It's Banned Books Week, and you know what'll happen if you read a banned book.
What'll happen? Well...
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
- attributed to Ray Bradbury (author of Fahrenheit 451)

-Rob Kelk
"Read Or Die: not so much a title as a way of life." - Justin Palmer, 6 June 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

Disney musicals aside, I got to thinking last night. My thoughts started with fen making runs back to Earth for supplies, coming down over the ocean, and then flying in to wherever at a height of a few feet to avoid detection. From there, I started wondering if a sealed vehicle that could function in space might also function underwater....
So - are there any Fen that have tried colonizing the oceans yet, instead of space? Lord knows, there's plenty of science-fiction/fantasy shows that have had an undersea focus, starting back at least as far as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Man From Atlantis, The Abyss, Seaquest DSV - this is just off the top of my head; I'm sure there are even more out there, especially if we throw in anime and other sources as well.
Domed outposts on the ocean floor - perhaps with the help of the Senshi faction and their diamond tech? Homemade subs capable of seeing just what the Marianis Trench is REALLY like, firsthand? Hell - WETSUITS capable of seeing what the Trench is like, firsthand. I could definitely see the Verne fen uniting behind this sort of thing - not to mention lots of steampunk/retro-looking subs and old-fashioned brass-helmeted suits - though with their own air supplies. Possibilities of trade between the sea fen and the space fen could lead to all sorts of things...and of course, having a ship or sub capable of both underwater and space travel would be useful. Perhaps something for the Stingray to look into?
I don't THINK I've seen this idea mentioned before, but admittedly I'm half-asleep at the moment. I'm definitely interested in what people think of the idea, though. So - like it, hate it? Think it might be fun?

It is the most sophisticated weapon system in ZAFT's arsenal
Ahead of Juliette, Nare had disabled the torpedo tubes of another battleship and was now tearing great gouges along the side of it while Robbie flew cover, picking off Strike Daggers that looked like they were responding to the doubtless pittful pleas of the battleships captain for some cover. The two young women finished their work on the ship by digging beamsabers into the hull just aft of the battleships centrifugal deck and flying in opposite directions around the ship, carving fiery lines through the hull until the forward half of the Nelson-class simply snapped off and the rear half butted it aside as it continued forwards, guns still firing.
It can operate without detection
"Ladies," said the commandant, without rising. "Somehow it doesn't surprise me that you'd choose to leave this way." His lips thinned. "No, actually it does surprise me. I'd a strong expectation that you'd be walking out of the front gate as washouts. I also expect - strongly - that you'll find that your rather casual attitudes won't serve you or ZAFT well. However, perhaps you will surprise me again."
"We're good at surprising people," Robbie said brightly.
It can strike without warning
Her job done, Nare turned to join her wingmates in savaging the battleship, leaving the crippled Strike to Nicol. On the Archangel, fire erupted from the open linear catapults and the weapons tracked forwards, hoping to strike by chance one of the invisible mobile suits. The momentary switch of targets opened an avenue of approach and a shadow fell across the large bridge window. Inside, Nare could see the sudden panic as one of the crew dashed for the rear of the compartment, but it was already too late - one slash of the crimson beam saber opened the bridge up to space and she saw bodies exploding out of the broken hull as the Archangel's command deck vented. Many had been gruesomely savaged by her beam saber.
And all it takes to unleash it it's power
Melissa glanced in the direction that Kurz's GINN was pointing and blinked in disbelief. "Damn... looks like there's nobody at the helm."
The battlefield was briefly lit by fire as the Oppenheimer's beam cannon ripped through the reactor core of the other escort and set off a chain reaction that tore the Drake apart, but even that drama was overshadowed by the Drake that roared out of the main body of the Earth fleet, through the cloud of debris that the Oppenheimer had created and ploughed, prow first, into a startled battleship.
The Nelson-class ship, unsurprisingly, didn't handle the collison well as it was carved in two, taking its killer with it in a frenzy of mutual annihilation.
From anywhere in the Earth Sphere
The caverns of Ptolemaus were rocked by another explosion that shook even the ships cradled in the hangers.
"What was that?" Azreal demanded, clinging to his seat.
Natarle glanced at the schematic of the hangers being displayed on one of the overhead screens and a moment later another section went red as damage control reports were fed through from the control centre. "One of the missile stores," she advised. "Looks like one of the ones storing the nuclear weapons."
Is three simple words
"Good morning, Angels," Nicol said cheerfully.
"You!?" all three girls exclaimed.
Amalfi's Angels

Coming Soon
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
D for Drakensis

You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.

e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG30-6506
Released April 6 of this year.
Haven't seen any note of it anywhere else, so I figured hey, someone should mention it. '.'
-Morgan."Mikuru-chan molested me! I'm... so happy!"
-Haruhi, "The Ecchi of Haruhi Suzumiya"
---(Not really)

up at ~4300ft above sea level, hitchhiking on our SCADA network.
as soon as my tower crew finishes mounting a 6' dish, we're going to be steering a microwave shot down to anchorage, and hanging a new SCADA omni antenna.
I just got news that we've got a tower rebuild (that needs to get done before snow - which could be two weeks or two months or tomorrow), and a new SCADA site, whihc means a tower, power, radio, structure.. also before snow flies.
I may end up working 7 days a week, at this rate.
wooo.Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979

Well, that's what I first thought when I saw this webpage... then I realized she usually reads in quiet areas, so she wouldn't have a sound system.

-Rob Kelk
"Read Or Die: not so much a title as a way of life." - Justin Palmer, 6 June 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

Organizing my notes for Legend of Galactic Girls gave me most of the following, which I cleaned up a
bit. Any comments, aditions, or other kibitzing before I stick it in the Gazetteer and the Wiki?

(Somebody had better say yes, because there's a hole in the article.)

As with Comrade Fnord's recent posts, please pardon the wiki markup...

Inari ensconced herself in the cheery cafe in Steel Canyon. She had checked the security of the bank to ensure there'd be no surprises the next time Kara the Scorpion offered her a transfer schedule. As expected, it was laughable.
She smiled as the barista delivered the "CuppaJo" espresso. The coffee was so much better here compared to the Isles. Inari planned to enjoy her drink and then make her way back into Siren's Call and then to the Isles. She took a sip, savoring the complex aromas that most of the people here were too scent-blind to appreciate.
She turned a half-lidded gaze to the seat across from her. "You can stop hiding now."
The kunoichi faded into view, causing Inari to smile wistfully in memory. It was Akai, one of kaa-san's jounin. She was based on the body and soul-memories of Katsuragi no Sato no Akane, a talented kunoichi well-known for her seduction technique. Kaa-san had bonded her with freely-given permission and secured several political alliances through marriages, assassinations, and scandals, ensuring the futures and survival of the five ninja clans under Lady Nogitsune's protection.
Inari's first fox-possession had been of one of Akane's daughters, so she had some fondness for who Akai had once been. After some "catching up" small talk that was really coded ninja speech, the kunoichi before her placed a sealed missive on the table and faded from view again.
Inari lowered the ambient temperature to create a shimmering mirage that obscured her from view and made her way into Siren's Call. She would read her mother's message someplace more secure.
After chasing the loathsome Bizarre Mouse from the base, Inari opened the missive and read the contents. Kaa-san's precise, neat calligraphy was elegant, yet direct and to the point.
Inari-chan,
This one hopes that her missive finds you well. It has come to this one's attention that Silver Mantis seeks assistance with a minor problem. It is strongly advised that you undertake this task.
This one has some undertakings that will benefit from the appearance of the Infamous cooperating with Recluse-dono's organization.
Your mother,
Chiyuki no Mori no Nogitsune, Shodaime Kitsunekage
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''

-- James Nicoll

Why do I get the feeling that the vast majority of douche bags that support the ten commandments dont actually know the ten commandments. To keep the mouth-breathers calm not all those that support the ten commandments are douche bags, but there are numerous douche bags that support the ten commandments. onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmar...dment.html
I give you one such douche bag. I should like to point out that this douche bag is not a mere voice on the internet douche bag; this is what can only be described as a douche bag of authority.
I give you Archbishop Francisco Chimoio. The head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique.
Recently laughing boy rose upon his pulpit and stated that "Condoms are not sure because I know that there are two countries in Europe, they are making condoms with the virus on purpose,"
Thou shalt not. What was it? Oh yes. LIE!
This lying, propped up, douchebag is toeing the party line on condoms and any form of birth control other than punching yourself firmly in the groin and screaming no sex outside marriage! No sex outside marriage!. Condoms are the work of the devil; with viral transmission through unprotected sex being the gift of a benign and loving god. Not only does Francisco call on the authority of his imaginary friend and man-penned holy book, but he is also fucking lying about condoms and trying to vilify the manufacturers. He goes further to also claim that aids vaccines currently being distributed are infected in order to finish off the African people.
Well laughing boy, if I was a genocidal douche bag who was too fucking cowardly to get my hands dirty, I would not use a vaccine; I would do exactly what you are doing tell the people not to use condoms, not to get treatment for their illnesses, and use the least effective means of prophylaxis available (abstinence ie. NONE!) Of course I am not a genocidal douche bag; the Catholic church has not seen fit to raise me to that office which as far as I can tell, is Archbishop and head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique.
Shayne

It's time for the annual anime-fan "what are we like" survey!
Ru's fixed all the problems he had with the webform last year, added some new questions, and is ready for everyone on the web forums to take part.
If you want to join in, head here, but be ready to spend an hour at the computer...

-Rob Kelk
"Read Or Die: not so much a title as a way of life." - Justin Palmer, 6 June 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012