I am about halfway through my new book. I thought it would be the opposite of books I’ve been reading (about free markets and sound money and economics 101) but it’s really not. Just a different sort of thing. It’s a history of Wall Street and the various money theories to come through. It’s a hard read with a lot of names. It’s like reading an index to an encyclopedia… something like that.
It’s full of things like “binomial market operations” or whatever. I don’t understand half of it, but I’m getting the general vibe of things.
If anything there is some convergence. More on this later.
I’ve been thinking outside the box a lot recently. What if everything I’ve been taught is wrong?
For example:
When you want to start a small business the first stop is the bank because they’ll provide the money. WRONG! A bank loan is a killer for a small business. Get private investors if you have to, or even better yet, just shoestring it for a few years until you can amass capital and customers.
Here’s another one:
Invest money for retirement so you can live off the interest. WRONG? The banking/investing system is more likely to destroy the value of your investment; the government is devaluing the dollar at a faster rate than the interest you will earn. What about actually creating a cache of all the physical materials you will need, as well as items that will be of intrinsic value (to trade or cash-in later). This will proof your stash from government looting.
I’m thinking of writing a short book. Basically, how to disconnect from the system as much as possible without becoming a caveman or a hippie. A different way of living. And then keep track of it so you can see if I’m eating dog food in my old age.
Is it possible to live in the city limits, in a nice home and still have the self-sufficiency of a mountain man?
My wife has been out of town at a family reunion. I stayed home with our four-year-old son. I limited my hours at the studio to about three a day. I suppose this is as close to a day off as I ever get. What am I talking about? I get a solid day off every week; Sunday.
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It was great to get one-on-one time with my young son. Without his siblings around it was a completely more relaxed experience. We went out on all sorts of adventures (read: errands) and I taught him how to do the dishes. I took him to work with me (both slow days). We got matching haircuts. We made jello. I am just full to the brim with joy and satisfaction.
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Last night we went on a walk. That means I walk, and he rides his little tricycle. He’s learned to use the hand brake on it and his favorite part of the walk is a downward sloping section of sidewalk, about a quarter block long, that he speeds down then makes a controlled turn at the bottom.
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So, we’re walking along and he stops suddenly, looks back and points out a squashed spider on the sidewalk. He backs up. “Daddy, look, I crushed-ed a spider!”
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“Yeah, you sure did.”
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He puts his little hands on his cheeks. “Oh no! I did not mean to crushed-ed him!” He’s quite distraught and begins to explain to me that “spiders are our friends outdoors!”
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I learned later that his mother told him that spiders are our friends as long as they are outside.
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This morning I woke up around 4am, my mind reeling with worry and fretting. More than usual; layers upon layers. It was a confused and crowded jumble. All I could do was pray with my whole mind, and try to think about positive things. I put on some Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I think that calmed the waves. Whew.
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PS- as usual I am constrained to make my usual disclaimer: I do not consider myself a good person. I always wince a little when I put up this sort of post. I don’t want it to be a preachment. As Peter said, I am subject to like passions as other men. This sentiment is amplified by the occasional email I get from a young person who thinks that I am some sort of role model. There are better role models out there!
Here’s an excerpt from the Book of Mormon. I plan on making some comments later.
16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.
22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.
24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.
25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.
26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
Mosiah 4
As many may have noticed, we went through quite a Magic phase down at the studio. I’ve got quite a few flats down here if there’s a local that might be interested in trading figures for the lot.
My asking price is $450 retail value (worth of figures) for the lot. Probably about 10,000 cards. ReYou can contact me at bluetablepainting@gmail.com to set up a time to see if they are worth it.
I would also take $250 cash.
Here’s a great article from BOLS on deployment.
More to come here…
This chapter looks cool:
Here’s what showed up (100% fill rate):
Warhound with four arms
1x Blood Angels rhino doors
2x Nurgle dreads
1x Deathguard dread
4x Nurgle dread arms (we will convert two others)
4x Death guard marine conversion packs
AI Thunderbolts
1x Avatar with spear
All seven of the initial run of Pandora’s armies are done. Final count is: two each of Deathguard, Wood Elves, and Tau; then one Imperial Guard. Pics are up on the website. I couldn’t make vids of all of them. I am especially pleased with the Wood Elves; one of my favorite armies and the color scheme came out cohesive and vibrant. Often, they are done in a theme according to a season; Autumn, Summer, and Winter are common, but I’ve not seen a Spring yet until now.
I am in the middle of acquiring models for the next run. There is one open spot, but you’d need to move fast to claim it. Then I will start the preparations for the September run.
Of course, you can still commission any project you like. Anything, anytime. We’re ready whenever you are. If you see any of the Pandora-type armies that you like, you can just ask us to replicate it, even with some modifications. They usually weigh in at $1100 to $1350, everything included.
We are also painting up some models for BOLScon in late August. I have about five Forge World figures and three other projects going for that. We are not physically going to BOLScon this time.
I also got in a few specialty pieces for the studio Lizardmen army: an Oldblood on Carnosaur, which is a fabulous alternative to the Slann Mage Priest. He’s hell on wheels, starting with five S5 attacks. A skink shaman with feathered cloak, and a new Scar Veteran Battle Standard. That’s it for that army. It’ll be 3000 points without any magic items (and about 500 points worth of open space for that, including magic banners).
I’m picking away on the side at a Wood Elves force. Not sure where that is going. There’s a lot still to be done. I just have some of the specialty pieces. So many games, so little time. I’m hoping to get a game in this weekend. And maybe a game of Hordes. No, I have not forgotten about that– the other players in my little group have been swamped.
I got in my book “Myth of the Rational Market”. I’m a few chapters in. I thought it would be the opposite of the other two books I’ve read (both from Ron Paul’s reading list) but it isn’t. It’s just in another area. It seems to me that all of them miss the obvious. Banks and their ilk should be done away with entirely. Their fundamental truth is that they take away more than they give; produce nothing, provide no useful service, and indeed leave every region they touch poorer than before. Each bank is a vortex that sucks away the life essence of the community like the Skeksis life-draining machine.
Just to be clear on that last point. When I say “do away with banks” I mean, “do away with the defining characteristic of banks which I think is the source of the problem” which is Fractional Reserve Banking and it’s degenerate cousin, Usury. It creates a fundamental distortion which is unfair; like giving certain connected citizens counterfeiting machines and immunity from prosecution on charges of counterfeiting.
Today, 4200 points of Deathguard were unveiled for the
Pandora’s army special. This is the type of thing we are making for this. Vid is forthcoming.
For each army I do something special: a conversion, an unusual unit, something eye-catching or clever or just a few extra pieces.
http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_gallery.php?galleryID=3027
Here’s the army list:
2100 Pts – Chaos Marines Roster – Deathguard AW
HQ: Chaos Lord (1#, 170 Pts)
1 Chaos Lord @ 170 Pts
Bolt Pistol (x1); Plague Bringer; Fearless; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Wings; Mark of Nurgle
HQ: Daemon Prince (1#, 165 Pts)
1 Daemon Prince @ 165 Pts
Close Combat Weapon; Fearless; Wings; Mark of Nurgle; Nurgle’s Rot (x1)
Elite: Possessed (10#, 320 Pts)
9 Possessed @ 320 Pts
Close Combat Weapon; Daemonkin; Fearless; Icon of Nurgle; Mark of Nurgle
1 Possessed Champion @ [36] Pts
Close Combat Weapon; Daemonkin; Fearless; Mark of Nurgle
Troops: Plague Marines (8#, 261 Pts)
6 Plague Marines @ 261 Pts
Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Bolter; Flamer (x2); Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle; Rhino
1 Plague Champion @ [63] Pts
Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; Bolter; Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle
1 Rhino @ [50] Pts
Twin Linked Bolter; Extra Armor; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers
Troops: Plague Marines (8#, 261 Pts)
6 Plague Marines @ 261 Pts
Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Bolter; Flamer (x2); Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle; Rhino
1 Plague Champion @ [63] Pts
Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; Bolter; Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle
1 Rhino @ [50] Pts
Twin Linked Bolter; Extra Armor; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers
Troops: Plague Marines (8#, 271 Pts)
6 Plague Marines @ 271 Pts
Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Bolter; Meltagun (x2); Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle; Rhino
1 Plague Champion @ [63] Pts
Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; Bolter; Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle
1 Rhino @ [50] Pts
Twin Linked Bolter; Extra Armor; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers
Troops: Plague Marines (8#, 271 Pts)
6 Plague Marines @ 271 Pts
Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Bolter; Meltagun (x2); Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle; Rhino
1 Plague Champion @ [63] Pts
Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; Bolter; Blight Grenades; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fearless; Feel No Pain; Mark of Nurgle
1 Rhino @ [50] Pts
Twin Linked Bolter; Extra Armor; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers
Heavy Support: Land Raider (1#, 240 Pts)
1 Land Raider @ 240 Pts
Twin Linked Heavy Bolter; Twin Linked Lascannon Sponson (x2); Daemonic Possession; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers
Heavy Support: Obliterators (2#, 150 Pts)
2 Obliterators @ 150 Pts
Power Fist; Obliterator Weapons; Fearless; Slow and Purposeful
Total Roster Cost: 2109
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