I'm going to New Hampshire

Okay, its official, I am a Ron Paul fanatic. I donated alot of money again on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, helping to raise over 6 million dollars in one day. I'm on youtube most every day increasing the stats of RP videos. I've even registered as a Republican! And now, I've decided to go all the way by joining Operation Live Free Or Die ( www.operationlivefreeordie.com ) and am going to New Hampshire! I'll be there basically the first week of January, and will be helping the campaign by going door-to-door and convincing people personally to vote for Ron Paul for their primary on the 8th. I expect to be very cold, but hey, its all part of the adventure!

Remember, remember...

Last Monday Ron Paul raised over 4 million dollars in his effort to become the republican presidential candidate. I, personally, donated hundreds of dollars on that day. For those who know me, being the cheapskate that I am, this should emphasize just how important this rEVOLution is to me (of course, all my political posts over the years should be a big hint). I even had a hand in forming the idea of doing something that day.

So, the next "money bomb" day is looking like December 16th, the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party that started the American Revolution. A much more appropriate anniversary. So for those of you sitting on the fence, do a little research, and donate $100 (or $10, or whatever you can afford) and help start the second American Revolution!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG_OwTthS-E


Lurker

next star trek series

Star Trek: Defiant

First episode has something no other Trek series ever had: mutiny!

'Evil' captain overthrown by crew and tossed into brig. Of course, that would make the crew outlaws, on the run from the Federation. Now that sets up potential for conflict! And of course they would find a large conspiracy taking over the government, and eventually spearhead a revolution and civil war! Yes, its a little Star Warsish, and very Babylon 5, but mostly new territory for a Trek series. The trick is keeping the evil Cap'n a major character and predominant antagonist and indeterminate loyalties.

Should take place post TNG, DS9, Voyager, and so forth, but soon enough that it could conceivably reuse several characters from those series. Definitely has to use a ship called USS DEFIANT with cloak technology (DS9).

New Characters:
A former Q; Has very different perspective on things, needs memory blocks to prevent quick fix tech solutions. Doctor?
A Romulan; Least explored major species. Engineer?
Blended Male/Female human (ala Tuvix); Two people combined into one in a transporter accident. Explores concepts of identity, gender, and makes Star Trek socially relevant again. Security?
Tholian; First Non-Humanoid crew member?
Breen/Gorn?


Well thats enough geeking out for me. Still trying to work in my earlier idea of the Saurians from the Voyager series deciding to take back their ancient homeland of Earth. Hmm....


Lurker

I got a job!

Yes, this is the first post in quite a while updating details in my personal life. Sorry, my life is usually less interesting (IMHO) than the random insights I have to share. Anyway, on to the details!

Oddly enough, it started with Ron Paul. Well, more accurately the local meet-up group, to which I decided to go. On the spur of the moment decision, I called a long-time friend of mine, actually he lived next door when I lived in the dorms during my first year in college. Anyway, we usually clash on politics (in an amusing, respectful way) and I was right in my guess that he'd get a kick out of a room full of libertarianish conspiracy nuts like me.

Anyway, before the meeting started, he mentioned that the school he was working for was looking for people to help out disadvantaged junior high kids. We asked each other questions about how well I worked with youngins, and he said he'd talk with the principal about getting me an interview.

So the next morning he gives me a call, and tells me to be there by noon. I show up, and the principal is impressed by my mathmatics background (I can tutor Calculus) and my previous instructional experience (being a black belt). So I pretty much get the job on the spot.

So now I'm a teacher's aide for Junior High students at a charter school. I help with Math, Science, Social Studies, and eventually English too. I really feel like I'm making a difference, and they were totally okay with my leaving for the Peace Corps in May, in fact thats when the school year ends.

So I've got this cool job now, helping the disadvantaged and earning somewhat decent money, with no regrets leaving for the Peace Corps. I am quite pleased.

Now transportation is an issue, since the bus lines don't connect my new job to my current location, so my new friend and I are considering getting an appartment....

Ron Paul beats out Guliani, Tompson, and McCain in Iowa straw poll!

Mitt Romney, spending millions of dollars, bought first place in the Iowa Straw poll today. However, more interesting is that Dr. Ron Paul got more votes than Rudy Guliani, John McCain, and Fred Thompson combined! This straw poll illustrates just how inane the status of "front runner" is this early in this wide open campaign.

Is that murder or suicide...?

Its a weird question I like to ask when the rare opportunity presents itself. Which isn't very often. But it is an intriguing question to ask, and one that rarely has an answer. Examples:

Traveling thru time and killing your self
Vizzini in The Princess Bride drinking the poisoned goblet
Anything involving clones
The ending of Fight Club
Rozencranz and Gildenstern in Hamlet
Trying to think of when this has happened, but swapping minds with someone and then trying to kill them/yourself


Just one of my unique quirks.

Youtube question(s) for republican debate

I watched the last Democratic debate and enjoyed the fact that individuals posted questions to youtube.com and the candidates were forced to answer. It was still filtered thru CNN, but the randomness and straightforwardness was refreshing. Too bad most of the responses were rehearsed.

Anyway, I'm trying to thing of the perfect question to ask. I'm a Ron Paul supporter, so I'm tempted to address him directly to speak in favor of his more obscure views that would be in favor with the general public (drugs, taxes, anti-draft, war, UN, etc). However, if you've read any of my previous posts, you know I've got some strong views on some out of the mainstream issues: secession, new US states, space, anti-RIC, UFOs, citizenship, and countless others. This may be my chance to springboard one of my causes into the national arena... if it isn't too crazy and rejected.

In an attempt to have my cake and eat it too, I think I'll ask my family members to put forth some questions themselves. Using an Iraq war vet or a cute younger sibling might be more appealing. I also advocate that you, yes YOU submit your own question(s) to the candidates:

http://www.youtube.com/contest/RepublicanDebate

I'll mull my options over this weekend. Hopefully a few more Republican Candidates will sign on for the debate. So far its only Ron Paul and McCain....


Lurker
(N.A.S.A question or states rights to secede? Hmm...)

And now for something completely different

In a completely unrelated theme, I'm posting my crazy movie ideas!

Slasher movie in an old folks home! Exactly the same script as normal teen slasher film, love scenes and all. Only the chase scenes would be a little slower.

Romantic comedy set in 2121! Mom complained that all sci-fi movies are apocalyptic and end-of-the-world disaster scenarios. So a romantic comedy dealing with robots, shape changing aliens, time-travel, and other cool stuff would actually be the ultimate date movie. Something for everyone.


Well thats all the original stuff I got. Personally I want to see movie versions of Childhood's End, Xanth, Shannara, Riftwar, Wheel of Time (though TV series may be more appropriate) , not to mention all the potential comic book movies... but thats a post for another day


Lurker
r*evol*ution!

Proposed constitutional amendments

I've been promising to do this for a while, but here are some of the proposed amendments I'd make to the constitution:


Repeal of the 16th amendment. Government never should have been given the power to tax the income of individuals. It punishes productivity, aggravates millions, and is completely unnecessary to finance federal government.

Rights of non-citizens. Are illegal aliens granted constitutional rights? Prisoners in Gitmo? Astronauts in space? Ambiguity on whom the constitution applies (and where) really need to be defined, and the ability for government suspend rights guaranteed by the constitution nullified.

Abortion. Currently the federal government has no authority over abortion, either to make it legally available for women or to prohibit it. Despite what the courts say, there is nothing in the constitution that addresses this. If there is going to be a federal policy, lets amend the constitution to establish it as a right or make it illegal; otherwise the federal government should stay the heck out of it.

Secession. This issue is so huge, I'm surprised it hasn't been addressed before. Heck, we fought a civil war over this! The constitution sets out criteria for joining the United States; it makes no mention of leaving the union. This really needs to be addressed: people should be free to have the choice to leave the union without violence, preferably by popular vote of the state (Hawaii would be the first to go). Also covered should be the splitting up of states (like Texas or California), merging (Dakotas), and eviction or kicking out of a state by the rest of the country (which may happen to California eventually).

Highest law of the land. This one shouldn't be necessary, but there should be an amendment that says the US Constitution is the highest law of the land, above organizations like the UN, NATO, NAFTA, the proposed North American Union, and any other international organization. Also there should be *no* circumstances under which the constitution should be suspended, be it martial law or what have you.


Thats all for now!



Lurker

Ron Paul coming to Arizona TOMARROW!

When:

Saturday, June 16, 2007, 9:00 AM

Where:

Phoenix Sky Harbor Air Port
3400 E Sky Harbor Blvd
Phoenix , AZ 85034

Description:

*** Arriving Flight info: ***

Airline: USAir
Arrival: 09:11 AM Saturday June 16
Terminal 4 at sky harbor
(either the "A" or "B" gates which will not be determined until just before arrival)

It is suggested everyone park in short term terminal 4 parking, parking is level 4 to level 9, arrivals/gates are level 3. A gates are on the west end. B gates are on the east end of the terminal.

Fox News Network will be there to interview Ron Paul at 10am (the more people there the better).

RP talks to the ARA at 12:00. Talk with Q&A is 1 hr. So finish at 1:00 PM. Figure it will take another 30 to get out the door (handshakes photos etc) and to the car. 20, 25 drive to Sky Harbor. So? Supporters to Terminal #2 by 2:00 for another chance to meet Ron Paul.

Departure is Continental at 14:55 actual flight time out of terminal 2. There is only
security checkpoint in 2. So we should have no problems finding him. :) only question is
what time do we tell/ask everyone to be there for departure.

Endorcement for 2008

I wasn't terribly excited about 2008. Hillary scares me. Obama seems interesting but inexperienced. My enthusiasm for McCain wore off years ago. Guliani seemed worth more attention, as he seemed fiscally conservative (yay!) and socially liberal (also yay!). But then I woke up to a new possibility. Listening to Rush Limbaugh the morning after the Republican debate, everyone was talking about the comments of Ron Paul.

Who?

I checked him out on YouTube. A libertarian out conservativing other republicans! I was smitten. Took a look at his platforms. Wow. He's a man after my own heart. Even though I don't quite agree on his Iraq position, I understand his point of view, and I'm slowly coming around. I signed up to volunteer at his website, and spoke well of him to friends.

Then this weekend, I caught the whole Republican Debate. Wow, he was the only one up there with personality! And he sounded even more like the kind of president I could actually endorse, instead of voting against the other guy! I looked up everything I could on youtube, and decided he was 'the one'. Yes, I'm in love! This guy is awesome!

He could even get the nomination, since its like a year away. But if he doesn't, he really could be a viable third party nomination. He ran on the Libertarian ticket once before in 88. He might even work in my 'Coalition Party' proposition, where a candidate gets the nomination of several minor parties, so as to get on all the ballots at least once. Even if he doesn't get a nomination, I think I'll put him down as a write-in ballot!

Anyway, I've gushed long enough. Go check him out at:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/html/Issues_fx.html
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=RonPaul2008dotcom


Lurker
(Wonders if he can be paid for working on his campaign somehow)

Essential Speedball

Alrighty, one more comicbook post. These are the very obscure solo stories of the hero formerly known as Speedball (now known as Penance). These are all very short, usually around 8 pages long. And they span almost 20 years. But hey, theres more than 500 pages worth, so lets put these stories from all over into an ESSENTIAL!


Essential Speedball volume 1

Speedball #1
Marvel Age Annual #4 “The Mystery Of Crooked Face”
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22
Speedball #2
Speedball #3
Speedball #4
Speedball #5
Speedball #6
Marvel Comics Presents #14 “The Feathered Felon”
Speedball #7
Speedball #8
Speedball #9
Speedball #10
Marvel Comics Presents #56 “Any Number Can Play”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #2 [Summer 1990] “The Price Of Their Toys”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #5 [Spring 1991] “Jolly Roger”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #6 [Summer 1991] “The Bouncer”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #1 [Spring 1990] “Pulitzer Patty”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #14 [Summer 1993] “Downtown Demolition”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #4 [Winter 1990] “This Is Our Story
Marvel Comics Presents #127 “The Big Time”
Marvel Comics Presents #85 “…The Dude In The Really Rad Armor!”
Marvel Comics Presents #96 “The Class Clown”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #3 [Fall 1990] “How Speedball’s Powers Work!”
New Warriors Annual #1 “To Bounce Or Not To Bounce”
New Warriors Annual #2 “Speedball The Masked Marvel” Days And Knights Part 4
New Warriors #27 “Dark Sides”
Marvel Comics Presents #122 “Taped Confessions”
New Warriors Annual #3 “Tough Choices” (Speedball)
New Warriors Annual #4 “Two Sides (Speedball)
New Warriors #66 “Return To Springdale”
I (Heart) Marvel: Masked Intentions #1 “First Kiss”
Civil War: Front Line #1 “The Accused Part One” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #2 “The Accused Part Two” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #3 “The Accused Part Three” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #4 “The Accused Part Four” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #5 “The Accused Part Five” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #6 “The Accused Part Six” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #7 “The Accused Part Seven” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #8 “The Accused Part Eight” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #9 “The Accused Part Nine” Civil War
Civil War: Front Line #10 “The Accused Part Ten” Civil War
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11 “With Babysitting Comes Great Responsibility!!”


Lurker

One year

Hey all. As several of you know, I've been trying to get into the Peace Corps ever since my graduation from college. Well today my recruiter-guy calls me up and offers me several different destinations! Yay! One caveat though, all of them are in 2008!

Gah! Months, MONTHS I've been trying and waiting to get into this program. I've basically been reducing commitments: moving back into parents so I wouldn't have an apartment lease, avoiding buying a car to avoid payments, seeing old friends that I might never see again... but most of the time sitting in my parents house and waiting to go overseas and make a positive difference in the world.

So now I'm out of school, unemployed, no transportation, no room to call my own, broke with student loans about to spring on me...


So, I'm faced with a several options as to what to do with myself for an entire year:


Get a job- all but a given
Go back to school - Could try to do that Illinois program, or locally
Move- I really am going stir crazy here. Perhaps some friends can put me up for free short term.
Volunteer- Might as well, right?
Travel- Been doing alot of that so far. Requires $$$ I don't have


I need time to process this new piece of data. However, any insight/advice/encouragement would be welcome however.



Lurker
(Now what?)

Covering all the bases

For my Manifest Destiny project, and using my powers of political correctness to an absurd extreme, I'm trying to represent the largest nationalities and religious populations in a mere 12 people. Fortunately the project is in the future so I can fudge things a little bit, and tweak conventional religious/nationality combinations to what they very well could be in the future. Anyway, on to the list (I seem to be doing alot of these):

Chinese Taoist/Confucianism
Indian Hindu (haven't decided on denomination)
American Jew
Indonesian Baha'i
Brazilian Catholic
Russian Orthodox
Nigerian Agnostic/Indigenous
Japanese Buddhist/Shinto
Mexican Mormon
German Neopagan
Iranian Shi'a
and lastly a Sunni EU representative from Cyprus


There we go, that covers most every corner of the globe geographically. And that covers all of the major religions... except the Sikhs, I couldn't fit them in.



Lurker
(Political correctness run amok...)

Okay, last comicbook post for a while

Gosh it was annoying to sign up for gmail account just to post here. Grr. Anyway...

I'm a big fan of the New Warriors (see below) and of Marvel's black and white Essential line, so I thought I'd try to figure out what I'd like to see in volumes of Essential New Warriors. So I compiled a list of NW comics that I'd like to see, everything by the original author Fabian Nicieza (guest appearances and limited series and such) and all the crossover issues with the main book. Also, essentials are normally 500-650 pages, but I'm trying to average around just over 600.

Oh, and the first number is total pages, -1 for cover page, and keeping track of 2-page splash pages (which sometimes need filler pages to keep together). So without further ado:


The Essential New Warriors Vol.1 (cover to #1)

New Warriors #1 (24-1)
Thor #411 (18-1)
Thor #412 (18-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #2 (24-1)
New Warriors #3 (23-1)
New Warriors #4 (23-1)
New Warriors #5 (23-1)
New Warriors #6 (23-1) ---176
New Warriors #7 (24-1)
New Warriors #8 (23-1)
New Warriors #9 (24-1)
New Warriors #10 (23-1, 2pager) ---94
New Mutants Annual #7 1991 (30-1, 2pager)
New Warriors Annual #1 1991 (30-1, 2pager)
Uncanny X-Men Annual #15 1991 (36-1, 2pager)
X-Factor Annual #6 1991 (36-1, 2pager)
New Warriors Annual #1 part 2 (25) ---157

Guardians Of The Galaxy Annual #1 “Vance Astro Versus Marvel Boy”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #3 [Fall 1990] “How Speedball’s Powers Work!”
Marvel Super-Heroes v2 #7 [Fall 1991] “Gator Show”

New Warriors #11 (24-1)
New Warriors #12 (24-1)
New Warriors #13 (23-1, 2pager) ---71
New Warriors #14 (23-1) ---23
New Warriors #15 (23-1)
New Warriors #16 (22-1, 2-2pagers in-sync)
New Warriors #17 (23-1, 2pager) ---69

The Essential New Warriors volume 1.... 590 pages plus those uncounted specials. ~600




The Essential New Warriors volume 2 (edited cover to 19)

Avengers #341 (24-1)
Avengers #342 (24-1, 2pager) ---48
New Warriors #18 (24-1)
New Warriors #19 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #20 (23-1) ---70
New Warriors #21 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #22 (23-1)
New Warriors #23 (24-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #24 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #25 (39-1, 2pager) ---132
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #26 1992 (31-1, 2pager)
Spectacular Spider-Man #12 1992 (31-1, 2pager)
Web of Spider-Man #8 1992 (29-1, 2pager)
New Warriors Annual #2 1992 (54-1, 2pager) ---145
New Warriors #26 (24-1) ---24
New Warriors #27 (23-1, 2pager) ---23
New Warriors #28 (23-1) ---23

Night Thrasher: Four Control #1
Night Thrasher: Four Control #2
Night Thrasher: Four Control #3
Night Thrasher: Four Control #4

New Warriors #29 (23-1)
New Warriors #30 (23-1, 2pager) ---46

The Essential New Warriors volume 2... 511 + NT:LS (~100?)



The Essential New Warriors volume 3 (cover to 39?)

New Warriors #31 (25-1) ---25
New Warriors #32 (23-1)
New Warriors #33 (24-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #34 (24-1, 2pager)
New Warriors Annual #3 1993 (52-1, 2pager) ---124
Marvel Holiday Special 1993 (13-2, 2pager cover) ---13
New Warriors #35 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #36 (23-1) ---56
New Warriors #37 (23-1)
Night Thrasher #1 (39-1, 2pager 30nw
New Warriors #38 (23-1)
New Warriors #39 (23-1) ---99nw
New Warriors #40 (23-1)
New Warriors #41 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #42 (24-1, 2pager) ---70
New Warriors #43 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #44 (20-1)
X-Force #32 (23-1, 2-2pagers in-sync)
New Warriors #45 (23-1, 2pager)
X-Force #33 (24-1)
New Warriors #46 (24-1, 2pager) ---137
New Warriors Annual #4 1994 (55-1) ---55
Marvel Comics Presents #155 (8, 2pager)
Marvel Comics Presents #156 (9-1)
Marvel Comics Presents #157 (8)
Marvel Comics Presents #158 (8) ---33

The Essential New Warriors volume 3... 612 pages




The Essential New Warriors volume 4 (cover from ashcan)

New Warriors #47 (23-1, 2pager)
Night Thrasher #11 (23-1)
Nova #6 (23-1)
New Warriors #48 (23-1, 2pager)
Night Thrasher #12 (23-1)
Nova #7 (23-1)
New Warriors #49 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #50 (38-1, 2pager) ---199
New Warriors Ashcan ~3?
New Warriors #51 (23-1, 2pager) ---23
Justice: Four Balance #1 (24-1)
Justice: Four Balance #2 (23-1)
Justice: Four Balance #3 (23-1)
Justice: Four Balance #4 (23-1) ---93
New Warriors #52 (21-1, 2-2pagers in-sync)
New Warriors #53 (23-1, 2pager) ---44
Marvel Comics Presents #159 (8)
Marvel Comics Presents #160 (8)
Marvel Comics Presents #161 (9-1)
Marvel Comics Presents #162 (8)
Marvel Comics Presents #163 (8?) ---41
New Warriors #54 (23-1, 3-2pagers outta sync by 1)
New Warriors #55 (23-1)
New Warriors #56 (23-1)
New Warriors #57 (23-1, 2-2pagers in-sync) ---93
New Warriors #58 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #59 (23-1) ---46
Nova #18 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #60 (39-1, 2-2pagers in-sync) ---62

The Essential New Warriors volume 4... 601 pages plus ashcan



The Essential New Warriors volume 5 (cover to 75? or 62)

Marvel Comics Presents #166 (8)
Marvel Comics Presents #167 (8, 2pager) ---16
New Warriors #61 (24-1, 2-2pagers outta sync +1)
Maximum Clonage Alpha?
Spectacular Spider-Man #227?
New Warriors #62 (24-1, 2-2pagers in-sync) ---51+
New Warriors #63 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #64 (23-1)
New Warriors #65 (23-1, 2pager)
New Warriors #66 (24-1, 2pager) ---93
Web of Scarlet Spider (23-1)
New Warriors #67 (23-1, 2pager)
Web of Scarlet Spider (23-1) ---69

Venom: Along Came A Spider #1 (Hybrid parts)
Venom: Along Came A Spider #2
Venom: Along Came A Spider #3
Venom: Along Came A Spider #4

New Warriors #68 (24-1)
New Warriors #69 (23-1)
New Warriors #70 (24-1)
New Warriors #71 (24-1) ---95

Venom: The Hunted #1 (Hybrid parts)
Venom: The Hunted #2
Venom: The Hunted #3

New Warriors #72 (24-1)
New Warriors #73 (23-1)
New Warriors #74 (23-1, too many 2pagers)
New Warriors #75 (40-1, ditto) ---110+

Ultragirl #1
Ultragirl #2
Ultragirl #3

The Essential New Warriors volume 5... at least 434


The Essential New Warriors volume 6

Avengers Vol.3 #13 (24-1) ---24
New Warriors Vol.2 #0 (10-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #1 (39-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #2 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #3 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #4 (23-1) ---118
Generation X #59 (23-1) ---23
New Warriors Vol.2 #5 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #6 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #7 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #8 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #9 (23-1)
New Warriors Vol.2 #10 (24-1) ---139

New Warriors vol.3 #1
New Warriors vol.3 #2
New Warriors vol.3 #3
New Warriors vol.3 #4
New Warriors vol.3 #5
New Warriors vol.3 #6

I (Heart) Marvel: Masked Intentions #1

The Essential New Warriors volume 6 at least 304 counted



Thats everything so far. A little light on details towards the end there, due to me not having some of the issues or just not getting around to counting pages just yet.

Just another one of my side projects...


Lurker

Go Buy These Comics!

Those of you who read my archives know that I used to review comics. Rather than subject you to those on a regular basis, I discontinued the practice.

However, just this once I will highlight several new comic book series, because they relate to series near and dear to my heart back in the 90's, the New Warriors. This team called the New Warriors were responsible for getting the government to require superhero licenses by getting themselves blown up in a populated area.


Thunderbolts- This series is about a team of mostly supervillains who are employed by the government to hunt down unlicensed superheroes; in essence turning the usual hero/villain dynamic on its head. Roster: Green Goblin, Bullseye, Moonstone, Songbird, Radioactive Man, Swordsman (formerly Fenris), Venom (formerly Scorpion), and... Penance. Now Penance used to be Speedball, a member of the New Warriors, and blames and horrifically punishes himself for the death of his teammates and hundreds of civilians. Of course the entire team is screwed up one way or another (since most have disturbing backgrounds as villains) and Penance fits right in.

Avengers: The Initiative- Now that heroes are required to be licensed, a training camp has been erected at the site of the tragedy, run by veteran heroes... one of which is Justice, a former leader of the New Warriors. Young heroes are shipped here for training, including several surviving Warriors including Rage, Slapstick and others. Writing and characterization are awesome, including a shocking ending....

The Loners (LS)- This series is about a support group dedicated to help young adults get over their destructive superhero lifestyles and become 'normal'. Of course, they keep getting pulled back in. Members used to be the heroes Green Goblin V, Lightspeed, Ricochet, Spider-Woman III, and former Warriors Turbo and Darkhawk. Naturally, a drug that gives people superpowers is on the streets, and a few Loners suit up to prevent others from becoming just like them....

Nova- This former New Warrior has spent the last year in space fighting the Annihilation Wave, an invading force from another universe that destroys everything in its path. Nova was a member of an intergalactic peacekeeping force which was destroyed during the war. He now has the combined power of the entire corps, plus their combined knowledge in the form of the Worldmind, and patrols the galaxy trying to patrol the universe on his own. Of course when he returns home, he'll find his friends are dead, and will have to register or face consequences....


All four series are in stores now! And in June a little title called the New Warriors comes out... a team of mysterious rebellious youths who have no intention of getting licenses and are out to redeem the name of their fallen forbears....



Lurker
(If any of these sound even remotely interesting, go out and buy em!)

To Do:

List of goals:

Libertarian political reform- legalize drugs, minimize gov
Promoting space travel- moon, mars, asteroids
Expanding USA- democratic united states of earth
Promoting scientific research
Ending war?
Raising universal awareness- empathy, consequences
Promoting alternative media like comic books
Ending RIC
Universal language/communication
Push public and science into exploring the paranormal
Passing on my knowledge of Judo



How to do the above:

youtube videos,
blog,
writing to newspaper, congress,
calling radio,
running for office,
ballot initiative,
talking with friends, family,
organizing political party, demonstrations,
brining together like minded people,
writing a book,
church organizations,
going to foreign countries,
missionary like activities,
joining compatible organizations, recruiting organizations,
writing to professional journals,
creating video games,
getting job in related field,
moving near people with related interests,
finding a partner to help me,
television,
mods,
metaphysical guidance,
creating non-profit foundations,
etc.




I certainly have my work cut out for me.


Lurker

Free will

I've got this great analogy for choice and free will that I'd like to share.

My conception of free will is akin to driving a car. You have a great deal of control over the vehicle and where you want to go. However you have little to no influence over other drivers, the roads, the weather, etc.

And you have many tools to help get where you are going: memory, traffic updates over the radio, maps, cell phones, signposts, etc. But in the end you yourself make your own choices based on the information you have in the conditions you find yourself in, following the highways or going off-roading, whether you get to your destination or just go cruising.

Not a bad analogy. Eventually the car breaks down and you find yourself a new one...


Lurker

The enemy of my enemy

The USA should make an alliance with Iran.

No really. We had a close relationship with them before the Islamic Revolution. Most of the population is quite young, and fascinated with American culture and actually quite friendly. Plus they are similar to us in that they have a rather diverse coalition of ethnicities and sub-populations. Oh, and they have a long association with India, our largest ally.

But the main reason is implied in the title: Al-Qaeda is made up of Sunnis, and are sworn enemies of Shiite Iran. Yes, this would mean taking sides in a thousand year religious conflict, but that seems almost unavoidable when messing with the middle east.

Iran has a great deal of influence in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and the rest of the middle east. They might even be able to solve the Israeli/Palestinian situation, although hopefully without violence. My Dad suggested that at the outset of the Iraq war, we could've made a trade with Iran: we give them most of Iraq, and they give up part of their northern territories to create a viable Kurdish state. Perhaps a similar deal can still be made.

Now this proposed Persian alliance has one very difficult question: do we try this team-up with the current radical Iranian administration? The current president (who isn't actually the highest authority) has created his reputation by sticking it to the Americans. Would he, could he be capable of spinning such a 180 in foreign policy? Even if he does, do we try to encourage reforms with carrots, and discourage their sponsorship of terrorist groups like Hezbollah?

Or do we overthrow their government (we've done it before) and put the youth in power, and hope they'll go along with an alliance?

Anyway, the whole point of this is scaring the heck out of the middle east, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, and other Sunni states that sponsor terror in one form or another, and thwart their ideas for world subjugation.


Lurker
(I seem to be doing a lot of political posts)

Seniority Rules?

I've had this debate with a few friends, but haven't spelled it out here yet so here it goes. Since I'm pro political accountability and rather anti-incumbent there's a few changes I wish to make to the political establishment, specifically in the area of congressional seniority.

Congress has this great scheme going: the longer you stay in office, the more powerful and influential you are, so the more likely you are to be reelected. This is because important congressional chairmanships are meted out based on seniority (well, that and whichever party is in power). The longer you are reelected, the more power you wield, and the less likely you are to be voted out of power. Great for politicians, terrible for political accountability because if replaced by the voters the freshman congressman wields far less power in the name of the state or congressional district.

So lets come at this problem sideways, and change the definition of seniority. I propose changing seniority to how many non-consecutive terms you've served. So instead of measuring years, you measure how many times the candidate has come into power. Specifically, if they've only been elected once, their number is 1. If they've been elected, lost, and been elected again, their seniority is 2. The more times they've been in and out, the higher the seniority they have accrued.

This would mean that politicians don't want a constant grip on power, because they would lose seniority to fellow congressmen who are repeatedly in and out of power. Tag-teams may even form as pairs of same party candidates trade off to gain seniority in tandem. The whole political system would become more dynamic and responsive because of the constant influx of people, willing relinquishing of power, and those who become the most senior and powerful either decide against stepping down and eventually fall behind competitors, or choose to 'rule' for only brief periods. Win-win.

Now this being Congress, rule changes will be really hard to execute. It might be best to begin on the state level. What is needed is to get some low ranking representatives who would have seniority under the new system (being in-and-out a few times) to realize their potential gain in power, and begin to organize a sort of 'coup'. This will slowly snowball as more people come in and out of power naturally, and eventually there will be enough votes to change the system, and the formerly less powerful gain a little more power, and the public gains a heck of a lot more political accountability.



Lurker
(I really need to find a way to get paid for being a political strategist)

Manifest Destiny

I've got this idea for a space epic i've been thinking about for years now. At the moment its called 'Manifest Destiny' and its about the colonization of Earth's Moon and the rest of the solar system, set decades in the future. I want this to be 'hard' science fiction, so I'm unsure about what format to tell the story in.

Idealy it would be a television series, but the problems of reduced gravity present a real film-making difficulty. Not to mention the timescale issues, since live-action series are usually presented in real time (i.e. episodes shown a week apart occur a week apart).

I could do it in book form, or a series of books, but this would be so cool visually and series of short stories with interlocking arcs format never quite works for books.

I present this in comicbook form, but i have no idea how to break into the industry. My rusty skills as an artist make doing this even as a webcomic dificult, especally with the huge scope of this project.


So... thoughts? Suggestions?


Lurker
(wondering how much of Star Trek / Babylon 5 / Seaquest future history I can squeeze in without worrying about trademark infringement. Is the future copyrighted?)

The next step?

I have several reasons for wanting to do the Peace Corps. Firstly, as a recent college graduate, this is an excellent means of going to see the world in real life. I have this goal of seeing every country on Earth, and volunteering is a means to this end.

I’ve also got this idealistic streak in me that wants to try to make the world a better place. The goals of the this organization align closely with my own, and as a patriot and a human being I want to do my part to improve the human condition. Due to financial pressures or struggling to finish my degree, I’ve had little time to volunteer. Now that I am free from commitments I feel that I must.

I also have a practical reason for joining: future employment. As I recently acquired my degrees in sociology and political science, volunteering should exposing me to various government agencies and international organizations that I could potentially work for.

Old Paper from 2002

Student Number 999 04 4487

Friday November 1^st, 2002

Political Science 100 9:00am

Alex L. Avila, Instructor

World War Four

On September 11^th, 2001 four planes were hijacked and flown into a field in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. In Samuel P. Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations,” in Perspectives on American Foreign Policy: Readings and Cases, he would argue that that act of war resulted in the clash of civilizations between the Western and the Islamic worlds. “The fault lines of civilizations will be the battle lines of the future” (Huntington, 2000, 297). Future history will doubtless prove him correct as today’s conflicts are quickly turning into holy wars. When the ‘end of history’ looms near, we will find that it will come down to the Western Powers (US, EU, Australia, and Israel), India, and Japan verses virtually everyone else: the Arab nations, China, Southeast Asia, and probably Africa). It has already begun.

Back in the good old days of the Cold War, things were really easy. There were only three main groups: the capitalists, the communists, and the rest of the world who were being manipulated by the previous two groups or ignored. You could be born in a democratic society and become a communist and back again without too much difficulty. The reverse was also true, though a bit more perilous. The society you were born in had little to do with the world in which you lived in. “In class and ideological conflicts, the key question was ‘Which side are you on?’ and people could and did changes sides” (299). Heck, during this time in the Baltic states, the Bosnians, Croats, and Serbs were slowly forgetting their ethnic hatreds of the past thousand years and were gaining a sense of nationalism. That is, until the USSR fell and the dual system with it. Suddenly, the West was the dominant super-power, and its culture wormed its way across the globe, unopposed.

That is, until some parts of the world became disgusted at the effects of Westernization was having upon them. They began to reject it. Sometimes it happens because of foreign policy, as in the case of the Palestinians. Or because we had become rich and powerful and refused to help those in need, as some parts of Africa think. Lastly, it may be because they find our values totally alien to their way of thinking. ”Western ideas of individualism, liberalism, constitutionalism, human rights, equality, liberty, the rule of law, democracy, free markets, the separation of church and state, often have little resonance in Islamic, Confucian, Japanese, Hindu, Buddhist or Orthodox cultures” (301). They then reject the notion of joining the Western world in favor of returning to their basic, non-western values. They then decide to put up the borders to keep themselves isolated from the West (Saudi Arabia), try to work with the West (Japan), or build up their armies to one day overthrow the West (Iraq, and possibly China). Regardless, “Those countries that for a reason of culture and power do not wish to, or cannot, join the West compete with the West by developing their own economic, military, and political power” (302).

Now the world is divided not by ideology but by civilization. By civilization, Huntington means “…the broadest level of cultural identity people have short of that which distinguishes humans from other species” (298). You are born into a civilization, and it is much, much harder to integrate into another one. There have been thousands of civilizations across the ages, but as of right now about seven or eight major civilizations are taking center stage. “These include Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin American, and possibly African civilization “ (298). Huntington is ambiguous on Africa because several parts of the continent have degenerated into tribal conflicts, oblivious to the rest of the world. Now these several civilizations are mostly multiple nation-states, feeling similar to each other generally if not linguistically and culturally. A notable exception to this is Japan, an economic superpower, the shining star of the non-Western world. Alone of all other Asian countries, Japan was able to modernize without becoming Westernized.

Of course, at some point these civilizations will come into conflict. The potential for future conflict is already here. Over a million troops are stationed on the border of nuclear equipped India and Pakistan in the region of Kashmir. North Korea has recently admitted to having a nuclear weapons program, giving Japan and South Korea many problems. And the little island of Taiwan may trigger a war between the United States and China. The Islamic world is already at war with the West on some level. Radical Islamic fundamentalists have performed terrorist acts on the United States, Israel, France, and Australia to date. A jihad, or holy war, has been declared against the West by Osama bin Laden. Finally, after September 11^th, the West fought back. Some semblance of order has been restored to Afghanistan. The next step of ousting Saddam from Iraq is soon to happen. Iran and Pakistan won’t be far behind. Eventually Saudi Arabia will be overthrown and opened to the West and the Islamic civilization will be absorbed or destroyed by the West.

However, there is a problem. The Islamic world has allied itself to the Confucian civilization. That means China, North Korea, and much of southeast Asia will rise up and cooperate with the Islamic nation-states if World War Four ever breaks out. “[T]he Confucian-Islamic connection… has emerged to challenge Western interest, values, and power” (302). The quickest ways to bring about this clash of civilizations are the China-Pakistan and Israel-India alliances. China owns part of Kashmir, and has long had a close relationship with its neighbor Pakistan. Despite the current strategic alliance with the U.S.-lead coalition, Pakistan has old cultural ties to now communist China, and would side with them over the U.S without hesitation. Both have nuclear weapons. Israel and India, being the only democracies and non-Islamic nation-states in the Middle East region, have some sort of strategic defense pact. India is a nuclear power and Israel’s status is all but official. If and when Pakistan (Islam) and Indian (Hindu) have their first and last nuclear war, they will drag the Confucian (China) and Western (Israel) civilizations into it and begin the end of history. Mutually assured destruction at its finest.

The Federation like that on Star Trek that many dream and hope for is a distant hope. “The very notion that their could be a ‘universal civilization’ is a Western idea, directly at odds with the particularism of most Asian societies and their emphasis on what distinguishes one people from another” (301). The world may be shrinking, but it is not that small. Yet. There the hope that if we survive the impending clash of civilizations, we will outgrow our petty differences and learn to work together. But that day has not come. If the West does not fall in war, it may be overrun from within. As we speak, dozens of Latin Americans are streaming across the US-Mexican border, infiltrating our civilization. If we are not careful, we may be overrun by the masses as Romans were, their civilization falling not to superior armies but superior numbers. Yet to ultimately survive civilizations that seek our annihilation, the West is faced with terrible choice: utterly obliterate civilizations thru total destruction or absorption; ether way those ways of life are lost.

Huntington is right. The next great conflicts are going to be on the borders of civilizations, not nation-states. Where is the most war-torn region in the World? Most would think of the Middle East, especially now. And it makes sense, since the region not only connects the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Indian sub-continent; it is the interaction point of the West, Islam, Confucian, Slavic-Orthodox, and Hindu civilizations. Peace in the Middle East would truly be a world peace, as all of these civilizations would have to get along with each other simultaneously. It is a worthy, albeit extremely difficult goal. But as we are all stuck on this small planet together, it is definitely worth a try.

Bibliography

Huntington, Samuel P. “The Clash of Civilizations?”. In Perspectives on

American Foreign Policy: Readings and Cases. Edited by Bruce W.

Jentleson. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. New York 2000, pp. 297-304

Ready or not, here I come?

Hi there. Well, I've finally graduated from ASU (for real this time) with my two degrees in Sociology and Political Science. Yay!

Since my Dad made it safely back from Iraq, and my lease for my apartment expired last month, I'm pretty much free from commitments in Phoenix.

So, I've decided to do a little traveling. I already did a bit of it for last Thanksgiving, and was glad to see many people I hadn't seen in way too long. Right after Christmas I also went out to L.A. to spend time with a couple friends, although I came back to Mesa before New Years.

At present, I'm in Salt Lake City (Utah) visiting some old friends, and contemplating my next move (so to speak).

I'm contemplating using my 6-month grace period to visit friends and relatives, which brings me to the point of this email. I'm fishing for invitations. Since I'm currently rootless, I'd love to catch up with loved ones I haven't seen much lately. And of course, I'd also like to have a place to crash and do my laundry too.

So, email me back if you don't mind some company. Or at the very least send me your address so I can send post cards or something.

Oh, and feel free to pass this along to mutual friends whose email I didn't track down.



Thanks!