Vrock Demon from Ultraforge
I got to see this miniature in person at Adepticon. It was about to be painted by my good colleague Tim McCowan. I must say I was very impressed. It has a lot of detail and is worthy of being a centerpiece of any collection.
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Here is the text about the figure from the Ultraforge Site.
The original Vrock was sculpted by Jeremy of Ultraforge. We can proudly say that every bit of this miniature has been sculpted with the closest attention to detail and we are very proud of the results.
The Vrock Resin Kit comes un-assembled and un-painted. Each of the 5 pieces included in this kit (two arms, one body, one head and one staff) are cast from a very high quality gray resin. This miniature stands approx. 6 inches in height when assembled and is most suited for 30mm wargames.
Our professional casting house is among the best in the world and we are confident you will be fully satisfied with the quality of your purchase. Please be aware that while every effort is taken to create a flawless miniature no casting method is perfect and slight imperfections occasionally occur. These imperfections are nearly unnoticeable and can be easily removed or filled during assembly.
If you order a Vrock then congratulations for being one the first to receive our latest and greatest mini. Happy painting!
The Most Dangerous Man in the World
[This was transplanted from http://www.counterpunch.org/goekler03242009.html ]
By JOHN GOEKLER
A significant majority of Americans, polls repeatedly tell us, list terrorism as one of their greatest fears. Like most of our media-inspired interests and worries, however, this one has little basis in reality.
In actual fact, unless you’re serving in a war zone, the most dangerous person you’re ever likely to encounter – by several orders of magnitude – is the one you see in the mirror every morning.
Not some shadowy arms dealer peddling second hand nukes. Not some dusky Jihadi with a song on his lips and a suicide belt around his middle. Not some mad scientist, bribed by the forces of evil to cook up a bio-bug capable of ending life as we know it.
Here are the hard facts.
The single greatest killer of Americans is the so-called “lifestyle disease”. Somewhere between half a million and a million of us get a short ride in a long hearse every year because of smoking, lousy diets, parking our bodies in front of the TV instead of operating them, and downing yet another six pack and / or tequila popper.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, between 310,000 and 580,000 of us will commit suicide by cigarette this year. Another 260,000 to 470,000 will go in the ground due to poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. And some 85,000 of us will drink to our own departure.
After the person in the mirror, the next most dangerous individual we’re ever likely to encounter is one in a white coat. Something like 200,000 of us will experience “cessation of life” due to medical errors – botched procedures, mis-prescribed drugs and “nosocomial infections”. (The really nasty ones you get from treatment in a hospital or healthcare service unit.)
The next most dangerous encounter the average American is likely to have is with a co-worker with an infection. Or a doorknob, stair railing or restaurant utensil touched by someone with the crud. “Microbial Agents” (read bugs like flu and pneumonia) will send 75,000 of us to meet the Reaper this year.
If we live through those social encounters, the next greatest danger is “Toxic Agents” – asbestos in our ceiling, lead in our pipes, the stuff we spray on our lawns or pour down our clogged drains. Annual body count from these handy consumer products is around 55,000.
After that, the most dangerous person in our lives is the one behind the wheel. About 42,000 of us will cash our chips in our rides this year. More than half will do so because we didn’t wear a seat belt. (Lest it wrinkle our suit.)
Some 31,000 of us will commit suicide by intention this year. (As opposed to not fastening our seat belts or smoking, by which we didn’t really mean to kill ourselves.)
About 30,000 of us will die due to our sexual behaviors, through which we’ll contract AIDS or Hepatitis C. Another 20,000 of us will pop off due to illicit drug use.
The next scariest person in our lives is someone we know who’s having a really bad day. Over 16,000 Americans will be murdered this year, most often by a relative or friend.
After that, it’s an overdose on “non-steroidal anti-inflammatories”, acetaminophen or aspirin. About 7,600 hundred a year, perhaps due to the aftermath of those tequila poppers.
Next most dangerous thing is going to work. About 5,500 of us will buy the farm due to “occupational trauma”.
If that’s scary enough to skip work, we might want to skip lunch, too. Next most dangerous thing is the food we eat. About 5,200 of us will hurl our lives away due to “foodborne agents”.
Another 4,000 of us will drown. A significant percentage will be fishermen found floating with a high blood alcohol content and an unzipped fly.
As the data clearly shows, the things that genuinely threaten us are the ones we are most likely to ignore or simply accept. (We’re statistically far more likely to be killed by a lightning strike than by an action of Al Qaeda, for example.) The ones that we’re scared witless of – and spend trillions of increasingly scarce dollars to avert in our boundless paranoia – are less likely to harm us than a bag of peanuts. (Deaths in America due to peanut allergies average 50 – 100 per year.)
Deaths of Americans due to terrorist activities, according to the US State Department, have averaged less than 15 per year since 2002. And all of those occurred abroad. The majority were in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. (Civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan were not counted due to the fact those occurred in war zones.)
Executive Summary:
The things we fear most may be least likely to occur, which means the time, trauma and treasure we invest in them is a complete waste.
Security itself is an illusion. It is a perception that exists only between our ears. No army, insurance policy, hazmat team, video surveillance or explosive sniffer can protect us from our own immune system, a well-intentioned but clumsy surgeon, failing to look before crossing the street, an asteroid randomly hurtling through space or someone willing to die in order to do others harm.
In this sense, the only things that can truly make us more “secure” are not things. They are the courage to face whatever comes with dignity and intention, and the strong relationships that assure we will face the future together, and find comfort and meaning in doing so.
Imagine, then, what might happen if we simply quit listening to the scaremongers and those who profit from our paranoia. Imagine what the world could look like if we made a conscious choice to live out whatever time we have with courage, compassion, service and joy.
Terrorism is an act of the weak. But so is walking through the airport in our socks.
We can make better choices.
John Goekler uses imagination, agitation and applied complexity science to help organizations act with greater coherence, effectiveness and joy. He works primarily through Change Factors.
Campaign for Liberty Worker Detained and Questioned: recording made public
April 6, 2009
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Dear Friend of Liberty,
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Campaign for Liberty’s very own Steve Bierfeldt has become an unexpected Internet sensation — and the latest target of over-reaching federal government agents.
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You see, Steve was detained by Airport Police and TSA officials shortly after the Campaign for Liberty regional conference in St. Louis.
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The officials rudely berated and harassed Steve for 30 minutes in a secluded room at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Fortunately, Steve was able to record nearly all of the interrogation with his cell phone.
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Steve’s alleged “crime”? Carrying $4,700 in checks and cash from Campaign for Liberty, along with various other materials from our conference.
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The local and Federal agents harassed Steve. They were belligerent, cursing and using insulting language. They threatened to turn Steve over to the DEA and the FBI, all the while refusing to inform him of his legal rights or explain how cash and checks threatened airplane or airport security.
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Throughout the interrogation, Steve remained polite but resolute and declined to answer the invasive questions without an adequate explanation from these federal and local agents as to why they needed to be answered. Without telling Steve what law he was accused of breaking, they continued their harassment.
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Although they grew increasingly frustrated that he remained committed to exercising his rights, intervention from another officer eventually led the police to reluctantly release Steve.
Last Wednesday, Steve appeared on Judge Napolitano’s Freedom Watch to discuss the flagrant violation of his rights and to promote the importance of each of us defending our civil liberties.
Now, Steve’s appearance on Freedom Watch – which features several minutes of the audio tape – has gone viral.
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Click here to watch the segment [links below], which has become one of the most viewed videos on YouTube.
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Steve’s ordeal is a reminder to all patriots that liberty is constantly under fire, and we must remain vigilant and prepared to stand up for our rights.
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In Liberty,
John Tate
President, Campaign for Liberty
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Is a computer the modern equivalent of your “papers”? You can’t be searched and your effects seized unless there is a warrant with probable cause. Do I understand this right?
I really liked this following entry from the Donklephant Blog:
http://donklephant.com/2009/04/03/tsa-responds-to-ron-paul-supporter-cash-incident/
Definitely worth a read.
I, for one, do not like my possessions being rifled through at the airport. I have considered not flying any more.
Frankly, I am far more worried about drunk drivers than I am about terrorists. It seems that communal effort (ie tax money) would be better spent on solving more egregious problems first. Last I checked at least 15,000 people are killed annually by drunk driving. The fact that other problems are not more publicized is a clue as to how it really works.
Comment
In regards to the most recent liberty post: I don’t think this is a systematic attempt to take away the rights of Americans. I think this is the people in the TSA being poorly trained, ignorant of the law, and a broad and unreasonable mandate from the dept. of homeland security. While how these two officials acted is terrible and they should be reprimanded, retrained, or suspended for their harrassment when a well trained federal official (FBI) showed up the man was released and allowed to get on his plane.
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What further complicates the issue is that the people one would least like to be in the security industry are the ones most drawn to it. How many of us have interacted with jerk cops or security guards who beleive thier badges give them the right to trample others rights? Sadly, these people are not weeded out and trianing is sorely lacking at the federal, state, county, and city level. This isn’t an attack on our freedoms, rather it is a sad testimony to the poor training and ignorance of our peace officers/security services.
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— Jonathon Howard
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Shawn,
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I really appreciated your most recent series of articles on freedom and the most dangerous man in the world. Those statistics not withstanding, it should be pointed out that it is very easy to prove that no terrorist attacks have happened, it is much more difficult to prove whether or not the huge budget we push into counter terrorism is the cause.
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In affect, the very same numbers used to point out what people die from might in fact be proof that the dollars spent are working. Simply a second opinion if you will.
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I would frankly like to see a collective review of drug laws and antidrug/the war on drugs in the united states. We spend millions, possibly billions depending on how you want to calculate the numbers, fighting a battle against drug use which stems from the 1980s. This while drug usage in the U.S. is up, not down, and while we legally allow our citizens to use tabacho and alcohol every day (and die from both in many cases.)
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To the man who says he doesn’t want his stuff searched while going on the plane, I have to say that a small inconvenience to make sure I don’t crash into a building mid flight is an entirely reasonable price to pay in my view. Sadly, I am in full agreement with those who feel that the search and seizure laws have been trampled lately. One of the few things that I fully support our president having done lately is the disbanding of the Cuban prison we used to get around social and legal pitfalls to do morally reprehencable things.My two cents;)
–MN
MN: Thank you. What I hope to do here is to point things out and hopefully have some readers re-think things taken for granted. The first fact is that at an airport checkpoint you are being searched, and your bags may be searched. The second fact is that this is done without probable cause (there is no reason to suspect you particularly of criminal activity) and without a warrant.
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So I ask you noble reader: are the airport searches against the fourth amendment? Is there a way to get security without giving up rights?
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How about forbidding air travel all together? That would make things 100% secure. Ridiculous? Just putting it out there. Where are your limits? Where would you draw the line?
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You put forth an interesting argument, and possibly very persuasive. Since there have been no terrorist attacks in the last X years, then the efforts must be working. Why then do we never hear about foiled attacks? We hear about the coast guard intercepting ten tons of cocaine.
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Of course it’s a moot point since once government expands in any area it rarely ever contracts. Even if a program is not working it still gets funded.
Specials for the Month
At this moment my Inbox is nearly empty. I am twiddling my thumbs just waiting for you (yes you) to get a project cooking. We’re ready whenever you are. I have two Artists idle right now.
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ATT- Armor Two by Two
Get two vehicles painted and get two more painted free.*
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Massed Infantry Special
Get 100 infantry painted L2 for $345. Now’s your chance!**
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Guardsmen, Gaunts, Skaven, Orks. Those would be good ones.
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Press Gang Special
Get your Privateer Press models (Hordes, War Machine) at 35% off. If you choose Artistic License you get 20% off on your painting. Get 40% off on your books if ordered with an army.***
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*Here are the details– they must be in pairs. You can’t have a two rhinos painted regular price and then get two land raiders done for free. But you could have a Rhino and a Land Raider done then get two more of the same done free. Tanks don’t need to be the exact same to count as a pair, just similar (so you could pair up a Fire Prism and a Wave Serpent). All the vehicles in a project need to be roughly the same color scheme. Doesn’t apply to Forge World. I have four slots open for this (limited offer). Must ask for the special by name.
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**Here are the details– Needs to be simple infantry (eg not loaded up with every accessory). L2 is our most basic work. They need to be all of similar type (ie not ten squads of different colors/types). I ahve four slots open for this (limited offer). Must ask for the special by name. If you want us to buy the models I may be able to get them at a better discount, too.
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*** I have two slots open for this (limited offer). Must ask for the special by name.
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I’ve found that when I run specials things come up that I haven’t thought of, so I reserve the right to reasonably alter or clarify the specials.
Adepticon Saturday Morning
This is the fourth video posted. There will be seven or eight all told at the end.
Recovery Ward
Well, it’s Monday morning. I thought I would give a quick update. I took a TON of video and I’m working hard to get that processed. It’s good stuff.
Sunday around noon we were in a huge line at airport security. We missed our plane by 20 seconds. Or rather, 20 seconds earlier they booked on four standbys in our seats. The plane didn’t take off for another 15 minutes. Then three hours of waiting for the next flight. We drew straws, and I drew last on board. And indeed, three seats opened and so Renn, Sarah and Joseph boarded.
I was left alone. Sniff.
Details: we had burgers and fries. My last meal before boarding in the evening was a greek Gyro pita. I love those things. I pulled a back muscle on Saturday. It’s way worse than I thought, but I’m on the mend. Renn and I were playing Magic again at the restaurant.
(Janene took another flight earlier, thus only four remaining).
After missing the first flight I said some things that I really didn’t mean. How we were never coming back to Adepticon– too expensive, travel is a pain-in-the-patella. Oh, Adepticon, I can’t stay mad at you.
All told, I was eleven hours at the airport. But at long last, and thankfully I got on an evening flight. The weather had by then turned south, so it was an hour on the tarmac getting de-iced. But around midnight on Sunday I finally got home, and thankfully, to the loving and warm arms of my snuggly family.
My wife tended to my back while we watched some General Conference. Then to the warm and dark abyss of unconsciousness.
Monday.
It’s go time! I am plowing through. I am currently setting up projects for late April (best to get started now) and for May.
Would you like something done? I am at your service!
Four Lost Souls
We missed our flight in Chicago. Four of us are at O’Hare right now hoping to get on standby. Hopefully we don’t have to stay overnight.
Adepticon- Friday
Day two out of four. Friday is one of the two meatiest days of Adepticon.
The main hall is a frenzy, many hundreds of games going on at the same time. I think there were in excess of 800 attendees this year.
The day began at the break of dawn. I had expected to sleep in, but even the luxurious hotel beds were not the match of my beloved couch at home, and so with sledg-hammered back I arose to prepare myself. I had a breakfast of instant oatmeal, made with hot water from the coffee maker.
I found that both Joseph and Renn had arisen early as well. And Sarah had been up even earlier, and to the pool to boot! We got a few figures out on our modest table , including the Oceanic Eldar.
The Adepticon main hall was packed to the gills for the Gladiator, which is the main tournament played in teams of four. As usual, about 80% 40K and 20% Fantasy. If you look at the armies a much higher percent of the Warhammer Fantasy armies are painted to the highest standard. We took a TON of pictures, but I forgot to bring a USB cord so I can’t download them, I’m going to try and find one Saturday.
We spent the bulk of the day just looking at armies and shooting the bull with the various people coming by for a visit.
Numerous other various items forthcoming on video.
In the evening, we went for a swim, hot tub, sauna. Ah, and a movie. We watched Push. The reviews were terrible, but I think it’s definitely worth watching.
Adepticon: Day 1
Day one out of four.
First off, keep the emails and inquiries coming. I still need to keep everything rolling even though we’re out here. So, don’t hold off. Call me. Email me. You will make this time LESS stressful if you set up a project.
I have a ton of footage, but it is nearing midnight and I don’t have time to edit it.
We met at Sarah’s house at 8am and headed out to the airport, courtesy of Sarah’s sister. We arrived, and without delay or flaw made it to our gate. This after a hearty breakfast at an airport diner.
The flight passed by as if in a dream. Sarah sleeps like a borg drone, arms folded, jaw tense, face straight ahead. I normally get seasick but this time hardly a quease.
Once at O’Hare we got off and proceeded to baggage claim where we found Janene serendipitously waiting for us (she had a different flight). As we walked up our bags popped out neatly in a row, so no waiting there. When we got to the curb, our car rental shuttle rolled up within ten seconds. We got a grey SUV. It’s pretty sweet.
So, basically, the whole trip was supernaturally smooth. Everything is groovy.
We went out for sushi. Also fabulous. At some kind of trendy techno-beat place. We gorged ourselves on the good of the land and sea. I expect the rest of the trip to be humble and modest and laid back. It was a 40 minute wait to get in but totally worth it.
More tomorrow.
During the wait and the flight I managed to polish off one of the three books I ordered last week: Meltdown. Summary as follows:
Meltdown is a 2009 book on the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 by historian Thomas Woods, with a foreword by Rep. Ron Paul.
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Woods is a follower of the Austrian School of economics and believes in the gold standard. The book is dedicated to Murray Rothbard and Ron Paul.
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Woods’ thesis includes: Deflation of prices neither causes nor prolongs depressions. Indeed, deflation may be necessary to prevent depressions or to bring depressions to an end. The Fed is the primary cause of business cycles via its arbitrary and coercive control of the money supply. Trying to cure these credit cycles with more government intervention will not work.
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In this case, government intervention in the form of support for housing and excessive monetary expansion caused the current crisis. By creating an illusion of wealth (that certain resources exist which do not exist), interventions encourage wasteful investments and unsustainable consumption, instead of productive investments. The proposed cures (bailouts, more money creation, and stimulus spending) will just make matters worse.
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No business is really too big to fail, even large financial institutions. For them, as with other businesses, liquidation is preferable to a bailout.
Shiny
Started bright and early this morning. We’re working on tying up all loose ends before leaving for Adepticon.
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I got it good. I have grown into my burden.
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I got a game lined up with Mike Dunn tomorrow in the AM. It’s bad timing but I want to get it out of the way and have something to get up on Youtube while I’m en route to Chicago. That’s the plan at least. When I come in tomorrow, Renn will have set up the terrain and we’ll be going with a Seize Ground mission (that’s take objectives) with Spearhead deployment (Table Quarters). By the time Mike shows up I’ll be deployed and ready to roll!
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My wife and I plowed through about four episodes of Firefly. That series was so good. Space Western. You really gotta see it. Completely badass.
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I’ve had ice-pick headaches the last three days. Don’t know what’s up with that. I’ve had forty years of unadulterated good health. Daddy no likey.
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Some may be asking what’s next for army building. It’s Hordes time, folks. I’m gonna round out my Legion. Didn’t know I had a Legion army didja? Well, I’ve never played it. But now with Michael and Sheri I think I might be able to get in a game or two.
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Some people are wondering when we’re going to finish the War Machine tutorial thing. I’m waiting on Mike Dunn for that one. He takes for-ever sometimes. So, don’t hold your breath. But I’m sure it will be up eventually.
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Any requests for Youtube stuff? Just don’t ask for any tutorials. There are a zillion sites for that already out there.
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Between what a man should be and what a man is, there is a gap. Between the commandments and obedience there is a gap. This is filled with the good grace and mercy of the almighty God. And it is by that grace that the gap drawn slowly closed.
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Like cosmic braces.