New items in blue.

Many if not most Fen celebrate or commerate various 'Dane holidays - Hanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan, Solstice, Valentine's Day, Hallowe'en, and so
on. But there are also some uniquely Fennish holidays:

March (n): KandorCon Day

As much as Fenspace has an "independance day," the signing of the Articles of Convention at KandorCon is the day the 'Danelaw started taking
Fenspace seriously. Some fen treat this event the same way that the U.S. treats July 4, others don't really care.

April 13: Yuri's Night

Honours Yuri Gagarin, who was the first human in space on April 13, 1961. (This one is also celebrated by various 'Dane space agencies.)

May 4: May the Fourth Be With You Day

Sometimes called "the Warsie New Year", this is the day when the more regimented factions (especially the Warsies and the Gearheads) show off their
latest toys and their best pilots. Events include space-sports games - asteroid-avoidance races, astroball matches, zero-g gymnastics, and others - which gives
this day its second nickname of "The Fennish Olympics".

July 20: Armstrong's Day, a.k.a. Moon Day, a.k.a. Touchdown Day

Honours either Neil Armstrong, who was the first human to walk on another solar system body, or his act of setting foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

Any more?

-Rob Kelk
--
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

Quote:

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Lyrics to "Do the Bartman"
From the Do the Bartman promotional compact disc.

---

Yo, Hey what's happenin' dude
I'm a guy with a rep for bein' rude
Terrorizin' people wherever I go
It's not intentional, just keepin' the flow
Fixin' test scores to get the best scores
Droppin' banana peels all over the floor
I'm the kid that made delinquency an art
Last name Simpson, first name Bart
I'm here today to introduce the next phase
The next step, in the big Bart craze
I've got a dance real easy to do
I learned it with no rythm and so can you
So move your body if you got the notion
Front to back in a rock-like motion
Now thacha got it if you think you can
Do it to the music - that's the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Ah front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
It wasn't long ago, just a couple of weeks
I got in trouble, yeah, pretty deep
Homer was yellin' (Bart!) Mom was too
Because I put mothballs in the beef stew
Punishment time, in the air lurks gloom
Sittin' by myself confined to my room
When all else fails nothin' else left to do
I turn on the music so I can feel the groove
Move your body if you got the notion
Front to back in a rock-like motion
Move your hips from side to side now
Doncha slip, let your feet glide now
If you've got the groove you gotta use it
Rock-rhythm in time with the music
You just might start a chain reaction
If you can do the Bart you're bad like
Michael Jackson
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, Everybody back and forth,
from side to side
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, Pick your feet up off the
floor, let 'em glide
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, She can do it, you can do it,
so can I
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, Now here's a dance beat
that ya can't deny
Oh my ears! Lisa put that saxophone away
You can't touch this!
I didn't do it! Nobody saw me do it!
You can't prove anything!
Now I'm in the house, feelin' good to be home
'till Lisa starts blowin' that damn saxophone
And if it was mine you know they'd take it away
But I'm feelin' good so that's okay
I'm up in my room just'a singin' a song
Listenin' to the kick drum kickin' along
Yeah Lisa likes jazz she's her number one fan
But I know I'm bad 'cause I do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, Everybody back and forth,
from side to side
Do the Bartman
Do the Bartman, She can do it, you can do it,
so can I
Move your body if you got the notion
Front to back in a rock-like motion
Move your hips from side to side now
Doncha slip, let your feet glide now
If you've got the groove you gotta use it
Rock-rhythm in time with the music
You just might start a chain reaction
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Everybody if you can do the Bartman
Shake your body turn it out if you're bad man
Front to back to the side yes you can, can
Everybody in the house do the Bartman
Oh wow, man!

---

Quote:

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(Ray Stevens)
Hello everybody, this is your action news reporter
With all the news that is news across the nation
On the scene at the super market
There seems to have been some disturbance here
Pardon me sir, did you see what happened?
Yeh, I did...I was standing over there by the tomatoes
And here he come
Running thru the pole beans, thru the fruits and vegetables
Naked as a jay-bird
And I hollered over at Ethel...Isaid don't look Ethel
It was too late, she'd already been incensed...
[Chorus:]
Here he comes, boogie-dy, boogie-dy
There he goes, boogie-dy, boogie-dy
And he ain't wearin' no clothes
Oh yes, they call him the streak
Fastest thing on two feet
He's just as proud as he can be
Of his anatomy
He's gonna give us a peek
Oh yes, they call him the streak
He likes to show off his physique
If there's an audience to be found
He'll be streakin' around
Invitin' public critique...
This is your action news reporter once again
And we're here at the gas station
Pardon me sir, did you see what happened?
Yeh, I did...I was just in here gettin' my tires checked
And he just appeared out of the traffic
Come streakin' around the grease rack there
Didn't have nothing on but a smile
I looked in there and Ethel was gettin' her a cold drink
I hollered...Don't look Ethel
It was too late...She'd already been mooned
Flashed her right there in front of the shock absorbers
[Chorus]
He ain't rude, boogie-dy, boogie-dy
He ain't lewd, boogie-dy, boogie-dy
He's just in the mood to run in the nude
Oh yes, they call him the streak
He likes to turn the other cheek
He's always making the news
Wearin' just his tennis shoes
Guess you could call him unique...
Once again, your action news reporter in the booth at the gym
Covering the disturbance at the basketball playoffs
Pardon me sir, did you see what happened?
Yeh, I did...half-time, I was just going down there
To get Ethel a snow cone
Here he come right our of the cheap seats
Dribblin'...right down the middle of the court
Didn't have on nothin' but his PF's
Made a hook shot and got out thru the concession stand
I hollered up at Ethel, I said don't look Ethel
It was too late...She'd already got a free shot
Grandstanded...Right there in front of the home team
Here he comes...look...who's that with him?
Ethel, is that you, Ethel?
What do you think you're doing?
You get your clothes on!
Ethel, where you going?
Ethel, you shameless hussy
Say it isn't so Ethel
Ethel..................

---

I havent done much with Fenspace. I did post a ship a long while ago, the SuperBall, but then I ignored Fenspace because I couldnt think of what I wanted my character to do. I just noticed the rules for radio and FTL comm and inspiration struck. May I present to you, DJ John, Fen radio host and his ship, the SuperBall. Please review my character and ship and provide criticism.
Kokuten, I would appreciate your help in figuring out a frequency and station call sign for my radio show.
Jon (Herr Bad Moon), The Inelegant Truth does the news so I would like to request your permission for my character to use The Inelegant Truth for its news source and maybe sister station.
Ship Name: SuperBall
Created by Freddy Isnot
Registry Number: I am not a number
Base Hull: Spaceball gyroscope enclosed in a plastic shell
Drive Type: Speed (max velocity 0.1C), sort of
Owner of Record: Juhan
Purpose: Personal transportation/Radio broadcast station for Fen Radio Live!
Launched: May 4, 2008
Crew:
* Juhan AKA DJ John
Known Vehicle Quirks:
* The drive is broken, it must bounce off another object before changing course. It makes use of the Slapstick Effect to not seriously damage itself or the object it is bouncing off of.
* The SuperBall refuses to accept computer navigation.
* The outer shell of the SuperBall is constantly spinning while the inside remains stationary.
* Due to the nature of the SuperBall, it is more or less impervious to all projectile weapons. However, due to the nature of the SuperBall, it is also incapable of having any offensive capability of its own. There are no weapons, and if it tries to ram another ship, it will simply bounce off with, at most, a slight dent imparted.
Known Crew Quirks:
* Juhan uses Handwavium goo as a hair gel. It is not yet known what effect this has on his hair.
* Despite his accuracy in calculating the spin and bounce of the SuperBall, Juhan sucks on the pool table.
* In order to keep up his 24/7 live radio broadcast, Juhan is a polyphasic sleeper, catching 30 minute naps every four hours.
Faction: Un-aligned
Home Port: Mars
Current Location: On the way to Mars
Status: ACTIVE
Trivia:
* As a tribute to the movie, Explorers, Juhan searched for a junked carnival ride to use as a hull. He finally found a rental company selling off an old Spaceball gyroscope.
* Juhan's inspiration for using the Handwavium was Flubber from "The Absent-Minded Professor."
* Changes of direction are performed by deliberately running into an object and adjusting the spin of the SuperBall to achieve the desired angle of deflection.
* The SuperBall also sometimes seen hitching a ride on other spaceships by means of a grapple and rope.
*The SuperBalls internal environment is heated by the powerful radio array built into its superstructure.
* All navigation is performed with a telescope, star chart, ruler, protractor, compass, pencil and paper, and a TI-89 calculator.
* Juhan launched the SuperBall on his birthday.
* The SuperBall has to be launched by dribbling it until it bounces high enough to escape gravity.
* The most technologically advanced device on the SuperBall is a semi-sentient iPod that Juhan uses to play music and news broadcasts.
* Fen Radio Live! is broadcast via radio signal to the nearest Interwave node where it is relayed to all of Fenspace.
* Juhan first began Fen Radio Live! because of his early failures to plot a trajectory that would intercept a planet or space station. After his first miss, not sure if he would survive, he began broadcasting a long rambling monologue, only interrupting with music when his throat became too dry to continue. He continued this broadcast for five and a half hours before a ship, attracted by his signal, gave him a tow to an inhabited planet. After that, he began broadcasting regularly on his approaches to planets or stations to ensure that someone would notice him and, if he missed his target, tow him to safety. This eventually developed into the Fenspace-spanning radio show known as Fen Radio Live!
* At last count, Juhan owes favors to nearly a fifth of all the spaceship captains in the solar system for tows. He usually tries to repay them either in drinks or free advertising.
*One of the popular segments of Fen Radio Live! is Juhans tendency to wander into space battles where, in the relative safety of the SuperBalls semi-invulnerable shell, hell provide a running commentary until knocked away.
~Freddy Isnot
-Freddy Isnot

"You are now graduated from newbie and are just clueless. Consider that a compliment."
-Zipcode

(quoted from the "Players and Characters" thread in "The Legendary")

Quote:

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Hello all!
Global handle: @Silver Shrike

---

Oh, by the way, welcome Raven Bloodclaw to the Legendary. Raven was a member of the Positron TF that I joined this weekend; he inquired about the group during the several long periods of waiting for people between mishes, and I sold him on membership.

-- Bob
---------
The Internet Is For Norns.

I have just been introduced to Bloc Party through the joys of sneaker-net, and this song has been bouncing around my head.
They have a website and can be found on iTunes.

Pioneers - Bloc Party:
If it can be broke then it can be fixed,
If it can be fused then it can be split
It's all under control (x4)
If it can be lost then it can be won,
If it can be touched then it can be turned
All you need is time (x5)
If it can be broke then it can be fixed,
If it can be fused then it can be split
It's all under control (x4)
If it can be lost then it can be won,
If it can be touched then it can be turned
All you need is time (x3)
All you need is ...
We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for? (x4)
A sense of purpose and a sense of skill,
a sense of function but a disregard
We will not be the first (x3),
We won't
You said you were going to conquer new frontiers,
Go stick your bloody head in the jaws of the beast
We promised the world, we'd tame it, what were we hoping for? (x4)
Breath in, breath out (x3)
Breath in ...
So here we are reinventing the wheel
I'm shaking hands with a hurricane
It's a colour that I can't describe,
It's a language I can't understand
Ambition, tearing out the heart of you
Carving lines into you
Dripping down the sides of you
We will not be the last. (x10)

As far as powers go I'm not entirely certain, but the lyrics seem to hint at destruction/construction over time. So perhaps the rapid decay of a structure (or structures) in his AOE, or the resurrection of a previously decrepit building to like-new status.
-Terry
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

From the animated Tim Burton movie The Corpse Bride come a number of brilliant musical numbers, the one I'm putting forward is The Remains Of The Day, sung by the amazing Danny Elfman (Yes, the composer of the first two Spiderman movies) Here's a clip from Youtube containing the song and dance number,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B...ed&search=

Reamains Of The Day - The Corpse Bride
BONEJANGLES
Hey! Give me a listen you corpses of cheer
Least those of you who still got an ear
I'll tell you a story make a skeleton cry
Of our own jubiliciously lovely corpse bride
BONE BOYS
Die, die we all pass away
But don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay
And you might try 'n' hide
And you might try 'n' pray
But we all end up the remains of the day
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
BONEJANGLES
Well our girl is a beauty known for miles around
When a mysterious stranger came into town
He's plenty good lookin', but down on his cash
And our poor little baby, she fell hard and fast
When her daddy said no, she just couldn't cope
So our lovers came up with a plan to elope
BONE BOYS
Die, die we all pass away
But don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay
And you might try 'n' hide
And you might try 'n' pray
But we all end up the remains of the day
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
(instrumental)
BONEJANGLES
So they conjured up a plan to meet late at night
They told not a soul, kept the whole thing tight
Now her mother's wedding dress fit like a glove
You don't need much when you're really in love
Except for a few things, or so I'm told
Like the family jewels and a satchel of gold
Then next to the grave yard by the old oak tree
On a dark foggy night at a quarter to three
She was ready to go, but where was he?
BONE BOYS
And then?
BONEJANGLES
She waited
BONE BOYS
And then?
BONEJANGLES
There in the shadows, was it the man?
BONE BOYS
And then?
BONEJANGLES
Het little heart beat so loud!
BONEBOYS
And then?
BONEJANGLES
And then baby, everything went black
Now when she opened her eyes she was dead as dust
Her jewels were missin' and her heart was bust
So she made a vow lyin' under that tree
That she'd wait for her true love to come set her free
Always waiting for someone to ask for her hand
When out of the blue comes this groovy young man
Who vows forever to be by her side
And that's the story of our own corpse briiiiiiide!
BONE BOYS
Die, die we all pass away
But don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay
And you might try 'n' hide
And you might try 'n' pray
But we all end up the remains... of... the day!

This is one that could go a number of ways depending on where Doug hears it, under what circumstances, or perhaps even what mood his subconscious is in when he hears it. Now depending if Doug will have heard the song in context, I.E watched the movie somewhere on the walk (maybe with Sana? It is meant to be a kids film after all), I think it'll cause the best case scenario of giving him the ability to summon packs of 'Bone Boys', IE skeleton soldiers, able to re-assemble their bones into other forms, such as weapons or useful tools (I.E forming themselves into a sword, shield and armor set made of bones for him to use, or if he summons enough, forming a bridge of bones to cross giant gaps or make paths for others) as well as fight or provide very versatile backing dancers. These'd obviously be useful in a number of ways during battle, both for fighting, as decoys or just plain terrifying the enemy.
It could also end up transforming him into a skeleton form as well, with the ambidextrous reshaping and abilities of the ones in the movie, or possibly any number of useful Necromancy related abilities.
Now if he hears it outside the movie and thus is unable to acquaint it to the characters in the film, it could possibly,
Summon up a simulacra of the Corpse Bride, but since Doug won't have seen the film and known the really rather lovely Emily, the titular bride, it would probably summon a more graphic corpse bride, a decaying ghoulish monster in a wedding dress. While this could theoretically be useful if he could control it, it'd probably be a disaster. He might also get necromancy abilities this way as well, but again due to lack of context they'd probably be warped, evil versions, which I doubt he'd be willing to use (I.E desecrating corpses)
It could make him the 'Groovy Young Man' in the song, thus making him utterly irresistible to all female undead. Yikes.
Summon up a simulacra of the Groovy Young Man, thus giving him a decoy able to draw the attention of all undead nearby,
And there's probably quite a few ideas I'm missing. So people, any thoughts?

'Human' Rights in Fenspace, or, A Loose Definition of People
The simplest definition of 'person' in Fenspace is widely accepted to be "An emotionally active entity that can disobey".
Of course, it's not that simple. The definition of 'emotionally active' commonly attached to that statement runs several hundred K of suggested testing methods, lists of AI and constructs that pass, and why, and a shorter list of same that have failed.
'Disobey' is just as complicated, though it lends itself better to simplification than 'Emotionally Active'. One of the prime requisites for sentient classification is that a being must be capable of disobeying a direct order, upon that being's better judgement. "Fly into the Sun" you say, and your expert system or human interface computer says "OK!" and things start to get very very hot. An artificial _Person_, on the other hand, tells you off, calls your mom, and offers a nice valium from the medicine chest.
Human or near-human beings generally pass these tests as a matter of fact. Parentage, inheritance, emancipation, responsibility, are all outside of the parameters of this document.
Any large or well-known settlement is capable of stating that an AI or other nonhuman intelligence is, in fact, sentient. So far, there is no overall governing body for this function, though most major stations and bases keep a copy of a database of sentient AI. Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979