All bodies in the Solar System larger than 200 miles in diameter

I've always found size comparisons of our local heavenly bodies to be very interesting. Hopefully the human race won't destroy itself before it can colonize some of these space rocks. We really need to get off this planet and spread ourselves a little. Of course I am reading Card's Ender's Shadow series of books, which deal with space colonization. So, maybe my views are a tad tainted at the moment.

From Digg:
A giant image of 88 objects in our solar system, including 11 planets and 21 moons.

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Satine with Istan Headgear

Satine with Istan Headgear

Originally uploaded by FlipSide3.

I needed a new headgear so I could swap out the Superior Rune from a Blood Magic to Curses. I went with an Istan one, since she already has one from Tyria and Cantha. I have to say this one turned out a lot cooler looking than I expected.

I even re-ran the Iron Mines of Moledune and got it infused already.

Doesn't she look neat!

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

What a wild and crazy ride!

This is the first book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The world it takes place in is a magical fantasy land, whose populace lives on a great disc. This disc sits on the back of four giant elephants… who are standing on the back of a big turtle swimming through space.

Sounds a bit wierd already? The tale follows the misadventures of a incompetent wizard named Rincewind and a Tourist from a distant part of Discworld. It is a lot of fun.

The story is a bit haphazard as our protagonists are dragged around their world. I think I enjoyed the Piers Anthony book (A Spell for Chameleon) a little more than this one. It was a good read.

I just wish Pratchett actually used chapters instead of running it all together. I'm going to put more of his books in my queue, so we’ll see if his style grows on my. At least this book had quite a bit of humor in it.

Phoenix for Now

gw461

Originally uploaded by FlipSide3.

When I finally beat Factions the other day with my Necromancer, I ditched the giant blue crab pet for a spiffy new phoenix. This pet shows to everyone that you finished Factions, because it can only be tamed post last battle. I won't have it long though.

One of my long term goals is to have a pet spider. They can only be found in the underworld, which is usually a pain to get to. You have to pony up 1K gold and the gods must show your region favor. The favor thing ties to the PVP matches. If your country of origin is higher in the standings or not.

Well this weekend is an event where you can get into the underworld for free and sans favor. I'm going to rustle up my heros, and maybe a friend, to see if I can get me a spider. Then I can cross that accomplishment off my list.

So long my phoenix, I hardly new you.

Americans Eating Fewer Vegetables

I've been trying to eat more vege's. I used to not eat them at all, so in many ways I've vastly improved. My hope of all hopes is that my daughter will have a taste for them. I wish the food producers of the world would find better ways of getting vegetables into the snacks we eat.

In a form that is actually healthy, please.

From digg:
5 a Day for Fruits and Vegetables? No Way, Surveys Show

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NPR fights back, seeks rehearing on Internet radio royalty increases

Copyright issues irk me. So do Patent issues. Only a few other issues get my blood boling hotter. It is stupid that internet radio has to play royalties when normal radio does not. None of those royalties will ever make it to the original performers, so why in the world should those taxes-to-a-corporate-not-government-entitiy be mandated anyway.

If the US Congress wants to do something good for the people, they'll rewrite the patent and copyright laws. Let us share to our hearts content and let the business world work out how it is going to make money. They're good at it, so don't worry about them. Bands will be fine, they can do concerts and actually work for a living. The music itself shouldn't be a product, but an experience to be shared.

From digg:
National Public Radio has filed a motion for rehearing over the Copyright Royalty Board's decision to drastically increase royalty rates paid out by nonprofit and Internet radio stations. NPR's not happy, and the organization is kicking butts and taking names.

read more | digg story

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

Another great installment of the Ender’s Shadow series. Still focused on Bean. I'd prefer a little more about Peter. I always imagined his story as being more interesting. Perhaps the next books will give us a little more.

Ender wrote Civilization altering books together called, "The Hive Queen and the Hegemon" which I thought these new novels would shed light on. So far I haven’t read anything that would have made these books so impressive. At least from the Hegemon side of things.

I'll just have to wait and see how the world turns out under Peter's eventual rule. I hope card, in the end, makes a connection between this series and the original Ender series in some for or fashion. I miss Jane.