tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16250629758086371232024-03-12T18:17:47.269-07:00Operation: OxmyxRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-29745006338542763642015-08-10T13:26:00.000-07:002015-08-10T13:38:02.278-07:00my preacher's wisdom continues "Imagine that"My preacher told a story from his life last Sunday, and I was struck by it and he said I could repeat it, as long as I didn't name names (except for him, Rev. Bob Peak).<br />
<br />
He related how years ago he was working closely with a hispanic preacher to be the hispanic church leader for the province. This Spanish-speaking teacher was from a pentecostal background, and one of the elders in the church hierarchy approached Bob saying "Pentecostals don't do well in our churches."<br />
<br />
Bob's response, "Imagine that! The Holy Spirit moving in our churches!"<br />
<br />
I thank God for people like Bob, who live what they preach, and are not afraid to remind their bosses who the real boss is. Also, he reminds us all what the attitude of Christians should be. It follows quite beautifully with the Moravian motto<i> In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love</i>.<br />
<br />
In another story related by him (or another preacher I respect), he was at some church conference where they were deciding on some change. There was a public debate about nominating a committee to study the issue, and it was suggested they have a person representing the various facets of the issue (I do not recall what the issue was). The church leadership nominated this person and that person, and had formed a diverse group of minds, and were almost concluded, and my preacher spoke up: "Are we going to have anyone that represents God's point of view?"Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-86077143765219323722014-08-18T17:15:00.001-07:002015-08-10T13:47:27.576-07:00Preacher's wisdom about Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition and GodMy preacher (Rev. Bob Peak) told a short little story that struck me as unusually wise. Although a wise man, the wisdom was not his originally. Before he was a pastor, and before seminary, my preacher was simply a churchgoer, and after a Bible study had a question for his own preacher. He had run into the big idea that the God of Abraham is often seen as the God of the Jews, and of the Christians, and of the Muslims. I personally think it depends on how you are looking at the matter. Anthropologically speaking, He is the same God. In the theological sense, I think most people would agree on "No". He asked his pastor about this complicated question, and the old man thought about it. He finally said, "I'd hate to stand before God not having known Jesus."<br />
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That strikes me as an excellent answer. <br />
<br />
I should not put words into either my preacher's mouth or his preacher before him, but in my thinking I don't dare decide what God would do, and certainly not what He should do. Not only is it not my decision to make, but I am certain I lack both the wisdom and the righteousness to make such a decision. Certainly the Bible provides guidance in such matters, and we can and should study and learn, but it makes me angry (I hope in a righteous way) when people talk as if they can tell God what to do, and when. <br />
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My preacher says something else that is meaningful regarding this: "My job is to preach, not judge. That's God's job, not mine."Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-89765919403846246422014-01-24T06:40:00.002-08:002014-01-24T06:41:19.103-08:00Star Trek: The Re-Imagined Card Game2 player "transwarp speed" preconstructed deck(s) with agreed TIME LIMIT (often 45 minutes after set-up)<br />
Distilled from the thousands-card customizable card game (1E) by Decipher, repurposed to focus on speed of play, eased learning curve, theme, reduced confusion, nostalgia, and fun. I have made the play decks a tad bit larger for this version.<br />
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Three sentence rules summary: Players agree on time limit conditions, then deal out “Obstacle Deck”, deal out spaceline, both players select their “starting fleet,” then shuffle decks and deal 7 cards to each player. Players then alternate turns of playing 2 cards (plus free cards), taking actions (if any), trying to score points, and then ending turn to draw 2 new cards. It’s a race to have the most points by endgame (or first to 100 points).<br />
<br />
WITH COMBINED SEED DECK (and with 1:1 customizable personnel available)<br />
(redesigned "house rules" for time limit)<br />
wanted: Attack Authorization, Gorn Encounter x 2, Borg Sphere x 2, Escape Pods incident, Punishment Box x2, Remodulation, Barclay Transporter Phobia, Rager<br />
<br />
current draw (8+22+20+1= 51) + draw #2 (51) + shared seed (55) = 157<br />
<br />
updated "house rules"<br />
Game setup: (7 steps)<br />
1) Each player receives his/her Draw Deck (preconstructed and equal) of 51 cards.<br />
2) The shared Seed Deck is brought out, and separated into Missions and Obstacles (Dilemmas/ Enemy Ships/ Q cards, ignoring space/planet issues unless the word "planet" is used).<br />
3) The players now agree to 3 articles that affect how long the game lasts:<br />
One, how many Obstacles? And two, what time limit? And three, how many cards played/drawn each turn? Default is 3 obstacles, 2 cards played/drawn, and 1 hour (began once "starting fleet deployment" and set-up completed).<br />
4) The missions are shuffled, and then laid out into a Spaceline ("Auto-Seeds"), all facing one direction, and all open to all players, ignoring quadrants.<br />
5) Now, Obstacles (dilemmas/ enemy ships/ Q) are also shuffled. A number of Obstacles is agreed upon for every mission (from 1 to 4; 3 preferred; lower number speeds up the game). Obstacles are now seeded: a chosen number under each mission, random and hidden, all equal amounts (skipping Space and Nebula missions).<br />
6) Now, each player selects (from Draw Deck) "Starting Fleet Deployment". Each Player begins with one outpost (placement their choice), one ship (their choice but usually USS Galaxy, at outpost), and 3 Federation (Blue) personnel (one gold staff icon and two silver icons) (again, their choice, and again at the outpost).<br />
7) Note: players need to realize they will eventually have a discard pile, a played card area, and a points-modifier area, to be used if and when they are.<br />
<br />
Gameplay:<br />
Each player plays 2 (or agreed upon varient) regular cards during turn, then makes command decisions ("taking actions"), tries to score points, then draws 3 new cards. Alternate player repeats. Simple.<br />
Sorta. Some cards changed how many cards are drawn or played, or "stop" parts of your fleet from taking more actions, or otherwise confuse things. Also, some cards (when played) allow "downloading" specific cards. Even further, all of your allowed end-of-turn card draws, together, may be converted, each turn, at whim, into one (and only one) "download to hand" (aka "recruiting") function of one Federation personnel card. One per turn.<br />
Interrupts may be played at any time and do not require a card play. Tribbles play for free, but only on your turn. Tactic cards play during any ship battle, almost like an interrupt. All other cards (such as events, objectives, and incidents) use a card play on your turn, unless they specify. Personnel and Federation ships can only report/play to your outpost (again, unless they specify). Equipment cards may report to your ship(s).<br />
"Taking actions" includes ship/personnel movement and mission attempts and attacking ship-dilemmas.<br />
Again, thats:<br />
1) Play 2 cards (or skip either, if you choose, or plays-for-free also, or varient)<br />
2) Take actions, such as moving/beaming/docking, attempting missions, and a few others.<br />
3) Announce you end turn, and draw 2 fresh cards (or all together may be converted into a recruit attempt).<br />
4) The alternate player repeats.<br />
No hand limits. <br />
The goal is to have the most points by the time the time limits runs out, points earned mostly by attempting and completing missions, but also by bonus point boxes on various other cards. If any player gains 100 points before their opponent does, the game automatically ends. (A mission is completed once an attempt is made with all requirements satisfied AND no more Obstacles to be faced there. “Stolen” missions are worth ½ points, rounded down.) If neither player can make any effective moves, the game is also over with the highest points winning. (With the many Obstacles option chosen, this is a likely outcome.) If either draw deck runs out, the game is also over when that player cannot draw again. If an outpost is destroyed (extremely unlikely), the other player wins.<br />
<br />
Further notes and rules clarifications:<br />
Non-federation “enemy” ships are considered as dilemmas/Obstacles (acting like the original Borg Ship dilemma). Like all dilemmas/Obstacles, they are hidden under a mission (if randomly dealt out) and encountered in the same fashion, i.e. randomly during a mission attempt. They immediately auto-attack (and stop) the encountering ship, and then enter play. Once in play, during the “In-Between Phase” (in-between each players’ turns), the enemy ship moves. It travels automatically one spaceline location towards farthest end of spaceline. It auto-attacks any ships or outposts encountered (no choice - weakest shields selected, random if tie; ONLY attacks/moves once, results treated as though at beginning of a turn, unless Borg Cube, which automatically attacks ANY ship at ANY time, including multiples). Any ship attacked in this way is “stopped” along with its crew, even if it wins decidedly (thus, the player cannot use that ship or crew the following player turn). If a player's ship has a personnel matching attacking dilemma-ship affiliation, it is usually immune (i.e. Dejar makes a ship immune from Cardassian vessels) (Exceptions to immunity: Non-Aligned and Klingon attack others of same; there are no Borg personnel thus no immunities). Enemy ships can and do auto-attack other enemy ships, following immunity guidelines, and calculated normally. Enemy ships only attack once during each “In-between phase.”<br />
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A recruit attempt is when a player chooses to "convert" their end-of-turn card draws. Once announced, the player may search the his or her draw deck and "download to hand" of one Federation personnel card. It is entirely optional, may be used once per turn only, may be used with no conditions except that the download be a personnel card of the Federation affiliation (of any type, any command level). The player announces the recruit attempt, searches his or her draw deck for a valid card, must reveal it to the opponent, and place in hand, and then shuffle draw deck. Cards drawn this way play normally on a later turn, just as if drawn nornally. A player making such a conversion may choose to discontinue at any time before choosing a card, retract their attempt, and regain their option for their regular end-of-turn card draws.<br />
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Ships with no staffing icons “lifeboats” (i.e. shuttles and runabouts) have a capacity/personnel limit of 6. Larger ships have none. These ships (no icons; shuttlecraft) may be docked or undocked/launched using 1 range, carried aboard your ships with (tractor beam and ENGINEER), or land/launch, also using 1 range. These small ships are rather useful, giving versatility with RANGE, but also because they (might) "rescue" all your personnel if your ship is being destroyed in many cases. They can also land to "hide" from larger enemy ships. They can also use the Magnetic North card to “hide” if applicable.<br />
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All affiliations may mix and cooperate, except ship-dilemmas. Quadrant restrictions and alternate universe restrictions ignored.<br />
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Mission attempts require your ship at that location, and all personnel on said ship are a part of the mission. To attempt a mission you must have mission requirements met in order to attempt. Yes, key personnel are put at risk: that's the point. Once you begin the attempt, you then face the remaining dilemmas/ obstacles/ enemy ships randomly hidden there, one at a time. <br />
Once a mission is completed (all Obstacles cleared and attempt successful with conditions all met), score points, and as a visual reminder place one discarded dilemma face up under the mission, upside down, so only the Dilemma logo peaks out from underneath. Thus, little tablespace is used up and yet it is a distinct reminder. This mission cannot be attempted again by any player.<br />
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Stolen missions are worth ½ points, rounded down. These are missions in which all the dilemma/Obstacles have already been encountered and removed by one player but then scored by the other player. Often a given player is not able to score a mission on the same turn he or she overcomes all the Obstacles. To earn full points, a player must have encountered at least one Obstacle from the mission.<br />
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Missions may not be scored more than once, and only one player may do so. A mission is not removed from play (or the spaceline), and it may still be interacted with as a spaceline location (such as beamed to or landed upon, if a planet).<br />
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Transporter Skill allows escape from a ship being destroyed, either to a planet or a friendly neighboring ship, as well as a skill for dilemma resolution.<br />
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Miracle Worker: Scotty's special skill includes one extra skill chosen from three choices. You choose Transporter Skill, or Physics, or an extra Astrophysics. Starts as Transporter skill when reporting, and then may change once per turn at any time, even during a dilemma/Obstacle, and lasting the rest of the turn at least. For the needs of emergency beaming during ship destruction, Scotty always counts as having Transporter Skill.<br />
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'Hopscotch' among your many ships has been deemed unbalanced play, and is no longer allowed. Thus, once you move a ship, you may add personnel, but personnel may move any more (however, these personnel are not “stopped” and may take actions such as attempting missions). For rationale, your personnel have used up all their available man-hours flying the ship.<br />
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Ship battle and damage: Damage to a ship is normally received from battle with other ships, but also from some dilemmas. If a ship is damaged once, it receives penalties. If a ship is damaged a 2nd time, or if a ship is attacked by a much more powerful ship (attack is over twice shield value), it is instantly destroyed, and all personnel die (unless five exceptions listed below).<br />
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Escape exceptions: if you have a carried “lifeboat” ship aboard your larger ship it may launch with survivors aboard [if you have ENGINEER or Navigation], or<br />
if at a planet [or alongside an opponent’s ship or a friendly Obstacle ship] all personnel may beam to safety to be rescued later [if you have a transporter-skill personnel], or<br />
you may play an Escape Pod interrupt, or you may play Temporal Rift on the attacking ship, or you may “hide” your ship if you can play Magnetic North). <br />
A friendly Obstacle ship is an Obstacle ship you have matching crew member of, such as Dejar for Cardassian or K’nera for Klingon. Opponent’s ships are also friendly.<br />
<br />
Exception to exceptions: Borg Cubes attack any ship at any time, including small craft, including multiples. Personnel escaping to a planet are safe. Escape Pod and Temporal Rift and Magnetic North all play normally.<br />
In ship battles, weapons of the attacker are compared with shields of the defender. If weapons are greater, even by 1, the attacker wins (unless modifiers in play) and opposing ship is damaged. If weapons are over twice that of the defender's shields, the win is total, defender is destroyed, and all personnel die (if no exceptions present). <br />
<br />
Damage is defined as follows: a damaged ship has all attributes reduced by 50% (round down), but not less than 5. Damage may be repaired on a later turn by being docked at Outpost at start of turn, announcing repair, and spending the whole turn docked.<br />
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If you wish, you may make an attack on an opposing ship not restricted by immunities (you cannot attack your opponent, nor a Cardassian ship if Dejar is present). An attack by your ship requires at least any of Leadership skill OR Officer classification OR gold staffing (star) icon. <br />
A ship gains lots of protection from your outpost, 50% of the shields. It may be docked, or simply "at". You may dock/undock as often as you like.<br />
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“Stopped” ships and personnel may take no further actions until your next turn. All ships and personnel become no longer “stopped” at the start of your turn, except if auto-attacked by an enemy ship during the “in-between phase.”<br />
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Specific card clarifications:<br />
Temporal Rifts apply to the other player OR to obstacle ships/enemy ships/ship dilemmas. In fact, a Temporal Rift is pretty much the ONLY way to not be "stopped" by an enemy ship, because even if you win a battle decisively, you have battled, and are thus "stopped" for that turn. Or if you use Magnetic North to "hide" you thereby abandon the attempt.<br />
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Tactic card (Photon Torpedo): played the same as an interrupt, except only during a ship battle, involving any players, including obstacle ships/enemy ships/ship dilemmas. It can be played on (or against) any ship, yours, your opponent, or an Obstacle ship. The card's action is two-fold. First, the attack and defense bonuses of +2 are added to both weapons and shields of the chosen ship. After the battle, the Tactic card is played on an opposing ship from the battle, with penalties of -1 applied as stated, plus random death if applicable.<br />
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Horta: If no planet, no effect and simply discard. Have planet, have problem.<br />
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Chrystalline Entity: are you attempting at a planet? all missions include ‘space’ so complete the first part for all missions and all attempts. Then, if you are at a planet, complete the second half. If not, disregard that section of the dilemma's text.<br />
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Don't Call Me Ahab!: The starfleet symbol is here interpreted to mean all uniformed Feds (judging by photo) are stopped, but the rest can and must continue. Scotty is not in uniform.<br />
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Oops!: You need leadership to not receive negative effects, even if other needs met.<br />
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Assassin’s Blade: this is not discarded until passed. Note is does not say “discard”. It is what used to be termed a “wall”<br />
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Vulcan Death Grip: this card should require a Vulcan as per the original rules, but in this version of the game does not.<br />
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Borg Cube: see above ‘exceptions to exceptions’ under ship battle.<br />
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Quantum fissure: Obstacle “enemy” ships count.<br />
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Mortal Q: this personnel plays as normal. His "deactivated Q Contiuum" has no effect except player morale. His cunning value of Q is undefined, and is either 1 or 10, both at the same time, chosen as either when needed. His special ability to "discard the Q dilemma" here refers to any Q-related Obstacle.<br />
<br />
Optional Read: Background and Explanation: My "transwarp speed" concept intends to develop, using the original STCCG cards, a streamlined design for a game playable within an hour and a half, with new or seasoned players. The "house rules" have been codified and streamlined, but also the game tries to incorporate the thematic fun of Star Trek, or gaming appeal generally.<br />
This "speeded" play is made largely possible by the Combined Seed Deck. One, by only using one seed deck, and making it random, I have eliminated a HUGE time-eater. Missions and dilemmas are just dealt out. And two, an agreed upon "time limit" with the highest points winning (much like the original “official tournaments”), rather than 100 points. And three, the game can be shortened or lengthened as desired, within limits, with simple mechanisms of how many Obstacles are dealt or how many cards are drawn/played. Even further, "recruiting" (the introduced game mechanic of one free "download to hand" function during card drawing (as opposed to only under certain conditions) reduces the hazard of "getting stuck." <br />
Drawing/playing 2 (or 3) cards per turn (rather than 1) also speeds play. These card draws may be converted into one "download Federation personnel to hand" recruit attempt, once each turn. The conversion cost for dowloading (a high cost indeed!) prevents too much downloading. Some downloading in necessary, though, for game balance and the "fun factor." Too much downloading, on the other hand, would lead easily into "analysis paralysis."<br />
Removing quadrant-restrictions, AU restrictions, and self-seeds has eliminated much confusion. Don't misunderstand, this is still a very complicated game to play.<br />
The inclusion of tribbles, temporal distortions, and photon torpedos are attempts at thematic accuracy.<br />
Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-6381362877806662532013-10-30T17:19:00.002-07:002013-10-30T17:25:48.785-07:00Watch free unaired pilot for Sarah Silverman comedyA "failed pilot" doesnot denote quality necessarily but demographic- and business- decisions.<br />
<br />
I am not always a fano he style, but I often am, and just wish her style was a little less ntentionally offensive. Some folks like that, but I do not especially.<br />
<br />
But, I have not seen this show, so I cannot say.<br />
<br />
On Comedy Central's channel's 'Sarah Silverman Program' her character was abnoxious and self-centered to the point she was a very effective anti-hero, I thought.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Watch-Sarah-Silverman-Failed-NBC-Pilot-Susan-313-60050.html">http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Watch-Sarah-Silverman-Failed-NBC-Pilot-Susan-313-60050.html</a>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-89640716140798578242013-10-30T16:56:00.001-07:002013-10-30T16:56:30.449-07:00Karl Barth, noted theologian speaks on the TrinityI can't find the exact qoute by Barth tonight, but I was told he said:<br />
<br />
"Try to understand the Trinity and you will lose your mind; try to deny it, and you will lose you soul"<br />
<br />
I thought that was a well-said version of many of my own thoughts on the matter, and applies well to many matters of God concerning predestination, purgatory, and literal Judgement calls.<br />
<br />
Here I might add: I think of purgatory, not as a place, but as an instantaneous process of cleansing and firey division of goats from sheep, however that works. And it seems very possible every human being has some measure of goat, which must be torn out. On the other had, it is also possible there are people who are goats and people who are sheep, and there is only one or the other. I don't decide these things, nor do I know. (Oh, and the very idea of instantanous within the concept of eternity is silly.)<br />
<br />
Wikipedia says that Barth rejected the label of neo-orthodoxy, and I can well understand why he might, although that is the way he is best known.<br />
<br />
I also read on Wikipedia that he was an activist against the Nazis within Germany, which sounds like a very brave thing to have done.<br />
<br />
http://trinityinyou.com/understanding-karl-barth-pt-1/Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-11169279216695170232013-10-27T11:22:00.002-07:002013-10-27T11:23:37.854-07:00I stopped watching 'The Simpsons' about 2003<a href="http://splitsider.com/2013/10/18-things-youd-be-surprised-happened-on-the-simpsons-if-you-stopped-watching-in-2003/">http://splitsider.com/2013/10/18-things-youd-be-surprised-happened-on-the-simpsons-if-you-stopped-watching-in-2003/<br />
</a><br />
Nothing really seems that wildly unexpected really, although sometimes I had to shake my head at the sheer absurdity. Like the whole town moving to the "new" Springfeild. I was actually a bit disappointed nothing really wild happened. For instance, Marge and Homer being divorced for a bunch of seasons, but reading further it was only divorced as a matter of legal paperwork.<br />
<br />
I wonder where the movie fits in with all this.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-7260991027281524102013-10-20T19:03:00.002-07:002013-10-22T15:35:16.662-07:00Goodies for todayThis is fun to read, if you are familiar with the Wold Newton universe. Also, it may be of general interest for those curious about fan-fiction and copyright issues, etc.<br />
<br />
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2013/10/excerpt-read-the-introduction-from-tales-of-the-wold-newton-universe-edited-by-win-scott-eckert-and-christopher-paul-carey/<br />
<br />
Here is an interview with Charisma Carpenter, and she talks about the Expendables movie and the recent Wonder Woman costume changes.<br />
<br />
http://www.liveforfilms.com/2010/07/14/exclusive-interview-charisma-carpenter-talks-psychosis-the-expendables-wonder-woman-and-more/<br />
<br />
Charisma Carpenter is a latina? And Vanna White? Cool. <br />
Click on the slide show.<br />
http://www.latina.com/entertainment/tv/5-joss-whedon-actors-you-never-knew-were-latino?slide=2#axzz2iJWF5ZC4<br />
<a href="http://www.latina.com/entertainment/105-stars-you-never-knew-were-latino#axzz2iJWF5ZC4">http://www.latina.com/entertainment/105-stars-you-never-knew-were-latino#axzz2iJWF5ZC4</a><br />
Charisma Carpenter, 42<br />
"She's best known for playing Cordelia Chase—a conceited and popular teenager who reluctantly joins “The Scooby Gang” in Whedon’s hit TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But we’re betting you didn’t know that this talented beauty—who also starred on Whedon's Buffy spinoff, Angel—is Latina! Charisma’s dad might be French and German, but her mom is a mix of Cherokee and Spanish. The actress lived in Rosarito City, Mexico during her teen years."<br />
<br />
About Vanna White, 54:<br />
<br />
"You know her as the legendary hostess of Wheel of Fortune, but White – whose very last name hints that she’s Caucasian— is actually part-Latina! You see, “White” is not Vanna’s real apellido—it’s the name she took from her stepfather Herbert Stackley White Jr., a former real estate agent in North Myrtle Beach. Not much is known about Vanna’s real father whose name is Miguel Angel Rosich, except that he was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and abandoned the family when she was a child. Fun fact: Rumor has it that one of White's ancestors, whose last name was Barnes, was one of the first mayors of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico."<br />
<br />
Also, I just learned that in Nashville, Tennessee (of all places) there is a concrete recreation of the Greek Parthenon in Athens as it was when in ancient times. That's worth a trip to see.<br />
http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parthenon.aspxRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-82190934699062147962013-10-20T16:10:00.001-07:002013-10-20T19:14:13.967-07:00Just learned about Expendables 3 (in filming, apparently)<br />
The new cast for the third film really caught my eye! Also, the conspicuious abscence of Charisma Carpenter, which I will research when time allows.<br />
<br />
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4<br />
<br />
<i>The Expendables</i> and <i>The Expendables 2</i> were action-packed, ultra-violent, bloody films especially notable for their amazing cast, which stated out with Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, and a dazzling host of others, and the precious Charisma Carpenter. Brief cameos were contributed by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.<br />
<br />
Expendables 2 brought basically everyone back, plus brought in two big names, Walker, Texas Ranger (Chuck Norris) and martial arts hero Jean-Claude Van Damme. An expanded role was given to Schwarzenegger.<br />
<br />
You'll notice that all these "big names" are action stars with a impressive reputation. That is the point. These movies are not anything artful or meaningful. They are impressive, and designed as well oiled cash-engines. They are serving that purpose rather well.<br />
<br />
At the time, I complained that they had missed some of the perfect cast members, and Mel Gibson was on that list. Now, he is in this third incarnation, so I have some hope for the others perhaps. They have added Wesley Snipes, which will excite many people. I never thought of Antonio Banderas or Harrison Ford specifically, but they are rather appropriate for the style of the movie and in fact add to the eccentric mix. Kelsey Grammer, on the other hand, I had never imagined in such a movie, except I would imagine he could play an unsympathetic by-the-book aloof lawyer quite well, and perhaps that is his role. Personally, I hope he has a role which stretches the range of his acting skill (I doubt that will happen with the money-fiends sapping the actors' reputations for all they are worth). That would be the only reason (I can see right now)to make this movie worth seeing this in the theater, aside from social reasons.<br />
<br />
Two action stars that are shamefully omitted are Samuel L. Jackson and Malcolm McDowell. If either one is brought in for a fourth, or the return of Charisma Carpenter, I will have a new reason to visit the franchise in the theater and pay good money.<br />
<br />
Note: I just found this on Kelsey Grammer<br />
http://www.deadline.com/2013/09/kelsey-grammer-joins-beefcake-brigade-in-the-expendables-3/<br />
I may have to look up the YouTube trailer for <i>Transformers: Age of Extinction</i><br />
And on Banderas:<br />
http://www.latina.com/entertainment/movies/antonio-banderas-joins-expendables-3#axzz2iJWF5ZC4<br />
And one of the best-all-over finds:<br />
http://www.liveforfilms.com/2013/08/30/first-look-at-arnie-harrison-ford-on-the-set-of-the-expendables-3/<br />
<br />
Doing my research on Charisma: still unclear: but I get the feeling she is not in the film.<br />
http://www.parade.com/28266/erinhill/0818-charisma-carpenter-the-expendables/<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charisma_Carpenter<br />
http://expendables.wikia.com/wiki/The_Expendables_3<br />
http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Statham,_Jason/Videos/?vxChannel=&vxClipId=&clip_id=cSffPT9OEtH5k1taOiyjTQ&video_title=The+Expendables+-+Exclusive+Interview+With+Charisma+Carpenter<br />
?!? http://www.latina.com/entertainment/movies/exclusive-charisma-carpenter-says-shell-reprise-her-role-expendables-2#axzz2iJWF5ZC4Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-23298786800696954962013-09-16T15:54:00.000-07:002013-09-16T15:54:11.295-07:00self-repair YouTubes are amazingI am back to trying to fix my laptop. What I learned before fixed one problem, but I actually had two problems.<br />
<br />
I know a guy who taught himself trigonometry with YouTube instructional videos, and I also new a guy who did a lot of home repairs via YouTube instructions. I am impressed by people who are that resourceful.<br />
<br />
The first problem I had was that the laptop screen was fooled into thinking it was closed and therefore dimmed the light to save power, becoming impractical to work on. The direct cause was that a little knob was gummed up and always pressed down into shut-off mode. i had to work it loose, and have to every week or so when the problem reappears.<br />
<br />
My new problem is not darkening, or dimming, or blinking per se, but rather a color static of a sort.<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPsi6DGkrIA<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzPe8nhkNag<br />
<br />
I am going to try the advice in video #2. Just like he said in the video, I have been told about the inverter, but don't think that is the problem.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-86353405330275447162013-08-19T17:03:00.000-07:002013-08-19T17:06:49.385-07:00De Camp writes about intelligence among racesAs stated in my previous blog post, I have been reading "Ancient Ruins and Archeology" by L. Sprague de Camp, published in 1963. Much of the information is outdated, although the many observations about the way science and archeology and speculation are handled, as well as the comments on human nature at large, and admirable. The prose is coherant and readable. The descriptions evokative. The insights into archeology of the time period (the 60s) is very much worth reading. And history is a discipline that doesn't change too much. It does, and should, but his writings are undoubtably relevant to today.<br />
<br />
I want to share a few passages with you. I hope using his quotations is in good form.<br />
<br />
In his chapter on the ruins of Zimbabwe and the many ideas around its builders, he says:<br />
<br />
All prejudices aside, what <i>do</i> we know about the intelligence of the different races of man? Not much. That is why peopole get so heated about the subject; the less they know, the more pugnacious they are.<br />
<br />
Intelligence is a vague term meaning mental power, just as "strength" means physical power. We can often say that one man is more intelligent than another, just as we can often say that one man is stronger than another. But it is hard to measure these qualities exactly. You cannot measure a man's over-all "strength" on any one standard scale. You can measure his seperate physical powers, such as his ability to run, jump, or lift weights. A man who is good at one of these may be poor at another. So "strength" is not one ability but many, which can be combined in any of an infinite number of ways.<br />
The same with intelligence. One man may be a precise accountant, another a shrewd lawyer, and a third a creative artist. But there is no way to compare John's success as a chess player with William's success as a politician to tell which is the more intelligent.<br />
<br />
Intelligence tests measure single mental powers, such as the ability to handle words and numbers and to solve simple puzzles. Such tests are useful when given to people of the same cultural group. But these tests do not work with people of strikingly different backgrounds. We cannot expect a tribesman, however gifted, who has never seen a pencil or paper to score well on a written test. On the other hand, a child from a hunting tribe can beat civilized children all hollow in a test that calls for knowledge of animal footprints. <br />
<br />
Language, work habits, aims in life, manners, diet, tradition, and experience all affect the way one thinks. And, when we try to test people of different races, we cannot eliminate all these factors. No test has been found that ignores the effects of environment and measures only a man's inherent mental qualities.<br />
<br />
Some people, wishing to prove the Caucasiod race superior to the Negroid, point out the backwardness of African Negroes before the coming of the whites. As we have seen, this cultural backwardness can be explained on grounds other than intelligence. The Sahara Desert isolated the small, thinly spread Negroid population from the currents of Old World culture, just as the oceans isolated the Pacific Islanders. Having no contact with European ideas and techniques during the many centuries when European civilization was arising, the Africans could not be expected to develope in a European manner.<br />
<br />
Some people, on the other hand, assert that all races are exactly equal in intelligence. Although this idea is canonical Marxist dogma and a handy political slogan, it has no scientific basis either.<br />
Few have ever argued that Negroids are inherently more intelligent than Caucasoids. But this concept is just as reasonable as the other two. In fact, one can make a good <i>a priori </i>argument why this might be so: All species are subject to the force of heredity called degenerative mutation pressure. Hence every species tends to deteriorate -- that is, to lose organs and abilities. In a wild state, however, selection naturally eliminates these defectives as they appear.<br />
<br />
In civilization, however, people with defects, provided the flaws are not too severe, can live and breed along with the rest. Therefore, civilized races tend to degenerate. Thus the peoples who have been civilized the longest, such as the Near Easterners, the Chinese, and the Europeans, have probably degenerated the most; while those who live the most primitive lives, like Pygmies and Papuans, may prove the soundest of mind and body.<br />
<br />
This, too, is mere speculation. If anybody ever devises a test that measures inherent mental powers regardless of culture and environment, it might well uncover mental differences among the races. It is anybody's guess as to which race would score best on which test. Perhaps different races would excel in different mental abilities. From such inconclusive evidence as does exist, our own guess, for whatever it may be worth, is that, while racial differences in intelligence may indeed exist, differences among individuals within any one race are much greater than average differences among races. And, given the right circumstances, men of any living race could have built Zimbabwe.<br />
<br />
Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-20451503423373240882013-08-17T18:19:00.000-07:002013-08-17T18:19:26.207-07:00what have you read by L. Sprague de Camp?Funny name, amazing results. He's a writer of fiction (often sci-fi or historical) and non-fiction (usually of the scientific bent, sometimes on the romantic side of science matters).<br />
<br />
I have been reading a non-fiction book by him recently on archeological puzzles. I've heard his name for a long time in sci-fi lit circles, but only knew of him particularly as the author of <i>Dragon of the Ishtar Gate</i>, a story somewhat along the lines of Conan the Barbarian, but of a historical not fantasy aspect.<br />
<br />
I have been suprised at the sobriety of his "mysteries" books. Most similar non-fiction has a reputation for repeating ill-founded stories of the paranormal. More often than not, de Camp is debunking popular misconceptions and improbable legends.<br />
<br />
I started with a collection of short stories about dragons. True to form, his story's dragon was more like a land-crocodile of a fictional mideval land. A cockadrill, as I recall.<br />
<br />
I heard he had written a book or two on the Atlantis theme, 'Lost Continents' I beleive but I wasn't interested enough to look it up. That might have been a mistake in light of my improving opinion of him as an author who steers away from needless sensationalism.<br />
<br />
They I got a book from the library titled 'Lands Beyond' (published 1952) merely because I admire his co-author, Willy Ley. Although it's only a surmise, Ley didn't seem to have written much of the book, and rightly so de Camp is given the main author credit.<br />
<br />
'Lands Beyond' was suprisingly scholarly, and debunked a few of the mainstays of mystery-archeology, such as the origin of knowledge of Mu. Much of the book was a discussion of 'Odessey' and the 'Voyages of Sindbad' and what they tell us of the culture they came from. It also has a well-written chapter of the follies of the search for El Dorado in the South American jungles.<br />
<br />
The book I am in currently is titled 'Ancient Ruins and Archeology' (published 1964). I had not heard of the ruins of Ma'rib, nor of Nan Matol. I had never heard Angkor Wat properly described. His description of the ruins of Zimbabwe were also a highlight. The photographs reproduced in this book (some his own, others not) make the book extra interesting. I did not know Zimbabwe had conical towers such as related.<br />
<br />
His sober commentary on intelligence among the races, and of the politically-correct coatng of history, and the silliess of so many pseudo-scientists/occultists was a joy to hear.<br />
<br />
One of my few critisicms of the books, besides their outdated information (through no fault of their own), is that they take a few certain legendary matters for granted that deserve a mention (at least) of skepticism. Especially the Africa-rounding voyage of Egyptian Pharoah Niku II. Also, they tend to assume an inter-connectedness of contemporary thinkers in history that just isn't realistic at all. The authors both assume that such-and-such writer writes this fact, and so such-and-such later writer built off that information. That's too convenient a idea for the workings of real life.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-89004702593202388262013-08-17T17:31:00.000-07:002013-08-17T17:31:16.276-07:00have you read any movie novelizations? on ST: 8Usually, I avoid any novelizations I come across, although I may need to revise the particular prejudice.<br />
<br />
Recently, I have re-discovered the audio book version of the novelization of the movie <i>Star Trek: Insurrection</i>, written by J.M. Dillard. I would be interested to know the author's contact with the actual script, which it follows quite closely in most respects.<br />
<br />
I have been suprised. Although it cannot compete with the movie in visual effects and explosions, I think it's actually better, in my own opinion, than the movie. <br />
<br />
It explains things better. Mostly, I think this is matter of the book having fewer content constraints, especially as concerns "running time." I think the script for <i>Insurrection</i> was chopped up at the expernse of backstory and plot due to time constraints. On another level, the medium of film is not conducive to the inner workings of characters' minds. To see thought-processes, motivations, and unedited reactions is priceless to the storyteller.<br />
<br />
This makes me think I might should look up the novelizations of ofter unprepossessing movies, <i>Star Trek</i> and otherwise.<br />
<br />
There are a few ways that the book is much weaker than the movie experience of <i>Insurrection</i>. The villian played by J. J. Abrams, and the scenes where Picard and Date sing to <i>HMS Pintafore</i>. Neither of these can be replaced anoything other than the movie, and represent other memorable aspects of the movie experience that are generally known the strengths of a movie over a novel.<br />
<br />
One huge weakness of the movie is the motivation and inner turmoil of Admiral Dougharty was never seen in the film, and barely even hinted at. Hinted at even so, but not to the extent of the novel, with his revulsion over the assignment and unedited (negative) appraisel of the Son'a.<br />
<br />
The novelization also got inside the head of characters of both new races, the Ba'ku abd Son'a. Seeing affairs from their point of view was invaluable is clearly understanding the races. They also hinted at the Ba'ku "Time of Troubles" civil war that lead to the Son'a exile, also at the advanced medical decay of the Son'a (and especially their green fungal skin condition, which was seen onscreen but never explained.)<br />
<br />
The film skipped over many parts of the Son'a race introduction. Especially the description from the start of Son'a culture as being one of theives, interested in "Wine, women, and song" a people who value fashion and luxury and even consider "abject hedonism to be a virtue." Later on, we get the idea, but only after we've been trying to figure these guys out for an hour.<br />
<br />
One thing that really stood out to me as perhaps changed for the movie was the statements that the Son'a had such a fear of death that is manifested as a paranoia of personal injury taken to the extreme. I imagine to movie goers it would be translated as cowardice, when in fact it is much more complicated. This seems to have been dropped from the actual film, with the villian bodily attacking people at times. I can se elements of that theme still present: the use of drones rather than personnel, and the villian hesitating to fire his weapon in case it set off a explosion. Still, as an original viewer, that motivation was entirely unseen ad even unsuspected.<br />
<br />
I just want to say: it is very un-<i>Star-Trek</i>-like for the <i>Enterprise</i> crew to abandon R'uafo to the explosion of his monstrosity. They also seemed very unconcerned for the welfare of the other Son'a they stunned or otherwise encouteded.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-4897502901992768972013-08-06T14:21:00.000-07:002013-08-06T14:21:26.642-07:00Star Trek: Into Darkness movie reviewActually, if I was blogging chronologically, I really ought to blog my review of Pacific Rim or Monster University first, but I wanted to get this one out-of-the-way ASAP so I can watch and/or read other reviews with my own unadulterated thoughts put down already. Once seen, such things cannot be unseen. That's your deep thought for moment. I really can't wait to see what Mr. Plinkett says about Star Trek 2. His movie reviews are outstanding, although I do not know if Plinkett is one man, many, a fictional person, a pseudonym(s), or what.<br />
<br />
Anyway, NON SPOILER SECTION<br />
<br />
I enjoyed all three movies, although my order of the three I mention would be: Pacific Rim, Monster University, Star Trek<br />
<br />
I haven't been to many movies this year, or any year lately. All by itself, the fact I made the effort to see it in the theater was a compliment. I did not go to see the previous Star Trek, and it took me awhile (and a change in my thinking) to finally watch it.<br />
<br />
The newest Star Trek movies basically got the Lost in Space movie treatment. Or Starsky and Hutch. Or the Beverly Hillbillies. They are not sequels to the original, or even remakes strictly speaking, but nostolgia-driven pop-culture-appealing gimmick-prone inspired-by entertainment-experiences.<br />
<br />
To say that a movie with Kirk-Spock-McCoy and phasers and Klingons is good ol' Star Trek again is like saying my original Nintendo Star Trek 30th Anniversary game was right on par with the series in entertainment-genetics. Hey, the game was fun, with Harry Mudd, Saurian brandy, and Romulan birds-of-prey shooting at you (or threatening to). True to the classic series, I even learned to take along a few redshirts whenever bad guys were around.<br />
<br />
SPOILER ALERT - SPOILER-FILLED SECTION - DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT CONSENT<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the movie, but on terms of a fun sci-fi movie. It certainly was not bad. And I have seen some bad sci-fi movies, recently and in the past, so I am grateful for that.<br />
<br />
So, in no partcular order, my gripes.<br />
Khan crying, Spock crying, Kirk crying<br />
Khan's defeat was not because of his 20th Century 2-Dimensional thinking, but rather a rather silly mistake (owing to a underestimation of Spock).<br />
Khan was not Indian (tan-skinned), but this is understandable in light of tan-skinned terrorists in movies being a delicate proposition<br />
Scotty not being replaced with an experienced Starfleet engineer (while docked at Earth for goodness sake! This was the most stupid part of the whole movie, except maybe the crying)<br />
<br />
My compliments:<br />
Carol Marcus showing up for perhaps more than one movie.<br />
The idea that Khan and Carol Marcus are in this universe suggest boundless gimmick possibilities (wouldn't it be fun if Dax, Harry Mudd, and Gary Seven show up?).<br />
The cameo of Leonard Nimoy's Spock<br />
The unexpectedness of the Kirk-radiation plot twist<br />
The reappearance of the peerless Captain Pike<br />
<br />
I expect I will think of more, but let me get this posted.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-76412079981366592932013-07-29T16:52:00.003-07:002013-07-29T16:52:56.147-07:00Tartessos-Tarshish-Scheria-Atlantis/ PeacocksI have been reading Willy Ley's new book, Lands Beyond. Actually, it's a book from the 1950s era co-authored with de Camp, but I prefer to hear Ley's voice in my head, and it's a new book to me. And for the publication date stills has a very "recent news" feel, which is impressive.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it says more about the Bibical Tarshish and the historical Tartessos than I was aware of.<br />
I had thought that perhaps the book would deteriorate into self-indulgent fantasy when speaking about mysteries like Atlantis, and I am releived it doesn't.<br />
<br />
One of the large ideas put forth is that the Bibical Tarshish and historical Tartessos, long thought one and the same, might <i>also</i> be the city of Scheria from the Odessey <i>and</i> (the inspiration for?) the Atlantis of Plato. This four-way misidentification sounds worth looking into!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mysteria3000.de/magazin/the-archaeological-search-for-tartessos-tarshish-atlantis/">http://www.mysteria3000.de/magazin/the-archaeological-search-for-tartessos-tarshish-atlantis/</a><br />
<br />
Sadly, Tarshish doesn't seem to have a wide consensus on identification, only a slim majority of scholarly opinion. Scheria and Atlantis would be much further remove from scholarly confidence.<br />
<br />
While I think the hypotheses of the Indian coast and Britian are rather silly, I am prepared to consider Minoan Crete and Tarsus (of Bibical Paul's birthplace in modern Turkey) and Carthage as good candidates.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.varchive.org/nldag/tarshish.htm">http://www.varchive.org/nldag/tarshish.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesTarshish.html">http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesTarshish.html</a><br />
<br />
Today I also looked up some bits of evidence that come from the Bible's description of Tarshish, or rather it's exports. <br />
<a href="http://bbhchurchconnection.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/2-chronicles-921-is-it-peacocks-or-baboons/">http://bbhchurchconnection.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/2-chronicles-921-is-it-peacocks-or-baboons/</a><br />
I had not known of the green peacock (or jungle peafowl) before (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Peafowl">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Peafowl</a>), although I did know of the Congo peacock (which is not closely related). I also did not know that the peacock is a central symbol in Japan, Babylon, and Persia, all places it is not native (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl</a>). I also did not know the peacock was widely eaten in ancient times, nor did I know the peacock is kosher food (<a href="http://oukosher.org/blog/industrial-kosher/a-peafowl-by-any-other-name/">http://oukosher.org/blog/industrial-kosher/a-peafowl-by-any-other-name/</a>).Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-27362796315581641192013-07-02T14:16:00.000-07:002013-07-02T14:16:25.351-07:00Zelda LEGOs!<a href="http://www.wallsonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/lego-the-legend-of-zelda-.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://www.wallsonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/lego-the-legend-of-zelda-.jpg" /></a>http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/32525<br />
<br />
http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/29280Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-28868897303951483142013-07-02T14:05:00.002-07:002013-07-02T14:06:05.806-07:00NPR talks LEGOsNPR talks LEGOs<br />
http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/305/510071/197653391/WAMU_197653391.mp3?_kip_ipx=1809027714-1372778755<br />
<br />
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-07-01/david-robertson-brick-brick-how-lego-rewrote-rules-innovation-and-conquered-global-<br />
<br />
ReplyDelete<br />
<br />
AnonymousJuly 2, 2013 at 8:31 AM<br />
http://lego.cuusoo.com/<br />
<br />
ReplyDelete<br />
<br />
AnonymousJuly 2, 2013 at 8:35 AM<br />
http://www.scribd.com/document_downloads/150580845?extension=pdf&from=embed&source=embed<br />
Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-82737943464723699692013-07-02T13:58:00.000-07:002013-07-02T13:58:26.999-07:00LeVar Burton speaks frankly about police in America<a href="http://now.msn.com/levar-burton-explains-his-police-safety-ritual">http://now.msn.com/levar-burton-explains-his-police-safety-ritual</a>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-43059146150202973872013-06-25T11:43:00.002-07:002013-06-25T11:43:58.793-07:00"The Empty Birdcage"I heard a story in church last Sunday that I wanted to share (as I remember it). I'm not sure if it's accreddited to any writer, but it's more than an anecdote.<br />
<br />
A older man was walking down a dusty road in a small town. He was a preacher. Along from the other direction came a young boy of maybe 7 or 8. He boy was carrying something. As the boy came closer, the precher could tell it was an old rusty birdcage, and soon he could even see a few brown unhappy-loooking birds inside.<br />
<br />
"What ya got there?" said the man.<br />
<br />
"I just caught me some birds out in the feilds here." the boy said proudly. "I trapped 'em. Set bait and all. They wasn't too smart."<br />
<br />
"What you catching birds for?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, I'm gonna take 'em home and have a real good time. I'm gonna pull out their feathers, and dunk 'em in water to see if they swim, and poke them with my pocket-knife." He brandished his sharp toy in the sun.<br />
<br />
"What are you gonna do with them after that?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, kill 'em. I got cats around the house that will have some fun, too."<br />
<br />
The preacher looked thoughtful. He said, "Well, son, I hate to spoil your fun, but I was wondering if I could buy those birds from you. The whole cage, actually."<br />
<br />
The little boy stood wide eyed. "You'd buy these mangy birds? They ain't even pretty. Just feild birds. Good for nothin'. Why'd anybody spend good money on birds like this?"<br />
<br />
"Well, I do. How much would you want"<br />
<br />
The boy looked rather confused. Scrunched up his nose. Then, he got a crafty look in his eye.<br />
<br />
"Twenty bucks, mister" It was pretty clear the boy had picked out a sum he thought was astronomical.<br />
<br />
"Okay," said the preacher, and pulled out his wallet. Handing the money to the youngster, he smiled at the boy. The boy set down the cage a bit roughly and hurried off without another word. Maybe he wanted to get home with his bounty before anything happened.<br />
<br />
The preacher picked up the cage of frightened and disoriented birds huddled in the bottom. He walked around, and found an alley with a pleasant sunny grassy spot at the end. There was a meduim-sized tree there. The man set the cage down, opened it, and backed away a bit. He had thought about tapping the cage to encourage the birds to leave, and although he decided that wouldn't be wrong, it was still unnecessary to further excite the creatures. The birds were shy at first, but soon one of them tested the open door, perched at the edge, half-in and half-out. After a moment of hesitation, it darted up into the branches. This seemed to give confidence to the other birds, who soon followed.<br />
<br />
The preacher smiled quietly, and walked back over to pick up the cage. While he had waited for the birds to realize they were free, he had thought about what to do with it. He had at first thought it was merely junk to be thrown away, but on further reflection decided it might be useful after all. Next Sunday, he'd bring it with him to the pulpit. It'd make a pretty good conversation starter, he thought. And that's the way he thought about his sermons: as conversations. True, the sermons by nature were pretty one-way, but instead of a lecture he tried to make it feel like it was one friend telling a story to another. The best story ever told, he thought to himself.<br />
<br />
We can imagine a conversation between God and Satan much like that between the preacher and the boy. There was a trap, and those who were trapped, and also a price.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-83455122798863816172013-06-17T17:24:00.000-07:002013-06-17T17:29:25.362-07:00Acer laptop black/blinking screen -- urgh<br />
I'm gonna try to fix it myself, but not sure if the problem is simple enough for that.<br />
I've already tried what I they call a power drain (removing battery and trying to start up without power)<br />
<br />
Next up: RAM stick removal.<br />
<br />
There are definately a few things I think I can do BEFORE I give up at take it to a repair person at the flea market.<br />
<br />
A lot of these videos suggest trying an external monitor as a test, and using a USB external drive to bring over files downloaded from the Acer website. I don't have fancy stuff like that.<br />
<br />
(Come to think of it, maybe I should look on Acer's website before YouTube)<br />
<br />
This was a pretty good video<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chaoqoebcTo<br />
And this show the same things, but more angles from a different guy<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiDBqx_wsdM<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/chaoqoebcTo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-23787185634568638192013-06-11T07:40:00.000-07:002013-06-11T07:40:25.977-07:00Have you heard of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_services_of_the_United_States<br />
<br />
It seems to be a uniformed service, and be regulated by military standard (just without the armed part).<br />
<br />
I am shocked that I have not heard about them more often. Although very different, in a few ways Coast Guard in the sense they are a not one of the traditional armed services, but are still included in that tribe. I wish I had known about them when I graduated high school. And unlike the Peace Corps, they pay.<br />
<br />
http://www.usphs.gov/Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-62869430137030808022013-06-05T16:00:00.000-07:002013-06-11T11:14:14.267-07:00which of these is a vegetable? corn, tomato, mac n cheese, strawberrywhich of these is a vegetable? corn, tomato, mac n cheese, or a strawberry?<br />
<br />
"Technically," said Marvin P. Pritts, chairman of the department of horticulture at Cornell University.<br />
<br />
“The criteria is whether it comes from the reproductive part of a plant or the vegetative part of the plant,” Dr. Pritts said. “If it comes from the reproductive part of the plant, it’s a fruit. If it comes from the vegetative part of the plant, it’s a vegetable.”<br />
<br />
Botanically speaking, corn is a caryopsis, or dry fruit — popularly known as a grain.<br />
<br />
Dr. Pritts allowed that corn, like a tomato, is eaten like a vegetable, “so to a normal, everyday person, it’s a vegetable.”<br />
<br />
<br />
I found this funny, and educational:<br />
http://empirezone.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/corn-vegetable-fruit-or-grain/<br />
<br />
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081126154351AAJAM34<br />
<br />
Technically [a strawberry] is not a fruit but a false fruit. It's not even technically a berry. When you eat a strawberry, you are eating fruits, but the part you are really interested in is the red, fleshy, expanded receptacle. A receptacle is the end of the stem on which the flower (and later the fruit) is borne. The fruits are the little seed-like specks on the surface. Each one of these little things contains a seed surrounded by (and fused to) the ovary wall, making it a fruit.<br />
<br />
Mac N Cheese, however, is usually listed among the vegetables at restaurants. Go figure.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-59770939218414509882013-05-28T18:32:00.000-07:002013-05-28T18:32:56.978-07:00science linkshttp://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2002/08/27-02.html<br />
Guiding Glow<br />
Black Death<br />
100 Trillion<br />
https://courses.edx.org/static/content-mit-7012x~2013_Spring/handouts/thm-10a.pdf<br />
https://courses.edx.org/static/content-mit-7012x~2013_Spring/handouts/morgan-1911b.pdf<br />
http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/molecular-structure-of-nucleic-acids-a-structure-13997975<br />
http://www.nature.com/nature/dna50/watsoncrick2.pdf<br />
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/billofhealth/2013/04/17/myriad-gene-patent-oral-argument-and-the-lander-brief/<br />
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/briefs-v2/12-398_neither_amcu_lander.authcheckdam.pdfRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-4070722153153643932013-05-20T18:39:00.001-07:002013-05-20T18:46:23.284-07:00Good science a la Hal Clement, 1950s sci-fiAs readers of my blog would know, I am taking an Intro to Biology class via EdX.org and MIT. It is free, and for self-improvement and education (or job-readiness) rather than course credit.<br />
<br />
Lately, they have been discussing evolution (a concept I actually agree with) as demonstrated by shared elements of mammalian genomes (human and chimp and lemur and mouse, for instance). It really bothers me that the scientists seem so inperturbably self-assured over the origins of life, which I hope is even a more powerful comment seeing that I respect and agree with their theories. Where is the healthy skepticism?<br />
<br />
I was reminded recently of the author Hal Clement and his excellent books (such as <i>Half Life</i>) and short stories (such as "Proof"). I did think a lot of his higher acclaimed books, such as <i>Mission of Gravity</i>, but they made less of an impression on me.<br />
<br />
I found this link reviewing <i>Half Life</i>: <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/09b/half65.htm">http://www.sfsite.com/09b/half65.htm</a><br />
<br />
"Clement's references aren't all scientific, and some of them will be quite amusing to Golden Age SF fans. A lot of space is given over to General Order 6 -- an attempt to avoid hastily jumping to conclusions by requiring anyone with a hypothesis to present at least one viable alternative. This is also referred to as the "Aaron Munro instant-certainty syndrome," in reference to John W. Campbell's famous character of the same name."<br />
<br />
Here's review of the author:<br />
<a href="http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-i-like-hal-clement.html">http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-i-like-hal-clement.html</a><br />
<br />
I also found this quote for Hal Clement online: (I'm shocked this is all I can find)<br />
"Speculation is perfectly all right, but if you stay there you've only founded a superstition. If you test it, you've started a science."<br />
Hal Clement<br />
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/hal_clement.html#5XeIdjVB65VY4WAq.99 <br />
<br />
I need to read his 1993 novel Fossil and his 1950s award-winning short "<a href="http://www.sff.net/people/hal-clement/uncommon%20sense%20by%20hal%20clement.htm">Uncommon Sense</a>"Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-52181128674214236572013-05-06T10:38:00.000-07:002013-05-16T09:25:37.445-07:00Turok's Fate: DeathmateI'm finding out more things about Turok's days with Valiant Comics.<br />
Actually, I am learning more about the comic book industry in general, Valiant in particular, and Turok as a desired consequence.<br />
<br />
Apparently, there was a "comic book speculator boom of the 1990s" hyperbolicly termed an apocalyse of sorts of which Turok (through Valiant Comics) was a part. Back then, Valiant proudly touted it as "the Valiant Era."<br />
<br />
<br />
I need to go now, but I wanted to put up these links:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathmate">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathmate<br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathmate#cite_note-newsarama-1">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathmate#cite_note-newsarama-1<br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.valiantfan.com/valiant/valiantdays.asp">http://www.valiantfan.com/valiant/valiantdays.asp</a><br />
<a href="http://badmouth.net/the-comic-book-apocalypse/">http://badmouth.net/the-comic-book-apocalypse/</a> (this is GOOD stuff)<br />
The Image Story: Part 3 of 4, critiquing the Image side of Deathmate<br />
says NOT FOUND<br />
also failed at finding it on Google...lost to the ether, I guess.<br />
<br />
worth a read? dunno yet: <a href="http://www.oocities.org/valiantfanfic/magvsaliens1.htm">http://www.oocities.org/valiantfanfic/magvsaliens1.htm</a>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625062975808637123.post-20925556869247344472013-05-06T09:37:00.001-07:002013-05-06T09:38:34.418-07:00Hey, this guy wasn't in Jurassic Park: Carnotaurushttp://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120903195505/primalcarnagethegame/images/thumb/8/84/Carnotaurus.png/640px-Carnotaurus.png<br />
<br />
http://www.wikidino.com/wp-content/uploads/Carnotaurus-M.Shiraishi-2.jpg<br />
<br />
From my reading, I am given to understand that <i>Carnotaurus</i> (Meat-eating bull-lizard) was roughly contemporary with <i>Tyrannosaurus Rex</i> and <i>Allosaurus</i>, and of similar contour, but was off doing his own thing on the then-island of South America, which much like the Australia of then and now, was an isolated continent giving rise to unique forms.<br />
<br />
Actually, also from my own reading, I recall many other examples of the peculiarity of South American fauna, represented even today by the sloths and their xenarthan brethren. You see, South America didn't connect up to North America directly until about the last Ice Age.<br />
<br />
Apparently, I am just now learning something many 4-year-olds probably know. There is apparently a year 2000 Disney animated movie that features Carnotaurs fairly heavily. Gonna have to see that sometime.<br />
<br />
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Dinosaur<br />
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Carnotaurus<br />
<br />
I am wondering if that's the dinosaur on the Turok animated movie cover.<br />
There is so much genetic and evolutionary hanky-panky in Turok's Lost Land that I don't think it matters much.<br />
http://donglutsdinosaurs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Turok-DVD-697x10001.jpgRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09091246964133101706noreply@blogger.com2