When I feel down, I remember that I live in America, and that Jesus is my savior. So, I have nothing to really worry about. Or I forget, and go into a grumpy bender. Holy Lightning hitting me atop the head would be nice. But its better used on a non-believer, I suppose. After all, Jesus gave me a good deal.
I do get tired rapidly, and I have trouble sleeping, but it goes on. I pray that God grants me more wisdom, as I seem to lack it, and perhaps some tact. I also pray that God keeps everyone safe, even if I don't like everyone. Life goes on.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Radicalism
According to the bible, man is born evil, a failure of creation, and can only reach salvation through Christ. According to humanists, man is divine, above all other animals, which are base nature. Eco-nuts have evolved a weirder view. Man is both not a part of creation, but a tumor to be removed from holy nature.
I have noticed that nice, good environmentalists tend to be people who live and work among nature. Now, they sometimes get fooled by radicals. Like banning DDT instead of tweaking the amount used, which led to the deaths of millions of Africans.
Radicals use scary images, good people use calm rationality. I hate global warming for the bullshit its radical proponents spew. I also recall that anti-nuke hysteria by these same radicals prevented us from using nuclear power instead of coal. Now scientifically, I know a version of climate change is occuring, a minute difference we won't notice for another 60 years. We should be focusing on asteroids. You heard me.
I have noticed that nice, good environmentalists tend to be people who live and work among nature. Now, they sometimes get fooled by radicals. Like banning DDT instead of tweaking the amount used, which led to the deaths of millions of Africans.
Radicals use scary images, good people use calm rationality. I hate global warming for the bullshit its radical proponents spew. I also recall that anti-nuke hysteria by these same radicals prevented us from using nuclear power instead of coal. Now scientifically, I know a version of climate change is occuring, a minute difference we won't notice for another 60 years. We should be focusing on asteroids. You heard me.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Weird Thoughts
Why did people want a prince to come to the rescue in fairy tales? Why should an investor be forced to take a bad deal to benefit a union? Why do people care about race?
Now you see my though process. I wheel from unserious questions to economic and racial matters all within a few seconds. I sometimes land on one of these questions, an go more in depth. Some are easy. Princes had power, money, and a house. In the middle ages, this was as good as it got. Fairy tales have their roots in the time of kings.
The other questions are kinda boring to answer. I won't even try. Even though I have very definite opinions, thats not the same as an answer. Not all questions have answers that fit in a blog post.
Now you see my though process. I wheel from unserious questions to economic and racial matters all within a few seconds. I sometimes land on one of these questions, an go more in depth. Some are easy. Princes had power, money, and a house. In the middle ages, this was as good as it got. Fairy tales have their roots in the time of kings.
The other questions are kinda boring to answer. I won't even try. Even though I have very definite opinions, thats not the same as an answer. Not all questions have answers that fit in a blog post.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sagra
One thing I have always wondered is if a monster can be a main character without being a human with extra bits. For example, lets have an alligator/lizard biped named Sagra. Big long tail, toothy mouth, kind of hulking. Would people watch a show showing him wandering a fantasy world smashing creeps? Now, it may have to be all CG, as I don't think we would have the money to make him look good in real time. I am a bit sour on the prospect, as I have yet to see even a cartoon with a serious monster lead.
I know that people need a character they can relate too, but I would hope people could relate to his personality. Having a cheerful, no-worry attitude seems to fit a gator, who spend time lazing in the sun in between gobbling up turtles and fish. It would seem to be a welcome break from the woe-is-me angst other monsterous characters have. It seems like people might like a cheerful alligator man with a big whomping stick clobbering everything from greedy orcs to eco-nut elves while laughing uproarously.
Example
"Hi!" Sagra said, and clobbered the armored guard with Whomper, sending him flying backwards.
He charged forward, as the stunned guard smacked into a stone wall with an amusing crash. Sagra smacked him with his armored tail for good measure, and smacked another guardman on the noggin with his odd weapon.
"Sagra!" he heard from the terrified girl on the wicker pile. The wicker had yet to be lit, although the pouring rain meant it was doubtful to ever lite.
"Stop him, he'll ruin everything!" The druid screamed, sending three more guards Sagra's way.
The crowd howled, and surged towards the gator. But a wave of sound smashed into them, sending some flying backwards. Sagra laughed in a deep husky voice, and ran over the guards like bowling pins, ignoring a clanging blow to his side from one of their polearms. He ran straight for the druid, who shifted into a bear.
"I hate bears!" Sagra roared, and set about proving it with a stunning blow to the head. The druid countered with a bat of his paw, scraping against Sagras armor.
Lighting flashed from the sky, tearing into the three guards that had recovered. Two stayed down, but the third stared at the grinning mage who had appeared on a rooftop. The brown haired young man stuck his tongue out.
"Good Night." a voice said in the guards ear, and he fell with a sharp knife in his back. The cloaked woman slid toward the girl on the wicker pile, and she cut her loose with ease. The panicked crowd had scattered, leaving the square empty. The thud of a bear hitting the cobblestones heralded the end of Sagras fight.
So would people watch that, or is it too weird for the mainstream?
I know that people need a character they can relate too, but I would hope people could relate to his personality. Having a cheerful, no-worry attitude seems to fit a gator, who spend time lazing in the sun in between gobbling up turtles and fish. It would seem to be a welcome break from the woe-is-me angst other monsterous characters have. It seems like people might like a cheerful alligator man with a big whomping stick clobbering everything from greedy orcs to eco-nut elves while laughing uproarously.
Example
"Hi!" Sagra said, and clobbered the armored guard with Whomper, sending him flying backwards.
He charged forward, as the stunned guard smacked into a stone wall with an amusing crash. Sagra smacked him with his armored tail for good measure, and smacked another guardman on the noggin with his odd weapon.
"Sagra!" he heard from the terrified girl on the wicker pile. The wicker had yet to be lit, although the pouring rain meant it was doubtful to ever lite.
"Stop him, he'll ruin everything!" The druid screamed, sending three more guards Sagra's way.
The crowd howled, and surged towards the gator. But a wave of sound smashed into them, sending some flying backwards. Sagra laughed in a deep husky voice, and ran over the guards like bowling pins, ignoring a clanging blow to his side from one of their polearms. He ran straight for the druid, who shifted into a bear.
"I hate bears!" Sagra roared, and set about proving it with a stunning blow to the head. The druid countered with a bat of his paw, scraping against Sagras armor.
Lighting flashed from the sky, tearing into the three guards that had recovered. Two stayed down, but the third stared at the grinning mage who had appeared on a rooftop. The brown haired young man stuck his tongue out.
"Good Night." a voice said in the guards ear, and he fell with a sharp knife in his back. The cloaked woman slid toward the girl on the wicker pile, and she cut her loose with ease. The panicked crowd had scattered, leaving the square empty. The thud of a bear hitting the cobblestones heralded the end of Sagras fight.
So would people watch that, or is it too weird for the mainstream?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Should America be evil?
By which I mean, should we set forth the idea that harrassing American civilians for being American will earn a bombing? Roxana Sebari, a journalist, was arrested for "espionage" by the Iranian government. Now, we have warned civilians not to go to Iran, so perhaps this isn't the best example, she probably should have stayed away. But lets continue the thought experiment.
Would it work? Probably not at first. The kind of nations that pull this crap would be willing to accept some damage. They would turn it into propaganda, and we would become the bad guy. But is being a scary bad guy all that bad? If we prove we are serious, countries might think twice before grabbing innocent Americans to use as pawns. If we still treat everyone else with respect, would it really damage our position?
Would it work? Probably not at first. The kind of nations that pull this crap would be willing to accept some damage. They would turn it into propaganda, and we would become the bad guy. But is being a scary bad guy all that bad? If we prove we are serious, countries might think twice before grabbing innocent Americans to use as pawns. If we still treat everyone else with respect, would it really damage our position?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Strategist vs. Engineer
The military has invested money in load assisting suits to allow soldiers to carry more with less effort. Now, these are called powered armor in science fiction, which always packs on rocket packs and internal munitions. But the real world is a bit less romantic.
Lets face it, a mass produced bit of gear that reduces effort is far more useful than an Iron Man suit. That's why the F-22 is out of date, replaced by the cheaper Predator. However, don't let this get ya down if you like fancy weapons. The newest infantry weapon the Army is trying out is a 25mm cannon that can fire guided shells.
All of this shows the difference between the tech-guy and the strategist. The tech guy wants to make the fanciest device possible. The strategist wants weapons that can equip his force against its most likely threat. The strategist likes an Airburst cannon that might allow Spec-Ops to wipe out larger forces than normally possible. He also wants drone bombers that allow him to go on high risk missions without some flyboy getting killed. He frankly needs a load suit so that the troops don't quit when asked to shoulder cannon shells.
We want to give soldiers everything they need. But we cannot afford to make them unkillable. Its hard to balance these two realities.
Lets face it, a mass produced bit of gear that reduces effort is far more useful than an Iron Man suit. That's why the F-22 is out of date, replaced by the cheaper Predator. However, don't let this get ya down if you like fancy weapons. The newest infantry weapon the Army is trying out is a 25mm cannon that can fire guided shells.
All of this shows the difference between the tech-guy and the strategist. The tech guy wants to make the fanciest device possible. The strategist wants weapons that can equip his force against its most likely threat. The strategist likes an Airburst cannon that might allow Spec-Ops to wipe out larger forces than normally possible. He also wants drone bombers that allow him to go on high risk missions without some flyboy getting killed. He frankly needs a load suit so that the troops don't quit when asked to shoulder cannon shells.
We want to give soldiers everything they need. But we cannot afford to make them unkillable. Its hard to balance these two realities.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Two good things
OK, for all my distain at his stupid domestic policy of spending more than Bush in a few months, Obama has made two good decisions.
One, he allowed Gates to slash the F-22 budget. The F-22 is an awesome, but out of date and expensive plane. We don't need them, end of statement. We have the JSF, which is more useful (it can be a stealth fighter or a bomb truck), and the kickass Predator C jet drone, which we can produce for a fraction of the cost of a F-22, with the added bonus of being a robot. Now, to be sure, Robert Gates is the man who made the decision, and he is a Bush holdover, but Obama chose to keep him, a solid decision.
Two, he talked to Colombias president Uribe about the free trade deal, and after realizing that it wasn't a bad idea, has said its a good idea. He had been parroting stupid talking points about it hurting Americans, but after discussing the issue, he actually learned something.
Now, please note, these are the only two decisions he made I agree with. He is still horrible.
One, he allowed Gates to slash the F-22 budget. The F-22 is an awesome, but out of date and expensive plane. We don't need them, end of statement. We have the JSF, which is more useful (it can be a stealth fighter or a bomb truck), and the kickass Predator C jet drone, which we can produce for a fraction of the cost of a F-22, with the added bonus of being a robot. Now, to be sure, Robert Gates is the man who made the decision, and he is a Bush holdover, but Obama chose to keep him, a solid decision.
Two, he talked to Colombias president Uribe about the free trade deal, and after realizing that it wasn't a bad idea, has said its a good idea. He had been parroting stupid talking points about it hurting Americans, but after discussing the issue, he actually learned something.
Now, please note, these are the only two decisions he made I agree with. He is still horrible.
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