why will I not be online for a bit?
my computers power suplly has died and I problay won't have the cash to replace it till next week if i'm lucky.
the most anoying thing is that it was nearly done pre-patching for GR >.

Saudia Arabia and at least one other Arab state has passed laws requiring users of smart phones"black berrys" to cover their phones with tiny burqa or tiny niqab.

You know the same thing that women are required to cover their faces with.

I can site a source for this.

http://www.newsbiscuit.co...-phones-in-a-tiny-burqa/

howard melton

So, I've been lurking on the board for about a year and half now, on and off. During this time I've managed to come up with a few good ideas, and couple small chunks of story that when put all together, have pushed to me trying my hat at this game.  So let me offer my idea first for general approval, then I'll throw out the bits of story I have, and we'll see what develops.
There general idea goes as such. The main character, based off myself, wants to go to Space, but is a bit... leery of the risks involved with a bus or RV and taking off. This, added to mild claustrophobia led to him pretty much staying on Earth while the early Fen are heading out. Until he hears of the Island. Upon which, our hero's immediate response is to call everyone he trusts, and pitch the idea of doing that themselves. Kai, our hero, currently owns the 10 acres of Tennessee hills he was raised on, and sees no reason why they can't make it fly. Two years of covert work and they take off fall of 2010. Launched, the whole ship has the distinct look of a flying sea turtle. Thus the Leonardo takes flight.
Food is provided by interior hydroponic garden bays. Another bay is used for tobacco production. Originally just a small batch to provide pipe tobacco to some of the crew, this expanded into a full sized bay when it was realized that tobacco is a cash crop no on else in space is growing. This ends up providing enough capital that after a while a second turtle ship is constructed. The Donatello is built for increased crop production, but with a second heavy focus on research into creating safer, more flavorful tobaccos.
Once Boskonian activity starts though, things change. After an attack on the Donatello that was only driven off by luck and good neighbors, Kai begins construction of a third ship. This one, designed to be almost third again as large as the the other two, was a warship. Heavy hull, heavy armament. Primary goal was the defense of the Donatello and Leonardo. Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out. When the new ship was just over half finished, Boskonians attacked and managed the capture the ship. This infuriated Kai and the other turtle dwellers and led them trying, again to build a third turtle ship, this time in secrecy, hidden in the belt. Efforts were successful, the Raphaela is completed in 2013 and takes part in the anti Boskonian efforts.
Here is were things get a bit more fuzzy for me, timeline wise. At some point, the Michelangelo is built as a kinda of resort. It's supposed to be party ship. It's got clubs and hotels rooms, and weekly rave and generally a place to have fun.  Also at some point, reports come in of the captured Turtle ship seen as part of boskonian forces. Named the Slash, I'm uncertain if it eventually gets destroyed or reclaimed.
This is just general outline to show how what I have planned could fit in with the existing story. I've got a some stuff written that fills in the personal details and adds character, but I wanted to get some opinions first.

I'm torn, whether to chuckle or to wince.

http://img59.imageshack.u.../harrypottertheanime.jpg

http://img33.imageshack.u...32/scoobydootheanime.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1097 ... lgirls.jpg
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

Apparently http://perezhilton.com/2010-08-09-quant ... -the-movie]Donald Bellisario's announced that he's working on a script for a motion picture version of Quantum Leap.  Unfortunately, other than the obvious announcement that the original cast is a bit too old to take over their original roles, there seems to be nothing more available on this.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

This one's for chemists who are also anime fans.

http://img1.sankakustatic.com/wp-conten ... acters.jpg]%[link=http://img1.sankakustatic.com/wp-content/gallery/safe-misc-vii/the-periodic-table-of-japanese-characters.jpg]http://img1.sankakustatic.com/wp-conten ... acters.jpg]

(I actually had to think about the choice for "Pb" for a moment... until I applied the stereotypical Japanese "problem" with R and L. It would have been nice if whoever put this together didn't have to resort to the stereotype...)
--
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

Current media narrative on the Ground Zero mosque: Shining beacon of liberal values bursting through the overcast skies of American intolerance.
What do you want to bet that the media narrative on the GG gay bar will be: Dangerous provocation that needlessly inflames cultural tensions in the ostensible service of liberal values.

How very insensitive.

Quote:I’m announcing tonight, that I am planning to build and open the first gay bar that caters not only to the west, but also Islamic gay men. To best express my sincere desire for dialogue, the bar will be situated next to the mosque Park51, in an available commercial space.

This is not a joke. I’ve already spoken to a number of investors, who have pledged their support in this bipartisan bid for understanding and tolerance.

As you know, the Muslim faith doesn’t look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I’m building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world.

The goal, however, is not simply to open a typical gay bar, but one friendly to men of Islamic faith. An entire floor, for example, will feature non-alcoholic drinks, since booze is forbidden by the faith. The bar will be open all day and night, to accommodate men who would rather keep their sexuality under wraps – but still want to dance.

Addicted To Being Good? The Psychopathology Of Heroism

The really interesting thing at the core here is the idea that the "markers" of sociopathy and heroism are almost identical, except for the empathy scale -- the sociopath has no empathy, the hero (or "X-altruist", as the writer calls it) has a surfeit.

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

Beautiful World
Lyrics
The "it's a beautiful world for you, it's not for me" makes me think Gatesong. Probably from a very fluffy world. (OMG?)
S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)
Lyrics
Causes intense headaches. (Duh.) Probably just a garden-variety backfire, although if it allows him to give headaches to ''other people'' it could be useful.
Girl U Want
Lyrics
Probably allows him to make a specific woman emit lust pheremones.
Time Out For Fun
Lyrics
You know that gag where a bunch of people are locked in mortal combat, and then at some (often undetectable) signal they all stop and do something else together for a bit before resuming?

Bonus: Weird Al - Dare To Be Stupid
If there is a better song for making everyone do really stupid stuff for a bit, I've never heard it.

Bob, we've been rather remiss lately in greeting the newest member of the boards.  His/Her first post was here.