watched the trailer and I *think* I watched that, but I really don't remember much... there is a hint there might be a mystical resolution in the trailer, but I simply don't recall. I have it available On-Demand for $4... might have to watch it.

When you think about it, it seems like someone would have done this...

DangerDog wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 19:40:

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 18:40:
http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2018/04/22

The comment section is better than the comic, all these atheists and agnostics bemoaning the lack of Christianity in the White House, lol.

Or complaining about hypocrisy of evangelicals loving someone who is divorced multiple times and had an affair with a porn star while his third wife was pregnant. Either or.

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 18:40:
http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2018/04/22

The comment section is better than the comic, all these atheists and agnostics bemoaning the lack of Christianity in the White House, lol.

Awww that poor doggie. Who's a good boy? WHO'S A GOOD BOY?! YOU ARE!! YES!

http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2018/04/22

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 17:03:
Random question: Anyone here ever read a sci-fi novel or series of novels where humans have become an interstellar race. But by the end of the story, humans are extinct? In "Childhood's End" the human race evolves away. But I couldn't think of any where we get wiped out...

I don't know about any novels, but I do know a couple of movies. I'm going to hide the titles, since the fact that humanity gets wiped out in the end is probably a pretty big spoiler:

Knowing, with Nick Cage. It's pretty good.

Melancholia with Kirsten Dunst. Haven't seen it, so can't say whether it's good.

Saw a video of Joe Rogan talking about Quake today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mo-aV60xA

Apparently he was pretty big into it back in the 90's, knew about Thresh and was talking about a T1 line he had installed in his home because of how addicted he was. He proceeds to start planning on turning his secondary studio room into a LAN party area. Completely out of left field lol.

Random question: Anyone here ever read a sci-fi novel or series of novels where humans have become an interstellar race. But by the end of the story, humans are extinct? In "Childhood's End" the human race evolves away. But I couldn't think of any where we get wiped out...

El Pit wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 15:40:
Or as The Who put it: I hope I die before I get old (My Generation).

Too late for me -- the only question now is how decrepit I'll get before I die.

Computer parts are the worst for me. 'It still works, I paid x amount for this when I bought it, and I might need it some day' are the standard reasons. Last year when I was cleaning out I found an old AMD t-bird processor. I might need it if I ever want to build a retro machine

subx wrote on Apr 22, 2018, 15:35:
The curse of being the world's oldest person strikes again!

Yes, it is a 100% death quota - this is FRIGHTENING! So it seems better to never get old. Or as The Who put it: I hope I die before I get old (My Generation).

Only Queen Elizabeth II. will never die. NEVER. God save the Queen who just had a huge party for her 92. birthday!