Random Questions Thread

It was to show humanity was about to lose, yet the aliens mysteriously give up, allowing for the counterattack by the former. The backstory is that, the aliens had attempted a few raids on humanity, but were driven back in isolated incidents, and this has been going on for decades. The twist is that, both humanity and the aliens have been duped into fighting each other by a individual who lurks in the shadows, which is a metaphor for not being seen in public much. The individual's MO for controlling both is like this: Aliens have the advantage first, then let the humans have the advantage, then give the aliens the advantage again.

Well, in regards to how the aliens control the territory they conquered, their attack so fast and that, their "Roosts" are not in every city they conquer. Plus, holdouts of the armed forces of the countries in number hide easily for this reason. Also, in relation to my reply to , they stop after conquering that sixty percent, stopping at the France-Spain border and English Channel.

EDIT: Apologize for page-topping.

edited 8th Feb '16 8:08:18 AM by HallowHawk

What are some jobs in America that an 18 year old can get that pays a lot and legal, but also extremely hard or dangerous?

US Army infantryman.

edited 11th Feb '16 2:36:32 PM by LeGarcon

Most things like that will require at least a bit of additional training, but it depends how much money we're talking here. Things I've heard suggested include railroad conductor, anything to do with mining or oil rigs, commercial fishing, commercial diving, and some jobs in logging or construction. Although I'm pretty sure some of those wouldn't hire someone that young.

Hope it helps, though.

The only way you'd get in those jobs is if you were working in some family business.

Most of the dangerous professions would never hire someone that young or inexperienced.

Depending on oil prices, there are jobs at the oil fields and the like. It's closer to exhausting and tedious than strictly dangerous, though, since OSHA tends to frown on jobs with a high mortality rate.

Good point.

I was initially thinking about deckhands in crab fishing vessels, but yeah, even if the kid is mad fit, he wouldn't have the skillset necessary.

For additional information, he's pretty decent in handiworks, carpentry, mechanics, compueter, etc, although he isn't really GREAT at any of them. Also, he's very physically fit, being a captain of wrestling team and a linebacker.

RE: 60% of Earth's land mass: Can Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar, and the islands off Russia in the Arctic Ocean be 60% of Earth's land mass?

In regards to the job thing, I guess I'd ask how much money we're talking here. Six figures? Enough for a single guy to live comfortably? Enough to buy a fancy car/computer/firearm/super-soldier serum/insert-plot-requirement-here?

1. Why does character development get used as get out of jail free card in stories nowadays?

2. Does every character need to progress as characters in one way?

1. What do you feel character development is being used to excuse? Bad things the character has done? If such is the case, the problem is not with the use of character development, but with the writers, who may have executed it poorly. Or do you feel character development is being used to excuse the writers of something else, or other characters?

2. Some stories are built around characters who won't progress in one way or another, such as Greek tragedies.

About how fast could a sailing ship in the early 1800s go?

Really depends on the wind and the type of ship. A merchantman won't raise any eyebrows whether it wallows along at four knots or manages to maintain a steady seven. (Ninety-six sea miles per day in the first case, 168 in the second.) Of course, contrary winds or poorly-timed calms could slow things down, keeping ships windbound for weeks on end in the worst case; for poorly-charted waters, a cautious captain may decide to drop anchor at night, cutting the per-day speed in half. On the flipside, a fast smuggler or inshore cutter, or a particularly well-handled frigate, can clock two hundred miles from noon to noon.

@Crystal Glacia

I meant how is it often used as an excuse to say that the story is good just because it has character development. Some of the shows I watch have little to no character development.

What makes the story bad in spite of character development, by the way?

When the story builds things up and it doesn't gives me any sort of payoff.

I've got a character who is held prisoner in a dungeon, with a metal collar around his neck. Luckily, the head of the pin that holds the collar together is almost completely corroded by rust, so if he can file off what's left of it he will be able to escape. What do you think is the best way to do that ?

• rubbing it with a small rock found on the floor ?
• rubbing it with a small piece of metal taken from his boot ?
• rubbing it against the edge of the bore the pin is in ?

All of the above

Are his arms and legs tied as well?

edited 22nd Feb '16 3:35:35 AM by hellomoto

Anybody know the price of a bottle of spirits in the UK in 1991? (Specifically gin)

Probably about £10-20 depending on the brand, based on it being about £15 for a cheap bottle and £30 for something expensive now.

Inflation means that prices were half as high back in the early 90's, but alcohol's become significantly cheaper in the UK since then, so it won't be as low.

Anywhere where I can find Jewish forenames?

Here.

Also here.

I have three questions:

1. Can cultural sensibilities play role in our understanding of stories and literature? Can values dissonance play a role in our analysis of tropes?

2. Do most stories need to follow a beginning, middle and end structure?

3. What makes a work avant garde?

Short answers:

1. Yes

2. No, though Tropes Are Tools and this structure is easy to understanding. Actually, what do you mean by "beginning,middle,end" anyway?

3. Who knows?

edited 27th Feb '16 6:42:55 AM by hellomoto