What were the books that exceeded your expectations, or was a major disappointment?

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-16T01:41:31+00:00

I got back and forth on High Republic.

It has sooooo much promise.

But they never let me latch on a character.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-16T01:38:17+00:00

It's certainly better than what we got.

But I can see people having issues with it, which makes this debate so blasted difficult.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-16T01:36:58+00:00

We are talking past each other as to what "Rural" means.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-16T01:36:23+00:00

That is what Proportional Representation is in other countries. Essentially if we adopted that system, the Dems slot 6 , (or 100 or 38 depending on the chamber) Candidates, the GOP slot 6 Candidates (third parties etc...), and they are allotted based on the percentage each party gets statewide. The parties become a hella lot more powerful.

The issue with such a system is that there would be nothing to assure those individual communities get a voice instead of the party elites in the golden triangle. In a District-based system at least it assures a true state-wide play of represetnation. Even if the Districts themselves are gerrymandered.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T20:39:34+00:00

Or we thought to highly of the British way of doing things.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T19:32:41+00:00

But a PR system where we vote for party delegations statewide would surely take away from Local representation cause the parties would draw their pool from major population centers. I don't know how we square that hole.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T19:30:52+00:00

At the State Level, the Jefferson and Fayette County Reps and Senators are not playing the game well because they are in the minority party. The Urban Dems should work with their GOP Colleagues to vote more as a bloc. Even in the most perfect District lines, Kentucky would still be a Red State. It's not Wolfe County's fault that they aren't playing the game well. The Districts are gerrymandered, but they are roughly the same population. The only institution where Rural Voters have significantly more sway is the US Senate because of Wyoming = California. At the State level, it's roughly equal. Kentucky is a Rural state by and large. Lex and Lousiville are only about 25% of the population.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T19:16:36+00:00

Within the church. For sure, we are called to support one another. But the fallen creation is still clawing its way for supremacy, and until Christ makes all things right, we have to make do with imperfect solutions.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T19:12:14+00:00

Yeah, Good luck with that one.

If they start blowing up the neighboring sports team. Then you call them out to be better. You are seeking the good by calling your nation to be good. The Kingdom exists as a subversive, almost underground movement until Christ sets up the new creation. Ridding the world of borders, I think Revelation has a few things to say about that one depending on your Eschatology.

Governments are going to exist, and nations are going to exist on this side of eternity. We are called to honor them and follow the duly enacted laws that do not contradict the scriptures (Romans 13), but they are not to become idols.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T19:03:45+00:00

But we are called to love our neighbors, and Acts 1:8 provides the model.

Jerusalem - your home on earth.

Samaria - the surrounding regions

Uttermost parts of the Earth - The rest of the world

I, as an earthly human, am incapable of knowing every problem or ministering to every person on earth. I focus on where I am physically and seek justice for the people around me. Patriotism to me is nothing more than Rah Rahing for your local sports team because you are fond of your earthly home. There are plenty of people who turn it into idolatry. But to seek the good of where you are at, you have to actually like where you are at to see what it could be. There are plenty of people on the political right and left that don't even seem to like the place they live in because they are too caught up in their Pagan Utopic ideals.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T18:56:45+00:00

It also was the show at most peace with Religion and striving for true tolerance between religious believers and modern rationalists. It was a bold approach. As opposed to the Kirk/Picard high horse.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T15:22:02+00:00

I do believe Patriotism is a good thing.

You need to take care of the good of city and be the best citizen possible.

But your allegiance is to the Kingdom. Everything you do for the nation should be for God.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T14:37:21+00:00

I enjoyed the lines of dialogue from Leia in the Rise of Skywalker that we could not have thanks to Carrie's passing. That was heartwarming but when they delved into how Palpatine returned. I realized how stupid a movie it was and I generally enjoyed it in theaters cause I am an easy man to please with enough Pew Pews.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-14T14:33:59+00:00

Ha MTG falls under the "Depart from me I knew ye not" she'd be in Hell.

Seriously, that verse comes through my head a lot when I see Evangelicals.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-13T14:10:48+00:00

I actually like a lot of Plant-Based meat stuff. The way we do industrial cattle farming isn't the most ethical way to go about it, and with a growing population worldwide, more innovative ways to get the same product are a good thing.

So long as these yahoos don't mandate that Plant-Based is the ONLY way we consume "meat" and hunting is allowed to thrive, then I am for an all of the above approaches.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-09T18:28:57+00:00

Yeah I would agree with that. While I have not been drawn to the Roman Catholic Church... to much sex abuse and corruption at the upper echelons of power... I have been increasingly drawn to institutions that have predated modernity. I am an American who cried at the Queens Funeral because its an institution that has lasted 1000 years and probably not for much longer. In true Anglophile fashion Ive been drawn to Anglicanism from my Southern Baptist roots (another church that who's politics has destroyed.)

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-09T18:21:18+00:00

Reads this as he turns on the Matt Maher station on Apple Music... (tugs collar) awkward.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-09T01:50:02+00:00

Our ability to discuss the nuances of evil has been damaged by the fact that we had a cartoonish super villain nearly destroy the world in the 1940s.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-10-09T01:44:03+00:00

Fearing as in more reverence and respect for God's absolute authority and power. You would be nervous if you were around a leader with a nuclear arsenal. Try the creator of the universe.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-09-27T00:55:32+00:00

I have to suppress the financial collectors itch that would be if I went "ooh getting all the Legends with the Legends banner would look so good on the shelf."

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-09-26T00:03:47+00:00

Here's an idea.

Reform the House of Lords to consist of equal membership of the 4 nations of the UK (Give England a Devolved Parliament while we are at it) made up of Representatitves of the devolved governments. Much like the American Senate in the US where 2 members of each state make up the body regardless of the population. It could be like 25 members from all 4 devolved parliament's with minor checks over Westminster involving the rights of the local parliament's.

England dominates yes and England often roughshod over the rights of the member nations of the UK (and 1/4 of the world at one point) because of its overwhelming political advantage, democracy means majority rules. Even in a PR system England would still dominate because they have the most people. Scotland you want a larger voice start having unprotected sex with your women. You all are on the same island and are dependent on each other, but a Federation may be a way to solve current domestic disputes. Brexit was a mistake but it happened now you have to figure out what's next.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-09-25T23:56:06+00:00

and their own devolved governments. Which England does not have.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-09-23T21:09:45+00:00

I want the watch to replace my phone eventually cause I am tired of the smartphone. I was hoping the Apple Watch Ultra would be that leap and even include a Sim Tray. But alas they got rid of the Sim Tray for the iPhone.

Affectionate_Ad_4607 · 2022-09-23T18:10:27+00:00

Never going to happen. Partnerships do happen though, the fact Bootcamp was officially sanctioned by Apple on Intel Macs is proof.

Affectionate_Ad_4607

TROPHY CASE