Gentlemen and Ladies,
I am in the market for a new PC. I'd like something out of the box, that I can plug and chug. Primarily will be using it for video watching and net browsing. Possibly game playing. And something in the 600-750 dollar range. Any recommendations?
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Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

The USA is, and has been for some years, worrying about a shortage of scientists, engineers, and other technical folk.  Apparently we are falling behind rest of the First World there, and it's going to impact our economy and our ability to dominate the world stage and whatnot.
So...
What happened in Fenspace!USA, where the initial wave of anti-handwavium panic drove what was likely a significant fraction of that entire segment of the population, from students through experienced professionals, into exile in space?
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I'm sure you've all noticed that the forums have had relative time stamping on messages for a week or so now.  Apparently this has raised some objections in some quarters, and in case you didn't read the post linked out of the announcement at the top of the forum, Yuku has now implemented a way to turn it off.  So, which would people prefer?
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

A couple of programmers with a lot of skill recently decided to mod the ending to Mass Effect 3, replacing the lackluster "3 choices" ending and removing the entire Space Child sequence, and putting the ending everyone actually wanted in its place.

http://social.bioware.com/project/8587/#files
I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to sometime soon. It's even being tweaked and perfected as time goes on, so the finished product should be even more interesting. Depending on how awesome it turns out, I may simply ignore the original endings, and consider this the "official-if-they-had-any-sense" ending.
---
Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.

For those of you who don't know van Canto, it's a German metal band that handles almost everything a cappella. Normally this would mean that their songs are useless as a cappella doesn't trigger Doug's talent, but they do use a set of drums, which as far as I can tell is enough to trigger it. After all, it's a minimum of 1 voice and 1 instrument in a language Doug understands, and van Canto usually sings in English.
Lost Forever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1smZBn1n8c
There is no reason, no sense
I'm caged in prisons my conciousness built
Always in fearful defense
Always pretending that my will's fulfilled
I have to somehow break out
I have to fight for the freedom to be
What is this life all about?
I have to fight for the right to be free
And so you wonder what have you become?
(Chorus)
Might be I am lost forever
Still I'm here to carry on
Even though the road is wayless
I won't doubt, I'm marching on
Might be that I'm lost forever
Walking somewhere far beyond
As long as I roam I don't care
To be lost forevermore
There was a need to be true
I had been hunting for aims that were lies
There is no need to be you
You walk on beaten paths until you die
I went ahead just to see
What I would find there was worth fighting for
I went ahead to be me
And to return to my heart, to my core
Remain in silence, save your words for us
Until the end of time we wander
Roaming to be lost
To be lost
I figure it's either a Gate song (And to return to my heart, to my core; referring to his wife or his identity as a Warrior), or it's a song that helps someone find their way in life.
Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9KcMPGlZ_s
I am a man who walks alone
And when i'm walking a dark road
At night or strolling through the park
When the light begins to change
I sometimes feel a little strange
A little anxious when it's dark.
[chorus:]
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there
Have you run your fingers down the wall
And have you felt your neck skin crawl
When you're searching for the light?
Sometimes when you're scared to take a look
At the corner of the room
You've sensed that something's watching you.
[chorus]
Have you ever been alone at night
Thought you heard footsteps behind
And turned around and no-one's there?
And as you quicken up your pace
You find it hard to look again
Because you're sure there's someone there
[chorus]
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark, fear of the dark, fear of the dark. [x2]
Watching horror films the night before
Debating witches and folklore
The unknown troubles on your mind.
Maybe your mind is playing tricks
You sense, and suddenly eyes fix
On dancing shadows from behind.
[chorus]
When i'm walking a dark road
I am a man who walks alone
Two effects: It causes a zone of darkness focused around Doug, and everyone within it gets afraid of whatever might be hiding there.

This happened six months ago:  http://www.time.com/time/health/article ... 36,00.html]NASA Receives Two New Hubble Telescopes For Free.  (Quick summary:  they were built for a spy agency, which moved on to better tech before they could even unwrap the 'scopes.  Said agency then gave them to NASA.)
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Portal: now available for TI graphing calculators.
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Stand between the Silver Crystal and the Golden Sea.
"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber."  --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.

As we approach the end of the year, it's time to dust off all the seasonal tales that bring joy to our hearts...

Let's start the list with an old favourite:

http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/97/Jan/cthulhu.html]Yes, Virginia, there is a Cthulhu
--
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

Jazz legend Dave Brubeck has died at 91.
My dad was a jazz fan.  I was listening to Dave Brubeck before I even entered kindergarten; the rhythms of his classic "Take Five" are imprinted in my soul.
Edit:    When I reread that last sentence now, it sounds ridiculously melodramatic and a lot less intelligent than what I was trying to express.
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Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

I stumbled over this while reading CNN's website this afternoon -- a http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/12/05/e ... irst-look/]short article with some photos about the upcoming film version of Ender's Game.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.