Canadian sniper kills Islamic State terrorist from 3.45km (over 2 miles) away.

Apparently, this is a new record for a successful long-range sniper shot off the practice range.
--
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

Lyrics:

The Man Who Rocked The World
Gavin Dunne 2016

Little Sophia Strange in ‘73
Her daddy’s yelling tirades at the TV
Hey man be cool!!
Sweeping the screen - rebel freak with a twist
A skinny genie come to grant her a wish
Changes the rules
He’s a real pretty thing!

But now she looks to the stars
Oh with an ache in her heart
For now the man who rocked the world
Is going home
She’s reaching up for a song
Oh but the music is gone
For the man who rocked the world
Is going home

Big Johnny Butterfingers in ‘81
Searchin' the discos for that special someone
It gets so tough
Feelin' the pressure under laser lights
But his feet go magic dancin’ when the song is just right
Yeah that’s the stuff
Let’s dance, Johnny

But now he looks to the stars
Oh with an ache in his heart
For now the man who rocked the world
Is going home
He’s reaching up for a song
Oh but the music is gone
Because the man who rocked the world
Is going home

Spaceman blasting away into the big black sky tonight
Smiling, riding a trail of stardust home

Little Gangly Geeky strainin’ through ‘95
Left on the outside flyin' far from the hive
He don’t fit in
Heart got a lesson from a stranger deranged
Said it’s ok man, it’s cool to be strange
Make a new spin
Seems so far away

And now I look to the stars
Oh with an ache in my heart
For now the man who rocked the world
Is going home
I wanna hear one more song
Oh let the music live on
For the man who rocked the world
Is going home

Effect: Summons a simulacrum of David Bowie, any one friend Doug made during his travels, or Doug himself (but not a recursive copy of his song powers.)
Caution: If Doug isn't concentrating on a specific friend (or RL David Bowie, who may or may not have been a freind in his native world) to summon, his subconscious chooses a David Bowie character to have appear instead. This can range from helpful (Jean Genie can grant wishes as long as some amount of mundane effort could fulfill them, Ziggy Stardust can control any spiders whether martian or not, etc.) to very unhelpful (Goblin King Jareth is a powerful, high ranking fae, this should be all the warning anyone needs) but it should be remembered that Doug's subconscious is a dick.
Availability: most modern Earths ca. mid-2016 or later; almost certain after BGC.

The lyrics are highly likely to trigger Doug's portal search criteria, with "the man who rocked the world is going home" repeated twice per chorus. Two Dougs with their music power occupied is only more useful than one Doug and any other simulacrum or effect in specific situations but they do exist, the most obvious being the ever popular "prove that I'm not my secret identity."
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

"Pardon Me" by Incubus
http://www.youtube.com/v/PXzuDXZwZtI&ve ... tube_gdata
Lyrics:
A decade agoI never thought I would beAt twenty-threeOn the verge of spontaneous combustionWoe-is-me
But I guess that it comes with the territoryAn ominous landscape of never ending calamityI need you to hearI need you to see that I have had all that I can takeAnd exploding seems like a definite possibility to me
So pardon me while I burst into flamesPardon me while I burst into flamesI've had enough of the world and it's people's mindless gamesSo pardon me while I burn and rise above the flamePardon me, pardon me, I'll never be the same
Not two days agoI was having a look in a bookAnd I saw a picture of a guy fried up above his kneeI said, 'I can relate?'Cause lately I've been thinking of combusticationAs a welcomed vacationFrom the…

Not two days agoI was having a look in a bookAnd I saw a picture of a guy fried up above his kneeI said, 'I can relate?'Cause lately I've been thinking of combusticationAs a welcomed vacationFrom the burdens of the planet earth
Like gravity, hypocrisy, and the perils of being in 3-DAnd thinking so much differently
Like gravity, hypocrisy, and the perils of being in 3-DAnd thinking so much differently

Powers: Bursting into flames, naturally. This seems like a perfect way to be the Human Torch for 3 and a half minutes.
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com

"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."

The song: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/ ... /13485.mp3
The credits: http://amicus.collectionscanada.ca/aawe ... m=31393953

I don't know how useful it would be, but if Doug really needs to call into existence His Majesty's Airship R100 (the Imperial British airship that didn't crash) for three and a quarter minutes...

Perhaps somebody else could come up with a better power for the song.

EDIT: Oh, yes - I found this while browsing http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gram ... 000-e.html . Go nuts.
--
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

It has been strongly suggested to me to take my vacation time this year instead of letting it accumulate in my time bank - because my time bank is full, not taking my vacation would mean a one-time payment in lieu, and the relatively-new payroll system has some issues (to put it mildly).

So, I have enough money and time to drive to Nova Scotia (which, of course, means driving through New Brunswick twice - and I already know enough to pack a roll of loonies in the glove box for tolls and an emergency kit in the trunk just in case). I understand that I have relatives somewhere in Cape Breton, but I'm not sure exactly where - however, I do have an email address to follow up.

Other than The Halifax Citadel and Pier 21 (both in Halifax), what do I want to see?

Where do I want to eat? I've already been told by a chef acquaintance of mine that the freshest seafood in Nova Scotia is found outside of Halifax, but where? Can I get any decent Scottish-style meals, or is the only Scotland left in Nova Scotia in the province's name? And I have no idea where to find a memorably-good meal in New Brunswick.

Where do I want to drink? Are there any craft breweries in NS and NB? (I don't count Keith's as a craft beer any more.) Are there any craft distillers?

Where can I get souvenirs to bring back for friends and family?

Where can I get CDs from the local bands, in any musical styles? Which local bands are the good ones?

What do I want to do with my time other than sightsee, shop, and eat? (If I do have those relatives, at least one day will be spent getting to know them, assuming Maritimers from Nova Scotia are anything like my co-workers from Newfoundland... but that leaves me more than a few days to fill.)

And while I'm in the area, does anybody want to meet me?
--
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

Okay, I figure we could use this as a way to set up online meetings so we can better work out when to do stuff on the pirate pad or even elsewhere online.
Soon I'll be starting a new job with some pretty severe hours - literally 72 hours a week.  (Yes, it pays overtime.)  So Sundays are going to be the only day I'm really available.  And given that this is gonna be my only day off each week, that day is gonna fill up pretty quickly.

Rob, you want to setup a time to work on the pool party at Westwoods?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-navy-de ... -1.4165714

USS Fitzgerald has made it back to Yokosuka after the container ship ASX Crystal collided with the destroyer. Seven sailors are missing. The CO is in hospital in stable condition; two others are being treated in hospital; more are being treated aboard ship.


--
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

Headline

Now the 2 questions come to mind?

1. What happens if Mueller did report back that yes, what Trump did in the firing of Comey  did lead to obstruction of justice./
2. What happens if Trump decided to fire Comey before the investigation is complete?

Remember that Trump said he was vindicated. Now it looks like he's now under investigation.
It'll be interesting by the fall.
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

Something I never really thought I'd see, given that the Southern Baptist Convention was founded by churches who didn't want to give up racism and slavery: Yesterday, the Southern Baptists officially adopted a resolution rejecting racism in general and the alt-right in particular. The story is kind of amazing -- it went from a rejected resolution to sort of this tsunami which took over the Convention's annual meeting. While amazing and gratifying, it's still a bit disturbing that it took multiple drafts and votes until they got the necessary two-thirds majority to pass it.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Just to let folks know this story is still on track, despite the slowdown caused by my mother's passing and all the work managing her estate which landed on my shoulders afterward. This is an informal announcement that chapter 1 is done, save for any fixes I may still need to make on one or two continuity issues about which I am still not certain. Chapter 2 is almost complete; I am just slightly hung up on the battle at the end of episode 3, which is the climax of the chapter and goes rather differently from canon. Getting it all to work out right is a bit of a juggling act.

Once these are taken care of and I finally clear some FTP issues up with my ISP, rest assured, DWS will appear on my website.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.