User blog:Spikewitwicky/April 7, 2016 - Spike's Journal Entry



So, we're back home.

Let's talk about dad for a second. He had to be wheeled into his room, and Helperbot had to pretty much assist him all the way to bed. He'll be out for most of the day. Today's a write-off. The key thing is what happens tomorrow. I would never equate dad to a race horse, but it looks like I am. I can remember a Sopranos episode where Ralphie callously burns a horse stable, killing Tony's beloved horse (and collecting a healthy insurance policy). Ralphie cold-heartedly stated that every time the horse bounced back from something - usually an illness - it took something out of the horse. So, that's how I feel about dad. For every time he bounces back and pushes his limits (see Cybertron heroics last week), there's likely a chance that he'll be that much weaker once the adrenaline and thrills die down. I'm hoping that's not the case.

Note - the next section is not a 'woe is me, why am I burdened with this great responsibility' rant ala some superheroes. This is a vent, not a bitch. So, when I came back, I sort of hoped there would be some miracle. All of a sudden, a windfall money injection will be given to GI Joe from our government, and their budget woes are solved. Or...Marissa found some uber innovative way for the Joes to make money (maybe use their vehicles as Uber vehicles during their off-time). But no. The problem hasn't moved. And I have to take a stab at it.

And I'm not going to be popular. The Autobot technology is just too advanced to pass up. Any company who has an exclusive right to Autobot technology will have a totally unfair advantage (think Blackrock). Yes, I'm lucky enough to benefit from a few Autobot speeches and land agreements (amounting to about $55,000 a year - my base salary). So, I'll likely be getting a "why are you paid and the rest of us can't take advantage of that?" - well, it was agreed upon - I'd get paid that wage of an average mechanic. This diplomacy stuff...all just extra. But I DO earn the wage.

Anyway, I did the math. EDC would cost probably about $150-$200 mill a year. It was hard enough securing $55,000 grand, yet alone almost a quarter billion. The 'bots could secure that funding from groups like Google, Apple, military manufacturers (shudder), and communications company. But again, the 'bots are then starting to 'alter' our own course of evolution, something Optimus is adamantly against. Who knows...maybe we should do something totally benign and like... cave in to toy manufacturers and allow their likeness to be used for toys.