Good idea? Yes. Workable? About that. . .

Amongst all the outrage over the latest Republican hypocrisy involving filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat, I've seen an idea floated in more than one place. End lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court, and instead have a single 18-year term, with a new Justice being appointed every two years. Thus, every President gets at least two picks (four for a two-term President) and after leaving the Supremes, justices can ask for appointments to other federal benches or retire.

I'd imagine the role of Chief Justice would be held by the senior member of the court. I could go for a scheme where the Chief Justice serves a three-year term and is elected by his fellow justices. You'd also have to address what happens if a Justice dies in office. What happens if the President already has placed his two choices? Do we get an Acting Associate Justice until the next appointment period?

But here's the problem. The eight current members (and soon to be ninth member, sigh) are serving lifetime appointments. For this to work you'd need to convince every single member of the current court to draw straws and step down in order. You can't legislate them out, as that would be an ex post facto law, forbidden by the Constitution. Impeaching Justices of the Supreme Court just to get them out of the way would be an abuse of power that would have me calling for a revolution.

So while it's a great idea, and would bring more balance to the court long-term, until you find a way to get the current black-robed baseball team in Washington to agree to their own obsolescence I don't see a way for it to go forward.

One article, two game ideas!

This Gothic castle wasn't near water, wasn’t strategically important, and had no one living in it. So why was it built? According to legend, the answer was the only other logical option: to trap demons.

For Ars Magica, move the construction back to the 10th century and you have a tailor-made abandoned House Tytalus Covenant. Everyone says the portal was sealed, and that the old Covenant should be revitalized. . . but are they right?

For more rational FRPGs, the portal isn't to Hell, but an unusually large and shallow entrance to the Underdark. The fort was abandoned after decades of inactivity, but now it appears that something has taken over the old keep and is growing in power.

Because I love fucking with their call times.

15:37! That's how long I kept "Pete" from Cardmember Services on the phone!

What was best was when he started threatening to come kill me.

"OK, where do I live?"

"United States."

"That's about 330 million people and roughly a third of North America. I'll give you a hint, I'm in California."

"Sacramento?"

"Nope, another hint: It's where the 49ers play."

*silence*

"We're tracing the call right now and I'm going to come and kill you."

"I'm on my cell phone, dipshit. The closest that will get you is one of three cell towers."

"Fuck you."

~fin~