tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86226409253257838212024-02-11T00:28:53.752-08:00Nerdy But Good At It.Standing on a stack of library books, head high with bottle thick glasses glinting on a single shaft of light, calculator raised in defiance while my well read wife is wrapped suggestively around my legs... I. Am. Nerd!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.comBlogger390125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-28567134463520837332013-03-22T11:25:00.001-07:002013-03-22T11:25:06.673-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYGRWTG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2-25d6MrRQ/UUygZkDnsgI/AAAAAAAAClQ/3ySeDLPBuyA/s200/Little+Worlds+-+Generic.png" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYGRWTG">My first novel</a>. A story about a young man in a tribe of river people, trying to survive a harsh winter. Or a story about space colonies being built by drones, more colonies than people to live in them. Take your pick.<br />
<br />
Science Fiction. Young Adult.<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-82510679100604820072012-11-29T14:25:00.002-08:002012-12-06T05:12:07.002-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZA2ueJsvio/ULfczweiTCI/AAAAAAAACPI/TY2LODGQGfU/s200/1stCover2.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
I've been published. With an ISBN and everything. Two of my short stories were accepted into the first issue of <a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal">The Journal for Social Era Knowledge.</a><br />
I met someone on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/116076186919541013139/posts">Google plus</a> named <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/105989807116077671770/posts">Meg Tufano</a> who was very interested in some of my short stories.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal/journal_-articles/issue-1/human" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc7Tr9c0yOE/ULfdd9ai0nI/AAAAAAAACPQ/24iKGdUQzCY/s200/photosculpture21.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
One story, <a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal/journal_-articles/issue-1/human">Human</a> is about what the world might be like for old people in a few short years. How legality and law touches on every aspect of technology, and what is legal is not the same as what is possible, or ethical.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal/journal_-articles/issue-1/pot" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkHy6CHpeBc/ULfeC7b9RqI/AAAAAAAACPY/3bGUj2RIXAc/s200/photosculpture11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The other story also kind of focuses on that, but in a very different way. It's about a guy in his underwear at an airport.<a href="http://www.synaptiqplus.com/journal/journal_-articles/issue-1/pot"> A little pot</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-60261401859454659232012-07-16T09:26:00.002-07:002012-07-16T11:26:43.898-07:00But it's all about the transition.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
People are starting to understand what this whole <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-scarcity_economy">post scarcity</a> thing is all about. Stuff in the works RIGHT NOW is going to make people healthier, stuff cheaper, food better, energy more abundant, and a bunch of other very good things.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_paN8ZCatgY/UAQ_ELWL8pI/AAAAAAAAB-E/jocumbKOhbw/s1600/cornucopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_paN8ZCatgY/UAQ_ELWL8pI/AAAAAAAAB-E/jocumbKOhbw/s1600/cornucopia.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
But. it's all about the transition.<br />
<br />
It's all well and good that widgets and gizmo's are getting cheaper because robots are making them... but now people don't have jobs.<br />
<br />
It's all well and good that health care is getting better... but we can't afford what we got NOW.<br />
<br />
It's all sorts of great that the internet is starting to show up everywhere...but the monthly fees to get it are killing us, and they want to charge by the megabyte?<br />
<br />
It's fantastic that we can now feed the whole world, but a scary monopoly is trying to CHARGE us to do that, and corner the market on FOOD.<br />
<br />
We got robots that can build houses now out of concrete, one 3d printed layer at a time... We have factories that can build manufactured homes at a rate of several an hour... but houses cost a third of your monthly salary for thirty years. And after that... property taxes change that to a fifth.<br />
<br />
SURE stuff in the works will make all of these things so cheap to produce that they could give them away for free... but why would the people making these things want to do that?<br />
<br />
As long as these things are coming at us top down... that is, someone gets a good idea, forms a company, makes a product and sells it for PROFIT.... This is the way its got to be. Like it or not.<br />
<br />
The transition is going to be painful. Capitalists will wonder why no one is buying their stuff, because they don't realize they got rid of all the jobs of the people who wanted to BUY their stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
What if instead, the guys without a job got together, and built a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesh_networking">wireless mesh network</a> so they could get the internet (or a version of it) for free?<br />
<br />
What if they owned <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap">3d printers capable of making more 3d printers?</a> or at least a great deal of the parts. And then used those to make robots?<br />
<br />
What if they got together, and used those robots and each other to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_gardening">one hell of a garden</a>? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_gardening">the kind of garden that can feed thirty people</a>?<br />
<br />
What if they had solar panels, windmills, and water purifiers on their apartment building... Things they installed themselves that makes that building efficient enough for the ten families that live there to no longer need to pay for water, or power?<br />
<br />
What if a neighborhood got together, and <a href="http://tidepools.co/">REALLY started to communicate</a> again... swapping what they needed with each other.. helping however they could? Trading from their garden with other gardens... building with their printers and giving their stuff to other people around them....<br />
<br />
What happens when instead of top down... we built this all bottom up?<br />
<br />
Well yeah, it won't be perfect. It's gonna be messy.<br />
<br />
Egos and greed will get in the way, people will hoard, mistakes will be made, some of them costly mistakes.<br />
<br />
It will be ugly. and makeshift, and cobbled together.... duct tape and wd40, sweat and dust. B<span style="background-color: white;">ut it will be ours. </span><br />
<br />
And the stuff this iteration makes will be used to make better versions of the next iteration. Better robots will take out the sweat. Better 3d printers will remove the duct tape, Clever solutions removing the dirt, the greed, the egos...<br />
<br />
well, maybe not the egos.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-20478790442230188952012-05-09T10:50:00.000-07:002012-05-09T10:50:49.126-07:00The future will be clever, and we will build it.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ow-pjZrANKo/Tft3yp2motI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/8k4Spz_mWdg/s1600/techshop1-660x495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ow-pjZrANKo/Tft3yp2motI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/8k4Spz_mWdg/s320/techshop1-660x495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There is a trend brewing... and I'm following it as closely as I can.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://techshop.ws/">Techshops</a> are allowing people access to very expensive tools that used to be impossible to touch unless you had the backing of a powerful company. Focusing on professionals who rent time on these machines with a monthly fee sort of business arrangement.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fab_lab" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ot6xZXzkNw/Tft3W0LkIKI/AAAAAAAAAfM/SWdmTcbeoiM/s1600/Amsterdam_Fab_Lab_at_The_Waag_Society.JPG" style="cursor: move;" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fab_lab">Fab labs</a> are doing the same thing, with a more educational and academic lens.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Hackerspaces" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgabc8uzt-s/Tft24ODejMI/AAAAAAAAAfI/ou7Sk_GEu7g/s1600/Hackerspace_charlotte.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Hackerspaces">Hackerspaces</a> do it in an informal and organic sort of way, essentially a social club for people to make stuff and explore technology.<br />
<br />
<br />
What they all have in common is a way to gather ordinary people up to invent stuff that did not exist before. They all assist in one form or another a person in realizing his inventive dream... the time of the lone inventor hiding in his garage, and after years of toil creating something amazing are gone... collaboration and feedback are changing that from years.... to days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.quirky.com/ideations/70371" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEl4gQ5lDcY/Tft4e8xSSfI/AAAAAAAAAfU/UsvpDh-ypyo/s320/quirky-infographic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Websites, like<a href="http://www.quirky.com/ideations/70371"> Quirky </a>are encouraging and supporting inventions and product design on a consistently high quality, amazingly organized and efficient basis.<br />
<br />
These services have already caused innovation to explode... and we haven't even begun to see the amazing sort of things that will emerge from them.<br />
<br />
<br />
The future is going to be clever, and its going to be built by us, one good idea at a time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Update) I'm now ready to start creating a business plan to create my own version of this... something non-profit, focused on both education and entrepreneur, teaching people how they can make what they need themeselves, or at least get expert help in doing so.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-221219417496550302012-05-09T04:15:00.002-07:002012-05-09T04:15:37.139-07:00Startup 101<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhEu5GeV4Fs/T6pRp_SOf-I/AAAAAAAABww/DY2BCEv6g_U/s1600/drunken+goat+cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhEu5GeV4Fs/T6pRp_SOf-I/AAAAAAAABww/DY2BCEv6g_U/s320/drunken+goat+cheese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7998656609561294" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So last night I went to another cocktail party. Well specifically I went to an event called Startup 101... This time in Bellevue Washington, at a wine bar. About fifty to a hundred people.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The event was straightforward, first there was a sign up area, then a speech from someone who was a successful entrepreneur, hor d'oeuvres were set up, a lot of nice cheeses, followed by a meet and greet. it was clear that it was a mix of people like me, First timers with no idea what they were doing, and old timers that had a clear agenda.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I discovered a lot of things. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, yeah, I have no business plan... what I have is a vision. I know what I want. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They want to know what it costs, how long it will take, what the initial layout is going to be, what revenue streams are coming back, and how many customers will I have before money starts coming in before going out. As I talked to people, I watched their faces fall when they realized how green I really am at this. I was talking “How cool would it be” and they were talking “How much will it cost.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I wrote a program that counted words being spoken in that room and made it into a word cloud... Money would be the largest, and dead set in the center. And rightly so... THIS is the environment where people with money make decisions on where to spend it. And people without money give their pitches to them. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I now know I’m not ready for this. I need to write up some solid proposals, flesh out some real costs, work out a real business plan. I need to know how much approximately my equipment is going to cost, how large a space I’m going to need, what my weekly expenses will be and how the hell I make those expenses dwindle while the profits come in.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up going non-profit on the tech shop... but even so, I’m gonna need those numbers.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, I can’t take the environment very long. At least in a shop, nobody minds if you wear noise canceling headphones.</span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-83677333894907634482012-04-26T22:38:00.001-07:002012-04-26T22:39:17.966-07:00Meet and Greet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhXSUmrzx8U/T5owieIoWcI/AAAAAAAABto/Wld3r_U23ss/s1600/cocktail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhXSUmrzx8U/T5owieIoWcI/AAAAAAAABto/Wld3r_U23ss/s320/cocktail.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.11364674824289978" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So tonight I did something outside my normal comfort zone... </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went to a cocktail party. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got invited to a meet and greet by someone I know online, A social gathering of people looking to connect. I wasn’t sure why I was invited. But I was. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ve been thinking about running a tech shop forever, I know exactly what I want.. .</span><a href="http://lastonk.blogspot.com/2011/02/tech-shop.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://lastonk.blogspot.com/2011/02/tech-shop.html</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m starting to get serious about it... so what the hell. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe I can find out how to do the business side of this... talk to someone who understands and can point out the pitfalls that will almost certainly be there.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My problem was that I knew this would be a Non-Nerd event. No one would be impressed if I showed up in a tee shirt that said “Stand back, I’m going to try science”. There would be business suits and cocktail dresses. If I start talking about 3d printers and fab labs...people would have absolutely no idea what I was talking about.. And if I start getting excited and go into one of my stream of consciousness ADD rants. Unlike my usual gatherings, It would not be considered normal or socially accepted behaviour. How does a geek who hangs around geeks constantly, talk to non-geeks without a keyboard to buffer?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I put on a clean shirt. Tucked it in and de-rumpled my attire, and drove to Downtown Seattle.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Didn’t take long to find it. The Amber was the name of the bar where this was being held (the “e” spelled backwards on the sign). Another thing I don’t do much is bars... outside of the AFK tavern in Everett (very much by for and about gamer geeks), or a small party at someone’s house, I rarely drink.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And this place was clearly a bit more upscale than I’m used to. Pretty girls in little black dresses bringing drinks and passing out hor dourves lots of people standing around and talking loudly enough that it has its own background reverb thing going... Like that echo phone mcguffin from Batman The Dark Knight, I bet with two microphones a laptop, and a good oscilloscope I could map that room in decent detail from backscatter sound alone. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent a few minutes thinking about that when someone came up to me and pointed out I didn’t have a name tag. I could go get them over on the other side of the room by the fireplace... where all the people were.. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something I noticed immediately, waiting politely for someone to notice you want to move past them doesn’t work at a cocktail party. Instead, this waiting is considered an invitation to strike up a conversation. It took an hour to make it to the table. put on a name tag, and make it back to the bar. In that time I met a person writing a novel, an architectural consultant a hair stylist, an intellectual property lawyer, an investment banker, a licensing attorney, an investment advisor and a couple business consultants. All very cool and interesting people. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each conversation started with something like “So what do you do?” followed by me giving a short spiel about how a tech shop is “sort of like a gym membership where instead of working out, you are making stuff, and I’d be the guy supplying and maintaining the tools, as well as teaching how to use them... with a big focus on computer assisted design stuff like 3d printers, five axis routers, laser cutters and embroidery machines”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of them seemed genuinely interested in helping me. pointing out resources they had that I might be interested in, and asking for contact information so they could put me in touch with people they know. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They then would all give me their business card, and I’d accept it politely, and then have to explain that I don’t HAVE a business card... (so before I wrote this, I ordered some business card paper for my printer... I’ll have some business cards this time next week.) </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that I might now be a LOT closer than I thought to getting my tech shop off the ground. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m writing this as a way for me to organize my thoughts, I want to blog about every detail of this Tech Shop dream. So I have a record of what does and does not work. So I can get advice from people who read this, and hopefully so I can help other people create their own tech shops, whether I succeed or fail.</span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-67588249909358017712012-02-22T05:03:00.000-08:002012-02-22T05:03:18.346-08:00His one chance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6188056070823222" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Determine where the secondary controls are on your model of vehicle. It should be beneath the speed indicator"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Donny looked at the instructions again. It had been hard for him to get these. He glanced up at his car controls, something he hadn't done much.... Ahhh, found the speed indicator. It's showing "124.3mph/230km"... Huh. he thought idly... we still measure miles on these things? He looked at the dashboard again, frowning. There’s the air conditioning stuff, and the music settings, privacy, viewscreen projector, the chair heat and massage, the netpad...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wow. lots of things up here... He'd been so used to using his command voice, he'd forgotten you could do this all by touch... He had to have touch for this, though. the paper made it clear you couldn't do it the easy way.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Secondary Controls... secondary controls..." He muttered under his breath. It's been years since he even really looked at the panel. His car heard him muttering, and to be helpful enlarged and circled the button he sought on the dashboard screen. John’s eyes widened, and his mouth shut tight.. I've got to be more careful, he thought to himself, trying not to even sub-vocalize. He knew this was it, his one chance.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He rubbed his head and looked up and out the window. Traffic was going as fast as always. An unbroken grid of cars packed so tightly together you could stand on one and step to another... if they weren't all moving.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The car next to John had a a couple inside in a passionate embrace. The girl saw him watching them, gave him a look of annoyance, and toggled the privacy setting. All the windows turned instantly opaque. John gave a little guilty start, then chuckled to himself... I don't give a damn about your fun time, woman.... the slight ironic grin bled from his face though, as he remembered what he was doing. You're probably the one, he thought.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked down at the paper again... He'd managed to talk his buddy from work into letting him use his profile. John didn't have access to a couple of systems Paul did, so Paul used a gizmo to give him proxy access. Paul did that all the time, tweaking things. He hated how much power was in a profile, and let people use his all the time. Most importantly he had the override blocked on the car... Someone with higher clearance than him would have to get involved now... The computers would have to get a human permission. That was key. Without that, this would be over two seconds after he started. He felt a little bad about betraying Paul, but everyone knew people shouldn't be doing this sort of thing. It kinda served him right.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the proxy, he not only accessed Paul's work systems he needed, he also did a search and ordered a physical copy to be delivered to Paul's desk. He'd heard these instructions existed a few weeks ago, and had been waiting for the chance to do this. He had taken the paper from the printing machine... well not actually dead tree paper, but made from a thin layer of plastic, the words embossed on it and textured to make them more readable. The readout was printed directly from Paul's machine.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He knew his own profile would have reported him. His psychological indicators, the recent breakup with his girlfriend... the promotion rejection... If he had printed this from his own desk, or even used his own profile on Paul's desk, it would have raised a flag. They'd just up his mandatory meds on the damn pill pump again, and when they noticed it wasn't working, they'd send someone to check up on him.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everybody had a profile. It started out as a way to keep track of friends, back when the the net was young. But then it grew, everybody's information merged and formed a guide that told everyone who you were. Can't get a job without it matching your profile, or a date, or buy a house, or a car. Your profile is your password, your access. Everything comes from your profile, and everything goes through it.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His profile had words like "Poor impulse Control" "Manic-Depressive" "Attention Deficiency" "Low Empathy" "Creative" on it. All fixed and regulated by the pump. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He couldn't go back on the pump... He hated that more than anything else. Sure it got rid of his lows. But it got rid of his highs too... That damn pump, the size of a thumbnail, just under his armpit. Regulating his hormones. It used his own blood to make them, modifying his blood stream directly. It took instructions from his profile, and people told him it was a marvel.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He didn't want his damned hormones regulated. He needed to be able to dance all night, to howl at the moon. God he loved the "manic" side. On that fucking pump, everything mellowed out and stabilized. He could work, but he couldn't FEEL. He could do without the lows... but he had to have those highs. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pay the price. He didn't want to be "fixed".</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked up again.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other cars, the one on his front bumper and his right already had the privacy settings on. The guys inside were probably taking a nap.... or the car might be empty, returning home after dropping off a passenger. No, an empty car would not do.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The one on his back bumper had five kids in it... the kids had folded the seats into the floor, and were in a circle playing some board game. Their mother had probably bundled them into the car and told it to go to Grandmother's house. None of the kids looked old enough for their command voices to work on a car's nav system.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had disabled his pump just a few days ago.He had felt the lump, then used a pair of needle-nose pliers to squeeze the hell out of it. he had to print the pliers out, hadn't had a pair in so long. Model 45661 from a company named "Sears". He was rather pleased with how well they worked, he had looked on the net to find what the best tool was for squeezing, and the form factor looked perfect. He felt so damned in control when he used them. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He still had the bruises. A big purple splotch where he’d squeezed the pointy output end shut. He was actually pretty proud of the bruises, Breaking a pillpump without letting his profile know he’d done it was hard. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He felt a little sorry about what he was planning on doing. But he needed it all to end in fire and news feeds. He wanted people to know he existed. No one had done this in so long, it would flash all over the net. His name would be legendary.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6188056070823222" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6188056070823222" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He didn't want it to be the kids though... He mentally picked the couple.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"From the secondary control screen, access the Physical dropdown"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wow... he thought, dropdowns, how quaint. He thanked the bureaucracy for still allowing human controls. There. There's the menu "physical".</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had spent the last several days on the best high he had ever had... His manic state was epic. he walked the world like a god. Every man envied him, every woman wanted him. He could do anything. It was all easy. He knew he had only a day or two left before the high vanished, and the low set in. He'd be crying and rocking in a heap for a couple days, and then refuse to leave his bed and bathroom for a week. His profile would notice, and then he'd be back on the pump. Now or never. Pay the price.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Select vehicular controls"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He held his breath when he punched the button, expecting it all to happen right then. The car stayed rock steady, but with a click and a whirl something popped out of his dashboard very much like the gamepad he used on his entertainment wall at home. He exhaled slowly. Ok, so that’s how to do it. He looked at it. Pretty easy, he thought. push forward to go faster... pull backward to slow down or reverse...tilt to turn... nothing to it. The buttons were probably important... but he didn't need them.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He knew that people used these all the time, back in the day, they'd evolved from mechanical linkages that were, by some clever engineering directly attached to the engine and wheels. He remembered all of that had made the cars fantastically expensive, too. Not like today.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">holding the cars manual controls he realized his seat wasn't right.. he used his command voice "Seat up.... More... More... Stop. Seat tilt... Back... Back.... Stop." He put the seat right in the middle, so he could see out of every window... It seemed like the right way to do it. There. he was ready. He glanced at the paper again.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From same menu, access manual override."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manual override.... This was it. He'd only have a few seconds before a police monitor found a higher security profile than his own... but he had fairly high clearance from his job. This was it. His moment of glory.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He touched the menu.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His car lurched and shuddered, John needed to steady the control pad. It didn't take long to get in full control, It was easier than he thought. The controls were a dream. At that same moment, all the cars around him swerved away... quite a distance away, he was now the only vehicle in the center of a large empty bubble, all other vehicles at least five meters distant. The traffic was still bumper to bumper inches away from each other, but his car, the only one all the automatic systems considered unpredictable, was alone.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He hadn't expected that. He swerved as hard as he could to the left, his cars gyroscopic commands preventing him from flipping the car, but his reactions were no match against the other vehicles, they all swerved in unison, staying on all sides of him exactly the same five meter distance. He came nowhere near to hitting them.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The privacy window went down from the couple that were to his left, holding their clothing for modesty. They were watching his car in astonishment. He tried again, the couple realized what he was doing, and fear filled their faces. They then grinned when they saw that John couldn't get any closer. The girl gave him the finger.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a wordless cry of frustration John twisted the control as hard as he could the other direction... His gyroscopic systems easily kept all four wheels on the ground but wrenched him hard against the inside of his door... but he couldn't hit anything. The car with the kids in it was still behind him. All five had their faces pressed against the glass. Ok. Fine. Them.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John pulled as much as he could on his control pad, and his car stopped as hard as it would let him. Automatic systems slowed the vehicle safely down to a complete stop in fractional seconds. They worked so well, there weren't even any marks on the road.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The vehicle with kids he tried to hit easily swerved around him, and all the children rushed to the back window to watch him as traffic carried them away, the cars were sorting themselves back to normality before he was fully out of sight. Every car for a couple miles calculated his distance and trajectory, making vector changes on the fly to safely move around him... they didn’t even slow down.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John was wordlessly screaming as he turned the vehicle around, going the wrong way on a ten lane highway, it was like an invisible wedge was in front of him, creating a wake that no matter how hard he tried he could get no closer. He accelerated to the highest speed his car could go...an impressive 260km/hr but nothing was working. Like a slow shark chasing a school of fast fish, nothing he did could get him close enough to catch one.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cars that John was trying to hit were barely aware of his presence, as each vehicle communicated to the others about the obstacle in their path, and made micro-adjustments to their course so far in advance that John would never, COULD never, get close enough. He realized that the closest this would ever come to making the news, would probably be that girls online diary.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He knew his time was almost up. somewhere a police monitor was flashing a warning siren, demanding a human with a high profile give it the okay to override John's override. He spotted a bridge. Accelerating as fast as he could he aimed directly for a support pylon. "That's not going to dodge!" he screamed as he sped towards it.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But then, his vehicle slowed.. "No! No no no no NO!" John was sobbing as his control pad was no longer responsive. his car turned itself around and headed for the off ramp. He heard his doors lock. He’d been overridden.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John knew they would make him go on the pill pump again, and put it somewhere deeper and harder to reach. He wished he had thought to bring the pliers with him, He might figure out a way to kill himself before he reached the police station. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Damned car won’t let him.</span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-41148204151922863562012-02-13T04:43:00.000-08:002012-02-13T05:53:38.149-08:00Late to the Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, the base.</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana carefully applied the cream to her face, neck and arms.... she'd be wearing long pants, so nothing for her legs today. The base is always where you start... coats over the pores so it can wick any moisture and oils away from the powder. It also gives it a good connective medium. Default is always white... makes it easy to tell if you miss a spot... It goes clear when you tap the control to it.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Honey! where's my other jumpsuit?" Jack yelled from the other room...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana sighed. Some things never change. "You threw it at the cleaner a week ago. It's clean and hung in the back, exactly where its supposed to be!"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ahh. found it!" Lana could hear him struggling into it. "How's the time?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We are doing fine."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The eyelids need a different applicator... so do the lips. Lana applied cream from the same container to the eyelids very carefully.... she hated when she got too much in her eyes... harmless, but it made her vision watery, and that always annoyed her... sometimes when she was in a hurry, she just used her finger. Same for the lips. Whenever she got some in her mouth it always coated and dried out her tongue, and she couldn't taste anything till she used the control to remove it. Keep it real thin on the lips and the eyes.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Are you sure?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana didn't stop while she answered, some of the words were a bit mangled while she did her lips. "Yes, I'm sure. We aren't going to miss anything."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once everything was coated white... she got out the dusting powder. she opened the case, pulled out the rosin bag, closed her eyes and poofed. She liked this company best.. "Magic Dust, with Intel inside". . They had the brightest blue and darkest black.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dusting never took more than a couple of seconds... electrostatic attraction between the cream and the dust meant very little powder lost. What didn't adhere tended to float back to the bag or container. She waved the bag through the air slowly to make sure she got any that was floating free... hated to waste any.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Should I call for the car?" yelled Jack</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana grunted. "The car isn't here?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Dave was pretty drunk last night, and said he didn't know how he had gotten here. I bundled him into our car, and told it to take him home... as far as I know he's still in it."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Why don't you just check?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Oh... just a sec."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana smiled. She liked Jack, she really did, but he'd forget his own arms if they didn't have integral homing tags</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like always, her coloring started out a pale creamy pink... always reminded her of bubble gum. Perfectly hideous color, she thought to herself. She checked everything... face, arms, armpits, neck. All were coated well.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"It’s on its way, now. Dave got out of it somewhere in the U-district... I think he went to another bar."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana frowned... "This is his second liver... right?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yep... he's going to have to break down and buy an augmented model. The doctors are starting to really lecture him about his self control issues. But he insists on real whisky, and won't drink the healthy stuff."</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Is he going to be there?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yeah, he'll make it... it's really all about him and the rest isn't it? They're making history tonight."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She grabbed her control and the the projector inside instantly mapped her face and body... displaying it on the smartmirror right next to her own real reflection. Idly she flicked through dozens of patterns looking for the perfect combo. She eventually chose a blue and gold pattern that made her eyes into butterflies. She selected it from the mirror, then with the control, touched the application end of it to the cream.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instantly her arms neck and most of her face turned the exact same shade of deep purple-blue. she blinked and the butterfly around her eyes fluttered... very lifelike. this particular butterfly was her own. She was certain no one else had mapped it...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She idly wondered if it were one from a natural species, or something engineered and released. So many species had been reintroduced now. All you needed was a little DNA, and you could bring it back.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She had seen this one the other day, fluttering in the roof garden, and had recorded it. From there she used her control to map it into her makeup file. There was an app she had found a long time ago that had a HUGE database of movements, integrated to allow for makeup effects. The one she had used for her eyes was called "Flutterfly". It would be a hit.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana asked "Didn't Dave also get the trip implant? The one that sends random signals to your cortex so you hallucinate?"</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yeah, he tried that, but had it removed. Said it was too safe for him."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" I think he's really trying to fry his brain beyond repair"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Huh, maybe. Have you ever seen Dave sober?"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Nope. He's living the stereotype...a real party animal."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Me neither."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana vaguely recalled how her makeup worked. How the control, and the mirror, and the dust all communicated due to the tiny chips inside.. How the powder had the ability to change its index of refraction, allowing it to become whatever color you wanted... and how because each mote of dust, embedded as it was in the cream, could be assigned its own number, allowing the controller to map locations with precision and command every single mote as an individual pixel. The Intel ones could glow too, emitting their own light. It didn't matter much to Lana how it worked. It simply worked.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack came into the bathroom and looked at Lana. "Nice." That's the butterfly from the garden you were playing with isn't it?"</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana smiled. "You noticed!"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yeah, We were watching from the kitchen. Dave was talking about it too. He said something about wishing he was the butterfly... but he was pretty wasted."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana used the control on the embedded chips in her jumpsuit, and again her mirror displayed a second image, showing her entire body this time. She found a pattern to match her makeup, and applied it to her fabric. her clothing now looked a bit like tall grass, the stalks swaying in the wind. Her own body was mapped onto her jumpsuit, painting her own curves. It looked like she was naked and blue... with the stalks of brilliant green grass carefully keeping certain parts modestly hidden... she smiled as she saw that Jack was mesmerized by the effect.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana checked herself in the mirror again, body paint and jumpsuit working perfectly together, clothing and makeup enhancing her natural looks. She liked what she saw.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Do you think they'll let Dave on the stage?" Lana wondered</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Probably not. It'll likely be that doctor doing all the talking. The one that found out about the colony and made them release them all.. He’s the one who said it's slavery to keep them there.Treating them like lab animals. He'll probably bore us all on the ethics or what is and isn't OK to create. Dave would have never known about the world if it wasn’t for him.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"This is a big day for Dave. It’s not everyday that an entire people are declared legally sentient."</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana looked Jack over... he had set his jumpsuit to "Black Tie". She approved... most of the time he just had advertisements playing of his favorite drugs and alcoholic beverages. Even though it wasn't a real tuxedo, like the wealthy had, it certainly made him look dashing.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Besides" said Jack, "There are plenty of Nean's who can give a good speech."</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; white-space: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Don't call them that. It's offensive."</span></b></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Would you prefer I call them "Cavemen"?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lana slapped Jack teasingly."Don't even call them "Neanderthals"; call them 'Reintroduced people.'"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Car's here"</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As they walked through the garden, Lana saw a butterfly madly fluttering. Trapped in a spiderweb. </span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh look!” she said. “Its the same as the one I mapped!”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack looked at it closely. “Wow, look at it squirm.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They both watched it for a while</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’re late.” Lana said.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3755684779025614" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Let’s go.”</span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-26178861746278498712012-02-09T20:04:00.000-08:002012-02-10T04:39:32.681-08:00Darksmoke<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Brother Jack Toblin frowned down at his report. "No no no no." he muttered, barely audibly, "That won't work at all." With a flick of his fingers the letters on the page began to vanish. Half the page's writing was gone before a gesture stopped the erasure. He scratched his temple with the nubbin of his quill. The ink stains from the many other times he had done this, leaving a tiny cartographer's map on his balding forehead, travelling the paths of his frustration. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">And then, for a candle's age, the only sound was his pen on parchment. Finally he stopped, and set down the quill. He lifted the parchment and read aloud.</span></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"From Brother Jack Toblin, Order of St. Thomas, Chapter of Mysteries. To be sent to Father Patrick Miller, Order of St Thomas, Megalos Volume of Records</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
Father Miller, you asked us to determine if a true dragon was living in the Moors. I can confirm these stories."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Brother Toblin paused for a moment, thinking again of those who once had accompanied him... and then whispered, "Confirmed indeed." He then continued reading aloud. </span></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"As we all know there are the great wingless dragon cows, and the winged dragon bulls, fierce in protection of their mates. The beasts are easily tamed with the right tools. Most of our meat and leather comes from these. Even the True Dragons agree that they are nothing but animals.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
However, we know the True Dragons - when they die- are always reborn in the eggs of dragon cows.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
When we set out, we were expecting to find a newly hatched dragon, still growing into its full strength. I had hoped to communicate with it, and add its name to our roster. I was hopeful that we could talk to it, show it we are too dangerous to eat, and are better left alone. Perhaps we could get it to a harbor, and from there, off our shard and out of our hair. "</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
After all, Sharp Eye has died and been reborn in our lands nine times now, over a period of seventy years. When we encounter him, he greets us like old comrades, and off he goes, never telling what he is trying to accomplish so badly that it kills him, again and again. This ability of dragons, to be reborn complete in their memory is what makes them so powerful. They never forget, and they rarely forgive. We learned that with Long Flame."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">At that, Brother Toblin paused, and looked out his window, Not much of Virgins' Square could be seen from here, but Toblin adjusted his enchanted spectacles, and focused his vision to a spot roughly a mile from the cathedral. Boring through buildings as if they did not exist... until he could once again see the enchanted stone statues, Long Flame the dragon, and Emperor Augustus, locked in eternal struggle. He pinched his spectacles, ending the spell, and returned to his letter.</span></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"The only way we could defeat Long Flame was to trap him alive. For each time we killed him, he returned, cold in his fury. Since that day, we have kept a roster of the True Dragons, "He who Burns", "Snatcher", "Golden Scales", and so many more. Their names of course are not truly pronounceable by most tongues, but the dragons tell us what the names mean, so that in every language these names can be translated to fit.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
The Dragon of the Moors is called Darksmoke.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Brother Toblin paused again, thinking again of what he had seen, of how bloated and black was Darksmoke's skin. So dark that he felt he could have fallen into it. And how huge this dragon was, far bigger than Long Flame. His eyes. Those vast, hatred filled eyes, each bigger than the door to his chamber. </span></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"We had journeyed only a few days into the blighted lands, where the Illithids lived before we drove them out. When the Mind-twisters came to Megalos, they claimed these wet and salty places for their own. From their pools in these wastes, they ruled. We saw many monsters they created during our travels, but the soldiers who accompanied me were skilled, and I rarely needed to defend myself.<br />
<br />
And then, in mid step, as Ben Cartson was telling me a joke, all of my companions froze, as did their horses.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
I could see their limbs lock as if held in a seizure. Their eyes beseeched mine in terror. I spoke to them, but their jaws were locked and could respond only with guttural, wordless cries for help. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
I am gifted in many of the colleges, and I tried all I could to pierce this spell. But what was happening was not by the force of any magic I have mastered.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
Each one turned off the road, and single file headed into the wetlands. I was unharmed and untouched. I knew it had to be because of the gods tear amulet I wore. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
This force, this.... power, could not see me unless it was by normal sight alone. My Amulet protected me, I believed, from whatever froze my companions.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
I journeyed with my companions, using a spell to be unseen and unheard, I even masked my scent. It was this way we traveled, for over an hours time, Invisibly beside my companions, watching helplessly as they were pulled along by puppet strings.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br />
My companions - in lockstep - were brought into a clearing. Crows and insects filled the sky, circling in patterns not natural to them, rings and loops in the air as thousands flew in formation. In the center, a black thing so large my mind had trouble grasping its size. A lump upon the earth, fat and wet, as if it had fallen from the sky and splatted. I was not sure what I was seeing until it opened its eyes.<br />
<br />
As we were forced closer, I saw the scars where his wings had been ripped from his body. I saw that his legs had withered, and lay like broken and bent twigs against the monster's vast black skin. It was far more toad than lizard.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
One by one, the dragon examined the soldiers as each came before him, the man and his horse were lifted into the air as if hooks were embedded in their backs. and with a blink, all of their clothing and possession ripped from their body by unseen hands, held, separated, and sorted in the air, then stowed under the monsters vast bulk. Then one by one, my companions and their horses floated into the creature's mouth. Their screams, muffled..... as the dragon refused to allow them to open their mouths.<br />
<br />
The first soldier, and the second, and then the third.... and then... while still chewing, the dragon spoke. "I know you are there, priest. Your soldiers have strong memories of you." The dragon's voice did not come from his mouth, rather it was everywhere, and nowhere. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
He used his powers to make the very air resonate with his thoughts. I remained hidden, but used an illusion to make a duplicate of myself, and spoke through it. At the time I believed it was the only thing keeping me from joining my companions. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
It was with this illusion that I spoke to the great beast... in an enchanted voice far calmer and steady than my real one. "I am here, Dragon. Why are you killing my companions?"</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"To make a point, priest." It said</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
Another of the soldiers marched into its mouth, and the dragon crunched him down. His projected voice did not alter as the dragon chewed.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"There is nothing, nothing at all that you can do to harm me. And I feel the need to tell my tale. You sought me out, did you? You want to add my name to your roster? It is this." With that, a great tenebrous mass of smoke, as black as nothing, emerged from the sides of the dragon's mouth, dripping up into a puddle in the sky. "Dark Smoke" will do, in your pitiful tongue. At least the elves have a sense of poetry to names." </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I am called Jack Toblin, Brother to all men," I responded. "Your point has been made, dragon. Do all of them have to die?" </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I am hungry, and tired of eating beetles." I watched as Sam and Ben together were stripped, and then eaten. I am glad my spells of hiding stopped sound as well, for I was sobbing. My illusion, however, stood there, unmoved, waiting for the dragon to continue. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"The mind-flayers did this to me. They snatched me from the sky as easily as I snatched your companions. They took my magic. and replaced it with their own. I fought them. I fought as hard as your soldiers here did, and to as little effect. They did not give me this power. I am certain that was unintended. No... why they claimed and enslaved me, was to become a lens."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"A lens?" my illusion stated calmly, even though I, invisibly and inaudibly continued blubbering, only barely in control of my spells.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"They used me again and again to focus their power. to reach through my mind to others otherwise too far." </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"They forcibly added me to their minds, then drained me to power what they did not have the strength to do. But as they were in my mind, so too, I was in theirs. And I learned."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I watched as the first war against them was lost, All their commands were focused through me, and I knew that all of them were acting as one great mind. They watched you prepare your golems and your undead to fight them. but they had already created Bales to counter magic, and taught them spells ripped from your own minds. Bales were better at necromancy than you humans could ever be." </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"With the bales protecting the mind flayers from your magic, and with your kind having no protection from the powers or the illithids, you had no chance. I watched your armies fall."<br />
<br />
"Everything the mind twisters did, every act, was focused through me."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"The illithids thought they could read me. But they were wrong. I learned early to hide my mind in layers.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
Each time they used their twisting through me, unknown to them, they taught their skills to me. and I learned them well. Nothing has the patience of a dragon, human. Nothing."<br />
<br />
"I knew the bales hated them as much as I did, and I spent years removing all the controls the illithids had created, yet leaving the shells of their shackles. Layering their minds, as I had layered mine. The mind twisters suspected nothing. Creatures who communicate through mind speech, do not really understand the ability to lie. They still thought the bales were their puppets."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"When the second war was launched, I knew the Illithids were concerned, for this time, they could not sense their attackers. The amulets... like the one you now wear... blocked their sight. Still, they had a plan to defeat you, and would have succeeded easily. However, as they prepared to devastate your race, It was then that I struck.<br />
<br />
"When the humans launched their bands of heroes, it was I who fed false information into the illithid minds so they could no longer trust what they were seeing. It was I who turned one illithid against another. It was I who released the bales at the precise moment... at the ONLY moment, that they were vulnerable. Most of them died at the hands of the bales. And most of them died within the same hearts beat time. "<br />
<br />
"You think it was <i>your </i>pitiful handful of heroes that drove the "squids" off of this shard? It was me. Stronger than they were at their own games."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I am why the illithids do not come here anymore. For my mind is stronger than theirs. If I sense one of them I bring it to me, and I kill it much more slowly than the merciful deaths I have given your companions."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"And that is why I killed your men, So that you would understand how helpless you are against me." </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"Do not come again to the moors, do not attempt to stop me." </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I am no longer what I was. My magic was stolen, and I stole theirs to replace it."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"My kind are reborn when we die, but I no longer think that applies to me."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"The greatest reason I hate the illthids, is not that they have broken my wings, or withered my limbs. I can still fly when I wish, without wings. Food now comes to me."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"No, why I hate them... is because they took my magic. I can no longer hear the songs of my kind. I can no longer sense a clutch of eggs. I no longer believe I have the power to be reborn."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"Why I hate them is because of all my kind, I am the only dragon who is afraid to die."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
At that the dragon paused, lost in thought... and finally his mind speak continued.</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br />
"Leave me. Priest, and add my name to your roster. Tell your order what you know."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"I will stay where I am. If you decide to try and stop me, know that I am the only thing preventing the Illithids from returning. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"Kill me, and you doom your race to slavery. I make no bargains. I give no promises. I simply speak the truth."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br />
Darksmoke looked at <i>me</i>, then, not at my illusion, and quietly said, aloud, not mind speech</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
"Return to your home."</div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
And so I have. </div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000002;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">With that, Brother Toblin folded his letter closed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000002;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000002;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000002;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000002;"><br /></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-49958930905156175952012-02-08T06:07:00.000-08:002012-02-08T07:39:03.776-08:00So I've decided to change the focus of my blog.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I've decided to change the focus of my blog.<br />
<br />
All the cool "look what I found" stuff I am now posting on google+ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/116076186919541013139/posts">https://plus.google.com/u/0/116076186919541013139/posts</a><br />
<br />
Search for my name there and add me to your circles... I get more feedback there, and generally have a chance to actually have a dialog about whatever cool thing it was I thought was neat enough to share.<br />
<br />
My own stuff. Stuff I wrote myself... I'm going to start putting here, and THEN sharing to G+, facebook etc.<br />
<br />
I've got some projects I'm working on.<br />
<br />
Like creating a young adult storygame/short story anthology based on a magical mall I created.<br />
<br />
I am currently expanding on it while removing references to the role playing game I originally created it for. I'm also calling for people who want to participate... writers, rpg enthusiasts, Fan fic people, artists, and it wouldn't hurt to have a few editors to correct typos and mistakes, (heh, mostly mine)<br />
<br />
I don't THINK it will make any money, but I do plan to eventually publish collections of short stories based upon what we do there. If it DOES make money, I plan to be fair and share.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in joining this, send me your email address and I'll add that to the shared google doc that explains it all.<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-16024497086270597482012-02-08T05:33:00.000-08:002012-02-09T20:05:53.856-08:00Third Times the Charm.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7752906973473728" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Third Times the Charm. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They had been watching for a long time, debating on whether or not to do it. Factions argued and debated, pondering the flaws compared to the merits. Every point carefully sifted and measured. The reasons were many, as were the reasons not to. This was not taken lightly.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the process sped up. The luxury of millennia was over. A decision had to be made. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Less than a hundred years passed before Judgment was rendered.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.7752906973473728" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In sixty places a small cylinder was dropped into the sky, places where the wind was strong. The cylinders sublimated quickly, dissolving into nothingness.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not exactly nothingness. </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just particles smaller than the eye could see. Particles that multiplied, again and again. Tiny constructs that launched themselves into the wind, dived into water, and burrowed into the earth. It took three thousand years to make a decision that was irrevocable in two days.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the stroke of the forty-eighth hour since the cylinders were placed, the particles could be found within any cubic inch of soil on earth, in the deepest ocean trenches, and at the top of the highest</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mountains. No island was spared, no mine-shaft, no secret hidden place. Anywhere on earth, everywhere on earth, the constructs could be found. If anybody had known to look.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the stroke of the seventy-second hour, the constructs did their job, and crumbled. They dissolved into polymers that warped into compounds that melted into individual carbon atoms and a few trace elements, and vanished without a hint of their origin or purpose.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took three months before anybody noticed something was different.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hospitals weren't as busy as they should be, in certain areas. Most of the usual things continued. People were still treated for cancer, for drug overdoses, for prostrate troubles, obesity and face lifts... but something was missing.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two more months went by before the hospitals knew for sure, and they were the first to realize.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were still being born, at normal rates, nothing exciting or unusual. And yet... no one was coming in for the first time. Nobody who panicked and ran for a blood test because their protection failed came back with a positive result. No newlyweds who were trying, were</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">successful. No matter how many fertility shots were administered, they just wouldn't take.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hospitals kept quiet, and tried to decipher some sort of reason, but couldn't. No viruses were discovered, no chemical imbalances were detected. Hormones were normal, menstruation was fine, sperm counts were average, but no where was there a first trimester pregnancy. Two more months went by before the story broke.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one believed the headlines at first. Why that's silly! they would say, silently demanding that their voices not crack. Just last week that young lady in apartment 4a had a healthy baby girl. They simply regarded this as another attempt to sell news through scare tactics.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On April 14th, at 7:53 AM, after a simple delivery, David Pinkham was born at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Shreveport, Illinois. A healthy six pound four ounce baby boy.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was the last child born on earth.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At first people joked about it. Today is nobody's birthday. No buns in the oven. Things like that. But the jokes didn't last long. Scientists began to look for the cause in earnest. Every nation had their best people on the job. No research was hidden, all cooperated. Sperm banks were set up everywhere, in the hopes that one man or woman was spared, or that a particular combination would work. Vast and detailed information on human reproduction was gathered, stymied only by the inability to watch it in action. Not even zygotes would form. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nothing. They found part of the problem... people had been altered genetically.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something basic had been changed. What that something was, the scientists didn't know, How it happened, they had no clue, How to fix it, well... that was beyond them.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Animals were not affected, as far as man could tell, the wild creatures were spared. Insane, desperate attempts to merge animal and human DNA were completely unsuccessful.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Pinkham was kidnapped when he was two years old. A young woman was apprehended, frantic, wild-eyed, and tearful. It's not fair! she screamed over and over. Why do they have one and I can't. David was returned to his parents. They did not want to press charges. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The woman took her own life a few days later. Many articles were written about her, and about why. Half the world forgave her, and half condemned. Everybody understood why.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This became a common problem among the last children, as they came to be called. More and more, people (couples mostly) grew resentful and jealous of the parents of the last children.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until they had to be isolated from the world at large. When David Pinkham was spotted, everything would stop. People simply stared at him, enraptured. Whenever his security was breached, hoards of paparazzi would converge.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Entire magazines were devoted to his every childhood utterance and action. The world watched him grow up. All the last children were treated this way. But David, by far, was the most affected.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More years went by, and no children were born. Some took it as a sign from God, and made peace with themselves, and their neighbors, and awaited the end. Others raged. Screaming and demanding why. Never getting an answer. They took their hatred and frustration out on others. Ending their lives in a frenzy of denial, taking many with them. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few trusted in science and human resourcefulness and patiently waited for them to make things right. Scientists and the technological elite quietly gathering the knowledge and wisdom of all mankind together, looking for any clue as to what had happened.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As time went on, the last children came of age. David Pinkham married Susan Alvarez. She was born four days earlier than he was. The worldwide celebrations of their wedding lasted for days. A false era of hope dawned on humanity, despite the warnings of the scientists. It crumbled a year or two later. They were infertile as well. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not even David Pinkham, whose name was known in every house and village, in every empty maternity ward, and every abandoned school, could create a child. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was the turning point. The moment the world truly understood. That it was over.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The people of earth at first despaired, then denied, and raged, and despaired again. Whole religions sprang up where people knew in their hearts and souls, if they were good and pure enough, they would be given a child. Or maybe an explanation.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some went the opposite extreme, reasoning that nothing mattered, so take what you want, there's no reason to leave anything behind.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Empires crumbled. Concepts like destiny, legacy, and history no longer had any meaning. Who cared what you accomplished, when no one would be around to remember?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In some places, monuments were erected, in hopes that other races, perhaps evolved apes or alien visitors, would know and remember Humanity. The wisdom and lore of the whole of mankind was sealed away in time vaults, hopefully designed to last millennium. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When David was forty, people had mostly grown accustomed to their fate. Genetics was the only science people were interested in. A few desperate people still trying to discover why and how.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The vast empires were gone. There was little interest in politics. What was the point? Suicides were commonplace, spoken of in passing resignation. Few holidays were noticed, let alone celebrated.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People stayed in touch for a long time, but slowly communications decayed. The satellites stopped working, the phone lines went down, even the Ham radios began to fail as parts became impossible to replace.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Animals were becoming common again. Dogs had begun to go feral more and more, as had cats. The wild things reclaimed the cities. People rarely lived there. The vast empty canyons of abandoned buildings were too big, too much a reminder. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ones that were left, preferred to gather in smaller places. A storm would break a dam, an earthquake ruin a once cherished landmark, and no one would repair the damage. The forests and jungles were returning.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Pinkham died at sixty eight, There weren't enough people interested in running a newspaper for it to be common knowledge. Nobody did an autopsy or examination to find out what he died of. Friends buried him, a few old men and women who wondered who would be</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the ones to bury them when the time came.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nobody knew who was the last person to die, nobody was there to remember. What country he or she came from, what was the cause, how old he or she was. It didn't matter.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The judges of mankind began to arrive a few hundred years later. This time would be different. Mammals weren't the ones. Neither had been the reptiles. This was not the first time the judgment had been made on earth. The decision against reptiles had taken much longer than the</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ruling against mammals. Now they would try insects. The decision was reached quickly, only a hundred years of debate.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cylinders were released, and the process begun again. seventy two hours later, the tiny nano-constructs did their job.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All over the world, in anthills, beehives, and termite mounds, the droning sounds... changed. Grew aware. Became.... thoughtful.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A new day was dawning.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe this time, the judges conferred, this time. This time they'd do things the right way. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Third times the charm.</span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-66462749841755637352012-02-02T06:06:00.000-08:002012-02-09T20:06:34.048-08:00The Vampire Moloch.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is how I wrote the background and history for a Vampire: Dark Ages character, where the stated campaign plan was to eventually bring the characters all the way into present times. I now have him as a loose cannon villain in my World of Darkness games. A homeless, tragic, monster.<br />
<br />
(for those who don't know, all player characters in this game are vampires, and a recurring theme of the game revolves around how to retain some shred of humanity when you are a monster)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3427283673081547" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4c33e5; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">((this parchment was found in a buried clay pot near the Thames River in 1780, along with some coins, some silver throwing spikes, and a box full of lockets of hair, ribbons, and trinkets))</span></b></div>
<i>Moloch tells Mortal this so Moloch can remember. <br /><br />Moloch talks. Mortal writes. </i><br />
<a name='more'></a><i><br />Moloch promises not to kill Mortal, if Mortal does what Moloch wants. Mortal can never tell anyone. Or Moloch will know. And Moloch will find mortal. Moloch is good at that.<br /><br />NO! write everything! Write everything Moloch says. Yes yes. This too.<br /><br />This was a long time ago. and Moloch is having trouble remembering. Remembering how to talk to mortals... what food tastes like, and why Moloch is Moloch.<br /><br />Moloch is lonely. Master Jed went away. Master Jed made Moloch strong. Moloch misses Master Jed.<br /><br />When Moloch was a boy. Mother didn't want Moloch, Moloch has six brothers and six sisters, and Moloch was the youngest. Moloch was ugly. Back was strong, but twisted. Moloch can't stand straight. Mother sold Moloch for seven silver coins, because Mother was tired of feeding Moloch. <br /><br />Moloch was put in a pit to fight wolves. Many mortals watched as the wolves tried to kill Moloch<br /><br />Moloch isn't going to kill THIS mortal for that. It was a long time ago. <br /><br />This Mortal doesn't watch little ones get eaten by wolves, does it? Moloch didn't think so, Mortal should stop crying.<br /><br />But Moloch was stronger, and faster. Moloch killed the wolves. All of them.<br /><br />Master Jed was watching, and bought Moloch. Master Jed wanted someone strong and hard. to watch over Master Jed when he slept, and to kill Master Jeds enemies. <br /><br />Master Jed changed Moloch. Faster and harder and very very strong..<br /><br />Moloch loved Master Jed. Loved him with all his heart. Master Jed promised Moloch he would make him his son, but Master Jed did not. Master Jed made him something else. Master Jed already had a son, Ober. <br /><br />Ober didn't like Moloch. <br /><br />Ober made Moloch love him. Ober tricked Moloch. Moloch drank from Obers arm, again and again. Moloch was made to love Ober, as much as he loved Master Jed.<br /><br />Master Jed would ask Moloch to do something, and Moloch would do it. Moloch loved doing it. Whatever Master Jed wanted, Moloch would give it to him. Moloch belongs to Master Jed. Moloch misses him.<br /><br />Ober was bad. He did whatever Master Jed wanted. but he hated doing it. Ober wanted to kill master Jed.<br /><br />Ober punished Moloch for loving Master Jed. He kept Moloch in a barrel. He nailed Moloch to a wall. Ober cut Moloch open and pulled Molochs heart somewhere else. That hurt. He made Moloch do bad things. Things that made Moloch wish he was still nailed to the wall. Ober wanted Moloch to kill Master Jed.<br /><br />Master Jed knew Ober was bad to Moloch. Sometimes Master Jed would go away. Sometimes for a long time. ten years. fifty years. Moloch forgives Master Jed. Master Jed was very busy. This was how it was for many many years. <br /><br />Mortal shouldn't look at Moloch like that. Mortal should WRITE about and not THINK about Moloch!<br /><br />One day, Ober tried to kill Master Jed. Master Jed came home hurt and hungry, and Ober attacked Master Jed from behind. Ober almost killed Master Jed. But Moloch stopped him. Something changed in Moloch. Moloch knew that Ober tricked Moloch into loving Ober. Moloch killed Ober. Moloch pulled Ober's head off. <br /><br />Then Moloch went to help Master Jed.<br /><br />Master Jed was so hungry. He bit Moloch deep, and took all of Molochs blood. Then he thanked Moloch for saving his life, and gave Moloch back some. Moloch was now Master Jed’s Son!<br /><br />Moloch followed Master Jed, wherever he goes, and did whatever Master Jed wants. Master Jed sometimes was angry at Moloch for following him and told him to stop. But Moloch knew he didn't really mean it. Master Jed was annoyed that Moloch didn't do whatever Jed said anymore, but Moloch still loved Master Jed. <br /><br />Sometimes Master Jed went away, and didn't tell Moloch where he went. Sometimes it took months to find Master Jed again. But Moloch always found Master Jed. Sometimes, Moloch thinks Master Jed was hiding from Moloch. But Master Jed wouldn't do that.<br /><br />Mortal should WRITE and not look at Moloch, Moloch has told mortal TWICE! Mortal should stop crying! Mortal should WRITE!<br /><br />Master Jed took Moloch to a room, and staked Moloch to a bed. Master Jed didn’t know Moloch wasn’t stopped. Master Jed didn’t know that Ober had moved Moloch’s heart. Moloch was tricky. Master Jed said he was sorry, but he had to kill Moloch. Moloch was dangerous. <br /><br />Master Jed was right.<br /><br />Moloch killed master Jed. Moloch is sorry. Moloch didn't want to, but Moloch didn’t want to die. Now Moloch is forever free. Moloch misses master Jed. <br /><br />Moloch doesn't know what to do.<br /><br /><br /><br />Mortal can leave now..</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-27852148992977503442012-01-07T07:37:00.000-08:002012-01-10T10:11:03.373-08:00Dr Niklaus’s wondrous device<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is an item created for the Pencil and paper RPG "Mage the Ascension" <br /><br /><br />I played Dr Niklaus as a character for years, then eventually retired him. He is now a recurring NPC in my World of Darkness game, as a mentor to many members of the Sons of Ether. I recently had a chance to play a less powerful version of him in a game with friends, and had a blast.</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
“At last!” Niklaus careened wildly down the hall, lab coat flapping behind him. “I’ve built it!” he cradled the object in his hand like a precious baby bird. “Six months of labor! Manufacturing techniques so radical I’d need patents on the methods used to describe the patents!” His thick goggles twinkled as he ricocheted into the meeting room, and there in front of the assembly proudly set his creation down for all to see.<br />
<br />
The others at the table stopped everything with a mild exasperation, and duly noted the latest invention. No one spoke. They looked at each other, then back at the small, unremarkable object on the table.<br />
<br />
After a moment, the large, hirsute member of the board spoke first.<br />
<br />
“It’s a paperclip.” stated Eats-all-the-food. His eyebrows nearly touching his nose in concentration.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
“Niklaus,” sighed James, as he rubbed his temple, his showstone ring pulsed along with the vein in his forehead “Why, exactly are you showing me a bent piece of wire?”<br />
<br />
“Ah… but it isn’t simply a paperclip! For one thing it weighs three pounds and five twenty-sevenths of an ounce!”<br />
<br />
Warren looked up and smiled. The sort of smile that tends to make people want to run. <br />
<br />
“Very nice, Niklaus, and when the technocracy weigh it, they will bask in the presence of your genius. Can we return to planning the assault now? Or are you going to show us something even less interesting?”<br />
<br />
“Ah but watch this!” Niklaus pointed at James coffee cup. “Sic it!”<br />
<br />
The wire sprang across the table, and became a blur of motion, like some cartoon creation, fury and motion centered around the ceramic vessel. Less than a second later the cup fanned out on the table, like a deck of playing cards stood on end until gravity takes its favorite course. The coffee inside now pooling on the table.<br />
<br />
“It took me weeks to build the machines that created the nanites that form this clip.” He held out his hand and proudly coo’ed to the wire that sprung into his palm and nestled there, content.<br />
<br />
“It’s a paperclip.” repeated Eats-all-the-food, looking from one face to another to make sure they all were seeing the same thing.<br />
<br />
James looked at the cup, what was left of the handle still grasped firmly between thumb and forefinger, and the warm puddle on the table before him. “I’m going to assume it can cut through other substances besides ceramics”<br />
<br />
“It’s about a dozen molecules thick when slicing or drilling,” Niklaus grinned ear to ear, his bald hunchbacked frame crackling with pent up enthusiasm. <br />
<br />
“Enough monowire is built into that to stretch four times around the world! It doesn’t show up on any known technomatic sensors, and is shielded from all known resonant energies!”<br />
<br />
“What does THAT mean?” asked Eats-all-the-food.<br />
<br />
“You can’t see it with magic.” stated Warren, his eyebrow peaking with interest almost against his will.<br />
<br />
Warren and James both spent a few moments to confirm this. James showstone glowing as he passed his hands over the wire, Warren calmly humming to himself as he focused his power. After a few moments, both were satisfied. and nodded.<br />
<br />
“But it’s a paperclip.” again stated Eats-all-the-food. Both Warren and James did a quick check to make sure that Eats-all-the food wasn't about to go into a rage over this. Eats-all-the-food spotted their concern, and shook his head in annoyance. He was confused, not angry.<br />
<br />
Niklaus was oblivious, happily continuing his stream-of-thought explanation. “I’ve built molecular level nano-processors, Ether transceivers, sensor arrays and grasping appendages into every single nanite, right now in my palm are five times ten to the twenty fourth power individual nanites. That’s right gentlemen, there are five thousand billion billion robots comprising this paperclip.”<br />
<br />
“What else does it do?” asked James, while dabbing at the coffee puddle with a handkerchief.<br />
<br />
“It can lift and carry small items,shrink or grow to any length desired!.... but its best trick..."<br />
<br />
Niklaus paused for dramatic effect, one hand holding the paperclip high while his voice grew in volume and measured timber. <br />
<br />
“When used for surveillance it will transmit and receive any resonating stream only along the path of the mono-wire itself, generating no pattern eddies, no signal spreading and absolutely no leakage. And due to the fullereen construction, it will act as conductor, non-conductor, or semi-conductor on demand!”<br />
<br />
Blank stares all around the table.<br />
<br />
Niklaus sighed “You can look through the wire and not be detected, no one can tell we are spying on them.”<br />
<br />
“Ahhhh”<br />
<br />
Eats-all-the-food, eyebrows crossed, and canines showing, snorted. His hairy knucked hand rapped on the table. It was a sturdy table, but there was a sharp cracking sound from underneath as the wood splintered.<br />
<br />
“Every time I hang out with you guys it makes my head hurt. I’m going to go and get a snack. Call me when you are ready to kill something."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /><br />This talisman was engineered to explore the wonders of nanotechnology. It is an arete four device. It looks like a paper clip, except it weighs about 3 pounds, and when bent out of shape it will revert back to the normal paper clip shape in a few seconds. </i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Examination under a high power microscope will show it to be composed of millions of tiny machines clasped together by actuator arms. These nanobots each have sensors, appendages, and a distributed networked computer. They are made out of “Etherized Fulereen” a very strong and light substance.<br /><br />The paperclip, when active, will seem to come alive, wriggling like a snake, able to spring across a room at very high speeds, and burrow into places. It can elongate itself to many times its current size, miles and miles if so desired, stretching so thin as to be invisible (and many times sharper than merely “razor” sharp) it can separate itself into multiple parts, and is extremely dexterous. It is strong enough to lift about 5 pounds in weight.<br /><br />The paperclip is designed with multiple redundancies and scrambling techniques to keep it under both magical and technomagical radar. And the computer system running them is incredibly sophisticated, almost alive.<br /><br />The paperclip is considered vulgar magic in any situation where it can be detected... people tend to not believe a paperclip can do these things.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>The effects:</b></span><br /> <br />Matter4 Life2 Prime2 <br />The paperclip moves on its own, changes length and thickness and seems be alive, it’s incredibly fast, and extremely flexible, and is strong enough to lift 5 pounds<br /><br /> <br />Matter2 Life2 prime2 correspondence2 time2 entropy2 spirit2 mind2 forces2 <br />The paperclip is fully shielded in all spheres to prevent magical detection. any active attempt to detect the paperclip or its effects has to overcome an arete4 contested roll. passive attempts do not get a roll.<br /><br /> <br />Matter4 Forces4 life2 <br />The paperclip can act as a weapon, doing forces/matter damage by cutting through almost any material, or burrowing into objects like a tiny drill. <br /><br />Correspondence2 <br />The paperclip is very good for surveillance and makes a very good “bug”. The many sensors inside the nanobots allow any correspondence detection to channel through the clip. Dr Niklaus can funnel all of his magic through the monowire.</i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-74642644575350564542012-01-04T18:21:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:24:15.580-08:00On Religion (A Poem, about Eggs)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.33068667515181005" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-065n1rq6_Yg/TwUJjH-bwqI/AAAAAAAAA5g/yJYym9tWlvU/s1600/an+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-065n1rq6_Yg/TwUJjH-bwqI/AAAAAAAAA5g/yJYym9tWlvU/s1600/an+egg.jpg" /></a></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.33068667515181005" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Religion</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.33068667515181005" style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Be like the egg," the prophet said</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The egg shall show you the way.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've taught you everything I know.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve said the things I need to say."</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"But what's to learn about an egg?"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the people ranted, screamed and pleaded,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the prophet had already left,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their questions left unheeded.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the people scattered far and wide</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they searched all eggs for hints and clues</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some chose to meditate, and pray</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and some old scrolls perused.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><a name='more'></a><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The people of the eastern lands</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were first to see the light.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Aha! The prophet must have meant</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that eggs are always white!"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the people of the eastern lands</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dressed in clothing white as snow.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their homes white washed, their hair was bleached</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No pigment was allowed to show.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Not so!" the western people cried.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">convictions solid, no doubt at all,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Not white, as claim those heretics,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but eggs are rounded like a ball"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The western people did their best</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to be as round as they could be.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They ate as much as they could eat</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they glorified obesity.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Not white! Not round!"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The northern lands in rapture cried.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"soft and gooey inside, true,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but eggs are hard outside!"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So everything was armored up,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to take a blow without a dent.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it made it hard to move and touch,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but the prophets words were heaven sent.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Not hard! Not round! not White!"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The southern lands in chorus shout</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"when hatched they chirp and fly about.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eggs are birds without a doubt!"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The southern lands did imitate</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in all ways the baby birds.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They flapped their arms, ate worms and bugs</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tweeted all their words.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As years went by the borders grew.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When east met west, and south saw north,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the cultures clashed like fighting cats</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to defend their eggliastic worth.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bombs of bleach from eastern lands</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">de-pigmented the squawking south.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rounded forms of the western people</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sat and squashed the armored north.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then from whence it was he went,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the prophet did return.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He stood in horror and looked about</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his eyes began to spark and burn.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"People! all of you are right! And wrong!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eggs are hard outside but softer in,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and baby birds indeed. They are round and white</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and all of that.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I meant that eggs are self contained,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the seeds of life within."</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be like the egg, expand and grow,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and break the shell and see the sky!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">become more than what you started as,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That also, is an egg, I cry!"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"What do YOU know!" the people cried!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"You aren't round, or white, or hard</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The prophet would never say these things!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can't be him, blowhard!"</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They set upon the prophet then</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They squashed him flat and bleached him white</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And squawking men pecked at his back</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They sent him running through the night.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So to this day, some people chirp</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">some grow fat or dress in white</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">many wear their armored shells</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and all believe that they are right</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The prophet lies there in the dirt</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bruised and bleeding and bleached</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he weeps for those who followed him</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and now will never be reached.</span></div>
</b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-24818313260986681062011-08-23T10:20:00.000-07:002011-08-23T10:20:08.321-07:00MK-1 robot arm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MK-1 robot arm, getting very dexterous.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="304" scrolling="no" src="http://www.engineeringtv.com/video/MK-1-Robotic-Arm-Capable-of-Nea/player?layout=&read_more=1" width="320"></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-38282218613208669182011-08-02T21:58:00.000-07:002011-08-03T03:16:37.096-07:00507 mechanical movements, 3d printed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was learning how to use google sketch up. Mostly because I want to really understand how it works, but also because I have some invention ideas I'm wanting to flesh out and see if they would really work.<br />
<br />
A book I bought a while ago is <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Five_hundred_and_seven_mechanical_moveme.html?id=vOhIAAAAMAAJ">507 mechanical movements</a>. While playing with sketchup I realized a perfect thing to upload into public domain would be working models of each and every illustration in the book. If they were uploaded in a format that could be resized on demand, and could be easily linked together, then people could put together fantastic contraptions litterally by dragging and dropping them into the things they wanted to make.<br />
<br />
<br />
I gleefully began to prepare myself... and then discovered two things.<br />
<br />
One. I suck.<br />
<br />
Sketchup is not exactly like drawing. It's going to take me a LONG time, and a lot of practice before I can start making the things I want to make. I now have a much stronger appreciation for the things found in <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/">thingiverse</a>. What they are doing isn't easy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eggshell-robotics.com/blog/206-rapid-prototyped-mechanical-works-by-alex-schlegel" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5iSXkW9LGs/TjjSHtB2WtI/AAAAAAAAAq4/Y9in6wWdF4s/s320/AlexSchlegel-mechmove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Two. Someone is <a href="http://www.roguecheddar.com/portfolio/mechanical_movements_nos_27_36">already doing it</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.roguecheddar.com/portfolio/mechanical_movements_nos_27_36"></a> Alex Schlegel, I applaud you.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'd love to see a compilation created of each and every one of these incredible machines made so anyone can access them. Is anybody else working on something like this? I'd love to see it.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-66632719216829723132011-07-31T09:33:00.000-07:002011-07-31T09:37:22.640-07:00Turritopsis Nutricula<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Everybody should have a favorite word. For many years mine was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoplasmic_reticulum">Endoplasmic Reticulum</a>.<br />
<br />
When I was ten, I used to imagine this as a magical phrase that banished ignorance and replaced it with scientific wisdom... In my overactive daydreams, I would (for instance) see a group of people talking about a house being haunted, and I'd hold my calculator in one hand, and my magnifying glass on a stick in the other, then point the heavy end at them and shout "Endoplasmic..... Reticulum!" Suddenly the group would realize the house was not in fact haunted, the magic of my scientific incantation would cause them to realize it was just in bad shape and falling apart!<br />
<br />
Of course, once I was in high school. I had pretty much realized that making a magic spell to instill logic and reason was both hypocritical and a bit counter productive.... but hey... I was ten. I still love that word though, and the thought process it represents to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dcrOUKq7TQ/TcCg4RF0OfI/AAAAAAAAAcg/MiS7XFw_gC8/s1600/Turnitopsis+Nutricula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dcrOUKq7TQ/TcCg4RF0OfI/AAAAAAAAAcg/MiS7XFw_gC8/s320/Turnitopsis+Nutricula.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have a new one now. "<a href="https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Turritopsis_nutricula">Turritopsis Nutricula</a>". And I have a new incantation to go with it.<br />
<br />
It's a little jellyfish about the size of a dried pea. But it has a neat trick that no other form of life so far seems to possess. It can revert from a fully sexually mature stage, to a sexually immature colonial stage, and back again.<br />
<br />
It can grow younger.<br />
<br />
Because of this trick, it may be immortal. We don't know enough to be sure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g4Vql6i0Q24?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g4Vql6i0Q24?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br />
<br />
The incantation in my mind involves holding onto a hand-held globally networked pocket computer in one hand, (my phone will do nicely), and a model of this little Jellyfish in the other as I shout "Turritopsis..... Nutricula!" while pointing it at someone who has grown lifeless, dull, and set in his ways.... In my mind I imagine the incantation to shock them into realizing how weird and magical the world really is, and how much... How.... Freakin'.... Much..... we don't know, and what we can learn.... if we try.<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-29594234724607815902011-07-21T06:27:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:27:44.634-07:00Exciting stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've had a short story accepted by <a href="http://www.tomorrowproject.uw.edu/">"The Tomorrow Project"</a> Its a collection that is being put out by the University of Washington, and the Intel corporation...<br />
<br />
The basic deal is they were asking for science fiction stories that would highlight some of the new technology they are currently working on.<br />
<br />
I submitted three stories, and one got accepted. I'm not sure how long before the book gets published, but wow... suddenly I'm a writer.<br />
<br />
When I got the Google+ early adopter invite, I ended up hunting down a lot of writers I like and putting them into my circles. One of them, <a href="http://about.me/jody.swaney">Jody Swaney</a> has put out an open call to create a collection of short stories using the new google+ as a core collaboration tool... with all proceeds going to charity. Essentially a way to test what this puppy can do. He's gotten quite a bit of interest, and multiple people are now actively and enthusiastically working on this.<br />
<br />
I stepped up as a writer, my wife volunteered to assist with proofreading.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm sharing some of my stories with this group, and reading a lot stories not yet published, and meeting people who will be editing, illustrating, proof reading and organizing the whole thing. It's incredible.<br />
<br />
So, I have gone from nothing, to having one story being published, and being involved in a project to create a short story collection... all in an incredibly short amount of time.<br />
<br />
<br />
Stay tuned.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-5908558797156497792011-07-13T10:02:00.000-07:002011-07-13T10:03:21.125-07:00Why I'm blogging less this weekI'm spending so much time on google+ that my blog has suffered.<br />
<br />
I'm following the writers of many of my favorite websites, seeing the amazing things these people have to say in a real time stream.<br />
<br />
A fast moving current where, at any time, I can dive deep, swim down to the bottom, find a shiny thing, pull it out and show it to everyone still riding on the surface. A short discussion on what was found, and then I'm looking at someone else's shiny find.<br />
<br />
A couple of recent gems:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://singularityhub.com/2011/07/11/volkswagens-new-temporary-autopilot-is-cruise-control-on-steroids/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8P_oxl1w_bo/Th3GzkZm7nI/AAAAAAAAAlE/6gTzQYDuoX8/s200/driverless+car.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Volkswagon is making a car with an "<a href="http://singularityhub.com/2011/07/11/volkswagens-new-temporary-autopilot-is-cruise-control-on-steroids/">autopilot"</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgur.com/6rJcN" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HRTMWibv2AE/Th3I4b1PXtI/AAAAAAAAAlI/DGmLOUXkLgk/s320/bear+cowboy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>An article about how RPG's are <a href="http://morethandice.com/blog/2011/07/11/roleplay-as-escapism-in-the-media/">not necessarily escapism from unhappy lives</a>. with a fantastic and completely unrelated pic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm going to go swim some more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-64793250772548641372011-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:002011-07-10T09:00:13.418-07:003d printing from minecraft files<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRS7MJnkNy8/ThnL61Jh8RI/AAAAAAAAAj8/8qFRT2_PXQY/s1600/mincraft+prints.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRS7MJnkNy8/ThnL61Jh8RI/AAAAAAAAAj8/8qFRT2_PXQY/s640/mincraft+prints.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.geek.com/articles/games/minecraft-print-uses-3d-printers-to-make-real-life-minecraft-objects-2011077/">From Geek.com</a><br />
make something cool in <a href="http://www.minecraft.net/">minecraft</a>. Use this minecraft <a href="http://minecraftprint.com/">add on program</a> to define the cool thing. Export it to a standard STL file. A 3d printer can now make that cool thing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-82015004059119816592011-07-10T05:15:00.000-07:002011-07-10T05:33:33.778-07:00KopimismAccording to this <a href="http://idle.slashdot.org/story/11/07/09/2133212/Idle-File-Sharing-Is-Not-a-Religion-Says-Swedish-Government">slashdot article,</a> and<a href="http://kopimistsamfundet.se/english/"> this website</a> There is a Swedish Organization trying to declare file sharing as an integral part of a religious movement.<br />
<br />
Now this is an EPIC level hack.<br />
<br />
according to the website:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>* All knowledge to all<br />
* The search for knowledge is sacred<br />
* The circulation of knowledge is sacred<br />
* The act of copying is sacred.</blockquote><br />
I hope <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster">the Pastafarians</a> jump all over this. Or maybe<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jediism"> the Jedi</a>.<br />
<br />
I am now extrapolating a future religious movement, persecuted by governments all over the world whose main tenant involves the freedom of information... hidden splinter cells removing DRM and distributing warez as part of their daily rituals.<br />
<br />
"In the beginning, there was Sneaker-net, carried by the floppy disk. And it was good."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-17769805627727596842011-07-10T04:09:00.000-07:002011-07-10T04:09:09.248-07:00Du Hast (A Cappella) by Viva Vox Choir.Talent and Skill<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/vivavoxchoir#p/a/u/1/Crt_XQCSL8k">Viva Vox Choir</a><br />
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9EOSDOA0tCs?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9EOSDOA0tCs?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-83665616158672118082011-07-09T09:46:00.001-07:002011-07-09T09:55:13.668-07:00The Calliope Mall. ( A setting for Mage The Ascension)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Calliope Mall </span></b><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Anywhere in the world, where warehouses lie between a river and a railroad track, this mall can be found. It exists, coincidentally, all over the world.</div><div><br />
</div><div>While most of the malls and shopping centers of the world are owned outright by the Syndicate, this mall is an exception. Located downtown in a warehouse district... the Calliope was once an exceptionally large hanger shaped warehouse. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uw72tIvPI9c/ThhvacAfTGI/AAAAAAAAAjA/1oKQK4wjjDE/s1600/Randolf+Bachman_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uw72tIvPI9c/ThhvacAfTGI/AAAAAAAAAjA/1oKQK4wjjDE/s1600/Randolf+Bachman_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div>A man by the name of Randolph Bachman (Order of Hermes, House Merinita) bought the mall and put a small amusement park inside, complete with a funhouse, a midway, a hall of mirrors, and a very large Merry-go-round, steam powered with a wood and brass calliope at its heart. </div><div><br />
</div><div>That calliope is one of the rarest things, it generates tass and quintessence, even in the Umbra. Also, people forget that anything purchased from the mall came from there, simply assuming they bought it from another store somewhere. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The front door of the mall has this rote on it... Leaving thought that door subtly alters the memory of anything truly odd that happened in the mall. an altercation with a faceless manequin becomes a fight with an actor PRETENDING to be a manequin... etc... this rote simply adds doubt in the minds of a sleeper. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyone who battles this rote with willpower will likely want to return... and its THOSE people bachman is paying attention to. </div><div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div><b>Layout:</b> </div><div> When the railroad tracks are crossed, any mage with spirit, correspondence, or prime will be aware that they have crossed a threshold. The rules of magic around the mall are more relaxed, and paradox is rarer. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The mall is a horizon realm... but it can be better compared to a very large sanctum. Picture four warehouses two stories high, pointing in the cardinal directions, North, South, East, and West, The second floor of the hangers seems to consist of private apartments, many windows on the second floor reveal lamps, bookshelves and other private dwelling scenes. At the junction of the four buildings is a round building some three stories high, that connects the others into a unified whole A lot of skylight style windows are in this central building, and a skilled observer can see a tree inside.</div><div><br />
</div><div>. One side is located on an ancient pier, overlooking the river. there is about thirty feet of dock extending out from the building all the way around, and several tables outside. This coincidentally matches the design and style of any warehouses its nearby... If the mall is in France or Louisianna, the mall matches the neighboring warehouses.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The river in the real world may be polluted and sluggish, but coincidentally, here it tends to freshen up and look rather pretty.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Parking is along the mall, and rather cramped... a railroad track still in use is nearby, and marks the boundaries of the lot. Around the calliope are other warehouses... reflecting the area of the world the viewer came from. .At the center of the mall, visible from every entrance and store, is a huge Merry-go-round, with tracks of animals ten deep, and over 500 carousel animals (none of them are horses). Each track is going at a different speed , and often seem to race. The music plays night and day, playing hundreds of songs popular in the 1920's. The arrangement of animals will vary each time the mall is visited.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQtYAQLmAYk/ThhzyHKikxI/AAAAAAAAAjE/tI2hzI-xRPo/s1600/funhouse_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQtYAQLmAYk/ThhzyHKikxI/AAAAAAAAAjE/tI2hzI-xRPo/s1600/funhouse_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>The funhouse</b> is hopelessly outdated. Mechanical monsters spring out that haven't got the power to scare a toddler, with shifting floors and twirling barrels that are designed to make people dizzy and fall, but barely seem capable of affecting people nowadays. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This will change completely if the mall is under attack. Bachman has the place (coincidentally) rigged with the most lethal deathtraps that a master mage with high forces, matter, and spirit can devise. and it will somehow be convenient and safe for anyone friendly to Bachman to pass through the funhouse if (for instance) fleeing an opponent. <br />
<b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfrmqHOM3_s/Thh0-EzpbjI/AAAAAAAAAjI/W30xBPXIOgk/s1600/Hall+of+mirrors%252C+Prague_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfrmqHOM3_s/Thh0-EzpbjI/AAAAAAAAAjI/W30xBPXIOgk/s1600/Hall+of+mirrors%252C+Prague_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>The Hall of mirrors</b> is rather interesting, lots of mirrors reflecting infinite images and peculiar reflections. people can get lost in there for hours. The mirrors are quite powerful in the Umbra, and the threshold is weak here. Stepping into one allows access to various horizon worlds, chantries and locations, including most of the interesting places found in the book of worlds, and Horizon itself. </div><div><br />
</div><div>However mirror worlds are common, and unless you know what you are doing, you may not find yourself in the "right" reality. For instance one mirror leads to a world where Ticto and Bachman are fighting for the fledgling mage player character, and competing to claim her as an apprentice, another leads to where one of them is trying to kill her, and the other is trying to prevent it.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Since many of the mirrors lead to protected areas, visitors will find their way blocked unless passwords, keys, and unlocking magick are used as well. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The mirrors guardian is the visitors own reflection, and various funhouse versions of the players will emerge and attack those who do not belong here. The versions will use rotes and effects the players themselves have used in the past, and will be very dangerous indeed. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b> TASS and NODE</b> </div><div>The flux from the node manifests itself primarily as merchandise in the many shops of the mall, small knick-knacks, curios, strange musical tapes and such... a mage with prime can spot an item that has become tass easily. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The node itself is in the carousel, merely riding one of the horses is enough to make an avatar grin, but the real rush comes when you step into the central chamber, this is a room, surprisingly large, that doesn't spin, although the walls do. Meditating in this chamber is very easy, and pillows and large cushions have been provided to assist in this. The walls spin with the calliope, and small holes reflect light into the room in a dizzying kaleidescopic series of flashes. The music from the machine is muted here, and the darkened room, the music, the moving walls and shifting lights combine in a very pleasant "lava lamp" type effect. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The shops consist of: </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw_pmA_gUJo/Thh2YS4kP6I/AAAAAAAAAjM/KmabZGv0TlA/s1600/book-stacks_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw_pmA_gUJo/Thh2YS4kP6I/AAAAAAAAAjM/KmabZGv0TlA/s1600/book-stacks_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>Diversions Rare Books</b>: Bachman runs this store, a maze of tiny cramped passages lined with books radiate away from the counter, as you wind your way through them, you find nooks and crannies, with comfortable chairs and reading lamps, throw rugs, and live cats. Locked curiosity cabinets, Hand painted portraits, and difficult to discover rooms abound... the bookstore is much bigger than it seems from the storefront. You can literaly get lost forever in the mile after mile of books here, if Bachman does not rescue you. Bachman has a high level correspondence rote working here that allows his bookstore to connect directly to every other cluttered bookstore and library in the world. You can wander in and out of these bookshelves, and wind up in a similar place on another continent, without ever knowing it is happening.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One of these makeshift book rooms has a throwrug on the floor... underneath the rug is a working circle, etched into the hardwood floor. Fully prepared for elaborate ritual magic.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Bachman seems to be a middle aged man in his early forties, grey hair, cut short. His glasses are small rectangles, with beveled edges. He wears suits at all times and does not actually need his walking cane to get around. The cane has a large glass ball in the tip as an ornament. His "power suit" reflects his days as a carnival barker, straw boaters hat, and seersucker suit with wide red stripes.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9Zn6K8J0eI/Thh4Aw9hMdI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/88QCCRAN4ek/s1600/Nida_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9Zn6K8J0eI/Thh4Aw9hMdI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/88QCCRAN4ek/s1600/Nida_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b> Rare gifts of wonder:</b> Nida, an oriental woman, with exotic eyes and perfect english runs this store, selling bolts of silk, clothing, and a few imported items from the far east. She has, more or less, allied herself with Bachman, and her version of magick is quite formidable. Nida scares the hell out of vampires and werewolves alike, and neither really want to tangle with her. She is an elegant and enigmatic oriental woman, tall and olive skinned. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In some games with a strong werewolf element, she is an Anansi were-spider, in others she is a mage. </div><div><br />
</div><div> In addition to bolts of silk and supplies, her shop has small oddities all over the place, strange boxes, weird knick-nacks, and carved figurines are everywhere... She's rather fond of Bachman, and he flirts outrageously with her. She is the closest person to Bachman, and they have had a long term romance for some three centuries. Neither one is interested in moving in together, or getting more serious. Her store smells of Teakwood, incense, and spices. <br />
<br />
<b> Electrica:</b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HnyQPhI0sy8/Thh5NpQfbfI/AAAAAAAAAjU/UQ0ETlIUc34/s1600/Ranma+Bey_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HnyQPhI0sy8/Thh5NpQfbfI/AAAAAAAAAjU/UQ0ETlIUc34/s1600/Ranma+Bey_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div> Ramna Bey is the proprietor of this shop, specializing in gizmo's, gadgets, electrical items, and odd computer paraphernalia. Nowhere in his shop would you find a copy of windows, or a microchip made by intell... but you would find programs that hack them. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The most popular computer games aren't here, but there's a whole wall of "shareware" code that seems to be just as good. His gizmos have an odd look about them... like they were wrapped in plastic wrap from the kitchen, and stapled to cardstock printed out on the computer. It's as if the merchandise was all built in the back room rather than purchased from a distributor. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Ramna Bey is in fact, an immortal Faerie, He has spent the last twenty years trying to understand technology, especially electricity, and hasn't quite grasped the concept. He's trying to figure out the entire merchandising thing now and is rather enjoying being a "shopkeeper" especially a shopkeeper with an eastern accent "I am to be trying to help you sir, what problem is it that I can fix?" </div><div><br />
</div><div> His merchandise contains quite a bit of wild fairy magic, and works reasonably reliably, at least the first time... after that odd things begin to happen with them... toast might pop out of the top of the computer monitor you bought, for instance... or the radio snores quietly when unplugged. A Micky Mouse watch will relax its arms till it notices you looking at it, THEN display the correct time. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Sleepers who don't beleive in Fairies never notice these things, as their mundanity is too high for them to overcome. The devices just seem to stop working for no reason, and get thrown out as "Junk". However, the stronger your belief in magic, the more powerful a fey pattern becomes... eventually these things begin eating quintessence, and develop their own agenda's. All wild magic is dangerous because of this. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Ramna is truly Fey. Even though he's immortal and "unkillable" he won't break character, he'd rather be torn limb from limb than reveal he's anything other than a shopkeeper... but his own total unconcern over the situation tends to display his otherworldly nature. (for instance if his arm was just ripped off by an angry werewolf, he might respond "Really, I must not to be seeing the need to be having so much anger over this, perhaps you would be wanting a refund?")</div><div><br />
</div><div>Ramna is greatly affected by belief, as are all fey... If people convince him of a fact (gravity doesn't work on Tuesdays then he will believe that fact, and for him it becomes true (on Tuesdays he chains himself and his merchandise to the floor to keep from floating away, and his stuff WILL levitate if this isn't done. Bachman is still both amused and ashamed with himself for teasing Ranma that way, and has since been far more careful with what he tells Ranma). </div><div><br />
</div><div> Mostly he is affected by what people say about him... his reputation becomes reality. If people think him a coward, over time he will grow more craven. Also, Ramna is incapable of breaking a vow, if he swears something, then he must do it. This applies to all contracts with his name, any legal documents (including a saleslip from a movie rental), a handshake agreement, whatever. He takes such things incredibly seriously, and woe to the person who breaks any sort of commitment to him. This is again, directly resulting from his faery nature.</div><div><br />
</div><div> Bachman was approached by Ramna as he was thinking about putting shops into the mall, and the fey personally requested the chance to set up shop. Ramna's store is the oldest shop in the mall, and next to Nida, Bachmans oldest friend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe0gyOvVt1s/Thh6m9BNdFI/AAAAAAAAAjY/vY5VhY-bNzc/s1600/Mrs+Thompson_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe0gyOvVt1s/Thh6m9BNdFI/AAAAAAAAAjY/vY5VhY-bNzc/s1600/Mrs+Thompson_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
<b>Sniffum Bakery and Deli</b> Mrs. Thompson is an elderly black woman "My oh my, what have we here, you look hungry enough to eat a whole pie! You sit right down and get yerself comfortable, I'll bring you something to eat!" </div><div><br />
</div><div>Bubbly and enthusiastic, she is what every kid wants in a grandmother. She dotes on the mall residents, and "nobody pays for food if'n they work in the mall." Mrs. Thompson's husband died many years ago, but she still insists on being called Mrs. Thompson. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Nobody but Bachman knows her first name (Emma), but she doesn't use it or go by it. Mrs. Thompson possesses true faith. Deeply religious and very pious, she doesn't put up with any nonsense around her, the fact that she's also blessed means she can back her wishes up with mage-like lucky breaks.... </div><div><br />
</div><div> She takes care of all the outside tables and chairs, and runs the bakery with amazing efficiency (it doesn't hurt that all the fey creatures in the mall, including several brownies help her whenever she isn't looking). Her sandwiches, soups and baked goods are incredibly delicious. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The Fey dote on Mrs. Thompson, and help her out any way they can. Her true faith is not at odds with this... Thompson believes in fairies completely... although she has never seen one. Bachman discovered her a few years back after a group of three vampires had tried to attack her. She fought them off with a can of mace and her umbrella, defeating them soundly to their shock and embarrassment. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Randolph was so impressed with her that he asked her to set up shop in his mall. She hasn't regretted her decision once. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENg86kiiz5g/Thh7WVgTFkI/AAAAAAAAAjc/8njMFQ_N8n4/s1600/brownies_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENg86kiiz5g/Thh7WVgTFkI/AAAAAAAAAjc/8njMFQ_N8n4/s1600/brownies_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div> Five "Brownies", (small fairy spirits) have become permanent members of the mall, and have taken to protecting and aiding Mrs. Thompson. They are Turnip, Onion, Parsnip, Carrot, and Cabbage. They can turn invisible, insubstantial, and teleport at will, and each fairy is as strong as a full grown adult human, even though they are about six inches tall. They have never actually been seen by Mrs Thompson, although a mage with the right spheres will have little trouble spotting them. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIlLtvFEB38/Thh7oYKRN2I/AAAAAAAAAjg/MtliQn-2ps0/s1600/Syndi_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIlLtvFEB38/Thh7oYKRN2I/AAAAAAAAAjg/MtliQn-2ps0/s1600/Syndi_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>Fresh Herbs.</b></div><div><b> </b>This store, has hundreds of houseplants, growing everywhere. Anyone examining the plants will not recognize any of them unless they have been to the summer lands of fairy.. The plants are for sale, but heaven help the person who neglects them. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The proprietor is Syndi, a Dryad. She lives in the oak tree that grows in the conservatory, and has a vast knowledge of all growing things. She also will flirt outrageously with any man that gets close. She would love to get to know Bachman better... but so far he has resisted her advances... Syndi is a little jealous of Nida, and doesn't really "get" the whole monogamy thing, but respects Bachman too much to make waves. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Bachman rescued her Oak from certain destruction at the hands of a Detroyt construction crew just prior to wwII. Bachman needed a door to Fairy, and the Oak was perfect. He offered to save her and she jumped at the chance. Much later she became interested in what the people in the mall were doing, and finally set up a shop. She cannot go more than 300 yards from her tree, and their lives are completely connected. She is also Fey, like Ranma, but far less powerful, her reality altering applies only to plants. </div><div><br />
</div><div>These plants will have little things about them that reflect their otherworldly nature... perhaps the move on their own, or they have simple magical properties of some sort... Like all things of fairy, they tend to develop their own agenda over time... so owning anything from the land of fairy is both a blessing and a curse.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDVCS6REY3g/Thh81YVtX5I/AAAAAAAAAjk/BCUpmUsZ7tE/s1600/ComicBookGuy_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDVCS6REY3g/Thh81YVtX5I/AAAAAAAAAjk/BCUpmUsZ7tE/s1600/ComicBookGuy_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
<b>The Dragons Spaceship</b>: This store sells comic books, odd collectible figures, role-playing games, and wargaming supplies. a very overweight man (possibly 500 pounds!) runs the place. He will talk with great exitement about anything to do with any of the things found in the shop, and can recite verbatum the plot of any known comic book. The only name this man uses is Tim, and he isn't human at all. Anybody doing any sort of life scan on Tim will find no body organs, just air. he actually weighs closer to five pounds than five-hundred, and his skin is an outer shell, much like a balloon. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Tim is an air-elemental, summoned years ago by Bachman, and given the semblance of human form by the mage as a reward for his services. Tim loves pretending to be human, his greatest delight is games of all sorts... He truly prefers to sit in his shop and read comic books and play games. Unlike the golems, Tim was self aware long before he met Bachman, and doesn't want to actually "Become" human, he just wants to game and read comics. He is a thaumivore, and must spend most of his time in the mall, when he leaves he seems to shrink in size every hour he's away, like he's losing weight far too fast to be healthy. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If Bachman asks him, he will shed his human skin and become a mass of moving air. Whirlwind, tornado, light breeze, whatever... Tim can hurl lightning bolts, cause rain, and become a raging storm that can devastate the landscape for miles, but hasn't done any such thing in years...</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7yuscSWTeM/Thh-VkI8UbI/AAAAAAAAAjo/eWZ2aKwVrc8/s1600/I+am+NOT+a+pirate_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7yuscSWTeM/Thh-VkI8UbI/AAAAAAAAAjo/eWZ2aKwVrc8/s1600/I+am+NOT+a+pirate_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b> Parrots and Fish: </b> A large man, with a full beard and an eyepatch runs this pet store... like the name says, only parrots and fish are sold here, as well as parrot and fish supplies. The man, Old Tom Scotchman, is not a pirate. He'll tell you so, again and again... Tom is actually a very sad case. He was a mage once, many years ago, but was captured by Mauraders who somehow managed to nearly gilgul him. Tom still has an avatar, but can't reach it. He can't perform magic anymore, and isn't quite right in the head. Bachman took pity on him and gave him a shop here, where he mutters to himself often and rarely makes sense... unless the conversation is about...you guessed it... parrots or fish. </div><div><br />
</div><div>While Tom has no magick anymore, he is completley aware of what magick is and how it works, and may surprise the players with occasionally usefull advice. </div><div><br />
</div><div>He tends to bluster and yell when confused... "I am not a pirate! not a pirate not me! Parrots and fish! Wanna buy a parrot? this ones a blue Mcaw! I am NOT a pirate! Why are you leaving! I haven't shown you my fish!" </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Old Toms mind is looping, stuck in a spiraling recursion based on what the Maruaders did to him. They wanted him to be a pirate on their flying pirate ship, and therefore forced him... when he fought back unexpectedly with magic, they took his magic away. This type of thing is almost impossible to fix, but Bachman is still researching a way. One of the fish tanks has some two dozen fish in it that seem to listen carefully to what a larger fish is telling them, to the point of watching the large fish draw elaborate mathematical formula on the inside of the glass aquarium. Bachman is aware of them, and believes they are possibly a sign that not all of Old Toms power is gone, and is hoping his avatar is healing. <br />
<br />
<b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3q0PupC_Gk/Thh--exjZ5I/AAAAAAAAAjs/AMgtqMydCss/s1600/Soundworks_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3q0PupC_Gk/Thh--exjZ5I/AAAAAAAAAjs/AMgtqMydCss/s1600/Soundworks_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>Sound Works Velvet Musi</b>c the fellow that runs this store is a Rastafarian man, dreadlocks, black shades, and colorful clothing. He never says a word, just points at whatever you are asking for while nodding to the music coming from his earphones... He is in fact a golem, created by Bachman years ago, the dreadlocks shades and earphones disguise the fact that he has no eyes or ears. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Nevertheless he does a very good job running the store, and never sleeps. Bachman gave this spirit human form years ago in exchange for favors. Slowly it is growing more and more human. Someday it will be able to speak. Eventually it will become human enough to actually make the transition into flesh. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The golem is fantastically strong and agile, if combat is necessary the golem will wade into the fight with a pair of drumsticks, weilding them with skill and finness. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Like most of the other mechandise in the mall, the selection seems to be hand made rather than bought from a distributor, The music is varied and well done, but seem to be taken primarily from live recordings rather than album productions... there is an excellent chance to find songs that have never been recorded before...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div> The tapes also sometimes seem to add a song or two after you've owned it for a while, something only those capable of awakening ever seem to notice. Musical instruments abound... and the silent shopkeeper can play every instrument with flair and skill, even though he has no mouth. The golem is incredibly talented, and can invoke almost any emotion.<b><br />
</b></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEQnSBmnMJc/ThiBn9Gh9CI/AAAAAAAAAjw/U1BWmZUdfoU/s1600/manequin-men-2_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fEQnSBmnMJc/ThiBn9Gh9CI/AAAAAAAAAjw/U1BWmZUdfoU/s1600/manequin-men-2_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>Art Works</b> and <b>Woodworks</b>: This store is full of paintings and art supplies. All of the paintings seem to be done by hand in hundreds of different styles. The many small sculptures seem to be originals as well. In the back of the store is a kiln, clay workshop, and painting area. The individual running this store is also a wood golem, like the proprietor of velvet music. Also mute, he dresses in a clean white shirt with a very high collar, a floppy beret and very large rose colored glasses. All of his features are painted on. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Woodworks: This store sells wooden objects of all types, from furniture to fine art. The store has a full woodshop in the back, with every woodworking tool a man could possibly want. The man in back, dressed in a plaid shirt, shop glasses and baseball cap is yet another golem. Syndalia the Dryad holds no animosity towards the golem or the shop, feeling strongly that the wood is being honored by the golem. </div><div><br />
</div><div> As players discover the golems nature they will notice that many of the workers in the mall are also golems, wearing various glasses and make-up so as not to be noticed, doing maintenance and other low profile jobs...</div><div>Bachman has some twenty golems total in the mall, hidden in the background.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b> Gun and knife Works:</b> Brandon Bernard Gunn is a former golem. Originally a spirit of weapons, he has become human enough to take a name, and to speak. He chose to effect a Texas accent and a bit of the attitude, but this is a sham, he is actually a very sweet and considerate being, and will not attack a living being, even in self defense. </div><div><br />
</div><div>He even apologises (and means it) when he uses a weapon on inanimate objects. (talking to a paper target) "Well now, I'm right sorry about shooting you, but I jest needed to prove it can hit a bullseye." </div><div><br />
</div><div> However when weapons are discussed, Beebee is truly in his element, he will gladly discuss any aspect of guns, knives, or anything else that was custom designed to kill. He has a vast knowledge of any and all types of weapons, including many that have not yet been invented. (he is, after all, a former spirit of weaponry)</div><div><br />
</div><div> His store consists of a counter with a few knives and weapons under glass, and a huge backroom for his prefered customers. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V83uVHNQiRs/ThiDPm9dhDI/AAAAAAAAAj0/-QFReC4NuMU/s1600/The+Barista_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V83uVHNQiRs/ThiDPm9dhDI/AAAAAAAAAj0/-QFReC4NuMU/s1600/The+Barista_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div><b>Potions </b>This is an esspresso stand, set up on a movable cart... with a tall, thin, goth girl running it. Selena is a Sluagh... A fairy spirit at home among shadows, bugs, and things lurking in Tim Burton movies. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Her stand has rusty, squeeky wheels, hundreds of small bottles with odd and surprising colored liquids inside, her mixing and brewing machine hisses with escaping steam, or brews with bubbling, burping mirth. various canisters contain many dark powders that cause wonderous odors and color changes, when enfused through Selena's machine.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Selena herself moves with an unerving grace, as if the bones in her thin frame were rubber and wire, and not necessarly bound by the normal rules of anatomy. She's pretty in a creepy sort of way, and enjoys flirting with those most unnerved by her. Selena never, ever speaks above a whisper, and has the dark humor and perfect deadpan delivery of Wednesday Addams. </div><div><br />
</div><div>She always hands visitors willing to wait a paper cup filled with something she "brewed especially for you" Her drinks are very good. but completely mundane. After players finally muster enough courage to drink it, she reveals that the drink they imbided was " Chocolate mocha with cinamon and vanilla extract"</div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, if you ask her nicely, and offer up something in return, she will brew something far more enchanted. Whatever the heart desires. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_yBBsPa0l8/ThiELY5O-eI/AAAAAAAAAj4/W5skiZS2SMk/s1600/Ironworks_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_yBBsPa0l8/ThiELY5O-eI/AAAAAAAAAj4/W5skiZS2SMk/s1600/Ironworks_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div> <b>Things Made from Metal </b> Stepping into this shop reveals a HUGE man, standing at a forge, bending and shaping steel the old fashioned way. Korvis is a Troll. He will make anything the players request from metal... in exchange for something of value. His creations are exqusite. Anything forged by Korvis will be far better than something purchased. Korvis himself talks only when he has to, Treats customers as barely tolerated interuptions, and has absolute domination of the things in his store. He will tolerate NO insults or impertinence, and will instantly throw you from his shop ( literally) for obnoxious behaviour, banning you permanently from purchasing his goods, no matter what the price. <br />
<br />
<b> The arboretum:</b> Located above the mall, and hidden from casual observation from outside, a large glassed-in arboreum exists. Like many of the wonders of the mall, it is much larger inside than outside. in the arboreum are hundreds of beautiful and rare plants, including a hundred year old oak tree that should not be possible here. A rock wall has a two story cascading waterfall that ends in a mossy banked pond. the oak stands on an island at the center of this pond tiled and mossy fountain. this arboreum is linked to a fey place, and occasionally things like fauns, niads, unicorns, and centaurs can be seen here..."just visiting friends". </div><div><br />
</div><div> The Arboretum is "Private" and can only be accessed by invitation. All the back entrances in all the stores link to to staircases that go up to the arboretum. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The roots of the oak actually frame the Merry go Round on the floor directly below it. close observation will show that the wood around the calliope's frame is still alive. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>View from the Umbra</b>: Should somebody or something approach the area from the umbra, they will see an incredibly beautiful spinning merry-go-round underneath a huge oak tree, a bunch of free standing mirrors, The train tracks, and a door to Bachmans book store., all of this in a feild of wild flowers near the river, the feild approximates the area of the mall and lot, and the other side of the train tracks shows the usual pattern spider infestation on lifeless glass stone and steel rocks forming countless canyons. </div><div><br />
</div><div> If the visitor climbs onto the carousel, the various animals will look at them and then dismiss them. climbing onto one of the animals, or into one of the chariots will cause that particular animal to detatch from the carousel and and float, pole and all, like the scene from mary poppins. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The rider can guide the animal and it will go wherever the rider wishes, but without additional magick, it cannot leave the near umbra. If the rider dismounts, the animal will immediately return to the carousel. The animals also act as the guardian of the node, and the 500 or so figures will attack those attempting to harm the node or steal its quintessence. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Animal shapes vary: zebras, lions, tigers, unicorns, hippocampi, griffons, hippogriffs, sea horses, pygmy elephants, rhinocerous, dinosaurs, alligators, jalopy automobiles, pumpkin coaches, giant mice, grasshoppers, kangaroo, butterflies, octopi, and whatever else the mind can grasp. </div><div><br />
</div><div> If they explore the room at the center of the carousel, then they can use it as a doorway into the mundane world, as well as its normal focal point for the node. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The door simply leads into Bachmans bookstore, and is locked. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The train tracks are the border between this place of wonder and the darkness of Detroyt. The train is a powerful paradox based guardian, and anyone attempting to cross the tracks will likely be killed by the evil machine coming out of nowhere to hit them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img height="81" src="https://wave.googleusercontent.com/wave/attachment/EvilTrainwsmoke.jpg?id=dkyf5VkJ10&key=AH0qf5x0BsRVu8BGxr1z7vyKJ7TgMaBMFA" width="200" /><br />
The river is also a place of grave danger, as anyone atempting to cross will quickly run into nasty water. An ill wind keeps people from leaving by air. These are spirits based on paradox, that try to contain the "damage" created by this reality deviant, and this place full of things that should not be.<br />
<br />
This is the gist of it. I have based several campaigns around this mall. In some, I've destroyed it in a running battle with the technocracy. In others, Bachman has been behind all that has happened to the players, pulling the strings to achieve his goal of returning the mall fully to the world, and bringing magic back. In one werewolf game, Bachman was the evil mastermind that the werewolves had to defeat. and the funhouse was hell. In a vampire game, Bachman was trying to wipe out the Tremere..<br />
<br />
Most of the time, Bachman is a force for good, and allied with the players.... most of the time.<br />
<br />
(This is an export from Google wave)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-28298081406565910362011-07-08T12:58:00.000-07:002011-07-08T13:01:27.463-07:00Gyro the cube<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLwbFsRUrIY/TaOWxnvy9dI/AAAAAAAAAao/eQwUUujn6wY/s1600/shapeways+gyro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLwbFsRUrIY/TaOWxnvy9dI/AAAAAAAAAao/eQwUUujn6wY/s200/shapeways+gyro.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I saw this at <a href="http://www.shapeways.com/model/36851/gyro_the_cube.html">shapeways </a> and ordered one.<br />
It came today, and while smaller than I thought, it works exactly like it does in this video. Its going on my desk at work. The coolest thing about it is that it's made on a 3d printer.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a5Zx02qAacA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shapeways.com/">shapeways</a> is my new happy place.</div><br />
Update: I've had the thing for a few months now, and I still play with it all the time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622640925325783821.post-44017782410493589132011-07-07T11:22:00.000-07:002011-07-07T11:22:36.680-07:00Acoustic violin "Game of Thrones" by Jason YangTalent and skill<br />
<br />
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yydcG9woWA?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yydcG9woWA?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10668031581059478119noreply@blogger.com0