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A semi-important victory - 19 May 2007
May. 20th, 2007 12:10 amSo I popped in Soul Calibur III today, for a change of pace. And after a few frustrations at trying with Talim, I gave up and tried to see if I couldn’t find a different way to make it to the actual ending boss battle. After a misstep or two, I found one, and went all the way on the first time I played the character. So Killik is apparently my person for that particular task. Which did well. Of course, all that did was unlock the final battle for the rest of them to try at their leisure, and I got the floor wiped with me quickly at the Normal difficulty level. You win some, you lose some, you realize that you now have to beat the game with all the other characters to buy a large part of their stuff. That could take a while, or I could invest the assistance of a few friends in the matter. I think the second option is a much more likely one. There’s still one more specific battle I have to unlock, though, and it’ll take some doing to get there. Have to get reasonably good with a different character to do it. But that’s just another challenge.
So, onward to the link list for tonight. Where to start? How about we start with a charity effort that buys bedding, toiletries, snacks, and such, and sends it to soldiers in Iraq - started in memory of a soldier that dies over there. But it also says to me that the war effort, such as it is, is still underfunded through one way or another. Take it for whichever way you want - that the troops need more funding to do their work, or that we should not be putting troops in places when we can’t fund them fully. On other politics, the Detroit, Michigan city council passed a non-binding resolution impeaching the President and the Vice President. Lots of places are taking this step, but the one where it matters is still silent.
Perhaps something better to talk about would be the Southern Ocean surrounding Anarctica possibly losing some of its ability to soak up carbon dioxide... no, that’s depressing... maybe the ability to draw your own MySpace glitters... no, that’s annoying... how about a movie about the Apocalypse scheduled to happen in 2012... hrm, need something better... how about Why I Love the Apocalypse? I think that’s better. Actually, it might be worth linking to an excerpt from Al Gore's book that also has an article accompanying - no, he’s still not going to run for President. Funny how much Al Gore’s done once he lost the Presidency. Makes you wonder what would have happened had he actually won it.
Some time ago, I linked to a release saying that Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort were going to prove the existence of God without relying on faith. Well, the video's up of the matter. The summaries I’m seeing say that Kirk and Ray failed miserably, but that Nightline edited things so that they didn’t look quite so bad. I’d like to see a bit more complete summary to link to, so if you can find one, make it happen. Staying in the religious theme, Phil Harris suggests that people who believe that government can't be seen to do anything religious are trying to impose their own religious beliefs, a church he calls the “Church of Secular Purity”. Considering, however, the way that the current administration is handling the matter, the Church of Secular Purity might have a point. Anyway, there’s also Ann Coulter's unabashed praise of the late Jerry Falwell, which will probably have many wondering what planet she lives on, and whether reality even remotely intrudes on her life. Others, of course, may find it a fitting eulogy. Last marks for this particular area is an Alternet story claiming that the Religious Right's fight against contraceptives and abortions and choice has much to do with a fear of pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. According to that article, those people are afraid of their own weaknesses and project their fears outward.
After that blitz of Christian-centric material, I thought I might offer up something a little different - an interview with Lupa about the subject of Otherkin, of which the author wrote a Field Guide recently. The interview covers basics about Otherkin, possible reasons for why they are, and the connection many of them have with neopagan or other magical practices (for example: a cosmology that would allow for them to be). That’s not a blanket statement, though - as with many subcultural groups, you’ll find that they have a diverse range of views about themselves and others. Definitely worth a read,
After that, I’ll give you pretty pictures of carvings made from fruit pits, like an elephant made from a peach pit. More carvings are here, and I think this is a good look at a boat carved from a peach pit. If this looks interesting to you, then read up on peach pit carving.
Continuing in the art design, The New Yorker ran on 14 May a piece on Banksy, a graffiti artist in London with some very poignant pieces, like painting a paradise through a hole in a wall that has children with their beach pails. It’s a different sort of art than the people who insist on spraying their name, artistic though it may be, everywhere. The article also notes that Banksy has had pieces that display above the couch, and exhibitions like more formal artists. Kind of weird, how the guerrilla painter has risen to such heights, isn’t it? Maybe we’re looking for truth, and there’s no Spider Jerusalem around to give it to us?
No sense of humor, although in a pub, the following was not such a hot idea - the state of Florida required a pub to change the signs it had for its restrooms - specifically, while the signs might have one of the two genders in large letters, it’s actually the restroom for the other one. Only close reading of the sign would tell you that. as I said, in a pub, that might not be such a hot idea. The drunks might not take the time to read.
Last for tonight is an excellent PSA about drinking and driving from a restaurant in Australia. After a little bit more puttering around here, I’ll end up in bed. At least I remembered to do my laundry today.
So, onward to the link list for tonight. Where to start? How about we start with a charity effort that buys bedding, toiletries, snacks, and such, and sends it to soldiers in Iraq - started in memory of a soldier that dies over there. But it also says to me that the war effort, such as it is, is still underfunded through one way or another. Take it for whichever way you want - that the troops need more funding to do their work, or that we should not be putting troops in places when we can’t fund them fully. On other politics, the Detroit, Michigan city council passed a non-binding resolution impeaching the President and the Vice President. Lots of places are taking this step, but the one where it matters is still silent.
Perhaps something better to talk about would be the Southern Ocean surrounding Anarctica possibly losing some of its ability to soak up carbon dioxide... no, that’s depressing... maybe the ability to draw your own MySpace glitters... no, that’s annoying... how about a movie about the Apocalypse scheduled to happen in 2012... hrm, need something better... how about Why I Love the Apocalypse? I think that’s better. Actually, it might be worth linking to an excerpt from Al Gore's book that also has an article accompanying - no, he’s still not going to run for President. Funny how much Al Gore’s done once he lost the Presidency. Makes you wonder what would have happened had he actually won it.
Some time ago, I linked to a release saying that Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort were going to prove the existence of God without relying on faith. Well, the video's up of the matter. The summaries I’m seeing say that Kirk and Ray failed miserably, but that Nightline edited things so that they didn’t look quite so bad. I’d like to see a bit more complete summary to link to, so if you can find one, make it happen. Staying in the religious theme, Phil Harris suggests that people who believe that government can't be seen to do anything religious are trying to impose their own religious beliefs, a church he calls the “Church of Secular Purity”. Considering, however, the way that the current administration is handling the matter, the Church of Secular Purity might have a point. Anyway, there’s also Ann Coulter's unabashed praise of the late Jerry Falwell, which will probably have many wondering what planet she lives on, and whether reality even remotely intrudes on her life. Others, of course, may find it a fitting eulogy. Last marks for this particular area is an Alternet story claiming that the Religious Right's fight against contraceptives and abortions and choice has much to do with a fear of pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. According to that article, those people are afraid of their own weaknesses and project their fears outward.
After that blitz of Christian-centric material, I thought I might offer up something a little different - an interview with Lupa about the subject of Otherkin, of which the author wrote a Field Guide recently. The interview covers basics about Otherkin, possible reasons for why they are, and the connection many of them have with neopagan or other magical practices (for example: a cosmology that would allow for them to be). That’s not a blanket statement, though - as with many subcultural groups, you’ll find that they have a diverse range of views about themselves and others. Definitely worth a read,
After that, I’ll give you pretty pictures of carvings made from fruit pits, like an elephant made from a peach pit. More carvings are here, and I think this is a good look at a boat carved from a peach pit. If this looks interesting to you, then read up on peach pit carving.
Continuing in the art design, The New Yorker ran on 14 May a piece on Banksy, a graffiti artist in London with some very poignant pieces, like painting a paradise through a hole in a wall that has children with their beach pails. It’s a different sort of art than the people who insist on spraying their name, artistic though it may be, everywhere. The article also notes that Banksy has had pieces that display above the couch, and exhibitions like more formal artists. Kind of weird, how the guerrilla painter has risen to such heights, isn’t it? Maybe we’re looking for truth, and there’s no Spider Jerusalem around to give it to us?
No sense of humor, although in a pub, the following was not such a hot idea - the state of Florida required a pub to change the signs it had for its restrooms - specifically, while the signs might have one of the two genders in large letters, it’s actually the restroom for the other one. Only close reading of the sign would tell you that. as I said, in a pub, that might not be such a hot idea. The drunks might not take the time to read.
Last for tonight is an excellent PSA about drinking and driving from a restaurant in Australia. After a little bit more puttering around here, I’ll end up in bed. At least I remembered to do my laundry today.
