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.

Even though I have not seen either show, it still made me laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y1jUTHW ... re=related

It could be worse:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010 ... ne-injured
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

I got to thinking, "Maybe Operation Great Justice needs a field hospital for all the wounded in the Boskone War." Sounds reasonable, right? But then I started thinking like the Fen...

Where to put a field hospital? On a Main Belt asteroid, of course - the Belt is where most of the action is.

Which asteroid? C'mon, we've all seen M*A*S*H - the field hospital belongs on asteroid 4077.

Does asteroid 4077 have a name? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4077_Asuka]Yes, but it isn't an appropriate name...

Which leads to the question in the subject line: Should we risk eternal pain by asking the Roughriders to set up a field hospital on asteroid 4077, or shouldn't we?
--
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

Link: Texas Schools Rewrite US History
I put this here for discussion. As I am not a Texan, I am not able to protest this sort of thing as strongly as I might were it in my Home state but... I would skip work to confront this school board if my kids were attending one of their schools.
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''

-- James Nicoll