I am developing a Mads calendar of pictures of exposed technology ; towards that end I am curious as to just how closely  Shizuka Hayama's inner workings correspond to human anatomical systems. Has anyone...touched upon this level of detail or is the subject body open for...vivisection?

How long after That Con did it take before the FBI, NSA, and any other law enforcement/intelligence agency that wanted in on the game started sending agents to every 2-bit gaming and SF convention they could find?  After all, handwavium did arrive on the scene well after the post-9/11 loosening of the reins.
I'm thinking there's the potential for a story or six there... 
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Have you ever been inside a flame?
Did you ever play a burning game?
Would you do what I want you to do?
Do you like the way I'm burning you?

Close to the flame
Behind my eyes there is a beast
that longs for you
Calling my name
So if you're brave enough to risk it
follow me
Into the firestorm

There's no need to be afraid of this
Let me melt you with my dragon-kiss
Let me walk with you the firing line
Put your burn onto the heart of mine

Close to the flame
Behind my eyes there is a beast
that longs for you
Calling my name
So if you're brave enough to risk it
follow me
Into the firestorm

(I. Will. Burn. You.)

Yesterday I had a flaming dream
We were swimming in a lava stream
We were watching an exploding sun
Counting sparkles until they were gone

Close to the flame
Behind my eyes there is a beast
that longs for you
Calling my name
So if you're brave enough to risk it
follow me
Into the firestorm

Effect: Pyrokinesis capable of enough heat to melt rock to near-water fluidity (and shaping the resulting magma as being "close enough" to fire) plus immunity to heat and fire suitable to swim in it and feel like taking a dip in a hot tub, which can also be conferred on another person who fits his power's qualifications for being targeted by songs about someone ("you" in the lyrics) the viewpoint character ("I") loves.
--
"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

YOU CAN'T CATCH ME
(Chuck Berry)

I bought a brand new airmobile
It was custom made
It was a Flight DeVille
With an outboard motor
And some hideaway wings
Push in on the button and you can hear her sing
Now you can't catch me
No, baby, you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze

New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hours
I was rolling slowly 'cause of drizzlin' showers
Up come a flattop he was movin' up with me
Then come sailin' goodbye
In a little old suped up mini
I put my foot in my tank and I begin to roll
Moanin' sirens, was the state patrol
So I get out my wings and then I blew my horn
Bye-bye New Jersey I become airborne

Now you can't catch me
No, baby you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze

Flyin' with my baby last Saturday night
Wasn't no gray cloud floatin' in sight
Big full moon shinin' up above
Cuddle up honey be my love
Sweetest little thing that I ever seen
I'm gonna name you Mabelline
Flyin' with all the things set on flight control
Radio tuned to rock 'n' roll
Two, three hours passin' by
Altitude dropped to 505
Fuel consumption way too fast
Let's get on home before we run out of gas

Now you can't catch me
No baby, you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze

Effect: A running automobile that Doug is riding in (or at least remains in contact with for the full length of the song) gains the ability to fly, at enhanced speeds. Unlike nearly every other song in Doug's arsenal which doesn't manipulate matter to cause a permanent change, this one has a temporary effect which nonetheless can last beyond the length of the actual song, or even if other songs are played after the full duration but before it reverts. Instead, the effect lasts as long as the engine keeps running, though as it also increases fuel consumption only a custom model with extra-large gas tanks (or batteries, or whatever it runs on) will be able to last for hours as directly quoted in the song. Top air speed is around five times the normal ground speed, and it does not provide cabin pressurization so (again, without being an oddball custom) altitude is limited to 10,000 feet.

If the vehicle is already capable of flight, does not have the ability to move on its own, and/or does not use wheels for ground travel, there is no effect.
--
"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

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the ... th-drones/]Amazon envisions eventually delivering packages in 30 minutes via drones

(Apparently this was on 60 Minutes yesterday, but who watches broadcast TV any more?)

While "octocopter" is a silly name, at least somebody's working on flying delivery trucks. I wonder whether Amazon can lick the design issues - especially the endurance issue, which to me looks like a deal-breaker.
--
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

"Goodbye" from the original recording of the Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can. This version is sung by Aaron Tveit.
It's my happy ending, now it's time to say goodnight.We can stop pretending, tell the spotlight man turn off my light.'Cause the show is done now, and it's time to leave the stage. Yeah!
The good guy won now and the band has no more songs to play.
It's a happy ending so I'll say...
Goodbye, Goodbye to all the make believe.
Goodbye there's no more magic up my sleeve.
There's nothing left to act up here, I'll take my bow and disappear.
No questions left for answering.
There's only one word left to sing - Goodbye.
It's a happy ending to the greatest show on earth.
Now the curtain's descending and I hope you got your money's worth.
Gonna stop the show now 'cause I wanna leave on top.
So get up and go now. 'Cause there's nothing left inside my head.
Everything that's left to say's been said
Goodbye! Goodbye to all the song and dance.
Goodbye! Off-stage I stand a better chance.
The show is through, the parts been played.
No standing in the wings afraid. No voilins or phony tears.
The word thats music to my ears is 'goodbye'.Well goodbye ... goodbye ... GOODBYE!
I'm not afraid of stopping, this end could be my start.
I wanna live a life and not just play a part.
I'll walk into the sunset, I'll sail across the sea,
the final word the last you'll hear of me, Of me...
Is goodbye. Goodbye to every night alone.
Goodbye, goodbye to lives I don't own. I'm tired of living on the stage.
A life that's only on the page.
Empty lies are in the past, I've tried before but here's the last goodbye.
Now goodbye ... Goodbye ... GOODBYE!
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

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

The Scarlett Pimpernel- Into The Fire!
  David walked into the valleyWith a stone clutched in his handHe was only a boyBut he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valleyAlways mountains one must scaleThere will always be perilous watersWhich someone must sail
Into valleys, into watersInto jungles, into hellLet us ride, let us ride home again with a story to tellInto darkness, into dangerInto storms that rip the nightDon't give in, but give upBut give thanks for the glorious fight
You can tremble, you can fear itBut keep your fighting spirit alive boysLet the shiver of it sting youFling into battle, spring to your feet boysNever hold back your step for a momentNever doubt that your courage will growHold your head even higher and into the fire we go
Are there mountains that surround us?Are there walls that block the way?Knock 'em down, strip 'em back boysAnd forward and into the fray
Into terror, into valourCharge ahead, no, never turnYes, it's into the fire we flyAnd the devil will burn
Someone has to face the valleyRush in, we have to rally and win boysWhen the world is saying not toBy God, you know you've got to march on, boysNever hold back your step for a momentNever doubt that your courage will growHold your head ever higher and into the fire we go
Let the lightning strikeLet the flash of it shock youChoke your fears awayPull as tight as a wireLet the fever strikeLet the force of it rock youWe will have our day, sailing into the fire
Someone has to face the valleyRush in! We have to rally and win boysWhen the world is saying not toBy God, you know you've got to march on, boysNever hold back your step for a momentLook alive! Oh, your courage will growYes, it's higher and higher and into the fire we goInto fire!Onward, ho!
//www.youtube.com/v/3ZXpo2WFbXA?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

A stealth destroyer. Wasn't that the silly gadget that drove one of the Bond movies from the '90s?

However, the balance of cool is restored by the name of its captain...

http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/ge ... try-125072
--
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 hasn't been updated in a half-decade, and almost everything in it is so old it's fallen out of copyright, but - free music! (Including sheet music.)

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gram ... dex-e.html]The Virtual Gramophone - Canadian Historical Sound Recordings
--
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