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I loved the latest episode of the Legend of Korra<\/a>\u00a0(Beginnings pt 1 and 2<\/a>). It felt like watching a fairy tale or an epic legend. I think the art style combined with the pacing of the story helped produce that feeling. Typically a show might do an extended flashback to dump a lot of exposition, but I didn’t feel that happening here. I don’t feel like I understand the world, its rules, or the plot any better than I did a week ago, but I do feel a deeper connection to the mythos of the world.<\/p>\n Last Sunday we had a Sunday School lesson on self-reliance<\/a>. It occurred to me that I didn’t understand what it means to be self-reliant. I had thought that it meant that you didn’t need to depend on anyone else, especially financially. But as lesson discussed the need to be spiritually self-reliant, I realized that this couldn’t be the full definition. I don’t think Christianity brings us to a point where we aren’t dependent on God; humility is recognizing and embracing this dependence. And we can never truly be temporally independent either; we need others in order to procure electricity, food, clothing, and shelter. Self-reliance isn’t independence, it’s responsibility for yourself. No one else has the responsibility or even the ability to do things for you. However, this doesn’t mean that others can’t help. You need help from other people, both spiritually and physically. You need to be able to accept that help, and help others with their needs.<\/p>\n I was looking for something new to read. While searching the free books on Amazon I came across the Death Series by Tamara Rose Blodgett<\/a>. The premise is that about 15 years before the book takes place scientists mapped the human genome and discovered a way to trigger latent paranormal powers. Now every child is injected with the serum and exhibit some sort of power when they hit puberty. The main character has a rare power that lets him communicate with and raise the dead. What I find interesting is that there is a generation gap of super powers. It’s the twenty somethings and younger who have powers, and it doesn’t seem like the world knows what to do with them yet. What I find irritating is that narrator and main character is in the eighth grade resulting in a very juvenile writing style. I’m almost finished with the first book, but I’m still not sure where the series is going to go.<\/p>\n I got FTL<\/a> in a recent Humble Bundle and I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. It’s the kind of game that you can beat in about an hour, but is very difficult. I haven’t been able to win, even on easy. Every defeat manages to teach me something new about the game. In essence, defeat becomes part of the processing of learning and isn’t a sign of failure. At least not yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Avatar I loved the latest episode of the Legend of Korra\u00a0(Beginnings pt 1 and 2). It felt like watching a fairy tale or an epic legend. I think the art style combined with the pacing of the story helped produce … Continue reading Self Reliance<\/h2>\n
Death Series<\/h2>\n
FTL<\/h2>\n