or “Why Mal shouldn't read Turtledove novels at three in the morning.”

So... yeah. This is something I'm writing just to try and exorcise the idea from my head & get back to more productive Fenspace stuff. Comment at will, 'cause this one's going to be a bit strange. --Mal

It may be that Skuld's renowned prudishness is more than a bit hypocritical.  Evidence:  when, in the manga, Peorth asked Keiichi on a date, she studied up on dating practices by reading manga.  At one point, it's noted that she's also been reading "those naughty comics, too..." and was fantasizing about K1 taking her to a love hotel.  ("And then ... the night catches fire at a hotel très élégant!" -- with an Imagine Spot of them embracing nude ... or at least topless.)  Then, when Peorth leaves, Skuld discovers that somebody's swiped her manga collection.  Now, this doesn't mean for sure that those "naughty" manga Peorth read were part of Skuld's collection -- but it does support the possibility.
"Pervert!"
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

Sunday night, a young Spider trooper named Alexander Wolfe, while engaging on a retrieval mission for materiel for his superiors, stumbled across an advance scouting party of Clockwork from the Praetorian Earth. These Clockwork could only be using the warehouse in Port Oakes as a base of operations to investigate the Rogue Isles for sympathetic groups. Acting quickly, Wolfe contacted a number of other Arachnos operatives, and they removed the threat to Arachnos security and retrieved the assets. As a young and inexperienced Spider trooper, Wolfe was only able to take one acceptable image of the invaders, but he was assured that his fellow operatives managed to get photographic evidence as well. Reports have been made to Arachnos superiors and flagged as high priority. This initial foray by the enemy cannot be the last that Lord Recluse's forces see of the mechanized threat.
-- FILE BEGINS --

Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com

"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."

I'm calling it a night, folks.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Australian researchers create a transistor with only 7 atoms.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Best Buy runs "Anti-Sales" to trick careless customers.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I've noticed this fine long weekend that wi-fi access is free on the trains, and thought "why should I pay for long-distance calls while in transit, then?" This would require getting a VoIP wi-fi device, which I understand means "a VoIP cellphone" nowadays. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which VoIP cellphone I should look at (or avoid)?

I suppose I could alternately use a USB headset with my wi-fi-equipped laptop. Does such a thing exist, and if it does, what software does it work with? (I want to be able to call anyone, not just Skype users...)
--
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

Martin Gardner has died.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Playing my Rad/Sonic Defender these last few days inspired me to make an entertaining build. To me at least, to sum it up He's going to do -Res. Heaping helpings of it. Also it is encouraged to have someone willing to bite the bullet and die on occasion. As soon as said suicide bomb dies.. Power build up>Vengeance>Amplify>Fallout then Mutate the dead person so they at least get something outta the deal . I can improve the build's recharge a little more if I swap out positrons blast for Ragnarok in Fallout, and Decimation in shout for Apocalypse. But as it is. The build Can Self Sustain Perma Haste and Perma Accelerated Metabolism.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.707
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
The Mad Bomber: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Sonic Attack
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Power Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiation Infection

• (A) Dark Watcher's Despair - Chance for Recharge Slow: Level 50
  
• (3) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff: Level 20
  
• (3) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (17) Dark Watcher's Despair - Recharge/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (43) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Decimation - Chance of Build Up: Level 40
  
• (5) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (5) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (21) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (48) Decimation - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  

• (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (7) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (7) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (15) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (9) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (9) Decimation - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (19) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (39) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  

• (A) Jumping IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  
• (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (13) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (43) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 50
  
• (46) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  

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

• (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (13) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (15) Doctored Wounds - Heal: Level 50
  
• (21) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (45) Doctored Wounds - Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Healing IO: Level 50
  

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

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 50
  
• (19) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod: Level 50
  
• (23) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (40) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (46) Efficacy Adaptor - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy: Level 50
  
• (50) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (23) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (50) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (25) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (25) Decimation - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (34) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (37) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge: Level 50
  
• (27) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (27) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (29) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (37) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff: Level 50
  

• (A) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (29) Fortunata Hypnosis - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (31) Fortunata Hypnosis - Accuracy/Sleep/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (34) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (37) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep: Level 50
  

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  
• (31) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (31) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (34) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 50
  
• (40) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Unbreakable Constraint - Endurance/Hold: Level 50
  
• (33) Unbreakable Constraint - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (33) Unbreakable Constraint - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (33) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (40) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold: Level 50
  

• (A) Absolute Amazement - Chance for ToHit Debuff: Level 50
  
• (36) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (36) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (36) Absolute Amazement - Stun/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (39) Absolute Amazement - Stun: Level 50
  

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (39) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff: Level 50
  
• (42) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (42) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (42) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge: Level 50
  
• (43) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

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

• (A) HamiO:Membrane Exposure
  
• (48) HamiO:Membrane Exposure
  
• (50) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 50
  

• (A) Range IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Run Speed IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• 6.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  
• 6.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  
• 6.75% Max End
  
• 81% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
  
• 101.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 5% FlySpeed
  
• 72.5 HP (7.13%) HitPoints
  
• 5% JumpHeight
  
• 5% JumpSpeed
  
• MezResist(Immobilize) 8.25%
  
• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
  
• 21% (0.35 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 20% (0.85 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 12% Resistance(Fire)
  
• 12% Resistance(Cold)
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Energy)
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Negative)
  
• 5% RunSpeed
  

• 15.3 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  
• 2.25% Max End
  
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 5% JumpSpeed, 5% JumpHeight, 5% FlySpeed, 5% RunSpeed
  

• 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  
• 2.25% Max End
  
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 10% (0.42 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  
• 1.5% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 10% (0.42 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  
• 2.25% Max End
  
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Energy,Negative)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Energy,Negative)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

Because not everything involves a crossover.