Well, one of the most anticipated games in recent memory has finally been released. I've heard tale of how great it was going to be from so many people. Including, of course, Will Wright, Maxis, and Electronic Arts. A myriad demonstration videos, and gaming shows were used to show off SPORE. Does the game live up to the hype?

I've had the opportunity to play it for about 6 hours total. I've managed to get to the "Tribal Stage." You start as a microbe in the "Tide Pool Stage." After finding lots of food you slowly advance to the surface of the water. Then, once you're at the top you're allowed to set foot (or flagella) on land. This begins the "Creature Stage."

Then you do a bunch of confusing things for a couple of hours...

Do you remember that phrase? I do. In fact, everyone remembers the phrase. Most people even remember what it meant. Very few, however, remember the significance. It has been dumbed down, and politicized. Worse, there's been an effort to make us forget the incident itself, while still shouting "we will never forget."

Yeah, we will never forget the phrase. But we will forget what it felt like on that day because we've erased it from the media. Most media outlets won't show the planes crashing into the twin towers. Some will tell you it's because it's too painful. Some will tell you it's a conspiracy because the media hates the war in Iraq.

No matter which, we did forget.

First read this, and then read what follows.

Yes, Socialized Anything is Bad

Why is that? What I offer is opinion based on human nature, and the nature of business. Who is going to question that most doctors earn a decent living. Specialists earn an even better living (i.e. oncologists, nephrologists, etc.). Who is going to argue against the old adage, "you get what you pay for?" Why wouldn't that also be true in health-care?

It is true. While the system in Canada, for all intents and purposes, works well for that country, it hasn't worked anywhere else it has been tried. The other huge variable in Canada is the accessibility of health-care in the United States for Canadian citizens. Yes, they can easily hop the border, and get treated. In fact, it happens quite frequently. The United States is one of the least healthy nations, but has some of the very best medical treatment.

Human beings fall into the category of animals. Thus, I will keep this as generic as I possibly can. I'll also disclose that I believe in "Intelligent Design." That way you can make an informed choice as to whether you want to read the rest of the article or not.

I do not discount evolution entirely. Evolution undoubtedly happens. Where I disagree is the source. I'm not entirely sure where "evolutionists" claim it all started. I'm confused by the many different and often contradictory theories. I do realize that some theories are mutually exclusive to others; in science, this is perfectly acceptable. I don't offer that these contradictions invalidate evolution on the whole. They're different perspectives on data we don't have. It's all conjecture because none of us was there when it started.

I understand there is evidence that leads to these various conclusions, but interpretation of that evidence is no less subjective than one's interpretation of God. So, what I offer here is my subjective, and biased position on evolution and why it can never work for me.

Everyone knows that when you have a cold, flu, or other similar illness you should drink a lot of orange juice. Everyone also knows that the reason you do this is to increase the amount of Vitamin C in your system to "boost the immune system." However, I think that is a bit misleading. Vitamin C doesn't boost the immune system itself. Instead, what it does is weaken the defenses of the virus, or bacteria that has invaded. It also makes your body less able to be exploited by the virus.

I know I'm nit-picking. I'm just setting you up for the rest of this post. The distinction I've made above now seems more important.

I have spent the last two years experimenting on myself with Vitamin C. I have utilized it for various common ailments. While these results aren't scientific, they are now invaluable to me. Now I know how to treat these ailments with success. I know which ones are affected by Vitmain C, and which don't seem to respond at all. I'll also tell you what some other researchers have found.

The art of Daevin is a new idea. It means being clever without being blatant. It means knowing when others are being clever, and blatant. Common sense isn't all that common these days.

You'll notice my little saying: "Quite possibly the most common sense you'll find in a single sitting." Daevin is short for "common sense".

If you're as smart as I am, or smarter, email me at daevinart@gmail.com -- this blog post is actually a part of my online research. If it doesn't make any sense to you, then simply ignore it. I'll explain what I'm up to in a later post.

It never ends. People will forever try to defy the laws of physics. Now, let's toss aside science for just a moment. Let's take this to bare mechanics. Even a layman knows simple mechanics. In spite of this many thousands of people are bilked out of millions of dollars every year.

One such bilker, I believe, is Steven Marks and his Magical Free Energy ... things.

There's always going to be a lot of debate as to which operating system is best. You can go on and on about how this one can do this, or that. Which one has more software to choose from. Which has more peripherals you can hook up to it. But the truth is, the best one will always serve the consumer. It's not enough to have cards for this, or software for that. If it isn't done in a way that is seamless for the user, it's just hype.

I get asked, a lot, about what "Daevin" is. I use it as my login name on my desktop machine. It's not a terribly common name, and it's not really my nickname. So, what is Daevin?

Well, the story is pretty simple.

Who knew personal blog software was so easy to write?

I wouldn't really call this blogging, though. It's more like a scratch pad for the weird crap I come up with during the average day. The mind is always racing.

Straw man arguments are weak attempts at advancing a belief or agenda. One of the weakest straw man arguments in support of being "born homosexual" is the "what person would choose the verbal abuse, the shunning, the ridicule?" argument. Do you really want the answer?

The answer is: most people. People make harmful choices all of the time in spite of the consequences to themselves and those around them. Many AIDS, Herpes, and cancer sufferers have done things they knew to be a risk to themselves -- and even to others -- and still chose those risky behaviors. The risks from those desires are life-threatening and life-altering. I find it totally believeable that someone would face ridicule so long as they got what they wanted. I see it every day.

Vanguard was supposed to be a World of Warcraft killer. I've explored the game for many, many hours. I doubt that will be the case. The graphical limitations alone will do it in. It lacks FSAA (full screen anti-aliasing) and instead opts for HDR (high dynamic range).

Brad McQuaid will be jobless soon. Sony will end up taking over a failed game and take the brunt of the blame for it. The financial squanderings of Sigil are Sigil's own fault. Sony, stupid is as stupid does.

PETA stands for People Effecting Terror Actively.

The 2nd ammendment has been twisted to not mean what it means.
People don't understand what "Right to Privacy" really means. Especially errant teens.

Marijuana is not safe.

Cigarettes don't kill smokers. Smokers kill themselves.

Booze doesn't kill people. Drunkards kill people, not just themselves.
Steve Perry is a putz for leaving Journey and then claiming he didn't feel "a part of Journey."

EverQuest is still the best mindless game in existence. World of Warcraft is a cheap wannabe (but fun nonetheless!).

"Separation of Church and State" is not in the U.S. Constitution.