Your Political Compass

The test is slanted left, but it's fun to take anyway. Predictably, here's how I did:

Barney Frank 2005 -- What Housing Bubble?

More evidence that this mess was ignored by the Democrats who cashed in on it in the fall. Where was the Mainstream Media on this? Where was the supposedly "right wing" Fox News on this?

Bridging the Gap

A very good piece about gays and the church. It is time for the church to have a reformation in this area:

We need to stop worrying about "what is sin?", and start worrying about "where is the love?"

After Almost 100 Days....

This is what I am seeing -- a picture is worth a hundred words.
Certainly no better, possibly a lot worse.

Something I've Always Thought About Pollution and the Environment

I feel the ultimate solution eventually will be resolved by moving most of our industry and manufacturing off planet. This won't happen until most if not all of the socialism on this planet is ended. Socialism is a wealth sucker and a progress destroyer.

People must be free to generate the society of abundance that would have been here long ago had Europe and the US not embraced the failed policies of Plato (Rule by the Philosopher Kings, also known as the People Who Know Better Than You or I). We have to intellectually evolve beyond the notion that, if we get smart people to do it, someone can force us to do the right thing. Not gonna happen. Fails every time.

That doesn't mean we don't need a government and institutions to keep us free. Quite the opposite. We need a government that serves us and protects our rights and property, however, not one that rules us. Only liberal capitalist democracy comes close to fitting that bill. By liberal of course I mean "classical liberal" not modern liberal.

I say we go the way of Corellia, for lack of a better example.

Change I Can Believe In

As you all know, I have some very strong differences with President Obama, mostly in economics. That being said, IF he was the driving force behind the decriminalization of marijuana I would not only vote for him, I would campaign for his second term.


Today NORML launches a campaign to convince people that NOW is the time for CHANGE. Let us HOPE so.

Baptist Pastor Beaten and Tazed By Border Patrol

A charming story:

The Great Global Warming Swindle

An interesting show from Britain:

The First Christians Were Universalists

Another one from Tentmaker777:

We Didn't Start the Flame War

This is the funniest video I have seen in ages (warning: very humorous use of profanity ahead):

Watch We Didnt Start the Flame War on CollegeHumor

CNN Reporter Attacks Protesters

Watch this. This is a REPORTER??? Attacking protesters instead of reporting on an event? Attacking Fox News instead of covering an issue?

Amazing.

Happy Tax Day!

/TEA BAG your congressperson today!

City of Heroes Issue 14: Architect

Issue 14 is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious issues ever released in City of Heroes. It is certainly on par with the release of "Inventions," in Issue 9: Breakthrough and proves that you CAN make sweeping major changes to existing games. "Changing the whole game" need not be a fiasco such as SWG's NGE release; no, it can be something positive that adds to the game experience, brings old customers back, and attracts new ones.

The key is that you add by adding, not taking away. You must add something to the game that doesn't take away from it. Oh, I know, whenever you add something, there are always those that do not enjoy the addition, and there are those who feel they "lost" something because THEY did not get something, but that's not the same thing as pissing off your customer base with unwanted change.

This is pure adding. What will be lost are the lagless nights of an empty server -- people are back and playing in droves. Last night, Freedom server was no longer taking any visitors.

So what is this patch about? It's about telling your own stories, making your own missions, and sharing them with your fellow players. The folks at NCSoft have given players the keys to the kingdom.

Similar but superior to the Star Wars Galaxies' "Storyteller System," players get to choose between long, intricate plots with many rooms, tasks, and bad guys, or quick and dirty get in beat the guy up and get out deals. Missions created by player architects DO provide experience and loot, so there is a reason to try them.

I checked it out last night, took the tutorial, and played through someone else's scenario. It was FUN. Pure fun. I can see how these are very appealing to veterans who have already ran two or three (or more!) characters and have done all the content.

This adds a potentially unlimited amount of new content to a game that sorely needed it. It gives players the power to make the game bigger, better, and more fun.

Wow, what a great patch.

Happy Easter

Brian McLaren: The Secret Message of Jesus

Brian McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy is a wonderful book, and should be read by Christians and non-Christians alike (especially ex-Christians). Here he discusses his new book and shares some very interesting insights:



Once again, /hat tip over to message in motion.

Open-mindedness

A neat little video about critical thinking.

Mr. Jefferson - Mike Church Show Band

Found this over at the Libertarian Republican