April 2020 Overall

April 2020 Overall

March 2020 Overall: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/432480.html

Sixth Day of Isolation: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/432860.html

Star Trek: Picard: Et In Arcadia Ego Overall finale review: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/432990.html

Seventh Day of Isolation: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/433316.html

Eighth Day of Isolation: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/79156.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 - 1912: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/79532.html

Church notes - 5th April 2020: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/79828.html

Star Trek: Picard Overall Season 1 review: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/79890.html

Tenth Day of Isolation: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/80199.html

Eleventh Day of Isolation: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/80493.html

Twelfth Day of Isolation: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/80807.html

The Gospel of John Rating: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/81144.html

Fourteenth Day of Isolation: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/The-Fourteenth-Day-of-Isolation-837145458

Church notes - 10th April 2020: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Church-notes-Good-Friday-2020-837246414

Fifteenth Day of Isolation: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Fifteenth-Day-of-Self-Isolation-837259011

Spies in Disguise delayed review: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Spies-in-Disguise-delayed-review-837272473

Hacksaw Ridge rating: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Hacksaw-Ridge-rating-837385512

Beginnings of 2020 - Chronicles of Time - Complications of a Pandemic: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Beginnings-of-2020-Complications-of-a-Pandemic-837416711

Church notes - 12th April 2020: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Church-notes-12th-April-2020-837520030

Journey to Jerusalem sermon notes list: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Journey-to-Jerusalem-sermon-notes-list-837526219

Seventeenth day of Isolation: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615175194552713216/the-seventeenth-day-of-isolation

Dr. No rating: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615186040534253568/dr-no-rating

The Engineer and the Time Lady - Investigation 0.4: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615273210068549632/the-engineer-and-the-time-lady-investigation

Dolittle Delayed Review: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615275910191611904/dolittle-delayed-review

The Nineteenth Day of Isolation: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615370341088378880/the-nineteenth-day-of-isolation

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind rating: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615373009981751296/nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind-rating

Dramatic Reading - The Count of Monte Christo - Chapter 1: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615424461067419648/dramatic-reading-the-count-of-monte-christo

Tales of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 - 1912: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/615450578315853824/tales-of-2020-reverse-map-game-2019-1912

The Twenty First Day of Isolation: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-twenty-first-day-of-isolation.html

Tales of 2020 - Myths and Machinery - 2001: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/tales-of-2020-myths-and-machinery-2005.html

Sonic the Hedgehog delayed review: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/sonic-hedgehog-delayed-review.html

The Twenty Second Day of Isolation: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-twenty-second-day-of-isolation.html

From Russia With Love rating: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/from-russia-with-love-rating.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Tales of New Berk - Settling: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/beginnings-of-2020-tales-of-new-berk.html

Church notes - 19th April 2020: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/church-notes-19th-april-2020.html

The Twenty Fourth Day of Isolation: https://fardell34.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-twenty-fourth-day-of-isolation.html

My Neighbour Totoro rating: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1251820960535044096

The Twenty Fifth Day of Isolation: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252181162404937728

Faith in the Crisis - 003: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252181962690711552

Quinn's Code: Invite of the Geek - Part 4: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252185205802065921

The Twenty Sixth Day of Isolation: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252761537451679744

Dramatic Reading - The Count of Monte Christo - Chapter 2: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252796181475815424

The Engineer and the Time Lady - Investigation 0.5: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1252889546536087552

The Twenty Eighth Day of Isolation: https://twitter.com/fardell24/status/1253257091143176193

ANZAC Day: https://pluspora.com/posts/3515260

The Thirtieth Day of Isolation (ANZAC Day): https://pluspora.com/posts/3516688

Goldfinger rating: https://pluspora.com/posts/3516989

Church notes - 26th April 2020: https://pluspora.com/posts/3521992

Church notes - 26th April 2020 - PM: https://pluspora.com/posts/3523067

Church notes - April 2020: https://pluspora.com/posts/3523260

Church notes in 2020 so far: https://pluspora.com/posts/3523281

The Thirty First and Thrity Second Days of Isolation: https://pluspora.com/posts/3529482

The Iron Giant rating: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/415354.html

The Thirty Third Day of Isolation: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/446174.html

Dramatic Reading - The Count of Monte Cristo - Chapter 3: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/446270.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Berk in Time - Dragons on a Timeship: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/87418.html

Thirty Fifth Day of Isolation: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/87562.html

The Thirty Fifth Day of Isolation

The Thirty Fifth Day – the fourteenth day of working from home. Nothing new regarding work. (Better focus than Tuesday.)

Beginnings of 2020 - Berk in Time - Dragons on a Timeship

Berk in Time

Dragons on a Timeship

This is Berk. Most places have cats or dogs as pets. But we have dragons.

Hiccup was doing what he liked best after a long day at the Dragon Academy. He was riding Toothless over the seas surrounding Berk. It was exhilarating, just him and his bud. However, something unexpected happened. He sighted something in the distance. It looked, big. Toothless gave an inquisitive growl.

“I see it too, Bud. Let’s have a closer look.”

Not long after, Hiccup could clearly see that the object was a kind of ship he hadn’t seen before. Also, it was much larger. He also knew the patterns of the currents in the area, that it would reach Berk some time the next day. “Better give them the heads up, Bud.”

The sun was setting as Hiccup and Toothless landed outside Berk’s Great Hall. The door was open. ‘Something is happening,’ Hiccup thought as he dismounted.

Stoik the Vast, Chief of the Hooligans of Berk, saw his son enter the Great Hall. “There he is now, along with his Dragon.”

Dramatic Reading - The Count of Monte Cristo - Chapter 3

The Thirty Third Day of Isolation

The Thirty Third Day – the thirteenth day of working from home and the fourth Bible Study video chat. Work. The focusing still needs work, so to say, but the music is helping there. The connecting with colleagues change, but that is OK. It will change. Bible Study was less busy. (As in less couples connected, but they were busy with their families, or work. I’ll be praying about that.) We continued with Crazy Love. Chapter 9, with mini testimonies of those who gave up everything to follow Christ to bring the Gospel to those who otherwise wouldn’t have received it.

Rather good, and a challenge, as in how to spread the Gospel (especially at this time, but also in ‘business as usual times’). Prayer requests: That those families would be able to join us in the study in the weeks ahead. Healing for those who need it. Also, that I would leave a similar legacy in the faith as my recently deceased grandmother.

The Thirty First and Thirty Second Days of Isolation

Thirty First and Thirty Second Days – the sixth and seventh livestream church services and the twelfth day of working from home. The evening services had restarted (and are doing a series on the book of Philippians, which is a book I want to look further into more than others). Compared to the usual Morning Service (which is much the same), it was held over Zoom, and so was much closer to what a church service should be. (Albeit, there was less fellowship than there otherwise would have been, but it was good to catch up with those two families.)

Work was good. I am focusing better. And there weren’t too many distractions. (Other than dogs barking, housework needing to be done or the like.) Still no contacting the colleagues other than by text chat, but that may change tomorrow. (It being someone I had called before.) I probably still need to get out of the house more often.

Church notes - April 2020

On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/414847.html
On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/445139.html

Church notes - 26th April 2020 - PM

26th April - PM
Changes due to lockdown: Families drawing closer.
Acts 16:11 - 15
Lydia, from Thyatira, dealing with purple cloth. She worshipped God.
vs 14
"The Lord opened her heart."
Something radical had happened in the background. Transformation of the soul.
Because He first chose you.
Acts 16:16 - 22
Paul doesn't want testimony from an evil source, but the power of God by Jesus' Name changed a life.
The Gospel changes someone's life, but it's not without persecution.

Acts 10:23 - 40
Paul and Silas singing, an earthquake, prison doors open.

Hope came for the jailer. Paul said that they were still there.

What must I do to be saved?
His heart was open.

vs34
The jailer was filled with joy.

People need saving. Only God can save.

Lydia.
The slave girl.
The jailer.
Only God can deliver us from sin and death. Do I believe that only God can save.
God works in all circumstances. A life that follows Jesus is not easy.
God brings true joy.
Not fleeting happiness. Deep joy based on circumstances that will never change.

Church notes - 26th April 2020

26th April
Morning Service
Psalm 47

ANZAC Day reflection
Christian values
All the soldiers had a copy of the New Testament
ANZAC values - from the Bible.

Sunday School - Trust in God.
Last week - Noah
God is faithful in His promises.
This week - Abraham and Sarah

Isaiah 53:4, 5
Matthew 11:28 - 30

People are anxious and uncertain about the future as a result of the Pandemic. Also they are feeling weary.

Lamentations 3:19 - 24
Jeremiah chose to look at the encouraging hope he had in God, who is unchanging, and His faithfulness.

Many Psalms are of lamentations.
All of life contains some kind of pain.
Psalm 13

Matthew 11:28 - 30
Jesus wanted to relieve burdens.

Isaiah 53:4, 5
He saw Jesus intervene for the wounded and the needy.

Jesus is friend of the weary because He intervened in the world.
He knew what it was like to be weary and disappointed.
Jesus is friend of the weary, not just because He has lived out our experience but because He has overcome.

Hebrews 4:16

Jesus is friend of the weary because all that Jesus has done can be real for us personally.

Jesus is friend of the weary because He will return in victory.

Jesus will come back.

Goldfinger rating

Goldfinger

8.4/10.

The Thirtieth Day of Isolation

Thirtieth Day – An ANZAC Day unlike any other. Usually I watch the Sydney March and the Gallipoli Dawn Service, both of which aren’t happening this year for obvious reasons. Nor was the service down in the village. Even so, seeing friends post on Facebook about being on their driveways at 6:00 was good. No less commemorative than other years of those who gave their lives in service to their countries.

Again, I say; Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

The Twenty Eighth Day of Isolation

Twenty Eighth Day – The eleventh day of working from home. Work went well. It seems that background music (especially if it’s classical) helps with the focus. That may be a help there (along with more prayer, so some cover would be appreciated). No connecting with any of the colleagues (other than via Teams text chat, but there wasn’t much of that.) I still had to look after my nephew too (as my sister had to sleep), so there’s that. But that aspect is OK. Besides, there are the meal breaks.

(Useful for going outside for fresh air and sunlight, and for getting some of the housework done.) Overall, working from home has been good, but getting back to the office (whether it is in five months, or sooner) would be good. It would be good to get out of the house more often.

The Engineer and the Time Lady - Investigation v0.5

7. Investigation

Alpha heard a noise. She turned and saw Nina enter the Bridge. She saw that she had rested and smiled. “You are ready for duty?”

“Yes. What happened on that ship shouldn't have happened.”

“It would probably be a while before I'll let you go on another away mission.”

“I was thinking about that,” Nina said as she sat her console. “It would depend on the kind of mission.”

“It would,” Alpha said.

“I was considering travelling forwards to this planet's information age and copying historical data from the worldwide network.”

Alpha was intreagued, but cautious. “So, you'll go forwards, and steal a data storage device with the data on it?”

Nina interuppted. “I'll take a tricorder and use that to copy the data.”

“That would be better,” Alpha conceded.

“I can do it today,” Nina sated.

“Sure,” Alpha was pleased that Nina seemed to have recovered from the previous day's experience, but she was still concerned that she was letting her exuberance get away with her. “But not right away.”

Nina examined more of the data collected by the Baffin crew, specifically that on the version of Tanarexa IV in the first alternate universe they visited. Her conclusion was inconclusive. Whatever, or whoever, was responsible for the displacements on that planet probably wasn't going to help her and the holocrew return the ship to it's home universe. 'But maybe we could try?' It wouldn't be the first time a Time Lord tried to turn a powerful being to their side.

1200 hours. Alpha turned to Nina. “If you want to go on that forward journey, you can.”

“I shall.”

In the shuttlebay, Nina grabbed several tricorders and PADDs. “Are you sure you'll need all those?” Alpha asked.

“The contents of the network may be greater than the storage capacity,” Nina answered.

“That's unlikely, the PADDs have a storage capacity of four gigaquads each. Same with the tricorders.”

“I'll find a use for them.”

“You probably won't be gone that long.”

“Probably not.”

“You might need this,” Alpha said, holding out a phaser by the emitter end.

“No. I don't think I would get into that kind of trouble,” Nina said with a shake of her head.

“Away Mission Personnel shall not go into an unknown area unprepared for the possibility of combat.”

“Is that a regulation?” Nina asked.

“Yes,” Alpha answered.

Nina sighed and took the phaser. “I'll be back as soon as possible.”

Soon, the TARDIS dematerialised, and Alpha left the shuttlebay.

Nina looked over the Console Room as the TARDIS travelled forwards in time. It was still in it's default design. She hadn't changed anything since she had fled Gallifrey. She considered that it was time to make changes. 'Starfleet certainly knows how to design a ship interior that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing,' she thought. She turned back to the console and accessed the Architectural Configuration System. 'Now, the scanner has the Baffin's interior on file.' She then set the ACS to style set the Console Room Theme to Starfleet.

That done, she left the Console Room to find the wardrobe. She suspected that just wearing the Starfleet uniform would draw unwanted attention.

After finding a simple Time Lord robe that matched the colour of the uniform, Nina entered one of the auxiliary console rooms and quickly re-assigned control of the TARDIS to that room. The ship was about to land.

As soon as the ship had landed and she had used the scanner, Nina found that she had indeed landed in the planet's information age. So, she interfaced one of the Tricorders with the Scanner and set it to send the information to one of the PADDs. “OK, copy the information from the planet's network to the PADD,” she said as she set the scanner. The tricorder than began to receive the data from the scanner and transmiting it to the PADD. 'Good!' she thought.

She emerged from the ship to see that she had landed next to a large library, and that the ship had disguised itself as a motor home (with the Baffin's regristry number, translated into the local number system, on the licence plates, and in Circular Gallifreyan on the sides). She also noticed the Starfleet pennants on the roof. 'Great! Is the Chameleon Circuit glitching?' She didn't want to worry about that. Instead, she decided to go into the library.

The library was what she expected. A well organised space, with many people interacting and looking up information, like any library she had seen. She also saw that there were librarian jobs available. 'Not sure how long I'll be staying, even if I could be back at the Baffin within a minute of depature.' She decided to stay at least a day or two. 'And I can work at this library for a day. She took a place at one of the desks and used the PADD to interface with the TARDIS, instructing her ship to create an identity for her.

Half an hour later, she came to the desk and handed over her application.

Name: Nina Lumbra

Age: 27

…

“Nina Lumbra? Sounds foreign,” the librarian said.

“My father was from the North,” Nina responded.

“I see.”

“Everything checks out, you can start tomorrow.”

“That's good.”

The librarian handed Nina a card. “Welcome to the Rladibud Library.”

Alpha waited for Nina to return. Thus she spent another day to herself listening to Klingon Opera and occasionally checking on the marooned ship via the probe.

“Commander's log, Day 1024, Crewman Nina still hasn't returned for over a day... Otherwise the Baffin is still ship shape”.

Alpha finished the log and called up the data on the stranded ship Nina had visited two days before.

She noticed something. She called up the data from two days before. She could see that the wave action against the ship had further compromised it's structural integrity. “Computer, estimate time until structural collapse.”

“Estimated time until structural collapse any time from six to ten days.”

“Right.” She thought for a while. There had to be away she could rescue that crew without violating the Prime Directive. She couldn't go, the 29^th Century technology behind the mobile emitter hadn't yet been reverse engineered. But using probes to repair the ship would almost certainly cause a violation. And simply beaming them off definitely would be a violation. That seemed to lead to one solution. A Synthetic. The schematics for Synthetics, including the positronic brains, were in the Baffin's databases.

Alpha entered Engineering with a PADD showing instructions. “Computer, activate Emergency Engineering Holograms Beta and Gamma.”

“Affirmative.”

“Please state the nature of the Engineering Emergency,” Beta and Gamma said in unision. They then looked at each other in surprise before turning back to Alpha.

Alpha handed Beta the PADD. “Build a Synthetic that can go on away missions, so we can rescue the crew of a sailing ship without violating the Prime Directive?” he asked, once he had read it. He handed the PADD to Gamma.

“Yes,” Alpha answered.

“But, what will you be doing?” Gamma asked, her curiosity showing in her voice.

“I'll be in one of the holodecks, running repair simulations,” Alpha answered.

Both Beta and Gamma nodded, before turning to one of the consoles.

Alpha approached Holodeck 1. “Computer, load scan data of the crashed ship to Holodeck 1.”

“Affirmative.”

Ten seconds later, the computer reported. “Program complete.”

Alpha entered the holodeck onto the virtual ship's deck...

The next day, Nina was ready to start work at the library. She first looked at the progress of the download. “25%” she said. That meant she'd still be there in a few days hence. 'That's not a problem,' she thought. She had been on similar worlds before for extended periods of time. Before setting out she had the TARDIS bring up the local news. She saw that noting particularly notable was occurring, although two medium sized nations were at war over terrorism. She also noted that the island where Baffin had crashed was disputed between the two.

'Interesting,' she thought.

Nina entered the library and saw that one of the other librarians was clearly worried about something as she looked intently through the returned items. “Morning,” she said.

The other librarian turned with a start. “Oh, you gave me a shock,” she said. “You're the new assistant librarian, right?”

“Yes. I'm Nina.”

“I'm Aialah,” the worried librarian said.

“So, what are you looking for?”

“A rare book was loaned out. It is very overdue.”

“Oh,” Nina responded. “Wouldn't something like that not be loaned out?”

“Ordinarily,” Aialah said with anxiety. “But it was the Mayor's son!”

“I see,” Nina said. 'What have I got myself into?”

“Can you help me find it?”

“Of course.”

A short while later, the returns had been flung aside (mainly by Aialah), but the book hadn't been found. “Most likely, he still has it,” Nina stated as Aialah collapsed into a chair with annoyance.

“I'm in big trouble! If they find out that I loaned out a book that I shouldn't have loaned out, I'll be fired!”

“They don't have to find out,” Nina said in a reassuring tone.

“What's that?”

“I'll help you avoid that outcome.”

“But, you might get fired too.”

“We'll find it.”

“I shouldn't have told you.”

“Nonsense, I can help you. If it's not here, the Mayor's son would still have it, right?”

“That's the most likely option,” Aialah said, more nervous than before. “I guess I can call him during lunch.”

The morning went well (other than young children being noisy, as their mother's tried to read to them). However, something else was going on. There was a report of some sort of hostage situation in the city near the library. 'Is that something I'm going to be involved in?' Nina thought. She dismissed the possibility. She may have got involved with many things at other places after leaving Gallifrey, but wouldn't mean it would happen this time.

Aialah saw Nina enter the break room, and give her a supportive look. It was time to call him. She picked up her phone and quickly selected him from her contacts list. “Aialah! Why are you calling now?”

'He's annoyed!' Aialah thought. She felt the determination building inside her. “You know why I'm calling!”

“I forgot. It's at home somewhere.”

“It needs to be returned!” Aialah retorted.

“Calm down. I haven't lost it,” Lanran responded.

“But you know, I could lose my job, right?” Aialah said.

“I know that!”

“So, I would like it to be returned today.”

“Calm down.”

There was something off about his tone. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew something was wrong. “I am calm,” she responded.

“You're not. I will return it when I'm ready to return it.”

That was it! Didn't he see that it would be difficult for her to find another job? “I am calm. And it needs to be returned today,”she said in the tone of voice she reserved for unruly children.

“Look, you can wait, for me, OK.”

Some things connected in Aialah's mind. She then hung up.

Nina saw Aialah begin to tear up as she ended the call. It obviously didn't end well. “I take it, he's not returning it?” she asked, after a few moments.

“No,” Aialah sobbed as she left the break room.

The Twenty Sixth Day of Isolation

Twenty Sixth Day – The tenth day of working from home and the third night of Bible Study over video chat. Work went well. The workflow was what it should be, but again focusing can be an issue. However, Bible Study went well, continuing the read through/discussion based on Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love. That book has certainly been good in encouraging one’s faith and to focus more on Jesus. It was also good to engage in fellowship with the others. Even so, I need to reach out more to others in the congregation.

So, more prayer in that area is needed. (Discerning who to reach out to and encourage, and at what time.) That would be a prayer request, along with prayer for those in the congregation who would be struggling at this difficult time. Feel free to share yours.

The Twenty Fifth Day of Isolation

Twenty Fifth Day – The ninth day of working from home. The workflow was as it should be.  (The nephew wasn’t as distracting, nor were there any visitors). With the Teams audio issue fixed, the Virtual Office Meeting went without a hitch. The rest of the work day went without any trouble. I probably still need to focus some more (but that hasn’t been as much as a problem as it has been in past years. Still, if something is tedious, one’s mind wanders…)

Nothing else for today (not related to work anyway.)

The Twenty Fourth Day of Isolation

Twenty Fourth Day – Sunday, the fifth livestream church service. The earlier caveats still apply, but I did have a rather good fellowship moment with my Mum before joining the service, so that was good. (It probably would have happened anyway, but still.) Even so, I would still like to talk to others from the Congregation before and after the service. (Maybe joining in the Sunday School video conference?) Still, something to continue to pray about. Otherwise, it was a good day. Another short walk around the reserve.

Probably should take more of them. But otherwise, most of the afternoon was spent reading over the scriptures referenced in the service (which usually happens). But also miss reading the paper afterwards (and praying for needs found therein).

Church notes - 19th April 2020

19th April
Isaiah 40:1, 2
Isaiah 41:8 - 10
Proverbs 3:5, 6

Isaiah 42:5 - 9
Isaiah 43:25

What stories do you tell about yourself?
It's all about the details we pay attention to, that shape the narrative, whether about guilt and shame or self righteousness.

Romans 12:3

Genesis 1:27
Created in God's image.
Psalm 8:5
Genesis 3
After the Fall, sin and death entered the world.

1 Corinthians 15:56 - 68

Sin is destructive and destroys our relationship with God.

Isaiah 40:1, 2
God wants His people to feel the comfort of relationship with Him.
Isaiah 41:8-10
Chosen. God chose Israel through Abraham.
He has chosen us through Jesus.
Isaiah 42:5 - 7
Creator. His heart is to set people free. He doesn't want people to stay imprisoned in shame and guilt.
Isaiah 43:25
Cleansed.

We help to relieve people of guilt and shame, pointing the way to Jesus.
Jesus came to take guilt and shame away.

Beginnings of 2020 - Tales of New Berk - Settling

Tales of New Berk

Settling

It was different, he reflected. Without his friend of many years it was going to be difficult going forward. It would be difficult for all of them. But they would be looking to him as Chief to help them move forward. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III turned from the sea where, over the horizon, their dragon friends now lived. He looked at the village of New Berk, where construction was continuing. He saw Astrid coming towards him. “Hiccup, they’re ready.”

“I’m coming,” he said.  It would be the first meeting of the Council on New Berk. On the agenda was amongst other things the issue of a name for the Village rather than just New Berk. After all the village on the Old Berk had been Berk too. Many names had been proposed for the village. Hiccup was all for just calling it Berk, no need to be more sentimental than that. There were rumors going around of naming it after his father, or for the Dragons, but he was sure those wouldn’t be good ideas.

From Russia With Love rating

From Russia With Love

8.33/10.

The Twenty Second Day of Isolation

Twenty Second Day – Another Friday. Not only would I have been volunteering at the op shop, I would have been at the Zoo also. Helping out with the Giraffe encounter, where the guests get to go up close to the Giraffe and feed them carrots. (A carrot to a Giraffe is like chocolate is to us, so it’s ‘tongue territory’ as one keeper put it. One has to be quick to avoid the saliva. But there is hand sanitiser available). The Zoo has put up a video on their YouTube channel as a virtual encounter, so that’s good.

Silent Extinction – only 70000 left in the wild, mainly due to habitat loss as competition rises with herdspeople as human populations increase. It’s the Rhinos and Elephants getting all the press, but the Giraffe, not so much.

Sonic the Hedgehog Delayed Review

Sonic the Hedgehog

A movie about a fast extraterrestial hedgehog based on the video game character from Sega. It is much better than I expected. It opens on an alien planet (that may as well be Mobius, but that name wasn't mentioned), where Sonic is a young child being brought up by an owl named Longclaw. However, his speed powers mean that others on the island want to get them, so Longclaw sends him to places where he may be safe. This early scene was definitely done very well. He eventually ends up on Earth, outside the small town of Green Hills, Montana.

(A cool reference there.) Here, we are introduced to some of the townsfolk (via Sonic talking bout them), including the Sherrif Tom Wachowski and his wife Maddie. Tom is introduced as wanting to do more than what Green Hills has to offer (including pointing his speed gun at a tortoise). However, the story gets moving when Sonic realises that despite hanging around Green Hills and, sort of, interacting with it's residents (including a 'Crazy Carl), he is desperately lonely. As he reaslises this, he accidentally releases an EMP that blacks out several states.

Thus he gains the attention of the United States Government, or more specifically, the military, who want to deal with what caused that EMP. They in turn, despite misgivings that may turn out to prudent, call in Dr. Ivo Robotnik, an insufferable genius with robotics. All this attention causes Sonic to prepare to leave Earth via a bag of magic rings, but an encounter with Tom causes him to accidentally drop them through a portal to San Francisco. This scene in which Sonic accidentally get shot by Tom (with a tranquiliser gun) is quite good.

Thus begins the road trip portion of the film. Tom had planned to go to San Francisco anyway, as he had felt, limited, in Green Hills and had applied to join the SFPD. He is shocked by Sonic appearing in his garage, but is able to escape when Robotnik arrives whilst tracking the hedgehog. They set out on their trip, as Sonic can't go there directly, he doesn't know where he's going. So, they travel overland to San Francisco. First night, they get involved in a bar fight. The use of bullet time here isn't identical to other film's depictions.

They then continue going towards San Francisco. Robotnik gives chase. That he would get information from those at the bar would be obvious. Designing his robots keep going despite damage goes a little overboard, but it's consistent with his character (from the games and various animated series). The way Sonic discovers his spin attack was funny, and it was also believable. The way he and Tom deal with the robot as it kept on going despite damage was done well. (Even if Tom's SUV is 'totalled').

San Francisco. Meeting Maddie at her sister's place, they go to the Transamerica Building to get the rings. (Not sure what to make of Rachel being vehmently against Maddie's marriage to Tom.) But Robotnik is still hot on Sonic's trail, and corners them on the roof. This scene was done very well. Sonic gets the rings, but then Robotnik fires the missiles. This leads into another chase sequence. Sonic pushes Tom and Maddie off the edge, through a portal back to Green Hills. He then leads Robotnik through another portal to the Great Wall of China.

Thus begins another chase through the ring portals. From China to Egypt (where Robotnik accidentally destroys the Sphnix) and back to China again. Sonic's surprise at this was well done, as was the overall chase sequence. There wasn't too much CGI. It eventually ends, where it began, at Green Hills, leading into a final sequence with Tom, Maddie and the townsfolk. This whole sequence in Green Hills was very well done, especially the choreography as both Sonic and Tom try to outwitt Robotnik. The characters also shine, particularly Wade and 'Crazy Carl'.

The resolution, in which Tom tricks Robotnik through the portal to the Mushroom planet was done well. The Government disavowing Robotnik as as result of his actions was believable. (And it's a good thing that Tom and Maddie adopted Sonic. 8.5/10.

The mid credit scene with Tails was very good too.

Tales of 2020 - Myths and Machinery - 2005

2001

North America

Throughout the Emperor Zone, various observatories pick up on increased solar activity…

Attempts are made to bring this to the attention of the ‘Higher Ups’ of the InterCon. (Astronomers are certainly important, but not that important.)

Later in the year, the Conglomerate Space Corporation notes the increased solar activity. The various astronomers who had observed the activity compare it with the activity observed prior to the Carrington Event, but these observations are ignored…

A large colony ship full of replicants is launched towards the Jovian Trojans on a mining mission.

More of the Bermudan mountains sink beneath the waves. The navigational hazards in the Triangle seem to disappear entirely…

Advocacy for Same Sex Marriage continues.

Conglomerate forces again fail to capture Jack Sparrow. It’s as if he has some method of escape…

A terrorist plot to destroy buildings on Manhattan Island is foiled.

South America

Deep in the Amazon, Daniela Wellington recovers evidence of Tawantinsuyu colonies, before an Intercon team could cover it up. She manages to escape via an overgrown Portal Gate to a safe location in Patagonia. (The Intercom team find the Gate, but are unable to determine where Wellington had fled to.)

The Seelie Court intervenes in a dispute between the Argentinian Administrative Zone and the Governing Council.

Africa

An InterCon force neutralises something beneath one of the Egyptian pyramids…

Europe

This summer, there is a heatwave across the continent, but this is but a taste of what is to come.

Asia

An incident occurs in the East China Sea, a Chinese submarine nearly collides with an InterCon warship. Eventually, cooler heads prevail.

A rogue General in the People’s Liberation Army attempts to start a nuclear exchange between China and India when he seizes a silo. However, forces loyal to Beijing manage to recapture the site before a launch occurs.

Oceania

Goblins go extinct in Victoria. The population in New South Wales (near the town of Jerilderie), continue dropping like flies…

In the Terra Australis REZ, ore trains reach a length of 10km…

The Mir, a former Russian space station, deorbits into the Pacific near Fiji…

The Twenty First Day of Isolation

Twenty First Day – The eighth day of working from home. The workflow was as it should be, despite interruption (by the older nephew, my other sister and future sister-in-law visiting, but it was a good catch up). The Teams issue was resolved. It may be that the permission issue/firewall blocking of the audio was just temporary. There wasn’t too much difficulty talking to the IT support person either. (There wasn’t much apprehension there, just the usual ASD related shyness, and I prayed about it anyway.)

The main issue would be lack of exercise, since I’m not walking very far. I will need to spend more time out of the house doing something, rather than being indoors. Fortunately, there is that reserve right next door…

The Nineteenth Day of Isolation

Nineteenth Day – The seventh day of working from home. Also the second night of Bible Study over video chat. Firstly, work, along with babysitting my nephew at the same time. That latter aspect of the day worked out; the workflow was unaffected. He mostly watched Dragons: Race to the Edge on Netflix (albeit repeating episodes he watched before). Back to work. The Teams issue had been escalated, but not yet resolved. Otherwise there was little contact with colleagues. Maybe on Thursday.

Bible Study went well (other than the Zoom session ending every 40 minutes), talking about the Easter story while we all had Passover dinner. (A rather good idea. Along with getting juice alongside the Easter eggs.)

The Seventeenth Day of Isolation

Seventeenth Day – Easter Sunday. The fourth livestream Church service. Same caveat as earlier. Engaging over the YouTube chat function certainly isn’t the same. It would be better to use Zoom before and after the service. (At least the internet hasn’t been going on the ‘fritz’ on Sundays.) The message being about the Hope that the Resurrection gives, is more topical than it usually is, when there isn’t usually an ongoing crisis in the form of a pandemic. But one should focus on it anyway, no matter if there’s a crisis or not.

Of course, gorging oneself on Easter Eggs isn’t that healthy either. Best to eat them in moderation. Getting out of the house (yesterday) to buy them (along with other more essential items) was good too.

Church notes - 12th April 2020

12th April - Easter Sunday
Psalm 47
Philippians 4:4 - 7

Luke 23:48
Grief

Luke 24:1 - 12
The resurrection makes a difference.
There was joy.
Formerly the disciples were afraid. Now they were empowered.

1 Corinthians 15:1 - 5

A solid foundation of fact.
It does make a difference.

After the Fall - there was progressive revelation.

Job 14:14
Psalm 6
Psalm 115
Ecclesiastes 9:4

But... After the Resurrection
Philippians 1:21

Psalm 23:6

John 11:25, 26
I Am the resurrection and the life.
A worldview filled with hope.

1 Corinthians 15:57
The victory in Christ.
Death has been defeated because of Jesus' death and resurrection.
He is risen.
Death has the sting removed.

An assurance of new life in the next world. Death swallowed up in victory. Life after death will be better than life here.
Luke 23:43 - 46
The thief went to paradise.

Revelation 21:3
A revelation of close relationship.
Revelation 21:4

The struggles of this world are temporary.

Death swallowed up by triumphant life.

The hope of the Resurrection must calm all our anxieties of these days.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Beginnings of 2020 - Chronicles of Time - Complications of a Pandemic

Chronicles of Time – Complications of a Pandemic

Space Station Armidale - 11 April 2320

It had been a quiet day, Danica Sirius considered as she closed the Station’s library for the night.  She decided to go to the control centre to check over the station’s systems before entering her rest cycle.

She had ran a diagnostic when an alert came up.

Temporal Traveller inbound.

She had an idea of who that was. It was only a 5% chance it wouldn’t be. Five seconds later, the room lit up as the temporal vehicle re-emerged into normal spacetime. The door opened and she saw that it was the person who most often travelled forwards to the Station, her friend Daniel Stanton. “Hi Daniel?’

“Hi, Danica. There’s a problem.”

“You altered the timeline again?” Danica asked. It seemed that he was irresponsible with the temporal vehicle, again.

“Not this time. I have just come forwards from April 2020,” Daniel said, putting emphasis on the second half of the year designation.

“I see,” she said. She realised that he was referring to the crisis that he had begun to live through. The Covid-19 Pandemic. “I don’t think preventing the crisis would be a good idea.”

“No,” Daniel said. “I would get lost in Wuhan, and probably get apprehended by the authorities. No I want to lock out the temporal travellers from going into the past while the Pandemic is ongoing.”

Danica reflected on Daniel’s former point, the People’s Republic of China gaining time travel was definitely not a good idea (and would be a consequence of someone being apprehended while trying to prevent the Pandemic).

Fifteenth Day of Self Isolation

Fifteenth Day – Good Friday. The third livestream Church service. . Again, it’s rather like being at Church, except one would arrive late and leave early. This is probably still going to be the most difficult aspect of the pandemic to deal with. Although it was a good service, with the message being about the reason for the season – that Jesus died for us, to take our sins, so that we may be forgiven. And if there is no grape juice, or grapes, in the house for Communion, squeezing juice out of an orange will definitely do in a pinch.

What matters is the heart intention as one takes the elements. Not being at the Zoo to help with the overwhelming crowds is fine (as the Zoo is closed for the duration).

Church notes - Good Friday 2020

10th April - Good Friday

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke 23:44 - 49

Kidswise - The Innocent One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhOTB_vzdPs

1 John 4:9, 10

Isaiah 53:3 - 5

Simeon. Luke 2:35
It is 30 years ahead; but there already on the horizon looms the cross.

Luke 9:22

The Transfiguration

Luke 9:31
Talking about His departure - the Cross.

9:51

Luke 12:50
The Baptism - the Cross.
Luke 13:32, 33
Luke 18:31 - 33
Parable of the Tenants (Luke 20:9 - 18)
Luke 23:14, 15
He was pronounced innocent.
vs 41
vs 47

Josepth of Arimathea
vs 50

His prayer - Forgiveness
His promise - Eternal Life
The Nail - All our sins. Everyone's sins. Your sins.

Paul - 2 Corinthians 5:21

He died for all the world.
Have you accepted him as Lord and Saviour?

Conviction of sin.
Confession of sin.
Repentance - a decision to turn from sin.
Forgiveness through Christ's blood by faith.
Restoration - the relationship repaired.

Sinner's prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen.

Communion
A man ought to examine himself before he eats the bread and drinks the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:23 - 29

The Fourteenth Day of Isolation

Fourteenth Day – the sixth day of working from home. The workflow remains as it should (other than an interruption by my older nephew, but should he have been visiting?). More of the internet issue. (I think it should really get resolved at some point.) Also called one of the colleagues. (Actually the supervisor, but that went well.) The Teams issue remains unresolved. But that has progressed in its resolution. Being escalated. It probably would be resolved sometime next week. Again the copying of files is slow.

However, copying the files earlier, rather than at the end of the day, was a partial resolution of the problem. Have a happy Easter.

The Twelfth Day of Isolation

Twelfth Day – the fifth day of working from home. Also the first night of Bible Study over video chat. Firstly, work. The workflow remains as it should. The internet issue did rear its head, but only briefly. The issue with Teams remains unresolved, although it can be used via chat. Another issue would be that copying files to the server is a lot slower than in the office. The Bible Study (more of a Homegroup catchup, given we’d hadn’t met for a while), went well. There was no problem using Zoom for that purpose.

The other members of the group are handling the situation well. Mostly, we talked about the situation and prayed about it.

The Eleventh Day of Isolation

Eleventh Day – the fourth day of working from home. The workflow remains as it should. There wasn’t any problem with the internet connection today, so I’m thankful for that. However, I’m aware that it will still be a problem from time to time. Connecting with work colleagues did happen, although one of them was dropping out of the Skype session and could barely be heard. However using Microsoft Teams seems to be problematic. More the firewall blocking the audio than anything else.

Hopefully that will be fixed soon. There was also little interruption by other members of the household.

Tenth Day of Isolation

Tenth Day – the second Sunday of livestream Church service. Again, it’s rather like being at Church, except one would arrive late and leave early. This is probably still going to be the most difficult aspect of the pandemic to deal with. Being an introvert, fellowshipping over the phone, or internet chat doesn’t come naturally. (Although I did have some experience with the latter ‘back in the day’) There has been some connection with other members of the congregation in any case. Not entirely isolated.

I did have to go to the shop to get bread, instead of other members of the family. At least the car got some use.

Church notes - 5th April 2020

5th April
How can I become right with God?
Somebody else to make it possible. Jesus.
Luke 23:26 - 43

The Story of the Two Thieves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfe_Zzcp0O8&t=5s

Questions
1) What was the difference between the two criminals?
2) What did Jesus say to the criminal who asked Him for help?
3) Could this criminal do anything to make himself "good enough" to be right with God?
4) What does this show us about how we become right with God? Who is the only person we can rely upon?

Jesus' rescue

Crucifixion - a cruel method of execution, designed for maximum pain and humiliation.

Philippians 2:8
Hebrews 12:2
Isaiah 53:12

Intended for humiliation.
Hostility
vs 34

Psalm 22:16 - 18

Jesus is mocked on the cross.
. Rulers sneered at Him.
. The soldieres mocked Him.
. One of the criminals hurled insults at him.

The mocking went on all day, including by one of the dying criminals.

A prayer of forgiveness. Forgiveness - choosing not to hold something against someone else.
A light that illuminates that dark day and all times afterwards.
If Jesus forgives His executors, we can forgive those who hurt us.
vs 38
This is the King of the Jews.
A statement of the crime. But also the truth. He gave up His life bearing our sins.
vs 27
Simon of Cyrene - He was following Jesus, carrying the cross.
We need to follow his example, taking up our cross daily.
Mark 15:21
Romans 16:13

Simon and his family were saved.
vs 42, 43
One of the criminals asked Jesus if he would be saved.

. Conviction
. Confession
. Repentance
. Forgiveness
. Restoration

He had faith and experienced grace.
A saving faith

Paradise appears three times in the New Testament.

The world may seem to be out of control, but Jesus is in control.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

Beginnings of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 - 1912

1912

North America

United States

Francis Williamson (C-AL) narrowly wins re-election in the Electoral College (with a victory of only two electoral votes), although he only receives 45% of the popular vote.

Mexico

Unemployment rates reach 10%, despite Goverment policies to encourage more employment.

South America

The Incan rebellion continues. The Spanish forces continue to contain it.

Africa

The Franco-Spanish War continues here, with native forces as cannon fodder...

Europe

The Treaty of Stockholm is signed after years of negotiations. Denmark and Russia drop their counter claims.

Bergundy captures more French territory after their intervention in the Franco-Spanish War early the previous year. Spanish forces continue to capture more French territory.

In Portugal, protest actions against the Cogent regime continue to grow in popularity.

Similar actions continue to gain popularity in Italy.

The Crimean War continues.

Asia

In China, the guerilla forces continue to gain influence.

Oceania

The Aboriginal Region in the far western region of New England is abolished.

The Eighth Day of Isolation

Again I wasn’t able to volunteer at the op shop. It wasn’t just that I volunteer at that op shop, but that there is a notebook where people can leave prayer requests in, and some of the other volunteers and I would read those prayer requests and then pray for those people. So, people in need aren’t being prayed for. (Obviously the coronavirus may be on the top of the list, but there would be many pre-existing issues that would be exacerbated by the current situation.) But of course, I can still pray without knowing the specifics.

But knowing the specifics helps. But I did watch a movie based on the Gospel of John, so that was good.

The Seventh Day of Isolation

The third day of working from home. The workflow remains as it should be. Of course, the internet connectivity issue remains. I’m not sure that would be fixed at this time. (Hardly ‘essential’ when smartphones can be used.) I was able to connect with a work colleague today. It helps that I did have his number, so I could just call. He also appears to be coping with the situation. Confidence may still be an issue. Other issues may lie with interruptions by other members of the household during work hours.

(But that may not to too big of an issue.)

The Sixth Day of Isolation

I don’t work on Wednesdays. But I would have otherwise went to have a session of Dramatic Reading with an elocutionist. Usually once a fortnight. We had just finished reading a book on the history of the Byzantine Empire (and started reading The Three Musketeers, but that will have to wait.) I had taken breaks before, when I was at university, so this too will be OK. And I will be starting to post Dramatic Reading videos on YouTube, so that will continue anyway. (Something that may have taken years more to start.)