Something I wrote up for fun... looking forward to hear an opinion about it.
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»We didn’t do it to create a new sport or as advertisement for CI... we did it just for fun. If others like to watch, why not publish it here?«
- Niaka of Jenga, commenting the latest Exocomp Racing video on Youtube

»No sir, we cannot just remove it from Youtube. You only own the patent for catgirls doing racing sports in Anime, this is a real life event.«
- Google lawyer responding to a Youtube takedown notice in 2018

History

Exocomp racing started as a crazy hobby even before the Exocomps at Catgirl Industries woke up. A few catgirls had the idea to mount a saddle on their new companions and use them for racing inside the Jenga space station. They wrote a new piece of software for the Exocomps which allowed them to compensate for the mass and inertia of the catgirl on them and react to their movements.

The challenge of understanding their environment and the physics behind it combined with continued work of the catgirls with their patches was one of the facts that fueled the intelligence of the Exocomps. And quite a number of Exocomps liked the racing that much that they introduced the first obstacle courses to the game.

Soon after, Exocomp racing established itself as THE fun sport for speed oriented catgirls at Jenga.

During the early years of Catgirl Industries, Exocomp racing was done in the corridors of Jenga and through some empty modules, but when hardware updates allowed the Exocomps to reach higher speeds, it became clear that they had to give the racers more resources to get more space for their sport.

In 2018 a small group of Exocomps applied for joining the Wizards Quidditch league. After a long and repetitive discussion between the Wizards Ministry of Magical Games and Sports and the existing Quidditch league members they were voted down, based on the fact that an Exocomp was too different from a broom and had the wrong control handles. Still, the Youtube video of the privately organized Quidditch game between the Chudley Cannons and the catgirls became one of the most watched sports video for a few months.

One year later, in 2019, Jenga finished their first Exocomp racing track, a series of sixteen Modules that could be used by the racers to build an ever changing track. Hordes of Exocomps and catgirls regularly visiting the track to watch the races, help to build new challenging obstacles and spend a few hours racing themselves. Some of the larger racing competitions are streamed on Youtube.

Variants

The most simple variant of Exocomp racing is a pure speed race, where a group of catgirls and Exocomps try to cover multiple laps on a track as fast as possible. Because Jenga has a gravity field of its own for most of its Modules, this can involve quite a lot of curves in all three dimensions.

The idea of having a lot of curves for more challenging racing tracks lead to the creation of obstacle tracks, where agility and quick thinking become a lot more important that raw speed. Narrow gaps are just the easiest variant, some of the obstacles involve moving parts or looking like the flight through the second Death Star.

The newest variant is called ‘Action’ Exocomp racing. In contrast to the other two variants, this one involves a lot of hologram technology and softball launchers to create fictional enemies that shoot all kind of energy bullets and obstacles at the players. The catgirls on the other side have a low powered laser pointer in hand which they can use to shoot back at their opponents. The more challenging variants of these games might look like arcade style shooters or bullet hell games like Touhou Project.

A few catgirls try to play Quidditch on their Exocomps, and despite some behaviour problems of the Exocomps it works quite well. Still, the Wizards ministry of Magical Sports and Gaming denies them playing an official game because of their different style of flying tool.

Exocomp Racing outside Catgirl Industries

Exocomp racing is still mostly a sport done by the catgirls of Catgirl Industries in 2020.

One reason for this is that the Trekkie variant of the Exocomps mount a different engine, that is not that flexible than the more expensive Mass Effect core used for the Exocomps at Jenga. Still, a number of other Fen have modded their own Exocomps with engine and control upgrades to try out this sport themselves.

Exocomp racing is mostly done by biomodded Fen, because of the homeostasis effect, which helps a lot to deal with minor accidents during racing. Other Fen have experimented with protective suits because of this, but the catgirls at Jenga say that its half as fun if you cannot feel the air rushing by.

The only permanent Exocomp racetrack outside the installations of Catgirl Industries is located on Frigga 77. Since 2019, groups of catgirls and Exocomps have regularly visited the asteroid to equip some of the tunnels with Mass Effect based variable gravity generators. The area is both used by the catgirls for racing and by the inhabitants of Frigga for some of their Survival Shot exercises.

Okay, basically there's long been a question - is she the character from the anime with the godlike powers and running the universe or not?  And it's been long running and not addressed even OOCly.  And I think we in the writerbase where we can actually talk things out OOCly even if it's never figured out (doesn't really matter what people think) ICly.  Personally... I vote for the option that doesn't make the rest of the project an elaborate Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya fanfic.  The alternative is maybe kind of funny as deep background, but makes things, OOCly, feel kind of dated, you know?

Opinions?

I'ved been following the Dharum Ravi trial and 2 lessons came to mind:
1.  Every email, tweet, phone text and/or every social media posting is stored on a server somewhere. Deleting or altering them is a waste of time.
2. If the DA gives you a deal with no prison time and no deportation, take the deal.
So now the kid is looking at at least 5-10 years jail time, very possibly looking at deportation at the end. I'ved seen commenting people that the sentence was too harsh. Just keep in mind though, that he was offered a deal and the judge at the beginning of the trial warned him of the consequences. His defense said they will appeal, but there is no way they can have all the charges dropped. So the kid will probably be deported one way or the other..unless his family has powerful friends who can intercede on their behalf.
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

Since Negima's finished, I thought a different manga might be of interest... and this is definitely different from Negima.

How much of your high-school math do you remember? Do you want a refresher, preferably one that involves a high-school romance plot? Well, here you go!

http://www.batoto.net/read/_/90527/suug ... anslations]Chapter 1

(They're currently up to chapter 9, so you don't have too far to go if you start now...)
--
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

...if some enterprising fan has already run the numbers of the physics of the Second Impact cover story?  As in, "X amount of energy is needed to melt all the ice in Antarctica; delivering that energy requires a meteor of mass Y and velocity Z", with an extrapolation of real-world physical effects beyond icecap vaporization?  It occurs to me that Doug, on hearing the meteor story, might just work up his own calculations on how likely the story is, and I'd like to save myself the effort if someone else has already done it.

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

Well done Gary, well done.

[img]http://cdn.svcs.c2.uclick.com/c2/11d535204ad0012f2fd100163e41dd5b">
[img]http://cdn.svcs.c2.uclick.com/c2/12724b604ad0012f2fd100163e41dd5b">
[img]http://cdn.svcs.c2.uclick.com/c2/4b42fd104ad0012f2fd100163e41dd5b">
[img]http://cdn.svcs.c2.uclick.com/c2/48d9ca604ad0012f2fd100163e41dd5b">

Well Star. This is how I would build Shortimer. It gives you enhanced survivability, however, i don't really know where i would throw the ATO. I think KO Blow or Footstomp. Also, i hope you didn't hock that Hecatomb piece you got, you'll need it for this.
Alpha Slot Wise, you'd be good, in my opinion, with Cardiac, Vigor, or Agility.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Sgt. Shortimer: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Willpower
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
  
• (40) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance
  
• (42) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge
  
• (42) Aegis - Resistance
  
• (42) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
  
• (43) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
  

• (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
  
• (33) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
  
• (33) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
  
• (43) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
  
• (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance
  
• (34) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
  
• (34) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (37) Reactive Armor - Endurance
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
  
• (7) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance
  
• (9) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge
  
• (9) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration
  

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
  
• (33) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (34) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
  
• (45) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance
  
• (48) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (50) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff
  
• (50) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge
  

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
  
• (11) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
  
• (11) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
  

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod
  
• (13) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge
  
• (13) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy
  
• (15) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance
  

• (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
  
• (15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
  
• (17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
  
• (17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (21) Hecatomb - Damage
  
• (23) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
  
• (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
  
• (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (21) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
  

• (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
  
• (23) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
  
• (27) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
  
• (29) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (29) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (31) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  

• (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%)
  

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (25) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (25) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (27) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  
• (43) Recharge Reduction IO
  

• (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance
  
• (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
  
• (45) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (45) Reactive Armor - Endurance
  

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

• (A) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage
  
• (36) Devastation - Damage/Endurance
  
• (36) Devastation - Damage/Recharge
  
• (36) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
  
• (37) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (37) Devastation - Chance of Hold
  

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
  
• (39) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
  
• (39) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
  
• (39) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
  
• (40) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (40) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  

• (A) Resist Damage IO
  

• (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal
  
• (48) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
  
• (48) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (50) Endurance Reduction IO
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
  
• (3) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
  
• (3) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod
  
• (5) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge
  
• (5) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy
  
• (7) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

So I've had my iPhone 3GS for several years now with nary any problems despite repeatedly dropping and abusing it in various fashions. It's started acting up though, and I'm completely stumped, though it's possible that the fault is with my computer. iTunes refuses to recognize that it is there, but Windows (7) can clearly see it; it's listed right there in the devices. I tried reinstalling iTunes completely, even did a DFU restart while the phone was hooked up and no joy. (The DFU restart failed, actually. iTunes recognized it, downloaded the update and then said "nope, can't do this". Fortunately my phone automatically reverted itself so I can still use it.) The weird thing is that my roommate's copy of iTunes on his iMac can see my phone just fine, and my copy can find my regular-vanilla iPod. Both iTunes and my iPhone are up to date.

Anyone got a clue? Because I sure as heck haven't got any.

I overheard a radio program talking about how Tel Aviv is overrun with roof-rabbit, but then wondered if they're actually kosher, They obviously don't have split hooves, but even I know there's more to it than that and having a Rabbi nearby.

Yes, I know it's a rather odd thought to have, Yes, I do actually like cats. No, I'm not trying to imply anything about Jews or middle-easterners or whatever, it just randomly connected with Excel Saga's "emergency provisions" and a character in a story being caught spying because they transformed into a cat when there was a famine on, and the one who caught him knew roof-rabbit (which is where I got the term) was one of the first things to get hunted out after the store shelves are empty.

- CD
--
"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

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resou ... _game.html
I figured that you guys would appreciate this.