Bay 12 Games Forum

Bright-ish side, the monument's only going to be there for so much longer. Iirc the vote was unanimous among the city's politicritters to ditch the thing during a touch up or somethin' like that of the place it's sitting.

With the peak being mid-September.

Track has shifted east some, so New Orleans is now just on the western edge of the strike cone. Florida panhandle is now the more likely target (sorry, Frumple).

... y'know, I can't actually think of something to say that isn't taunting murphy, so I guess we'll just be waiting until landfall and its classification at that point. Then we'll better know how much condolences are actually warranted, heh.

But what is his problem with the Iran deal anyway? Iran gave up practically all nuclear activity, what more does he want?

There is literally no reason to eliminate this deal unless the purpose is to harm Iran, either economically through new sanctions or military.

I highly suspect Israels lobby is pushing for eliminating the deal.

I'unno, trump apparently laundered money for one of iran's military/terrorist branches (forget the exact name, 'cause I've been awake for like five minutes -- pretty sure I've mentioned it waaaay upthread if you feel like searching for it). I could see harming iran in a bid to obfuscate criminal activities as being something trump decides to do.

Could also see someone on their side of things having fucked with his ego at some point during the process or since, which given trump's behavioral patterns would explain just about any level of hostility from him, up to and including inciting military conflict. That the deal happened under obama would qualify here on its own, really.

... 'course, now that my brain is working a bit more, most likely is just because his base lies out its fucking ass about and swallows any swill that shits on convenient brown people targets, of which for reasons various and historied iran happens to be. Trump'll take a dump on anything positive or even neutral about them for that reason alone, and the talking shitheels among the right wing have been mischaracterizing the iran deal to suck off racists and xenophobes since day 1 of negotiations.

Mind the other two are still decent possibility, as is stuff like one of the fucknut and/or corrupt as fuck individuals that he's surrounded himself with playing with trump's various character flaws to worsen relations with the country due to some grudge or bribe-giver's agenda or fucking spite etc., or whatever. There's basically a slate of possible and entirely too goddamn plausible causes for trump to be trying to incite hostilities with or undermine someone.

Maybe nature's looking to get a direct hit on all the gulf coast states instead of just the important ones...

@Archibald,
Again, I'd like to point out that you cannot--with certainty--posit that God is good. Only suggest it. That has been the crux of my argument after all. You cannot guilt Tack because the truth is you don't know for certain that God is good.

Again, not trying to convince yo that he/she/they/yahweh is NOT good--simply that you cannot be 100% certain.

I don't think I remember a name for the formulation, if one in the general shape has even been made, but one line of thought I kinda' enjoy is one that lays it out that you can be 100% sure that the god you worship is good, because if a god is not, then you don't worship it. If there is a god that is not good, it is not that god which you offer your faith. If the god of the bible or a particular denomination is not what you worship, that god is not the god of your faith, but some other thing. Some other god if you're amiable to polytheism, or any number of other things if you're not.

It's kinda' the Fate Stay/Night Gae Bolg of theology. The spear pierces, and so must have hit, not hit, and thus may pierce. It is certain that god is good because what you worship is good, you don't worship god because it is certain that it is good. Whatever the blue hell it is you're dedicating your soul to is exactly what you say it is or it can keep its ruddy mitts off your soul.

Assuming it stays one, anyway. Probably, maybe, hopefully...

Despite common belief, most charities do not "waste" much money. The Red Cross, for example, passes on nearly 90% of donated money (in the form of aid supplies, personnel, etc) and uses only a small portion for administrative expenses.

Even those that have higher expenses, however, generally do so because the administrative and similar expenses are actually needed to run an organization of that size and comply with the necessary regulatory environment.

That, yes. If you're stateside, you might consider checking the EPA's website to see if they note any particular non-profits that are throwing down as major effort leaders. Can also poke around local non-profits, check with nearby first responder organizations to see if they or someone they're in contact with has been funneling personnel and are accepting donations to help defray costs, and so on.

Not as sure for PR, but I know for a fact that latter's happening to various degrees with the continental cleanup efforts (cousin's in the business/field, has mentioned official-ish efforts in passing), and to an extent even helping with that helps out PR -- more and sooner resources get freed up elsewhere is more and sooner resources available that can potentially be diverted towards the island.

If you don't want to or can't send money, even just raising awareness online or in person pretty much never fails to help to some degree. Take some time and suss out which orgs are doing the most/more vital stuff and spread the name around a bit, whatever.