The Problem with Proposition Nations

Two proposition nations.

Two proposition nations.

The United States of America is not a nation of bloodlines, the common refrain goes. Brave patriots founded it on an idea — the idea of individual liberty, of shaping your own destiny, of leaving behind the dead weight of the past for a bright future. Modern American patriots say that most nations, whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa, place too much importance on bloodline and thus stifle their peoples through collectivism. According to them, a nation’s true spirit is in its values and ideas, so anyone can adopt any idea. Much of this is taken to be the highest expression of American exceptionalism.

But there’s a huge problem: For a proposition nation to work, most people have to think the same thing. And this requires greatly denying liberty, the very thing America runs on.

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Maker Faire 2016: What I Saw

National Maker Faire 2016

National Maker Faire 2016

I visited the National Maker Faire 2016 at the University of DC. There were throngs of people at each exhibit, and the technology that people made was a real joy to look at; there were devices that did useful work, devices meant only to amuse, and everything in between at the event.

One thing that struck me about the Maker Faire was how it merged the world of software with the world of physical things. In a world where there’s always a new app for something, the Maker Faire showed that advancing computer technology did not have to push us further into our screens, with interaction limited to tapping and pinching. Things, real things, could be made that had a far more tangible impact than the smartphone or tablet ever could.

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A Place for Mark Kern

Mark Kern avatar

Mark Kern (Twitter handle @Grummz), developer of the original Starcraft, has been suspended from Twitter as of this posting for disobeying the dictates of Social Justice. [UPDATE: Mark Kern (Twitter handle @Grummz) has returned.]

Kern, if you’re around, you can always use my comment section here to chat with others.

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Pussycats! This Is Why the West Loses! (review)

Pussycats: Why the Rest Keeps Beating the West (Martin van Creveld)

Pussycats: Why the Rest Keeps Beating the West
by Martin van Creveld
Published by DLVC Enterprises (2016)
$6.99 (Kindle)
$11.95 (Paperback)

This book will open your eyes to how hollow the armies of the West have become.

Renowned Israeli military historian Martin van Creveld captured perfectly why Western armed forces, especially those of the US, have consistently failed to beat non-Western opponents since 1953: Western society itself has become too risk-averse and rule-bound for its own good, and this thinking now dominates their armed forces. In vivid detail, van Creveld illustrates not only the policy failures that harm the West’s militaries, but the societal failures as well, showing just how thorough the rot is. It makes for sobering but necessary reading if you want to understand why Western armies rarely win anymore. It’s a short read, too, so it won’t take up much time.

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Is Naruto the Last Great Anime Franchise?

Naruto: the last franchise of its kind?

Naruto: the last franchise of its kind?

I’d say that Naruto is not the last great anime franchise. However, here’s why I’m asking this question.

As many of you know, Japan’s birth rate is quite low. With a total fertility rate of only 1.4 children per woman, Japan’s population is rapidly aging and there are fewer and fewer children. The big franchises of the 90s, such as Pokemon Dragonball, and One Piece, were aimed at children, as is Naruto, which began in the 2000s.

The problem is obvious.

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Censorship: This Time, It Is the Government

With the social justice set, it's never censorship.

With the social justice set, it’s never censorship.

“It’s only censorship if the government does it.”

Every time there’s news that a developer is removing content from a game, the social justice crowd rushes in to remind us all that “censorship” can only be done by governments. Pretending that their public shaming campaigns don’t exist, they say that developers are just “free to make changes,” or “localizing,” or “recognizing a changing world” or some other nonsense. No one believes them, of course, but they never stop saying it.

This time, however, the French government intends to take action against allegedly sexist games — and the major gaming press hasn’t uttered a peep. [UPDATE 6/10/2016: Britain is considering similar measures as well.]

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God, Robot: I, Spoiler-free Reviewer

Good God, these robots are a joy to read about.

Good God, this robot story is excellent.

God, Robot
Edited by Anthony Marchetta
Published by Castalia House (2016)
$4.99

I did not expect a book about Bible-believing robots to be this good.

The premise of God, Robot seems very silly at first: a corporation builds robots that worship the Christian God. However, what lies within is a story of how these artificial beings come to understand their place in God’s order as they grapple with their own programming, with human society, and with whether or not they have souls. The result is a wide-ranging tale of great depth that anyone could read and enjoy, whether or not they believe in God.

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Video Games Don’t Need to Grow Up

The symbol of video games that won't grow up.

The symbol of video games that won’t grow up.

“Video games need to grow up.”

How many times have we heard that phrase? There’s always some group of cultural critics who wants video gaming to “engage the culture” or “embrace its potential” or some other thing. If only they’d stop being about violence and sex, we could get somewhere!

But video gaming doesn’t need to change a thing. It can stay exactly what it is and flourish.

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To the Heroes of America: A Memorial Day Tribute

America's bravest lay beneath that grass.

America’s bravest lay beneath that grass.

To the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines that lost their lives so that America may be free: you were heroes all.

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Games Are Easier Today, and That’s Fine

The epitome of hard 90s-era video games.

The epitome of hard 90s-era video games.

Once upon a time, video games were difficult. Many had to be finished in one sitting, or you had to remember many passwords. Tutorials were rare — that’s what manuals were for. The games themselves were quite difficult to clear, and if you failed enough times, you had to go all the way back to the beginning of the game. Gamers who grew up in the 90s would know exactly what I was talking about.

Today, though? Things are very different.

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