Threw it on the ground!

I love these shorts for the most part. This one gets kudos for the tasing.

Morgan’s Birthday Wish

This weekend Morgan was talking about his birthday. He’s been asking for a soccer ball for months, and we’re telling him he’ll get one if he’s good. (Translation: he’ll get one.) However, this time when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he said “Giant Robot”.

What can you say to that?

1. Giant robots are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain.
2. Giant robots are big and tend to cause damage to buildings, like our house.
3. Giant robots are noisy. We still regret getting you that kazoo and that drum.

Justice and Compassion

When Compassion is Cruel: Justice demands that killers serve out their full sentences – Reason Magazine.

Definitely bears thinking on. My first reaction when I heard this was to think it would be alright to let her out. As always, I try not to take a position that I can’t be dislodged from, and this article did it.

More of the same

How Lord of the Rings Should Have Ended

No, and Yes

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you’re opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations – you got 10 out of 10 correct!

And yes, they were on the first try.

43, surprisingly

Created by The Oatmeal

New Family Members

We got two additions to our family, and we’re working on a third. Last Sunday I was getting ready to mow the back lawn when I saw a small black and white kitten in the bushes next to our shed. I called Anne over to look at it, and heard another in the bushes while we were talking. Soon after, we saw their mother dart away. She’s a grey shorthair who’s been hanging around recently. Very cute, and doesn’t seem to be feral, just abandoned. We’ve been trying to get mom to come inside, but I think it will be a long time if it happens at all.

Meanwhile, the two kittens are in the house making Morgan and Gus and Juju go insane. We have to watch Morgan especially because he’s likely to hurt one of them accidentally.

Pictures coming soon.

Dave Arneson: 1947 – 2009 RIP

DAVE ARNESON 1947- 2009 R.I.P.

David Lance Arneson (Oct 1, 1947 – Apr 7, 2009) was a game player, game designer, and game entrepreneur. He was also a true gentleman and a dear friend. As one of the co-designers of the Dungeons and Dragons game, he started something that is much bigger than all of us. It was not only a new game, but a new KIND of game and it spawned an entire industry. Without Dave, it never would have happened. He taught, lectured, designed games, and started at least three companies. He won several awards, including the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design’s Hall of Fame (Origins) in 1984. In 1984 he married Frankie Ann Morneau and they had one daughter, Malia. In addition to Dungeons & Dragons, games or scenarios he wrote or co-authored include Don’t Give Up The Ship, Blackmoor, Dungeon Master’s Index, First Fantasy Campaign, Adventures in Fantasy, Robert Aspirin’s Thieves World, Citybook II, DNA/DOA, Case of the Pacific Clipper, and more. We are all much better off for his time on earth, but the world is less than it was, with him gone. I never knew him to be rude to a fan, or turn down a friend in need. In fact, I believe his last words to me were “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.” I wish there was something I could do for you, my friend. Good bye, and may God bless you. — Rick Loomis [From Dave Arneson]

D&D was my first RPG, as it was for most other gamers (though not all). Thank you, Mr. Arneson.

Old memories of living in England

When I was in high school, my mother sent me to England to live with my aunt and grandmother. She wanted me to have a better education, she said. I’m not entirely sure if that was the true reason, but there it is.

I was on a website for D&D which had a map of people looking for players. It was set in England, so I tried zooming in to Cumbria, the place I used to live, and found it was thoroughly mapped by Google. So, I went on a little trip down memory lane of my year and a half in Cumbria.

View Cumbria in a larger map