Spaceship One goes for Prize

Well, they are going try for the prize. Here is hoping.

Spear and Magic Helmet

Someone posted this and I have to pass it on. I loved this cartoon.

http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/buttons/opera/opera.html

Taking Public Money...

Evidently a group is suing Washburn University to restore its funding after the school cancelled it because of discrimination.

This is an issue we see over and over again. The Bush Administration has even made this worse in some ways because of their faith based initiatives because the faiths expect that people that get the benefits from them will promote or endorse their viewpoints.

Here is my take. I think that a private group has the right to do whatever it wants as long as it does not take one dime from the public coffers. Now public coffers can mean from an overarching group as well like an university. The student in question paid fees to attend that location, some fraction of his money made it possible for that group to operate so they either need to accept him or not take the monies from the university. This is true of any organization. I should be able to join or be elected by the NAACP if they take public monies. I should be treated as an equal member. If they dont want to accept that, then dont take the money.

If you dont want the government telling how and what you can do in your group, then dont take Caesar's gold. You cant have it both ways, you cant get money from someone and expect them to keep their nose out of your business. This happens in personal relationships why should it be any different in public ones.

Cool Shirt

This shirt is cool. Granted I might have some bias to the topic matter.

Electoral Vote Predictor

Someone pointed out this site to me and I think it is worth looking at. It takes local and other polls and uses their data to build an ever evolving electoral picture.

Some people have said we should get rid of the Electoral College and after much thought I have to disagree. It is the way we decide a winner. The electoral college system means that candidates have to campaign even in smaller states to get their votes. I think that if we did away with the electoral college, candidates would stop campaigning in the rural or midwestern states. The fact is that the vast majority of our population is isolated to a very few regions.

I think if we make a change, we should consider the plan that Maine uses. Since the electoral votes are based on the number of congressional seats plus each states 2 senate seats, I think that the popular vote should decide each Congressional Electoral vote and the winner of the most Congressional Electoral votes should get the states 2 Senatorial Electoral votes. While it is not perfect, this would mean that states with decent electoral votes would still get people visiting them. The only drawback would be that most of the Congressional districts are centered around urban areas, so rural voters would see less of the candidates. This might be balanced out by the fact that most rural voters are more likely to vote than urban voters though too. The only side effect of this would be that Congressional Redistricting would be even more hotly contested.

14 Characteristics of a Fascist State

This article has been getting some interest around. I found it interesting enough to put here, becuase I really believe that if we dont pay attention to history we will repeat it.

• Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
• Disdain for the importance of human rights.
• Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
• The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
• Rampant sexism.
• A controlled mass media.
• Obsession with national security.
• Religion and ruling elite tied together.
• Power of corporations protected.
• Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
• Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
• Obsession with crime and punishment.
• Rampant cronyism and corruption.
• Fraudulent elections.

Some very good core statements here.

Old gods for new...

Well proof that new gods can supplant old...

Mammon is greater than all. :)

Glass Houses

Well, the slinging and muckraking are in full gear for this Presidental Election.

Bush's record is proving the point that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. He had this article come out as well as a new group out of Texas to point up his military record. Bush really has no where to hide on this, but since his supporters made it an issue he is going to reap the whirlwind for it.

Furthermore, Cheney is out attack dogging for the President with his latest statements about Kerry not protecting the country. Whatever your feeling about Kerry or Bush, I think it is in poor taste to say that someone wouldnt care for or protect the country. Now, part of the time honored job of the VP nominee is to the be the attack dog of the pair, but even there should be lines of conduct.

Looks like it will be a long campaign.

Star Trek Online and Other Trekkie News

Well, Paramount found someone to bit on trying to create a Star Trek Online game. I know how it will fly, because I think everyone will want to be the "Captain".

In other news, they have been filming on season 4 of Enterprise. They have Brent Spiner, playing an ancestor of Dr. Soong. They have Alec Newman(Paul Atredies from the SciFi Dune Series) playing a one of the creations of this doctor Soong. Also the guy who played Martok is returning to play an unnamed Klingon Captain for an episode involving the Klingons and the Orions. Yes, friends we have the Orions showing up. You will get to an Orion female and for the first time an Orion male. Spyke will know who this is even if I dont, but the Orion male will be played by Paul "The Big Show" Wright of WWE.

Probably one of the neatest pieces is that one of the Original Series stunt actors has been given a job for a couple of the episodes as an extra in one of the Orion Markets. Vincent Deadrick, who played in such episodes as Balance of Terror and other classics.

New episodes are scheduled to air at the end of October.

Weekend Recap

Pretty good long weekend.

Saturday - Went and saw Valerie around noon. We had a great lunch at a place on the Eastern Shore called the Narrows. After that it got strange, we took her dogs on a walk down to the marina. Unfortunately her oldest dog lost its balance and fell in. She has a hard time seeing and couldnt tell where the shore was. I had to dive in and guide the dog to shore. When I was walking out I cut up my feet pretty badly from stuff on the bottom of the river. Cause of that I wasnt able to hook up to see the movie with some friends, although we did get together that evening. We watched Hawaii, which I really liked.

Sunday - Had a greally good game with some friends. I am enjoying playing my character although I want him to level up some, being second sucks. After that I had a really nice dinner with a friend and his wife. First time I had really had a chance to chat with them, but I enjoyed it.

Monday - Spent the morning cleaning the house and the back bedroom. Figuring out what I need to do to get more stuff cleaned and organized. I have found some stuff to put on Ebay and will be working on that. Then had an okay game night. I have to work on getting some more monsters ready and making them more challenging.

Cthulhu Statue

I really really want this for the yard. I think it would be great. :)

Ia Ia Cthulhu Fthagn!

Passing of an American Icon

It is with the saddest heart that I must pass on the following news.Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainmentcommunity. -The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. -Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. -Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs.Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, theHostess Twinkies, Duncan Hines, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours. -Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly inshow business, but his later life was filled with turnovers and he wouldwaffle on many decisions. He was not considered a very "smart" cookie,wasting much of his earned dough on half-baked! schemes. -Despite being a little flaky at times, he still, as a crusty old man, was considered a roll model for millions. -Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough. It was rumored that he also had another one in the oven.He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. -The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Feel the pain.

Movies for the Fall and Winter

Well, there are more movies that interest me coming out over the next few months. In no particular order...

The Final Cut - With Robin Williams and James Caviezel, this film if it is as good as the previews look will enter into one of my all time favorite scifi films. The premise that people carry a chip that records their lives and then have someone take that chip and put forward their life in a good light. The person sees all the sins of that person, but edits them into a highlight reel. What happens when people dont want a life to be reviewed.

Blade: Trinity - I loved the first 2 movies for their darkness and the action. I hope this will be same. Every film doesnt have to be cinema verite, but it should be consistent to itself which the Blade films have been.

Alexander - What can I say I love epic films.

Sky Captain - I like Jude Law and this looks like a great 30's style film. The Saturday movie serials come to life.

Oceans Twelve - One of the few remakes I liked Oceans Eleven showed that you can still do ensemble casting. I hope this continues that trend. No one will deny that Clooney and Pitt are the stars, but you still showcase some good secondary talent.

A Sound of Thunder - Supposedly based on one of my favorite time travel stories by Bradbury, this fill may or may not live up to that. I know that they are making changes from the story to accomplish an action film, but hopefully they will maintain the dilemma that is core to the story. Too many time travel flicks, do it lightly.

Resident Evil - The first movie was not as bad as it could have been and actually had some characters that I liked.

Christmas With the Kranks - Tim Allen is the reason to see this movie. I generally find him to be atleast moderately funny and I like Christmas spoof movies.

The Incredibles - I like the premise of this animated film.

We shall see how many I actually get to.