Category: Uncategorized

Posted in film, Star Wars, Uncategorized

Star Wars Aniversery

Posted on by sokorra

Today is the 39th aniversery of Star Wars’ first theaterical debut in 1977.  Since I wrote a post about Stargate a few posts ago, I figured I’d spare a post for another favorite franchise of mine, Star Wars.

I was a late-in-life Star Wars fan.  (My father holds true to the idea that Star Wars is Lame, one should only watch the Original series of Star Trek).  In sixth grade I started watching Return of the Jedi, and was mostly confused.  Which can happen when one watches the last 30 minutes of the third movie in a triology.

Anyway, I decided at that point to go to the video store (because they were still around), and rent the four Star Wars movies that were out at that point.  I watched them in chronological order of story, not release, so the first SW movie I watched in full was The Phantom Menance.  I think this altered how I veiewed Star Wars movies.

Many of my friends are of the opinon that the prequels suck, and only the originals are any good (although they have favorable feelings about 7, but I haven’t seen that so no opinon there).  Unlike them, I’m more neutral to favorable on the prequels.  Most of the issues I saw was George Lucas tried to retconn things he had wanted to change from the original trilogy.  Even as a fan of the prequels there were some moments where I wanted to ask him what he was doing.  (Namely the Owen Lars situation.  My friends have heard me rant about this.)

Still, the prequels weren’t as bad as I think popular culture likes to protray them as.  They still continued to break box office amounts, and people still watch them.

Now I just have to watch Episode 7, so I can call my watching complete.  Well, until Episode 8 comes out.

Posted in American History, essay, Politics, Uncategorized

The Amendments: Twenty-Four

Posted on by sokorra

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

SECTION 2

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

(Source)

The Twenty-fourth amendment to the consitution once again deals with voting rights.  While the 14th and 15th  amendments gave equal protection to voters, it wasn’t till the 24th amendment that Congress made it unconsitutional to charge voting fees.  Known as the poll tax, in largely effected the lower income and minority communities who couldn’t afford to pay the fees, thus couldn’t vote.  In 1964, there were still 4 states retiaining the poll tax.  Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.  At first it was argued that it only effected federal elections, however in 1966 the Supreme Court struck down that argument, claiming the 24th amendment did not limit it to Federal elections, and frankly the poll tax violated the 14the amendment.

Discriminary voting regluations are still debated today, including the Photo ID Laws several states have put into action to prevent voting fraud.  Many however believe it unfiarly affects low income and minorities who don’t have access to locations to get their ids, or can not afford one.  My personal stance on this is neutral because I don’t think they are necessary because voting fraud is very very low and often more likely to be clerical error.  But I also found IDs are required so often during everyday things that its hard to believe people don’t have some form of ID, even if its just a state photo ID and not a driver’s license.

Posted in general, history, space history, Uncategorized

And now for something completely Different

Posted on by sokorra

Well, at least from my usual posts as of late.  Its come that time of the election cycle when everything seems to be about politics. News stories outside politics and the brief glimpse into world news (which is usually politics also) are slim to be seen.  And my blog has gotten alot of government commentary lately too.

So I decided to take a break today and cover some interesting stories that have nothing to do with Trump, Clinton, Sanders or stupid choices being made in foriegn policies.

  • Hubble Space Telescope Aniversery

The Hubble telescope was launched into space on April 24, 1990.  As of tomorrow it will be 26 years old. That’s pretty old for a piece of technology when people regularly are told to trade in their computers every 3-7 years. NASA decided to release photage the telescope took of the Bubble Nebula.

The Bubble Nebula is located in the constilation Cassiopeia, about 7,100 light years from earth.  It was discovered in 1787 by William Hershel.

A fact I didn’t know till I read the article I’ve included below is that the Hubble Telescope is a project that NASA is doing in partnership with the European Space Agency. I would definately check out the link, because they animated some of the camera shots and it looks really neat.

Hubble Sees a Star ‘Inflating’ a Giant Bubble (NASA)

  • Chernobyl Anniversery

While Chernobyl is not necessarily a happy topic, It is an interesting one as it has become a study in how the Earth repairs itself after a nuclear tragedy.  I was only a few months old when it happened, so in a sense I’ve never lived in a world without this incident being a cautionary tale about nuclear power.

On April 26, 1986 operators at the plant were doing a systems check when a series of power spikes and a failed emergency shut down caused a rupture in the reactor.  The moderator was exposed to air and ignited, sending a plume of radioactive material.  The fallout area covered parts of Belurus, Ukraine and Russia. 31 people were killed directly, and estimates on the secondary deaths caused by the radiation exposure are still being made. The lowest number given is by UNSCEAR a UN oversight organization which places it at 64 as of 2008. Several other estimates are given, although one puts it at a million although it hasn’t passed peer review.

The area around Chernobyl has been blocked by various governments.  People wanting to study the area are given day passes as the radiation around the planet is still quite high 30 years down the road.  The exclusion zone is 19 miles in all directions.

Places around Europe are still finding lingering issues and radiation exposure in plant and animal life from the diaster.  Russia, Ukraine and Belerus still have good portions of their budget dedicated to containment and decontamination.

The other 3 reactors in the plant remained operational till one by one they were closed down.  The final reactor was closed in 2000.

At least 3 countries are now nuclear power free because of this disaster.  It is also considered the worst nuclear diaster,  considered a level 7 incident.  Fukushima Japan in 2011 is also given this distiction.  In the US,  the Three Mile Island Accident (1979)in Pennsylvania was rated level 5.

Chernobyl Diaster (Wikipedia)

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is Argubly a Nature Reserve  (BBC)

Background on the Three Mile Island Accident (National Regulatory Commission)

Three Mile Island Accident (Wiki)

Chernobyl in Pictures (BBC)

  • A Coral Reef was found in the Amazon

In the Amazon river mouth, under the muddy waters scientists have found a coral reef as well as several new species of aquatic life.  It was previously thought that coral reefs would be smoothered in low light, low oxygen areas such as the sediment thick mouth of the Amazon.

Surprising, Vibrant Reef Discovered in the Muddy Amazon (National Geographic)

 

 

 

 

Posted in American History, essay, history, Politics, Uncategorized

Harriet Tubman, Andrew Jackson and The Twenty

Posted on by sokorra

So recently it was announced that Harriet Tubman, known mostly for her work in the underground railroad during the civil war, will be replacing Andrew Jackson during the upcoming redesign of the currency of the US.  In fact, all the bills are getting face lifts, although not all are changing the person we see on their fronts.  However, the 20, which has long been Jackson, will be changing to Tubman.

I’m glad to hear this.  For many reasons actually.

Continue reading “Harriet Tubman, Andrew Jackson and The Twenty” →

Posted in American History, essay, Politics, Uncategorized

The Amendments: Five

Posted on by sokorra

*DISCLAIMER*  I am not a student of law.  This is just a basic overlook of the Amendments and can not be taken as legal advice.  Also, most of these observations are my own, and I’m sure some law professor will go “BUT THAT’S NOT RIGHT”.  I’m always open to being educated about things. *END DISCLAIMER*

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. (Source)

This is another Amendment loved by crime procedurals.  This Amendment has several parts to it.

  1.  No Person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury*The asterisk is there due to the “except in” conditions.  This part basically says that the government can’t charge a person with a crime without a grand jury overseeing it.   This is two fold.  This means that you have the right to a trial by jury when you are accused of a crime and can not be sentenced till you have one.  Doesn’t really cover minor transgressions, like speeding tickets and such.  Those you get a hearing with a Judge if it goes on too long.  I’m not a law expert but I’m not entirely sure how low down the line “infamous” covers.

    This also is why when you get the crimes that involve the DA, there is often a grand jury that reviews the evidence and decides if there is enough to go forward with a trial (with yet another jury). (Example, the Grand Jury investigation into the death of Michael Brown.)

    This line also covers that Military justice will have its own set of guidelines and rules (although they do for the most part have the same ones.)

  2. nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb 

    This line kind of confused me because I don’t know why your limb would be in danger, but this is basically the Double Jeopardy Clause.  If you are tried and decided not guilty, they can’t later on try you for the same crime. That doesn’t mean they can’t charge you for a different crime.

  3. nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself

    This means you don’t have to take the stand in your own defense.  It doesn’t mean you can’t, just that you don’t *Have* to.
  4.  nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law 

    Basically, they can’t take away your life, your freedom or your possessions without going through legal processes.  I’m sure this one is debatable on what it means to deprive one of liberty or property.  This is also, I think, where the laws about how long you can hold a suspect without an actual charge comes from.

  5.  nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation 

    I don’t really think this one needs explained.  The government can’t just come and take your things without either a legal warrant, or without giving you compensation for the use.

I find it interesting that there is so many clauses in this one.  There are five different elements, all relating to a person’s rights when it comes to criminal trials, and the government’s ability to enact justice.

I suggust clicking on the link for the source of the text.  It has some interesting essays on all the amendments and the clauses therein.

 

Posted in American History, history, Politics, Uncategorized

This Day In History

Posted on by sokorra

I looked up what important things happened today in history (other then it being my cousin’s birthday) and some pretty interesting things came up on the Google Search.  I took most of this information from History.com and the New York Times “On This Day” feature.

Washington

On February 4, 1789  George Washington was unanimously elected by the electoral College.  He’s the only president to do so.

Also, on this day 6 years earlier Britain formally acknowledged they were done with the Revolutionary War.

Confederate Congress

In 1861, The Confederate Congress (a provisional one anyway) opened for business, thus starting

 

Snow White

One of Disney’s most known films (probably because its one of the firsts) is released on this day in 1938

Yalta Conference

(1945)Basically this is the photo op picture we always see when talking about the end of WWII and they show us that picture of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin sitting out on the Lawn as if they are talking about the latest football game rather then what to do in the last months of the war.  It did however start to show that the Alliance was not as strong as it could have been, and the cracks that caused the ‘Cold War’ formed.

Palestine

Yasir Arafat helps found the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1969.

Patty Hearst

I don’t really know much about what happened here, but Patty Hearst may be one of the most famous kidnapped women in American history.  Today’s the anniversary of her kidnapping in 1974, so 41 years ago.  She eventually served a prison sentence for her involvement with the Symbionese LIberation Army’s activities.  She was pardoned in 2001 by President Clinton.

Yugoslavia

Its no more as of February 4, 2003.  Its now several different countries.

For more events, try this page.

Posted in book reviews, bookit, Uncategorized

Bookit Review: Lyon’s Pride

Posted on by sokorra

Title:  Lyon’s Pride (book 4 of 5 of the Talent & the Hive series.  Book 7 if you include the Pegasus prequels as part of the same group)
Author:  Anne McCaffrey
Publication date:  1995

My Grade: B+

My Review:

As many of you might already know, Anne McCaffrey’s The Talent & The Hive series is what gave me a love of Sci-fi/Fantasy.  Its the reason I got into Star Trek, Star Gate and probably even why I gave Star Wars a chance.

My mother had bought earlier books and had them in a box that I stumbled upon.  My first book was Damia, (although I later read The Rowan), and I made my way down the line, picking up the novels I didn’t already have.

This is the fourth book of the series, and continues the story of Damia’s oldest three children as they continue to deal with the Hiver situation.  Laria, Damia’s oldest Daughter is Prime (leading telepath/telekinetic) on Clarf, the alien homeworld of the MrDini. Thian and Rojer are helping the joint naval organization of Humans & Mrdini track and and observe the Hivers, a group of insectoid beings who think of nothing but colonizing, destroying all other life forms in their path.

Given that this is part of a series, its hard to review without having alot to explain.  Its very much a book of transition before the series finale, 2000’s The Tower & The Hive.    We see the three main characters develop into adults.  Rojer, the youngest at 16 at the start of the novel (perhaps 17-18 at the end of it), has the biggest emotional journey to go on as he is threatened by a MrDini Captain beat on annihilation of the Hivers.  Laria deals with the complications that come with running an important Tower, including learning when to find better coworkers.  Thian adjusts and settles more into his talents, leading his brother and several cousins in exploration of the Hiver Quadrant of the galaxy.

While Rojer has the most impactful story in this one, there is alot of information about the Hivers, who have been the antagonists since book one.

I recommend this book to anyone, mostly because its one of my favorites.  I do however recommend you at least start with Damia, which is book 2.  The actual first book is the Rowan, but some of the story is recovered in book 2 by Afra.