Another day in Paradise. As usual I am actively engaged in setting up projects in this case for January.
A few days back there was quite a blizzard. I'd say about a foot of snow which has now hardened into ice and icicles. It's below freezing.
We are refinancing our home. The mortgage company we are currently with kept faxing blank paper to the new company thus delaying the transaction and squeezing one final payment out of us. My wife had to drive all the way to Salt Lake, babes in arms, to actually stand there while they did it right. Pathetic.
I got to go up against the Skaven again. In the first game I was routed hideously. The second game was as close as a game ever is, a mere 40 point difference in score.
I took the kids out for pizza. Willow ate the toppings off about three pieces, contentedly picking off each varied-color type. She is a mild baby, and a delight to take out in public. This excursion was for the purpose of giving my wife a few hours peace.
The studio is like a furious machine, pistons churning. Projects are turning out just fabulously, the whole standard of quality surging forwards. Assembly is nearly caught up, which is a mighty rarity.
We are especially interested in getting some larger models on the docket. I'm thinking Forge World titans of any type, larger vehicles, super-heavies and the like.
Toppings
Marching
Currently booking projects for January. Getting it all set up. We're ready whenever you are.
The last two days have been a flurry of activity, but I think everything is lined up. There's a huge crunch to get Christmas projects done. If you have one scheduled, you should contact me and check in on things.
I am still getting around to processing the game with Renn (Skaven v Dark Elves). We have another campaign game scheduled at 1600 pts.
It was blizzarding today, over a foot of snow I reckon. It was horrendous. A complete shift of dimensions.
Rand Paul for Senate
Rand Paul is running for the Senate in Kentucky. I highly recommend him as a representative of the people. I have here forwarded a newsletter I get from his campaign. I have donated twice already (iirc).
Rand Paul Update
Fellow citizen,
Last Friday, Dr. Rand Paul traveled to Northern Kentucky, recording a television interview with Pat Crowley, discussing governmental reform legislation with Jim Babka of DownsizeDC.org, attending a Christmas musical at Florence Baptist Church, and staying overnight before attending a friendraiser, a reception and a GOP Christmas Party the following day. Dr. Paul and the staff made it back to Bowling Green by midnight. Thanks to everyone who turned out and made the weekend a big success!
Dr. Paul will be keeping up the pace this week. On Tuesday, Dr. Paul will speak to the Bullitt Co. GOP. On Wednesday, he'll be on the Michael Smerconish radio program. On Thursday, he'll be meeting the public in Murray and Henderson, and on Friday Newsmax.com will tape an interview with him. Please see the event calendar for all the details!
Over 650 people have now pledged at www.randsteaparty.com to donate to Dr. Paul on December 16. Sincere thanks to everyone who has pledged and is spreading the word! A successful day will propel Dr. Paul into the new year with considerable momentum toward a big victory for liberty in 2010. Please keep up the good work!
Finally, remember the special election in District 14 is today. Go vote! Jimmy Higdon is the conservative choice in this race, as Dr. Paul is in his.
In Liberty,
Christopher Hightower
Rand Paul For US Senate
Tyranids 2010
As you know, the new Tyranids are due out in January. I have updated the spreadsheet to include new models. I am now ready to set those up whenever you are.
If I create a Tyranid special in the next 30 days, and you already booked yours I will retro-actively apply the special so you don't miss out. Same for if any cost in the army spreadsheet is lowered.
Download spreadsheet here
Dusting of White
As you know from the last post, I was up bright and early, typing out various ideas. Later, I thought of taking that post down, but there it will stay for good or ill. It's really random. Please bear in mind that was a stream-of-consciousness thing where I just wrote down whatever came to mind.
During the night it snowed, about four inches. Then the sun arose in a pale blue sky.
I went back to sleep, fitfully, and awoke completely refreshed around 9am. I lay in bed with the good woman watching Red Dwarf season four, laughing my buttocks off. This paradaisical scene was punctuated by visits from the kids, plowing through the covers and peppering us with kisses and little hugs. For breakfast I had pecan pie and ice cold milk, not exactly nutritious, but very satisfying.
Then off to church with just K. I don't think I've ever been so uplifted and so spiritually sated as that before. It was a sublime delight.
In other news I was released from the calling of Elders Quorum First Counselor. I'm in that exciting place between callings. Can't wait to see what is next. It will probably be a few weeks before I hear anything.
When I got home my wonderful wife made me a ham and grilled cheese sandwich. It had some kind of sauce in it that made it just perfect. Secret ingredient? Apricot jam.
Today life is perfect.
Scattershot
It is 5am and I'm wide awake. I fell asleep hard and early last night. I wanted to stay up and process the battle report, but I just had to close my eyes, just for a moment.
My mind is turning and churning with various thoughts. Here's a rough draft which I plan on fleshing out later.
It must seem like I'm griping quite a bit on this blog, about the Federal Government that is (note that I have not taken issue with Utah State taxes nor even less with Spanish Fork City taxes-- benefits seems to be inversely proportionate with how far away the money is sent). I thought I would take a post and explain the positive direction that I would like to see taken in my beloved country:
1) Institution of Full Reserve Banking (and therefore the abolishment of the Federal Reserve)
The Federal Reserve is what allows for fractional reserve banking and all the nonsense on Wall Street (eg: 40:1 expansion of money). Fundamentally, it is the mechanism which allows one man (a banker, who has produced almost nothing) to eat food, wear shoes, live in a house while another man who has lost his job has no shoes, no food, no money to pay his bills, and is evicted from his home is out in the cold. The latter man doesn't understand that he lost his job because the business he works for is struggling to pay back loans, both the principle (which turns out is imaginary money that did not exist) and interest.
I believe that a system of Full Reserve Banking (or something close to it) would be much more equitable. It would prevent the defrauding of the common worker and bring and end to the bust and boom business cycle.
Bank "panics" are good. They keep the system honest. A bank that uses the full reserve system has no need to worry about people coming to get their deposits.
Central Banks also allow wars to drag on and on. Case in point: every quarter (or nearly every quarter) for the last eight years in the US there has been "emergency supplemental appropriations" for the wars (so-called, they were not declared by Congress). This means that the Federal Reserve provided funding for the wars which is paid for indirectly by the poorer classes later in the form of inflation.
The Federal Reserve is what allows the Federal Government to pass on the consequences of its actions four, eight or twelve years into the future.
2) Sound Money
I am a huge proponent of commodity money (where the paper note represents an actual commodity on hold somewhere). The fiat money that we are forced to use now allows the government (or it's contractors/employees) to get goods from the people that produce them at current rates and later crash into the edges of the economy (ie the common folk) in the form of higher prices. This invisible wave effectively sucks resources from the edge and into the middle.
3) Strengthening of States Rights
One size does not fit all!
It occurred to me after reading the comment about health care by my friend from Denmark that his country is roughly the population of Alabama. Concerns about centralization of power in the US must be taken much more seriously. We're talking about a world-dominating military juggernaut with the GDP of an entire continent. A State in the USA is the size of many countries. Even a po-dunk state like Utah has roughly the same population as Congo or Panama.
A Denmarkian health care program could be instituted at state level. I would be all right with that. It would be consistent with the US constitution.
The world looking on should be scared crap-less of centralization of power in the US. Seems to me. We've got nuclear subs prowling around the oceans of the world for pity's sake!
4) abolishment of the Income Tax
And replacing it with nothing. The various social programs (social security, medicaid) are essentially forced insurance. The government is not a good steward. The individual is a good steward.
Now I'm going to get a little schizophrenic and argue against myself.
against point 4) People can't be trusted to take care of themselves. The government is a good steward. I'm forty and have nothing saved for retirement. If it weren't for the Feds I'd be eating Alpo in my golden years. (What if) On the net, our little group of BTP workers gets back in benefits at least as much as we pay out in taxes, possibly more, so what am I griping about? (Not sure if this is right) I'm perfectly happy with my situation on the net. I have no ambitions to be super-rich, so those higher tax rates will never apply to me. If the business does as well as I hope, my main ambition is to just administer the money/resources back into the community.
Voluntary vs in-Voluntary
The real dichotomy here is that while arguing for individual liberty, and the de-centralization of power, I also voluntarily follow the path of a Mormon. This is possibly the most heirarchal, centralized-power theocracy on the face of the earth. I accept the infallible dictate of a Prophet of God. Holy crap. I tithe, paying 10% of my gross income to the Church, waaaaay more than I end up paying in taxes. I've paid it my whole life (well, since I was fifteen), and without fail for the last ten years. And not only that, but I spend 3-6 hours a week (conservatively five full working weeks a year) in church-related callings and activities. I spent two years of my young life in south america on a mission. I worked on the welfare (pear) farms every year as a youth in Oregon.
I'm happy as pie to do it, too. And no plans of stopping.
The reason is that my contributions to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) is that it is voluntary! I like to do it. I have had an overwhelmingly positive experience with church programs. I believe in what the church is doing. I like how my tithing money is being spent. I trust local leaders (who I know personally) to be wise stewards of the community resources.
For example: I live in a ward, which is four blocks wide and three blocks deep. Every month everyone chips into a fund called "Fast Offerings". This gives the bishop (like a pastor) money to help out those that are having trouble. My wife and I always contribute the maximum we can and even then some. We have also gone to the bishop during rough months and had our needs immediately and fully met.
When I was a young man, there was a church building across the street from the high school. This was a safe haven from my youthful problems where I could get counseling and encouragement. Sister Gish, the secretary, would greet us with a smile and we could get a snack and sit in the library and read.
Sister missionaries who came to my house at age fifteen effectively saved me from becoming an alcoholic. And from the pernicious effects of promiscuity. This early intervention set the foundation for a very happy and secure life that I now live.
Surely now some reader is thinking "Shawn, don't government programs do this same sort of good work?" To which I say: blarg you haven't been paying attention. The difference is the element of free choice. Centralized power gained and maintained by force can be turned to evil purposes in an instant, and then there's no stopping it save through exceptional means. This is the huge-normous benefit of a voluntary system. Sure, some drek-heads that made themselves rich selling some crap on late-night infomercials might just waste it on hookers and blow but at least you don't have to pay them a congressional pension for the rest of their retired lives.
I know for myself that a voluntary program works. Government force is not needed to get people to take care of themselves.
I am absolutely convinced that our ward could handle everything, even big medical emergencies, locally. Especially if we had part of our Federal taxes re-routed to local programs.
I believe wholeheartedly in the power and wisdom of the common man, working locally. I think that a city government is the most likely to be wisely administered. And the most easily overthrown if it is acting contrary to the real interests of the populace.
I am very, very concerned about the centralization of power in the US. Once it starts, it's almost impossible to reverse. It happens through taxation, inflation, and debasement of the currency.
That's just me. Don't like Mormons? Think my world-view is whacked? Great! Feel free to donate to any cause you like. Feel free to go door to door and spread the word. Start a blog. Just as long as you do it (like me) on your own time and your own dime, and not someone else's.
More to come...
Ice Elves vs Skaven
I go to play a campaign game against Renn today. 1200 pts. I have campaign territories that allow me to field an additional two Rare choices. I took a ton of footage and will have a Batrep up.
Hag Queen (4#, 225 pts)
1 Death Hag @ 225 pts (General; Khainite; Hand Weapon; Extra Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred; Frenzy; Poisoned Attacks)
1 Cauldron of Blood (Altar of Khaine; Attendents; Blessings of Khaine; Khainite; War Machine; Causes Terror; Eternal Hatred; Frenzy; Magic Resistance (1); Poisoned Attacks)
2 Hags (Khainite; Hand Weapon; Extra Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred; Frenzy; Poisoned Attacks)
1 Witchbrew
Sorceress (1#, 147 pts)
1 Sorceress @ 147 pts (Druchii Sorcery; Level 2 Upgrade; Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred)
1 Dark Steed
1 0. Power of Darkness
1 1. Chillwind
1 2. Doombolt
1 3. Word of Pain
1 4. Blade Wind
1 5. Soul Stealer
1 6. Black Horror
Dark Riders (5#, 92 pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 92 pts (Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry)
5 Dark Steed
Dark Riders (5#, 92 pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 92 pts (Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry)
5 Dark Steed
Dark Riders (5#, 92 pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 92 pts (Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry)
5 Dark Steed
War Hydra (3#, 175 pts)
1 War Hydra @ 175 pts (Fiery Breath; Monsters and Handlers; Causes Terror; Eternal Hatred; Large Target; Regenerate; Scaly Skin)
2 Beastmaster (Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred)
2 Beastmasters Scourge
War Hydra (3#, 175 pts)
1 War Hydra @ 175 pts (Fiery Breath; Monsters and Handlers; Causes Terror; Eternal Hatred; Large Target; Regenerate; Scaly Skin)
2 Beastmaster (Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred)
2 Beastmasters Scourge
Reaper (3#, 100 pts)
1 Reaper Bolt Thrower @ 100 pts (War Machine; Eternal Hatred; Repeater Bolt Thrower)
2 Crew (Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred)
Reaper (3#, 100 pts)
1 Reaper Bolt Thrower @ 100 pts (War Machine; Eternal Hatred; Repeater Bolt Thrower)
2 Crew (Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred)
Validation Report:
Army Subtype: Dark Elf Army; Edition: 7th Edition; Game Type: Normal Game; Special Rules: Forbid Storm of Chaos, Forbid Albion, Forbid Lustria
Composition requirement 'Rare' not satisfied (3). Valid range 0-2.
Total Roster Cost: 1198
Created with Army Builder - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com
What is Freedom?
I am always thrilled to hear a perspective different than my own. Am I wrong? Are my facts not straight? Is there something I missed? Here we hear from a reader from Denmark. I will not respond to his comments, but rather let them stand on their own (with just one minor clarification in brackets].
At Ready
I am at the studio today. It is quiet.
I am eager to get a few new projects booked. I'm just ready to hear from you.
Willow-tastic
Willow is coming up on her first birthday. She's an absolute delight. She's always happy to see her family.
Last night I went to the Provo Temple with my wife. A sublime experience to say the least. We ate at the temple cafeteria, showing up plenty early (Ward temple night), enough to enjoy extended and relaxed conversation. We held hands while sitting in crystalline near-silence of the celestial room, whispering our insights and innermost thoughts to each other.
Ron Paul- Champion of Liberty
I would encourage anyone who reads this to purchase and read "End the Fed" by Ron Paul. It is an excellent book. It costs about $13.00 through www.amazon.com
Ron Paul's Son, Rand Paul is running for Senate in Kentucky. I encourage any Kentuckians who read this blog to seriously watch that race, donate to Rand Paul's campaign (if you think it worthy) and vote.
I have a few ideas:
You vote also with your wallet by making campaign contributions. It doesn't have to be a lot. Many of these "men of the people" rely on grassroots support. For example, there's a "money bomb" for Rand Paul coming up in December. I plan on chipping in for that.
Every time government expands you lose control of your life. Maybe you don't run your life very well, but that's beside the point. At minimum, through various payroll taxes, the Federal Government controls at least 20% of your money. Fact: You don't decide where that money goes, someone else does. That means that someone who lives until age 80 will have spend SIXTEEN YEARS in what is effectively forced labor for government programs. Now maybe that money came back to them in the form of benefits, and maybe the administrators of those programs are enlightened beings who have the welfare and interests of their fellow-men pulsing warmly within their hearts, but the fact is that the citizen didn't get to choose.
What is it called when it's 100%?
What is it called when it's 0%?
What percentage would it need to be for you to say "waitaminit"? For me it's 0%.
If government spending were brought back to 1997 levels, the payroll tax could be abolished and replaced with NOTHING. That would mean no IRS, no income tax, no filing (which I view as a financial strip-search: how is it the Feds business what I'm spending my money on?)
Just for the record: I am a firm, firm believer in paying taxes, and paying them completely. If anything I err on the side of paying too much. But not for the reason you might think. I plan on writing an article about that later. Basically, I believe there is spiritual power in the Christian principle of turning the other cheek.
I hear about citizens cheating on their taxes. What is it called when the government cheats the citizens with mis-use of tax money? Who goes to jail then?
I believe the real problem is not with corrupt officials but with the lack of vigilance on the part of the voters. Yes, me. I'm to blame. All those years of apathy.
A Favor
I have someone helping my abysmally poor search engine rankings. They should be much better.
What you can do to improve your organic search performance is to urge folks, when they link to you, to use text like this:
"http://www.
"http://www.
Blue Table Painting, a "http://www.
If you feel inclined, could you link to my website using one of the following tag/link-things?
Pretty Please?
Specials
We're still running the various specials: Pandora, Turbo, Basic Training. And of course, get whatever you want a la carte.
Miniature Painting Services
BTP - Miniature Painting Service
Blue Table Painting, a Miniature Painting Service
Second Wind
The day began at 6:30am. I almost completely cleared out my Inbox. After cooking me an All American breakfast (hash browns, eggs over-medium, toast, and ice cold milk), my wife went out running errands with Willow, leaving G. and I to hang out at home. We went out to pick him up a little toy (which he naturally loves) and to get lunch and McDonald's.
This was a much-needed part-day off. I've been really sprinting this week.
Flash-back to Wednesday night. I stayed at work late and really plowed through all the work that needed to be done except maybe like twenty emails. It was totally worth it. I am working through all episodes of Red Dwarf again. After everyone has gone home is when my productivity really kicks into gear.
Anyway, once I got in to the studio I found Josephus working on some Confrontation figures. It's some really great work. He loves the figures so much he's giving them a L5-6 treatment just for kicks.
Renn is working on his Skaven, pretty much done with the first 2000 points. I have to say that he's quite a skilled painter. I really want to play against him. But I am also tired of playing just Renn. I need someone else to pony up with a painted army and get in a game. Maybe Janene will take her Dworks up against my Dark Elves. I don't think anyone wants to take on the Tzeentch Daemons after they've left two battlefields of charred corpses and not much else. I'm really excited to get in a game.
The weekly order came in: a bunch of paint (Vallejo), some brown ink, Menoth figures, and various GW stuff, all in all pretty light on the ordering this week.
We're also working on some sculpts for some Slaanesh tanks. We're working on a very custom Emperor's Children type army. More to come on that.
By the end of the day I was pretty much caught up. My main concern now is to get projects set up for January!
Miniature Painting Services
BTP - Miniature Painting Service
Blue Table Painting, a Miniature Painting Service
Advance Scout Report
Thanks to advance scout Paul for these leads!
Here's a few tidbits from the internet.
Pics of the new tyranid models:
http://www.belloflostsouls.
The trygon is said to be $49.50 and has enough parts to build 1 of 2 figs, the trygon and the Mawloc. Termagaunts and hormagaunts (a dozen for $24) are going to be split boxes now, so if you want the current mixed box, buy them now.
Oh, here's the big price list for the models:
99120106017 Tyranid Battleforce 46 Fig Box 5-Dec-09 $105.00
99060106064 Tyranid Spore Mines 9 Fig Blister 16 Jan-10 $16.50
60030106003 Codex: Tyranids (English)96pp 16-Jan-10 $25.00
99120106016 Tyranid Ravener Brood 3 Fig Box 16-Jan-10 $44.50
99120106018 Tyranid Gargoyle Brood 10 Fig Box 16-Jan-10 $29.00
99120106019 Tyranid Trygon / Mawloc 1 Fig Box 16-Jan-10 $49.50
99110106063 Tyranid Pyrovore 1 Fig Box 16-Jan-10 $33.00
99120106021 Tyranid Termagant Brood 12 Fig Box 12-Dec-09 $24.75
99120106020 Tyranid Hormagaunt Brood 12 Fig Box 12-Dec-09 $24.75
9906010606201 Tyranid Venomthrope 1 Fig Blister 16-Jan-10 $20.00
9906010606101 Tyranid Hive Guard 1 Fig Blister 16-Jan-10 $20.00
January should be a HUGE release
Dragonforge has some cool looking Eldar themed bases:
http://www.dragonforge.com/
http://www.dragonforge.com/
http://www.dragonforge.com/
Dan Abnett talks about the new Ultramarines movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
If you haven't seen them, the new Legion of the Damned models are awesome:
http://www.games-workshop.com/
I picked up the new Fortress of Redemption, and I have to say "WOW" that thing is HUGE. I can't wait to get a game on it this weekend. I highly recommend one. And as a tip, magnetize the weapons on it for planetstrike games so you can put them where your defenses need it.
Finally, games workshop has 10% vouchers going on right now:
http://www.games-workshop.com/
Miniature Painting Services
BTP - Miniature Painting Service
Blue Table Painting, a Miniature Painting Service
New Tyranids
Got this in from miniwargaming.com
I just received an update from Games Workshop as to what will be
coming out in January for the Tyranid, and I wanted to pass this on
to you right away.
First off, all of these new products will be coming out January 16,
2010, so be ready to get your piece!
Here are the new products:
Click here to see 'em all...
Happy wargaming!
Matthew and Dave
Miniature Painting Services
BTP - Miniature Painting Service
Blue Table Painting, a Miniature Painting Service
