I got this from an email my father sent a little while back, figure I'd share it and give some folks a chuckle with a sad nod in agreement.
AN OBITUARY
PRINTED IN THE LONDON TIMES. 
Interesting and sadly
true.
 
'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved
old friend, 'Common Sense', who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were
long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as
having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to
come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life
isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense
lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than
you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are
in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when
well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for
kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouth
wash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly
student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground
when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they
themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.
It declined even further when schools were required
to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to
a student; but could not inform parents when a student became
pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the
will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals
received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a
beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your
own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common
Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a
little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement
.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and
Trust. His wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility, his
son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My
Rights; I Want It Now; Someone Else Is To Blame; I'm A
Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized
he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join
the majority and do
nothing.

King’s Row

Post Praetorian Incursion.
- - -
Snow whipped down the street as Seraph carefully poked amongst the debris from the assault.  Most of the Legendary, Riot Force, the P.S.I. and a few others had volunteered to root out the remaining War Works, but it was slow going.
After the initial attack, the BUC’s and AUC’s had started hiding them selves in the rubble.  While the War Walkers would sit in an abandoned building, all waiting till some unsuspecting hero would walk past only to leap out and kill them.
There was a crunch as Neph landed next to him, spinning he let out a slight sigh as Neph walked, the snow causing her armour’s stealth field to flicker on and off. She walked up and yanked her helmet off, wincing as the cold air struck her face. “So, find anything?” she asked.
He kicked what looked like the remains of some one’s car. “I haven’t found shit, maybe they shut down when it’s to cold or something… I don’t know.” He looked along the street, shaking his head. “We have no idea how many came through… and they don’t dare start rebuilding till they know it’s safe, this place might be the next boom town.”
They made their way down, Neph paused to poke at a snow drift. “You know, I have noticed one thing with this.” Pushing the snow away she uncovered the smashed remains of a Praetorian Clockwork. “No one is salvaging these things, not even the local clocks.”
“I guess there’s some shit even they won’t touch.” He muttered, pulling his coat tighter around himself.
Standing up, Neph stuck her helmet back on. “Lets get this over and done with… this place is fucking depressing.”
Nodding they started walking down the street, passing more burnt out cars, shattered buildings, more and more signs of Cole’s desire to destroy in the interest of protecting his Utopia. 
As they reached the end of the street, Seraph cocked his head slightly. “Did you hear that?”
Neph looked over, scanning the buildings, a slight rattle coming from one of the abandon buildings. “Rats, the only thing left alive out here... but we better check it out.”
As she started towards one of the buildings, Seraph heard a click as Neph looked down, swearing slightly as a landmine hidden in the snow detonated, slamming her across the street into hood of a burnt out car.  She let out an audible grunt of pain as she slid to the ground.

Seraph spun and cursed as he saw War works starting to exit the buildings, their frames scared and pitted, their metal feet crunching on the frozen sidewalks as they moved into rough formation and marched forward, gun arms pointed at Neph as she tried to get to her feet.
With out a second thought Seraph rushed Neph, sliding her along the ice as they opened fire, the blasts tearing into him.  Biting down, trying not to pass out in pain, he rolled over and fired a blast of energy.  The azure wave crashing into them, crippling and destroying the weaker ones.
The lead ACU raised its canon, aiming at the car behind them. Looking over his shoulder Seraph noticed several shots from the first salvo had punched through the tank, causing fuel to flow out onto the snow.
Looking up he saw the glow in the depth of the gun barrel. “Oh shi-” He was cut off by the bark of the weapon as it fired, a loud wumph as the gasoline ignited, pain flaring along his body as darkness filled his vision.
- - -
Tish had been patrolling around Wentworths when she heard the first blast.  Without a seconds thought, she sped towards it.  Snow flying around her as she saw the fireball rise from a car, two figures illuminated by the flames as she ducked behind a battered PPD SWAT truck and teleported them to her.
Neph scrambled to her feet and ripped her helmet as she landed, the front of her armor covered in gouges as she shook her head to clear it. The second person was on their side, smouldering slightly in the snow, rolling him over Tish felt her stomach drop.
It was Seraph. Most of the left side of his body had suffered extreme burns, the off white of bone visible in some places. His breath came in a gargling rasp as he tried to move.
Placing a hand on his good shoulder Tish looked to Neph and was about to ask what happened when she heard the loud call of the War works.
“TARGETS HAVE TELAPORTED, ACTIVATE SERCH AND DESTROY PROTICOLS.” There was the sound of weapons discharging as they started to shoot anything that could pass for cover.
Turning she looked Neph in the eyes. “I need you to go out there and hold them off, okay?”
The taller girl nodded slowly, grabbing her helmet and vaulting over the truck, the sounds of metal being torn apart.  Tish turned back to Seraph, biting her lip, unsure if she could do anything for him. “What happened?” she muttered.
A long strangled gasp exited him lips as his good eye opened. “Ambush… Neph was down… gonna get shot… gonna die… had… to save...” He stopped as he started to cough, blood foaming on his lips.
Tish started trying to apply pressure to his wounds. “Why though?”
“Si… Simple Tish… she… family…” He started to hack again.
“Shh, don’t talk, save your strength.”
He looked up and tried to smile. “Tish… don’t sugar coat… we… can both see…”
“NO!” she yelled, cutting him off as she looked for anything that could help. “You just need to hold on till-”
He cupped her face his eye focusing. “Tish… promise… look after the-”
“Don’t.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Tish… please Gir… Laz… Neph too… promise me.”
She giving the whisper of a nod, replying with regret “I- I promise.”
He smiled, wincing slighty. “Thank… you… love… y…” his body slumped as he let out final sigh, the light in his eye dimming.
Leaning over she closed his eyes and stood up, blinking away her tears she bit down on the sorrow and pain, leaving only a fiercely burning rage. Looking at her hands she saw his blood covering them. Stepping out from behind the SWAT truck, fire starting to roll off her, she started down the street.
She saw Neph ripping the BUC's apart, pausing to look at her, seeing the blood on her hands, the look on her face. She slumped for a few seconds, one of the bots moved in to take advantaged of her laps.
Tish warped the air around Neph, speeding her up as the girl straighten up and let out a throaty growl, grabbing the nearest bots arm and ripping it from its socket before brining it down with enough force to shatter it’s skull.
Leaping after her, Tish let the flame roll off her, Imps manifested and ran forward, screeching as they climbed over them, their flaming claws tearing the metal apart. She was going to follow his dying wish… after she'd burn every last one of those Preat tin cans from the face off the earth, she would see them burn.

- - -

To be continued.

So, I was following links on Youtube and found video, and thought "That would fit the Decepticons sooo well" (or any classic Very Bad bad guys, but my primary fandom is G1TF) - then I notice that the album name (and one of the other songs) is "No Sacrifice, No Victory" - the Witwicky family motto in Bay's bastardizations. Then I look a little further, and find that it also includes "Punish and Enslave" which is what Bay's evil cop car has written as a personal motto instead of "To Protect and Serve." Kashira kashira, doko kashira... ?

- 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

The setup is your basic Do-Over fic, Shinji appears with full foreknowledge and abuses it fully to circumvent the various ploys and get inside the girls' heads, shortly followed by their pants. Then, at the "World still spinning, everyone we like still alive" party, he takes a few seconds from pleasing Maya with his mouth (still hard at work with his waist on Misato and both hands for Asuka and Rei, Rits is perched on Maya's shoulders and kissing Misato) to pass along these words of wisdom just before teh end credits roll:

"Ugh, yeah, I really (pant) prefer (OOOOOhyeah) this verRRRSion of ... death by tang!"

- CD, Dirty thoughts? Friends, I have a complete Women's Mud-Wrestling League in my head!
--
"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

Well if they haven't played it on your local TV (AU - ABC 1 and apparently somewhere in the US & Canada too) the good ol' Beeb done some brilliant Christmas releated episodes of Top Gear and Doctor Who.

The Doctor Who Christmas Special is of cause Steven Moffat's blending of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", a potential disaster movie (which most of the recent DW xmas specials have been Titanic X Poseidon Adventure ) and Doctor Who. It works. Michael Gambon eats his Scrooge alike roles with relish.

As for Top Gear, well they teased us with a normal year-ender episode filmed mostly in America. Who knew that a normal road car, like say a Ferrari 458 & the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, could be so difficult to launch off a mildly moist start line at a drag strip. Then the Top Gear special hit. It's their version of a nativity play. With them as the Three Wise Men starting with three 3500 quid convertable 'Roadsters' (Mazda MX5, BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta) in Abril, Iraq to Bethlehem, West Bank.

From watching it, aside from the nice-ish scenery, noticing that Hammond & May packed a full tool kit, I got the feeling I was almost watching a fanscript in action.

I also got the feeling that certain religious groups are going to have many kittens from the actions of a certain JC at the Sea of Galilee......



--Rod.H

But, you can see some spiffy views of a Macross-inspired mecha I came up with (loosely based on the collage-mecha I was using for an avatar for a while) and even learn my real name if you follow this link:

Edit: See the Imageshack link below - facebook may or may not be playing games, and stupid Yuku doesn't show the link correctly anyway because it has a ! before the last /, and the URL gets truncated at the !. I really, really miss the days of good old, simple EZboards...

Basically, the story is that one of the Macross Five guys (half Meltran, mom was a Quadrono, with the reflex speed that implies, dad is a descendant of Ernst Udet. The unarmored paint job is based on Udet's WWI plane, including "Du Doch, Nicht!!" on the back) who was turned into a pilot-zombie by the Protodeviln started a business called Valuata Hostile Animal Control using Elgerzorns salvaged from that planet where they were just abandoned in the series, in order to deal with earlier, presentient experimental creatures that escaped into the wild and infest Valuata space. Come another generation, the company is building their own design and his daughter takes this craft and the max-loadout armor to offer their services when the bug things I can't remember the name of attack first Macross Galaxy and then Macross Frontier, since they're used to fighting things resistant to mormal weapons. The AZ-156 has an SES system built in at the shoulders, carries a speaker pod gun and has the Valuata legacy spiritia imaging, drain beam, and capture fields, and when ranged combat just won't do there's always the Barrier Sword.

Plus plasma cannon, triple lasers, and a huge load of missles, ala Female Power Armor - basically, take one of those, make it transformable, add the Coral Snake fully-transforming Super Armor with it's medium and heavy missiles, two more cannons, and big spotlights, and the Macross F 'EXgear' micronian power armor/cockpit system as well. Munchkin as all hell, but I don't care, I like it that way.

- CD

Edit to fix link. Also, if you replace the modeled missiles with a texture map on the launchers, the polycount is around 5000, which is feasible for gaming on modern systems. Not that I'v had any success at making a game, but it could happen... someday... maybe...

...yeah.
--
"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

She's a blonde & silver terrier, ~6 lbs, wearing a pink harness, and runs away whether you call her (Posie) or not - a Yorkshire with her hair trimmed shoter than usual. She's just run away out the door while I was walking the other dog, and wouldn't you know, it's getting dark and there's a lot of snow coming down, with woods and wind to make me lose the trail within a couple thousand feet.

- 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

Sorry, no content, only pun. If you can find a use for it besides as a roach bomb, go ahead.

- 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

Just as we have done for the last few years, it's time for the grand haul listing.
Let's see... between Peggy and me, we got:
Assorted nice clothes
A Kindle
A 4-DVD set of uncut, restored classic Looney Tunes cartoons, with commentaries and other features
A snow blower
A rather large assortment of Omaha Steaks products
A basket of assorted food and beverages, designed for a picnic-like night in
Homemade pannetone, bacon and jelly
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Yes, I'm rebuilding another toon, in view of the recent issue 19 changes ... maybe you heard of them?
This time its my triple dark Corruptor, (Dark/Dark/Soul if you want to be pedantic). I logged onto her recently and discovered to my horror that she was still in a legacy build and not not yet Incarnate. When I went to fix the second issue, I remembered 2 things about this particular toon. 1) she chews end - 2) she a support character and has very little damage, but things die around her and she can keep a team on their feet.
So it was time to rebuild her...
Here's my attempt below, which still keeps basically true to the nuts and bolts of the character.... but its hardly set in stone.
Usual provisos: no upper limit and adjust powers and slots where needed.
What I would like: Endurance, Damage, Recharge, Accuracy. In that order.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.90
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
dp-19: Level 50 Magic Corruptor
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Dark Miasma
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Dark Blast

• (A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
  
• (3) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (13) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (29) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
  

• (A) Touch of the Nictus - Healing: Level 30
  
• (3) Touch of the Nictus - Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (9) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Healing: Level 30
  
• (19) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration: Level 30
  
• (23) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (25) Siphon Insight - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (15) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (29) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (5) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (9) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff: Level 30
  
• (7) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (7) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (43) Dark Watcher's Despair - Recharge/Endurance: Level 30
  

• (A) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (11) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (11) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff: Level 30
  
• (23) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff: Level 30
  
• (34) HamiO:Nucleolus Exposure
  

• (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure
  

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
  
• (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (37) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (46) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
  

• (A) Soaring - FlySpeed: Level 30
  
• (15) Soaring - Endurance: Level 30
  
• (17) Soaring - Endurance/FlySpeed: Level 30
  

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (17) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection: Level 30
  
• (19) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%: Level 30
  
• (25) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (31) Glimpse of the Abyss - Endurance/Fear: Level 30
  
• (31) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (31) Glimpse of the Abyss - Chance of Damage(Psionic): Level 30
  
• (34) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Fear/Recharge: Level 30
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (46) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff: Level 30
  
• (27) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (27) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (34) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (36) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance: Level 30
  

• (A) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold: Level 30
  
• (37) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold: Level 30
  
• (37) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (40) Basilisk's Gaze - Endurance/Recharge/Hold: Level 30
  
• (43) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold: Level 50
  

• (A) HamiO:Nucleolus Exposure
  

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage: Level 35
  
• (33) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 35
  
• (33) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge: Level 35
  
• (33) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 35
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  
• (39) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (39) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (39) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (40) Harmonized Healing - Heal/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (40) Harmonized Healing - Heal/Recharge: Level 40
  

• (A) Impervium Armor - Resistance: Level 40
  
• (42) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (42) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (42) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (43) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 47
  
• (45) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 47
  
• (45) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 47
  
• (45) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 47
  
• (46) Paralytic - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (50) Paralytic - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  

• (A) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Expedient Reinforcement - Endurance/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Expedient Reinforcement - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (50) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (50) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Celerity - +Stealth: Level 15
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery: Level 50
  
• (36) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 50
  

• (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod: Level 30
  
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (36) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End: Level 30
  

• 5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Fire)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Cold)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Energy)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Negative)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  
• 5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  
• 3% Defense(Smashing)
  
• 3% Defense(Lethal)
  
• 3% Defense(Fire)
  
• 3% Defense(Cold)
  
• 10.5% Defense(Energy)
  
• 10.5% Defense(Negative)
  
• 4.875% Defense(Psionic)
  
• 3% Defense(Melee)
  
• 6.75% Defense(Ranged)
  
• 3% Defense(AoE)
  
• 9% Max End
  
• 2.75% Enhancement(Terrorized)
  
• 36.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 52% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 5% Enhancement(Heal)
  
• 5% FlySpeed
  
• 128.51 HP (12%) HitPoints
  
• 5% JumpHeight
  
• 5% JumpSpeed
  
• Knockback (Mag -4)
  
• Knockup (Mag -4)
  
• MezResist(Confused) 5%
  
• MezResist(Held) 5%
  
• MezResist(Immobilize) 7.75%
  
• MezResist(Sleep) 5%
  
• MezResist(Stun) 5%
  
• MezResist(Terrorized) 5%
  
• 23.5% (0.392 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 22% (0.984 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 1.575% Resistance(Fire)
  
• 1.575% Resistance(Cold)
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Energy)
  
• 4.385% Resistance(Negative)
  
• 5% RunSpeed