Blue Table Painting

Alien Temple Notes

2012-01-31T23:43:00.003-07:00

Epic Terrain Time

Moving or drifting elements
Creatures as terrain
Melting/extending PVC
Surface parts/walls
Water features
Round pools with floating crystals
Repeating animal statues (visit dollar store)
Ivory or white as base color?

More to come

You old people set up a system by which the young would pay for the old, but you did it before the young were born. You stole from the utterly defenseless, those with no voice. It is time for you to return that which you have stolen. Sadly, the government cannot return what they stole from you. Your fellow thieves have left you holding an empty bag.

What's up with that?

2012-01-31T02:42:00.003-07:00

Pics forthcoming.

Saturday I took my daughter to a daddy-daughter dance at the middle school (she's twelve now). It was fifties theme. My wife made her a poodle skirt out of red felt. And me in jeans and white t-shirt. The dance was in the school foyer, perhaps a hundred people. Imagine an area, round in shape with a promenade on the second level and a split staircase straight across from the door. The entire place was decorated in black and white checks with red balloons. I refrained from cutting the rug with the typical vigorousness so as not to embarrass her.

A student band played, all dressed up fifties style. The lead singer was in a black dress with no-doubt style blonde hair. This girl absolutely belted out the tunes. It was overwhelming. And some Johnny Cash, too. I frankly was astounded at how talented they were.

I'm so very proud of my daughter. She's growing up to be so responsible and creative. She keeps her room clean without being asked.

Over the weekend I acquired Starcraft 2 for my boys' laptops and we set them up on the kitchen table to play cooperative games. Cookies and corn dogs. My wife was the hero of the day, figuring out all the technical aspects. So, now playing Starcraft 2 is a "family activity". Quite a neat work around. But seriously, it is a source of great camaraderie. Today (Monday) when I got home, they were both ready to play. I guess it's the modern equivalent of a board game.

First head-to-head game with my ten-year old son I was taking it easy on him, but then he showed up at my base with twelve Void Rays and wiped me off the face of the map. Good for him!

My six-year old plays Zerg.

Next stop: miniatures battles.

Sunday the EQ prez came by and released me from teaching in Quorum. I asked him directly if it was on account of all the false doctrine, but he assured me that was not the case. Which I found surprising because I went out of my way to teach the opposite of what the manual said in some cases. I've got a new calling to organize service projects.

When I was about to go on my mission, my uncle (a bit of a mystic) sent me an excerpt from a book. It was the story of two cats. A woman had to put her two cats down (for whatever reason, just stay with the story). As she was taking them out of the car one of them bolted out of the car and dashed into a storm drain. The other one went peacefully purring into the vet and got put to sleep. The other one went feral.

At the time I just found it to be a curiosity and it didn't make much sense. Now I think I get it. that's what's up with me. Someday on gatelymusings I will bore you all to absolute tears about my religious journey. It will be only a matter of curiosity, though, as I won't tell you what to believe.

Monday morning I met with Sarah and my wife. I explained all financial aspects of the company and made Sarah CFO. So that's off my plate now. Plan: make terrain and vids. We'll see how that works out.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I had a political type meeting (about 300 people!) on Saturday AM. It was fascinating as usual, like all four hour meetings are, but the notable part was when there was a motion to extend the meeting by ten minutes and debate on the motion took longer than ten minutes.

Ron Paul or Bust

2012-01-27T16:42:00.002-07:00

Ron Paul isn't just a presidential candidate. He's the LEADER of a MOVEMENT!

For me, it's Ron Paul or nothing. All other candidates are effectively the same.

Necrons (01 JB)- project completion

2012-01-25T16:51:00.004-07:00

Cygnar (01 JR)- project completion

2012-01-25T14:05:00.007-07:00

Treasure Trove-- January 2012

2012-01-24T19:40:00.017-07:00

Thank you for visiting the Treasure Trove sale page for January 2012

NOTE: video with details is now processing

Please do not pick up any of these lots from the website directly. Instead, email us at bluetablepainting@gmail.com for availability
UPDATE: More lots going up Thursday afternoon.

Contact Shawn at bluetablepainting@gmail.com if you are interested in anything. Or call 801 372 8545. We need money via CC (by phone or email) or Paypal. Paypal address is bluetablepainting@gmail.com Check availability before buying.

For larger lots I will take offers. Email me with your best shot and I will put you on the roster, deciding usually within 1-48 hours.

Shipping
$9 flat in US (for any number of lots)
$15 to Canada
$35 to Australia/NZ/Japan
$25 most other places (eg Europe)

We are considering offers on these lots so don't be shy. No offense taken. Bulk deals also welcome (and given!). All lots are limited time, limited quantity.

Be sure to refer to full lot title and #. This is first come, first served. Whoever gives get the go ahead and gives me money gets the lot.

LOTS
#1 1x Hell Talon painted L3 (not by BTP) as-is no base $230
Upgrade Hell Talon to L4 by BTP and get a base made for +$110
#2 Skorne Titans $130 SOLD hh
#3 Chaos Vindicators x3 $70 SOLD?
#4 Dark Eldar Force $120
#5 Blood Angels Army $850 pics SOLD! jd
#6 Various Vampire Counts (110+ figures) $440
#7 Glade Riders unit $30 SOLD!
#8 Azure Knights Army $1472

#9 Civil War Historicals $110
#10 Imperial Fists Vehicles $380
#11 Chaos Space Marines $440
#12 Chaos Daemons starter army $210 SOLD ng
#13 OOP Termagants $35 SOLD
#14 Various Imperial Guard $380
#15 Purple Nids $85
#16 Green Nids $70 SOLD! vm
#17 Broadsides Pair $60
#18 Hordes Bin $220 SOLD!
#19 Necrons Army $375
#20 Warriors of Chaos Bin $90 SOLD bf
#21 Warriors of Chaos Army $1550 SOLD! vm
#22 Ogre Kingdoms Army $2395

#23 Skorne Kits $45 SOLD hh
#24 Trollbloods Kits $50 SOLD hh
#25 Orboros Kits $115 SOLD! ac
#26 High Elf Army $1550
#27 Dwarf Army $1105 SOLD! vm

Daemons (01 NG)- project completion

2012-01-24T19:39:00.006-07:00

Grey Knights (01 HE)- project completion

2012-01-24T19:32:00.004-07:00

Studio Skaven

2012-01-24T19:27:00.005-07:00

Death Korps (01 JO)- project completion

2012-01-24T17:27:00.002-07:00

Fungus Farmers

2012-01-24T13:35:00.003-07:00

This is from the Daily Good, an email list I'm on.

How these Shroom Farmers made millions.

Fun While It Lasted

2012-01-23T18:56:00.002-07:00

Assembly did a marathon listen of this song, over and over, for ten hours today. Iron Man.

x

Blood Angels (Studio Army) for sale

2012-01-23T17:36:00.007-07:00

This army for sale. Temporary price $950. More info forthcoming.

Tau (05 JJ)- project completion

2012-01-23T16:36:00.005-07:00

Icy Snow January 21 2012

2012-01-22T22:17:00.004-07:00

At this particular moment I am watching kids TV with my daughter. It is 10:25pm so all the other kids are in bed, just mom, dad and Willow.

About a week or so ago I went with my wife to see Breaking Dawn. Yes, those mushy vampire movies. My wife read the books, leaving me a widower for two weeks, pretty much just letting herself and the house slide into the ditch. I resent those books. With the benefit of hindsight I don't think I would have gone. Apparently I don't love my wife as much as I thought. She can find a friend to go with next time.

Anyway, it was hands down the worst movie I've ever seen. My eyes actually started to water with boredom. I started looking around the theater, even the ceiling was more interesting than that drivel.

It's been a warm winter in Utah. Normally there are piles of snow by now, at least a few dozen good drops. But practically nothing, and nothing that will stick. It rained the last few days which made me happy and thinking of Oregon. But water mixed with snow makes for hard, crusty, icy snow which is a pain to get off the drive and the car windows. A real arm crusher.

The sun was out later and cleared the roads, but the snow pack keeps the water from draining so there will be ice tomorrow morning.

Our furnace went out today with no one to repair it on Sunday it's going to be a cold night, we're all bundled up. Will be fixed on Monday.

I'm off the wagon. I spent most of the day playing Starcraft 2. My sons are into it, too, which I count as family time. I plan on getting them a copy so we can play online against each other. Co-op more likely.

Church was invigorating as usual. Tamie had to go early on account of singing in the choir. I showed up later with the kids. A few of them grabbed a banana to eat on the way out the door. Once seated, I looked over and saw Willow apparently spitting up banana paste into her hands. Quickly filled, her older sister reached out a cupped hand to take the rest. As soon as her mouth cleared Willow said "I ate too much banana!" She had stuffed her face but couldn't choke it all down.

How am I feeling you ask? Just awesome. It all makes me happy inside. I love being around my family. I'm appreciative of the good things that I have. It can't be that I deserve it. It must be God's good grace. May that grace be upon you, dear reader. And good night.

x

All About Gold

2012-01-22T06:26:00.002-07:00

I found this to be an interesting article and it made sense to me.

And what follows is an interesting counterpoint and other discussion. Not bad.

2012 is a supremely important year for politics and society. I recommend to all that you read The Revolution by Ron Paul. This refers to the American Revolution. Read the book. Vote in your primaries. If you don't, then you're an apathetic-- you don't care what happens to you. If you're ever going to get involved, then now is the time.

The republican primaries are running from now through summer. Do you know when yours is?

Some New Stuff for sale- Ogres, Hell Talon, Tau

2012-01-20T14:16:00.014-07:00

Just up for a few days in this format. Contact bluetablepainting@gmail.com for questions or to purchase.

Lot #1 $190 SOLD!
Forge World Tau stuff
6x vehicle upgrade pack
4x packs of Marker Drones (two per pack)
1x Pathfinder Tetra
3x Broadsides

Lot #2 $50 SOLD!
Imperial Guard tanks OOP x3

Lot #3 $420 SOLD!
Ogres

22x Ogre Bulls/16x Ironguts/ 8x Leadbelchers

15x Sprues for Noblars (= minimum 45 models)

2x Butchers

2x Noblar Scraplaunchers

2x Hunters with Sabre Tusks

2x Arabian Maneaters

3x Pirate Maneaters

2x Female Maneaters

2x Paymaster Maneaters

3x Yette's

2x Imperial Maneaters

2x Tyrants

17x Noblar Trappers

1x Gorger

1x Ninja Maneater

1x Giant (new style)

1x Skrag the Slaughterer

1x Greasus Goldtooth

Lot #4 Hell Talon
1x Hell Talon painted L3 (not by BTP) as-is no base $230
Upgrade Hell Talon to L4 by BTP and get a base made for +$110

Lot #5 Thunderbolt SOLD!
1x Thunderbolt painted L2 (not by BTP) as-is no base $150
Upgrade Thunderbolt to L3 by BTP and get a base made for +$90
OR Upgrade Thunderbolt to L4 by BTP and get a base made for +120

Shipping
$9 flat in US (for any number of lots)
$15 to Canada
$35 to Australia/NZ/Japan
$25 most other places (eg Europe)

Retribution (01 WH)- project completion

2012-01-20T13:07:00.007-07:00

Ebon Crows (03 MB)- project completion

2012-01-20T12:13:00.002-07:00

Website being fixed

2012-01-19T11:06:00.001-07:00

BTP website is having some issues. We are fixing this.

Shawn

Stop Passing Onerous Legislation

2012-01-18T15:40:00.002-07:00

███ ██ trust █ ██████ your ████ █ ██ ███ ████ ██████ ████ ███government███ ████ ██████ █████ ██████ ████ ██████████ █everything█████████ ███ ████ ███ ██████████ ████████ ██ is ██████████ ██████████ ███████ ███ █████ fine.

New Vids up

2012-01-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

Put some vids up on my gatelymusings channel

Everything I want to do is illegal

2012-01-16T17:07:00.002-07:00

[I loved this article. I feel the exact same way. Just being an employer I get letters all the time from the various layers of bureaucracy. I worry every time I open one. Will this be the one that sinks my entire operation? Something I didn't know about? I've had it, just like this guy. I'm sick of playing Mother May I? with the Feds.]

by Joel Salatin
Everything I want to do is illegal.

As
if a highly bureaucratic regulatory
system was not already in place,
9/11 fueled renewed acceleration to
eliminate freedom from the countryside.
Every time a letter arrives in the mail
from a federal or state agriculture department
my heart jumps like I just got sent to
the principal’s office.
And it doesn’t stop with agriculture
bureaucrats. It includes all sorts of
governmnet agencies, from zoning, to
taxing, to food inspectors. These agencies
are the ultimate extension of a disconnected,
Greco-Roman, Western, egocentric,
compartmentalized, reductionist,
frag-mented, linear thought processs.
ON-FARM PROCESSING
I want to dress my beef and pork on the
farm where I’ve coddled and raised it. But
zoning laws prohibit slaughterhouses on
agricultural land. For crying out loud,
what makes more holistic sense than to
put abattoirs where the animals are? But
no, in the wisdom of Western disconnected
thinking, abattoirs are massive
centralized facilities visited daily by a
steady stream of tractor trailers and illegal
alien workers.
But what about dressing a couple of
animals a year in the backyard? How can
that be compared to a ConAgra or Tyson
facility? In the eyes of the government,
the two are one and the same. Every
T-bone steak has to be wrapped in a
half-million dollar facility so that it can be
sold to your neighbor. The fact that I can
do it on my own farm more cleanly, more
responsibly, more humanely, more
efficiently, and in a more environmentally
friendly manner doesn’t matter to the
government agents who walk around with
big badges on their jackets and
wheelbarrow-sized regulations tucked
under their arms.
OK, so I take my animals and load
them onto a trailer for the first time in
their life to send them up the already
clogged interstate to the abattoir to await
their appointed hour with a shed full of
animals of dubious extraction. They are
dressed by people wearing long coats
with deep pockets with whom I cannot
even communicate. The carcasses hang in
a cooler alongside others that were not
similarly cared for in life. After the
animals are processed, I return to the
facility hoping to retrieve my meat.
When I return home to sell these
delectable packages, the county zoning
ordinance says that this is a manufactured
product because it exited the
farm and was reimported as a valueadded
product, thereby throwing our farm
into the Wal-Mart category, another
prohibition in agricultural areas. Just so
you understand this, remember that an onfarm
abattoir was illegal, so I took the
animals to a legal abattoir, but now the
selling of said products in an on-farm
store is illegal.
Our whole culture suffers from an
industrial food system that has made
every part disconnected from the rest.
Smelly and dirty farms are supposed to be
in one place, away from people, who
snuggle smugly in their cul-de-sacs and
have not a clue about the out-of-sightout-
of-mind atrocities being committed to
their dinner before it arrives in microwaveable,
four-color-labeled, plastic
packaging. Industrial abattoirs need to be
located in a not-in-my-backyard place to
sequester noxious odors and sights.
Finally, the retail store must be located in
a commercial district surrounded by lots
of pavement, handicapped access, public
toilets and whatever else must be required
to get food to people.
The notion that animals can be raised,
processed, packaged, and sold in a model
that offends neither our eyes nor noses
cannot even register on the average
bureaucrat’s radar screen — or, more
importantly, on the radar of the average
consumer advocacy organization.
Besides, all these single-use megalithic
structures are good for the gross domestic
product. Anything else is illegal.
ON-FARM SEMINARS
& ‘AGRITAINMENT’
In the disconnected mind of modem
America, a farm is a production unit for
commodities — nothing more and
nothing less. Because our land is zoned as
agricultural, we cannot charge school kids
for a tour of the farm because that puts us
in the category of “Theme Park.” Anyone
paying for infotainment creates
“Farmadisney,” a strict no-no in agricultural
zones.
Farms are not supposed to be places of
enjoyment or learning. They are commodity
production units dotting the landscape,
just as factories are manufacturing units
and office complexes are service units. In
the government’s mind, integrating farm
production with recreation and meaning-
Reprinted from
September 2003 • Vol. 33, No. 9
Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal
ful education creates a warped sense of
agriculture.
The very notion of encouraging people
to visit farms is blasphemous to an official
credo that views even sparrows, starlings
and flies as disease threats to immunocompromised
plants and animals. Visitors
entering USDA-blessed production unit
farms must run through a gauntlet of toxic
sanitation dips and don moonsuits in order
to keep their germs to themselves. Indeed,
people are viewed as hazardous foreign
bodies at Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs).
Farmers who actually encourage folks
to come to their farms threaten the health
and welfare of their fecal concentration
camp production unit neighbors, and
therefore must be prohibited from
bringing these invasive germ-dispensing
humans onto their landscape. In the
industrial agribusiness paradigm, farms
must be protected from people, not to
mention free-range poultry.
The notion that animals and plants can
be raised in such a way that their
enhanced immune system protects them
from kindergarteners’ germs, and that the
animals actually thrive when marinated in
human attention, never enters the minds
of government officials dedicated to
protecting precarious production units.
COLLABORATIVE MARKETING
I have several neighbors who produce
high-quality food or crafts that complement
our own meat and poultry. Dried
flower arrangements from one artisan,
pickles from another, wine from another,
and first-class vegetables from another.
These are just for starters.
Our community is blessed with all
sorts of creative artisans who offer
products that we would love to stock in
our on-farm retail venue. Doesn’t it make
sense to encourage these customers
driving out from the city to be able to go
to one farm to do their rural browsing/
purchasing rather than drive all over the
countryside? Furthermore, many of these
artisans have neither the desire nor time to
deal with patrons one-on-one. A
collaborative venue is the most win-win,
reasonable idea imaginable — except to
government agents.
As soon as our farm offers a single
item — just one — that is not produced
here, we have become a Wal-Mart. Period.
That means a business license, which is
basically another layer of taxes on our
gross sales. The business license requires
a commercial entrance, which on our
country road is almost impossible to
acquire due to sight-distance requirements
and width regulations. Of course, zoning
prohibits businesses in our agricultural
zones. Remember, people are supposed to
be kept away from agricu-ltural areas —
people bring diseases.
Even if we could comply with all of the
above requirements, a retail outlet carries
with it a host of additional regulations. We
must provide designated handicapped
parking, government-approved toilet
facilities (our four household bathrooms
in the two homes located 50 feet away
from the retail building do not count) —
and it can’t be a composting toilet. We
must offer x-number of parking spaces.
Folks, it just goes on and on, ad nauseum,
and all for simply trying to help a
neighbor sell her potatoes or extra
pumpkins at Thanksgiving. I thought this
was the home of the free. In most
countries of the world, anyone can sell
any of this stuff anywhere, and the
hungering hordes are glad to get it, but in
the great U.S. of A we’re too sophisticated
to allow such bioregional commerce.
EMPLOYING LOCAL
YOUNGSTERS & INTERNS
Any power tool — including a cordless
screwdriver — cannot be operated by
people under the age of 18. We have lots
of requests from folks wanting to come as
interns, but what do we call them? The
government has no category for interns or
neighbor young people who just want to
learn and help out.
We’d love to employ all
the neighboring young
people. To our childfawning
and worshiping
culture, the only appropriate
child activity is recreation, sitting in a
desk, or watching TV. That’s it. That’s the
extent of what children are good for.
Anything else is abusive and risky.
Then we wonder why these kids grow
up unmotivated and bored with life. Our
local newspaper is full of articles and
letters to the editor lamenting the lack of
things for young people to do. Let me
suggest a few things: digging postholes
and building a fence, weeding the garden,
planting some tomatoes, splitting some
wood, feeding the chickens, washing
eggs, pruning grapevines, milking the
cow, building a compost pile, growing
some earthworms.
These are all things that would be
wonderfully meaningful work experience
for the youth of our community, but you
can’t simply employ people anymore. A
host of government regulatory paperwork
surrounds every “could you come over
and help us . . . ?” By the time an
employer complies with every
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
requirement, posts every
government bulletin requirement, withholds
taxes, and shoulders Unemployment
Compensation burdens and medical
and child safety regulations — he or she
can’t hire anybody legally or profitably.
The government has no pigeonhole for
this: “I’m a 17-year-old home-schooler,
and I want to learn how to farm. Could I
come and have you mentor me for a
year?”
What is this relationship? A student?
An employee? If I pay a stipend, the
government says he’s an employee. If I
don’t pay, the Fair Labor Standards board
says it’s slavery, which is illegal. Doesn’t
matter that the young person is here of his
own volition and is happy to live in a
tee-pee. Housing must be permitted and
up to code. Enough already. What
happened to the home of the free?
BUILD A HOUSE
THE WAY I WANT
You would think that if I cut the trees,
mill the logs into lumber, and build the
house on my own farm, I could make it
however I wanted to. Think again. It’s
illegal to build a house less than 900
square feet. Period. Doesn’t
matter if I’m a hermit or the
father of 20. The
government agents have
decreed, in their egocentric
Reprinted from
September 2003 • Vol. 33, No. 9
Our whole culture
suffers from an industrial
food system that has
made every part disconnected
from the rest.
wisdom, that no human can live in
anything less than 900 square feet.
Our son got married last year and
wanted to build a small cottage on the
farm, which he now oversees for the most
part. Our new saying is, “He runs the
farm, and I just run around.” The plan was
to do what Mom and Dad did for Teresa
and I — trade houses when children
come. That way our empty nest
downsizes, and the young people can
upsize in the main family farmhouse.
Sounds reasonable and environmentally
sensitive to me. But no, his little
honeymoon cottage — or our retirement
shack — had to be a 900-square-foot
TajMahal. A state-of-the-art accredited
composting toilet to avoid the need for a
septic system and sewer leach field was
denied.
When the hillside leach field would not
meet agronomic standards and we had to
install it in the floodplain, I asked the
health department bureaucrat why. He
said that essentially the only approvable
leach fields now are alongside creeks and
streams, because they are the only sites
that offer dark-enough colored soils.
Sounds like real environmental stewardship,
doesn’t it?
Look, if I want to build a yurt of rabbit
skins and go to the bathroom in a compost
pile, why is it any of the government’s
business? Bureaucrats bend over backwards
to accredit, tax credit, and offer
money to people wanting to build pig
city-factories or bigger airports. But let a
guy go to his woods, cut down some trees,
and build himself a home, and a plethora
of regulatory tyrants descend on the
project to complicate, obfuscate, irritate,
frustrate, and virtually terminate. I think
it’s time to eradicate some of these laws
and the piranhas who administer them.
OPTING OUT OF THE SYSTEM
I don’t ask for a dime of government
money. I don’t ask for government
accreditation. I don’t want to register my
animals with a global positioning tattoo. I
don’t want to tell officials the names of
my constituents. And I sure as the dickens
don’t intend to hand over my firearms. I
can’t even use the “U” word.
On every side, our paternalistic culture
is tightening the noose around those of us
who just want to opt out of the system —
and it is the freedom to opt out that
differentiates tyrannical and free societies.
How a culture deals with its misfits
reveals its strength. The stronger a culture,
the less it fears the radical fringe. The
more paranoid and precarious a culture,
the less tolerance it offers.
When faith in our freedom gives way
to fear of our freedom, then silencing the
minority view becomes the operative
protocol. The Native Americans silenced
after Little Big Horn simply wanted to
worship in their beloved Black Hills, use
traditional medicinal herbs to cure
diseases, educate their children in the
ways of their ancestors, and live in
portable homes rather than log cabins. By
that time these people represented
absolutely no threat to the continued
Westernization and domination of the
North American continent by people who
educated, vocated, medicated, worshiped,
and habitated differently.
But coexistence was out of the
question. Just like the forces that
succeeded in making it illegal for me to
use the “O” word, the Western success at
Wounded Knee quashed the little guy.
What does the Organic Trade Association
have to fear from me using the “O” word?
If society really wants government
certification, my little market share will
continue to deteriorate into oblivion. If,
however, the certification effort represents
a same-old, same-old power grab by
the elitists to exterminate the fringe players,
it is merely another example of fear
replacing faith.
Faith in what? Faith in diversity. Faith
in each other. Faith in people’s ability to
self-educate, thereby making informed
decisions. Faith in seekers to find
answers. Faith in marketplace dynamics
to reward integrity and not cheating. Faith
in Creation to heal. Faith in healthy plants
and animals to withstand epizootics. Faith
in earthworms to increase fertility. Faith
in communities to function efficiently and
honorably without centralized beltway
interference. Faith in Acres U.S.A. to
arrive every month with a cornucopia of
insight and information.
Our culture’s current fear of
bioterrorism shows the glaring weakness
of a centralized, immuno-deficient food
system. This weakness leads to fear.
Demanding from on high that we irradiate
all food, register every cow with
government agencies, and hire more
inspectors does not show strength. It
shows fear.
Indeed, official policy views all these
minority production and marketing
systems that have been shown faithful
over the centuries to be instead things that
threaten everyone and everything. As a
teepee dwelling, herb healing, home educating,
people loving, compost building
retail farmer, I represent the real answers,
but real answers must be eradicated by
those who seek to build their power and
fortunes on a lie — the lie being that
genetic integrity can be maintained when
corporate scientists begin splicing DNA.
The lie that, as Charles Walters says, toxic
rescue chemistry is better than a balanced
biological bath. The lie that farms are
disease-prone, unfriendly, inhumane
places and should be zoned away from
people.
Those of us who would aspire to opt
out — both consumers and producers —
must pray for enough cleverness to
circumvent the system until the system
cannot sustain itself. Cycles happen.
Because things are this way today does
not mean they will be this way next year.
Hurrah for that.
Often, the greatest escapes occur at the
moment the noose becomes tightest. I’m
feeling the rope, and it’s not very loose.
Society seems bound and determined to
hang me for everything I want to do. But
there’s power in truth. And for sure,
surprises are in store that may make
Demanding from on
high that we irradiate all
food, register every cow
with government agencies,
and hire more
inspectors does not show
strength. It shows fear.
Reprinted from
September 2003 • Vol. 33, No. 9
society shake its collective head and begin
to question some seemingly unalterable
doctrines. Doctrines like the
righteousness of the bureaucrat. The
sanctity of government research. The
protection of the Food Safety and
Inspection Service. The helpfulness of the
USDA.
When that day comes, you and I can
graciously offer our society honest food,
honest ecology, honest stewardship. May
the day come quickly.
Joel Salatin raises grass-fed beef,
pastured poultry, rabbits and more on a
model diversified farmstead, Polyface
Farm, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
He is the author of Salad Bar Beef,
Pastured Poultry Profits, You Can Farm,
and Family Friendly Farming, available
from Acres U.S.A. for $30 each, plus
shipping and handling. To order, call
1-800-355-5313 or visit our website at
.
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agriculture, standing virtually alone with a real track
record — over 30 years of continuous publication.
Eash issue is packed full of information eco-consultants
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kept up-to-date on all of the news that affects agriculture
— regulations, discoveries, research
updates, organic certification issues, and more.
To subscribe, call
1-800-355-5313
(toll-free in the U.S. & Canada)
512-892-4400 • fax 512-892-4448
P.O. Box 91299 • Austin, TX 78709
info @ acresusa.com
Or subscribe online at:
www.acresusa.com

Kimjongilia

2012-01-15T17:54:00.002-07:00

I just watched a documentary on North Korea. It really changed my life. I realized that while I've done OK with the hand I've been dealt, I have not nearly taken advantage enough of the wonderful privilege and freedom with which I've been blessed.

I need to get my act together. So, I'm done with Starcraft 2. Time to get back in the saddle and pay attention to what I'm doing.

Cucumber Slices

2012-01-14T04:18:00.003-07:00

Hellow all. First, I want to thank you for reading this blog. It's been a while since I wrote something substantive. I've had second thoughts recently that maybe people aren't interested in the details of my life. But that's just silly talk, of course people love to hear about me. I mean, it's ME.

First off, you should be concerned about the NDAA. It allows for indefinite detention of US citizens by the military. I won't say anymore. Just read up on it. It is my opinion that the vast majority of congressmen and senators have flagrantly violated their oaths of office. Negligent or criminal, pick one.

I have been channeling my ideas more openly on the www.youtube.com/gatelymusings channel. I plan on doing a lot more there. My brain is like a pulsar.

I looked at my wife a few weeks back and thought, we need to get out of here. So on Thursday at 9am we headed out to Salt Lake for a day. Just an overnight trip to be together. I called it a mega-date. It was comprised of ten smaller dates. It was romantic, Tamie really likes SLC it's her old stomping grounds and you just can't replace that. It's like Ashland for me. We're coming up on eighteen years married and things are smoother than ever. While we were up there we scouted a five-star hotel called the Grand America as the possible site of Blue Table Con 2012 (or 2013).

I picked up a few new books. Report coming on those on the gatelymusings channel. One is what turns out to really be a business book. It's about Gaming (meaning video games) and Reality. Millions of people are checking out in their off time and going to virtual worlds. What does that mean? That's a lot of man-hours.

More importantly, the studio was running smoothly in my absence. I was gone basically for two whole days and all is well. But I'm back now! It's 5am and I think it's time to get cracking!

While the Iron is Hot

2012-01-05T20:02:00.002-07:00

Got some new stuff up, first crack right out of the box to Youtube viewers. Email me at bluetablepainting@gmail.com for questions and purchasing.

Dwarf army $1150
Bin of Lord of the Rings (approx. 150x figures) $120
Gargantuan Squiggoth $320
Misc FW Ork upgrades (sight unseen) $30
Chaos Space Marine Starter Army $130
Tau Starter Army $130

Stuff from previous sales being put up into our For Sale section in the next few days.

As usual this is limited time, limited quantity, and as-is.

Uphill Battle

2012-01-04T06:21:00.005-07:00

It's an uphill battle for us lovers of liberty. Mainstream media creates the wind, to blow at the backs of their favored candidates, telling me who to vote for, and against others (ie Ron Paul).

Article #1: Three way tie?
Article #2: how the caucuses work in Iowa (read Republican section)

.
This article about says it all. Seriously, I think this article really puts it the right way. It's just how I feel about it. I am hopeful for the future. Here's a juicy bite.

The more the GOP does that seems designed to deny him a fair chance at the nomination, the more people they will alienate. The damage may already be done; it’s hard to find any Paul supporters who show any enthusiasm for any other candidates. They know that this actually isn’t just like every other election, a choice between two evils. Our country is in the grip of something awful which transcends Obama, and we’re approaching the event horizon. For millions there is one way out and one captain, everything else is a distraction from reality.

Iowa Primary

2012-01-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

It's Republican primary in Iowa today. Go forth and vote!

Now OK to Assassinate US Citizens... apparently

2012-01-03T08:02:00.003-07:00

A power reserved to Kings and Tyrants now claimed by our own president

Total is three US citizens killed with no due process. [Read second article here] One of them a minor (and another minor, his cousin). I am firmly speaking out against this without any reservation. This = violation of constitutional rights.

Why would American citizens be uninterested in this? How can we fail to support the ONLY candidate who is against this, who is a long-time vocal advocate of civil liberties (Ron Paul)?

I would also like to go on record as saying that I believe in peaceful, non-violent and lawful action. I am morally obligated to do what I can do.
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Imbalance

2011-12-31T15:16:00.003-07:00

Interesting article: # homeless vs # vacant homes

Simply put: this is a result of the banking system. Humans would be better off without them. The article suggests that the US government should "do something". That is not the case. The US government caused this problem by legalizing counterfeiting (ie chartering banks to practice fractional reserve banking). Quit "doing" things.

All your bases are belong to us
Take a look at these two articles.

You could probably hit a US base with a thrown rock.

How big is Iran anyay?

I did some reading and found out that Iran is about triple the size of Texas. They have a fourth the population of the US.

How far away is Israel from Iran? I find that I need more information. A lot more information.

Details on Wholesale Account for BTP

2011-12-30T06:47:00.004-07:00

You get half off listed price (ie the spreadsheets) for assembly and painting services.

Minimum order is $3000 per month (actual wholesale payment).
You can still order your models through BTP if you want.
This is for a one month trial. We will revisit terms at the end.
The specifications for your projects need to be relatively generous, they need to be simple.
Level 2-4 work only. Some L5 OK, but has to be a relatively small proportion.
Needs to be someone who is not a current client.

I am using this program to pick up slack in the labor pool.

Awesome Article by Ron Paul

2011-12-30T06:26:00.001-07:00

Ron Paul’s full comments on the Occupy Movement:

That in a way is a challenging question, because along with that question, I get a lot of times asked about the Tea Party movement. The Tea Party movement started here, gets big, a lot of different people come in. I think the same thing has happened with Occupy. I put them together—I put both groups together. Because I think both groups are unhappy about what’s happening in Washington, and around the country, and the economic conditions. But their complaints are somewhat different.

The Tea Party people basically say the debt is too big and we should shrink the size of government. Occupation seems to be more addressing the subject of the very rich, and I think that can be a mixed blessing in the sense that in my talk already I’ve criticized many people on Wall Street and the people who get rich because they get special benefits from the government, whether they get contracts or whether they benefit from the devaluation of the currencies, or whether they get their bailouts, yes, we should address that. I think the Occupy people are.

But people who are wealthy in a free market who give an honest service or an honest product and they are rewarded by the consumer, they’re quite different. They have to be protected. We shouldn’t be jealous or envious of those people. So you can’t put them all together. So in many ways, I identify with both groups. There are some things the groups have changed a little bit. The first time the tea party movement was noted was December 16th four years ago when there was a spontaneous fundraising rally for our campaign. But it’s changed a lot. A lot of people come in. But I think it’s healthy.

I think if some people like to paint Occupy left and the Tea Party people right, but I think it makes my point. There’s a lot of people unhappy, and they’re not so happy with the two party system because we have had people go in and out of office, congress changes, the presidency changes, they run on one thing, they do something else. Nothing ever changes. And I sort of like it because I make the point that if you’re a Republican or Democrat the foreign policy doesn’t really change, even though there’s a strong Republican tradition of the foreign policy I’ve been talking about where we don’t get involved in policing the world. Does the monetary policy change? Do they really care about reining in the Fed? Would the Fed bail out all these countries around the world? More and more people know that now. But monetary policy doesn’t change

Do we ever cut back? No. There’s no pretense to cutting back. They’re not even talking about cutting back. They’re talking about a token cut to proposed increases. All that talk about cutting a trillion dollars over the next 10 years, they don’t even want to start until 2013, and then they want to string it out. And it’s just cutting what’s automatically built into the budget.

But the Tea Party and Occupy people are just tired of it all. And they would like to see changes. And if the conditions get much worse, the demonstrations on the streets could get much worse, too. And that’s what we have to be aware of. But fortunately we still live in a free enough society where they can speak out. If they violate property rights, if anybody violates property rights, they do it at risk. Because that means they’re practicing civil disobedience and they might have to suffer the consequences. But there are sometimes people believe civil disobedience in order to make a point on what’s wrong with our laws that’s, they have to understand, that’s the risk they take. But basically I think it’s healthy on both sides, both the Tea Party movement and the Occupy movement.

Batreps

2011-12-30T06:25:00.001-07:00

We need to do more Batreps. I'm working on the following:

Orboros vs Khador
High Elves vs Ogres (Maybe Dwarfs instead of High Elves)
Necrons vs ???

Gatelynomics 101

2011-12-29T12:02:00.002-07:00

New vid up:

.

Hi Shawn,

I’ve always enjoyed your blogs, in the past I’ve occasionally been put off by the economics stuff but I have to say the Gatelynomics series is really interesting.

In the past I’ve had the same issue as your Wife, Kidney Stones. About 8 years ago I had my first that was around 1.5cm across as well, interestingly enough in the uk they seem to favour Lithotripsy to deal with all but emergency cases. Basically a large machine pressed against your side with ultrasound gel between you and it, “pounds” you with ultra sonic waves that cause the stone to break up. You actually get to see it happening on the little monitor which is basically like a video game of asteroids with the operator targeting the stones.

It works well for some stones, not for others, luckily for me it was very successfully, although it took 7 treatments that time to fully remove the stone.

More recently I’ve had a few cases but the newer machines tend to deal with it in a few visits.

To parallel the Private/Public medical costs debate, in the uk as you are probably aware we have a totally free and good quality health service, however via Work I have a medical insurance (free as part of my work package but I do get taxed on it (which is interesting because effectively I’m being taxed on a benefit that actually removes cost from the public health service)).

So, in effect I can go “private” for a max fee of £100 per year regardless of number of “issues” (a sort of insurance excess) or I can go public.

Ironically the Lithotripsy machines are so specialist the private hospitals don’t have them, so you actually get treated at the NHS hospital, by the same staff, on the same machine, the difference, 0 wait time, although the wait times on the NHS are low (<3 months for non-urgent stones, and instant for emergencies)

In general I tend to go Private as it costs me very little, and I think the money the NHS are able to charge the insurance company helps them fund the machines for other users.

Anyway thanks for the Gatelynomics series and other videos, finding them very interesting, I’ve just started my own company (part-time) providing wargaming basing materials (basecrafts.com , on Youtube as well ) and any tips you have would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

Inspiring Ron Paul Fix

2011-12-27T16:08:00.001-07:00

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So Far, So Good

2011-12-25T08:41:00.006-07:00

So, what's going on in the world of Gately?

It was quite a busy week on account of the Treasure Trove sale thing and that was nice. It's normally slow over Christmas week which makes me a bit of a scrooge as clients and employees scatter to the four winds. However, this week was strong and I was pleasantly astounded to come in and find that staff were showing up early (like 7:30am) to put the heat on our various projects. Everything was sewed up by Saturday afternoon. A few people even showed up on Christmas Eve (Renn, Zanna and Ben). I am ever so impressed. BTP staff "get it" and they don't need to be prodded into action.

I only sold one studio army, leaving the Tyranids and Orks to use for Batreps. And the High Elves. We have Ogres just done and Skaven en route. I had hoped to get the Ogres up by the weekend, but alas not so. But they are done. Price tag: $2400.

While out and about I caved to the years-long temptation to get Starcraft II. I got to the counter but came to my senses. No Starcraft for me yet.

As we approach eight years of BTP I have a sense of satisfaction. So far so good. All that work has paid off and I am optimistic. There were dark times around the four year mark, five year mark. It was hard. Recently I have concluded that the best thing you can do for another human is to give them a job. Or can you really "give" that? A job brings self-reliance, self-respect and all the necessities (and sometimes niceties) of life. It is the cure for poverty. Every poor person, if they only had a job they could do, and maybe even enjoyed, would not want for the necessities. I'm thinking of how I can make that happen for low-skill workers. Hmmm... I'm more concerned with my own workers for now. How can I turn this into a true middle-class profession where BTP workers/artists can own their own home, pay their own medical bills, and afford the niceties of life. The middle class is getting ripped in two in the US. I am filled with a mix of compassion and (non-violent) rage.

So far so good though. Last year when we had about ten workers I did a round of interviews and I could see the agony and desperation in people's eyes. It filled me with a grim determination: how many could I save from this misery? I had to find the right people for the job, with the right skill, but also an appreciation and understanding for how great it is to work for BTP. Since then I've pulled about ten more people into the life boat.

What is at the heart of Christian life? To go about doing good. To bind up the wounds of the afflicted. God's own work: to life up the Fallen. And to do it quietly and anonymously.

I am feeling good. I found a great local chiro who is non-invasive and homeopathic-style. So my back feels a ton better. And inside my soul I feel a remarkable sense of calm. God (that guy I met) has been good to me; merciful and kind. His goodness is unmerited, apparently a free gift.

Next week: Fantasy Batrep with Ogres and getting in the maximum number of games of War Machine. And 40K of course. In 2012 we are really going to ramp up our game.

Christmas Day

I'm at home with the family. Last night and this morning we just had the typical, even stereo-typical, Christmas. Reading the Christmas story, tree, presents, pajamas. Well, maybe it's not typical. Anyway, I'm enjoying my family all this morning, just hanging out. My four kids (ages 3, 6, 10, 12) are a delight; they are so thankful, obedient, kind and individual. I can't get enough of them. Half me and half their mom, the woman I love.

My desire to get to work is temporarily suppressed.

PS- my big splurge for the kids was an Xbox 360. Now to hunt down more good games for it.

Forge World Order

2011-12-24T13:42:00.003-07:00

I need to make a proxy Forge World order. Current rate is +30%. That means if the cost to make the order (ie you order it from FW and send to BTP) is $100 USD then you would get a $130 credit.

The order is substantial, around $2200 USD.

Five Armies- on the block

2011-12-23T18:45:00.013-07:00

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.
Shipping
$9 flat in US (for any number of lots)
$15 to Canada
$35 to Australia/NZ/Japan
$25 most other places (eg Europe)

Black Templars Apocalypse army = $1815 SOLD!
Black Skulls force (terminators, dread, LR) = $310 SOLD!
Dark Angels army = $1215 on HOLD again
Warriors of Chaos army = $1525
Khorne Daemons army = $1315 SOLD!
Flesh Hounds + Karanak (11 models) = $75 SOLD!
Greater Daemon of Tzeentch A = $85
Greater Daemon of Tzeentch B = $85
Ultraforge Vulture Daemon = $175
Khorne Daemons x25 = $155 SOLD!
Dwarfs army = $1150

Bin of Death Korps heavy weapons x24 (sight unseen, as-is) $420 SOLD!
(I have done a cursory examination of these, they appear to be complete and in good order)

Bin of Skorne titans (including Molik Karn, sight unseen, as-is) $180
The rest should have more details forthcoming and/or be put up on our website

Contact me at bluetablepainting@gmail.com for availability. Generally, I will not hold armies except for a very short period of time while payment is conducted. I will be completely incommunicado this Sunday (Christmas). The Post is likely closed Monday so armies purchased over the weekend will likely be shipped Tuesday.

Armies are sold as-is. There might be some defects even after we go over them for touchups.

New Website for BTP (in progress)

2011-12-23T15:17:00.004-07:00

Note that the web designer apparently just put up a random pic-- we didn't paint that hammerhead.

Treasure Trove 2011

2011-12-21T13:50:00.052-07:00

Thank you for visiting the Treasure Trove sale page for 2011.

UPDATE: More lots going up Thursday afternoon.

Contact Shawn at bluetablepainting@gmail.com if you are interested in anything. Or call 801 372 8545. We need money via CC (by phone or email) or Paypal. Paypal address is bluetablepainting@gmail.com Check availability before buying.

Shipping
$9 flat in US (for any number of lots)
$15 to Canada
$35 to Australia/NZ/Japan
$25 most other places (eg Europe)

Holiday hours: regular business hours throughout the week and 10am to 3pm on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day. Open Monday December 26th.

We are considering offers on these lots so don't be shy. No offense taken. Bulk deals also welcome (and given!). All lots are limited time, limited quantity.

Be sure to refer to full lot title and #. This is first come, first served. Whoever gives get the go ahead and gives me money gets the lot.

LOTS
#1 Fungus Nids $6400
#2 Valkyrie/Vendetta with loads of Forge World extras $235
#3 Baneblade (new) $40 SOLD
#4 Bin o Necrons as-is $45 SOLD!
#5 Imperial Guard in blue and grey $240 SOLD
#6 Imperial Fists Vehicles $320 PULLED
#7 Reaper Dwarfs and Fantasy Figures $290 SOLD!
#8 Catachans $180
#9 Daemons boxes $90 SOLD
#10 Wood Elves boxes $90 SOLD

#11 Dark Elves boxes $90 SOLD
#12 Wood Elves painted $150 SOLD
#13 Dark Eldar boxes $270 ($260 if you drop the blisters) SOLD
#14 Grey Knights $75 SOLD!
#15 Starship Troopers $20 SOLD aj
#16 Vintage Warhammer/40K boxes $90 for the lot or $10 each SOLD
#17 Rainforest Elves $550 SOLD
#18 Ultramarines Tank $75
#19 Bad Moonz Ork army $2450
#20 Ice-themed Jetbikes $325 SOLD

#21 Hordes starter forces $120 SOLD
#22 Vampire Counts boxes $95 SOLD!
#23A Dwarfs boxes $140
#23B Lizardmen boxes $65 SOLD
#24 Tau/Kroot boxes $80 SOLD
#25 Ork Boxes $165 SOLD!
#26 Space Wolves second wave army $1575 SOLD
#27A High Elf coastal watch army $1550
#27B (apparently I can't count) Creeping Death Dark Eldar army $650 SOLD
#28 Space Hulk $425 SOLD
#29 Deathwing Army $330 SOLD
#30 Ultramarines Terminators and heroes $250

#31 Eldar boxes $35 SOLD
#32 Tyranids boxes $35 SOLD
#33 Shrine of the Aquila $17 SOLD
#34 Fantasy Buildings $30 SOLD
#35 Grey Knights terminator army $775 (current high offer $600) SOLD!
#36 pair of Valkyries $50 SOLD

#40 Grey Knights mixed army $270 SOLD
#41 Bretonnian Sprues $15 SOLD
#42 Blood Bowl Teams $40
#43 Space Ork Sprues $10 SOLD
#44 High Elf Vintage Infantry $15 SOLD
#45 Dark Eldar Warriors $5 SOLD
#46 Orcs and Goblins Vintage blisters $15 SOLD
#47
#48 Vampire Counts Metals $5 SOLD
#49 Empire Metals $90 SOLD
#50 Oddball Storm Raven $20 temp hold 10 hrs for JP = SOLD

#51 High Elf Vintage Models $40 SOLD
#52 Realm of Chaos Champions $140 SOLD
#53
#54 Imperial Guard bin of blisters and bags $220 SOLD
#55 Hero on Pegasus and Handgunners $25
#56
#57 Empire Boxes $220 SOLD!
#58 Tyranid Genestealers etc $70 SOLD!
#59 Tomb Kings bin $90 SOLD!
#60 Tau bin $55 SOLD

Lastly, I am likely to do another round of this on Friday, so keep your eyes peeled if you miss out. Not for sure, but likely.

Expedited Necrons Testimonial

2011-12-18T23:41:00.003-07:00

Got my Necrons today and was 100% satisfied with them and how impressed I am with the expedited service you offer. This has been my third full army I have had done through BTP, it was also the largest of the three. Even though the army was done in just two weeks there was no drop in quality, in fact I think this is the best looking army I have received through BTP.

Once again I would like to thank everyone who was involved with my project.

Thanks,
KR

Nurgle Special

2011-12-17T14:30:00.002-07:00

Painting L3 for Nurgle (40K or Fantasy).

Infantry $4.50
Large Infantry $6.00
Daemon Prince $12.00
Vehicles $20.00

Prices may vary according to circumstance and details. We need broad (but not complete) artistic license.

Minimum Order = $400

Limited quantity = 3 orders

Ron Paul Money BOMB today December 16th

2011-12-16T07:40:00.005-07:00

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I'll be donating until it hurts. If I want freedom I'm going to have to do something about it. It must be earned and maintained. I would consider money to be a small price.
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Here's the link to info.
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Gatelynomics 101- Payroll Effects

2011-12-16T04:03:00.002-07:00

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Technical info on Payroll.
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At least try

2011-12-13T16:44:00.002-07:00

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” — Edmund Burke

Also, getting in a Menoth trade soon:

High Allegient Amon Ad-Raza

2x Crusader Heavy Warjacks (one fully painted and professionally painted and one plastic)

A Vanquisher Heavy Warjack (unpainted)

A Revenger Light Warjack (partially painted)

A Devout Light Warjack (partially painted)

A Repenter Light Warjack (partially painted)

A full 6 model unit of the new Choir of Menoth (unpainted and rand new product)

A full 6 model unit of Daughters of the Flame (unpainted)

A Vassel Mechanik (unpainted and new)

A FULL Protectorate of Menoth Faction Deck including multiple cards for every model above

A full set of Amon Ad-Raza counter tokens

A Kreoss model (missing weapon, will include if found and partially painted)

Retch

2011-12-13T06:52:00.004-07:00

Wasn't feeling well over the weekend so I took a Nyquil and it got lodged halfway down the pipe. I mean really lodged. I ran to the bathroom sink and retched, in the end, so hard that it pulled nearly every muscle in my torso. I could feel them popping in rapid succession. Monday I could barely move. But that didn't stop me! I can't let a perfectly good Monday morning go to waste.

I am currently caught up. Just waiting around to set up new projects. Studio Necrons are out of assembly. Color? Why teal of course. And due to be painted, mostly completed, this week.

We are looking at picking up a couch for the studio. Second hand it was like a tenth of the normal cost. Yay! Going to look at it this morning (Tuesday). I'm pretty stoked. This is the Christmas present for studio and staff. A nicety.

Here's what's making me smile today: Cats of War.

As many know I have reactivated a secondary Youtube channel: gatelymusings I plan on continuing the Gatelynomics series there as well as personal stuff.

Week in Review

2011-12-11T09:02:00.004-07:00

So, what is going on?

At BTP we're doing a notable round of hiring. It's different this time because I am not only trying to fill a position right now, but set up for the coming year. We've got about twenty on the roster and I think it will be more like thirty by the end of 2012. And fifty by the end of 2013. That will put us at the max capacity for the current building.

It's a pretty good round. I have to narrow forty applicants down to one hire and a few potentials. It's like American Idol. During the first rounds it's all about weeding out the train wrecks (who invariably cannot self examine). But then it's the good stuff. While it is time consuming, it's well worth it. I really like humans.

I figure it takes $500-1000 worth of man-hours-labor to get a good hire. We are very, very picky about who we let paint your miniatures. Layers upon layers of tests and trials. But it is draining.

At this moment I'm eating fruits, vegetables and water. I am thick with the heavy food I've been eating the last week: pumpkin pie and steak. Just wolfing it all down. Thank you God for this great life. I don't deserve it.

We wanted to do more Batreps this week and indeed I had Jon (tall skinny guy who used to do assembly for us) come in for a Fantasy rep with his Goblins. Classic matchup: gobbos v high elves. BUT guess what? I had an interview go overly long and there was no way to do it.

More to come.

Christmas Deadline

2011-12-07T16:13:00.003-07:00

If you have a project needed by Christmas you should check in with me TODAY!

Yup. Just sitting here watching my Inbox. Just waiting for you to email with an inquiry. Ready to set up new projects. Ayup.

Just hanging out.

Why Mormons Should Vote for Ron Paul (?!)

2011-12-07T15:03:00.001-07:00

Interesting article on the topic.

Salamanders Incoming

2011-12-06T19:27:00.005-07:00

I got a sweet, sweet Salamanders army coming in.

Pics here
And here

You can nail it for $850 (money) (normally right around $1900) if you just want to pick it up in the next day or so.

This Makes me Drool

2011-12-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

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Infinity Update

2011-12-06T10:13:00.005-07:00

I've been corresponding with Corvus Belli recently. It's a company from Spain that makes Infinity. There are remarkable parallels between our two companies. Anyway, they are sending me some models with which to do demo games. Here's a letter I got from Carlos which I thought might be of general interest.

Hello, Shawn.

I’m Carlos, from CB. Nice to receive a message from you.

Fernando told me to help you with Demo army lists and rules.

I’m sending here two army lists for demo games, as you requested.

Let me put here a few photos of the miniatures that will feature in that demo game.

ALEPH

This will be a 7 miniature army, made by just 2 products.

ALEPH starter Pack (Six miniatures)

MARUT (Big powerful robot)

Japanese Sectorial Army

This will be a 10 miniature army, made with this products:

JSA Starter Pack (6 miniatures)

Aragoto Senkenbutai (2 bike riders)

O-Yoroi Kidobutai (Big tripulated armor)

Ninja (Yes, a ninja)

We will send you these miniatures ASAP.

By the way, using our website, you would be able to download everything necessary for playing. Let me put here some links and introduce you to everything:

Quickstart Rules by Beasts of War. These could be also useful for understanding the basic game mechanics:

http://www.beastsofwar.com/wp-content/uploads/Infinity-QuickStartRules-V1.pdf

Basic full Rules from the first book: http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/rules/%5Ben%5DRules.pdf

Weapon and Army lists form the first Book: http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/army-lists/%5Ben%5DArmyAndWeapon.pdf

Rules from the expansion Book (Infinity: Human Sphere): http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/rules/%5Ben%5DRulesHS.pdf

Weapon and Army lists from the Expansion Book (Infinity: Human Sphere): http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/downloads/army-lists/%5Ben%5DArmiesHS.pdf

Ok, looks a bit dense. I know. That is why I did these Youtube videos. Making everything more visually understandable. I recommend you to watch these videos before trying to get into the game.

Ok, those were the BASIC ones. Enough to get into the rules. BUT, people find them very useful as a support tool. So we decided to make more with the most complicated rules:

Cammo Rules Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRTNokHK7vQ

Cammo Rules Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15VZpwRoJ0g

Cammo Rules Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ru3kO2_FKc

We are actually remaking this last videos with new versions with new voice over by Warren from Beasts of War. They be probably published by the end of the week.

I’m sending to you with this message two Army lists made with this program: Devil team´s Infinity Army 3.0: http://infinitythegame.com/dt_army/

In this program you will also find link to the: Infinity Wiki: http://infinitythegame.wikispot.org/Home?action=show&redirect=Front+Page This site is a free online Wikipedia of the rules, very useful for rules clarification or just to finish any forum flame.

And I guess that is all.

Have a nice day.

Industrial Terrain Review

2011-12-05T17:47:00.003-07:00

Shawn,

I received the industrial terrain on Saturday, and it looks great! We spent some time setting it up and we played a short game with it, which was a lot of fun. My son really was into setting up the different pieces and seeing how it all fits together. I really like the 3D feel it gives the game as the troops move up and around the different levels. The terrain gets a big thumbs up from me!

Thanks,

Bret

A Mind of Sufficient Power

2011-12-04T01:56:00.002-07:00

When I sleep I have dreams. The dreams are not what I would choose. It's a surprise. I know that I have dreams, just as much as I know that I have waking experience.

Who is making my dreams?

If it's someone inside of me then it's a part of me I don't control. In my dreams I sometimes see writing. It's unclear, like an image being held in my mind, but the letters are there, and in deep dreams I get names of people and places.

If a more powerful mind were to sleep, could it create a photorealistic world? Could it create an entire lifetime? Could it create dreams within dreams?

Weaponize a Pumpkin

2011-12-03T09:33:00.004-07:00

At this moment I am at the studio, enjoying the peace of an empty upstairs. I can hear the clock ticking.

I'm eager to set up new projects. Yup, ready whenever you are.

The plan: finish up my inbox and hopefully get in a game. I got in my cards from Privateer Press (only $0.50 per card yay, but $8 for ship, groan) for Warpwolf Stalkers and Warpborn Skinwalkers. Nice. Naturally I didn't have the cards because I used Confrontation models. In fact, I'm on the hunt for some Fiannas to be my Druids. Anyone?

My wife is now up and about, feeling good and back to her super-cheerful self. She's still a little sore. The last few days have been a carousel of Sisters from the neighborhood bringing food and helping out with the kids and home. What a delight. I am a firm believer in the ability of local community.

I'm re-watching the two only seasons of Better Off Ted. Well, it's going in the background while I do my work!

Last night I got an almighty muscle cramp just below my right clavicle. I couldn't figure out why. Flashback! On Thursday my fellow scoutmaster and I took the boys bowling. Josh and I got our own lane and got in a contest to see how fast we could throw the ball. I want to take the staff bowling. What a blast.

Yellow Marble

2011-11-30T16:53:00.005-07:00

My wife was not doing well last night. Severe cramps and nausea. This morning a cat-scan revealed a kidney stone 10mm in diameter. Like a small marble. Too big to just use the poor person method of painkillers and toughing it out. She's gone into surgery tonight. I am home with the kids.

Super high deductible insurance. Hospital wants a major chunk up front.

Prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated.

Don't slow down on your inquiries. We need the orders/work more than ever. I am on deck to serve your needs, not to mention BTP's amazing staff.

Oh, and a giant mechanic's bill to keep her car registered. Amazing. It makes me happy that I get to have challenges to make my character stronger. Just kidding. This really sucks.

UPDATE: Tamie is home and doing well. What a wonder, a great thing to be thankful for. Neat!

Belligerent

2011-11-30T10:37:00.002-07:00

Here's something from a newsletter I received.

This is about Sections 1031 and 1032 in a defense spending bill. We have posted these sections on our blog so you can read them for yourself.

The two sections seem to contradict each other. Some people, including some Senators, think that Section 1032 exempts Americans. But a more accurate rendering goes like this . . .

According to Section 1032, the military cannot indefinitely imprison citizens and legal resident aliens. But that doesn't mean some other law enforcement agency couldn't eternally jail citizens and resident aliens, because of the vague wording of Section 1031. How vague?

Section 1031(b)(2) "includ(es) ANY PERSON who has committed a belligerent act or has directly supported such hostilities in aid of such enemy forces."

What is a belligerent act? There have been more than 40 cases of alleged terrorist plots that were little more than entrapment, and not actual threats to the American people. The way we read it ANY of these entrapped people, AS WELL AS completely innocent people associated with them, could potentially be imprisoned without due process because of the vagueness of Section 1031. And Section 1032 has NOTHING to do with this, because it only deals with military custody.

Here's the thought to take away from this -- 1032 says the military can't kidnap citizens, but Section 1031 opens the door for other federal agencies to do so.

But even the supposed exemption from military detention isn't so clear cut. If a citizen or resident alien is arrested by the military, he or she may have great difficulty proving that they are a citizen or legal resident alien, because the habeas corpus burden on the military is weak, or perhaps non-existent.

It’s even more problematic that this bill was explicitly designed to permit the military to play a police function on American soil, even if it is only to arrest and hold alleged foreign "belligerents."

This is how we analyze the proposed legislation. But Senator McCain, one of the authors of this mess, goes even further. Consider the following exchange between him and Senator Rand Paul from the Senate floor . . .

MR. PAUL: My question would be, under the provisions, would it be possible that an American citizen could be declared an 'enemy combatant' and sent to Guantanamo Bay, and detained indefinitely?

MR. McCAIN: I think that as long as that individual, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, if they POSE A THREAT to the security of the United States of America, should not be allowed to continue the threat.

Our assessment is conservative compared to Mr. McCain's interpretation. Even so . . .

NONE OF THIS REALLY MATTERS.

What really matters is what people in the future will do with this law once it has passed. This consideration should make you very afraid. After all, just look at how closely your so-called government follows the Constitution, the supposed Supreme Law of the Land. They have taken every loophole or loose interpretation they could find and driven a freight train through it. And most of the rest they have simply ignored.

Dark Eldar on the block

2011-11-29T20:21:00.003-07:00

I got in a Dark Eldar trade. If you want the lot as-is (not painted) = $560.

If you want them painted L3/5 split = plus $968. You pick the color scheme. Or save $100 by giving us artistic license. Best thing? We can have them done in two weeks.

Here the client describes the contents.

All models are current edition and Plastic/Finecast. The full lot weighs in at 2000 points though the army was designed to be easily scaled down to 1000 points by removing entire pieces like Reaver units, Venoms, and Razorwing Jetfighters. Here is the rundown:

Current Dark Eldar Codex

1x Finecast Archon w/ Blaster and Venom Blade (cut down Huskblade)

24x Kabalite Warriors w/ Splinter Rifles

6x Kabalite Warriors w/ Blasters

4x Kabalite Trueborn w/ Blasters

2x (Unfinished) Kabalite Trueborn w/ Splinter Cannons

1x (Unfinished) Kabalite Trueborn w/ Splinter Rifle

7x Venom w/ Dual Splinter Cannons and Chain Snares, no gunner modeled (1 primed Chaos Black)

10x Reaver Jetbikes w/ Splinter Rifles

5x Reaver Jetbikes w/ Heat Lances

3x Razorwing Jetfighters w/ Splinter Cannon, Dark Lances, Monoscythe Missiles

Now, what makes this lot stand out is that every single Dark Eldar was built with the neat and elusive "visor" heads. The lesser Dark Eldar in the army like the regular splinter rifle warriors and reavers were built with the Reaver heads that have the spiked neck guard. The Archon, Blaster Warriors, Blaster Trueborn, and Heat Lance Reavers were all built with the completely smooth "pilot" type visor heads. Also, every model with a blaster has an authentic blaster; none are conversions from other Dark Eldar weapons.

Vayl- Full Pounder List

2011-11-27T09:04:00.002-07:00

I'm in the process of making a Legion army. I'm going to use Rackham Alchemists for it. Anyway here's the list

Vayl -6
Shepherd +1
Shepherd +1
Forsaken +2
Forsaken +2
Carnivean +11
Ravagore +10
Scythean +9
Raek +4
Raek +4
Hexhunters +5
Hexhunters +5
Spell Martyr +1
Spell Martyr +1

= 50 pts

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-27T07:31:00.003-07:00

I am trying to break my conditioning.

I don't want to be indoctrinated. I want to know everything. I'm open to new things.

I wonder how much of my life has been lies and hormones. Misdirection, mentalism and good digestion. I'm sitting in my recliner thinking there's more of gravy than of grave about you.

If a heart stops beating for three minutes, the host is probably dead. Same with a business. If there are no sales for a week, it's like a massive stroke. So it is with that tireless beating that I work the keyboard and videocamera day after day. Holidays included.

Thursday morning I headed down to the studio to get some work done. I took my daughter with me. She is now twelve and a bundle of nerves as is normal for that age. She's an orderly girl. She loves lists and neat clothing. I take great joy to see my children discovering who they are.

Around mid-day we headed up north to my sister-in-laws. The two sisters and their mother. All prodigious cooks. It was a delectable spread; stuffed mushroom caps, chicken-apple meatballs, pecan pie, etc. So, I stuffed my face, overtalked everyone at the table and curled up like a python on the sofa. A perfect Thanksgiving.

But seriously, I actually did just sit and listen for most of the meal. I jumped on the trampoline with the kids and generally enjoyed my wonderful immediate and extended family.

Saturday

2011-11-25T17:34:00.004-07:00

Update: staying later on Saturday. Tonight only: pick up the Hellish Knights for $850.

I'll be in the studio from 10am to 4pm on Saturday. I am eager to set up new projects and to turn studio armies and resources into money. I am on standby, pretty much caught up and ready to take calls and emails.

For you locals: come down for a game. Bring a friend. Buy stuff from our trade stock. It's mostly 50% off.

Kelt Fiannas

2011-11-25T12:42:00.002-07:00

I'm on the hunt for Kelt Fianas. I want to use them as druids for my alternate Orboros army. They're going to be Druids. Any takers? Want to trade/sell me some?

Compare and Contrast

2011-11-25T10:29:00.005-07:00

This is from the issues page of Mitt Romney's website:

The foundations of our nation’s strength are a love of liberty and a pioneering spirit of innovation and creativity....

Mitt Romney believes in America. He believes that liberty, opportunity, and free enterprise have led to prosperity and strength before and will do so again. America, however, must take decisive action to roll back the misguided policies of the last three years, empower our citizens, and restore the foundations of our nation’s strength.

First off, the whole thing is quite vague. But the real problem lay in the line "of the last three years". This guy doesn't get it. It's the misguided policies of the last thirty years, or last sixty years, or (in my view) the last one hundred years. A hundred years of wars, interventionism, and paper money. So long that we don't even know anything else.

He blames current administration. No mention of foundational problems stretching back much further.

Compare Mitt Romney's economy section of issues page to Ron Paul's:

Mitt Romney

The mission to restore America begins with getting our fiscal house in order. President Obama has put our nation on an unsustainable course. Spending is out of control. Yearly deficits are massive. And unless we curb Washington’s appetite for spending, the national debt will grow to the size of our entire economy this year.

As President, Mitt Romney will cut federal spending and bring much-needed reforms to entitlement programs. Mitt will work toward balancing the budget, reducing the size and reach of the federal government, and returning power to states and the people.

1) blames current administration
2) doesn't give specifics

Ron Paul

As President, Ron Paul will lead the way out of this crisis by:

* Vetoing any unbalanced budget Congress sends to his desk.

* Refusing to further raise the debt ceiling so politicians can no longer spend recklessly.

* Fighting to fully audit (and then end) the Federal Reserve System, which has enabled the over 95% reduction of what our dollar can buy and continues to create money out of thin air to finance future debt.

* Legalizing sound money, so the government is forced to get serious about the dollar’s value.

* Ending the corporate stranglehold on the White House.

* Driving down gas prices by allowing offshore drilling, abolishing highway motor fuel taxes, increasing the mileage reimbursement rates, and offering tax credits to individuals and businesses for the use and production of natural gas vehicles.

* Eliminating the income, capital gains, and death taxes to ensure you keep more of your hard-earned money and are able to pass on your legacy to your family without government interference.

* Opposing all unfunded mandates and unnecessary regulations on small businesses and entrepreneurs.

These are just a few of the steps we can take to put America back in place as the world’s leading economy. Taking a stand for these principles has often been a lonely fight in Congress for Ron Paul, but, now more than ever, our nation needs a President who will champion sound money, responsible spending, lower taxes, and free market enterprise.

And now a little bite from the Left:

. Police with military grade equipment.

As a final note I would like to repeat that I am merely a questioner. I am trying to figure out what is going on in my world. Am I wrong? I couldn't possibly be right all the time. Email me with comments. I often post them.

Gatelynomics Feedback

2011-11-23T13:33:00.002-07:00

.

Got some nice feedback on Gatelynomics. I got TWO whole episodes up!

Hey Shawn,

Just want to let you know I think the Gatelynomics series is excellent.
I'd say it really is making the workings of the world accessible,
building out from the everyday elements of people's lives and pointing
out the less pondered truths like time being an asset. It lets an
audience that is probably still quite young see they're in control of
their own lives, despite the constant suggestion the economy is a
distant and incomprehensible thing run by a specialist elite, which is
patently a distortion - we are all the economy.

I hope very much that you keep it up. If you feel you're running out of
material at any point, or you think attention spans or viewing figures
are too low, maybe change it up and repackage each core idea as a one-
or two-minute anecdote, something like 'Shawn's Words of Wisdom'. You
could even use minis to act it out - that would get minds focused.

At any rate, thanks very much, and not for the first time. I'm sure a
lot of people around the world identify with the community you've built
and are building, and that you're setting an excellent example. You're
showing us one solid way things can get better.

Porky
____________________

This was a really good video. I am 31, but was really sick at the age of 17 and off and on in my twenties. Eventually I found a good doctor and medication at the Cleveland Clinic when I was 28, and was diagnosed with something similar to afib. Now like your self, I try to do exactly what I want to because life is short. I just finished the rough draft for my novel Sunday at 3:00PM. It took me about a year to get this far. Lucky for me I have a lot of people helping me edit the book from English majors to teachers.

The point is I have been watching your videos for inspiration to finish the last two chapter of my book. Every day I check for the new video. At this moment I do not have spare money to invest in another art form, however if I am modestly successful with my book in anyway, I will celebrate by purchasing miniatures from TheBluePaintingTable. I can't think of a better way to reward myself. Your videos really make miniatures exciting.

Usually ever night after I get home from work, I work on my book a little and check out your latest video. Miniatures did not interest me before your videos, nor did I know what they even where. Much more success will coming your way in the future and I am excited to be able to watch it on youtube. There is no need to wish you success because it will happen. Thank you for making the videos.
--BK

A Bus... Expertly Steered

2011-11-22T21:10:00.001-07:00

.
I very much enjoyed this video

.
My company is a work of art. A creation.

Sunday November 20, 2011

2011-11-21T19:21:00.002-07:00

What can I say about Sunday? I had peace in my soul. No real news, just hanging out at home with my beloved family. Tamie has been cleaning the house, top to bottom every room, like a mad-woman. She's in high spirits for Thanksgiving. The home teachers came by.

I spent most of the day reading up on Battle College. I think I read every single entry for Circle of Orboros. Not the faction I would have normally picked, but that's what I have. I really started them up because I wanted to use some of the cooler Rackham Wolfen figures. They've been sitting around for many months. I plan on adding a unit of Druids and some wolfen for Warpborn Skinwalkers. That should round up the Kaya Moonhunter list.

I'm also looking at Vayl for Legion of Everblight. I got a few heavy warbeasts laying about.

New Option- Expedited

2011-11-19T08:13:00.007-07:00

Want your project done sooner? I am now giving an option for Expedited. We will get it done in twenty days.

From date of deposit to date we have pics up of finished project for review will be twenty days. Even for projects where we are ordering the models.

Cost is 10% of the project total ($50 minimum).

This applies to large projects, too! Doesn't matter if it's a 5000 point army or a single figure. Imagine that: your whole army done in twenty days!

If we are late you A) don't pay the money for the Expedited option (ie the 10%), and B) get a $10 credit for every day later (maximum $100). That said, we don't intend to go over the time limit on Expedited projects. The program won't get a good reputation that way!

There are limitations: this special cannot be done for projects that have models in them that have to be ordered from outside the US, or are not commonly available (eg Forge World).

Also, for the time being, you can pick your warcaster for a War Machine or Hordes Turbo army.

Need Solomon Lok

2011-11-16T08:30:00.001-07:00

I am looking to trade for or purchase a Solomon Lok kit from Forge World. Does anyone have one?

Just made a Forge World Order

2011-11-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

Here's what's coming:

Product Code: 60040187019
Description: IMPERIAL ARMOUR APOCALYPSE SECOND EDITION
Quantity: 1
Price: £26.00

Product Code: 99590101227
Description: RELIC CONTEMPTOR DREADNOUGHT BODY
Quantity: 2
Price: £32.00

Product Code: 99590101214
Description: CONTEMPTOR PATTERN DREADNOUGHT BODY
Quantity: 4
Price: £30.00

Product Code: 99590101189
Description: LAND RAIDER ACHILLES COMPLETE KIT
Quantity: 1
Price: £62.00

Product Code: 99590101222
Description: CONTEMPTOR PATTERN KHERES ASSAULT CANNON
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99610101027
Description: ETCHED BRASS IMPERIAL FISTS/CRIMSON FISTS
Quantity: 1
Price: £9.50

Product Code: 99590101225
Description: CONTEMPTOR CYCLONE MISSILE LAUNCHER
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101216
Description: CONTEMPTOR PATTERN CLOSE COMBAT ARM (FIST)
Quantity: 4
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590108019
Description: ARVUS LIGHTER
Quantity: 2
Price: £57.00

Product Code: 99590107014
Description: GREY KNIGHT DREADNOUGHT PSYCANNON
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590107033
Description: INQUISITION CHIMERA DOOR AND SYMBOL
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590105150
Description: CHIMERA ARMOURED SKIRTS
Quantity: 2
Price: £10.00

Product Code: 99590107031
Description: PSYCANNON UPGRADE
Quantity: 2
Price: £10.00

Product Code: 99590107013
Description: MK IV GREY KNIGHTS DREADNOUGHT
Quantity: 1
Price: £27.00

Product Code: 99590107012
Description: GREY KNIGHTS DREADNOUGHT BODY
Quantity: 1
Price: £11.50

Product Code: 99590101056
Description: MK IV VENERABLE DREADNOUGHT
Quantity: 1
Price: £27.00

Product Code: 99590101157
Description: CHAPLAIN VENERABLE DREADNOUGHT
Quantity: 1
Price: £27.00

Product Code: 99590101049
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT CLOSE COMBAT ARM (LEFT ARM)
Quantity: 4
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101055
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT CLOSE COMBAT ARM (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101167
Description: SPACE WOLVES VENERABLE DREADNOUGHT
Quantity: 1
Price: £27.00

Product Code: 99590101064
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT INFERNO CANNON (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101050
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT AUTOCANNONS (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101048
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT LASCANNONS (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101051
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT PLASMA CANNON (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101059
Description: Mk V MORTIS DREADNOUGHT LASCANNON
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101060
Description: Mk V MORTIS DREADNOUGHT AUTOCANNON
Quantity: 2
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101053
Description: MK IV DREADNOUGHT MULTI-MELTA (RIGHT ARM)
Quantity: 1
Price: £7.50

Product Code: 99590101003
Description: SPACE WOLVES LAND RAIDER DOORS
Quantity: 1
Price: £10.50

Product Code: 99590101011
Description: SPACE WOLVES RHINO DOORS AND FRONT PLATE
Quantity: 4
Price: £10.50

Product Code: 99590101029
Description: SPACE WOLVES ICONS
Quantity: 1
Price: £6.50

Product Code: 99590101026
Description: LAND RAIDER REINFORCED ARMOUR
Quantity: 1
Price: £18.00

Product Code: 99590101237
Description: RHINO / PREDATOR REINFORCED ARMOUR
Quantity: 7
Price: £16.00

Product Code: 99590101079
Description: SPACE WOLVES TERMINATOR CONVERSION SET
Quantity: 2
Price: £18.00

Product Code: 99590102008
Description: NIGHT LORDS RHINO DOORS
Quantity: 1
Price: £10.20

Product Code: 99590102011
Description: CHAOS RHINO EXTRA ARMOUR (REINFORCED)
Quantity: 1
Price: £17.00

Product Code: 99590101194
Description: TYBEROS THE RED WAKE
Quantity: 1
Price: £15.00

Product Code: 99590101228
Description: SPACE MARINE BOARDING ASSAULT UPGRADE SET
Quantity: 2
Price: £18.00

In the Beginning

2011-11-16T05:47:00.002-07:00

In the Beginning God separated the matter from the anti-matter.

The vastness of the Universe was a great void.

And God said "BANG!".

Cost for Bad Moonz now reduced

2011-11-15T14:25:00.002-07:00

Pics and info here.

One day only.

Studio Space Wolves for sale: Return of the Wolf

2011-11-14T17:47:00.004-07:00

Yet another army on the block. Awesome. Striking accent colors and notable conversions make this army a treasure. Nevermind that it is a rock solid list.

Well over 2500 pts.

See more pics.

Purchasing Information.

Here's what's in it:

1x Njal conversion
2x Rune Priest
1x Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf
8x Thunderwolf Cavalry
34x Grey Hunters
18x Long Fangs
4x Razorback/Rhino
1x Venerable Dreadnought

Rooted

2011-11-14T01:25:00.005-07:00

I had a dream Saturday night that I was on a dock overlooking a lake in Montana. Across the lake I could see two rises of mountains. The lower of the two mountains was encrusted with snow, and the higher were green. This is the opposite of real life. It means that on that dock I was looking back in time.

Saturday there was a tournament at the studio. In a way the culmination of a dream, to see people enjoying good food and wargaming on deluxe tables. And we're not done yet! Our tables are good but they could be better.

As for Sunday I don't even know where to start. Every time things go wrong (a week of bills piling up and people not paying me) it is cause for introspection, at least for me. What could I do better? And the much, much larger picture of what the hell is going on in this Earth life. In 2008 I thought it was time for me to depart this world, but the train has rushed by and here I am still. So what should I do? Hunker down like a prisoner marking the walls? Play it safe or push out to do something great? And is there even such a thing as great on this little planet, one of many trillions in the universe?

If the divine wind is at my back, then why are there setbacks? Or am I just being a whiny little bitch?

It is with trepidation I put fingers to keyboard to even speak of this. How can something so nuanced that I can't even hold it down mentally be put into words?

Thus it was that I put on my coat and headed out for a walk. I turned south to the border of the Spanish Fork plateau. I stretched out my mind to the heavens. Or am I just talking to myself like some insane person? I challenged God. If you are unwilling or unable to guide me, to illuminate me, to tell me what is going on then I call you No-God, I call you Worthless-God. A dangerous business to be sure, and certainly for a wretched sinner like me. But what is there left to do? My life was ever thine. Tell me what is going on!

There is a cul de sac there with an empty lot so there is no building blocking the view. The mountains are white and brooding with snow, stark lines of black pines wrapped around them like barbed wire. The wind was strong, pushing trains of fog-banks up into the ravines, a white sun raging behind them. And below the valley, rain-slicked houses and roads glimmering or darkening again. Then the threads of pale green farmland and rows of yellow or charcoal trees.

I must have appeared a strange sight to any looking out from a house window; stock still for about a half hour staring intently out at the sky. I got answers and plenty of them. I accept this as from On High. God spoke back. But even if from my own mind, then I am a god-ling walking this Earth.

There are great things afoot in my region. By the end the land will be developed as a near-paradise. The cities will be as beautiful as temple grounds, and temples will be made of things that we scarcely imagine. Translucent blocks of ultra-dense stone-composite. From the sky they will look like jewels.

The list of my wildest ambitions, even carte blanche whatever I can think of, is still pathetic compared to what can be, what God has in store. There is only a paper-thin veneer between

I must be prepared. My marriage has to be strong enough to be prospered. It's easier to be young, broke and happily married than it is to be... old and rich. Wealth is a terrible thing. It's an echo of our divine heritage. It allows for an ever-broadening array of possibilities. Unlimited wish-granting, for example, can make a soul fly apart. I can't explain it well. I am too unwise to handle that power. I have to strengthen my already strong marriage and consolidate my family life. My character must be improved. Things that are crack-sized flaws now will become unstoppable breaches unless I am prepared properly, as a person. I must have the right perspective.

I already have it all. Now is a golden age. I live in a rose-brick cottage with my loving wife and darling children who rush to hug me when I get home. My home is a place of peace and happiness.

All time is compressed into a single point. Our souls jump around on it like a laser beam on a DVD. The illusion of time moving. So, I am seeing it wrong.

God is good and generous. He is wise to not give me too much. Wise to give me the right things at the right time. Even my challenges are only to weave my soul into something stronger.

--Shawn

PS- as usual I'm claiming any special virtue. I'm also not trying to be dogmatic or tell anyone what to believe. I'm just opening a window; gawk at the freak or be inspired it's all the same to me.

As an afterthought on wealth I have to say that as part of this soul-searching there are two basic paths before me: play it safe, or do something amazing. If I do something amazing then many lives can be affected positively, but it is the more stressful path. The question is: what shall I do with my earth life? I'm stuck here for the time being so I may as well get some work done. It would seem a shame just to while away the time.

Utah's Stance on National Defense?

2011-11-10T13:12:00.005-07:00

[Got this in my email inbox. As usual Ron Paul Rules-- most consistent with the platform as written. This also approximates my own feeling about national defense.]

One of the primary reasons the "States" "United" was for national defense. Yet George Washington and the founders envisioned a nation of peace, only going to war when necessary, and avoiding the entangling wars of Europe fought for spurious reasons. George Washington, in his famous "Farewell Address", said "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world". The U.S. has fought many wars of aggression in the last 60 years, in the name of the United Nations (U.N.), (a permanent entangling alliance) including the most recent war against Libya. U.S. Ambassador, attorney and LDS apostle J. Reuben Clark predicted in 1945, after reviewing the U.N. Charter, "Not only does the Charter Organization not prevent future wars, but it makes it practically certain that we shall have future wars, and as to such wars it takes from us the power to declare them, ... and to control and command our sons who do the fighting." ("Prophets, Principles and National Survival', pg 458.)
What does the Constitution say about National Defense?

The Constitution places the power to take the nation to war in the hands of congress, not the president. This provision was debated and intentional. The founders experience and observation was that in Europe, a single person, the king, could take an entire nation to war, and often did so for deceitful reasons, such as to deflect domestic criticism or for personal gain. The founders wisely placed the power to "declare war" in the hands of a numerous and elected congress, representing both the States (Senate) and the People (House). (Article I Section 8 clauses 11-16.) While the President is "Commander in Chief of the military" (Article II Section II), all the rules governing the military (including the commander in chief) are made by congress (Article 1 Section 8 clause 14). It is congress, not the president, who has the power to "raise armies", "call forth the militia", and "declare war". (Article I Section 8, clauses 12, 15-16, and 11 respectively.)

What does the State's predominant LDS faith teach about National Defense?

LDS scriptures discuss when war is justified in the "Doctrine & Covenants" Section 98. This section admonishes members to "renounce war and proclaim peace" (D&C 98:16) and counsels "...if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation or tongue" (D&C 98:34). Also, "...I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil." (D&C 98:6-7).

What does the Republican Party say about National Defense?

"We support a military force of sufficient strength and readiness to deter any threat to our national sovereignty or to the safety and freedom of our citizens. ... We oppose placement of United states troops under any foreign command, including the united nations." (Utah State Republican Party Platform http://www.utgop.org/pdf/Utah%20Republican%20Party%20Platform%202009.pdf)

"As a matter of U.S. sovereignty, American forces must remain under American command" (2008 Republican National Platform, the current platform until 2012: http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/2008platform.pdf)

Where do the current Republican candidates stand on National Defense?

(Ranking by cumulative official Republican based poll results as calculated and published at http://www.freecitizenpress.com/US%20Presidential%20Race%202012)

Have they served in the military?

Do they support the Constitutional requirement for Congress, not the President, to take the nation to war?

Do they support entangling alliances, foreign nation building, foreign command of U.S. troops, and wars of aggression via the U.N., or do they support U.S. sovereign control and use of the military for defense of the United States?

1. Ron Paul -- "As an Air Force veteran, Ron Paul believes national defense is the single most important responsibility the Constitution entrusts to the federal government."

a. Served in U.S. military as Air Force flight surgeon. Also served in Air National Guard as flight surgeon.

b. Says he will "follow the Constitution by asking Congress to declare war before one is waged"

c. States "Acting as the world's policeman and nation-building weakens our country, puts our troops in harm's way, and sends precious resources to other nations in the midst of an historic economic crisis.'

Note: Ron Paul has run ad's publicizing his position on national defense: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhmF7sNlraU

2. Herman Cain -- "The primary duty of the President of the United States is to protect our people."

a. Did not serve in the military.

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building

3. Rick Perry -- "While advancing our interests abroad, Perry believes it is equally important to defend our interests at home"

a. Served in U.S. military as Air Force C-130 pilot

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building

4. Michele Bachmann -- "As Commander-in-Chief, I will do whatever it takes to fulfill the federal government's foremost responsibility under the Constitution: to keep you safe in an increasingly dangerous world.'

a. Did not serve in the military.

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building

5. Rick Santorum -- "Rick believes our nation's leaders must be honest with the American people and call this war what it is, a War with Radical Islam".

a. Did not serve in the military.

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building

6. Mitt Romney -- "It is only American power--conceived in the broadest terms--that can provide the foundation for an international system that ensures the security and prosperity of the United States and our friends and allies."

a. Did not serve in the military.

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress, says president is responsible for national security

c. Advocates using military to safeguard other nations interests (will "safeguard" "friends and allies" "interests").

7. Newt Gingrich -- "Keeping Americans safe is the most important duty of government"

a. Did not serve in the military.

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress, says (presidents?) military "objectives" should be "understood by congress".

c. Advocates protecting other nations ("protect those who share our values")

8. Tim Pawlenty -- (no longer a candidate)

9. Jon Huntsman -- "the foundation for United States foreign policy should remain rooted in our traditional alliances"

a. Did not serve in the military

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building . Says "Bin Laden has been killed. Yet out mission has evolved into an ill-advised counterinsurgency campaign"

10. Thad McCotter --

a. Did not serve in the military

b. Does not mention Constitutional declaration of war by congress

c. Does not mention foreign command, U.N., or nation building

Desert Strike Force second wave- SOOOOLD!

2011-11-08T16:42:00.003-07:00

Another studio army on the block!

This is an approx. 2500 pt Imperial Guard Army. Here's what's in it:
5x member Senior Command squad (HQ)
55x member Guardsman Platoon (five units each with a meltagun as well as a command)
15x Autocannon teams (magnetized to alternate Lascannons)
6x member Special Weapons Squad (three flamers)
6x member Special Weapons Squad (three flamers)
3x Collosus
10x Battle Psykers (including overseer)
1x Chimera
40x Veterans (four units, each with three special weapons, 9x meltas, 3x plasmas)
3x Vendettas

Cost is $1950
Ship is $9 in US, $25 most other places

See more pics.

New Necrons

2011-11-06T06:13:00.005-07:00

Got the new Necrons spreadsheet up. And plans for conversions for three of the five army list entries that don't have published models.

The Necron book has 31 models/entries by my count. I'm poring over the book right now.

We are doing Necrons a bit differently. Necrons have historically been relatively easier to paint, or at least people perceive it that way. There is the additional complication of the colored rods. Anyway, they are not simple to paint anymore. The new models are plenty complex.

We prefer to just paint the rods.

So, here's the deal. With Necrons we are going to come up with some "simple" color schemes that will be at a reduced rate. Still to L3/5 split mind you, but they will be straightforward. As of now here are the options:

Cold Steel (this is the traditional Necron color scheme)
Rusted
... and more to come

Discount to painting cost
Simple Color Scheme 20%
Artistic License 20%
Simple or Artistic License combined with L2 50%

Turbo Necrons
1500 pt Necron army $950
2000 pt Necron army $1250
2500 pt Necron army $1475
3000 pt Necron army $1850
3500 pt Necron army $2260

Here's the list I would make for my personal army.

1x Overlord (probably grab the Imotekh model)

Royal Court as follows
5x Necron Lord (one of which could pass as an Overlord)
5x Cryptek (we are working on conversions/sculpts for both)

10x Licheguard (these guys will wreck your face)
1x Night Scythe (we are close to a solid conversion/sculpt on this one-- no currently published model)
1x C'Tan Shard
1x Triarch Stalker (no currently published model, I think to use this as a base)

40x Warriors
2x Ghost Ark (each one carrying ten Warriors, maybe even 4x)
10x Immortals
1x Night Scythe (maybe even 2x)

The Night Scythe is insanely good for 100 pts, and can stand on its own. Tesla/Arc weapons are amazing.

6x Canoptek Wraiths (amazing and fun)
6x Scarabswarms

1x Doomsday Ark
1x Monolith (I would even go to three, to have on hand in case someone is feeling cocky)

And then maybe an Annihilation barge, but definitely would do a converted Doom Scythe as a third option.

This is right around 3500 pts and probably $2200-2400 in cost at L3/5 not including specials. And it would actually be 20% off painting for our special deal. Limited time. And there is just a world of possible expansion. The Necron list is just... expansive.

I think insane armies will feature up to six units of Immortals all in Night Scythes. That' sucks up like 1500 points though.

Oh, and it's poring not pouring. Unless you are actually pouring a glass of water over your book.

Fungus Nids 2: Revenge of the Fungus for sale!

2011-11-05T19:07:00.008-07:00

See more pics here.

NOW ON THE BLOCK AGAIN!

It is 5000 pts. I have played it in various Batreps (see below). It is a strong army and a gem in Apocalypse. This army is a jewel. Only one of them.

Cost and purchasing info. This is bulk

You can buy per unit as follows (some have been sold, here is what's left.

1x Tervigons $95 each
0x Doom of Malan'tai conversion $75
0x Hive Guard $35 each
6x Venomthrope $30 each
0x Zoanthrope $30 each
3x Pyrovore $30 each
2x Spore Pod $50 each
8x Genestealer $40 for the brood
0x Broodlord (space hulk) $29
90x Hormagaunts $40 for a group of ten
70x Termagants $40 for a group of ten
18x Spore Mines $35 for the group
6x Shrikes $25 each
20x Gargoyles $45 for a group of ten
1x Tyrannofex (Forge World Heirodule) $190
2x Carnifex $65 each
0x Trygon $105

You also get the recipe of paints and methods used. This is a very, very important item as it allows for duplication. On top of that you get 20% off painting costs for any future expansions to the army. You know you love it.

Tear

2011-11-04T16:54:00.004-07:00

I got this lovely letter from a Reader. It brought a tear to this grizzled old-timer's eye....

I just wanted to thank you Shawn. It was because of you I am now a full supporter (and a vocal one at that) of Ron Paul. Like many I was ignorant of Ron Paul and classified him as "over the top" and "nuts". This was back in 2007. Shame on me, I never really looked into his views until about 2 years ago. Since then I have been a full supporter. I have never in my life seen a politician so principled in his views. It's shocking he's a politician! I hope and pray the American people listen and follow his example.

Read his latest statement. It is bold, and I've never seen a presidential candidate who actually presents a plan!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/3/one-year-to-go/

Best wishes,

-Eric

Scoopin Time

2011-11-03T19:35:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a slow few days and I'm just... all caught up and just waiting around for inquiries. Inbox has nothing in it.

If you've had your eye on an army or something from around the studio. Now's a good time to speak up!

My email is bluetablepainting@gmail.com

Knight Hunters on the block

2011-11-02T15:18:00.004-07:00

This army is going to be in the studio soon.

It's an evil-themed Grey Knights army with specialty moon-crater bases all around. Normal cost is $1995. Cash/CC/Paypal cost is $1245.

The core here is FIFTY Grey Knight Terminators and two heroes = 52 models. These are all current edition plastics, and also with some magnetization.

Correction: no battlefoam

Orc and Goblin army for sale

2011-11-01T11:39:00.006-07:00

This is a trade-in from a client. Most of the models are assembled. Most if not all of them are in paintable condition. You can buy them as-is OR have them commissioned in which case we will transform them into a gorgeous army.

This is a solid basic list; huge blocks of boyz with hero and war machine support plus some crazy stuff.

Price is $350 plus $9 ship in US and $25 most other places. That's for just the models as-is.

We can turn this into a workable army for +$1800. OR a masterpiece for +$2600. In the latter case we're talking about magnetized trays and some conversions with cool new ogre bitz (like for banners and weapons). Would need to drop or switch out the boarboyz, though.

2 Warbosses On Boars

1 Grimgor Ironhide

15 Arrer Boyz

33 Black orks with Standard Bearer & musician (metal)

11 Goblin wolf riders with Standard Bearer & musician

6 Squig herders with 17 squigs

1 Nightgoblin warboss

2 Rock Lobbers

10 Snotling Swarms

20 spider riders with 2 Standard Bearers & 2 musicians

8 Goblin fanatics (mixed metal & plastic)

2 Doomdiver catapults

4 Spear Chukkas

2 Warbosses on foot

1 Goblin warboss

15 four man ranked night goblins (there are 4 to a strip base on these) = 60 models

25 Night goblins

75 ork boyz with 3 standard bearers, various gear

Ron Paul talks a lick of sense yet again

2011-10-30T10:12:00.002-07:00

Just because the Federal Government doesn't do X doesn't mean X won't get done. The money and resources should be administrated by individuals.

.

Studio Bad Moonz- for sale

2011-10-29T12:36:00.005-07:00

The army contains:
1x Warboss (specialty banner)
1x Big Mek (Forge World Buzzgob)*
9x Kommandos
1x Snikrot
10x Lootaz
10x Burnaz
10x Nobz on foot
6x Nobz on Warbikes (magnetized to change back into regular bikers)
2x Battlewagon
2x Trukk
120x Boyz
4x Nobz for Boyz
3x Skorchaz (conversions)
3x Warbikes
9x Killa Kanz
1x Deff Dred

It is possible to split the army into two parts, and also to expand it. See below for details.

That's right around 3500 pts (Apocalypse size). Cost is $2450 (normally $3709). Comes with a $100 gift certificate for assembly/painting of additional models (doesn't have to be Orks, though).

See more pics here.

If you have a HOTI, you can burn this up at $3500. Effectively your price is $2100. Still comes with the $100 certificate, too. No need to wait, you can get immediate satisfaction.

Split the army:

A $1200
1x Warboss (specialty banner) Makes the Nobz Troops
9x Kommandos
1x Snikrot
10x Lootaz
10x Nobz on foot
1x Battlewagon
60x Boyz
2x Nobz for Boyz
3x Warbikes
6x Killa Kanz

B $1150
1x Big Mek (Forge World Buzzgob)* makes the deff dread Troops
10x Burnaz
6x Nobz on Bike
1x Battlewagon
2x Trukk
60x Boyz
2x Nobz for Boyz
3x Skorchaz (conversions)
3x Killa Kanz
1x Deff Dred

*we will get rid of cigar OSL (orange) on request at no charge.

Into the Breach!

2011-10-29T08:03:00.001-07:00

I will be in the studio today if anyone wants to set up a project. I hope to get in a Batrep.

Shawn

New Necrons

2011-10-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Elk Steaks

2011-10-28T17:00:00.003-07:00

Michelle brought us (my wife and I) two elk steaks. After thawing they looked like two livers, dark and bloody. My wife expertly prepared and grilled them. I only got halfway through one and I could feel my blood thicken. I felt like a bear as it stumbles into its den for the winter.

As a side Tamie prepared salty scalloped potatoes and a buttery gravy. Spinach salad. Then afterwards a hot chocolate with marshmallows. A thick meal.

High Elves Coastal Watch Army- for sale

2011-10-28T06:51:00.006-07:00

This army has just been re-worked and is looking gorgeous. Magnetic movement trays all around. 3000 pts.

Cost is $1550.

See pics here.

Buy them here.

2x Mages on foot
2x Heroes on foot
1x Battle Standard on foot
60x Lothern Sea Guard
17x Swordmasters
10x Dragon Princes
2x Lion Chariots
10x Ellyrian Reavers
2x Bolt Throwers

Fungus Nids 2: Revenge of the Fungus

2011-10-25T16:35:00.003-07:00

Here's a list of what's in the army.

4x Tervigon (sporeback conversion)
6x Hive Guard
6x Venomthrope
6x Zoanthrope
6x Mycetic Spore Pod
3x Pyrovore
120x Hormagaunts
80x Termagants
8x Genestealers
1x Brood Lord (Space Hulk- awesome)
20x Gargoyles
6x Shrikes
2x Carnifex
1x Trygon Prime (Forge World version)
1x Tyrannofex (Forge World barbed heirodule)

Right around 5000 pts.

This is on the block for $4650. You are also welcome to part it out if you want (if you want to drop some units, the cost can be proprotionate).

If you have a HOTI, I will allow you to burn up to the entire amount on this army if you want-- effectively cashing it out all in one go. The only caveat is that I would need a month to do Batreps with it.

Pics and vids forthcoming.

Already in Heaven

2011-10-24T18:52:00.003-07:00

Downtown Provo, while my wife and I were out walking around, we ran into Amrik on his bike; he's the owner of our favorite Indian restaurant.

Me at a local animal museum.

Willow gets her first haircut. Two days before she found a pair of scissors, looked at them and said to herself "I know what these are for". I suppose then that this is her second haircut.

Shannon as the door-vampire at the roller derby match. It was too cool for words.

Now it's Monday and I must say that my life is superb. Sure there are problems, stresses and frustrations, arguments, but overall I must say that I feel like I'm already in heaven. My family is ever so sweet.

Quite a few irons in the fire for studio armies. You can buy them if you want.

Orks 2500 pts $1900.
Ogres 3000 pts $2100
Dark Eldar 2500 pts $2150 (with some ever sweet battlefoam)
Fungus Nids up to 3000 pts again $1950
High Elves 3000 pts $1150

Fungus Nids are going up against a local's Grey Knights. I am hoping to do High Elves vs Ogres this weekend, we shall see.

To be announced soon: private Valhalla for $8400. The most ultimately insane getaway for wargaming friends and your families. A kingly birthday gift. Limited time offer: pick up a private Valhalla and walk away with a studio army ($2000 value).

Rivers of Venice

2011-10-22T09:28:00.002-07:00

I had a dream the other night that I was in a very large building that was patterned after Venice; corridors filled with water, ankle to waist high. The rooms and passages were open, with broad stone stairwells and arches.

I happened into a classroom where a man had a holographic type chart, like a massive chalkboard made of clear water. And in it was mapped the galaxy, with things numbered and named. He explained to me that the arms of the galaxy were like rivers and he was naming them. Rivers and streams.

Desert Strike Force 02

2011-10-21T19:25:00.002-07:00

Right around 2500 points.

On the block for $1875.

Here's what's in it:

Five units as follows (so that’s fifty models):

8x Lasgun infantry

1x Meltagun

1x Sergeant with close combat weapon and laspistol

15x Autocannon heavy weapon teams. Magnetized.

Two Command Squads as follows:

1x Sergeant with ccw/laspistol

4x Lasguns

Yup just the basics

Two Special Weapon Squads as follows:

6x Flamers

6x Lasguns

Veterans (Kasrkin Models)

20x Kasrkin with Lasguns

9x Kasrkin with Meltaguns

3x Plasmaguns

4x Kasrkin with Voxcasters

4x Kasrkin Sergeants

1x Overseer for Psyker battle squad

9x Psykers

3x Vendetta Gunships

1x Chimera

3x Colossus

Look at what my friend did

2011-10-21T17:03:00.003-07:00

This is stained glass by Sky Marshall Anonymo.

Ron Paul Fix

2011-10-20T12:55:00.003-07:00

.

Ron Paul talks a lick of sense. It will be my honor to vote for him in the Republican primary. I donate whenever I can.

Have you heard about the Libertarian Conspiracy? They want to take over the world and leave you alone.

Trade Stock

2011-10-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

BTP will be open today in case any locals want to come down and pick up some of our trade-in models. It's 50-60% off retail. We have quite a ridiculous amount of stuff.

Just Another Manic Sunday

2011-10-16T18:54:00.003-07:00

All right folks, those of you that still frequent here, I shall not disappoint.

First off, the guy that bought the Fungus Nids changed his mind and picked up the Space Wolves instead. I am sending them out at the end of the month. He also picked up half the Fungus Nids and will pick up the rest later. Gamers are notoriously fickle.

I plan on replacing the Fungus Nids. I love everything about them. They are loads and loads of fun. I grabbed a few army books to look at over the weekend. I want to do a "good" studio army as a foil for the Ogres for Warhammer Fantasy, and we may be getting in a High Elf trade that will fit the bill nicely. I'm also thinking of doing Dwarfs. We've got a lot of those in on trade and Sky Marshall Anonymo wanted to play them. Looking likely.

Before all that I was thinking of expanding the Empire stuff we have in stock, but somebody bought it all.

If you want to poke around for pics of the High Elves go to our website > Gallery > Completed Projects > 2010 > client name "SG". No it's not me. They are teal, though which I love. It's not a done deal yet.

For 40K I have always wanted to do a Kroot army. But what list to use? I was thinking GK Inquisitor. But after really mulching it over the weekend I decided to just expand the Desert Strike force into a more infantry-based thing. However, I'm not sure how stock levels are looking on those. And let me tell you I considered almost every list. It was nuts.

The problem with the Kroot is that I want to use the awesome Forge World Gnarlocs and there isn't any good equivalents in any list for them. Big monsters.

As for today (Sunday) just another day of rest, hanging out with my beloved family. I made some of my bok choy noodles today, but I left in too much water for the spice pouch so they were pretty bland. But they had plenty of veggies in there (and no meat!) so it was might healthy.

I went for a walk with Tamie just after twilight, the tail end, and she wasn't feeling well so she had to lean on me a bit. Almost time to put the kids to bed.

Shawn's Day Off

2011-10-15T19:17:00.005-07:00

I may as well tell you about my day. I was torn. I really needed to be in the studio today, ripping it up as usual, but my wife prevailed on me (rightly) to head out with the family.

But not at first. I was up at dawn this morning, working on my inbox then heading to the studio around 9am. I picked up some eggs and potatoes at a local restaurant. Shortly thereafter Jordan showed up to paint up some Fungus Nids. I sold the first run, and now the second run is coming.

I spent some time with the Grey Knights list. I'm looking at the Inquisitor end of the list. What could they be? A long-lost company of guardsmen? A band of Kroot mercenaries. I called Renn and found out the bad news: Coteaz still doesn't allow you to have 7+ Troops choices. Would have been a revelation. Still a ton of possibilities with the Inquisitor's retinue.

By the time Tamie picked me up at around 11:30 I was all caught up on my emails. I rode up in the back seat with the kids. They couldn't be more pleasant, singing and laughing the whole way. We headed to a local amusement park, riding in almost no charge on passes my wife bought earlier in the year. She is the queen of coupons and deals.

We had a much-needed blast. The older kids and I went in for laser tag, their first time with that and it blew their little minds. It's all they wanted to do the entire afternoon. Yup five hours well-spent. I passed most of the time with Willow; on the carousel and this spinning kiddie plane ride. I had a lingering moment of vicarious joy as she soared up with a grin all the way across her little face. There was also a ride on round boats, like multi-color doughnuts in a shallow pool. Each one had a button that would cause a spray of water to come out of the front, like a little water gun. Willow and I were having a lovely time until some kid (there's always one) started following us around, blasting me right in the head with questionable pool water. Well, at least he was having a good time.

I wore my Ron Paul shirt (one of four!) and got quite a few high fives from young people.

Then back to the studio to wrap it all up. Once home I whipped up some noodles, carrots, bean sprouts, and bok choy; ladled it into bowls for the kids and called that dinner!

Studio Space Wolves

2011-10-14T13:10:00.007-07:00

Cost = $1750 SOLD!

Plus it comes with a $150 BTP gift certificate to use on expansion models.

Some pics!

BTP Studio Space Wolves Army 2150 pts

HQ: Wolf Lord in Power Armour (1#, 260 pts)
1 Wolf Lord in Power Armour, 260 pts (Unit Type: Cavalry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Runic Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Storm Shield x1; Thunder Hammer x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Eternal Warrior; Independent Character; Rending in CC only; Saga of the Bear)

HQ: Rune Priest in Power Armour (1#, 110 pts)
1 Rune Priest in Power Armour, 110 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Chooser of the Slain; Bolt Pistol; Runic Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Independent Character; Psyker; Jaws of the World Wolf; Living Lightning)

HQ: Rune Priest in Power Armour (1#, 100 pts)
1 Rune Priest in Power Armour, 100 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Runic Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Independent Character; Psyker; Jaws of the World Wolf; Murderous Hurricane)

Elite: Venerable Dreadnought (2#, 255 pts)
1 Venerable Dreadnought, 255 pts (Unit Type: Vehicle (Walker); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Extra Armor; Wolf Tail Talisman; Wolftooth Necklace; Assault Cannon; Dreadnought CCW; Heavy Flamer; Venerable; Saga of Majesty)
1 Drop Pod (Unit Type: Vehicle (Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Storm Bolter; Drop Pod Assault; Immobile; Inertial Guidance System)

Fast Attack: Thunderwolf Cavalry (5#, 365 pts)
1 Thunderwolf Cavalry, 365 pts (Unit Type: Cavalry; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only; Wolfkin)
2 Thunderwolf Cavalry (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Close Combat Weapon; Storm Shield)
2 Thunderwolf Cavalry (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon)
1 Thunderwolf Cavalry (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Storm Shield; Power Fist)

Elite: Wolf Guard Pack (4#, 175 pts)
1 Wolf Guard Pack, 175 pts
1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Storm Bolter x1; Thunder Hammer x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun x1; Power Fist x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun x1; Power Fist x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun x1; Power Fist x1; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)

Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (8#, 155 pts)
7 Grey Hunters Pack, 155 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Wolf Standard; Bolt Pistol x7; Bolter x6; Close Combat Weapon x7; Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Rhino (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Access Points: 3; Fire Points: 1; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter; Repair)

Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (8#, 155 pts)
7 Grey Hunters Pack, 155 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Wolf Standard; Bolt Pistol x7; Bolter x6; Close Combat Weapon x7; Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Rhino (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Access Points: 3; Fire Points: 1; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter; Repair)

Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (8#, 155 pts)
7 Grey Hunters Pack, 155 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Wolf Standard; Bolt Pistol x7; Bolter x6; Close Combat Weapon x7; Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack)
1 Rhino (Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Access Points: 3; Fire Points: 1; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter; Repair)

Heavy Support: Long Fangs Pack (6#, 140 pts)
5 Long Fangs Pack, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Close Combat Weapon x5; Missile Launcher x5; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)
1 Squad Leader (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)

Heavy Support: Long Fangs Pack (6#, 140 pts)
5 Long Fangs Pack, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Close Combat Weapon x5; Missile Launcher x5; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)
1 Squad Leader (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)

Heavy Support: Long Fangs Pack (6#, 140 pts)
5 Long Fangs Pack, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Close Combat Weapon x5; Missile Launcher x5; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)
1 Squad Leader (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Close Combat Weapon; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Fire Control)

Validation Report:
c-1. File Version: 1.32 For Bug Reports/www.ab40k.org; b-1. Roster Options: Non-Codex Materials, Special Characters; a-1. Scenario: Normal Mission
Warning: The current roster or units within it may need opponents's permission to use.

Composition Report:
HQ: 2 (1 - 2)
Elite: 2 (0 - 3)
Troops: 3 (2 - 6)
Fast: 1 (0 - 3)
Heavy: 3 (0 - 3)

Total Roster Cost: 2150

Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com

Big Dog

2011-10-12T17:26:00.003-07:00

Last week I went super-early to the church meat-packing plant to volunteer. Then I saw this enormous hot dog. I ran over and just had to heft it. This is what they make bologna out of.

I found out that there is a Federal inspector at the meat plant for ten hours a day. And that place is spic and span. It made me wonder if there were no inspector, would the locals to the right thing?

My wife was away for four days. It drives me nuts.

Codex Review Link

2011-10-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/p/codex-reviews.html

Bok Choy

2011-10-09T20:24:00.002-07:00

Sometimes I'm just so tired. I don't want to get on here and just gripe about stuff. Right now I have a stress headache.

I need to keep up on the blog better. I wonder how many people even read this anymore.

My favorite new veggie is Bok Choy. It's chock full of vitamins. So, I dump three ramen noodle packages in a pan (with a lid!). I shave in some carrot, dice up some peppers for color (red and yellow baby peppers), and then a whole fistful of Bok Choy. It's fantastic. Then drain some water, put in the spices and eat. Serves four?

My wife is out of town for four days, in Oregon helping clean up after a death in the family, and of course I'm being a grump about it. She should be here taking care of our home!

It's also pathetic, I realized, when I get on facebook and the big news in my life is what I'm watching on Netflix. Speaking of which, the amazing thing in my life is that Malcolm in the Middle just rotated on. Yay!

I watched a whole season of Storage Wars which was quite inspirational. I realized that I'm an expert in valuating miniatures. I think I'm going to videotape a few trade-ins for the interesting-ness value. Solomon asked for wisdom, not riches. Being able to see the value of people and things. Understanding.

So, I've been with the three older kids for a few days. Word cannot express how much I love my kids. I like being around them. I am proud of them. We get along. They listen to what I say and for the part they do what I ask. We got a LOT of housecleaning done in the last 24 hours. It's a lot of fun, really. I set a goal to get every piece of dirty clothing, and every bedsheet through the washing machine before Tamie comes back. I'm in the home stretch with that.

Today was fast and testimony meeting at church and I got up and fairly well preached a sermon on Grace off the top of my head. And the goodness of God (that guy I met). If I didn't get it out, I think I would have burst.

Kids aren't robots. They won't obey with precision and they need some space to make mistakes without harsh punishment. On the other hand you've got to feel the place where that line needs to be drawn. No magic answer. Welcome to parent-hood.

Fungus Nids are looking good. Over the weekend I added:
6x Zoanthropes
3x Pyrovores
6x Hive Guard

And those had some re-posing done.

Oh, yes, I'm going to let this completely get out of control to ridiculous levels. Coming this week:

30x Hormagaunts
8x Genestealers with Brood Lord from Space Hulk

Need some Heavy Support. At least one Trygon Prime why not.

And the Ogres are coming. I got it all in. Need a couple of Steam Tanks for the studio Empire army.