A Lot of my friends had stopped playing when I recorded this, so I queued solo. Got in a 4v4 arena I don’t particularly like, but I try regardless. I did get best damage numbers of the team in two rounds, and I was last alive for both. We would have done better with more focused damage, but such is the way in solo queue.
First Recorded PvP Battle | Voidstar
I seldom get votes, even when I am a significant part of the win. I should probably say more in chat, but I’m not very concerned about receiving votes. I actually like the Voidstar map, and I think I did pretty well during this 8v8 match.
A Fair U.S. Senate Structure
The Senate being made up of 2 senators per state for only 50 of the 52 “states” is unfair from the start. How could it possibly be fair that a state with just over 1 million residents gets the same representation as a state of just over 39 million? I’m using simple state population numbers rather than registered voter population by state. Regardless, I think it would be a much more fair and representative system either by simple population or registered voter population. Also, every state and territory should receive representation. So, 52 rather than 50.
We should use the mean state population rounded down to nearest million as the count needed for one senator while rounding up the state’s population to the nearest million. If a state is below the average, that state receives only one senator. So every state always gets at least one representative. The numbers should be tallied every 3 years, and appropriate action taken to accommodate the results on the same cycle. It would take a mass movement in population to significantly affect the number of senators assigned to a given state in a 3 year cycle. However, if such a thing happens, said state will gain or lose a seat accordingly. Not easy considering that the average population by state is currently around 6 million.
To shed some light on how unfair things currently are, there are only 19 states that would receive more than one senator. Why is it we currently allow states with less than 1 million citizens to be represented by two senators? Wyoming, isn’t even above 600k let alone 6 million. How is it fair or reasonable that Wyoming gets the same representation as California with over 39 million residents? There are 33 states that should only have one senator, 13 that should get two, 2 with 3, 2 with 4, and only 2 with 5 plus (California & Texas.)
| # | State | Population | Senators |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,237,826 | 7 |
| 2 | Texas | 29,527,941 | 5 |
| 3 | Florida | 21,781,128 | 4 |
| 4 | New York | 19,835,913 | 4 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 12,964,056 | 3 |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,671,469 | 3 |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,780,017 | 2 |
| 8 | Georgia | 10,799,566 | 2 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,551,162 | 2 |
| 10 | Michigan | 10,050,811 | 2 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,267,130 | 2 |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,642,274 | 2 |
| 13 | Washington | 7,738,692 | 2 |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,276,316 | 2 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,984,723 | 2 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6,975,218 | 2 |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,805,985 | 2 |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,168,187 | 2 |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,165,129 | 2 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,895,908 | 1 |
| 21 | Colorado | 5,812,069 | 1 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 5,707,390 | 1 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 5,190,705 | 1 |
| 24 | Alabama | 5,039,877 | 1 |
| 25 | Louisiana | 4,624,047 | 1 |
| 26 | Kentucky | 4,509,394 | 1 |
| 27 | Oregon | 4,246,155 | 1 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 3,986,639 | 1 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 3,605,597 | 1 |
| 30 | Utah | 3,337,975 | 1 |
| 31 | Puerto Rico | 3,263,584 | 1 |
| 32 | Iowa | 3,193,079 | 1 |
| 33 | Nevada | 3,143,991 | 1 |
| 34 | Arkansas | 3,025,891 | 1 |
| 35 | Mississippi | 2,949,965 | 1 |
| 36 | Kansas | 2,934,582 | 1 |
| 37 | New Mexico | 2,115,877 | 1 |
| 38 | Nebraska | 1,963,692 | 1 |
| 39 | Idaho | 1,900,923 | 1 |
| 40 | West Virginia | 1,782,959 | 1 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 1,441,553 | 1 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 1,288,992 | 1 |
| 43 | Maine | 1,372,247 | 1 |
| 44 | Montana | 1,104,271 | 1 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 1,095,610 | 1 |
| 46 | Delaware | 1,003,384 | 1 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 895,376 | 1 |
| 48 | North Dakota | 774,948 | 1 |
| 49 | Alaska | 732,673 | 1 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 670,570 | 1 |
| 51 | Vermont | 645,570 | 1 |
| 52 | Wyoming | 578,803 | 1 |
Data pulled from States by Population on July 16th 2023.
This method does not result in 100 senators, nor does it guarantee an even number to divide between parties, but I do not think that matters. Senators are suppose to represent the people, which they currently have a hard time doing. We can simply divide the number of senators in half and use the accuracy of the fraction in counting senate votes, with the VP still having the tie breaking vote. By above chart, there would only be need of 84 senators for 52 states, saving the United States the annual income of 16 senators. Also, savings aside, it would be a much more representative system than we currently have. The damn Filibuster could be left in place and it would still be a far more fair and representative system.
This system would better represent the people above the states, which would definitely be an improvement considering the current system neither represents the states or the people, even though many argue it represents the states (some, but not all of them.) I already hear people saying, that’s what the House is for, but the House is dysfunctional and in need of reform also. Gerrymandering and Citizens United need to be abolished, they are simply regressive levers of power.
Got Shutdown At Favorite Spot
Whomever owned the property, paid to have a serious fence blocking entry installed. I drove up one day, and a heavy metal gate blocked my way. A few weeks earlier someone drove up and questioned me, but seemed friendly. I suspect the gate got planned shortly after I talked with him.
A Flight I Northern Sweden
First Recorded Drone Flight
Reality as I see it
From the perspective of a person who doesn’t believe in a god or gods, reality is understood through a different lens. This perspective acknowledges the absence of a higher power or divine being governing the universe. Instead, it places the responsibility for understanding and shaping reality on oneself, as the thinker and agent of one’s own existence.
In this view, the concept of a personal god is seen as a human construct, born out of a need for explanations and comfort in the face of the unknown. Rather than attributing the workings of the world to an external deity, the focus shifts to the capabilities and potential of human beings as the primary agents of change and understanding.
Accordingly, this perspective emphasizes the power of reason, critical thinking, and human agency in comprehending and navigating reality. It places great importance on individual autonomy and the ability to make choices based on personal values and rational analysis. The responsibility for shaping one’s own life and the world at large rests on the individual, as they navigate their experiences and strive for personal growth and progress.
In this worldview, the concept of a god is replaced by self-reflection, self-determination, and the interconnectedness of humanity. The absence of a divine figure allows individuals to focus on humanistic values, such as empathy, compassion, and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Human beings become the architects of their own morality and purpose, finding meaning in their relationships, experiences, and contributions to the world.
Ultimately, this perspective suggests that if there is any semblance of a god or higher power, it lies within the capacity of each individual to think, reason, and act upon the world. It is through the exercise of our own faculties that we shape reality and create our own understanding of the universe, rather than relying on external supernatural forces.
A Woman’s Choice in 2023 USA
In the halls of power, a tale unfolds,
of how Trump’s reign left women’s rights on hold.
Three justices appointed, with a conservative sway,
undoing decades of progress in a single day.
Donald Trump, the maestro of deceit,
his lies abundant, a torrential feat.
Promising greatness, but sowing discord,
his words a web of falsehoods, forever of record.
Mitch McConnell, the master of manipulation,
changed the rules with a swift proclamation.
No Merrick Garland, no fair chance,
partisan gamesmanship in a cold, calculated dance.
Lindsey Graham, once a critic, now a devotee,
flipped his allegiance to Trump, causing dismay.
His principles discarded like yesterday’s news,
party loyalty triumphing over what was true.
And amidst this political charade,
women’s rights were cast into the shade.
A 50-year battle for autonomy and choice,
stripped away by a court that silenced their voice.
The right to abortion, a hard-fought gain,
Now hanging by a thread, causing endless pain.
Trump’s justices, like puppets on a string,
served his agenda, leaving justice unable to ring.
But women rise, their voices strong,
a movement united, determined to prolong,
the fight for autonomy, for rights that won’t yield,
their bodies, their choices, their power to wield.
Though lies may cloud the political sphere,
Truth shall prevail, erasing the fear.
Together we stand, with resilience and might,
to reclaim what was taken, to set things right.
Let history remember the battles we fought,
to protect women’s rights, the battles we sought.
For justice and equality, we’ll never cease,
till the flame of progress burns bright, bringing peace.
An American Political Poem
You protect, you attack, you build a wall and have a snack, but your politics, dear Republicans, fall through the cracks. Your promises crumble like a house made of cards, leaving us disillusioned, yet not caught off guard.
You claim to champion freedom, yet deny equal rights, leaving marginalized voices lost in endless fights. Your tax breaks for the wealthy, a glaring divide, while the middle class struggles, barely able to survive.
You speak of fiscal responsibility, a clever guise, while deficits soar, like a bird that never flies. The trickle-down economics, a worn-out charade, leaving the masses yearning, their dreams betrayed.
You dismiss climate change, ignoring Earth’s plea, as the planet grows warmer, the consequences we see. While science warns of dangers, you turn a blind eye, putting profits over the planet, waving our future goodbye.
You play with voter rights, suppressing democracy’s voice, leaving fairness and justice with no other choice. Gerrymandering districts, distorting the will, while the people’s power slowly chills.
You claim to champion freedom of speech with pride, yet dissenting voices are silenced, pushed aside. Truth becomes subjective, a twisted dance, as misinformation spreads, fueled by chance.
So, dear Republicans, your walls may be tall, but they can’t hide the flaws of your policies’ fall. It’s time for progress, and a new direction, where all voices are heard, with no need for correction.
Let’s build bridges, not walls, embracing diversity, where compassion and justice become our shared goal. For a brighter future, we must break this partisan trap, and rise above the failures of your politics, dear GOP/Rightwing.
Inspired by the wonderful Emma Thorne!
I Am God | Hoodie
Make a statement regarding your responsibility in life. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “cleanliness is close to godliness.” I suspect that entirely incorrect. It’s much more accurate that, “responsibilitiness is close to godliness.” Or more grammatically, “the more responsibility you take upon yourself the closer you are to being god.”
Click this link to get one for yourself,
and show others how godly you are!