A Primer on the Races of Humanity – Peloran

by on January 5, 2017 at 12:01 am
Posted In: The Races of Humanity

The Peloran were the greatest soldiers of their time. They were faster, stronger, and smarter than any other human. They could regenerate from any wound that did not kill them. They fought on the ground, crewed warships, and flew fighters. They were better than any soldier Albion’s enemies had, armed with the best technology the Albion developed. They were always outnumbered, but they won every battle they picked. They were unstoppable. And they were utterly loyal to their masters. Albion’s enemies had to face the fact that they could not defeat the Peloran. And when they did, they began the ultimate campaign to win the war. They targeted the Albion themselves, and as amazing as the Peloran were, there were never enough of them to guard every place the Albion lived.

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Jack

by on January 4, 2017 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Art, Character Profiles

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Jack spends most of his life acting like the only things that matter to him are parties, girls, and getting out of town before their fathers or brothers catch up with him. He wears the role of the ridiculous simple small town playboy with impressive gusto. Captain Jack is built on a young Jack’s adolescent dream given form and substance, and exaggerated to the limits of believability. That is why he works so well. He is a reliable monkey wrench, thrown into situations that require chaos sown and reaped. My plans include his true measure, of course. It is my sincere hope that our enemies only learn that measure when it is far too late for them to adapt.

High rez version available for free on Patreon

High rez version available for free on Patreon

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Jasmine Picture

by on January 3, 2017 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Art, Character Profiles

Betty chose to be my cyber. My partner. She was born to be with me. Jasmine was not. Jasmine was born to be with someone else, but that someone died. Most bonded cybers die when their pilot goes. They can’t imagine living without the person they were shaped to complete. But Jasmine is not most cybers. She’s a real tough cookie, and I’m happy to say that she chose to live on. With me as it happens. And she wasn’t the last. I guess I became a home for wayward cybers over the years. But Jasmine’s special. She never left. She never found something better to do. She stuck around. And my world is richer for that.

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High rez version available for free on Patreon

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Health Care and the New Year

by on January 2, 2017 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

Eight years ago, I had this nice little health care plan that worked for me. It was $100 a month and covered the first $1,000 of any medical expenses I had all year long. Then I had to pay until I hit the deductible before they stepped in again. The plan worked for me. I picked it from a dozen or so plans offered by three or four different companies. It wasn’t the cheapest plan, but it was pretty close.

Long story short, Obamacare declared it not good enough and it’s gone now. They offered me a new plan with a higher deductible at three or four times the cost. I didn’t take it. Last year I had two medical emergencies that totaled a good 50k in costs. I didn’t have to pay all of that due to some really amazing charities and the other guy’s insurance company that foot the bill for what he did to me. But that’s a lot of money. I realized that no matter how expensive it was, I wasn’t a spring chicken anymore and I had to have something.

The government wouldn’t let me sign up until a month ago due to some arcane logic, and then I only had the choice of three plans from a single company. Every other company is gone and headed off into the hills. The cheapest Bronze Plan is worthless and is still over $400 a month. I picked the Silver Plan at over $700 a month because it is the first one that might actually help if I go to the hospital again. Though it still isn’t as good as the $100 a month plan I had eight years ago.

I might have said something back then about what would happen if the government got rid of competition and choice and then required everybody buy what they demanded. The rates would go up. This isn’t exactly rocket science. It’s just life under Obamacare. I can’t afford a premium that is nearly one third my total income, I don’t know how I’m going to be able to pay this, and I don’t know what’s going to happen next. And I am simply one of millions of Americans placed in this situation by the government decrees of the last eight years.

I can only hope that the new government will do what they said in the New Year and fix the mess that Obamacare created.

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Happy New Year

by on January 1, 2017 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

A New Year has come and it is time for us all to do the things we do every year. We drink something bubbly with family and friends. We watch the ball drop on our TVs and are glad we aren’t penned up behind barricades like the people in New York City. We sign up for health club plans we’ve never used after January. It’s a New Year, full of promise and opportunity to make it better than the year before. And every year, we dive in with refreshed optimism. So I wish you all, a Happy New Year.

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