replayed this recently and was really happy with how well it holds up -- the buildup of the neighborhood is also very well done and makes you feel real ownership, in a way that Hong Kong does not quite match despite being even prettier. (I love the ghoul sewer quest in particular.)

sharon is a gamer, she just combats stereotypes by rarely talking about it-

sometimes it becomes obvious (eg the # of people confident that if they pulled the right string and dumped the right millions they could stop Mamdani) but since so much intra elite lobbying is private, it's easy to lie, easy to misread, and easy to claim credit for something you just heard about.

there is also the messy lurking bit here that many of them think they have more control than they do, and/or front to others to seem more powerful

and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword as was said three thousand years ago so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'

Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk...'

"The retired SEAL told CNN that he had voted for President Donald Trump, but that Hegseth—who has been on a crusade to root out what he calls unqualified diversity hires—was failing to retain top talent [...].

“She was the best man for the job,” he said. “There is absolutely no DEI.”"

Ellis begins by quoting from Carl Sandburg's "Chicago": www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...