Skyzer the Mad Logician and the rise of the Kaga Rebellion

Total War: Shogun 2

Prompted by the Wasted Camel, then authorised by the humble bundle to meekly spread mayhem; Skyzer’s inspired by the triple T to spread chaos, duel samurai and raise the phesants to radioactive power. Ikko-ikki farmers and monks unite with the illogical master of logistics to overthrow the Shogu and control the [Kaga province] for their own prosperity. But how does this come to pass? Why is Skyzer here?

Linsey Stirling's radioactive is not the most iconic of her songs but reminds me of how Skyzer the [Beyblade] began, from a mewling sky serpent to a nuclear powered spinning top with a perpetual motion chaos engine. The faster we spin the more thermodynamic energy is released, the greater the fission the faster we spin.

Stephen chow and the [King of Beggers]

Great movie, I wonder if the period is correct? seems to be [1644-1912] Shows the riches to rags story of a spoilt brat as he finds meaning to life, defeats an evil overlord and is rewarded with nothing. One of the final scenes where the Emperor kowtow’s to him reminds me of the Baldur's Gate series. Bhaal choses his reward last after his two friends become the god of the living and the god of the underworld. Initially they seem to have taken all the power and responsibility, but Bhaal takes the title god or murder thus he can control the size of both of their kingdoms by not allowing people to die or murdering a great many, in the end I believe the other two submit to his authority. [See BOOK36]

Zui quan

One of jakie’s earlier movies is Drunkan Master (also set during the Quing Dynasty), personally I don’t think its any good. And it was much more fun to watch Rock Lee battle Kimimaro after his recovery from being defeated by Gaara. Then there was the [Curry of Life] story arc, I don't really know why people complain so bitterly about the filler arcs. These were some of the most fun stories, like "What does Kakashi's mouth look like and does he ever eat?" or the cooking nin of Ep168 or Kin Kon Kun, laughing Shino in Ep186. Buy yes, I'd like to see more of drunken Lee in the fight with the Gedo statue. Incidentally it appears that this specific style really does not work if you are actually intoxicated, but is effective if your opponent thinks that you are.

Tao Te Ching

 Is an inspiring work and it’s pacifist principals can be applied to many sorts of confrontations. I’ll specifically need to re-read the discourse on army movements, incidentally this should be the most apt application of the principals, with the least amount of inference and translation.
...
hang on, my references don't seem correct.
Ah I was thinking art of war not Taoism, but [this] kind of also fits.
Though I think I have gotten most use out of The Art of War by kiting in league of legends. 

… is another movie I recommend, seems I’ve watched a lot of old school movies lately. This incidentally set about the same time, possibly a generation or two later and as opposed to “the Last Samurai” which is set in 1877 actually seems to show why the era of the samurai ended and seems a really good depiction of what it was like to live back then. Though the story is mainly about the great love that a father has for his daughters and how he would much rather be a meek farmer than a noble warrior.

Completed the tutorials without too much difficulty, not sure how much they helped. No trouble in finding where to click, had to wait ages to research better farm practices so that I could move my army from a starving town on the edge of revolt. I like the retainers mechanic for the special units and that they gain experience over time when hiding in town.

Initially Skyzer planned to not level up or employ the expensive and powerful endgame units; Instead employing a pile of cheap peasants with which to wage war. But since the Ikko Ikki are their own faction, it would be unfair to ally with anybody else. And so Skyzer’s buddist socialist party will spread chaotically and quickly. Upgrading all the roads first, ensuring reliable supply chains to the far flung regions of revolt.

Also check this out, the place where Zubuza died I believe.

I wonder can I change names and have some of my people working under General Aesthetic? and his attendant Dr. Acula.

The lack of military police is compensated for with extra religious zeal, so monks and nin are a must. Mayhaps I won’t actually have to recruit anybody as my soldiers could mostly be revolting serfs?

LOL, my monk can has a pet cat.
Meeow

Meekly leapfrog to payday

Payday2

Frogs goal as a criminal in payday 2 is to develop a lithe meekness through the practice of Aikido. In the footsteps of Steven Segal gently dominate the police, aiming to cause least harm to my opponents and least disruption to my neighbours. Following the way of water from the Tao Te Ching, seek opportunities of the greatest efficiency, like headshots and the least pain, like one hit KO.

Perhaps if other friends come to join the fun the developing the EMP mysteries as well as efficient first aid may be the way to go. But for now I believe the best bet is better concealment and leading up to confirming my ambidexterity.

Meek when approaching the target, neither brash nor bold.

Calm under fire, steady when stressed.

Humble in the midst of praise

Magnanimous in victory, not gloating over the conquered

Walk softly and carry a big stick

Avoid the extravagant escalation of threat as mentioned by [British Ben].


As it's happened I've been crouching in a froggy pose nearly all the time and the Four Stores missions ATM is the most reliable source of stealthy cash. Plus I can conquer the task with no casualties in under four minutes. As opposed to many of hte online with randoms missions that seem to take half an hour to almost compete.

Cowboy pistols sound like a great idea, as do Lazer beams. I put a budget silencer on my pistol because I wanted it to be quiet but now aiming down the ironsites doesn’t work and I’ve unlocked the playing cards item so that works much better for silently disabling cameras and the cards can be retrieved, I wonder why the capacity is not 52…

Unfortunately the first aid pack for friends and the EMP are mutually exclusive and since there is a limited number of skill points available I’m going to try to be a great Fugitive without ever using first aid. Helping people is more of an Anoikis thing to do at any rate.

 

There is a mod that apparently shows all the buffs available, RPG style. I should get that installed and then try some actual online play. Also due to the number of trips back and forth to collect loot it seems that missions in single player are long and tedious. Payday really is designed as a four player experience. The AI merely follow me and shoot at each other, my allies revive me if I’m downed but that is the limit of their aid. The only missions I can successfully complete are Mall Crasher and four stores, the two missions I did at level one and six respectively before I actually had any skills or modded weapons. Knowing how the map plays out is a much greater advantage than any of the items or perks that can be equipped. Therefore with 4 humans any mission should be ~4 times faster and probably 16 times easier than solo. Mainly because you can all interact with lootbags at the same time, monitor drills and have actual defence rather than meatsheilds. If the cop AI did not keep escalating their equipment over the course of a heist then I’d be able to Solo some more but the process is just too slow when the Taser ninja police arrive.

 

I should re-think the silencer on my secondary, pending the playing card strategy. This way I can go out guns a blazing with Akimbo and maybe snipe with a scary secondary. The main reason for dual wielding was always the extra concealment. Also yet to find a foggy mask skin, I like the wolf mask of humbleness, but have not found anything that I want to use to recolour it. Meh it’s easier to pull the trigger than throw a card, though the cards are much quicker at breaking glass in the jewellery store than either melee or bullets.

 

All done, unless I find somebody to co-op with, Just like life in general I suppose. I could let Frog loose online and play online with ransoms a bit, Otherwise rolling over to Shogun 2 with Stephan leading the charge is the plan. Been a few rounds in CardHunter, which leads me to believe It’s Skyzer the mad Logicians, turn to come out of his shell.

Can listening be a leadership skill?

Whether it’s a genetic and metaphysical pre-disposition or socio-economic and cultural massaging there is always a reason that people try to communicate with words, oft times its more important to determine why something was said rather than what was said, after all the greatest inhibitor of communication is language. If you don’t believe me then try re-reading that sentence again.

Listening as a leadership skill

Dad is really good at picking emotions and mood swings. He learnt to be a quick accurate judge because grandpa apparently had quick violent mood swings and you had to know when he was about to fly off the handle and when a joke would be safely laughed at.
For myself I think I’ve spent a relatively large amount of my childhood hanging out with adults who were discussing things like theology and proportionally small time learning how to competently catch a ball. I know the phrase “children are to be seen and not heard” but that was never the case for us growing up. I knew I could speak my piece and especially at the dinner table we all had our fair share to say, Even so with six people two ears and only one mouth means listen twice as much as you talk. So I think I’m fairly well positioned to give some points on how to listen to people, and thereby lead through manipulating the course of a conversation.

~In relation then to small group bible studies

Edit: I was trying to apply the KISS principle but this is turning into an essay, I’ll try again.
Lead by example; everything happens for a reason; Listen and watch before acting;

• First you need to be present. You need to forget your past and not plan your future but concentrate solely on the present. Try to lead by example and stay on topic and make certain it looks like you are actively listening. If you daydream, or start reading ahead/ checking the time then everybody else will follow your example.
• Participate, listen actively. So that they know you have not fallen asleep
• Listen with your eyes too; somatic comms will give you a lot more information than verbal. You can only hear what somebody tells you. But somatically you should be able to see why they are talking in the first place.
• Surroundings, what’s distracting them? Who do they not want to overhear their conversation. Is anybody tempering their language so as not to offend? Can you get away with polysyllabalistic esoteric spiritual jargon? Or will only half the group understand what is happening?
• Body language, it’s a thing. See them, what do they see you doing? What about others nearby? Leaning forwards, fiddling, folded arms? 
• Watch the watchers, how much are other people listening? Who is only listening and not talking? Should you direct conversation at them or allow them to be shy and comfortable?
• To steer the conversation passively talking is best. Don’t speak if possible as you might dam the flow of conversation, it’s better to be a pebble and change the flow. As a leader if you pay full attention to one person and they see you listening acutely to them. Then they are encouraged to continue and once others see this you make them the centre of attention.
• Give somebody permission to interrupt. When the speaker takes a breath at a full stop is the best time to switch to another person. As the audience listens they will form ideas and come up with something to say. Leave it too long and the thought is gone. Start too soon and the current speaker will feel disrespected. A listener will take a breath before beginning to speak, this is the time to give them your attention and switch the focus of the group.
• Be selectively rude and dismissive. Roll your eyes and sigh to move the conversation along. If the right person notices they will move the conversation back to the topic at hand. If people are distracted by their phones you can get yours out and hold it back to front and pretend to look at humorous cat pictures.
• Know the answer before you ask a question. Whenever a question is asked quickly guess three possible answers that might be given so that you can predict the flow of conversation.
  Likely answers will be:
  Incorrect- the question was misunderstood or the answer is unknown
  Short- one word answers slow the conversation but might be followed up by,
  Long- detailed descriptions may be informative but could go off topic.
  Attention seeking- if somebody always answers they may like the sound of their own voice and have not noticed that other people have opinions also.
• Names are powerful. I’m not so great at this but recall a person’s name whenever they speak. And remember who they speak about, relatives, school friends parents. Chances are they will come up in conversation again later.
• Go off topic; While you are all supposedly gathered together for the same reason you never know what gems of insight will be found at the end of a monologue. Also no matter how important you think it is to follow the scrips and stay on schedule, somebody may have a burning question or a miserable day. Ubuntu is more important than ruthless rationality, people will bond best when sharing wounds.
• If you are not making any progress at all then you are on the wrong path be flexible enough to

Stalker, the computer game you play as a chaotic neutral mercenary, you can listen to people but interactions are limited to shooting them or selling loot. Its based on a movie and book thate are set before the Chernobyl disaster. But set afterwards because that fit the plot better. I quite liked the movie and recommend you watch it on [youtube] with the English subtitles. It shows Stalker the guide as an effective leader yet he is always last and the least fortunate of all the people. Just like in the movie, in the game I never quite made it into The Room, so I cant say how it ends.

Rahab to Ruth

Read Judges this arvo, sort of following parallel to [The Story], which is a link I had not previously used. Anyway thought I'd stop at Ruth to see where in time I'm supposed to be. But first quickly checked Matthew as that was a name I recognized.

Hang on, I read Joshua last week, isn't that like 300 years in the past, surely that's not the same Rahab? Apparently I was correct on all accounts Though these two sheilas are a generation apart they span some 300 years. Well I suppose Joshua was 110, maybe Rahab was a 12yo prostitute? After reading about the Benjamites, well worse things have happened.

Found another genealogy chronology with heaps of stuff.

You will have to follow this [Link] to be able to read any of that.

so you have this

then six generation later get

Who married Rahab, who is the mother in law of Ruth, King Davids grandma?

Kicked the bucket list

Nicole asked me a while ago if I have a bucket list, I had one but I think everything got crossed off already, almost. Must mean that its time ti update my ten steps


1luxuries
Well dollar a meal rations still ongoing, so luxuries shared now includes meat as well as coffee alcohol, potato chips and antipasto. Mostly this seems OK.

2prepare
Well as far a plans go I think I’ve completed every milestone I’ve aimed at and overcome every challenge God has put before me with the exception of filling a quiver with arrows. Currently there is nothing I really want to add to my bucket list. So I suppose I just reiterate old milestones and aim to improve skill and efficiency.

3efficiency
I really am sick of returning home to a big empty house and want to have somebody else to at least fill up a spare room. Current proposal is free board is somebody cleans for me. But I don’t really want to advertise as that wasted a lot of my tile previously.

4mental
New computer games, and guitar is coming along OK and presenting many challenges. I don’t think it’s something I can finish getting better at. So it’s merely a matter of how many hours I spend with Elva.

5physical
Can almost do a handstand, seems that before that is reliable I’ll be able to go into a bridge. Handstand walking is a long way off. Next step in Kitesurfing is backrolls. I can jump reliably either direction and change tack mid air no worries. My rations I think have made me leaner but now that I’ve been eating vegetables I’ve still got plenty of energy. Trying to survive on instant ramen noodles was a terrible idea. This reminds me of the book [Lucifers Hammer] and in hindsight could be the reason this winter was cold.

6spiritual
Leading a bible study has almost got me back into reading the bible which is nice. Since we are working chronologically I’ve been reading it like a novel, rather than a chapter a day.

7emotional
I think this is always the hardest category to come to terms with and thus I have the least I want to say about it. Which I suppose means I have room to grow and I should share more with my friends. After all a good friend is somebody who has a lot of knives and could easily stab you in the back and yet they don’t. I think if I got engaged next week my best men would be Josh and Tony and I’d have to invite Stephan and the Parfits along with the Doohans, aside from family of course.

8recover
Well I survived the 15k cane to coral run without any adverse effects this year. And it was fun running with Marc and the reservists plus the 160pushups. I didn’t enjoy working on the Rovema installation in packaging, mostly due to a lack of communication and not getting a chance to actually test and commission any of my programming. Nothing else springs to mind at the moment.

9fun
I really cant say I have had a lot of fun this last ten months or so Partially being cold and slightly ill due to winter. Social events I’ve tried to organise have generally been half as effective as I’d hoped and my house felt lonely. But I really don’t like to complain so sacrifices and compromises have to be maid to maintain a balanced lifestyle.

0shame
Only really ashamed of my lack of progress and sour attitude. In reality I’ve overcome a lot of challenges and been able to debrief at least with myself to see that things went about as smoothly as they could have gone with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I think I have done a pretty good job of being meek lately. Then again that’s really hard to qualify and define. Thus the reason I’ve aimed for Meekness.

More * More
Weeeelll ….
Boardgames and co-op computers
Electric Bass Guitar; In a band, Blues riffs, walking bass and Rocksmith
Save for next overseas holiday
Whatever happened to camping? I havent been bush in ages.
Spend so much time in the surf and the sun that my belly never hangs over my belt.
Youtube tongue twisters in alternate languages.
House paid off in 2020
Be the most Meek.
Sell a computer game that I helped make.
Handstand walking + wall flips.
And then [This] I wanted started by last Christmas

Find some girl

• Computer games camping beach, dance.
• She can worry about insurance, tax, medical, bills and stuff.
• At 31 married
• At 35 house would be paid off. Some children (Dad will be 62, year 2020)
• At 40, retired to spend time with kids, run my own business / pastor / musician
• At 53, 18yo children
• At 65, settle down, sell home produce, booze and computer games, ready for grand kids. (Dad will be 92, year 2050)
• Will I have grand kids at an age younger than Dad?
• I probably won’t be the oldest kitesurfer, computers and games are tax deductible, still play the bass at church.

All in all I reckon I can cope with a bit of time travel even now. I’m prepared to be unprepared and with the help of God no challenge will be insurmountable

Shedmen 4th September

I’ve put some words together for Shedmen at my place on the 4th September. I’ve avoided listing any arguments/pro/con/bible verses. First I have some dot points ill talk around then I’ll mention what the concept actually is and I’ll maybe add the bit about tradition. We have not had much theological debate at Shedmen lately and I’m not that keen to talk about my like so I thought to start something heavy instead. So what do youse think? 

Women’s ordination.

• Back when I went Baptist the Calvinistic double pre-destination was a big deal. But mostly us of uni student age were sick of the argument and didn’t think it actually effected day-to day life. Some people are predestined for Heaven. Some predestined for Hell.
• Been an ongoing issue for a while 1932 in Canada.
• I think that because we are human we like to disagree, there will always be something to argue about and something that causes division within the church. It’s one of the tools the devil uses to attack us. Just like in the Screwtape letters by CS Lewis.
• I believe pastors conference earlier this year decided that they were unable to advise SYNOD what the Lutheran church should do. That is to say theologically they were not confident enough that the bible is for or against women’s ordination.
• This has been an issue of discussion in our church for more than 10 years I think. Every so often it’s put to the vote that the LCA will allow ordination of women, but they need more than ~70% of people to vote yes. I wonder if as a church we vote yes this year, would it go to the vote again at the next SYNOD to take away all the women pastors?
• Another story I’m reminded of is when the Israelites asked Solomon to give them a king, they nagged enough that eventually God said yes.
• Also in Australia I believe that the only occupation not available to women is being a priest of the Catholics or a Pastor of the Lutherans. But by the same token churches have an anti-antidiscrimination allowance in federal law. This is how we can discriminate against Muslims and not allow them to partake in Holy Communion.
• It’s not merely a question about gender equality, I’m a mathematician. Given 12ab=3a, therefore 4=a. Ergo gernder equality can be acheived by removing the difference and nolonger acknowledging anybodies gender.

Finally what does it even mean?
Given that a lay worker like Wayne Dionysius can get away with almost everything.
Women, humans what have a uterus, wouldn’t say boobs cause seems some blokes have them now.
Ordination, process of consecration for the performance of religious rites and ceremonies
i.e. only a Pastor can Baptise, consecrate Holy Communion and ordain more clergy.


From the LCA website:
Pastors are part of Christ’s plan for his church and he himself instituted the office of the ministry as a gift to the church. This is a distinct ministry which complements the discipleship and service of the whole church.
The pastors’ role in the Body of Christ is to feed and lead congregations and communities through the ministries of preaching and teaching God’s Word and administering the Sacraments—baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In fulfilling this ministry they are involved in various tasks: preaching, leading public worship, teaching, visiting and giving pastoral care.
They are ordained (placed into this office) according to Scripture and the practice of the apostles, and called by Christ, through his church, to serve in various ministry contexts in the Lutheran Church of Australia, including New Zealand.
Pastors serve in a variety of ministry contexts in the church. While the majority of pastors still serve parishes and congregations, some also work in school ministry, chaplaincy or in special roles in overseas missions.
The role of pastor in Christ’s Church is a servant role. Pastors exercise humble servant leadership, representing and imitating Christ himself by placing the needs and welfare of those they serve first.
They are called to receive and work with the guidance and direction of the LCA College of Bishops, accepting their leadership in ministry. [Link]


Tradition Vs Traditionalism 
From my dictionary
"Tradition is that body of practice and belief which is socially transmitted from the past. It is regarded as having authority in the present simply because it comes from the past, and encapsulates the wisdom and experience of the past. For some, the very idea of tradition is anathema. It is characteristic of modernity to reject the authority of the past in favour of the present deployment of reason, unencumbered by tradition or prejudice. While prior to the seventeenth century tradition was largely unquestioned as a source of insight, and in need of no defence, since the Enlightenment the notion of tradition has been defended by traditionalists such as Burke and, more recently, Hayek. Upon inspection, however, traditionalism, if not indefensibly irrational, turns out to be a demonstration of the overlooked rationality contained within traditions. Traditions often turn out upon inspection to be not so much irrational as subtle and flexible deployments of reason in particular spheres."

When Dad gets home from work mum has the Table set and dinner ready and mum always cooks and cleans.
Traditionalism:
We do this because my grandfather did and his grandfather before him, its right and proper and the way things are always done.
Why not change: old habits die hard, if it at broke …
Tradition:
Dad knows how to cook and clean from when he went to uni. But he is terrible at it; dinner would be late and warm baked beans on burnt toast is not very appetising. But mum got taught how to bake biscuits by her grandma and they are way better than anything in the stores.
Why note change: There is a meaningful story behind it all and I like it better this way.