Ashoka the Great

[quote name='Methrage' timestamp='1312386273' post='2770954'] ....am I doing it right? [/quote] [quote]....your spies were caught, 20 spies were killed, and your identity has been publicly revealed.[/quote] No, you are not.

[quote name='Ayatollah Bromeini' timestamp='1312222951' post='2769276'] Well then.... Good luck, comrade KW [/quote] Interesting. I'm thinking you already knew what many of us learned only today. You would have been wise to remain silent.

Yeah, right. There's no way one thing could do all that. Nice try. I live a mile or two away from a nuclear reactor, so yeah....me too. We get three-second blackouts several times each month, which is a real pain. (Nothing like waking up to every electric device flashing '12:00'....) Every few months I'm startled by the sound of an exploding transformer somewhere in the distance, and this is normally followed by an outage lasting anywhere from thirty seconds to thirty minutes. Without my battery back-up I can't imagine how many PCs I would've burned through.

The cog and grain motif is a direct rip-off from the Communist Party of Canada's logo. Some may think it's a nice image -- I happen to think it's uninspired --but I would think originality would be more important. Besides, some defunct alliance has already ripped off the CPC's logo. (At least....I think the alliance is defunct.) Then again, the current flag is just godawful. Maybe copying an already-existing design wouldn't be such a bad idea. I dunno.

[quote name='nosoup4you' timestamp='1312025972' post='2767601'] There ARE still people on Bob for which "political moves" are unimportant. We're not trying to shake up Bob or in any way influence the balance of power with this treaty. I've been treatied to WAPA for nearly my entire existence on this world and that won't soon change. They might not be the best alliance, the biggest alliance, or the best "political choice", but they're my friends and I know they'll stand by me...even if sometimes they need a little help standing. [/quote] I feel that this should have been accompanied by a swell of dramatic music, perhaps ending with the sudden appearance of a halo. You know, there are two problem with trying to claim the moral high ground. Its surface is rarely steady, and the thin air can cause one to make mistakes.

Schatt: A Dell? Seriously? Please tell me how computers work. The twenty-seven years I've been working with them and my half-dozen certifications are of no help whatsoever. My last one chugged along for eight years without replacing/repairing a single thing. However, the PC I had before that, a P3 I think, exploded after two years. Seriously....a capacitor went off like a bullet and made a 1/2" outward dent in my case. This is probably why I continue to prefer steel cases. (I should have kept that panel, though. Dang.) Sometimes these things just happen. If I had to pick a component most likely to fail in a PC, 'motherboard' would make the most sense. Except for the one cooler fan, nothing else (besides motherboards) has ever given up the ghost.

A while back I made a few posts about building a new PC for myself for the first time in about eight years. I got some great advice and ended up building a computer far better than I had initially intended. And then the nightmare began. Within weeks, the memory modules on my motherboard started failing. No reason. They just died. So I sent the mobo back to the manufacturer and bought a second motherboard (different brand) of somewhat better quality. SATA3 instead of SATA2, Crossfire enabled and so on. My idea was to simply sell the replacement mobo once it arrived, keeping the upgrade. After using this for a few weeks, I noticed that my stock CPU fan and rear 120mm exhaust were really quite loud. The CPU fan sounded like a small vacuum, while the exhaust made a lot of noise while moving a surprisingly small amount of air. The CPU was running about 10C hotter as well. And then I had a great idea. I rushed out and bought an Antec H2O 620 liquid cooler. Reviews for this have been great, especially in terms of noise. The theory was that I would be replacing two loud fans with one quiet fan (and a radiator) that would actually do a better job of cooling. Alas, t'was not to be. I unpackcaged the cooler, installed it and....the fan was dead. Argh. Had you been in my house at about 0200 Saturday morning, you would have heard me mutter "Are you !@#$@#$ kidding me?" over and over and over again. Since I'd bought it only yesterday, today I marched the whole PC back to my local retailer and asked them to yank it out for me and install a different model of a higher-end air cooler. (I'd bought the last 620 in stock. Argh.) No problemo. My local computer place is pretty good about things like this. Anyway, they swapped everything out, hooked everything up, hit the power switch and.... Dead motherboard. Seriously. Another goddamn mother$%&@ing piece of !@#$ motherboard. Anyway, three days ago I received an e-mail from the manufacturer of mobo #1. The replacement has now been shipped. Tuesday morning -- it's a long weekend here -- I'll be shipping the second motherboard off to its manufacturer. For now, though, here I am on my notebook which, thank God, is working just fine. "This build has really been a nightmare for you," quoth Captain Obvious at my local computer retailer today. No !@#$, Sherlock. What have I learned from this? Hmmm....I don't know if there's anything to be taken away from this. I don't blame the manufacturers, since all of the products I bought had received great reviews and, well, there's always going to be that one guy who gets (or builds) a complete lemon. One thought I've had, though, is that once you've built a system, only open it up to give it a few blasts from an air duster every few weeks. Clean out those fan filters, if you have them. (I do.) Otherwise, don't touch a damn thing. Resist the temptation to upgrade. Instead, wait three years -- the average useful lifespan of a higher-end PC these days -- and then go out, buy the components for a new system and, once it's assembled, don't touch that one either.

I've read the logs, and my reaction is a big ol' yawn. I've seen much worse name-calling on various alliance's forums -- hi MK! -- and to my knowledge it's never led to a war. As excuses go, this one is pretty weak. *ahem* [OOC]Every member of every alliance is either Julie Andrews from Victor-Victoria or Nathan Lane in....well....pretty much anything, really. Everyone. No exceptions. You think Dame Edna is hot.[/OOC] There ya go. Most airtight CB ever, apparently. Now, since this incident seems to have occurred in my alliance's channel, allow me to offer a suggestion for the next time this happens. Talk to someone with ops. You'll actually have to go to the trouble of querying or highlighting them, because most of us are pretty terrible about looking at our public channel while we're blathering on about transgendered anime in our private channels. (There, I just added an extra insult directed at my own alliance. No doubt they will now begin the expulsion process.) This incident has made everyone involved, even those on the periphery like myself, just a little bit more stupid. Soon, we'll all be just as stupid as <insert your name here>. Yeah, that's right. You. [quote name='hizzy' timestamp='1311805340' post='2765590'] literally the only people who are allowed to support this move are NpO members/supporters. everyone else is a hypocritical turd. [/quote] Careful, man. You'll get yourself attacked.

Exodus had one of the most high-quality DoE's I have ever seen. Shame it didn't work out. <insert obligatory 'hope you know what you're doing' and so on and so forth>

Here ya go: I'm thinking there are about....oh....ten or twenty of us who might get that. I'm probably the only non-American who does.

I hereby declare war on high prices.

[quote name='trance addict' timestamp='1311615618' post='2763487'] Only if your caught. [/quote] His caught....what? Don't keep me in suspense like that.

While we enjoy pointing and laughing at SF from time to time, I'd hardly call it drama.

[quote name='hizzy' timestamp='1311372734' post='2761530'] rule #1: the more people claim that there's no drama, the more likely they are to war eachother in the next 3 months. this is literally the only consistency we have around here. [/quote] Hi, Hizzy. Join Nordreich.

I'd forgotten they existed. I really should visit our forum more often.

Truly the most shocking and surprising revelation I've encountered in the last ninety seconds.

[quote name='Zoomzoomzoom' timestamp='1311230175' post='2760367'] Also, quit beating around the bush about how Legacy was treated badly.[/quote] This is actually true. As I understand it, Legacy came to us, expressed their discontent and a desire to establish/re-establish ties with NoR/DT. Explaining all of the details with respect to the cancellation(s) is in Legacy's hands. If they don't wish to 'go public', I'm not about to betray their confidence. However, anyone with an eye for recent history should have no trouble whatsoever figuring out what happened. [quote]This entire topic is a PR stunt.[/quote] Yes and no. There was concern that all of this would leak out if it was announced in the usual stages -- cancel, waiting period, announcement, lather, rinse, repeat -- and, well, would anyone pass up the opportunity for an all-in-one like this? [quote name='Lusitan' timestamp='1311254751' post='2760481']Unless dropping the said SF ties was the main condition for obtaining any other treaties.[/quote] Nope. See above. [quote]Make it a !@#$@#$ fireworks show people.[/quote] [quote name='NoFish' timestamp='1311262987' post='2760548'] It would be really nice if someone from Legacy could come by our forums and let us know what this is all about. We're really in the dark here. [/quote] Really? [img]http://www.tenaflyguy.com/laughing.gif[/img] What a Maroon....

[quote name='steodonn' timestamp='1311046700' post='2758944'] You did try to kill the left in CN before. I would consider that both sides are even now. [/quote] My point was that we were willing to put all of that behind us. We tried to meet INT and others half-way. But it was never good enough for them. Having taken part in a witch-hunt wasn't enough to satisfy their bruised feelings. No, we were supposed to walk around in hair shirts, never raising our heads out of shame for all we've done. Well to hell with that. Nothing NoR/NoV did to INT, ICP, LSF, TGE or any other alliance comes even close to the war of extermination that was launched and that succeeded in driving so many people away for good. [OOC]To take it a step further, NoR/NoV's actions were always IC. The war INT took part in was directed at players, not 'nation rulers'.[/OOC] Still not satisfied? Alright then. I challenge you to find anything NoR/NoV did that was anything even remotely close to [url="http://z3.invisionfree.com/LSF/index.php?showtopic=5419"]this[/url] or [url="http://z3.invisionfree.com/LSF/index.php?showtopic=1289"]this[/url]. There really is no comparison. Nice try, though.

[quote name='Comrade Craig' timestamp='1311011183' post='2758509'] I always get a giggle when you stand reality on its head. In truth, it was NoR/V that was the thorn in the side of any "commie" alliance, or any "German Nationalist" alliance that didn't swear absolute loyalty to the 'Reich. Then one day the bullying got old for you guys and you decided that you had a new agenda, and so you unilaterally absolved yourselves of guilt and declared that all your old victims were "butthurt" or "living in the past" if they had the audacity to remember what you had done to them. Those who have lived under the boot of the (what is this now? Second? Third?) Reich may choose to move on, and they may even choose to forgive (according to our own schedule and of their own free will), but they will never forget. So yes, the old (real) TGE hated you for what you did to them, and this grudge was acted upon in an occasionally irrational or unproductive manner, but at least it was genuine. Even when I thought they were behaving stupidly, I always knew that that they were being true to themselves. This Wilhelm character is fraud, a coward, and a tool who has dug up and desecrated a corpse that was better left buried. My respect for Nordreich remains solid, but this is beneath you guys. -Craig [/quote] Craig, Actually, you're the one who has it precisely backwards. K-Fred had a personal vendetta against Martens that had its origins in events that preceded TGE's formation. TGE was merely the natural extension of that grudge. If this is the first you're hearing of this that's not really our fault, is it? And what exactly did NoR/NoV do to TGE that TGE "remembers what we did to them"? Except for the war of extermination you and your pals launched against NoV -- [b]which, by the way, [u]we[/u] have not forgotten[/b] -- NoV did nothing except call them out as frauds and whimpering nitwits; something they showed themselves to be time and time again. NoR 2.0 showed nothing but extreme patience in dealing with their ongoing foolishness and attempts to interfere in our internal affairs or their efforts in support of spying against us. So really, Craig. Go take a nap or something, because the nonsense going on between your ears bears absolutely no relation to reality. But you know.... As the person who first attempted to put our past well and truly behind us, I am intrigued by what you genuinely seem to think of us and, well, my personal efforts in that area. You reserve the right to to whinge about the past but if we take your bait then it will be our fault. Am I interpreting that correctly? You want my personal opinion about you and your ilk? Well here you go. I give up. I see that even trying to speak to you was a complete waste of my time. You are so wrapped up in your idiotic paranoia that there's absolutely no point in trying to engage you and those like you. You refuse to forget the past? Alright. So do we. Now what? Do we dance around as you and your pals seem to enjoy, or do you actually have the stones to put together a group and try to exorcise your poor hurt widdle feewings? No? Yeah, I didn't think so. You didn't have the courage to try to strangle us in the crib, so it would be foolish to expect it now. You go ahead and cry about what happened in your past. I saw many of my friends hunted to extinction. They're gone and they're not coming back. You want to compare your nicks and scratches with that? Go right ahead. Whine to your heart's content and enjoy sobbing about things that happened four or more years ago. Maybe you and Xiphosis can form some kind of mutual support society. (He can tell you all about our 'stranglehold on Black' along with all the other fantasies he likes to engage in.) Nobody gives a flying $%&@ what happened to you because in the eyes of anyone with an IQ over 65 you've already had your revenge and then some. So get down on your knees and thank Almighty Christ[sup]1[/sup] that we have not come looking for payback. Hugs and kisses, - kz ------------------------------------------------- 1. Although, as a good materialist, you should really get on your knees and thank [b]me[/b], since I once held more sway over Nordreich than Jesus ever has.

[quote name='Karl I' timestamp='1310868681' post='2757484'] KFred was a TRUE Kaiser/Emperor.. who made great achievements.. it's [i]idiots[/i] who tried to rule it after KFred who corrupted it's reputation!! [/quote] I can't believe I missed this one. Great achievements? TGE's entire reason for existing was to serve as 'not NoR/NoV' and that's it. It was founded by someone with a grudge against Nordreich for the sole purpose of serving as an alternative our adversaries could support. That's why TGE 1.0's allies kept putting up with the idiocy displayed by [b]every[/b] leader of the alliance. Go have a chat with those former friends and ask them what they really thought of TGE under anyone's leadership. Odds are they'll tell you what they've told so many others; that TGE was a running joke of an alliance from Day One. TGE's former allies have described K-Fred as either "dense" or "extremely difficult to deal with." And that's what they've said to me, by the way. I can't imagine what they've said to each other in private, but somehow I suspect it isn't any gentler. Returning to the real matter at hand, however.... When NoR returned there was an expectation in terms of the way in which we would do business. I think it's safe to say that we have pretty much dashed those expectations on more than two years of activity. Any comparison between Nordreich now and Nordreich in 2006-07 (or, for that matter, NoV in 2007-08) is really quite pointless, and anyone who makes the comparison is not someone we take seriously. Some of the people in the alliance are the same, but that's about it. The fact that Nordreich 2.0 has thus far lasted more than six times longer than the original would seem to indicate we're doing something right. I'll leave it to others to discuss what that something might be. Today, TGE has an opportunity to get it right from the beginning. Many have pointed out that by the end of its first run, TGE had pretty much destroyed its reputation. I don't think anyone within TGE (then or now) can deny this and still keep a straight face. So it's right to be wary of their reformation, just as many were concerned about ours. Will TGE succeed in breaking free of its past? Beats me. My crystal ball is broken. But I'm not about to deny them that opportunity. I'm not going to utter any self-evident, trite, moronic "Haters gonna hate" nonsense. (Seriously, anyone who uses that phrase except in an ironic way does not deserve to be treated as a grown-up. Those of you who think it actually means something....ugh....lost causes.) I'll just say, "Let time tell." If they manage to avoid their predecessor's mistakes, good for them. If not, then perhaps some of the current detractors are right and the brand itself carries some kind of 'curse' with it. They feel the need to try, and we're going to try to help them. Sorry if this bothers some of you. Perhaps an antacid would help.

[quote name='D34th' timestamp='1310846908' post='2757320'] Nice to see that NoR can recognize their mistakes and try to fix them. Congratulations. [/quote] There were no mistakes. [quote name='Anger' timestamp='1310850960' post='2757358'] Heh, I think you're misunderstanding what I meant exactly, I was just pointing out the facts. I had no problems with you attacking TGE, I was just stating you weren't as generous as you are now to TGE on Wilhelm's first reformation. No offense meant by it. I'm a fan of NoR if anything so apoligies if I came across as slandering you. [/quote] [i]Mea culpa[/i]. [quote name='Comrade Craig' timestamp='1310856363' post='2757396'] ....TGE's entire raison d'etre was to harass NoR and NoV... [/quote] Well, at least you've finally admitted to this. For years we'd been saying the only reason you and FOK held on to TGE was that they were "not NoR/NoV," and you guys repeatedly denied it. The truth has set you free.

[quote name='Anger' timestamp='1310832059' post='2757258'] I know what you're trying to say and I agree, it was very admirable for NoR to give TGE a chance but NoR DID attack TGE on the first reformation. [/quote] I think I'll file this under 'close enough'. [quote name='Ashoka the Great' timestamp='1310789156' post='2757039'] I'm looking forward to the arrival of the folks who bashed NoR in the previous TGE-related discussion. Will any of them pop in to eat their words? Unlikely. Except when uttered at gunpoint, "I was wrong" may well be the least-heard phrase around here. Will any of them drop by with some other fabricated reason to slander us? Oh, no doubt. I cannot wait for someone to say, "Poor show NoR for attacking an unprotected AA that had previously been hostile to you and then trying to help them do things the right way. You people are monsters."[/quote] I'm only surprised that it took nearly twelve hours.

[quote name='Comrade Craig' timestamp='1310794405' post='2757112'] TGE had many flaws, but if nothing else, at least they had their pride.[/quote] Yes, the kind of pride that barred them from even trying to meet us half-way when NoR reformed. We extended our hand, if not in friendship then at least in the spirit of detente, and it was slapped away on numerous occasions. Now, you may wrap up your frustration in whatever pretty packaging you like, but anyone seeing a leading figure from INT criticizing this understands that you have your own reasons for hoping something like this would never happen. We see it as yet further testament of our resolve not to be bound by some old, outdated way of doing things; a resolution which, believe me, I know you do not understand at all.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of the folks who bashed NoR in the previous TGE-related discussion. Will any of them pop in to eat their words? Unlikely. Except when uttered at gunpoint, "I was wrong" may well be the least-heard phrase around here. Will any of them drop by with some other fabricated reason to slander us? Oh, no doubt. I cannot wait for someone to say, "Poor show NoR for attacking an unprotected AA that had previously been hostile to you and then trying to help them do things the right way. You people are monsters." In the meantime, good luck to TGE. We have your back. (Now there's two sentences I never thought I'd say....)

But if they're in the products themselves, no problemo. Gotcha.