The Conservative Zone

Southern Thunder time is soon to be here. My son and I are traveling to Manchester, Tennessee and flying rockets on a square mile of sod all weekend.

I visited Southern Thunder last year to fly for my Level 2 test, so I could fly J, K and L motors. Well, a couple of months back I finally took the test and made it, so I have a NAR card that says I'm Level 2 certified. I have two medium large rockets (the Garth R. and the JL1) and I plan on flying both of them on each day. That's two J350's, an I161 and an I211. With a 20% discount, that's still $130 for about 15 seconds (or less) of actual burn time.

I also plan on taking lots of pictures and writing an article for Extreme Rocketry Magazine. That should get me a little bit of notoriety, and just a touch of cash. I wrote an article on Procedures for ER back three years ago. Wow. Has it been that long?

Anyway, I still have some things to do before I am ready, and a couple of things I have yet to get.

Wish me luck, I hope to being back all of the rockets I left with.

Posted by Mark at 9:46 AM | Permalink

I don't know if I'm getting better or worse.

I attended Fanatic Games second Rogue Trader Tournament yesterday, and the short story is I ended up with 1 win, 1 loss and 1 tie. Compared to the last two tournaments before that where I went 1-2, I don't know if I'm getting worse or better. My opponents this tournament were certainly a lot tougher.

My first opponent was Dave and his Tyranids (think Alien) in "Unplanned Assault." This is where you start with two units on the board (everything else is in reserve) and you must determine halfway through the battle what your objectives are. We found out that we had to control terrain features, and we had nine features. I ended up controlling four uncontested, and contesting all of the other objectives, so I won a handy victory.

Second was Larry and his Grey Knights. This scenario was "Priorities," where you had secret counters worth different points that both of us had to place around the board. He had a field around his Grey Knights that forced a test every time to see if I could see him when I tried to shoot him, and there was enough times that I couldn't see him that it made a big difference. I was also impatient, and rushed toward his objectives early in the game, instead of waiting until later in the game when he didn't have time to beat me back. In the end, I managed to control 5 of my 6 points, but he controlled all 6 of his. I was in no shape to contest any of his, and he was contesting one of mine. So, I lost.

The third fight I dreaded as much as getting a filling without Novocaine. I faced the dreaded Chip. You have to understand Chip's history. He claims to be a world-class gamer, but he has been disqualified from two tournaments that I know of because of illegal army composition. I know of as least one other tournament where he went over the point limit, but it wasn't caught until afterwards. I know for a fact that he wrote his list on paper for this tournament, then had to almost totally retool it when he stuck it into Army Builder (A program where you can build army lists for almost any game system) because he had so many things wrong.

I had to watch him like a hawk once I realized he was trying to buffalo me. First of all, he used clear dice, which is almost impossible to read, and he was picking up the dice that hit, rather than the dice that had missed. Picking up misses is an etiquette rule so your opponent could verify the dice. When he needed 4+ to wound me, I frequently caught him picking up 3's and better, rather than 4's or better. He also tried a couple of other blatant rules violations, but I managed to pull the judge over and correct Chip on those points. He was also very uninformed on several key game issues.

On to the scenario. This one was "Never Ending Carnage," where if you had a Troops unit wiped out or who retreated off the board, you could "recycle" them and bring them back on the next turn, up to their full strength, but minus any transport vehicles. Chip had a rather unbalanced force list. He had two minimum sized troops units, and then threw the rest of the points into Terminators. Terminators are almost impossible to kill. A normal Space Marine is worth 15 points, a Regular Space Marine in Terminator armor is worth 42 points. Grey Knights (what he had) are even more expensive. So as you can see, it would take at least three regular Space Marines to kill one Terminator. Well, he threw 25 Terminators at me, and it took all four of my troops units, plus a "recycled" unit to kill all of them. Fifty Marines to kill twenty-five Terminators. Either he was very unlucky or I was very lucky. Or he was a suck ass general. Which is my personal view. In the end, we ended up in a draw, with me on top by 171 points. I needed 186 points to have a clear victory.

So, I went 1-1-1. That was the bad news. The good news is I was awarded Best Sportsman again (I won one at the World of Battle back in October of last year). This time I got an official Rogue Trader Tournament trophy for my efforts (click on it for full size):

What'cha think? It's already on my wall, and I'm just waiting for the plates to come back engraved.

Posted by Mark at 7:21 PM | Permalink

I want everyone to do something this weekend. I want you to remember those who never came home. During your travels this weekend, I want you to visit a Veterans cemetery. Or a war memorial. If you're going to Washington, D.C., you must visit The Wall.

Walk softly among the graves; heroes lie sleeping here. Touch the names and the battles where they fell.

When you walk among the graves, remember those who died at sea, for that is their grave.

Oriskany. Kearsarge. Bunker Hill. Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, Bull Run. Antietam. Bastongue. Belleau wood. Normandy. Bataan. Ironbottom Sound. Chosin Reservoir. Hue City. These and many more places where American fighting men fought and died.

Thomas Jefferson said, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Every generation in the history of this country has willingly given the best we have to water this Tree. Even now, those who believe that America is a magical place stand and fall on the wall that protects us from those who would do us harm.

Please, remember those who fell. If you attend a parade, when the Flag comes by, stand and remove your hat. Place your hand on your heart and remember those who have never come home.

All gave some. Some gave all. Some are still giving. POW-MIA.

Posted by Mark at 7:54 AM | Permalink

Well, I just learned about the latest abuse of the Kelo decision, where government can, through Eminent Domain, yank ownership of property from one private owner and give it to another private owner. Instead of building roads, parks and Government buildings, they pass ownership to developers who generally build high end housing to improve the tax base.

Well, the city of Hercules, CA has invoked it's Eminent Domain "right" and yanked the property that Wal-Mart had intended to build a store on.

Such is the depth to which people will go to stop Wal-Mart. I have an interest in this, as I think this action by the City of Hercules is heinous. This must not be allowed to happen.

Posted by Mark at 8:36 AM | Permalink

I should have seen this yesterday during my news scan, but I missed it. Thanks to Day by Day for pointing it out.

I don't have the time to comment, other than the article calmly and accurately points out how Liberals are perpetrators of The Big Lie. Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. Well, as long as I am here to present to you things like this, their words will always be exposed as lies.

Here is the article: Revisionist History.

Posted by Mark at 7:06 AM | Permalink

The call has been made, and I shall be one of many to answer it. A new Bloggers Bash has been organized, and you can bet I'll be there.

The Place: P&H Cafe, 1532 Madison, Memphis, TN 38104
The Date: June 9th, 2006
The Time: 7pm.

Just mention the word "Blogger" to one of the wait staff and they'll point you the right way to the rest of us. This is open to anybody who has some kind of Blog, be it your own website, Blogspot, My Space, whatever, as long as you regularly (or at least periodically) update it.

I hope to see all y'all other bloggers there. You can also check with Mike for final updates, just in case I don't get on line to mention them.

Posted by Mark at 8:35 AM | Permalink

If you have not watched the final episodes of 24.

I suppose it was inevitable, Jack being captured by the Chinese, I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop for the past 23 hours, ever since he came out of hiding.

At the beginning of the first show, first season, before Jack mentions that "all events occur in real time," he says, "I'm Jack Bauer, and this is the longest day of my life."

Well, with Jack on a one way trip to China, being tortured for what he knows, I think the next 24 hours will seem like 24 days, months, years.

Who knows what will happen. Could Jack be rescued via Navy SEALS HALO jumping on the ship? Could Jack survive that long? Can CTU even deduce where he is? We'll find out in January, when 24 starts its next season.

Posted by Mark at 8:19 AM | Permalink

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a sailor. Just like my dad. I don't remember how I got it, but I had a 12" x 15" official Navy print of the USS Oriskany up on my bedroom wall.

Well, two days ago, the USS Oriskany went to the bottom to create an artificial reef. She was a modified Essex class carrier, modernized in the 50's to include an angled deck and steam catapults. She served her country proudly until, as the last Essex in service, she was retired in 1976.

She served her country valiantly and deserves her rest. I am happy to know that she did not wind up as so many other proud ships, under the cutters torch. You can read about her history here, here and here.

Posted by Mark at 7:39 AM | Permalink

I've decided to telecommute on Wednesdays where I have no meetings or whatever. It saves gas, wear and tear on my good clothes, and I get more work in. So I must get going. I'm late for work!

Posted by Mark at 8:25 AM | Permalink

One fact that I didn't bring up, but should have (and correctly brought up by Alpha Patriot) is the inevitability of a National ID card. Sure, they are only going to use it with illegal immigrants today, but before you know it, everybody will be required to have one.

Who knows, maybe they'll just combine it with your favorite credit card and put it into a Digital Angel chip, and implant it into your hand. With a barcode to show that you were implanted.

It does seem that the End Times are upon us.

Posted by Mark at 8:17 AM | Permalink

I didn't watch the Presidents speech last night, but I read the transcript today. Here are my comments.

1. The border: He didn't go far enough.

Putting "up to" 6,000 National Guard on the border sounds like a good idea, but it quickly turns into a bad idea when they will be there only in a "support role." That means they might as well not be there. The President doesn't want to "militarize" our border with Mexico, but they already have! When Mexican Army vehicles are ferrying illegals (and drugs) across the border, we need a few armed engagements to show them that we aren't kidding and will do anything to secure our border.

2. The program: He didn't go far enough.

Anything short of making all of the illegals leave the country and reapply for entry is simply not acceptable. If you are an illegal and you get caught, everything you own should be confiscated and sold, and you be dumped over the border with nothing but the clothes on your back. then and only then should you start the legal process of entering the country.

3. The employers: He didn't go far enough.

In today's computerized society, a Social Security Number should be easily flagged if it shows up in more than one place. A TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number), which kind of works like a SSN should also be an instant red flag. Once a red flag pops up, the person should be investigated, and if necessary deported, along with his family. Anchor babies would be put into the foster child system.

4. The incentives: He didn't go far enough.

We are a nation of laws. When you break these laws, you should expect to be punished for breaking those laws. Illegal immigrants exist outside of these laws, and do not deserve the protection of the law. They do not deserve social support, medical care or anything else short of a one-way ticket to the border. We must withdraw all social incentives so there is no reason for them to come across the border. Change the 14th Amendment to reflect that children born in this country retain the citizenship of their parents, unless they are legal immigrants. That right there would cut 50% of the illegal traffic, because there would be no reason for pregnant Mexicans to waddle across the border to give birth to an American Citizen.

These are desperate times and they call for drastic measures. We must militarize the border, just like how Mexico has done with their own southern border. We must remove all job and social incentives for them to be here. We must make every illegal alien afraid to be in this country.

Just remember, calling an illegal immigrant an undocumented worker is like calling a rapist an undocumented boyfriend.

Posted by Mark at 7:33 AM | Permalink

As you have read in the news, it seems that the US Border Patrol is notifying the Mexican government on the whereabouts of the Minutemen. When there are incursions near the Minutemen, it seems that Mexican Army troop transports are used in ferrying illegals across the border.

Something is fishy here. 80% of the American public is for closing the border, but the US government seems to be welcoming illegals.

This needs to stop. We need to hold our elected representatives to task about this. Stick your zip code in the box there on the right, and find out how to contact all of your representatives, both Federal and State. Do your duty as a citizen and let them know what you think.

Something is going on, and we need to find out what it is.

Posted by Mark at 7:52 AM | Permalink

Sorry for not posting since Tuesday, the job and Real Life interfered. I have been busy thinking and learning at work, and had to do a lot of running around afterwards. I have already made one public speaking appearance at a networking meeting, and just about had the people jumping out of their chairs.

This is an important job that I have, and I have to do it right the first time. A lot of clients are depending on me to open doors for them and start them on the road to independence. So if you don't hear from me for a while, that's why. I'll be working to improve the health and welfare of people like me, who have a mental illness.

I only have a year, three at the absolute outside. I've got to get going on this.

Talk to you later.

Posted by Mark at 7:36 AM | Permalink

Today is the primary for voters in Shelby County, Tennessee. Go out and vote. It's a privilege that everybody should partake of. It's a God-given right and shame on you if you don't vote.

Posted by at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Well, I'm going to get ready to go to my new job. I am pumped about this and can't wait. I've got to go, only 30 minutes before I have to leave.

Posted by Mark at 7:13 AM | Permalink

Just to let you know, if you already didn't, this is May Day, a "great" communist holiday. It's where the Workers of the World, the proletariat shows off the might of the Communist machine. Too bad the machine is broken.

It's also the day where all of the illegal immigrants are going to rise up and show off their power by boycotting work and purchasing to show just how strong they are.

They have mangled our national anthem, they fly our flag below the Mexican flag, and upside down at that.

These people do not want the American Dream, they want to suck us dry and send all of their money back home. They do not want citizenship, except to bring their family up from Mexico. They want to "retake" what they think is theirs, and at the moment, they are doing a pretty good job of it.

I don't care if they have a great work ethic and will work for dirt cheap wages. We need to cut them off from jobs, from assistance, and from free health care. Then and only then, after we cut them off of the gravy train, will they give up and go back home and stay there.

Amnesty is not a solution to this problem, it is throwing gasoline on a wildfire. We need to cut the illegal off of the public assistance teat to force them to go home. Change the law so there are no more anchor babies. Do something other than pardon them.

Posted by Mark at 7:01 AM | Permalink

... on who is causing this energy crisis. Three Dollar Gasoline: an Opportunity, Not a Crisis.

I found this and wanted to share it with you:

Democrats running for Congress are moving quickly to use the most recent surge in oil and gasoline prices to bash Republicans over energy policy.

Oh really?

o This is the party that stopped the nation building nuclear plants.

o This is the party that toyed with carbon taxes.

o This is the party of Al Gore, now right in the middle of publicizing An Inconvenient Truth, “by far the most terrifying movie you will ever see.”

o This is the party that won’t let oil companies prospect for oil off the left and right coasts.

o This is the party whose activists prevented the US from building new petroleum refineries.

o This is the party that filibusters against drilling for oil in an arctic wilderness that just happens to be right next to a major oil pipeline with spare capacity.

And now Democrats are bashing Republicans over energy policy?

Ethanol is a bad additive, in the fact that it doesn't have enough joules per ounce as gasoline, so by adding it, we actually dilute the amount of energy in a gallon. This means more frequent trips to the pump, and more money shelled out.

Also, "non-polluting cars" like electric cars, make the same amount of pollution, it's just that the pollution occurs at the electric company rather than at the tailpipe. Hybrid cars cost more to purchase, and require expensive replacement of batteries when they go dead. This higher cost offsets any savings at the pump. You're creating the same amount of pollution, just in different ways.

If you want the price of energy to come down, let the oil companies explore our own natural resources. Our prices are going up because the speculators are driving it up because of the middle east. If we could produce more of our own oil, cheaper than we can get it from those robbers, then prices will go down and stay down. The trouble is we won't see it for 2-3 years after we say "go."

Posted by Mark at 6:48 AM | Permalink