Archive for November, 2008

Daemonic Delight

Money Belt

In Utah, we just elected a new Congressman. He’s the representative from my district, in fact. He’s a fiscal conservative of a Ron Paul-esque stripe. Keep your eye on this guy.

The guy he beat, Chris Cannon, voted for a lot of “emergency” spending. I looked it up. I say good riddance to him. I pretty much just want one thing from my elected officials: STAY IN THE BUDGET!

I would love to see programs and departments get cut.

CONGRESSMAN CHAFFETZ: Yeah, I do. You know, when I read a quote from Barack Obama who just said, quote, we’ve got to focus on making sure that we’re creating those 2.5 million jobs. It’s not the proper role of government to create the jobs. It’s the business community. It’s the local business community that creates the jobs. It’s the proper role of government to get out of the way. And somehow we think that government’s going to come in and solve everything and be this nanny state, and I absolutely reject that. Absolutely reject it. They have promised to put root beer in every drinking fountain and it ain’t gonna happen.

CONGRESSMAN CHAFFETZ: Well, I think looking at our microcosm in Utah, people are absolutely fed up across both sides of the aisle. They clearly wanted change but, look, they want somebody who’s going to stand up and tell it to them like it is, and I think that’s the success of our story. . . I was outspent by a 12-year incumbent Republican. I beat a Republican, beat one of our own. I was outspent by $600,000, but I had no paid staff, I did no polling, I gave out — I said no free meals. You come to a Jason Chaffetz meeting, I’m not going to buy you a free meal. We had no campaign office and we said I’m going to be debt-free, there’s no — if I don’t raise the money, I’m not going to spend it. And I won by huge numbers. I won by 20 points and I was outspent by $600,000. And I think that’s going to happen more and more across the country as people just get absolutely fed up and disturbed by what their government is doing and not doing.

Read the rest of the interview.

Remember: Government can’t do anything. It is contrary to the laws of physics. They can only move existing resources around. Only personal industriousness can create. Taxation is the power only to destroy.

Terrible Banners

It’s Chef Time

First off, I’m not going to culinary school or any such thing.

My wife is the queen of entering contests. And (apparently) winning. She won a half-day at a culinary school, and thus it was that me and four other hapless husbands found themselves making a gourmet thankgiving meal up at an art institute in Salt Lake.

I was naturally resistant at first. Why learn any cooking at all when I’m married to Tamara, who is an infinite expert on the subject. But as the day wore on, I really got into it and my stuff actually turned out really well.

I got a really cool chef’s jacket, too. And we got to bring home a ton of food. My cranberry sauce turned out amazing. And brining the turkey is definitely the way to go.

So, for Thanksgiving I’m actually going to help my wife with the cooking. I’m feeling a lot more confidence.

It costs $80,000 to get a degree at this school. Ridiculous. For less than that, not to mention not working full time for free for four years, you can just start your own show on a shoe-string. I’ve got a pretty dim view of higher education. I think it’s a racket.

More pics here.

Wake Up Homeless in the Land of Their Inheritance

Thought some might be interested in this:

Space Marine Humor

“My Lord, I bring news.”
Typhus Marburg paused in his study of the situation map of the
dreary little planet his forces were engaged in ravaging. “Yes?”
“Lord. Starships have appeared in the outer system and are on course
for a landing. They have been identified as elements of the Flesh
Tearers.”
“Yeah? Tell them to sod off and find their own world. Tell ‘em we
got here first.”
“Sire, you misunderstand. They are here to defend this world!”
“What! Why? It’s a sorry state of affairs when the followers of
Chaos start to defend the weakling Imperium from each other!”
“Um, Lord… the Flesh Tearers are a loyalist chapter.”
“They are? With a name like that! Are you sure they’re not one of
ours?”
“Positive, My Lord.”
“Have you been able to call for any assistance?”
“The Astropaths have contacted other forces nearby. Unfortunately
this has also alerted other loyalist forces in the sector and they
are also headed our way.”
“Bugger. So who gets here first then?”
“The Alpha Legion, sire.”
“It never rains, it only pours, hey?”
“Umm…”
“What!”
“The Alpha Legion is one of ours.”
“It is?!”
“Yes.”
“I’m confused. You’re telling me that a mob called the ‘Flesh
Tearers’ isn’t one of ours but a mob called the – what was it
again…”
“The Alpha Legion, sire.”
“Right… a mob called the Alpha Legion is one of ours.”
“That is correct, sire.”
“So who else is showing up to this barney then?”
“The Blood Drinkers.”
“One of ours?”
“One of theirs.”
“OK.”
“The Iron Warriors.”
“One of theirs?”
“No. One of ours.”
“Go figure.”
“The Dark Angels.”
“Now I’ve heard of them. Followers of Slaanesh aren’t they?”
“No, I think you’re thinking of The Fallen, sire. The Dark Angels
are Loyalists too.”
“Bugger. So who else then?”
“The Emperor’s Children.”
“Oh, that one’s too easy. They’re obviously loyalists with a name
like that.”
“Um, not exactly my Lord.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Lord. They’re one of ours too.”
“This is silly. All the really evil sounding names are being used by
weakling loyalists while it seems as though the forces of chaos have
got the naff monikers. Are there any more of these I should know
about?”
“A few, Lord.”
“OK then, spell it out for me, starting with Loyalists that sound
like traitors and then moving onto traitors that sound like
Loyalists.”
“I will attempt to do so, Lord. OK – the Loyalists that sound like
traitors… the Marauders, Rampagers, Destroyers and Storm Lords
(all White Scar second foundings in point of fact).”
“I like the sound of the Storm Lords. You sure they aren’t one of
ours?”
“Quite sure. Then there’s the Blood Drinkers and the Flesh Tearers -
both of which are Loyalist second founding of the Blood Angels.”
“With names like that I’d always assumed they were more bone headed
followers of the blood god.”
“Not so far, My Lord. Then there’s the Red Talons…”
“I thought they were renegade pirates.”
“No Lord, that’s the Red Corsairs.”
“Oh. OK. Continue.”
“The Brazen Claws are loyalists too.”
“Good name for a Khornate force though isn’t it?”
“Yes Lord. Then there’s the Black Guard (not to be confused with the
Black Legion which IS one of ours), the Revilers, and the Raptors.”
“Hold on a minute! The Raptors? They’re definitely ours. Hell we’ve
got a small unit of them attached to our forces haven’t we?”
“My Lord, those are the troops known as Raptors but there is also a
loyalist legion with the same name.”
“Must get a bit confusing for the loyalists then?”
“I imagine so, My Lord. There are also the Doom Eagles, the Silver
Skulls, and the Iron Hands (not to be mistaken for the Iron
Warriors, who are ours).”
“Bloody hell. Is that it?”
“There are also some lesser known chapters that also seem to cause
occasional confusion.”
“Such as…”
“The Doomfarers are one that our forces have occasionally
encountered.”
“Oh yeah. Those yoyos. So what about the Chaos forces that sound
like loyalists then…”
“Well as mentioned earlier there are The Emperor’s Children, The Iron
Warriors, the Thousand Sons, the Lunar Wolves (who changed their
name to the Sons of Horus and then to the Black Legion)…”
“Well at least they’re easily IDed as one of ours now. The Black
Legion eh? Now that’s a proper name. Just postively oozes evil from
every pore.”
“Yes, Lord. To continue, there are also the Word Bearers, and the
Alpha Legion.”
“The Word Bearers? What kind of silly name is that for a Chaos
Legion?”
“They used to be missionarys sire”
“We you’d think that once they switched to our side they’d change
their name to something a little more in keeping with being evil mad
men. I mean come on ‘The Word Bearers’? It’s a silly name.”
“Yes my Lord”
“You know, I think the forces of Chaos should have proper Chaos
names. There’s no room for mistakes when you’re called something
like ‘The World Eaters’ or ‘The Death Guard’…”
“Actually Lord, both those chapters had those names when they were
loyalists.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, My Lord.”
“Yeesh. I would have thought names like that would be a bit scary
for the average imperial citizen. I mean “Yay we’re being rescued by
the World Eaters” just doesn’t sound credible while “Aargh! Flee!
It’s the World Eaters” seems much more likely.”
“Yes, My Lord. I believe the latter is more likely these days
anyway.”
“Makes no bloody sense at all.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Kill ‘em all and let the Chaos Gods sort ‘em out I say.”
“Sounds like a completely reasonable approach to me, My Lord.”

Saturday November 20 2008 Fishing

I’ve got Dark Elves on the brain. Heeeeheeee… they are so cool.

Ever try and give a cat a bath? Well, that was what it was like to get me to go with my wife to a culinary school half-day how-to-cook thing today.

Say, that reminds me of a story. When I was a kid we had some feral cats living in the neighbors wood pile (no, not a cord of firewood, actually a giant pile of haphazard scrap wood from torn-down houses). I decided to make one my pet, so I put out a metal cage and baited it with some meat. After catching the angry, growling feline, I extricated it and gave it a gentle hug. Surely love and kindness would tame the little beast. This miniature puma clawed its way on to the center of my back and latched on with its talons. I ran inside, hunched over, shrieking for my mom and sister to help me. They fended the creature off with a broom, leaving me to clean my wounds.

More about the cooking school thing later. For the record, this doesn’t mean I’m going to cooking school now. I think everyone knows what I think about paid education.

After that little shindig we headed over to Tamara’s sister’s house to drop something off, but ended up just hanging out for an hour. I got a call from the Bishop saying a family is moving in today.

Once back in the Ward boundaries, I headed over to lend a hand and managed to unload a size-able trailer by myself. A little Easter Island determination is all it takes! The family was also having a football party of sorts and so I headed in for some root beer and chips. I think this is the most football I’ve watched in my life.

Let’s back up a bit. So, I’m out by myself (the latecomer doing his penance) and a moving guy says “why aren’t you watching the game?” to which I replied I was the latecomer and needed to get things done. “Yeah, but you’re missing out on friends and family.” he replied. Well, this balding buddha in suspenders made a light go on. Sure, I don’t like football, but that’s not what it’s about. So, I think I’m going to start following it at least cursorily so when someone asks who I’m rooting for I’ll have an anwer rather than, “I don’t watch that game.” It’s not about the game, it’s about being part of the human race.

Just like fishing isn’t about catching fish.

I had K come over to give me a hand, and that was some good daddy-daughter time; work ethic and duty to the community. She loves football. I got to know this new family in the ward, too. They are really great, fresh from sunny Florida, all smiling and quick to top off your soda. I was favorably impressed with the lot of them.

After that I was bushed, but I headed down to the studio to tie up some loose ends. Air Marshall Anonymo came down to check out his Marauder Bombers (pics and vid of those forthcoming). I also picked up my Dark Elf book and Warhammer rulebook for review. I can’t wait for my next game. I am totally stoked. I’m within spitting distance of having 2000 pts of Dark Elves all painted up.

My wife was fast asleep when I got home. She is so pregnant and her feet and ankles are painfully swollen. When children come into the picture, love is complete.

Quthyx, lord of nature. This was in a dream I had. A man with a crown of wood and blue-green skin.

Dark Elves vs Orcs Battle Report

Lizardmen- Juicy Tidbits

I don’t know what this eyesore is. My guess is Chakax, Eternity Warden which costs $15.

Here’s what is impressing me. These models look great. Kroxigor haven’t been that impressive in previous editions, these at least look moderately beefy.

Stegadon sprue, packed to the gills like all the plastics nowadays. Never thought I would see it.

Got some mixed feelings here, but you can’t argue with the substance. This model is tremendous.

Friday November 21 2008 Cranial Ridges

This picture is just too cool. It’s a Dark Elf Sorceress. I played a game of Warhammer Fantasy with Mike D. today, the maiden voyage for my DE army that I’ve been picking away at. In the game, the sorceress is a deadly opponent with some wicked spells.

At this moment I am at home with my own three kids, and three more little ones from a neighbor, a full house. They are all playing quietly, watching Zula Patrol, or playing board games. Very nice. I am ever so proud of my fourth grade daughter. She made sure everyone had dinner and that the kitchen got cleaned up.

I am currently booking projects for December. Please contact me for any matter large or small.

I have not kept up on the blog as faithfully as usual. When I get home at night I am just ever so tired. Just these last three days. I don’t know why. Instead of doing a final run like I usually do, I just fall asleep. But then I’m up at 3am. It’s lame.

As always, my mind is boiling with politics, taxes, business, sales, and other worries. However, under all this is a swelling sense of peace and well-being. I look up at the sky and I see a vast and brilliant galaxy of friendly stars, a countless chorus of radiant brothers and I know that I am just a pilgrim in this world, a passer-through. I am a spiritual being having a material experience. I am ready to go. I am ready to stay and fight.

Josephus is back from vacation and he brought back some daemons that were out of sight, beyond amazing stuff. I wanted to shoot some footage of it, but barely had time to get the Warhammer Fantasy batrep done.

What else can I say? I could sure use some orders rightabout now.

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