Hawk comments

Adding flashes to muzzles in post production is no more expensive than adding filters to grade an image or matt paintings. There really is no need to use real guns...

Sure. If you are making a five minute short for film class and don't care if your effects look cheap and unrealistic.

Why are real guns used in the first place?!

A couple of reasons, given in the article: "As an armorer with three decades of experience, Merrick believes that real guns -- when used safely -- give both actors and audiences an unrivalled sense of "authentic action.""

"For example, he said it is impossible for performers using rubber guns to accurately emulate the recoil of a gunshot." Also, it costs money to add "computer effects" such as bangs and flashes in post. Lots of low-budget productions may not be able to afford it.

I'm interested to see how this trial will play out. The armorer on the set was definitely negligent and was found guilty as a result. I'm not so sure about Baldwin, as in the course of performing a character who fires guns, some of the golden rules of gun safety, such as "Always point the gun in a safe direction" are necessarily broken. For instance, a shot might call for an actor to point a firearm directly into the camera. The 'turn and shoot' which features in many a James Bond opening is a good example of this. Sledge Hammer (really showing my age here) too.

I have to admit I felt a little sad that she learned almost instantly to bike with her friends. Seemed like I was an inadequate Dad. 

If you hadn't taught her balance and propulsion, she wouldn't have been able to go off with her friends. You did a good job there.

falseflagsteve,

Absolutely. Quality time with your kids. Love it.

Once she has the road rules down and can appreciate a bit better what the traffic is doing around us, I'll get her on the roads. I already have a few courses and routes in mind. Of course, before that, there's always rivers to ride along, mountains to ride up and forests to ride through.

Cycling has always been a big part of my life. Great for the environment, physical and mental health, and saving a bit of coin on gas. Sharing it all with my kids was always something I looked forward to.

My kid was on a balance bike at two, from which she graduated to a kid's bike at three. The kid's bike was a little heavy so I took the pedals off until she was a bit stronger and could use the brakes with her hands, at which point I put the pedals on. She learned balancing and pedaling really quickly. Now, at five, she handles the bike really well and just needs to learn the road rules. Soon I'll get her on a mountain bike and she can come with me on weekends.

The biggest challenge was getting her grandfather to back off because he wanted to teach her to ride. That's my job.

I wish more people were equally capable of disagreeing without resorting to name calling, shaming or otherwise demeaning behavior. Well done, Hawk! Have an upvote!

Well, we could bicker back and forth about it but I don't think either of us will convince the other. Our opinions aren't that far apart anyway. Enjoy your evening.

In Japan, arranging an actual wedding ceremony is indeed feasible and completely legal, which is wonderful for couples wishing to celebrate their union.

Cool. Not much point if you're not legally married afterwards, though. Like buying a Ferrari but not being allowed to drive it. And it's not the only reason these couples feel unable to do that, either: "But these carefully choreographed images are often kept hidden in this conservative society where many LGBTQ people say they face prejudice and stigma, even from their own families."

I support the idea of same-sex couples having wedding ceremonies and legal unions that grant them essential rights like tax benefits and hospital visitation. However, I am opposed to calling these unions "marriage." While they should certainly have the ability to form a legal union and receive various benefits, I believe that adopting children and using the term "marriage" should be reserved for traditional unions. What same-sex couples have is something different, and it's important to use a term that accurately describes their situation to avoid confusion.

I disagree with your opinion regarding terminology, but you're entitled to it.

kiwiboy,

I'm enjoying reading your perspective, especially this point: "You could struggle for years trying to succeed at all the normal diets and end up failing, or take the medicine and succeed." I think that's a point a lot of people, including me, miss. Although these drugs could be perceived as a quick- fix, or an easy way out, there are a myriad of reasons why the traditional 'diet and exercise' model might not work for individuals.

Good luck with it.

What a nice idea, albeit a shame that it is necessary for them. I hope they can get photos of their actual wedding ceremony one day. Good luck to them.

"They put a lot of pressure on the breakdown and it's going to be key for us this weekend to win the race,"

Diving in from the side off your feet will do that.

It's going to be a good one. The All Blacks can only get better from last week, and England will definitely be confident coming in to this one.

Fingers crossed for another card-less battle.

USNinJapan2,

I appreciate it. You'd think that if that system wasn't required to actually propel the train (if it were stranded but not in a tunnel or on a bridge) then they could divert the power to heating or cooling the cars. Although, you never know when you will need it for propulsion, and it wouldn't do to have burned all your backup power on A/C.

Anyway, what I know about train engineering wouldn't fill the back of a tiny postage stamp so what the hell would I know?

I could be wrong, but I think shinkansens have backup systems by which they could run, for example, air conditioning and lighting. Temporarily, at least.

Pierce

Sorry, Pearce.

As predicted, a pretty unconvincing first up effort by the All Blacks. Still struggling to deal with that offsi...I mean, 'rush' defense.

That said, great game by England. But for a few missed kicks, they would have had them.

As for the ref, well, he made a bunch of strange calls but he didn't seem to favor one team over the other. Maybe WR's check didn't clear.

Referring to the Kolbe try, Ireland coach Andy Farrell said: "It is not for me to say if the TMO was right or wrong, but I did have dubious thoughts about it.

One of those vicissitudes of rugby. Had the referee, Pierce, said he initially thought it was no try, that decision would have stood and the try would have been rubbed out. It looked like he was in touch to me.

Just further argument for scrapping the TMO altogether and getting rugby back to a sport we can enjoy watching without having to hope that the scorer's team's bus driver didn't speed on the way to the stadium so their try isn't disallowed.

It's not as if the TMO system has reduced the amount of contentious calls. Although the constant tweaking of the rules (to favor certain teams) is also a culprit.

Nepal Government deliberately asked the Sherpa team to pile up the garbages so that they can get the massive fund from the foreigners which will obviously be pocketed for their private life.

Is that right? Can't wait for the proof.

I will simply point out that this is happening on the Nepali side of Mount Everest/Chomolungma. The north side in China is better regulated and not polluted.

It's true that regulations regarding trash are stricter on the north, Tibetan, side. Since all the way back in 2018, when 8.4 metric tonnes of trash and human waste was removed from the climbing route.

It's also true that the north side traditionally sees far fewer climbers due to stricter permit requirements and a colder, more challenging route.

Cards fan,

You should have seen the previous one!

Sorry, I wasn't attacking you, just making a bit of a joke.

What's with the stock photo here? lmao It's weird.

I don't have a problem with it.

The All Blacks are always wobbly in their first test of the year, and might be particularly vulnerable to this England team, who Borthwick has on an upwards trajectory.

Can't wait for this one, and then Ireland vs South Africa at Loftus later on? Awesome.

dude just search the internet... why are these people so dumb

A lot of it is for the thrill of taking the photo / video themselves, along with the risk of getting caught.

Cool. Good luck to him.

Around Kawazu and Imaihama on the Izu Peninsula. Drive down the spiralling bridge, through some narrow valleys and along the river. The beaches are pretty wild down that way - huge surf last time we were there. It was my kid's first time in the ocean, with waves, and she had a blast.

It should be a good couple of games. Borthwick has the English on the move upwards, while Robertson, albeit with a stunning Super Rugby record, has yet to prove himself as an international coach.

one thing i dont understand.

here we have alarmining stories from Antarctica.

same time southern parts of Australia are expecting record cold days.

any thoughts?

as both news are in stark opposite!

Yeah, it's a real headscratcher. I mean, it was raining in London and sunny in Capetown yesterday. What the hell is going on?

Why is it that climate change deniers seem to believe every reason except the ones held by the experts?

No one pays any attention to them, otherwise.

And the anti-vaxxers' eyes light up with glee at the tragic death of this young man. Ugh. So gross.

The six conservative justices were in the majority, while its three liberal members dissented.

When you can look at the case before a court and say with surety what the decision will be, and what the split will be, then there's a problem with that court. In this era, every decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court should have an asterisk beside it.

ebisen,

Yes, you're right, but you have to do all that while handling the weapon. Perhaps you meant 'brandish' or 'aim' the weapon.

*"By US law, Baldwin was at least responsible for checking the weapon (which he knew it was real) and making sure it is safe to handle himself, before handling it."*

By US law, Baldwin was at least responsible for checking the weapon (which he knew it was real) and making sure it is safe to handle himself, before handling it.

Well, that doesn't make sense. How do you check if a weapon is safe before handling it?

Anyway, gun safety recommendations like 'treat every gun as if it's loaded,' and 'don't point it at anything you're not ready to destroy' are guidelines, not laws. Negligence and recklessness and the like don't come into play until something terrible happens, as it did here.