I LOVE the Money Fire!

Here’s an interesting article snippet:

“… So why weren’t these structured debt-instruments “stress tested” before the markets were reworked and the financial system became so dependent on them?

“Greed. Because the real purpose of these exotic investments is not to provide true value to the buyer, but to maximize profits for the seller by increasing leverage. That is the real purpose of MBS, CDOs and all the other bizarre-sounding derivatives; higher profits with less capital. It’s a scam. Here’s how it works: A mortgage applicant buys a house for $400,000 and puts 10 percent down. His mortgage is sold to Wall Street, chopped into pieces, and stitched together in a pool of similar loans. Now the brokerage can use the debt as if it were an asset, borrowing at ratios of 20 or 30 to 1 to fatten the bottom line. When Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken into conservatorship by the government, they were leveraged at an eye-popping 100 to 1. This shows that nearly an infinite amount of debt can be precariously balanced atop a paltry amount of capital. This explains why the $4 trillion aggregate value of the 5 big investment banks and the $1.7 trillion value of the hedge funds is now vanishing more quickly than it was created. Once the mighty gears of structured finance shift into reverse, deleveraging begins with a vengeance pulling trillions into a credit vacuum.”

Read the rest here

Put on your tin foil hat.
.
Dump your money in a giant hole
(humor- warning some foul language)

PS- I’m not saying this is right or it’s what I think personally. Just some information.

Also, some game-related stuff and fluffy Thanksgiving fare is forthcoming.

Posted on November 27th, 2008 at 5:12pm by Shawn


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Designed to do Good and Right


Shawn,

I find myself with a few free moments this holiday morning and I wanted to respond to one of your blog posts.

“Remember: Government can’t do anything. It is contrary to the laws of physics. They can only move existing resources around. Only personal industriousness can create. Taxation is the power only to destroy.”

I respect what I think you’re trying to say here, that government, deriving its funding and authority as it does from the populous, cannot help but be viewed as a parasite from a certain perspective. I don’t think however that your comment above does our government complete justice. For example, our government protects our boarders from enemies, (both foreign and domestic), provides for roads and utilities which vastly increase our quality of life, provides (in theory) a neutral system by which to arbitrate disputes, and many other benefits that add up to peace and freedom. I suppose you can argue that peace and freedom come from the people and a lack of government, but I believe that it is the government as intended who maintains this status.

Where I can’t fault your logic is what our government has become in these troubled times. Where once we claimed to have a “free market” economy, now when a business falls to the pressure of supply and demand, we don’t let it fall, we prop it up, hoping to overt the inevitable demise of the institution. One of my friends said something lately in regard to the noises about baling out the auto industry that I found particularly appropriate.

“I wouldn’t buy their cars, why then should I pay to have them make more cars?”

At best we are supposed to have a symbiotic relationship with our government, benefitting from its existence, but not having it draw so heavily upon our resources that it significantly impairs our ability to generate goods, services, and wealth.

I think, say 100 years ago, we had this level of freedom. Now though, companies and special interests have grown so large and our political system has grown so polarized between conservative republicanism and liberal democrats, that we no longer elect people to represent us who act in service to their constituents. In point of fact our current system makes it very difficult for a person to get re-elected who truly acts in the best interest of the people and the country as a single unified entity.

This is because most campaigns are funded by special interests, special action groups, and companies who want to be remembered favorably when a law maker takes office. To get laws past, the law maker then has to make deals with other law makers (who were elected under the same circumstances and who are beholden to other groups and companies.) (For the record, I view our political parties as esentially special interest groups, much like unions or lobiest groups.) The law, designed to do something good and right, gets bundled with other laws such that the end product is that while the one law gets past, a bunch of other laws do as well which may not be representative of the elected officials and his constituents’ beliefs. The representative of the people should be free to vote as his people and his conscience dictate, not such that a few privileged companies and interest groups will fund him again or so that a different law he will propose later has a chance of passing muster.

If you haven’t done so already, I recommend reading a book by Michael Z. Williamson called Freehold.

The book depicts a free society in which government is but a shadow of our current system, where self-reliance is the standard, and where there are no social safety nets to speak of. It is a work of fiction, but depicts with disturbing clarity the difference between what we could become and what true freedo really means.

Best wishes to you and yours.

MN

Thank you so much. Just a few responses like this showing up in my Inbox make it all worthwhile.
.
I am entertaining the idea that some “moving around of resources” by Government might be within the proper role. I am not rejecting any ideas outright at this stage, though things are shaping up.
.
Now some random, unrelated thoughts.
.
The reader also needs to remember that I am a fanatic… a zealot… a religious nut. I believe that there is a radiant and complex and eternal spirit body fused to my physical form. Current earthly conflict is rooted in, and an extension of, a conflict that began before the earth was formed. It was a fight between coercion and freedom, voluntary vs. involuntary obedience, blindness vs. seeing, the concentration of power by force and the dispersion of power to the individual.
.
It is the Mighty Eternal Father who laid his hand on your head countless millenia ago and gave you your Freedom. It cannot truly be taken away. There is no power that can take it. God Himself will not take it from you. The decree has gone forth in the Heavens.
The Creator gave you your Rights.
.
I will go on… All matter obeys God on a sub-atomic level. The universe gives obedience voluntarily and recognizes and honors him because he is Just. He walks the razor’s edge of Celestial Law. There is no turning aside from it. There is an exception: Man. To us it is given to choose for ourselves, to learn for ourselves, and to decide whether we will rebel or obey. And if we rebel, to decide in this life to repent, or not.
.
There is an illusion in this life, a forgetfulness, but we are fitful and turning in our slumber. I know others who can feel it too. Perhaps as you read this, your eyes will well up, and a spark will flare inside your mind…

Posted on November 27th, 2008 at 4:33pm by Shawn


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Dreams of Slaanesh…


As usual, I’m thinking of the next army. This one might be-a ways off, but if you want to steal the idea, I can give you a quote…

The dual release of Daemons of Chaos and Chaos Daemons for 40K raises the interesting prospect of a dual-use army, that can be for 40K or Fantasy.

Mount the models on rounds. If these are magnetized (round magnets on the underside of the base). Then, a bordered movement tray is mounted with metal plates and the gaps where the circular bases don’t cover are filled and then based to match– disguising the gaps. Voila!

Now on to the list. This is a very quick and deadly army. In WHF you have spells to manipulate the board and give firepower, but you don’t really need that. With movement TEN, your units are effectively ranged… a charge of 20″. That’s what daddy is talking about.

2x Heralds of Slaanesh on Seekers
1x Greater Daemon of Slaanesh (FW version is awesome)
36x Daemonettes (six units of six– the sacred number of Slaanesh)
12x Seekers of Slaanesh (Daemonettes on steeds of slaanesh)
6x Fiends of Slaanesh

One possible conversion for the Seekers I was thinking of: give them snake-like bodies (the lower part). This is a classic slaanesh archetype hailing back to Dechala. Of course, the regular Seeker models are really slick.

Posted on November 26th, 2008 at 4:47am by Shawn


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Dark Elves Complete List

Here is my finalized list for my Ice Elves, so called. The only models I don’t have so far are the harpies (need a box of Daemonettes) and the Shades. If you have either and would like to trade materials or service, let me know. Other than that I just need to convert up the Highborn on dark steed and I’m set.
.
If anyone has suggestions about my list, of any kind, I am wide open. My regular email is bluetablepainting@gmail.com
.
As for the studio Warhammer Fantasy rumblings, excitement is high. Evidently Mike and Renn played a game of Vampire Counts v Orcs yesterday. Amazingly, we scrounged up 1250 pts of Bretonnians just from miscellaneous parts (does include 200 pts of Empire Greatswords, though!) and so that’s rolling. Can’t wait to see what Josephus does with those.
.
2250 Pts – Dark Elves Roster – Ice Elves 2000 plus

Highborn (1#, 230 Pts)
1 Dreadlord @ 230 Pts
General; Hand Weapon; Repeater Crossbow; Heavy Armour; Sea Dragon Cloak; Eternal Hatred
1 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts
1 Chillblade @ [50] Pts

Noble (1#, 118 Pts)
1 Master @ 118 Pts
Hand Weapon; Heavy Armour; Sea Dragon Cloak; Eternal Hatred
1 Lifetaker @ [30] Pts

Sorceress (1#, 172 Pts)
1 Sorceress @ 172 Pts
Druchii Sorcery; Level 2 Upgrade; Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred
1 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts
1 Dispel Scroll @ [25] Pts
1 0. Power of Darkness @ [0] Pts
1 1. Chillwind @ [0] Pts
1 2. Doombolt @ [0] Pts
1 3. Word of Pain @ [0] Pts
1 4. Blade Wind @ [0] Pts
1 5. Soul Stealer @ [0] Pts
1 6. Black Horror @ [0] Pts

Sorceress (1#, 172 Pts)
1 Sorceress @ 172 Pts
Druchii Sorcery; Level 2 Upgrade; Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred
1 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts
1 Dispel Scroll @ [25] Pts
1 0. Power of Darkness @ [0] Pts
1 1. Chillwind @ [0] Pts
1 2. Doombolt @ [0] Pts
1 3. Word of Pain @ [0] Pts
1 4. Blade Wind @ [0] Pts
1 5. Soul Stealer @ [0] Pts
1 6. Black Horror @ [0] Pts

Cold One Knights (6#, 217 Pts)
5 Cold One Knights @ 217 Pts
Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Lance; Heavy Armour; Shield; Eternal Hatred
1 Dread Knight @ [43] Pts
Hand Weapon; Heavy Armour; Eternal Hatred
1 Banner of Cold Blood @ [15] Pts
6 Cold One @ [0] Pts
Thick-skinned; Causes Fear; Stupid

Dark Riders (5#, 117 Pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 117 Pts
Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Repeater Crossbow; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry
5 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts

Dark Riders (5#, 117 Pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 117 Pts
Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Repeater Crossbow; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry
5 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts

Dark Riders (5#, 117 Pts)
5 Dark Riders @ 117 Pts
Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Repeater Crossbow; Spear; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred; Fast Cavalry
5 Dark Steed @ [0] Pts

Black Guard (19#, 307 Pts)
18 Black Guard @ 307 Pts
Warrior Elite; Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Halberd; Heavy Armour; Eternal Hatred; Immune to Psychology; Stubborn
1 Tower Master @ [27] Pts
Warrior Elite; Heavy Armour; Eternal Hatred; Immune to Psychology
1 War Banner @ [25] Pts

Reaper (3#, 100 Pts)
1 Reaper Bolt Thrower @ 100 Pts
War Machine; Eternal Hatred; Repeater Bolt Thrower
2 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred

Reaper (3#, 100 Pts)
1 Reaper Bolt Thrower @ 100 Pts
War Machine; Eternal Hatred; Repeater Bolt Thrower
2 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Eternal Hatred

War Hydra (3#, 175 Pts)
1 War Hydra @ 175 Pts
Fiery Breath; Monsters and Handlers; Causes Terror; Eternal Hatred; Large Target; Regenerate; Scaly Skin
2 Beastmaster @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred
2 Beastmasters Scourge @ [0] Pts

Harpy Coven (9#, 99 Pts)
9 Harpies @ 99 Pts
Beasts; Flyer

Shades (6#, 200 Pts)
5 Shades @ 200 Pts
Hand Weapon; Repeater Crossbow; Eternal Hatred; Scouts; Skirmishers
1 Assassin @ [120] Pts
A Killer Not a Leader; Always Strike First; Hidden; Khainite; Hand Weapon; Eternal Hatred; Poisoned Attacks; Scouts
1 Touch of Death @ [30] Pts

Total Roster Cost: 2241

Created with Army Builder
Copyright (c) 1997-2005 Lone Wolf Development, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted on November 26th, 2008 at 2:43am by Shawn


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Daemonic Delight


Shawn, buddy, I hope you don’t take this as a criticism to your ability to shoot video and take photographs, but your equipment is NOT doing these amazing models you guys build justice.I have not been able to stop drooling over this figure your team put together for me. The colors are just mind-blowing, and the scratchbuilding, WOW.I think you need to put a new camera on your list this Holiday Season!!!AMAZING work! I just can’t get over it.

Best, Virgil


SHAWN & THE GREAT FOLKS AT BTP!!! The Nurgle Demon Prince arrived uncathed and after I opened the box and held it under the light, I just fell on the floor and did the Curly Dance of Joy!!

What an amazing and beautiful job. I think my nephew is going to go crazy with this thing!!! Holy smokes, that’s just beautiful.

You guys are the BEST!!!
THANK YOU, and I know we are bound to do business again!!! Keep up the great work.
Happy impending THANKSGIVING too!!!

Best, Virgil in Florida.

Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 11:23pm by Shawn


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Money Belt

In Utah, we just elected a new Congressman. He’s the representative from my district, in fact. He’s a fiscal conservative of a Ron Paul-esque stripe. Keep your eye on this guy.

The guy he beat, Chris Cannon, voted for a lot of “emergency” spending. I looked it up. I say good riddance to him. I pretty much just want one thing from my elected officials: STAY IN THE BUDGET!

I would love to see programs and departments get cut.

CONGRESSMAN CHAFFETZ: Yeah, I do. You know, when I read a quote from Barack Obama who just said, quote, we’ve got to focus on making sure that we’re creating those 2.5 million jobs. It’s not the proper role of government to create the jobs. It’s the business community. It’s the local business community that creates the jobs. It’s the proper role of government to get out of the way. And somehow we think that government’s going to come in and solve everything and be this nanny state, and I absolutely reject that. Absolutely reject it. They have promised to put root beer in every drinking fountain and it ain’t gonna happen.

CONGRESSMAN CHAFFETZ: Well, I think looking at our microcosm in Utah, people are absolutely fed up across both sides of the aisle. They clearly wanted change but, look, they want somebody who’s going to stand up and tell it to them like it is, and I think that’s the success of our story. . . I was outspent by a 12-year incumbent Republican. I beat a Republican, beat one of our own. I was outspent by $600,000, but I had no paid staff, I did no polling, I gave out — I said no free meals. You come to a Jason Chaffetz meeting, I’m not going to buy you a free meal. We had no campaign office and we said I’m going to be debt-free, there’s no — if I don’t raise the money, I’m not going to spend it. And I won by huge numbers. I won by 20 points and I was outspent by $600,000. And I think that’s going to happen more and more across the country as people just get absolutely fed up and disturbed by what their government is doing and not doing.

Read the rest of the interview.

Remember: Government can’t do anything. It is contrary to the laws of physics. They can only move existing resources around. Only personal industriousness can create. Taxation is the power only to destroy.

Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 8:12pm by Shawn


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Terrible Banners

Check out these horrible banners. I would never use any of these on my models.
Here’s the link to the site.
If I were the person who drew these, I’d be embarrassed.
PS- I know there are a few people who will think I’m serious. I’m joking. These banners rock.
And if you thought those sucked,
check out these!

Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 8:03pm by Shawn


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It’s Chef Time


First off, I’m not going to culinary school or any such thing.

My wife is the queen of entering contests. And (apparently) winning. She won a half-day at a culinary school, and thus it was that me and four other hapless husbands found themselves making a gourmet thankgiving meal up at an art institute in Salt Lake.

I was naturally resistant at first. Why learn any cooking at all when I’m married to Tamara, who is an infinite expert on the subject. But as the day wore on, I really got into it and my stuff actually turned out really well.

I got a really cool chef’s jacket, too. And we got to bring home a ton of food. My cranberry sauce turned out amazing. And brining the turkey is definitely the way to go.

So, for Thanksgiving I’m actually going to help my wife with the cooking. I’m feeling a lot more confidence.

It costs $80,000 to get a degree at this school. Ridiculous. For less than that, not to mention not working full time for free for four years, you can just start your own show on a shoe-string. I’ve got a pretty dim view of higher education. I think it’s a racket.

More pics here.

Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 12:07am by Shawn


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Wake Up Homeless in the Land of Their Inheritance

Thought some might be interested in this:

Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 10:05pm by Shawn


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Space Marine Humor

Here’s an old chestnut that might be new to some readers…

“My Lord, I bring news.”
Typhus Marburg paused in his study of the situation map of the
dreary little planet his forces were engaged in ravaging. “Yes?”
“Lord. Starships have appeared in the outer system and are on course
for a landing. They have been identified as elements of the Flesh
Tearers.”
“Yeah? Tell them to sod off and find their own world. Tell ’em we
got here first.”
“Sire, you misunderstand. They are here to defend this world!”
“What! Why? It’s a sorry state of affairs when the followers of
Chaos start to defend the weakling Imperium from each other!”
“Um, Lord… the Flesh Tearers are a loyalist chapter.”
“They are? With a name like that! Are you sure they’re not one of
ours?”
“Positive, My Lord.”
“Have you been able to call for any assistance?”
“The Astropaths have contacted other forces nearby. Unfortunately
this has also alerted other loyalist forces in the sector and they
are also headed our way.”
“Bugger. So who gets here first then?”
“The Alpha Legion, sire.”
“It never rains, it only pours, hey?”
“Umm…”
“What!”
“The Alpha Legion is one of ours.”
“It is?!”
“Yes.”
“I’m confused. You’re telling me that a mob called the ‘Flesh
Tearers’ isn’t one of ours but a mob called the – what was it
again…”
“The Alpha Legion, sire.”
“Right… a mob called the Alpha Legion is one of ours.”
“That is correct, sire.”
“So who else is showing up to this barney then?”
“The Blood Drinkers.”
“One of ours?”
“One of theirs.”
“OK.”
“The Iron Warriors.”
“One of theirs?”
“No. One of ours.”
“Go figure.”
“The Dark Angels.”
“Now I’ve heard of them. Followers of Slaanesh aren’t they?”
“No, I think you’re thinking of The Fallen, sire. The Dark Angels
are Loyalists too.”
“Bugger. So who else then?”
“The Emperor’s Children.”
“Oh, that one’s too easy. They’re obviously loyalists with a name
like that.”
“Um, not exactly my Lord.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Lord. They’re one of ours too.”
“This is silly. All the really evil sounding names are being used by
weakling loyalists while it seems as though the forces of chaos have
got the naff monikers. Are there any more of these I should know
about?”
“A few, Lord.”
“OK then, spell it out for me, starting with Loyalists that sound
like traitors and then moving onto traitors that sound like
Loyalists.”
“I will attempt to do so, Lord. OK – the Loyalists that sound like
traitors… the Marauders, Rampagers, Destroyers and Storm Lords
(all White Scar second foundings in point of fact).”
“I like the sound of the Storm Lords. You sure they aren’t one of
ours?”
“Quite sure. Then there’s the Blood Drinkers and the Flesh Tearers –
both of which are Loyalist second founding of the Blood Angels.”
“With names like that I’d always assumed they were more bone headed
followers of the blood god.”
“Not so far, My Lord. Then there’s the Red Talons…”
“I thought they were renegade pirates.”
“No Lord, that’s the Red Corsairs.”
“Oh. OK. Continue.”
“The Brazen Claws are loyalists too.”
“Good name for a Khornate force though isn’t it?”
“Yes Lord. Then there’s the Black Guard (not to be confused with the
Black Legion which IS one of ours), the Revilers, and the Raptors.”
“Hold on a minute! The Raptors? They’re definitely ours. Hell we’ve
got a small unit of them attached to our forces haven’t we?”
“My Lord, those are the troops known as Raptors but there is also a
loyalist legion with the same name.”
“Must get a bit confusing for the loyalists then?”
“I imagine so, My Lord. There are also the Doom Eagles, the Silver
Skulls, and the Iron Hands (not to be mistaken for the Iron
Warriors, who are ours).”
“Bloody hell. Is that it?”
“There are also some lesser known chapters that also seem to cause
occasional confusion.”
“Such as…”
“The Doomfarers are one that our forces have occasionally
encountered.”
“Oh yeah. Those yoyos. So what about the Chaos forces that sound
like loyalists then…”
“Well as mentioned earlier there are The Emperor’s Children, The Iron
Warriors, the Thousand Sons, the Lunar Wolves (who changed their
name to the Sons of Horus and then to the Black Legion)…”
“Well at least they’re easily IDed as one of ours now. The Black
Legion eh? Now that’s a proper name. Just postively oozes evil from
every pore.”
“Yes, Lord. To continue, there are also the Word Bearers, and the
Alpha Legion.”
“The Word Bearers? What kind of silly name is that for a Chaos
Legion?”
“They used to be missionarys sire”
“We you’d think that once they switched to our side they’d change
their name to something a little more in keeping with being evil mad
men. I mean come on ‘The Word Bearers’? It’s a silly name.”
“Yes my Lord”
“You know, I think the forces of Chaos should have proper Chaos
names. There’s no room for mistakes when you’re called something
like ‘The World Eaters’ or ‘The Death Guard’…”
“Actually Lord, both those chapters had those names when they were
loyalists.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, My Lord.”
“Yeesh. I would have thought names like that would be a bit scary
for the average imperial citizen. I mean “Yay we’re being rescued by
the World Eaters” just doesn’t sound credible while “Aargh! Flee!
It’s the World Eaters” seems much more likely.”
“Yes, My Lord. I believe the latter is more likely these days
anyway.”
“Makes no bloody sense at all.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Kill ’em all and let the Chaos Gods sort ’em out I say.”
“Sounds like a completely reasonable approach to me, My Lord.”

Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 4:57am by Shawn


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