In what's no doubt part of their continuing effort to spread Steam out to every computer gamer on the planet and the rollon to the add games to ya wishlist to win 'em competition they had a bit back.
They're now running a treasure hunt (http://store.steampowered.com/treasurehunt) in which you must hit a bunch of achivements in an effort to unlock a hat for Team Fortress 2, gain entrys in a draw to win games from your wishlist and then ending on a big grand prize: 1 person will get 100 games.

So far I'm on 3 cleared objectives out of 10 (What Happens in Vegas, Self Portrait, Go To Your Happy Place). All of them the rather simple to get ones. That mean I've got two more to go till I get a hat and if I'd 10 Steam friends I'd have 1 more to get before having a new hat.
Something that http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197994830030 currently meets on 2 counts (Self Portrait, Friends with Benefits)

I've been working on clearing "Up the Ante" but http:////store.steampowered.com/app/31280 is harder than you think.

Still has anyone heard of anyone benefiting from the last round of winning games from their Steam wishlist?

--Rod.H

 I have a couple of questions regarding those charge pads that recharge cellphone batteries wirelessly:
- Do you have to take the cover (the decorative cover you may or may not have) off of the phone before you put it on the pad?
-Is it even worth it, and if so, what would be the best bet out there?
 Thanks in advance
 BYapes
Brian Y.
Seed Chronicles

Looks like all the little image files on the forum skin that were still pointed at ezboard.com are giving 404s now.

I *should* still have those images saved somewhere, but I'm not sure exactly what it'll take to get them working again. Which is why I was happy when they still *worked* from ezboard. Feh.

-Morgan.

The weather went to the teens here in Birmingham. They didn't tell me it went below freezing here in the South! I miss California already!
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

Not in this particular forum, mind you...

Today's Daily Illuminator
--
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

In an effort to take add to the number of Heal-bots that are in the roster I'm going to try concentrating on my Empathy Defender.
She's a Emp/Psi defender, a rather interesting defender. So far she's made it to level 35 on just team invites. She has never run any mission. You see she's mute (and blind), and can't physically talk to any contacts, hence the name: Silent Helper. This is even more impressive when you realise that I've only had to break character once and advertise my LFT status. This was before Issue 19... since then she hasn't had much luck getting teams.
That being said, her aim: she heals, and she heals well.
Well she did before Issue 19... and it caused a rebuild. Here is her current build and the proposed build as she levels up. If someone (anyone) could twist it so that she is better at her art and a better team player... tell me. I'm a scrapper and building a defender is not my cup of tea. Any tips and pointers would be helpful as well.
Thus without further ado...
HELP!!
As always, cost is no object, nor is recipe selection. Take a chainsaw to the build if needed. I have the freespec and vetspecs to burn.
Here's the build.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.90
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Mental Health: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Empathy
Secondary Power Set: Psychic Blast
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psychic Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Healing Aura -- H'zdH-Heal:30(A), H'zdH-Heal/Rchg:30(3), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(7), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx:30(9), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(11), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg:30(34)
Level 1: Mental Blast -- Decim-Acc/Dmg:30(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx:30(5), Decim-Dmg/Rchg:30(31), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:30(46), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(46)
Level 2: Heal Other -- Dct'dW-Heal:30(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:30(3), Dct'dW-Rchg:30(7), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:30(9), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(11), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(34)
Level 4: Psionic Lance -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:30(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:30(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(46)
Level 6: Hover -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 8: Recall Friend -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 10: Clear Mind -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 12: Fly -- Srng-Fly:30(A), Srng-EndRdx:30(13), Srng-EndRdx/Fly:30(13)
Level 14: Fortitude -- RedFtn-Def:30(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:30(15), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:30(15), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg:30(17), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:30(17)
Level 16: Resurrect -- RechRdx(A)
Level 18: Recovery Aura -- Efficacy-EndMod:30(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg:30(19), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:30(19), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg:30(27), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc:30(27)
Level 20: Will Domination -- Decim-Acc/Dmg:30(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx:30(23), Decim-Dmg/Rchg:30(23), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:35(36), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(37)
Level 22: Telekinetic Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:40(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:40(25), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:40(25), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(42), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(43)
Level 24: Maneuvers -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 26: Regeneration Aura -- Dct'dW-Heal:30(A), Dct'dW-Rchg:30(29), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:30(29), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:30(31)
Level 28: Tactics -- AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg:40(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx:40(40)
Level 30: Absorb Pain -- Heal(A)
Level 32: Adrenalin Boost -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:35(A), Dct'dW-Rchg:35(33), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:35(33), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:35(33), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:35(34)
Level 35: Scramble Thoughts -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg:37(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun:37(36), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:37(36), Stpfy-Stun/Rng:37(37), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:37(37)
Level 38: Psychic Wail -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(39), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:40(39), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:40(39), Oblit-Dmg:40(40), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx:40(40)
Level 41: Mass Hypnosis -- CSndmn-Acc/Rchg:44(A), CSndmn-EndRdx/Sleep:44(42), CSndmn-Acc/EndRdx:44(42), CSndmn-Sleep/Rng:44(43), CSndmn-Acc/Sleep/Rchg:44(43)
Level 44: Mind Over Body -- ImpArm-ResDam:40(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(45), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(45), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(45)
Level 47: World of Confusion -- CoPers-Conf:50(A), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx:50(48), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg:50(48), CoPers-Conf/Rchg:50(48), CoPers-Acc/Rchg:50(50)
Level 49: Telekinesis -- EndRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(50), EndRdx-I:50(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:30(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(21), EndMod-I:50(21)

Given that there is less than twenty topic in it and the last post in it was in August (and that is one post, the last post before that was June) I think it might be an experimental failure. I'd suggest putting the topics back in general discussion, since obviously they are not going to overwhelm the regular chatter at that rate.
---------------
Epsilon

That's right folks, all those fetishy skin tight pilot suits? Turns out that they are the wave of the future for space exploration.
So now I have to apologize to Rob Kelk for complaining about Rocket Girls' and Stellvia's fetish suits incessantly.
...
Yeah, sorry, still creepy on kids. ;p
--------------
Epsilon

It's that time again!  No, it's not time to spin the Wheel of Morality (TM), it's time to select panelists for the Anime Central 2011 Fanfiction Panel!

Anime Central (www.acen.org) will take place on May 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.  If you're going to be attending Acen and you're interested in being on the panel, please send the following information:

1.  Your name or preferred handle.

2.  Your real name, if different.

3.  A list of your preferred works, including any you may have written in the past year.

4.  The URL of your website, if any, or where your works can be found.

5.  If you've been on a fanfic panel before, and if so, where.

6.  (OPTIONAL) Why you'd like to be on the panel.

Please private mail me at pmui1@NOSPAMPLEASE.prodigy.net if you're interested.  The panel will be selected shortly.

(I'm sure you know what to remove--it's in capitals.) 

Hope to hear from you soon!

--Pearson "Doc" Mui

Perhaps foolishly, I volunteered over on the SJGames Forums' In Nomine board to put together a net.book about the Archangel of Song. Fans of the line will know that these books always have appropriate quotes in them, to break up the monotony of page after page of rules. I'm thinking that, since the subject is Song, in this case "quotes" means "lyrics". "Music" is a different Angel, so I can't just grab lyrics willy-nilly - they have to be at least arguably about songs (not "a song", but songs in general), in much the same way that Doug's songs have to be "about" the powers they grant him.

I do have a few lyrics - mostly the obvious ones - but I need more. Any suggestions?

Here's what I've got so far. If I think a lyric may be obscure, I've provided the performer and title:

• “Sad songs say so much”
  
• “take a sad song and make it better”
  
• “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you”
  
• “I write the songs that make the whole world sing”
  
• “Killing me softly with his song”
  
• “The song never dies, just the singer”
  
• “And even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of Song with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”)
  
• “We can play a Stones song, sitting on a fence and it’ll sound pretty good, ’til I forget how it ends.” (Yo La Tengo, “Big Day Coming”)
  
• “I like short songs.” (The Dead Kennedys, “Short Songs” - the entire song!)
  
• “Tough times demand tough talk demand tough hearts demand tough songs” (Rush, “Force Ten”)