Friday, August 22, 2008

Award Sonic FF Contest '08



So here we go again....


it's time for the Sonic Fanfiction contest 2008, and one of the things needed is prizes. This is my example of what one of the prizes COULD be. It's just an example.
In the end I had to stick it on my blog 'cause Picasa fell through. @.@

Saturday, August 16, 2008

New Dischantixes for the Trix Sisters




The picture above is my new semi-redesigned Dischantixes for the Trix sisters, which I made for Winx Club story Winx Elements 3.


I like this design much better than the one the creators gave the Trix; you can see the horror in this picture here. The Dischantix could have been a cool plot device, but I think we can all safely say the creators made some mistakes. First the fact that the original Dischantixes were little more than underwear, boots and a couple of accessories, and second the fact that it only appeared in one episode.


The changes in this picture include the fact that the main part out of the outfit was made more like a swimsuit/bodysuit, the cover up/shawl things were brought up higher, and the necklace containing 'anti-fairy dust', or witch dust. Whichever name you prefer.


I don't mind if you want to repost this image elsewhere, but I would appreciate it if you told me where you were putting it, and don't remove my tag. That's all.
Anyway, please leave a comment and tell me what you thought about the picture. Eventually there'll be a link to this on my FFN page. ^^
L8R!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Update

The first week of school is over. I survived. Yay me.

Unfortunatly, I didn't get to see any meteors. I woke up at three a.m., and peeked out the window, but I didn't see anything. So I went to a window on the other side of the room and peeked out of that one, and I still couldn't see anything. So I decided to just go back to bed.

Oh well. There's always next year.

And I started a poll over here. Please vote in it, as I'm curious to see what people think.

L8R!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Perseid Meteor Shower

I may not be planning to watch the Olympics, but there is one thing I’m planning on watching: The Perseid meteor shower. I say planning because this all depends on whether or I not I have the gumption to pull my butt out of bed at three in the morning.

I found out about this while reading a magazine. They had a short article in it about the upcoming meteor shower. I once saw a meteor shower when I was younger, but I can barely remember it, so I can’t wait to see this meteor shower.

According to the websites I’ve visited, the shower is supposed to start at eleven p.m. and peak between two and four a.m. Binoculars aren’t needed to see this event. On one site I saw something about facing northeast, but I don't know if that helps or not.

Now, just so long as the weather stays somewhat clear down here in XXXXXXXXX, Indiana, maybe I can see some meteors! Best part is, according to this Indianapolis weather thing right here, the weather is supposed to be only partly cloudy! ^^ So maybe I can see some meteors. I sure hope that forecast is right.

Speaking of meteors showers, check out the interesting things you can find on YouTube.

Anyway, I'm outta here. L8R!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Beijing Olympics, 2008

Human rights violations. China, home of the 2008 Olympics, is full of them.

I admit, not everything is or should be a human right. But freedom of worship should be. Occasional freedom of speech is also nice.

Now before you jump on me and assume that I just think the Olympics should come back to America or something equally stupid, allow me to explain. First off, I don't care where the Olympics go. This is the only case where I've ever really cared about the Olympics, and only because of China's human rights violations. Other than that, I don't care who gets to hold the Olympics. But I do believe beyond the hesitation of a doubt that China and other human rights violation countries don't deserve to host the Olympics.

I wouldn't donate a hill of beans to the 2008 Olympics, so it's rather impressive I actually donated one whole blog post entirely to the subject.

And now, because opinions are everywhere on blogs, I went out and did a blog search on this subject. One of the more interesting blogs I found was this one right here. You can learn alot from doing a simple blog search. Interesting excerpts from that blog include:




Why so much hate for an event that’s supposed to bring people together for two weeks? Well, for starters, the first juvenile reason is because Toronto should have won the bid seven years.



This is why I said you can learn interesting things. So Toronto wanted to hold the Olympics, eh? They should have. Here's another excerpt.





Beijing being awarded the games was such a sham right from the beginning. Everyone was fully aware of China’s human rights and environmental abuses, but Juan Antonio Samaranch, the head of the IOC at the time of the announcement, decided to turn a blind eye to all of it and still award them the game. This is the same China that has had a never-ending dispute with Taiwan, Tibet, and even still some issues with Hong Kong. No one wants to be associated with these Commies. When they made the announcement, my entire family collectively put on our tinfoil hats and said that this was how Samaranch wanted to be remembered - as bringing a new era to the world by bringing the Olympics to China - since he retired shortly after the announcement.


He retired. What an easy way out. But I wonder: why did he give it to China? Did they bribe him, or something?

Anyway, let's move on. I found some really good stuff out there. Here's what another blogger thinks:





The way I see it….The Human Rights issue in China has been going on for so long and the Tienanmen Square ‘massacre’ high-lighted that to us, ignoramus! However, what about America? Aren’t they also guilty of human rights abuses with Guantanamo Bay?



Ah, no. We are trying to protect our FREEDOM. Heaven forbid that we take drastic steps to preserve it. I'd apologise for the fact we offended you, but I won't because I couldn't care any less if I wanted to. China is currently the one with the pressure on because they are the ones hosting the Olympics.

Here's another quote, same blog:



Sadly, after all the negative publicity that China has received…its almost as if the Western world instead of wishing them success, IS dooming them to failure! This would then prove to the rest of the world….See I told you…the Asians are still too primitive to be hosting such a major event!


Uh, yeah, earth to blogger, this isn't about Asia. You can host the Olympics in Japan, and that would be fine with me. This is about China's human rights violations.

Another blog:





And now for a final blow! China wants to spy on all foreign Internet users mainly Americans during their trip to the Olympics. Spying and “freedom of speech” is China’s biggest abuse other than their Tibet and Falun Gong woes.


Now see, this is what I'm talking about. I wonder what those people are trying to hide. And also:




Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, released a translated document Wednesday from China's Public Security Bureau that he said orders hotels to use the monitoring programs. .....

.... The translated document offered by Brownback's staff states that "refusing the installment or stopping operation of the system after installment will be subject to punishment. ... In case of serious violation, access to the Internet will be suspended or the business license will be canceled."



Uh-huh. I find this rather interesting.

One last blog, before I move on.




For the people who love to use human rights as an example, accusing a country of violating human rights is a serious offence. It is more so when the countries that make the accusations have violated or still violate human rights. What right does the West including the United States have in accusing China of human rights violations when there are many human rights violations in the West? Italy was accused by the European Commission of Human Rightsof violating the rights of the Roma [Gypsy] Population. Many countries in Europe also violated the rights of the Roma [Gypsy] Population since the right of the Roma Population is to live as eternal migrants and Europe does not want to recognize these rights. In France, the 2002 Presidential Elections left Chirac in First Place with Le Pen in Second Place. While I do not agree with Le Pen, the fact that Chirac and the mainstream political parties in France sidelined Le Pen and his supporters so that Chirac could win the Presidency is hardly an example of democracy.



Alright. I agree with that ... sort of.



The United States of America and its Mainstream Media cannot accuse China of Human Rights Violations without taking into account that they are always a society spoiling for a fight.



Umm, excuse me? On what grounds do you claim that we are always spoiling for a fight?




At the same time, the Libertarians and Greens are excluded from the political process secondary to archaic election laws that favour the Republicans and Democrats.



What election laws? There's other parties out there besides those two. You just have to get support from the public.




What does the West want including the Mainstream Media? They want to impose their way of life on the rest of the world but when immigrants from Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America come to Europe and North America, there are the so called alarm bells of “being invaded”. The Human Rights as practiced in the West is one in which many forms of immorality are admitted while the innocent suffer from the abuse and injustices who preach human rights. The hypocrisy is so big that these people charge Sixty or Seventy Dollars for their so called workshops while people in America have to pay almost $5.00 a liter for their petrol or gasoline.



This confuses me. This blogger gave no evidence to back this up, and I have no idea what he's talking about. (sigh) Let's move on.



So what have we learned in all this? Let's look:

1. No country is perfect.

Sadly, it's a fact. No matter how rabidly I defend my country, there is just no place on this Earth that is perfect.

2. People see what they want to see.

This, too, is also a true fact. So what's the point of this?



The Point: Does China deserve to host the Olympics?

No. They do not. Perhaps they will sometime in the future, but as things stand, right now, they do not. Should we boycott the games? Well I definitely won't be going to China, if that's what you mean. Should the athletes stay away? No. They should go over there, and win the gold. Should President Bush stay away? No. He should go over there and make it a point to bring up the human rights violation.

I probably won't watch the Olympics. I really have no interest in them, no matter where they're held. Besides, by this time next week I'll be back to school, and won't have as much time to watch TV anyway. Whether or not other people watch them is total up to those people. This is simply my opinion.

Hopefully, the 2012 Olympics will be in Toronto. In the meantime, I hope America brings home the gold.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Breakdown of Reasons not To Vote for John McCain...

I was out this morning doing some research on John McCain. After all, there's no better way to get popular opinion then searching people's blogs. I find a lot of useful tidbits there.

Anyways, one of the blogs I looked at was this one right here, which contains a list of things you should know about John McCain before you vote for him. I actually saw these in a YouTube video before, it was titled something like 'Ten reasons not to vote for John McCain.' But I digress.

I'm going to take this list and break it down with my own opinions over here on my blog. Be warned: these are my opinions, and I can almost guarantee you won't like some of them.

With that said, let's commence on the list.




1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.



WTHeck? Why in the world does Martin Luther King Jr. need his own holiday? Someone out there explain this to me. Why does he need his own holiday? Oh, and if this is all they're debating on Capitol Hill, I'm gonna be upset. Believe it or not these people have more important things to be doing, like, gee, I dunno, maybe working on that war we're fighting?


2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."



I'm not sure what they're talking about so I'll skip this.


3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.


And he spent 5 1/2 years in Vietnam as a POW doing what? Being tortured. That's most likely why he's against it. And as much as I'm not fond of the thought of torturing someone, if you need to take vital information from a terrorist and you know you can get it out of him by torture, more power to ya. Contrary to what the government and the media wants you to think, terrorists do not deserve rights to protection. If you haven't, you should read my other post, 'A Reason Not To Care.' It sort of fits into this.


4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."


Good. This is good. Yes, I know you're glaring at me, but I don't really care. Do you know how many living yet unborn children have died-yes DIED, the proper terminology is actually 'were murdered' - since Roe vs. Wade was enacted? I went and looked it up, and I was shocked. 49,915,603 babies have died since Roe vs. Wade. Forty-nine million nine hundred and fifteen thousand, six hundred and three unborn babies have been murdered. (And then after we're done endorsing murder we ask God to bless America. What a laugh.) There is only ONE time abortion should be an option, and that is when the mother's life is threatened; when it would be either her or the baby.


5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.



Skipping this too. I know virtually nothing about these people. Although I do wonder how much money those people would have gotten had Bush not vetoed the thing...


6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.


Someone should tell the AP that not everyone in America is facing foreclosure. Only about 10% of the population is. It's really not as bad as they paint it, and McCain is RICH. He can AFFORD to have eight houses. You need to think this one through, people. 10% of the population is facing foreclosure, and if I'm not mistaken, it's because they buy houses they cannot afford. Could it be that, in fact, John McCain is right?!? (insert horrified gasp here.) -_-)


7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."


The thought of Obama being president makes me cringe. If that Democrat gets into office you can kiss America as we know it goodbye. I don't agree with everything McCain stands for, but it's either him or Obama so we either have to pick one or impeach both of 'em. (Personally, I think we should impeach both candidates.)


8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.



Whatever. I know lobbyists are said to manipulate votes, but to fix that you have to purge the whole government of them, and right now I have a different fish to be frying; one named Barack Obama. Speaking of Obama, how many lobbyists are working for him?


9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."



I about choked on my own spit when I saw this. This deserves a bigger WTHeck? then the first item on this list. Seriously, WTHeck is wrong with these people?!?!? America's founding mission is to destroy Islam? Where on this planet did you get that? The Catholic Church is the Antichrist? What? Misguided yes, the Antichrist no. Gees, those three better get their Bibles back out. I'm kicking myself because I can't remember the verses, but what about that one that one about loving your neighbors? Doing good to your enemies so you can heap coals of fire on their heads? Come on! There's other verses in there that fit the Catholics, too. And if Parsley think that this country's founding mission was to destroy Islam, he'd better get his American history book back out.


10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.


Good. I've sick of having this Global Warming farce (and it is a farce) shoved down my throat. I hope that when I finally buy a car, it dumps twenty tons of Co2 into the atmoshpere, and I'm ONLY saying that so I can make Al Gore and his cronies cringe. Now if we could just get McCain to let oil companies drill in ANWR...


And so, those are the ten reasons, and my personal opinion on them. Some things are good, and others are bad. On whole, on a rank from 1-5 stars, McCain gets three and a half. He can do the job, at least. Obama gets 1/2 a star, but I'll wait for different day to bash him. And so, thus ends my first political post. I checked posts waiting to go up, and it turns out I actually had three to go up. Whatever.

I'm outta here.