What is the merit of this video?
Anyone want to make an argument for the income tax? I am very interested in this topic.
And another random item:
Social Insecurity?
Grueling Trail and UVU Debates
Thank you for those of you who showed up to UVU's US Senate Debate! Every candidate, with the exception of Sam Granato (D), attended the debate. One hundred and thirty GOP state delegates were counted but we estimate that number to be at least 150. We didn't anticipate such a large and enthusiastic crowd to show up. We're sorry that the event went longer than we advertised and we're also sorry for those of you who had trouble finding parking or a place to sit. In the future we won't underestimate the involvement of GOP delegates!
If you couldn't attend for any reason click on the links below to watch the debate on youtube in its entirety. We had difficulties filming/editing/posting the videos so Mike Lee's campaign was generous enough to allow us to use their videos. Each candidate was given an opportunity to respond to the questions asked.
We conducted an unannounced exit poll. While there were some who declined to participate these are the results of the nearly 200 who did:
Mike Lee: 49.4%
Cherilyn Eagar: 16.6%
Tim Bridgewater: 16.3%
Scott Bradley: 7.3%
Bob Bennett: 6.7%
Merrill Cook: 1.9%
Christopher Stout: 1%
Leonard Fabiano: .5%
Jeremy Friedbaum: .3%
David Chiu: 0%
Gratefully,
James Davis
On Behalf of UVU's Student Government, College Republicans, & Young Americans for Liberty
Pic: me with Mike Lee (running for Senate).
Today I spent the early afternoon at a town-hall Q&A with Tim Bridgewater a Utah candidate for Senate. I took a lot of notes and recorded about 2o minutes of 70 minutes. This was at the Provo Library. This building is amazing, worthy of an entry in itself.
After work I headed straight to the R. Reagan building in Springville for a meet-and-greet with county candidates. That was about two hours. I have to say that was really keen. These are people from the immediate area with local issues. Just as friendly as could be. At this one it wasn't one person up in front, each candidate had a little table and would just talk to people in small groups as they moved about.
I have to say that I feel ever so connected to the process. It's really a relief after years of just writing about it. It's like I got on the plane and actually went somewhere rather than reading the encyclopedia.
I have a lot of footage to edit. It will contain huge stretches of just the candidate talking. And not in very good quality. I really should make an alternate channel for it.
Between that and family and work I am worn out. However, there is only one other major candidate (Cherilyn Eagar), and once I go to something substantial for her I will have the main ones done and can write a preliminary opinion.
In other news: Tamie's brother is staying with us. He has put up a US flag and a Marine Corps flag up on our flag-holder on the front porch.
For my part, I am totally bushed.
Chapterhouse Update: Boneswords
Chapterhouse Studios Hive Tyrant Bonesword Arms - $5.25 a pair
http://chapterhousestudios.com/webshop/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&category_id=34&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=73
Chapterhouse Studios Tyranid Warrior Bonesword Arms - $3.50 a pair
http://chapterhousestudios.com/webshop/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&category_id=34&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=72
http://chapterhousestudios.
Chapterhouse Studios Tyranid Warrior Bonesword Arms - $3.50 a pair
http://chapterhousestudios.
Sincerely,
Nick - Sales and Design
Chapterhouse Studios
Canned and Dry Goods
I had a dream the other night that I was looking at a map of the US, particularly the mid-west near the Canadian border. On the map were the borders of counties. They were being blacked out one by one, just like water seeping into paper, from the north. A person next to me explained that it was a drop in food production and that soon there would be not enough to go around.
I'm not saying there's anything to it. Most of the time dreams are just an opportunity to look at the waking world in a different way.
It made me think about my own food storage and how to shore it up. In the last year I've been thinking of what a safe store of value would be. Common men like me really don't have a lot to invest in a hard commodity like gold or silver. But we can invest in canned goods or other types of long-term store-able food and supplies (yes, I like to hyphenate where not necessary). This is a great investment because it holds value while still be usable in a pinch. Even if there is not a famine, you might lose your job.
It is my belief that regular investments are not safe anymore. Additionally, the TRILLIONS ($1,000,000,000,000) being created by enormous deficits (current and former administration by the by) has yet to begin to circulate fully through the banking system. That's where the money supply is going to explode. So, the old stereotype of the crustified geezer hoarding his coins in his mattress is going to turn into the new stereotype of the smart young person who changed his cash into commodities (re: billboards for cash4gold everywhere).
This is as simple as buying a flat of durable goods every time you visit the grocery store and stowing them in garage or under bed. Most stores have blocks of this type of goods next to the door. Remember to buy food you like.
Mormons are counseled to keep a year's supply of food on hand. And if not, then to build it up incrementally. This is wise even if there is not an emergency. It also has the beneficial effect (if embraced by a society generally) of making them shock resistant. Creating shortages of food is a classic way for a government to bring its population to heel and make them give in to demands they would not normally give in to. It is a shield for your human rights.
Rallying Cry
It is very late almost midnight. I am still clearing backlog from Adepticon, but should be caught up early tomorrow. I am very actively setting up commissions for April, I'm ready to go.
We started converting up Space Hulk terminators into a squad of 1x Sanguinary Priest, 3x Thunder Hammer, and 2x Lightning Claw. And a Land Raider Redeemer. Those will be up for sale. I have bought Space Hulk sets with the intent of scavenging the Termies out of them for use in conversion work for the upcoming Blood Angels.
I went to a Mike Lee town hall tonight, spending about two hours in the process with plenty of recording and notes which I plan on organizing in some form. I took J. with me. I must say it was a most pleasant experience. I feel so connected to the process now, I really like it. I have a lot of work to do before the May 8 caucus.
Mesa Nids: Mass Invasion
HQ: Hive Tyrant (1#, 235 pts)
1 Hive Tyrant @ 235 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Lash Whip & Bonesword; Scything Talons x2; Synapse Creature; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Hive Commander; Armoured Shell; Leech Essence; Paroxysm)
: Tyrant Guard Brood (3#, 180 pts)
3 Tyrant Guard Brood @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Bonded Exoskeleton; Rending Claws; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Blind Rampage; Shieldwall)
HQ: The Swarmlord (1#, 280 pts)
1 The Swarmlord @ 280 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Bonesabres; Synapse Creature; Alien Cunning; Blade Parry; Psychic Monstrosity; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Swarm Leader; Leech Essence; Paroxysm; Psychic Scream; The Horror)
HQ: Tyranid Prime (1#, 105 pts)
1 Tyranid Prime @ 105 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Bonded Exoskeleton; Devourer; Synapse Creature; Alpha Warrior; Independent Character; Shadow in the Warp; Lash Whip & Bonesword; Toxin Sacs)
HQ: The Parasite of Mortrex (1#, 160 pts)
1 The Parasite of Mortrex @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Bonded Exoskeleton; Implant Attack; Rending Claws; Wings; Synapse Creature; Host Organism; Implant Parasite; Independent Character; Shadow in the Warp; "The Sarge is Acting Strangely...")
Elite: Deathleaper (1#, 140 pts)
1 Deathleaper @ 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chameleonic Skin; Flesh Hooks; Reinforced Chitin; Rending Claws; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Fearless; Fleet; Hit & Run; It's after me!; Killing Strike; Move Through Cover; Pheromone Trail; Stealth; What was that?; Where is it?; Where'd it go?)
Elite: The Doom of Malan'tai (1#, 90 pts)
1 The Doom of Malan'tai @ 90 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Reinforced Chitin; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Absorb Life; Fearless; Psychic Strength; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Spirit Leech; Warp Field; Cataclysm)
Elite: Hive Guard Brood (3#, 150 pts)
3 Hive Guard Brood @ 150 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Hardened Carapace; Impaler Cannon; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk)
Elite: Pyrovore Brood (3#, 135 pts)
3 Pyrovore Brood @ 135 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Acid Blood; Acid Maw; Claws & Teeth; Flamespurt; Hardened Carapace; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Volatile)
Elite: Venomthrope Brood (3#, 165 pts)
3 Venomthrope Brood @ 165 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Lash Whips; Reinforced Chitin; Toxic Miasma; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Spore Cloud; Toxic Touch)
Elite: Ymgarl Genestealer Brood (7#, 161 pts)
7 Ymgarl Genestealer Brood @ 161 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Hardened Carapace; Rending Claws; Alter Form; Brood Telepathy; Dormant; Fleet; Move Through Cover)
Elite: Zoanthrope Brood (3#, 180 pts)
3 Zoanthrope Brood @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Claws & Teeth; Reinforced Chitin; Synapse Creature; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Warp Field; Warp Blast; Warp Lance)
Troops: Genestealer Brood (11#, 222 pts)
10 Genestealer Brood @ 222 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Reinforced Chitin; Rending Claws; Brood Telepathy; Fleet; Infiltrate; Move Through Cover; Scything Talons)
1 Broodlord (Unit Type: Infantry; Hardened Carapace; Rending Claws; Brood Telepathy; Fleet; Infiltrate; Move Through Cover; Psyker; Scything Talons; Aura of Despair; Hypnotic Gaze)
Troops: Hormagaunt Brood (20#, 160 pts)
20 Hormagaunt Brood @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Bounding Leap; Fleet; Move Through Cover; Toxin Sacs)
Troops: Hormagaunt Brood (20#, 160 pts)
20 Hormagaunt Brood @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Bounding Leap; Fleet; Move Through Cover; Toxin Sacs)
Troops: Hormagaunt Brood (20#, 160 pts)
20 Hormagaunt Brood @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Scything Talons; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Bounding Leap; Fleet; Move Through Cover; Toxin Sacs)
Troops: Termagant Brood (10#, 50 pts)
10 Termagant Brood @ 50 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Claws & Teeth; Fleshborer; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Move Through Cover)
Troops: Termagant Brood (10#, 50 pts)
10 Termagant Brood @ 50 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Chitin; Claws & Teeth; Fleshborer; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Move Through Cover)
Troops: Tervigon (1#, 180 pts)
1 Tervigon @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Claws & Teeth; Stinger Salvo; Synapse Creature; Brood Progenitor; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Spawn Termagants; Scything Talons; Dominion; Catalyst)
Troops: Tervigon (1#, 180 pts)
1 Tervigon @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Claws & Teeth; Stinger Salvo; Synapse Creature; Brood Progenitor; Psyker; Shadow in the Warp; Spawn Termagants; Scything Talons; Dominion; Catalyst)
Troops: Tyranid Warrior Brood (6#, 280 pts)
5 Tyranid Warrior Brood @ 280 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Hardened Carapace; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp; Lash Whip & Bonesword; Scything Talons)
1 Tyranid Warrior (Barbed Strangler; Lash Whip & Bonesword)
Fast Attack: Gargoyle Brood (10#, 60 pts)
10 Gargoyle Brood @ 60 pts (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Blinding Venom; Chitin; Claws & Teeth; Fleshborer; Wings; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk)
Fast Attack: Harpy (1#, 160 pts)
1 Harpy @ 160 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Hardened Carapace; Scything Talons; Spore Mine Cysts; Stinger Salvo; TL Stranglethorn Cannon; Wings; Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Fearless; Sonic Screech)
Fast Attack: Ravener Brood (6#, 180 pts)
6 Ravener Brood @ 180 pts (Unit Type: Beasts; Reinforced Chitin; Scything Talons x2; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Acute Senses; Deep Strike; Move Through Cover)
Fast Attack: Ravener Brood (5#, 175 pts)
5 Ravener Brood @ 175 pts (Unit Type: Beasts; Reinforced Chitin; Scything Talons x2; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Acute Senses; Deep Strike; Move Through Cover; Devourer)
Fast Attack: Tyranid Shrike Brood (5#, 250 pts)
5 Tyranid Shrike Brood @ 250 pts (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Reinforced Chitin; Scything Talons; Wings; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp; Lash Whip & Bonesword)
Heavy Support: Mawloc (1#, 170 pts)
1 Mawloc @ 170 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Claws & Teeth; Instinctive Behaviour - Feed; Burrow; Deep Strike; Fearless; Hit & Run; Terror from the Deep)
Heavy Support: Trygon Prime (1#, 240 pts)
1 Trygon Prime @ 240 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Bonded Exoskeleton; Scything Talons x2; Bio-electric Pulse w/Containment Spines; Deep Strike; Fearless; Fleet; Subterranean Assault; Synapse Creature; Shadow in the Warp)
Heavy Support: Tyrannofex (1#, 265 pts)
1 Tyrannofex @ 265 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Armoured Shell; Claws & Teeth; Stinger Salvo; Thorax Swarm (grubs); Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Fearless; Rupture Cannon)
Heavy Support: Tyrannofex (1#, 265 pts)
1 Tyrannofex @ 265 pts (Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; Armoured Shell; Claws & Teeth; Stinger Salvo; Thorax Swarm (grubs); Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk; Fearless; Rupture Cannon)
Total Roster Cost: 5188
Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com
Why Your Army Sucks Part One: Movement
[I lifted this whole-cloth from www.yesthetruthhurts.com It's one of the best articles I've read for a while. The picture is just for decoration.]
So taking a look at all the various armies in Fantasy and thinking about the ‘Ard Boys lists that Stelek and everyone else has been pumping out for 40k really got me thinking. Many people have a reasonable idea or at least a theory where to start to make a good army. I think the point that many miss however is what makes a BAD army.
Thinking purely in Warhammer Fantasy terms it really comes down to one of two things. Either A) Your army book sucks or B) Your army list sucks. But why? In Fantasy it is really essential to be able to compete in most of the phases of the game. Competing doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to be good at it per se, just have to be able to have an answer to it.
In my mind the areas that a good army needs to compete in (or against) are as follows:
1) Fast Movement
2) Difficult Terrain Movement
3) Unit Shooting
4) Artillery
5) Powerful Melee
6) Tarpit Melee
7) Spell Casting
8) Magic defence
Fast Movement & Difficult Terrain Movement
First of all let’s look at movement. There are two items within movement that really stand out. Fast movement; including fast cavalry and flyers and difficult terrain movement; skirmishers and a few rare units like Black Knights and White Lions. Both movement points are all about control of the board.
Fast cav and flyers are generally very good at board control. A careful player will use these units to march block opponents and strike at small vulnerable units like war machines, lone casters, MSU (Multiple Small Unit) units and the like.
Having an answer for fast movement is essential. This is why block-hammer is dead. If you are outmanoeuvred, you cannot dictate how the battle plays out. If you can’t control the board you are just relying on scoring a win based solely on luck or stupidity on your opponent’s side – neither of which are reliable methods.
A common foil for fast movement is of course having units with fast movement yourself. If you lack them, you need something that can reliably handle them even if you can’t catch them. Often this falls down to missile armed troops or artillery depending on the fast unit in question. Most multiple model units that fly or are fast cav are generally quite fragile. With enough missile units to cover all the possible approaches you will likely cut them down before they do any damage. Nastier critters like dragons are better faced off against with artillery such as bolt throwers or cannon.
The bad side with all of the shooting is that if you fail to shoot them down in a turn or two these fast units they will be in your deployment zone before you know it and will be delivering their payload of whoop-ass without reprisal. This makes the missile (and spell) approach to be a little less desirable than your own flyers or fast cav. This is emphasised even more if the enemy fast units outnumber your shooting units.
Terrain movement is not as important as fast movement, but is still essential. If you have no reliable methods to handle units that can hide in terrain you are at a serious disadvantage in facing them. Skirmishers can march block safely from terrain and if a block unit is stupid enough to charge them they are likely going to be stuck in said terrain for the rest of the game. That’s almost as good as destroying them.
Skirmishers also fill a similar role to that of fast cav and flyers - threatening war machines and other weak targets. Some skirmishers are more designed with combat capabilities in mind. These units have the additional threat of being able to easily execute flank or rear charges to support the more solid fighting units in an army. These can turn a risky combat for the skirmish controlling player into a for sure victory against the right foe.
One thing that both skirmishers and fast cav are excellent for is for character escort duties. In these cases, they are more like ablative wounds for the character instead of added character effectiveness. Spell casters in fast cav allows for a quick closing method to get them in range of juicy targets with their best spells, whereas an unprotected caster is in real danger of being killed before they do their thing.
Combat characters with fast cav or skirmishers can also be a real pain if they have access to a descent ranged weapon like the High Elf Sea Farer Bow. Melee characters are a little less useful in these units, and act more as a strengthening buff for the unit itself for when they get that flank or rear charge.
Bottom line for both of these points – if you are not in control of the battle, you are on the defensive. If you are on the defensive – you are losing.
Some GOOD Adepticon Coverage
This is from Bill at Terrainaholic. A stand-up human being and all around good guy.
Paging Bill Anderson
Could you please email me?
Among other things I am trying to find Jay. I didn't get to talk with him before I left. It was not from lack of will, just of memory.
The Results May Suprise You
Pic: venomthrope (not painted by BTP).
Armies being played at Adepticon:
Daemonhunters = 0
Necrons = 2
Witch Hunters = 5
Dark Eldar = 5
Tau = 8
Eldar = 9
Daemons = 13
Orks = 14
Space Wolves = 21
Tyranids = 21
Chaos Space Marines = 26
Imperial Guard =39
Space Marines = Still King at 40
I was surprised to see Tyranids come in fourth. I suppose that it takes a while to get them together. Tyranid armies had the following in them generally: Tervigons, Trygons, Mawlocs, Hormagaunts, Tyrannofex, Doom of Malan'tai, Hive Guard. Mostly the new stuff. One or two spore pods. I think the Doom/Pod combo was popular.
Lots of Thunderwolf Cavalry. All sorts of conversions for that. Not very many Eldar armies.
Almost all Guard armies were transport and vehicle heavy. "Leaf Blower Junior"?
Safe and Sound
Just a quick note, we arrived in Spanish Fork safe and sound, my wife and I. Our flight was delayed a few hours. We learned later that earlier in the day, in San Francisco, there had been some issue with the hydraulics which took a few hours to repair.
I have one or two more vids for Adepticon to process. I am eager to get going tomorrow. I have a lot to catch up on.
Best in Show
Here are some random pics. I was looking for cool Tyranid color schemes and found some. So, these aren't the best models in the show by any means. Best in show, in my opinion, was Melle from Dicehead Games. The Sisters of Battle costume was blowing my mind. It's in one of the vids. Call me crazy, but I got a really good vibe from her and husband Shane.
Speaking of which, as you know we've been at Adepticon in Chicago. Four days. I have uploaded copious amounts of video.
Seen on a Shirt
When injustice is law
Rebellion is duty
I am not a minion of Evil,
I am upper management of Evil.
Adepticon Day Zero Getting There
The most important thing to remember about Adepticon is that I'm still taking orders! I am still answering emails! So, make the trip stress-free and keep me busy!
That's three exclamation points in one paragraph, I think you get the point.
My wife and I headed out at 3am. Everything went smoothly with the flight. Well, see for yourself.
Caucus Race
I went to the caucus tonight and was voted Precinct Chair. That means (other than a lot of meetings!) that I represent something like 1,000 families in May, voting for who will be republican nominee for Senator.
It's like a super-mega-vote.
What a weighty matter. It's time for me to ante up and really put the hours in to do the job right. I'll tell you all about it later. It's late and I'm super-tired.
I will be up early tomorrow and ready to book projects for April. It's still a little light.
Sad But True
OK folks, just need one more cash injection for Adepticon. I'm putting both Space Marine armies on the block for $1400 (that's Imperial Fists and Space Wolves). Come on. I know you want them!
Limited time offer. Like 18 hours.
Delegate
I decided to run as a Delegate in my precinct. I spent yesterday afternoon and well after dark beating the pavement door to door for that. Tonight is the caucus. I plan on reporting a lot more on that.
Naturally, if I'm elected to represent our precinct (about a thousand families) I will have to be sober and diligent. I will have to look ever so closely at all the candidates. This is for Senator. One in a hundred is a fair concentration of power.
Knights of Legend
Found these really, really cool figures.
I think they would make great commanders.
Costs to have us do them would be as follows:
$5 for assembly
$10 for assembly with scenic type base (eg corking)
$60 for painting L5 (or $50 each in a run of 3+)
$90 for painting L6 (or $80 each in a run of 3+)
You can have the models sent direct to the studio from eBay.
Adepticon Warning!
If we are doing something for you for Adepticon you should contact me TODAY!!!
If mailing something we will send it Express most like. We can also bring your item physically.
Shawn
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