The Republicans now a 69% betting chance for Senate control – politicalbetting.com

Casino_Royale said:

Carnyx said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Just about to watch the final part of SAS Rogue Heroes - thoroughly enjoyable. You can tell it is the Peeky Blinders team when The Damned is the soundtrack to a raid on an airfield!

Bit too much of a modernist take for me - too many fucks and metal music.

Too many fucks in an Army context is modern?

I'm under no illusions the squaddies have always been like that.

I struggle with General Auckinleck and Ritchie competing to see how hard they can tell David Stirling to fuck off, or a trooper on sentry duty telling Stirling (an officer) to fuck off because he tried to play the class card.

Just wasn't like that back then.

TheScreamingEagles said:

turbotubbs said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French [anthem]

Same.

We have that bloody dirge God Save The King.

La Marseillaise Is the only time I envy the French.

It’s why I sing Ou Est La Papier so loud when La Marseillaise is sung.

Do you do the whole song - A Frenchman went to the lavatory… A favourite from my rugby playing youth.

I do sing the full version

MoonRabbit said:

Carnyx said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Just about to watch the final part of SAS Rogue Heroes - thoroughly enjoyable. You can tell it is the Peeky Blinders team when The Damned is the soundtrack to a raid on an airfield!

Bit too much of a modernist take for me - too many fucks and metal music.

Too many fucks in an Army context is modern?

Peaky Blinders started out with small budget like this.

Rouge Heroes is drippin. Would benefit from the extra budget in places.

williamglenn said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

turbotubbs said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French [anthem]

Same.

We have that bloody dirge God Save The King.

La Marseillaise Is the only time I envy the French.

It’s why I sing Ou Est La Papier so loud when La Marseillaise is sung.

Do you do the whole song - A Frenchman went to the lavatory… A favourite from my rugby playing youth.

I do sing the full version

And you misgender le papier.

Carnyx said:

Casino_Royale said:

Carnyx said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Just about to watch the final part of SAS Rogue Heroes - thoroughly enjoyable. You can tell it is the Peeky Blinders team when The Damned is the soundtrack to a raid on an airfield!

Bit too much of a modernist take for me - too many fucks and metal music.

Too many fucks in an Army context is modern?

I'm under no illusions the squaddies have always been like that.

I struggle with General Auckinleck and Ritchie competing to see how hard they can tell David Stirling to fuck off, or a trooper on sentry duty telling Stirling (an officer) to fuck off because he tried to play the class card.

Just wasn't like that back then.

Ah, thanks. Not class-conscious enough, then. Definitely need Noel Coward and In Which We Serve for that.

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

Luckyguy1983 said:

MoonRabbit said:

Carnyx said:

Casino_Royale said:

MarqueeMark said:

Just about to watch the final part of SAS Rogue Heroes - thoroughly enjoyable. You can tell it is the Peeky Blinders team when The Damned is the soundtrack to a raid on an airfield!

Bit too much of a modernist take for me - too many fucks and metal music.

Too many fucks in an Army context is modern?

Peaky Blinders started out with small budget like this.

Rouge Heroes is drippin. Would benefit from the extra budget in places.

It's quite an unappealing title for a programme. Opposite to Peaky Blinders, which is quite mysterious and intriguing.

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

Leon said:

Tres said:

Leon said:

Nigelb said:

Leon said:

Eabhal said:

Leon said:

LostPassword said:

Leon said:

LostPassword said:

Nigelb said:

StillWaters said:

kjh said:

Leon said:

Why Twitter is worth $44bn


“Maybe Hitler got fucked up because his infancy was spent seeing various people in futuristic gear point a gun at him before going “no I can’t do it” and jumping into a portal”

https://twitter.com/jordbrookes/status/1588193975055310851?s=46&t=fHL7HgqXG7leatvhrzUvAA

I have to say I am wary of accusing the richest man in the world that he doesn't know what he is doing re making money, but he doesn't appear to re twitter.

I was also shocked to find out that twitter only had about 7000 employees (now about 3000).

Assuming $200k average pay - I suspect it’s higher - the layoffs will save about $800m per year. That’s a big dent in the company’s losses (around $1.3bn).

The unknown is whether the layoffs damage the revenue generating capability of the company

Well we already know from Musk that ad revenues have taken a sharp hit.

His approach to engineering - develop quick, test and fail, and fail better - isn't going to work with an established social media business.
If he's going to try to reinvent it from the ground up, he'd have been far better advised spending half of that $44 bn in setting up a completely new business.

I think he's made the mistake of thinking that that the 100m plus who follow him on Twitter also agree with him - as opposed to being interested in following what he does.

What I realised the other day is that you don't have to like Musk to acknowledge that SpaceX is better at throwing stuff into space on the top of rockets, or that Tesla manufacture some of the better electric vehicles.

Websites like twitter succeed because people choose to use them, and then network effects follow and make it better. If enough people start using a different website or platform, then other people will follow. Then twitter is as dead as something that rhymes with DieFace.

Twitter is primarily a public relations business and not a technology business. Musk has been terrible at PR - say with the Thai cave rescue petulance - but I'd still buy Starlink from him because the PR doesn't affect its utility.

Just waiting to see which platform the people I follow on twitter will jump to. Some of them are on Instagram already (which is annoying), but I don't see the OSINT crowd moving there.

Insta is truly terrible. You can’t put links in the posts. There isn’t an iPad app. It’s absurdly bad. I presume this is because Zuckerberg deliberately crippled it as a potential rival to FB (then along came tik tok and the rest, anyway - so it was self defeating)

Yes. If I had to choose one social network to survive out of facebook, twitter and instagram, it wouldn't be instagram.

The lack of an insta iPad app is mystifying in particular. They claim it’s because “there isn’t enough demand” and “it’s a nice idea but we haven’t got the time and people to do it” which is clearly bullshit

So why? Zuckerberg seems to have an aversion to Apple. Perhaps he once had plans to make his own phones and tablets so this is a lingering legacy of that?

Because it will make it seriously uncool. I associate ipads with people in their 60s.

I have a theory that social media cannot support multiple generations: when my parents got fb and messenger, we all shifted to insta. I think some of the insta generation started having kids, and therefore tiktok was born.

(Spectator article in 3...2...1...)

I made the point about social media generations about ten minutes before you

Insta is already uncool compared to TikTok and others. So that explanation doesn’t work. iPads and tablets are not seen as dated or associated with old people that’s absurd. They are used more and more - professionally. Waiters and bar staff use them. Nurses use them. You find them in cool museums - take one and use it as a guide

iPad sales are now up to 60-80m a year. It’s huge business. Apple make 30 BILLION dollars a year from iPads

Etc

No the answer must be something else. Perhaps a weird rivalry with Apple, in Zuck’s head

Apple is worth as much as Google, Amazon and Meta combined, and Meta is the least of those three.
Meta has lost a massive amount of value in the last year, and some of that is down to Apple’s ability to block Facebook ad tracking, so it’s not just in Zuck’s ugly noggin.

Indeed. I wonder if Facebook will be the first huge tech company to fall out of the sky. Eventually one will, eventually they all will. No company is forever

What do they have or do that is irreplaceable? Facebook is fading, Instagram is still popular but it has deadly rivals, WhatsApp is great but it’s just a messaging service

Hence Meta. They really need that to work

Napster/Myspace/Palm/Blackberry

I meant one of the Big Five

Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple

Which will fall first? A few years ago I would have guessed Microsoft but they seem to have upped their game. Now I’d guess Meta

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Are there wargames covering the Thirty Years War or The Deluge?

Total extermination would be a requirement, not an option.

Ishmael_Z said:

https://ia801004.us.archive.org/0/items/truenamesvingevernor/True Names - Vinge, Vernor.pdf

True Names by Vernor Vinge, 1981 so probably the first metaverse fiction.

kinabalu said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

The German for me. I lump up whenever I hear it.

(also agree with the positive consensus on the Welsh one)

IanB2 said:

kinabalu said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

The German for me. I lump up whenever I hear it.

(also agree with the positive consensus on the Welsh one)

Italy. Brazil. Former east Germany.

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Are there wargames covering the Thirty Years War or The Deluge?

Total extermination would be a requirement, not an option.

I worry about how much you enjoy this!

Luckyguy1983 said:

He's going to have to sack him isn't he? Betfair doesn't have a market for Cabinet exits.

ydoethur said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

I agree in your assessment of the American national anthem, but I have to say I think you're being generous to the Argentinian national anthem by keeping it off the bottom.

The very very worst ever though surely has to be the old East German national anthem - Auferstanden Aus Ruinen.

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

Ishmael_Z said:

Sunak's judgement of people is up there with liz's judgement of economic policies. His effortless rise and rise seems have been so frictionless that the existence of malign shits has been entirely hidden from him.

Luckyguy1983 said:

Scott_xP said:

EXCLUSIVE: Gavin Williamson sent abusive and threatening messages to Wendy Morton about not being invited to the Queen's funeral, warning her: "There is a price for everything"

Sunak told of complaint about him but appointed him anyway, ex-chairman says https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/you-f-us-all-over-gavin-williamsons-foul-texts-to-chief-whip-in-full-xnqj03kkm

He's going to have to sack him isn't he? Betfair doesn't have a market for Cabinet exits.

kle4 said:

He's already been given a gong, what more can he want?

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

rcs1000 said:

ohnotnow said:

FPT:

Leon said:

I meant one of the Big Five

Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple

Which will fall first? A few years ago I would have guessed Microsoft but they seem to have upped their game. Now I’d guess Meta

You missed out Netflix, which is the one that looks shakiest to me.

Yes, it used to FAANG:

Facebook
Amazon
Apple
Netflix
Google

But Netflix has cratered, and now MSFT is worth much more than Google.

Which shows that impermanence is the only permanent thing.

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

I find your premise to be extremely silly, so much so I cannot even be faux offended.

Are reading books or watching films a complete waste of time? Games have an incredible variety of mechanics and story, and just like any other medium some are designed for adults, some for kids, and some for everyone. The average gamer is now probably well over 30 - people of my generation grew up with consoles.

Yes but they ate not a time sink like video games
You might read a book or watch tv for an hour...video games...go online suddenly a whole day has gone

IanB2 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD1gDSao1eA

A misunderstood figure from history, probably

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

Nigelb said:

WillG said:

kle4 said:

Martin10 said:

Nigelb said:

On topic, is DeSantis going to claim God has endorsed him over Trump ?

Trump and DeSantis barrel toward 2024 — but keep their distance in Florida
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/05/trump-desantis-barrel-toward-2024-00065247
… “He can do what he wants, but Trump’s team made DeSantis,” Sabatini said of the governor. “He would have lost [in 2018] by 10, 20, maybe 30 points without Trump’s endorsement.”

“He definitely owes him. Big time,” he added…

I sense a trump desantis dream ticket coming

Shudder

Also, everyone seems to agree being VP is usually a thankless job, so why would de Santis want it?

I reckon a lot of Republicans will kowtow and hope that Trump cannot then install one of his kids as a follow up candidate in years to come.

Trump wouldn't pick DeSantis as he likes someone loyal, attractive and charismatic. The only reason he picked Pence was because he needed a bridge to evangelicals. And he regretted it later.

DeSantis wouldn't take it as he knows Trump ends up destroying anyone who works for him.

Tulsi G, then.

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

kinabalu said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

The German for me. I lump up whenever I hear it.

(also agree with the positive consensus on the Welsh one)

Italy. Brazil. Former east Germany.

Never heard the Brazilian one. Why don't you like the Italian one?

(The Italians themselves apparently actually prefer Aida.)

Sunil_Prasannan said:

ydoethur said:

Martin10 said:

ydoethur said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

I agree in your assessment of the American national anthem, but I have to say I think you're being generous to the Argentinian national anthem by keeping it off the bottom.

The very very worst ever though surely has to be the old East German national anthem - Auferstanden Aus Ruinen.

Us national anthem much better than our national anthem

Nah. Ours* has a certain solemn grandeur and is easy to sing. The American one is just pompous and silly. Like the Argentine one but with a vaguely logical tune.

*I am of course Welsh, so by 'ours' I mean British in this context.

Mournful dirge, you mean.

Martin10 said:

LostPassword said:

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

Computer games are an artform like many others. Is reading a book, watching a film, visiting an art gallery a waste of time?

There are good and bad computer games, just as there are good and bad books, etc. I read Middlemarch and thought it was a damn tedious endeavour. Would have been far more rewarding and edifying playing Total War. On the other hand, currently treading The Peripheral, and it's a better use of my time than playing Angry Birds (again).

All im saying is ive tried playing video games but i still think the modern games are too immersive and too much of a time sink

Martin10 said:

LostPassword said:

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

Computer games are an artform like many others. Is reading a book, watching a film, visiting an art gallery a waste of time?

There are good and bad computer games, just as there are good and bad books, etc. I read Middlemarch and thought it was a damn tedious endeavour. Would have been far more rewarding and edifying playing Total War. On the other hand, currently treading The Peripheral, and it's a better use of my time than playing Angry Birds (again).

All im saying is ive tried playing video games but i still think the modern games are too immersive and too much of a time sink

ydoethur said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

I agree in your assessment of the American national anthem, but I have to say I think you're being generous to the Argentinian national anthem by keeping it off the bottom.

The very very worst ever though surely has to be the old East German national anthem - Auferstanden Aus Ruinen.

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Are there wargames covering the Thirty Years War or The Deluge?

Total extermination would be a requirement, not an option.

I worry about how much you enjoy this!

Henryk Sienkiewicz's Trilogy is on my to-read list. The Deluge, an absolutely ghastly war of extermination fought between Poland, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, the Cossacks, the Ottoman Empire, and the Tartars, from 1648-67, makes the Thirty Years War seem gentlemanly by comparison.

IanB2 said:

ydoethur said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

I agree in your assessment of the American national anthem, but I have to say I think you're being generous to the Argentinian national anthem by keeping it off the bottom.

The very very worst ever though surely has to be the old East German national anthem - Auferstanden Aus Ruinen.

Stirring stuff…

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=east+german+national+anthem

kle4 said:

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Martin10 said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Dont you find playing video games a complete waste of time...at one time noone over 21 played video games

I find your premise to be extremely silly, so much so I cannot even be faux offended.

Are reading books or watching films a complete waste of time? Games have an incredible variety of mechanics and story, and just like any other medium some are designed for adults, some for kids, and some for everyone. The average gamer is now probably well over 30 - people of my generation grew up with consoles.

Yes but they ate not a time sink like video games
You might read a book or watch tv for an hour...video games...go online suddenly a whole day has gone

That's a positive, sometimes. And it depends on the game. Short level based stuff, turn based, mission based, or indeed something very open ended.

I've not had a really lengthy game session for ages, whereas I read around 4 hours a day (starting today 'Brightness Reef').

People can read all day, binge watch Netflix or play Fortnite (if the kids are still playing that) all day.

It's not the medium.

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

kle4 said:

Sean_F said:

IanB2 said:

Pagan2 said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

I really dont understand this article....just read it and can't see it is any different from second life which launched 20 years ago....except for the fact the graphics are shittier than second life. Second life is also got all the things it lists....own world currency which you can convert back to rl currency etc...ability to make and sell things. Whoever wrote this seems to think these "metaversi" are conceptually new

The ideas are things like history lessons including pupils being immersed in historical situations, or surgeons practicing operations in the metaverse before being let loose on real patients. Whether these will become the norm, I don't know, but it's this type of stuff that has got Meta so worked up

So one gets to play Genghis Khan, say? When I capture a city, do I slaughter the people, or do I enslave them instead?

I've heard a lot of people say wargames typically reward those who go for the most bloodthirsty options.

I was most disappointed in Thrones of Britannia I only got options to occupy or sack. In Medieval 2 Total War extermination was a permitted option.

In Civilization games I usually found working masses of citizens to death to build vanity projects was a good way of dealing with the difficult conditions caused by overpopulation.

Are there wargames covering the Thirty Years War or The Deluge?

Total extermination would be a requirement, not an option.

I worry about how much you enjoy this!

Henryk Sienkiewicz's Trilogy is on my to-read list. The Deluge, an absolutely ghastly war of extermination fought between Poland, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, the Cossacks, the Ottoman Empire, and the Tartars, from 1648-67, makes the Thirty Years War seem gentlemanly by comparison.

I struggle with it.

I stopped watching Game of Thrones after the red wedding.

BartholomewRoberts said:

WillG said:

ohnotnow said:

Ishmael_Z said:

Metaverse will catch on eventually as will 3D cinema and flying cars. Compare Zoom. Sci-fi from the 1950s on is full of videophones, but when they arrived with facetime they turned out to be a bit shit. Then covid and boom. There's no reason to suppose it will catch on before Facebook runs out of money though,, and what will catch on will be a leaner meaner iteration untainted by Facebooks fuddy duddy baggage.

There was an article on the BBC the other day listing eye-watering amounts of cash being spent 'in the metaverse' (not necessarily the FB one). I don't think I've even met anyone who's met anyone who's used it - so it was kinda suprising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63488059

Is there any difference between this and SecondLife?

Or Roblox? Or plenty of other online games and apps.

There's plenty of online worlds and stuff to get immersed into if you want to, without thinking any of it is a groundbreaking concept or will conquer the world.

Anabobazina said:

France/Wales have the best national anthem.

US, Russia, Germany all good.

GSTK is absolutely rubbish. Switch it to Jerusalem, which I think is a lovely hymn.

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

malcolmg said:

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

kle4 said:

Leon said:

The Welsh anthem remains the best in the world

I have a secret admiration for the French.

The French anthem is bouncy and cheering - it’s a top ten - but it’s really hard to sing which is a key failing. The Welsh anthem is considerably more stirring

I’d put the Welsh first, then Russia, then France third

Scotland bottom

Scotland doesn't really have a national anthem. They just play a Corrie's song, and pretend it's the national anthem.

I'd put the US bottom. The Star Spangled Banner is weak musically, and utter nonsense lyrically.

Neither of you have any taste it seems.

Taz said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

France/Wales have the best national anthem.

US, Russia, Germany all good.

GSTK is absolutely rubbish. Switch it to Jerusalem, which I think is a lovely hymn.

Some people just have no taste.

The Italian and the Fijian anthems are magnificent.

rcs1000 said:

Ishmael_Z said:

rcs1000 said:

Malmesbury said:

Andy_JS said:

The Metaverse sounds like a horrible idea. Real dystopian stuff.

Read Snow Crash - where the name was invented.

Perhaps someone will listen to Reason….

The entire book is set in my part of LA.

I've read it half a dozen times:

Doesn't hold a candle to Gibson's Sprawl books.

I've read, and enjoyed Gibson.

But I'm afraid to say that on this, I disagree with you. Stephenson's characters are better drawn, his worldview a little more engaging.

Of course, he can't write an ending for toffee (see The Diamond Age for the worst example of this), but I still pickup his books more often than Gibson