REAL Superhero at Pocket Con?

This entry is more an excuse to post a cute photo of my girls at Pocket Con, a local Chicago comic convention geared toward kids.

I will post more details at another time.

 

Multicultural = I like Marvel *and* DC!

Some ideas for a T-shirt i want to wear at a local comic convention. Which one do you like best?

This may be the first of an ongoing series. I also have one for Star Wars and Star Trek.

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Star Trek Enterprise inspires Redskins name solution = Pinkskins

The Washington Redskins professional American football team has recently had a strong protest over the use of its name, which has been used as racist & derogatory term for decades. 
Redskins owner Dan Synder, among others, "say they believe that it refers positively to Native Americans, invoking qualities of strength and courage," according to Wikipedia. 
Many other people do not.  Here's an ad which will appear during the NBA playoffs in several cities, led by the Yocha Dehe tribe. ChangeTheMascot.org is a website that is also spearheading these efforts.

This controversy just happens to coincide with the monthly art contest that TrekBBS (a Star Trek fan message board) was holding: New and/or improved.

So I took that opportunity to "improve" the Washington Redskins with a new name. It's one that was used frequently in Star Trek: Enterprise's episodes with the Andorians (blue skinned aliens with antennae, who have been around since the first show aired on TV nearly 50 years ago). It's Commander Shran's nickname for humans: Pinkskins. It's an "affectionate" name, that is surely as respectful as  claims "Redskins" is.

When the contest officially begins voting, I 'll add the link here.

Star Trek has been at the forefront of inspiring us to make changes so we can have a better future. Here's one more thing we ought to add to that list. 

Go #Pinkskins!

These are REALLY the Voyages - how the Enterprise finale SHOULD have ended

We had a discussion on TrekBBS about Manny Coto, who came in the 4th Season of Enterprise and almost saved the franchise. The discussion of course included talking about the final episode of the series.

As you may know, the final episode of Enterprise (the fifth Star Trek TV series) was called "These Are The Voyages" and was supposed to be a "valentine" to the fans , according to Brannon Braga and Rick Berman, creators of Enterprise. It was an awful episode for most Star Trek fans.  They shoehorned a Next Generation episode as a framing device (and a bad fit), and also killed off a popular Enterprise character.  The episode was meant to close out not just the Enterprise series, but an era of new episodes of Star Trek.

So here’s my outline for a “better valentine” to Trek fans, that closes the door on the “silver age” of Trek. The story for the Enterprise crew is not really specified. I don’t think it’s as important as finding a credible way to tie the different series together. Feel free to suggest your own.

I used the Mindmapper program to help me sort out which series characters would be most likely available and interested in participating. (So I left off McCoy & Scotty for obvious reasons, and Kirk & Spock & Picard (and a couple others) because their actors are “too big” and/or too busy to be available. I mmatched up a TV series character with an Enterprise character I thought they could relate to.  Other series actors could also be part of the discussion as well; i just wanted to make sure someone from a previous series had a connection to the Enterprise crew member. Each Enterprise character would have one last chance to shine in each of the acts, but could of course be in the background for other scenes.

“The Better Valentine” or “These REALLY Are the Voyages…”

Teaser

n  TOS Crew talking to Cadets/young officers (or just lucky Trek fans dressed in as Starfleet officers/cadets, hearing a story)

n  Switch to TNG talking to a similar group, in their era (in a 10 Forward lounge?)

n  Switch to DS9 and VOY crew at Quark's talking to cadets

Act 1

n  Bashir, O'Brien, B'Elanna and Harry relay to cadets some of their heroes

Explain how each made an impact

n  Phlox Trip and T'Pol do something to help injured people

n  What causes the injury (Romulans?) sets stage for the ENT story

Act 2

n  TOS sets up this scene

n  saying how Supporting crew made a vital contribution to that era

n  Sato Mayweather & Shran do something to help the Enterprise crew deal with this threat

n  Mayweather and Sato are AT LEAST a Lt. by this point, if not Lt. Commander

Act 3

n  Riker and Worf set up stage for Archer uniting the UFP founders

n  Archer's actions, along with Reed's expertise, help solve an issue

Closer

n  TNG, TNG, VOY and  DS9 crews talking about Archer helping found the Federation (the camera rotates around "the table" and each incarnation has a say)

n  ENT Last scene w/ Archer (like we saw in Enterprise..except Mayweather gets promoted)

n  Narrative “These are the voyages…”said by all Captains, one line at a time

February 2014 TrekBBS Art contest submisison

The Star Trek message board TrekBBS.com has a monthly art contest. This month's theme was basically getting a second chance at previous entries.   You can find it here--> February 2014 Challenge: 2nd Chance 

If you have signed up, please consider for me. My kids weren't cute enough last time!

Voting should start about March 2 or so, and last until about March 4 or 5.

January 2014 TrekBBS Art Submisison

This is my submission to TrekBBS's monthly art contest.  The Janaury theme is "the Future of Star Trek". 

So know would this be considered child abuse (i.e. setting them up for mocking by anti-Trekkies)?

Edit: Here's my final(?) submission:

In possible defense of "white Santa"

OK...I saved this one to keep the sacredness of Christmas, but I now feel free to talk about it now. (Apologies to those celebrating Orthodox Christmas)

One of the latest flaps in the “war on Christmas” was the alleged ethnicity of Santa Claus.  I can’t defend Megan Kelly (of Fox News) saying Jesus is white. I picture Jesus being the male version of my daughters, who are a mix of African-American, Asian-American, European American with traceable Native American roots. The Bible clearly points out some non-Hebrew lineage (such as Rahab and Ruth), to emphasize Jesus’ racial “impurity”.

But I have to give Kelly  a little slack . She did challenge Karl Rove when he claimed that Romney won (or at least wasn’t willing to accept the results every news organization was broadcasting)

And more importantly, I think there are several great arguments why Santa has to be white,  but not because of Kelly’s reasons.

Consider the following questions as to why Santa “has” to be white:

1. What kind of person can break into several homes in one night, and never be arrested?
2. Who is able to drive well beyond recommended speed limits and not get ticketed?
3. What kind of person would get all the glory/benefit for work that is done by people of another race (i.e. elves)? 
4. What kind of person would put animals above people? (Reindeers get Christmas songs, but you never hear a song about an elf!)
5. Who, at least in the Netherlands (well, maybe not anymore), periodically tries to prove that “some of my best friends are black”?
6. What kind of person is able to prosper simply by working just one night out of the year?
7. Who regularly wears the same type of tacky clothing, year after year?
8. What kind of person gets so much publicity for not actually doing much work?
9. What kind of guys is always available, and desires, to have kids sit on his lap?
10. Who can say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and not be accused of misogyny?
11. What kind of person visits poor neighborhoods once a year to give gifts, but spends most of his time in a private (and mostly white) community, away from such people?
12. Who spends so much free time investigating the personal lives of children,  and then be given the power to declare them “naughty” or “nice”?
13. Who is seen in African American communities just a few days out of the year, and clearly does not live, shop, eat or worship there, and yet is still welcomed there time after time?

1.        

So have I made my case, or what?

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year in 2014, everyone!

For the record, i am most certainly NOT against a non-white Santa, but doesn't the evidence suggest what the "real" one's ethnicity is?

Vote for Baby Faith!

Yes, it's another blog post will be purely self-serving. But i hope you can be a part of making it special for a special girl. So many people have already.For example, celebrity Sherri Shepherd took time and  retweeted our tweet about Faith. Thank you so much, Sherri!(and the many others who retweeted!)

Please vote for our daughter Faith for Gerber’s baby photo contest on Facebook

, Nov-4 – Dec. 1!

NOYE: you may have to type in Faith's name to search. We live in Chicago.

Go to this website =>  http://vote4faith.paulus.me which will redirect you to the Facebook page to vote for her. (that page is https://www.facebook.com/Gerber?sk=app_586462271392312&app_data=256206 )

Why vote for Faith? She’s the quintessential Gerber baby for the 21st Century: a mix of African-American, Asian-American, Native American and European American. She's got a great smile, and a very happy, smart child with a bright future.

But more than that, she is a little miracle, literally from day 1.

 

She was born at 26 weeks (out of the normal 40) at just 1 ½ pounds (670 grams). This little miracle has suffered some pain early on so she can bring joy to the future.

Faith was trying to be like her big sister, Mia, who was born 8 years ago at 15 1/2 OUNCES (that would be ZERO pounds! Or 430 grams) at 23 1/2 weeks. Mia had several doctor visits, lots of medications, treatments and therapies over the next few years. But she is now a 3rd grader, and happy and healthy, and a great sister, influencing her sister and making her laugh and smile even more than usual.

34 months ago Faith was fighting for her life in the NICU.  Two years ago (November 2011), she wasn't even able to turn over by herself. Now, Faith is in daycare, and has let me know on many occasion that she is a big girl!


There have been a few struggles and sacrifices (especially financially and professionally) over the years. Winning this contest would be a big blessing for our entire family.

Please vote for Faith at http://vote4Faith.Paulus.Me  (that page is re-directed to https://www.facebook.com/Gerber?sk=app_586462271392312&app_data=256206)!

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at vote4faith@paulus.me 

Sharing a video to inspire you and your dreams...

A video that inspired my wife. Enjoy

Vote for Faith!

UPDATE #1 : We won't know the results of the Geberer contest until November 1. (They witheld the number of votes, I think, to make sure people didn't drop out of the contest by giving up hope). Thanks so much to EVERYONE who voted!

UPDATE #2: Faith has also been entered in the "Chicago's Most Photogenic Babies of 2012" contest, which is actually a fundraiser for Lurie Children's Hospital (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital). So if you have thousands you want to donate and/or passionate about Children's Hospital, please donate (adding "Faith Paulus") at http://photogenicbaby.com/votingforchicagokids.html The winner will be announced Ocotber 29.

vote for Faith at http://faith.paulus.me





Ok, this particular blog post will be purely self-serving. But i hope you can be a part of it.

Please vote for our daughter Faith for Gerber’s baby photo contest on Facebook, Sept-4 – Sept. 24!

Go to this website =>  http://faith.paulus.me which will redirect you to the Facebook page to vote for her. (that page is https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=456209 )

Why vote for Faith? She’s the quintessential Gerber baby for the 21st Century: a mix of African-American, Asian-American, Native American and European American. She's got a great smile, and a very happy, smart child with a bright future.

She was born at 26 weeks (out of the normal 40) at just 1 ½ pounds (670 grams). This little miracle has suffered some pain early on so she can bring joy to the future.

She may have been trying to be like her big sister, Mia, who was born 7 years ago at 15 1/2 OUNCES (ZERO pounds!) at 23 1/2 weeks. Mia had several doctor visits, lots of medications, treatments and therapies over the next few years. But she is now a 2nd grader, and happy and healthy, and a great sister, influencing her sister and making her laugh and smile even more than usual.

19 months ago Faith was fighting for her life in the NICU.  A year ago (Novemeber 2011), she wasn't even able to turn over by herself. Now, Faith is starting to walk, and speaking specific words along with many cute baby sounds. 


Ther have been a few struggles and sacrifices (especially financially and professionally) over the years. Winning this contest would be a big blessing for our entire family.

Please vote for Faith at Faith.Paulus.Me (that page WAS re-directed to https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=456209 )!

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at vote4faith@paulus.me 

My entry for TrekBBS

This is a test, showing my entry for TrekBBS's June 2011 art challenge.

Helping those making $250,000 or more in light of the tax cut expiration

There has been much talk by politicians and pundits over how people making $250,000 a year will need the Bush tax cuts to be extended.

Now, it seems most people on both sides of the aisle agree that tax cuts for those making under $250,000 are needed during this recession.. But what about those making more than $250,000?

To be honest, I don't understand how someone making $250,000 can't make due on higher taxes.  
If you survived on an income lower than $250,000 (where a higher percentage of your income was going to housing, food, medical bills, utilities, etc.), and were able to grow to your current income level before, why can't you do it now?

You know that the US economy is suffering, and that investment and credit is needed for millions with incomes less than $250,000, many of whom can't may much in taxes due to lack of work.   Why are you not able to do your patriotic duty and start new jobs and businesses to help your fellow Americans out of the recession.

OK, I understand there may be extraordinary circumstances for some, such as taking care of special needs children or ill parents.  But my understanding is that current tax law provides deductions for these and other such expenses, so that your income would not fall into the $250,000+ category as far as tax bracket.

I have a solution for those who feel that the expiration of tax cuts would seriously hurt them, or more importantly, the economy as a whole.  I will loan you $1,000 for services at one of 4 recommended Christian financial ministries:

1. Crown Financial Ministries = Christian ministry founded by Howard Dayton and Larry Burkett
2. Christian Financial Ministries - recommended by Dave Ramsey
3. Good $ense - from Willow Creek Community Church
4. Gary Moore - Gary Moore and the financial seminary can offer advice on investing from a Christian perspective

If you are interested in getting that loan , please contact me at loan@more2ignore.com

If you feel the need, you may read the terms & conditions of the loan below:

1. You must follow the program laid out by one of the above 4 ministries.
2. You must prove to the ministry that you will be put into the higher tax bracket due to the Bush Tax cuts expiring.
3. One of the above ministries must confirm that they believe you will follow/are following their program.
4. Twenty (percent (20%) interest will be charged, compounded monthly. A different interest rate may be negotiated between lender and ministry only.
5. The money will be paid directly to one of the above ministries to help yourself on a path of financial stability (you will not receive any money, only services by these ministries up to $1,000)
6. You must help someone else in a comparable way once your financial situation is stabilized.

Let me know if you are interested in this loan. (Or if you aren't interested in the loan, but are interested in the help, you con contact the above ministries above, and see if they have any free resources for you).

Again, i must repeat, this is a serious offer. But only for those that meet the guidelines, and I can only have 3 loans out at a time.

I also challenge any politician or pundit who is serious about how the tax expiration will hurt the economy to find serious "victims", so that they may survive this economic calamity.

God bless you and the resources He gave you.