Random snarkiness...

Soda that's flatter than my ex. Now that's an achievement...

I live... elsewhere, now!

Well, look at this... yes, I've been busy and thoroughly forgot about this. Not like there was a huge following, hmmm?

So, what's happened since my last update? Well, my mom got cancer. (Again. Or still. It moved.) And, after caring for her as best we could, after fighting it, after her being exceptionally brave about the inevitable... she died. It was peaceful, though I wish she could have not had to deal with her final week or two. Not that it was painful, it was just... the worst part of the decline, I suppose. On the other hand, we had the support of the family. She died Feb 13, 2012. Rest in peace, mom. We may not have always agreed - in fact, on many things, we didn't - but you were an awesome mom, and a spectacular example of what a parent should strive to be, even with human failings.

We sold the house, and I moved back home. I now have an apartment maybe two miles from where I grew up - and a very short drive from my sister, nephews and nieces (and slightly longer drive to two of my brothers.) I could probably do with a cheaper apartment, to be honest, but working from home, having an office is nice. And it's where I want to be.

I've had my first REAL winter in years. Yes, snow! Piles of it. It was glorious. Not least because I didn't have to shovel it. (Part of why I'm an apartment dweller.) Sure, too chilly to walk most days, but it's getting warmer now, so it's time to... get better walking shoes and get walking.

NCSoft killed City of Heroes, my mainstay MMO... and were absolute bastards to any attempt to keep it running or for anyone to buy it out. (The studio was working on ways of going independent, actually, and buying it back... NCSoft's "working with" them? Sure, they set up offers and conditions. Let's just say it's like having a 7'7" basketball player telling a three year old they can have their crayons if they can reach them, while holding them at arms reach over their head and pissing on them the whole time.) They did not, from any report, negotiate "in good faith." They negotiated like bastards. There are other efforts to get a superhero MMO out there now... but it'll be years if any bear fruit. Still, I'm getting art done of my characters from old screenshots. I had far too much fun in that game - and not least due to the people I met and became friends with.

I'm making music again... well, trying to. I need to practice much more. I'm freaking rusty as hell.

I'm also probably setting up two more blogs - one dealing with various things about atheism, another for my model building. Just because they're two things important to me. I'll try to update this more, too... but hey, who's actually reading? :) Still, the writing is good exercise. Think I'll try to set up a schedule of updates and stick to it. We'll see if THAT works... *snicker*

In the meantime, some Sting:

Break up the parties

It's time for us to get rid of the Republicans and Democrats.

I don't mean replace them with more of the same with a different name. No. I mean we need to get rid of our two-party system and bring in a true multi-party system. Break the tea party off. Break the Christian Right off (though they probably align with the Tea party.) Have the more centrist-leaning of each party break off and form their own (or join together.) Get a Green party. Get a Caduccial party - one that focuses on all aspects of medicine, from education (general) to medical schools, drug testing and the business inside, and administration of hospitals.

Really, we need a true multiparty system, one that will eliminate party-line votes (or blocking of votes) from tying down the government. One that forces coalitions to be made and broken. One that's more fine-grained than what our current system has turned into.

While we're there, revise (or rather introduce) term limits. No more career politicians - you're in office for up to 6-10 years (depending on house or senate) total. No more ted kennedys, no matter what good he may have done. We don't need people being fixtures any more than we need the staid parties.

And when the coalition governments have been formed - let those parties choose the president, with the vice president being the second highest number of votes regardless of party. And when sworn in, they have to renounce their parties. Let them stay for seven years, one term, and then exit.

Seriously - overhaul our system.

Republicans and the "American People."

I've got to wonder about the Republicans. Namely when we'll get some sane ones back.

They've just walked out on budget negotiations. They insist (with that "ready for more elections!" vibe) that (a) they just need to get more things done and (b) Democrats insist on "raising taxes on the American people."

I wonder when we'll get some that realize "The American people" includes more than their rich contributors. You know... the same ones they've kept giving tax breaks to. The ones they protect while doing things like cutting the educational budget and attacking the social programs the non-rich at times rely on. (I'm fortunate that I don't, right now. I have a great job that looks steady for the forseeable future.)

I'm not sure which makes me more sick - the Republicans refusing to see that a budget includes money coming *in* (and insisting they just need to cut more programs - they're on the warpath against any social programs) or so many of the people voting for them not seeing that they're *not doing what's best for them.* Are we truly that unaware, swayed by fearmongering advertising?

If it weren't for the train wreck it would cause, I'd almost suggest the democrats step down and *let* the Republicans go wild - just rubberstamp everything. Eight years later (assuming we still have elections,) they can step back up and say "Now, about those social programs, education and the like - don't you wish you'd actually paid attention?" Of course, that assumes the rich masters allow their serfs to watch TV or learn to read.

Hell

So. The history channel has, for some reason, a bit on hell. And they have some preacher (recorded) talking to his congregation saying "There's a real place called hell, every one of you deserves to be in it!"

And the congregation cheers.

If you will excuse the expression, what the hell?

First, no, I don't believe in hell. I think quite frankly religion in general is just something for people who have no scientific understanding to try to figure out the world around them, including scaring people into behaving. I'll take science over "Listen to me or you'll burn forever!" any day.

I think it's a ridiculous proposition that "If you don't believe what I say is right, you're burning forever. What did you do to deserve it? YOU EXIST!" If that's the way of your belief, your god - I want nothing to do with that utterly irrational, vindictive, jealous being. And to me, it's worse with those who believe in predestination - "No matter what you do, if I decide not to save you, it doesn't matter how good you were in life, how much better you made life for everyone around you, sacrificed your things for other people - you get to burn and be tortured for eternity!" Really. Yeeahh... right.

But why would people cheer when they're told THEY deserve to be there? I mean, walk up to a crowd and say "You all deserve to have me kick you in the nuts!" Think they'd cheer, or run you out of town?

Frankly... it sounds insane.

I don't have a problem, for what it's worth, with people getting some degree of comfort from a "something higher." If that's your thing, fine - but do you *really* think it all makes sense? Have you really thought it through?