So many thoughts come to mind – so many emotions surface. I feel great sorrow for those grieving and am thankful that I am not one of them. Not that I don't feel grief, but I was fortunate enough to have not been directly affected by this tragedy. I'm sure I know someone that is affected by it, but I haven't heard anything yet. I grew up in Roanoke and a lot of the kids I grew up with went to Tech. I'm sure others have children at Tech by this time and I can't imagine the anxiety of the events unfolding and trying to find out if your child is OK. I know I gave Chloe a few extra hugs last night.
In this time of great confusion and sorrow there is much to be thankful for though. We're lucky, very lucky that he didn't get his hands on explosives. I can't imagine how much worse it could have been if his destructive ambitions had been greater. We’re also lucky this wasn’t perpetrated at a local public school – less capable of handling this type of situation. We're lucky that some were brave in the face of danger and that some were able to flee to safety. We're lucky that the officials at Tech and the law enforcement personnel acted as quickly and professionally as they did. I'm tired of hearing about the two-hour delay in communication and the questions as to why the campus wasn't locked down. How do you communicate with 26,000+ students and 10,000+ employees in a timely fashion without creating panic? How do you lock down a campus that is 2600 acres, over 100 buildings and more than one half commuters? All of the critics are the ones that wouldn't know what to do in the heat of the moment, but can look back on it and pretend they would have done better.
Oh, and by the way. Gun laws don't prevent criminals from committing crimes. This is another case in point. Guns are illegal on the Tech campus and this individual broke the law in order to commit his crime. I think consideration should be made for legislation in Virginia allowing higher education employees to carry concealed weapons with campus police notification. I wouldn't mind and I'd even consider doing it. Events like this make me wish I did/could. I'm a responsible, law-abiding citizen and an experienced gunsman. Why not?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Where is the rebel base?
I've done it! I have secured the center of the universe and now control who may come and go between the Northern and Southern expanses. I used diplomacy to gain as many worlds as I could and then I took the remaining worlds through rebellion or force. I had to forcibly take the Kvik world because they would not trade, not even at 3:1 with technologies thrown in. They have gotten over it though and none of my other allies seemed bothered by it. The Kvik have already agreed to go back to neutral status with me which means they understand.
My fleet is thin right now, especially considering how it’s spread out. Once these new planets have their defenses established, I can combine smaller forces into a mighty fleet and begin patrolling my sectors. I’m going to also slow production down a little and put more money into a second fleet – to better protect my two battle fronts.
I’ve also moved into the position of being the largest empire. I have eclipsed the Isdar in size by several planets at this point. The Tovloc have allied with me which means the largest, second largest and forth largest empires are working together. If the Vylon would just join us there would be peace in the universe (they are the third largest).
The Wexlun have amazingly come back from the brink. They had been reduced to zero planets and were able to colonize a few that were recently being fought over. They have, so far, been able to sustain these planets and are beginning to grow again (albeit light years from their home world).
With control over the middle sectors I can turn my attention toward crushing those empires that remain hostile. I’m not sure if I will mount campaigns against the Ferxen, Borbek or Rosidon first, but the Ferxen are the most likely candidate strategically (they will be the easiest to reach). It also helps that they are at war with the Isdar. The Ferxen are mainly concentrated in a group of sectors boarding me to the South. Taking over those worlds will reduce them to a handful of planets scattered throughout the universe – rendering them fairly helpless and giving me an even stronger hold on the center of the universe. I’m so ruthless.
My fleet is thin right now, especially considering how it’s spread out. Once these new planets have their defenses established, I can combine smaller forces into a mighty fleet and begin patrolling my sectors. I’m going to also slow production down a little and put more money into a second fleet – to better protect my two battle fronts.
I’ve also moved into the position of being the largest empire. I have eclipsed the Isdar in size by several planets at this point. The Tovloc have allied with me which means the largest, second largest and forth largest empires are working together. If the Vylon would just join us there would be peace in the universe (they are the third largest).
The Wexlun have amazingly come back from the brink. They had been reduced to zero planets and were able to colonize a few that were recently being fought over. They have, so far, been able to sustain these planets and are beginning to grow again (albeit light years from their home world).
With control over the middle sectors I can turn my attention toward crushing those empires that remain hostile. I’m not sure if I will mount campaigns against the Ferxen, Borbek or Rosidon first, but the Ferxen are the most likely candidate strategically (they will be the easiest to reach). It also helps that they are at war with the Isdar. The Ferxen are mainly concentrated in a group of sectors boarding me to the South. Taking over those worlds will reduce them to a handful of planets scattered throughout the universe – rendering them fairly helpless and giving me an even stronger hold on the center of the universe. I’m so ruthless.
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