This caught my eye -
The prospect of all-female conception.
And I admit that it did so largely because of the Meltrandi in Macross and the anime Gall Force.
The other bit mentioned almost in passing in the story that the process in question would allow men to produce sperm if for mechanical or glandular reasons they couldn't produce it normally.
Taking all of the above into account along with emerging cloning technology and purpose grown bio-mods seem not too unlikely even with "dane-tech".
How much more powerful and robust the various processes would be for wave-tech I leave as an exercise for the reader as well as the implications of same.

-Logan
-----------------
"Wake up! Time for SCIENCE!"
-Adam Savage
-----------------

Tom Petty - Free Fallin' Lyrics
She's a good girl, loves her mama
loves Jesus and America too
She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis
loves horses and her boyfriend too
It's a long day livin' in Reseda
there's a freeway runnin' through the yard
and I'm a bad boy, 'cause I don't even miss her
I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart
Chorus
And I'm free, I'm free fallin'
All the vampires walkin' through the valley
move west down Ventura Blvd.
And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
All the good girls are home with broken hearts
(Repeat Chorus)
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
I wanna free fall out into nothin'
Gonna leave this world for awhile
(Repeat Chorus)
My idea for this one was that when it's playing, Doug chooses a target in line of sight and that target looses all flight capability. Whether it uses wings, aerodynamics, magic, superpowers or whatever, it's suddenly falling like a brick.
On the down side, this also tends to effect Doug and people/vehicals carrying him, so it's not something you want to use in an aireil dogfight.
********************
Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down Lyrics
Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
you could stand me up at the gates of hell
but I won't back down
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
and I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
gonna stand my ground and I won't back down
Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
hey I will stand my ground
and I won't back down
Well I know what's right, I got just one life
in a world that keeps on pushin' me around
but I'll stand my ground and I won't back down
Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
hey I will stand my ground
and I won't back down
No, I won't back down

'Break my stride' turns Doug into an irresistable force. This song makes him an immovable object.__________________
I bet that if you cooked an elephant, you'd have a lot of leftovers.
___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

DO we have some specific nights when I'd be best off coming on? While I'm not really into teaming, I like having people to talk to, and I'm always into TFs if I have the time.--
Christopher Angel, aka JPublic
The Works of Christopher Angel
"Camaraderie, adventure, and steel on steel. The stuff of legend! Right, Boo?"

As of 4/13, the following group members have exceeded 120 days of inactivity:
Terrence King (147 days)
Warlock Wolf (136 days)
Lincoln Memorial (133 days)
If you play any of these characters, and you do not wish them to be removed from the Legendary, please log in at least momentarily with them to reset their inactivity counters sometime in the next couple days.
Thanks!

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

Here's what M. John Harrison, author of Viriconium among other things, has to say about world-building:
"Every moment of a science fiction story must represent the triumph of writing over worldbuilding.
Worldbuilding is dull. Worldbuilding literalises the urge to invent."
Rest of the entry is from his blog:
uzwi.wordpress.com/2007/0...ry-afraid/
-murmur

Yes, its me asking a bunch of meta questions again, for the Writers Guide... but at least this time Ive pulled together some of the scattered data in various
threads in an effort to turn it into information. (Including the first nine pages of the original Plotbunny thread, which means theres probably more to come.)

Quote: Quote:

---

The Blue Blazer Irregulars




Followers of the teachings of Buckaroo Banzai, as set down by Earl Mac Rauch in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the
Eighth Dimension and by W.D. Richter in the movie of the same name. The term Blue Blazer refers to the dark blue jackets that
members of this faction wear when in public and on duty. Even when not wearing the jackets, Blue Blazer Irregulars (Blue Blazers or BBIs for short) wear
either a patch or cloisonne pin depicting the back-to-back Bs of the Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information. Blue Blazers are
known for their discipline and diversity of talent and knowledge, as well as their loyalty to Buckaroo Banzai. The Blue Blazer Irregulars are closely
affiliated with the Pulpers and Supers, but on the whole, are congenial with all factions.




Noted BBIs include Blackstone (captain of the World Watch One) and Jonathon Helscher (captain of
the Inelegant Truth).




The Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information is a non-profit organization that handles business concerns for the Blue Blazer
Irregulars in the Danelaw. The Institute concerns itself with altruistic pursuits as simple as literacy and as complex as disaster rescue and relief. The
Institute is also developing a global network similar to what is in the DC comic book Global Frequency
. The Institute coordinates local agents and global experts to solve problems using a massive and widespread thinktank - if something
is going on, the Institute will be drawing upon the expertise of Blazers and consultants across the planet and in Fenspace, via satellite and Interwave
communications. Blazers report situations in their area or are called upon to investigate, based on their abilities. If something crosses the Institutes
radar, theres a possibility that anyone (Blue Blazer or not), anywhere, can get a phone call that starts, Good afternoon, (person's name here), this is
Buckaroo Banzai, and youre on the Global Frequency...




The Banzai Institute is registered in both the United States and the European Union. Its mailing address is listed as a P.O. Box located in Dallas, Texas.
Both the P.O. Box and the email domain, banzai-institute.org, are registered under a shell corporation, managed by a woman known only as Mrs. Johnson.

---

Quote: Quote:

---

Ninjaburger




The second-most profitable venture of the Village Hidden in the Asteroids, and one of the few subculture references physically implemented in Fenspace that
is properly licensed with its owners in the Danelaw.

---

Quote: Quote:

---

Conventions




I should probably elaborate some more on the Convention, since the whole thing was my idea in the first place. So:




The Convention is fandom's big experiment with direct democracy. The vast majority of fen come from the western liberal social tradition, so they by and
large don't automatically view government as a bad thing. (There are exceptions, such as the neo-Heinleinian & Discordian anarchist movements that
haunt the Main Belt, but those are another story.) The problem is, fandom is spread out all over the solar system with only an intermittent FTL
phone/internet system to keep it tied together.




The fractions provide a localized solution, but one that only works within the confines of their organization. Any attempt to expand, say, the Starfleet code
over the entirety of fandom would be met with resistance by the other fractions. The fractions also can't provide a solid framework for the independents
& other free agents who make up about half of the total population of Fenspace. So, the Convention was born.




The Convention was (ICly & OOCly) based loosely on Worldcon. Most folks think of Worldcon as the biggest SF-related party of the year, and they're
right about that. What a lot of folks, particularly those who've never been to one, *don't* know is that Worldcon is also a major business occasion
for the attendees. Worldcon plays host to the SFWA annual meeting (when the con's in the US) as well as voting for the Hugo Awards, providing attendees
the chance to network with publishers, and so on.




When a Convention is called - usually once a year, time and place determined at the previous Convention - as much of fandom as can arrives at the designated
area. There aren't a lot of places in Fenspace that can hold a quarter-million fans (and rising; between births and immigration Fenspace has a pretty
respectable growth rate) which means that sometimes Conventions are held partly on the station and partly on a cloud of spaceships surrounding it.




(As a note for the current storyline: Phobos Station is on the list of places capable of holding the entire Nation at one go. And now back to our feature
presentation.)




The first day of the Convention involves arrivals, sometimes opening ceremonies with the appropriate amount of bombast, drinking, dancing and networking.
Nobody is expected to *work* opening day, since most folks are tired enough from the trip in. On the second day, once the hangovers have cleared, the actual
work begins.




The next two to three days are filled with panel discussions. If you've *ever* been to a con, you know what this means. Panels at the Convention tend to
feel a bit more like Senate committee hearings, though. This is where the initial groundwork in setting rules & regs is done. Evenings are generally like
regular cons, with plenty of night activities for the general attendees.




Once all the panels have been concluded, all the information is carefully collated and sent to the organizers, who then spend a day or so transforming rants
and raves into something resembling laws and government. This annual constitution (because that's really what it is) is then distributed to the masses
for review before the vote. That usually takes another day or two.




Then, they vote. The vote is done by traditional means on the floor (usually by ballot, though sometimes voice if the measure's simple enough) and
electronic means for attendees who can't fit onto the main floor. The votes are then tallied and the results read out to the membership. Another night of
partying after the vote, and the fen wander back to their old lives.




The key thing to remember here is that whatever is voted on by a Convention is binding on all
members of the Convention, which is why the Nation makes it such a big deal to get the entirety of fandom together each time. No major fraction avoids the
Convention, and each enforces the rules enacted at the Convention. The alternative would split Fenspace, and (so far) the SMOFs have agreed that unity in the
face of the 'danelaw is better than trying to go their own ways and being crushed.




Almost forgot. Worldcon has a thing called "non-attending memberships," which means even if you don't get to go, you still get to vote on the
stuff open for membership vote. Since the Convention evolved from Worldcon, it has the same thing for non-attendees. Non-attending members only get to review
& vote on the final document; they have no input. This cuts down on the number of fen and "fen" who think they can do whatever they want
because "the government doesn't apply to me!" (It's kind of like an EULA; acceptance of the document means you accept the terms of the
agreement, even if you never bother to read it. Sort of a dirty trick, but it does help establish Fenspace authority through the system.)




So, what does all this verbiage have to do with Haruhi's Convention?




Not so much, really.




Traditionally the Convention only comes together once a year, but there's a clause in the commonly-upheld constitution (not even fen are nutty enough to
completely revise the entire body of law every year) that allows for a Convention "to be called by any group during a time of extreme crisis." The
point of the clause was to provide for something like a wartime government; at the time the authors were worried that the mundanes might try to attack the
fledgling Fenspace as a terrorist threat or somesuch.




Haruhi and her SOS Brigade are willfully - you might even say gleefully - abusing the crisis clause for their own benefit. This particular Convention was
called to address a single initiative, under the logic that if a Convention agrees to the initiative, then it becomes fannish law.




What's the initiative?




I'll tell you once I figure it out.




In the meantime, it's all the party without the governing work.

---

Heres a Combat Group of Cars (and other Vehicles) that could be 'Waved'.
I give you The Road Squadron

Comments should be on a seperate thread please,
--
As per agreement no names, places, and dates are mentioned in order to protect those that were involved.
--
Eh? What ever...
--
When my little brother brought home a five gallon bucket of Plot-Hole-Goo I stole a gallon, and told him about it a month later.
After a bit of experimentation I found that I could feed the 'goo a base mixture of gelatine, sugar water, and it would double in volume over night. Five days later I poured most of the 'Goo, except a quart for seed stock, into the cleaning sink in the garage. The next day I went out and bought an old, dirty yellow, electric powered Vespa and spent the next week rebuilding the scooter using the 'Goo to clean the assorted parts.
When I was not working on the Vespa I was researching on what I would need for survival once I reached space. I figured that I would need a space suit, a weapon, and a Job.
The space suit was easy I bought a set of Riding Leathers, a helmet, goggles, boots, gloves and a scarf, and soaked them in 'Goo and washing soda. For a weapon I took my Father's Electric Guitar and dropped in the Cleaning Sink over night. For work I figured that I would make small parcel deliveries, and mail runs.
Shortly after modding the Vespa, the riding gear, and guitar, I realized that I now had about fifteen gallons of Plot Hole Goo. My first thought was "What to do with the rest of the goo?". This is what I call an OMGWHID moment, meaning Oh My God! What Have I Done. I called my Little Brother.
The conversation went something like this...
"Hey Bro What's happening?"
"I have a bit of a problem."
"Oh?"
"Remember when you brought home that bucket of Goo?"
"The Handwavium? What did you do?"
"I borrowed a gallon of it to play with."
"... Just a sec let me grab a note pad."
"Your not mad at me are you?"
"I am, but I'm more worried about what you did with the 'Wavium."
"Ok."
"Don't Worry, I'll get you for that later."
"Right."
"Did you eat any of it?"
"No. ... Should I eat some of it.?"
"NO! We do not know what it would do a living creature."
" ..."
"What did you feed it with?"
"The first Gallon I used Unflavored Gelatine, and sugar water.
"I see and after that?"
"I poured it in the solvent tank allong with eight boxes of instant Jello."
"How long did you let it sit?"
"About five days.
"That should give you between 25 to thirty Gallons. What were you going... Scratch that. What did you us it on?
"I used it to clean parts to rebuild that Vespa I bought."
"Tell me that you used a pair of gloves for that."
"Yes. I also used it to treat some riding gear, and dipped Dad's old Guitar in the stuff."
"I see. Any affects?"
"I haven't tried to ride the Vespa, the Leathers seem to be OK now that they haved dried, and the Guitar shines a bit brighter than it did."
"One more question, then I'll bring some guys to check things over."
"... O-kay..."
"What flavor of Jello?"
"Lime and Cherry.
"O.K. We'll be there in about an hour. I'll yell at you when I get there. Then we'll go over every thing you've done. So Don't go any where. Oh, We'll bring an empty drum with us so don't drain the tank yet."
"Right. See you then."
"Laterz."
--
My brother and his group arrived in a green utility van, they also brought with them the usual collection of tools, electronics, and testing paraphanalia. I showed them to the garage where I do my work.
The first thing that happened was to recorded the scene using digital cameras. Then one filled a sample jar with the semi-transparent brownish goo, and stuck the end of what appeared to be an fishtank heater cabled to a PDA in to the jar. He tapped the probe twice as he looked at the read out and prounounced, "Concentration is two point five wave to one assorted liquids at two zero point zero zero degrees centigrade." This brought a collection of low whistles from the rest of the team, as he withdrew the probe and caped the jar.
My brother pulled me to one side handed me a clip-board, and a pen and said "Congratulations, you will now sign both the nondisclosure agreement, and the employment contract as an independant consultor. I now officially Own Your Ass."
--

I had this commissioned a few weeks ago, and just got the final art

I meant to mention this yesterday... a couple nights ago, I was on Virtue and ran across a level 50 Warshade going by the name "Cutie 3.14159". I wish I'd thought to get a pic, even though her costume wasn't anything particularly outstanding.

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