Wonder Woman goes to town on Palin.

Wonder woman, as we all know, is highly opinionated. And well, few people have been associated as closely with Wonder Woman as Linda Carter. You may also have heard that Republican pundits have been calling Palin a "Wonder Woman". Well, Linda Carter was in Atlantic City for a concert tour, and Philly Mag took the chance to interview her. Here's what Ms. Carter thinks about the comparison.

 Okay, last question. I'm sure you've seen all the comparisons in the media and among Republicans of Sarah Palin to Wonder Woman. How do you feel about that?
Don’t get me started. She’s the anti-Wonder Woman. She’s judgmental and dictatorial, telling people how they’ve got to live their lives. And a superior religious self-righteousness ... that’s just not what Wonder Woman is about. Hillary Clinton is a lot more like Wonder Woman than Mrs. Palin. She did it all, didn’t she?

No one has the right to dictate, particularly in this country, to force your own personal views upon the populace — religious views. I think that is suppressive, oppressive, and anti-American. We are the loyal opposition. That’s the whole point of this country: freedom of speech, personal rights, personal freedom. Nor would Wonder Woman be the person to tell people how to live their lives. Worry about your own life! Worry about your own family! Don't be telling me what I want to do with mine.

I like John McCain. But this woman — it's anathema to me what she stands for. I think America should be very afraid. Very afraid. Separation of church and state is the one thing the creators of the Constitution did agree on — that it wasn’t to be a religious government. People should feel free to speak their minds about religion but not dictate it or put it into law.

What I don’t understand, honestly, is how anyone can even begin to say they know the mind of God. Who do they think they are? I think that’s ridiculous. I know what God is in my life. Now I am sure that she’s not all just that. But it’s enough to me. It’s enough for me to have a visceral reaction. And it makes me mad.

People need to speak up. Doesn’t mean that I’m godless. Doesn’t mean that I am a murderer. What I hate is this demonization of everybody but one position. You’re un-American because you’re against the war. It’s such bullshit. Fear. It’s really such a finite way of thinking about God to think that your measly little mind can know the mind of God. It’s a very little God that way. I think that God’s bigger. I don’t presume to know his mind. Or her mind.

The full interview can be found here, for anyone who's interested.

Urban Air trees

This is an interesting experiment in urban eco-engineering.  Until the local trees grow in, artificial "air trees" have been created. They are essentially vertical gardens with solar panels at the top.  The plants in the wall of the cylinder transpire, and release oxygen and water vapor, creating a cooling effect, with cooler air falling down the inside of the structure.  Temperatures inside will be considerably cooler, and they seem successful in creating a central point for the local community.

It's also interesting that they are built largely of recycled materials, and are designed to be  relocated as needed.  It makes me wonder why we don't see more innovated engineering projects like this in America.

Here's a link to a page detailing the project, with additional information and videos.

Under The Green Moon: The Five Races and my Game

I have a question. There's a concept going around in gaming of the Five Races, and I have to wonder how much the races in my game will be affected by it,.

The five races, as explained here in TV tropes are stereotypes or categories that most races in fantasy and Science Fiction seem to fall into.  The main categories include: 

• Stout (Dwarf): Gruff, usually associated with hard physical work and masculinity. The Proud Warrior Race may also fill this role.
• Fairy (Smaller Elf): The most magical race, relatively speaking. Can include angelic types or even gods. The typical Fairy is an elf who doesn't get along with Stouts.
• Mundane (Human): What the modern reader most identifies with. The least magical race, usually enjoys simple pleasures instead of adventuring, a la Tolkien's Hobbits.
• High Men (Taller Elf or Human): Usually a historical or fantastic interpretation of what humans are or want to be, at least in character. A setting that doesn't have elves as Fairy or High Men simply doesn't have elves.
• Cute (Hobbit/Moogle/Gnome etc): The fifth, increasingly common group. They may seem weak, but have a sort of spiritual purity and inner strength that allow them to succeed in the face of adversity.

This really is a refinement of the question: "Will I need to have Elves in my game".  On the one hand, I don't think races like the Daemons, Brutes or green Nomads really fall into those categories, but I wonder if they might appear to do so.  And frankly, I'm wondering if some should, for ease of play.  In D&D for example, there seemed to be a strong difference in playability between say elves, which everybody knew what to do with, and well, gnomes, which always seemed to be a fifth wheel.

In my game write-up for UTGM, I mention something like 20 sentient races, many of them created by the Lifemakers and other human Precursor civilizations, with humans as the fading "elder race".  I have no intention of statting them all up, but it almost seems inevitable that some of them will seem to fall into the categories.

Take Daemons for example: they're oneof my favorite races, but also potentially the most problematic.  The initial write-up has:

Daemons:

A common legend among the Daemon empires is that they were the pinnacle of the Lifemaker's art, created to be their successors and the epitome of graceand power.  Other, less charitable races say that they were created to be concubines and mana batteries.  Whichever story is true, the Daemons do have an affinity for magic and politics.  Daemons tend to be tall and elegent, favoring slender lines over muscle mass.  Their hair commmonly tends to be straight and thick and has colors ranging from, dark red, to blue or even green and purple. It is common to wear it long, with status, rank or affiliation indicated by styling. . Their eyes as well tend for bright blue, violet, or green, shades.  Daemons have a strong affinity for magic, and even common people know one or two helpful powers.  Daemons have been responsible for many advances in magic use, and the most arrogant of themclaim that they have exceeded the Lifemakers knowledge in this area.

Though individual Daemons vary, a common attitude among the race is that they are architects of a new civilization, and they generally prefer settled lands over wilderness.  They seem to have a natural affinity for politics, and even the smallest Daemon city-state is full of intrigue.  As one of the younger races, they are very expansionistic, and have created two of what may be the most powerful empires in the world.  It may be fortunate that the two empires are currenntly more concerned with each other. 

So, ARE these guys too elflike? They aren't intended to be- though frankly the references may fdall too much into the anime category. And also, how concerned should I be whether the races I created fall into the "Five races" stereotype?

Any thoughts?