Journey Quest Season 3 Swag (At Last!!!)

So after a arduous Journey, my Quest for swag (see what I did there?)  has finally come to fruition. A long time ago, in a Kickstarter far far away, I pledged a goodly amount of kopins for custom video dedication to the 4th powers' 13th Bday. The folks at DG/ZOE bent over backwards to get it to me in time and went above and beyond.

Today I received the remainder of my pledge goodies.

Patches, bookmarks, Bardic Immunity badge/card, Perf mini, Orcish word plate (tolid: twin), and Nara/Perf print. 

The film itself.  Definitely a darker tone than the first two seasons.  One spoiler.  It ends in a cliffhanger. 4PB screeched when it did. Most entertaining.

Go forth and support them so we can get S4 started.

Goodbye Photobucket

Been using it as my primary image host for years. Now they've blocked 'hotlinking' and want to charge me $400/yr for the privilege.

Nope.

Time to find a new service.

The Illinois Budget: A Parable

You are subsidizing your child.  Each month you give them money for food, rent, and necessities.  Your child, instead of spending all the money on what they're supposed to, spends a big chunk on hookers and blow, putting the difference on credit cards.

After awhile, your child comes to you and admits they spent a bit more than the were supposed to and asks if they can have a bit more money to cover the credit card bills and expenses.  You agree. They then go out and spend that money on more hookers and blow, throwing parties for their friends.

This cycle continues until the child's credit cards are all maxed out, the companies are threatening legal action, they're about to get thrown out of their apartment, and yet the child STILL is spending what they get on hookers and blow instead of food, rent, etc. because the parties are so popular with their friends.

Do you continue to give the child more and more money thinking they'll suddenly be responsible with it and at the cost of your own livelihood or do you cut them off as much as possible until they PROVE they're responsible?

This is the question facing Illinois in a nutshell.

Thus endeth the lesson.

Why We Can't Have Nice Things : Update

One of my favorite local hiking spots is the 'Observatory Trail' at Walnut Point State Park.  It's a hair under 2 miles and rated 'moderate' which is a good haul for an individual who spends most of his time in a cubicle and has let him get himself out of shape.

Anywhoo...

Fifthpower and I went out there today since the weather was beyond perfect for it. Mid 70's.  Partly cloudy. Light breeze.  Just right.

An area of pine woods. Really creepy at dusk when the wind is blowing.  Lots of shadows and the trees creak and pop as they sway:

Tree down across the trail.  5P and I had fun climbing through it:

Baby toad:

Unfortunately when we got to the observatory, the halfway mark, the reason for the post became relevant. It's an old building that's been used as a local drinking spot and had been heavily vandalized over the years. The park has made a point to block of the entrance and cover over the graffiti.  As we got up there, we saw the blocks have once again been covered w/ graffiti. Not only that but a bench that we used to rest up on had been destroyed.  Set on fire by the trash that hang out there.

People suck.

Update:  The trail has been closed.

OAKLAND (JG-TC) -- Walnut Point State Park has closed the grounds around this park's long shuttered observatory and the connecting trail due to vandalism.

Walnut Point staff reported on the state park's Facebook page that vandals have destroyed signs and gates, and burnt a wooden bench. Walnut Point staff also reported that there has been an increase in racist and anti-Semitic graffiti in this area.

The state park is located just north of Oakland in the southeast corner of Douglas County. The long shuttered observatory on the southwest edge of Walnut Point was operated many years ago by the University of Illinois. Walnut Point staff asks those who have information about the vandalism to contact law enforcement.