Northshire Abbey

Credible sources of news and political insight?

2006-02-10T12:37:00.000-05:00

So Michelle Malkin has a post today on her blog that links to a new Google news feature for its automaton followers. Apparently Google, in an attempt to be "edgy, hip, and relevant", now produces small video news segments viewable by visitors and that desperately seek to cover the same current news stories as everyone else. In the segment in question the Google "guy" decides to explain radical islamic insanity over recently published cartoons by attacking Michelle's opinions on her blog, those being, that islamic wackos are responsible for provoking the violence we're seeing and that islam basically can't control itself (kind of like a 13 year old with cable, no parents around, and lots of free time.)

My opinion: now that Google too (along with Apple, Yahoo!, etc.) has made it clear that theirs is a company helmed by liberal, out-of-touch eggheads, we should find other ways of getting our email and seeking information on the Internet. Maybe it's just me, but if I'm seeking to gain customers for my business I'd generally try not to tick off or alienate over 50% of them. *rolls eyes*

Look at the yellow sign on the left.

2006-02-04T15:49:00.000-05:00

And some more from our muslim friends:

This is what I've been saying for years. Why don't Labor or the Liberals get it?

2006-01-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

The Union Threat

by Jonathan Hoenig [ CapitalistPig Asset Management LLC ]

I have tremendous respect for anyone who puts in an honest day's work — no matter if you are a brain surgeon, lawyer or a short-order cook.

But the reality of business is that, in modern times, the value of physical labor is low. A company's success exists not because of its ability to hire workers with the biggest muscles, but those who invent, leverage and exploit new technology. The assembly line “grunt work” is noble, but relatively low on the hierarchy of productivity. It's not a person's strength, but their smarts that count, and it's the tools and machines a worker uses that raise productivity and create wealth.

And although labor unions' intentions are good, they ultimately end up not improving a community's standard of living, but rather irreparably harming it. The notion that unions are responsible for creating prosperous living conditions for their members is a flat-out farce.

One of the main problems with unions is that they force unreasonably high wages that ultimately end up hindering a company's prospects. Every firm aims to attract the most talented and productive employees possible. But wages are not arbitrary, and when a union contract forces a company to pay an employee $70,000 for a job that another might accept for $40,000, the firm's overall level of productivity and competitiveness suffers accordingly.

Over time, paying higher-than-market-wages eventually drains the businesses' potential for growth and brings the whole ship down. A company that is less productive and competitive almost always ends up losing to more nimble competitors who don't have the “legacy” costs imposed by stiff union contracts. U.S. automakers such as Ford or GM offer the perfect example.

Because they are compelled to pay higher wages than the market would otherwise dictate, companies are also able to higher fewer workers. So the net result of the union's demands for rich salaries and benefits is unemployment — both for prospective new hires and the lucky few who are able to, for a time at least, become employed at abnormally high rates. Ever notice how mass layoffs always seem to happen at airlines, steelmakers — almost any industry that's heavily unionized?

In a free society, individuals certainly have the right to voluntarily unionize. There are elements of unionization, such as basic collective bargaining or group purchasing, that also produce benefits for members. And if a company's wages are legitimately low, the threat of a strike can compel them to be raised. But the notion that without unions, greedy employers would exploit the poor, unfortunate working class, is a crock.

Moreover, within many industries, union membership isn't voluntary, but required. Thanks to political pull or long-standing contracts, one doesn't have the option not to join. Because they hold such influence, the union bosses end up surrogate managers of the company. Is it any coincidence these industries are the ones that eventually end up in complete financial disarray?

Unions also do a disservice by lulling their members into a false sense of professional complacency. Because unionization prompts one to identify so closely with a particular vocation, it's easy to forget that one must always improve his skills in anticipation of how business might develop in the future. The truth is, just because you were a steelworker in 1976 doesn't mean you can succeed as a steelworker in 2006. Times change, business changes and unionized workers who don't develop new skill sets are usually the ones who are left behind, holding only an empty promise that the union will take care of them forever.

Finally, unions promote the false notion that, beyond salaries and promised benefits; workers are somehow “owed” something by the company. That's just not the case. While I respect him personally, the laborer generally has no impact on the company's long-term success. The real productivity and success comes from inventing the Model T — not merely assembling it. In representing their members, unions too frequently overlook this important fact.

More proof the end of the world is coming...

2006-01-27T15:49:00.000-05:00

Man to be tried for proclaiming that Jesus Christ existed.

While right down the street...

More "rights" legislated for "gays".

and

Mother and defenseless daughter murdered in cold blood.

Lord help us, PLEASE.

Oh Noes! President Bush is destroying our economy!

2006-01-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

DOW at 11,000

I am still waiting for a real debate on our president's actions over these last two terms. The war? Going well (as far as wars go.) Education? No Child Left Behind (Oh noes, you mean we have to pass tests to prove we can teach? NCLB is dangerous for our children!) Economy? Doing VERY well. Unemployment? VERY low. Standard of living? High. Taxes? Lower than in the 90s.

At a time when:
- 09.11.2001
- Hurricane Katrina
- Hurricane Rita
- Unprecedented levels of islamic terrorism around the world

What were you guys complaining about again?

*silence*

Oh, I wasn't sure...

A warning to all believers...

2005-12-14T08:40:00.000-05:00

Keep a very close eye on the situation in Iran. With the president of that country calling for a "proactive" approach to the Israeli-Arab conflict by all muslims, we very well may be witnessing the stage begin set for the great battle and the Lord's return. Listen carefully to reports of nuclear development and proliferation by the muslim states (primarily Iran) - these will be the tools that will embolden the armies of darkness into thinking that they can attack and destroy Israel for good.

Of course, we already know what the outcome will be. Be ready friends...

Massachusetts: As sandy as Ohio.

2005-12-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

Today was our first big snow since moving from Michigan to Massachusetts. It looks wonderful outside and I'm excited about sledding and snowboarding this season.

The people of MA, like the people of Ohio, use a combination of salt and sand on the roads when they get snowy/slippery. Being from Michigan I'm used to our honorable road crews using 100% salt to keep the roads clean - and it does, very well.

Sand and salt does not work (well, maybe a little.) What you end up with is slush (because the salt is melting the snow and ice) and MUD (because of the sand mixing with the snow and water from the melted ice.) It is pretty horrible, and often, still pretty darn slippery. Today's snow was living proof of this: even with all-time AWD, my car was still sliding in the turns on salted/sanded roadways.

The verdict: salt is best, sand is pretty darn worthless.

Compassion amid the hatred and violence of islamic terrorism.

2005-11-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

God bless those that have a heart of compassion for others.

The Death of Blogging, RIP

2005-11-04T15:55:00.000-05:00

As quickly as they were born, and as quickly as everyone had one, the world of blogs has all but died. The reasons are simple really:

1. Blogging requires consistent, regular updates to be interesting and desirable to visitors.
2. People are sick of consistently, regularly having to write about the same old crap.

Or at least this is how I see it. =)

Strength and Honor.

2005-10-27T12:25:00.000-05:00

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

So let me get this straight: you come to MY country and then want me to change things because you're "offended"? NO.

2005-10-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

muslims "offended"; Piglet banned
The Union Jack: TOO Christian for modern Brits, muslims

World of Warcraft is a Feeling...

2005-10-13T07:49:00.000-05:00

This video, and more importantly the song playing in the video, explains exactly what hundreds of thousands of WoW players experience almost every night they log into the game. What makes this video so hilarious is the perfect use of WoW gaming terminology throughout the song. WoW players will find this video absolutely spot-on; others, I'm not so sure. =)

LOL

World of Warcraft is a Feeling

No, really, it is. KEK

NOTE: There are some posts under the video that use questionable language. Please ignore.

The Nazgul Among Us

2005-10-04T07:38:00.000-05:00

You may remember a line of dialog in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring when Aragorn tells Frodo that the Black Riders will always seek the ring, and that they will never rest nor cease searching for him.

Frodo at that moment had a choice to make: he could choose to cover his eyes and pretend that the Nine were not after him, hoping and wishing that everything was different. In the end, he would have been captured and killed for the ring. His other option was to keep his eyes open and move forward with purpose, doing his very best to survive and to ultimately win the war against darkness.

The muslim terrorists we are war with are like the Nazgul. Despite what liberals are trying to sell us, hiding from the problem of muslim terrorism will not make it go away. Immediately leaving Iraq will not make muslim terrorism go away. Demolishing all western hotels and resorts in Bali and requiring all Christians and Jews to leave SE Asia will not make muslim terrorism go away. Producing hollywood movies glorifying the blood-thirsty antics of muslim leaders of the past (remember 'Kingdom of Heaven'?) will not make muslim terrorism go away.

Anti-war and Anti-President Bush liberals are choosing to believe that they live in a fairy-tale world that simply doesn't exist. I am sorry to have to say it. I will make this as clear as I can: until the Son of God (the Messiah) returns, peace on earth will be fleeting and wrought with deception. There will be no lasting peace, there will be no solution to evil UNTIL the return of the Lord.

The muslim terrorists are like the Nazgul: unless we stand our ground and stand behind our ideals and policies, they will succeed in winning battles against us. Do not believe for even a moment that these people can be reasoned with - they cannot be. At this point in history, under these circumstances, war IS the answer.

Pray for peace, but know that it truly comes with only ONE presence, that of the returned Messiah.

Two very important reasons why it is imperative that we defeat the terrorists in Iraq...

2005-09-23T15:29:00.000-05:00

Yes, the war in Iraq is costing a lot of money. But in the end, God will judge us by the intentions of our hearts, not by the amount of money we acquired/saved/invested/spent in life. It's interesting that liberals, who are all about human rights, human dignity, and human equality, are the first to demand abandonment of Iraqi families to the terrorist elements in Iraq. Say one thing and do another, it's the liberal way.

Something alien this way comes...

2005-09-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

Nicole thinks that Alan Colmes looks like E.T. These recent pictures of Alan aren't helping his case much, LOL:

And for extra fun, these inspirational images of (TOP) "Nader-clone" Alan and (BOTTOM) "burn-victim" Alan are with two of our favorite political knuckleheads, "post-Botox" Kerry and "ol' smiley" Nader. Huzzah!

Hillary in 2008? LOL

2005-09-21T08:37:00.000-05:00

Senator Hillary Clinton was attending a party, when she noticed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She walked over to him, and in a quiet voice said, "If you were my husband, I would poison your drink."
Schwarzenegger smiled, and without missing a beat, leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "And if you were my wife, I would drink it."

LOL =)

Stop calling the return of the Jews to their God-given land an "occupation", you're being ignorant.

2005-09-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

A truly sad turn of events.
Gaza: New staging area for attacks against Israel.

Forts are cool.

2005-09-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

My daughter enjoys the new fort I built for her. The cats like hanging out in here as well.

Too late I guess, now that there's "peace" in Arab Gaza...

2005-09-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

Only the God of the Bible (King of kings and Lord of lords) has the power to bring peace to Israel. All of man's attempts, commissions, assemblies, and schemes will fail to implement a lasting peace, period. Just keep praying my friends, the time of His ultimate and glorious return draws near.

Be wise to the signs...

Satisfaction.

2005-08-29T19:27:00.000-05:00

As you can tell from this woman's smiling face, she's all broken-up over the death of her son in Iraq...

2005-08-24T11:38:00.000-05:00

Duhhhhhhhrrrrrr, I'm Cindy Sheehan. Newsflash: the primary job of those actively serving in the military is to kill enemies of the United States when called-upon to do so. Sometimes, in the process of accomplishing this important duty, a man dies at the hands of our adversaries. Cindy, you should have realized this when your son CHOSE to join our all-voluntary armed forces. Honor him for his great sacrifice and move on. Your 15 minutes (and the 60's) are long over, please go away now. Thanks.

Thankful for the past, looking to the future.

2005-08-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

Beat my score, if you can!

2005-08-02T14:16:00.000-05:00

I followed a link from Shorty M's blog over to a place called Ebaum's World and found this fun game. Can you beat my high score?

Score: 72300
Casualties: 842
Stage: 12
Purchases: All but the Mana Pool. What sucks is that I bought all these building upgrades, but never even used them! Time to try again, hahahaha!

!! Defend Your Castle !!

UPDATE!

Score: 180380
Casualties: 1666
Stage: 15
Purchases: I actually used all the buildings I purchased this time. Archers are essential units - I found that 8-10 of them in use is a good plan. I also had 2-3 Craftsmen and 2 Wizards in play. Wizards become necessary when the large, champion-size enemies start rushing your castle (since you can't pick them up like normal units.) Demolition units are perfect for when things get out of hand (like they often do on stage 15.) My castle walls' hit-points were at 9000 by the end.

Some things that I believe.

2005-07-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

1. Christianity is the one true faith and the only way to God. Period. I admire and respect my Jewish brothers and sisters, but I believe that the days of the Old Covenant are over and have been superseded by the grace and mercy of Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

2. The United States of America is the best country in the world. I am proud to be an American and to have been blessed by God with my citizenship. Even with the many mistakes our country has made in its history, I still believe that America is the most compassionate, most blessed, and most admired nation on earth.

3. I am a conservative Christian. This means that I vote for candidates who stand politically for lower taxes, a strong and enabled military, immigration reform, a firm and pro-America foreign policy, the abolishment of welfare and the creation of a more caring and useful program (with education and job training at its core, not handouts), and quid pro quo loyalty to our foreign allies.

The Christian part of my person enables me to distinguish between moral and immoral policy, based on the infallible Word of God.

- I am pro-life, though I leave the decision of abortion to a woman (and her husband), and the judgment of her actions, with subsequent forgiveness (if sought) and healing in Christ, to God.

- I am vehemently against gay marriage.

- I believe that the display of Christian or Jewish symbols in public is not only protected by the constitution, but advocated and desired by a vast majority of Americans.

- Though I would never throw the switch myself, I believe that a person shall reap what they have sown, and if a criminal is found in accordance with the terms necessary for capital punishment, then the state has the right to exact its punishment upon that person.

4. I believe that American automobiles are just as nice and just as long-lasting as foreign imports. J.D. Powers and Associates has been saying this for years.

5. Cats are better than dogs (when they're actually listening to you, lol.) One of my dreams is to someday own a cheetah kitten and raise it as a house cat. Now that's a BIG house cat, hahahaha!

There are many, many things I could add to this list. It was my (discovered) intention to share just a few (because I'm getting sick of typing.)

Tips for surviving the Massachusetts turnpike.

2005-07-27T07:01:00.000-05:00

1. Stay out of the "fast lane" as much as possible. Though this lane is consistently brisker than the others, this is also the lane that Massachusetts state police use to zoom up on people and catch them for speeding. Oh, and don't think you'll spot them and have time to evade: over the last week I've spotted (on the side of the road with their hapless victims) a black 2004 Ford Mustang GT (unmarked car), a green 1999 Form Mustang GT (unmarked car), and several variants of the unmarked Ford Crown Victoria cruiser and Chevy Impala cruiser. Of course there is the standard fleet of marked cars as well, at least three an hour in one 40 mile trip. They take catching people seriously out here, I mean, a black Mustang GT? Come on guys, Kerry and Kennedy will get their tax money somehow, so no need to worry about filling the cracks in the coffers with ticket money too.

2. Most people in Massachusetts are terrible drivers. Though I had heard about this from several sources prior to really hitting the streets out here, after a couple of months of driving I too am a believer. No concept of consistent speed, passing on the right instead of the left, merging in and out of lanes with no blinkers, turning left at a light in front of cars going straight through, et cetera, et cetera. On the turnpike it is vital that you remain alert. Because most people change lanes so quickly, either right or left, without blinkers, you have to stay on your toes. For some strange reason Massachusetts drivers love to merge into your lane as you're coming up on their left to pass. I mean, I've seen this elsewhere, but it happens all the time out here. The key to driving in Massachusetts is to think as you would in a closed-course racing environment. I don't mean driving fast, I mean driving smart and alert. It can be physically draining to drive this way (it is for me), but believe me, someone on the road needs to be paying attention (since no one else is, LOL.)

The love of money is the root of all evil.

2005-07-25T07:25:00.000-05:00

It seems harmless enough to want nice things: a new car, that 55" plasma television, a home with a modest yard for BBQs. And in and of themselves these things are fine, in fact, these things are great. It's when these THINGS become a driving force in your life that they quickly become "the root of all evil."

Take pets for instance. I'll admit that I probably shouldn't have paid a hundred dollars for my one cat Charles (when I could have gotten a kitten for free from a farmer), but now that he's a part of the family, that amount seems trivial to me. The thing is, we didn't spend a hundred dollars on him for any other reason than, well, that's what he cost. Too many people, I believe, fall into this trap of thinking: that it actually matters how much a pet costs. Instead of simply buying a cat from a store or a kid on the corner, they have to buy that $1200.00 pure-bred Russian Blue from a world-reknowned, certified, and accredited breeder. There are primarily two reasons why people would do this: 1. They actually LOVE Russian Blues (which, by the way, are absolutely beautiful cats and well worth the breeder's fee), or 2. They're trying to impress others with the cost of their pet. Sadly, since most people are happy with just owning a loving pet, the one's who do choose to spend a week or two's wages on an animal are probably just trying to impress other people. It's interesting if you think about it. Friends are over, classical music wafting in from a side room, fine wine in every glass, chit-chat...

Cat Guy: "Everyone, may I have your attention please. If you look to our Victorian lounge you will undoubtedly notice our family's newest acquisition: a pure-bred Russian Blue feline. Hailing from the line of His Majesty Grand Champion Chuckles of Devonshire, you'll notice the shiny smooth coat and ..."

Everyone Else: "Uh, yeah, that's great. (now where was that fruit tray again? Man I have to take a leak...")

The point is that people will take the most insignificant things and lose sleep over them wondering what others are thinking. It's not worth it. NO ONE CARES THAT YOU BOUGHT YOUR HAND TOWELS AT TARGET AND NOT AT MACY'S. Ralph Lauren napkin rings? Are you kidding me?

My wife made a big deal one time over some new sheets she bought. Apparently they were "Nautica" brand, you know, the one with the boat (nod to The Running Man.) Anyway, did I notice any difference between them and any other sheets we own? No, I didn't. But because that little sail boat was sewn onto one of the corners, suddenly, those were BETTER sheets (even though they were made in China, probably right next to the ones being made for the Martha Stewart collection at K-Mart, lol.) God bless her though, she did explain thread count to me, and apparently these sheets were "very good". lol, anyway...

I love cars. Not like I love my wife, daughter, family, and friends, but love like, well...I think they're pretty darn sweet. I know what I like and I know what I can afford. For instance, thanks to the Lord's financial blessings, I could afford an MB or BMW if I absolutely had to have one. But in my mind, there are so many cars that not only look better and have better options, but are also a lot more reasonable. So why would I buy a car that I don't really like when there's another car that I absolutely love? To impress other people. For instance, the new Pontiac Solstice is an awesome little roadster. It is a very nice little car, excellent quality, good engine (though 2006 will be offering a V6 and [hopefully] a turbo), and sweet looks. BUT, it is a Pontiac. Now, let's look at a guy named "Fred" for a moment: he likes everything about the Solstice. 'Wow, very affordable, very cool!' he thinks. But uh oh! All of his "friends" from work only drive "expensive" cars, you know, like BMW, Lexus, and Audi. What would they think if they knew he was driving, dare I even say it, a Pontiac? Won't they think he's not as "successful"? Won't they think he's not as "cool?" Well, it's entirely possible they may think these things, but you know what, WHO CARES. A car, in the end, is a dead piece of metal with some plastic and rubber thrown in for measure. That's all. Don't let the love of money and materials force you into debt up to your eyeballs just to impress people who really don't care. Buy the Pontiac, darn it! =)

Property values change depending on where you live. For instance, a nice 1800 sq/Ft home in Michigan (where my parents live) would run you about 160k. Pretty darn affordable. That same house out here in eastern Massachusetts comes in at over 400k (if you're lucky.) Ouch, not so affordable. Why does it matter, really? Well, since many people consider the buying of a home "a milestone", the ability to find and afford one is supremely important. I was of this mindset too, until we moved to Massachusetts. Out here, people live in apartments and small condos for much longer and most cannot afford homes for many years after they've been working in industry. I'll admit, this burned me at first, and I guess it still does a little, but my wife is very good at keeping things in perspective for me. It's all about faith. The home we're supposed to have is out there and we'll get it when we're supposed to, it's as simple as that. Now, believe me, it is a lot easier to lose sleep wondering what friends and family are thinking, after all, what's our problem?: we still don't have a house! It comes down to perspective. Would we rather ruin our lives with worry and unnecessary debts or take our time and get the home that's perfect for us. Do we jump on the bandwagon and buy a house we can't afford for 400k or do we wait a little while and see what God provides in HIS time. In the end, I'd rather wait on the Lord than buy a house simply to impress friends and family.

I think I've gone far enough for now with this. Life is too short. Don't worry about what others think of you, if you do, you've become their prisoner. Advice I too can use. =)

It's hard to be the perfect husband (but one should never stop trying.)

2005-07-22T11:52:00.000-05:00

Maybe you have the same problem I have. As a husband, you've allowed your hobbies (sports, cars, video games, the pub, etc.) to become a problem in your marriage. Maybe like me you're not a total freak when it comes to stuff you enjoy doing, but at the same time, you enjoy these hobbies more than spending time with your family. This is a problem.

I know a guy who sets his watch to when sports are on television and literally lives for that stuff, the thing is, his fiance does too. So no problems there. But they're not the norm, not by any stretch. For me it's playing World of Warcraft. I sit at work and strategize about that evening's gaming (ok, I gotta check the AH, meet up with friends, buy some health potions, sell that stupid ring I found in SM, go run an instance and hopefully get that new piece of armor...), I come home, eat, and right as my daughter hits the sheets around 8:30pm-9:00pm I'm logged in and adventuring. My wife goes to bed and two hours later I do as well. Another evening where I essentially ignored my family.

The problem I have is that I just cannot wait to play (like hundreds of thousands of other WoW players) and I find it difficult to choose not to play. Sometimes, when I make the decision to not play, I'm only half-conscious of what I'm doing at the time because I'm thinking stuff like "hmm, I wonder if Ciet is on tonight?", "That stupid ring better sell tonight!", or "Man I want to beat that instance tonight..."

All hobbies, when kept in perspective, are fine. It's when hobbies become a living, breathing part of your day, everyday, that there are problems.

I want my wife to know that I love her. That I do enjoy talking with her about current events, our daughter, things like that. Sometimes it's just hard to choose to live in the natural world and not in a digital one. Who wants to do dishes or fold clothes or change a cat's litter when you could be marching into a dungeon with 10 guild-mates or flying to realms unknown on a gryphon or sneaking into an enemy camp, ready to back-stab that enemy mage? Sometimes, it's just the right thing to do to fold those clothes and spend some time talking than running to the computer again.

I've heard it said that computers are destroying the fabric of inter-personal relationships and social development in children (and adults) because of the way so many become consumed by the technology. I am choosing from today to keep my hobbies in check, though sometimes I know it will be hard. Will you do the same for your family?

UK: America stands with you (again.)

2005-07-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

From our families to yours, we offer our deepest condolences for those lost in London to more islamic terror. Never forget that America stands with you, just as we always have. God bless friends.

The 70s sucked back then and the 70s suck now.

2005-07-11T18:22:00.000-05:00

Please stop trying to bring them back. Please.

Bugeye Sprite: Classic Convertible Fun

2005-07-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

World of Warcraft: PvP Ethics

2005-07-01T08:35:00.000-05:00

Though some would suggest that in times of war there are no obligations to ethics, history has proven that good men choose otherwise. In the case of World of Warcraft, there exists two types of players involved in the great war between Alliance and Horde: the first type of player sees all tagged characters (enemies) as an opportunity for a fight, and will engage in combat without batting an eye. The second type of player carefully evaluates the circumstances prior to initiating a confrontation (enemy level, class, what the enemy is currently doing [questing, grinding, PKing], et cetera) and may or may not end up fighting the enemy. It is my belief that the best players out there fall into the second category.

The rules I follow with regards to PvP (as of this post: Level 39 Human Rogue):

1. If the enemy's level is flagged as RED (five levels above me or more), is actively PKing from what I can see, is questing alone, or is camping corpses or Alliance meeting points, I will engage. In the case of much higher level enemies (skull level) I will only attack with adequate reinforcements or when the fight is fair (AKA, the skull's health is at half).

2. If the enemy's level is flagged as YELLOW or ORANGE (same level as me up to four levels above), the enemy is alone, and their health is at least half full, I will attack. Only if facing multiple (more than two) enemies will I not engage. Two at once is possible with a well-placed Sap on the more powerful of the two.

3. If the enemy's level is flagged as GREEN (up to six levels below me) I will only attack if they are actively PKing, one to three levels below me, or just doing something that bugs me. Generally I will ignore these enemies unless they're close to my level or have a military title (Scout), at which point I will engage them. Four levels below me and down I will generally ignore.

4. If the enemy's level is flagged as GREY (beyond six levels below me) I will stealth up to them, highlight their character, and either /whistle or /clap. This usually invokes a quick response: the enemy running away as fast as possible. I'll chuckle and head on my way.

Basic rules when driving an automobile.

2005-07-01T07:18:00.000-05:00

For your sake and safety (and for my sanity), please observe the following rules when driving your car:

1. If you're going to change lanes, please take the 1.8 seconds necessary to use your blinkers. Two or three blinks will suffice and should be announced prior to changing lanes, not after you've already crossed into the other lane. Remember, when changing lanes you do not have the right-of-way.

2. It is against the law in many places to pass on the right. This is because it is extraordinarily dangerous to do so (since most people expect that they can easily merge right in the event of trouble or to simply slow down their driving pace). If you absolutely have to pass, position yourself to pass on the left, or just don't pass, it's as simple as that.

3. Tailgating will not persuade the car in front of you to move any faster. In fact, the car in front of you will almost certainly slow down when you tailgate. This response is exactly the opposite of what the impatient tailgater is expecting. The best and safest way to clear the path (when you absolutely must be somewhere in a hurry) is to "shadow and push" the car in front of you. This is accomplished by staying at least 15-20 feet behind the car in front of you, pacing their exact speed. Depending on the driver, after a few moments (or in some cases a few minutes) of this shadowing, a sort of "relationship" will begin to form between you and the driver in front of you. In his mind, you are no longer a roadway "threat" to him, because as he sees it, you've just been patiently driving along behind him minding your own business. This opens up a pushing opportunity. Slowly accelerate, being cautious to maintain the 15-20 foot distance between the two of you. 9 times out of 10 the driver in front of you will also slowly being to accelerate, and before you know it, he has either merged right into a slower lane or has picked up his speed to better reflect your desired speed. Safely pass when the timing is right and proceed onward.

Tom Cruise is a moron.

2005-06-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

First of all, the concept of extra-terrestrial aliens is the invention of overactive dreamers (science fiction writers, college professors, young children). Second, Scientology is the invention of a science fiction writer, whose universally recognized profession, was to make up stories for their entertainment value. Silly me, I forgot that Jesus Christ (AKA the Son of God) was just a terrible hoax, and in fact, a science fiction writer and his inane ramblings were in actuality the true path to salvation and paradise. Wow, I'm sure glad that Hubbard (and other knuckleheads like him) came along when they did, after all, had they not we may all still be living moral lives in submission to the will and word of the Son of God. Thank you Hollywood, thank you.