The Midwinter Holiday Wrap-Up

• I categorically refused to let how crappy I was feeling get in the way of enjoying Christmas.


• kshandra and I went over to my mom's place yesterday morning, and after an hour or so we were joined by my sister and her crew.


• Good grief, the Emergency Back-Up Niece and the Niece of Last Resort are getting huge!


• Had a lovely breakfast. Mom did one of her famous infamous experiments, something called "Amish Breakfast Casserole" if I heard right.


• Eggs, sausage, hash browns, all mixed together and backed. I had some, and it was OK, but my appetite just wasn't there.


• Kiri loved it, and wants the recipe on the theory she could make it on a Sunday, put it the fridge, and take breakfast to work.


• The girls have wonderful table manners.


• It was funny, after Ann had told us several times that Kylie doesn't like sweets, Kylie proceeds to devour several cinnamon rolls.


• Good job kid, keep Mommy guessing!


• Then it was present time. The girls, as always, made out like bandits.


• We gave them McDonalds re-loadable gift cards. The girls love ordering and paying for their food, so this is a way for them to be able to do it.


• I got Kiri a book on obsessive fans, she got me a Giants World Series Champions hoodie. She has another gift coming, but Amazon shipped it late.


• Mom got two painted plates from the kids, and clothing from her sisters.


• As I mentioned yesterday, mikkop sent me the Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium! omnibus. Totally unexpected and much appreciated.


• We bowed out early, came home, and while Kiri took a nap I noodled on the computer.


• After that, we set out again to pick up murphymom and head over to mom's for dinner.


• Very nice roast beef. Even better conversation.


• As Kiri pointed out, our mothers have seen each more in this year than in the last 19.


• I was really feeling miserable, the cold was making my breathing horrible, and I was pushing the edge of acceptable inhaler use.


• Plus, we were all getting tired, so homeward bound for everyone.


• Thanks to murphymom for the gift cards!


• A good, quiet Christmas.

"Raise Dead," religion, and the afterlife.

In my post on Dwarf Slayers I make the point that casting Raise Dead on a deceased Slayer would be a Bad Thing™. seawasp argued that it should be perfectly normal; you've cleansed your honor, attoned for your sin, now you get to enjoy life. I'd like to address that.

The general rule in Western religious teaching is that worshipers of a particular faith will be rewarded with an eternal existence in the afterlife. Whether its Heaven or Valhalla, the teachings are clear: Obey the rules set down in the Holy Texts and follow the teachings of the priests, and when you die, you get to live forever basking in the glory of God (or whatever that religion promises.) Some afterlives aren't eternal. The warriors boozing it up in Valhalla know that when Rangarok comes that are fated to fight and lose to the giants. But until then, they'll battle by day and party all night.

This seems to be the model used by most FRPG cosmologies, especially D&D with its inner and outer planes. You die, and your soul travels to the appropriate Outer Plane for an eternity of pleasure/punishment/F-Troop reruns. Which brings up back to our dead Dwarf Slayer. ( Let's set up a little scenario )

Then there are the Death Cults. Not all death religions are going to be evil, I'm thinking specifically of the Humakt cult from RuneQuest. How are they going to feel about raising the dead? Undead? I can easily see a case where a church worshiping death might have temple assassins that exist solely to kill those who mock death by being raised! Finally, you have the feelings of the dead person. I don't know about the rest of you, but if were to drop dead this minute and find myself in some version of paradise (for me? a library containing every written work every created, and the ability to read them all...) I wouldn't want to come back! Since Raise Dead is generally an expensive ritual to perform (and costs even more to get a temple to do for you) you better make sure that the person being raised wants to come back! Generally, unless there was some great work left undone, some terrible wrong that needed to be righted, most people are going to opt to stay in the afterlife. Of course, those who were judged and found wanting will probably jump at the chance to get a new start in life...

Just some thoughts on the subject. I'd love to hear what other people's take on this is.

Heavy Metal Sunday is sad these guys broke up.

Galactic Cowboys was a Heavy Metal band based in Houston, Texas, from 1989 through their break-up in 2000. They combined progressive metal with a style of vocals influenced by The Beatles and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax. They have been described as "possibly the most melodic metal band ever to exist in Christian or general markets." Although the band members are Christians, they did not consider the Galactic Cowboys to be a Christian band. The band has toured with prominent hard rock and metal acts such as Anthrax, Dream Theater, King's X and Overkill.

Oddly, for a band that's been officially dissolved for ten years, they maintain a pretty strong web presence with an official page and a Facebook page. Evidently there was a short reunion tour in 2009, but nothing beyond that. The offical page has nothing beyond links to the band members' personal sites and the Facebook is Wall is overrun with spammers. Sad, really.

But while they were active, they were pretty damn good. This morning enjoy If I Were A Killer off 1993's Space In Your Face

Next week: Get the comforters, the Snuggie, and your old Army blanket out.. Covers month begins with a video I have been dying to share with y'all for four months! It's a good one!

One last Christmas note.

Great picture of my sister and her family.