It has been said, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream.” Yet Voltaire stated, “Ice-cream is exquisite – what a pity it isn’t illegal.” There is some point to that. If something tastes exceptionally good, could people be driven to overeat? Should someone step in to protect the eater? That may sound silly when it comes to ice cream, but what about things like tobacco? Does it not make sense to limit damaging products? As John Stossel said in his book, No, They Can’t, it’s tempting to believe that “Government should outlaw life’s bigger risks.” Is it not the government’s responsibility to make sure companies run tests and keep items up to standard? It makes sense! The government can study a food’s nutritional value, do statistical research, and enforce product standards – who could be better equipped to decide what we should eat?
Eslandola Hall
Have a bit of time on your hands? Try Eslandola Hall, a regally columned gallery perfect for a friendly discussion, a leisurely date, artistic meditation, or, if you’re an eccentric Sea Captain, for a good-humored clash or two.
Who is Lord? Does it Matter?
From the shores of Madagascar to the steppes of Mongolia, from the metropolis of Miami to the oasis of Ziz, the age old question rages – who is your ultimate Lord? To what authority will you bow? To man? Or to God? From the beginning, God has demanded man’s submission to himself, yet ever since the fall man has been in constant rebellion against this command. God gave his law and man broke it. God commissioned prophets and man neglected them. God sent his only begotten Son who witnessed to the Father, but rebellious man rejected the Christ and crucified him. It seemed like man had been victorious.
Then Jesus rose.
What is the importance of this fact? Why is it that so many deny or downplay it? Is it really an unchanging, inflexible message?
Japanese Fortress
A few days ago we looked at the building process for my Japanese Fortress; now let’s take a closer look at the creation itself!
I started to build with the cracked stonework for the base very definitely in mind. In fact, that’s pretty much the highlight of this project, as it uses some complicated techniques, taking into account the tiny off-sets of some of the smallest LEGO pieces. Besides, the stonework is angled slightly, which adds another dimension!
Japanese Fortress Build Log
Good morning folks! Here I am, Guy Mock,* ready to walk you through the building process for Geneva’s latest creation, a Japanese Fortress.
*MOC, often pronounced mock, stands for My Own Creation
The fortress was modeled off the official LEGO set pictured below. Likely Geneva chose this one because she figured it had nowhere to go but up.
And before we begin following the building process, here’s a shot of the final result to whet your appetite.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s get building!
Ice Castle
Far in some wonderland of frigid cold, the inhabitants make use of nature’s materials in the fashioning of their castles. Blue-tinted ice, white snow, and golden crenelations glitter across the landscape. What adventures await the knight errant of this clime?
The Master Gunner’s Revenge
So there I was, buried under a sprawling, chaotic mass of thrashing arms and legs. Fury lent me a strength almost superhuman; with a mighty effort, I flung off the soldiers on top of me, rising to my feet.
I knew escape was hopeless, but that only goaded me into a greater rage. Like a bull I rushed at the head officer, Don Pedro Priego, only to be caught by a dozen of the bronzed veterans surrounding me.
For a second, I succeeded in flinging them off.
“No more!” I gasped, my anger almost choking me. “No more! Fleming though I am, I was a loyal servant of King Phillip, but I tell you no more! You take my money. Very well. I can earn more. You take my job. I can get another. You take my home. Yet I raise no protest. But you are not content! You are never content!” I spat each sentence out as though it were poisonous. Through narrow eyes I looked at him, and he met my stare with a gaze every bit as cold and icy. I tore myself out of the grip of a soldier who had seized my arm. “You are never content,” I repeated. “Now you want my life! Master-gunner on his Imperial Majesty’s Invincible Armada’s Rear Admiral’s flag ship! Slavery!”
Havoc
Capturing emotion in bricks isn’t always as easy as it cracks up to be, but fortunately a wide range of terrified minifigure expressions made achieving fear possible. I say fortunately, because I set out to build an immersive scene of a volcano exploding over a medieval town. My goal was to present a minifigure-height view of the drama unfolding. And the result: Havoc.
Geneva D 