Went around the city with my nephew yesterday morning - I took photos while he got more time in to qualify for his IFR rating. Out of 190 shots, two were horridly overexposed (glare from the morning sun on the windows), most were so-so, and 28 were what I consider good enough to show off. One of those 28 was, in my humble opinion, very good - here's a half-size version of part of it:

[img]http://web.ncf.ca/fm536/flightphotos/parliamenthill-12oct2008-1024x768.bmp">

That's just one photo, and I did title this thread "Showing off photos..." Anyone else have some good recent photos you'd want to share?
--
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

"This is my best plan to take over the world. " The boy said excitedly.

"What is it this time?Last time you held the world hostage and tried to kidnap a teen star pop sensation. " His handler asked morosely. Big Fire
would owe him big for looking after this guy. It was revenge. They were just waiting for a misstep to forcibly retire him even after he sprung this guy from
incarceration.

"I've been reading about the Haitian zombies. We find tetrodotoxin from a blue-ringed octopus in Australia, feed it to living sea life, and we have
our very own sea army at our command! "

"I ...don't think it works like that. " Handler rebutted, but the kid was already off an running at the amenities. Big Fire found the kid worked
very well as a distraction and supplied him with the technology needed to pull off his schemes. Handler rubbed his temples.

"Everybody's looking outward into space for handwavium. They'll never be looking for under the sea. Under the sea, under the sea-" The kid
launched into the song.

"Darling, it's better. Down where it's wetter. Take it from me. "

Let us cut away from this travesty of a song.

"It's the simplest thing ever. Seals are clubbed in Canada. You can't swing a club without hitting a dead seal. " The kid chattered at they
clambered on the rocks.

"It's clubbing seals on the rocks, and they're dead, because people do not get up in the middle of the freezing night in Canada to club seals!
" Handler hissed at him.

"Where'd the hell you get blue-ringed octopus poison?" Handler looked at the little skewers dabbed with wavium and poison.

"I hacked into a ship and diverted them only slightly off-course. "The kid chattered. "I couldn't find any blue-ringed octopus so I
substituted blowfish poison instead. "

They inserted a skewer dabbed with handwavium and poison into the seal's mouth and waited through the night.

"The sun's coming up in about five minutes. " Handler told him tiredly as they had stayed there for hours.

" But-"

"No buts. We're going home. We can try a different plan tomorrow night. "

The two left. Unseen, behind them. the first seal's eyes opened, and glowed red.

"Better hide the evidence. " Handler tossed the grenade behind him without looking as undead zombie seal became animal scraps mixed with other dead
seals.

SONGS OF INNOCENCE

Part 1: The Little Girl Lost

Here is how the universe began, with a singularity
exploding with the beginnings of the fundamental rules of the universe. Energy from the infinite singularity spread,
which became matter, which turned into stars, which turned into clouds, then smaller stars and planets. Then life.

Here is how the universe began, with three sisters who had
a question. The question was, could they create a being more powerful than themselves?
With the question came the experiment, the universe built to make the answer.

Here is how the universe began, budding from an older one,
unnoticed by its parent.

Here is how the universe began.

How will it end?

-1-

None of these things were going through Usagi's mind as
she dozed serenely on her desk, the paper beneath her head slowly absorbing the rivulet of spittle that ran down the edges of her open mouth. No, her dreams were of light and love and the gloriously mundane. There was a knock on her
door, one that failed to wake her. Then another. Nothing. The door opened and Usagi's mother peered in. Shaking her head, she strode across the
room to her sleeping daughter and shook her shoulders.

Usagi woke with a start, flinging the pen that she had
clutched in her hand towards the bedroom ceiling. It landed on her head point first before dropping down onto the
carpeted ground. Rubbing at the sore spot, she looked at her mother with a tired grimace. "What time is it?" Her voice was cracked with fatigue, and she had to clear her
throat repeatedly after she spoke.

"Just after noon," came the answer. "We didn't see you at breakfast, and when you weren't there for lunch either, I thought I'd come and see how you
were."

"I'm wishing that whichever sadist came up with
mathematics would die," said Usagi. Standing up, she stretched, cracking her neck and knuckling the small of her
back. "And my eternal curse on whoever decided that all of our papers should be due in the same week."

Usagi went over to her large mirror and leaned in, staring
at her red eyes and haggard face. "The bruises under my eyes have bruises.
And I think, no, wait, yes, I am developing a pimple on my forehead. Egad, two of them."

Mother sat down on Usagi's bed and sighed. "Much as I like to see you study-"

"You emotional terrorist, you," interrupted
Usagi, seeing where the conversation was going and not liking it one bit.

"Ahem. Much as
I like to see you study, you should have managed your time better so that you wouldn't have to do ten things at once."

"It's only five things," said
Usagi. Then she frowned. "Three things.
Five . . . three . . . ."

"In any case, you come down and eat, and then take up
where you left off. The brain needs food just like any other part of the body."

Usagi's stomach growled in agreement and Usagi herself
did the same. "Let me just wash up a bit first, then I'll be down."

"Good. I'm
sure your father would like to hear how your papers are coming. And maybe you can practice getting along with your
brother."

Usagi scowled.
"I'm not the one who needs to act like a human being rather than some kind of mutant slug who thinks childish insults are comedy gold."

With another weary sigh, Usagi's mother left the room,
closing the door behind her. Usagi looked down at her desk, grimaced at the large wet spot on her paper, and then
organized her desk. So she was wrong, she needed to do four things. And
she'd nearly finished off two of them. Hey, maybe she could actually sleep on her bed tonight. What a treat.

Padding to the bathroom with new clothes in her arms, she
debated whether she could take the time for a shower before her stomach put in a veto on that. Contenting to simply
wash her face and hands, she promised herself a full and luxuriously hot shower after lunch. Toweling off, she changed
into new, clean clothes, feeling halfway awake now. She made to go get lunch when a bird passing by her bathroom window
caught her attention. It sat on the windowsill, still and calm, and then flew away again as suddenly as it came.

Usagi looked at the city the bird flew into and
smiled. Despite the sunlight burning her eyes, she could see it was a beautiful day.
Even the prospect of more schoolwork, because of which she could not go out and enjoy it, couldn't dampen her appreciation of the day and the
city.

"Good afternoon, Crystal Tokyo," she said to her
home.

It said nothing in return.



-2-

Lunch was a rather strained affair. Father and Mother were perfectly pleasant, of course, though they both wore similar distracted visages. The pressures of state were omnipresent, as were its trappings. Servers and valets came
and went, mostly silent, as they left small dishes of exquisite taste and immaculate design and took away the empty dishes and bowls. Usagi, her bangs still damp, had trouble staying awake after her immediate hunger was satiated.
Further, her brother, Mamoru, was sitting sullenly beside her, presumably from a parental telling-off. What
pleasure Usagi could take from her brother's chastisement was somewhat lessened by both his terrible attitude and, perhaps more importantly, the covert
kicks to the shin he directed at her. Usagi retaliated with her world-renowned pinches, sometimes to his arm or through
his pants leg. Neither let their pain show on their own rather stiff faces, and Usagi even appreciated the kicks to the
degree that they kept her awake through the meal.

"Mother tells me that you've been having some
problems with schoolwork," said her father, warm and chiding. He swirled a glass of water in his hand and lightly
sipped from it before setting it down without a sound. He was dressed in coal black, the only color coming from a
single, small gold starburst that decorated his left lapel. This was, for him, casual wear for an intimate meal.

"Problems finishing, not doing," answered
Usagi. "Never enough time in the day."

"Time management-"

Usagi put her head in her hands and groaned softly, then
muffled a gasp of pain as Mamoru kicked her again. How did he find the exact same spot every single time, no matter how
she shifted and moved? Mutant freak and his mutant freak powers of being a pain in her arse.

"In any case, you'll be finished soon,
yes?"

"One way or another," she said. "Either I shall be done in two days or I shall be dead."

Mother laughed, the long sleeves of her white blouse
sliding down her arms as she lifted a hand to her mouth.

"What is it you're doing, anyway?" said
Father, after looking fondly at his wife.

Usagi turned away to think, while at the same time making a
quick retaliatory strike against Mamoru with three rapid pinches to his arms that nearly brought tears to his eyes.
"Maths, but that's mostly articulating proofs. Literature, almost but not quite done with that. History. Biology. Finished philosophy,
linguistics, civics, and economics."

Father perked up.
As befitted his position, he took a keen interest in nearly all of those subjects. "So tell me about
them. What are you writing?"

"Stuff, lots and lots of stuff, most of it hot air and
nonsense," Usagi said, trying to evade answering. Quite honestly, the prospect of having to talk about her work
was too much like doing it, a prospect that she truly loathed returning to. That she would have to once the meal ended
was making her linger over it, and she didn't think she would have the willpower to pick up her pen if she had to talk about it. She particularly didn't want to discuss civics, which had taken a rather jaundiced look at the current political
landscape. Though she quite enjoyed being an oligarch, she had to be aware of the inherent unfairness of living in a
post-human oligarchy that was verging into a theocratic autocracy.

She was Serenity, heir to the Electrum Throne, the royal
princess. She was the daughter of Serenity and Endymion, the Eternal Queen and King of the Immanent Gods, the true
Monarchs of Creation, rulers of the Empire of Humanity, which had as its capital the shining city of Crystal Tokyo.
They had defeated the forces of evil, and pushed the Earth to heights of glory and prosperity that it has never known.
Or so the stories went.

The meal continued with Father turning his attention to
Mamoru, catching up on how his own schoolwork was proceeding. He answered back in a less hostile manner, though he was
terse and mumbled as much as he could. Father nodded as if all was right, though Mother pursed her lips
disapprovingly.

Usagi left just as the last of the plates were being taken
away and the large warm cups of coffee (for father) and hot chocolate (for everyone else) were being served. Making her
apologies, and pleading both a heavy schedule and a need for a shower, she left, taking her cup with her.

After her shower, which was not nearly as long as she
wished it could have been, she went back to her desk. With a healthy gulp of hot chocolate to strengthen her, she took
up her pen once more, set it against paper, and then fell asleep.

This time in her dreams, she saw many things.

Handwavium raid ends in escape

Published: Oct. 12 2008 at 2:47 PM

OSHKOSH, Wis., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A raid by federal and state agents on the Sandwich Group International compound at Wittman Airport ended with a dramatic

daylight escape, officials said.

The 9 a.m. raid was part of a nationwide sweep of suspected handwavium users. Sandwich Group International was under suspicion since early April, when the

group purchased a former Soviet space shuttle and moved it into a hangar at Wittman.

The alleged handwavium users escaped from the compound aboard what witnesses claimed was the space shuttle, which burst out of the hangar at 9:15 a.m. Elements

of the Wisconsin and Michigan Air National Guard engaged the shuttle briefly over Lake Michigan, but the vehicle escaped into orbit.

Officials recovered destroyed electronic equipment and six barrels of handwavium. The handwavium will be turned over to the Transrationality Science Assessment

Bureau for analysis.

Here's my build plan for my DB/SR. I could use some advice on how to make him a little better. Please be aware that I'm trying to avoid going after ludicrously expensive IOs and Procs where possible. The only ones that I've used are ones I haven't had too much trouble getting previously for not wholy ludicrous prices. Well, except for the LotG recharge, but eh.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.4006
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Senoku: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dual Blades
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Power Slice

• (A) Pounding Slugfest - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
  
• (5) Pounding Slugfest - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (7) Pounding Slugfest - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (50) Pounding Slugfest - Disorient Bonus: Level 30
  

• (A) Serendipity - Defense: Level 40
  
• (3) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (3) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (11) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (15) Serendipity - Endurance: Level 40
  

• (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage: Level 53
  
• (5) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (7) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (43) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (43) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (45) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 53
  

• (A) Serendipity - Defense: Level 40
  
• (23) Serendipity - Endurance: Level 40
  
• (23) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (39) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (39) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  

• (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Soaring - FlySpeed: Level 53
  
• (9) Soaring - Endurance/FlySpeed: Level 53
  
• (9) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  

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

• (A) Pounding Slugfest - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
  
• (13) Pounding Slugfest - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (13) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (42) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge: Level 50
  
• (43) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (45) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Freebird - FlySpeed: Level 53
  
• (15) Freebird - +Stealth: Level 53
  

• (A) Healing IO: Level 50
  
• (17) Healing IO: Level 50
  
• (17) Healing IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (19) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (19) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (37) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (40) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (40) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
  

• (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod: Level 50
  
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy: Level 50
  
• (37) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End: Level 50
  

• (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage: Level 53
  
• (25) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (25) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (36) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (37) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  

• (A) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (27) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 53
  
• (27) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (31) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (39) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  

• (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (29) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (29) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (31) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (31) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 53
  
• (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  

• (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (36) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  
• (36) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 53
  
• (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance: Level 53
  

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (42) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (42) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (45) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Defense: Level 53
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Endurance: Level 53
  

• (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 53
  
• (48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (48) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 53
  
• (50) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 53
  
• (50) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 53
  

• (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• 11.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  
• 11.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  
• 3.13% Defense(Energy)
  
• 0.63% Defense(Negative)
  
• 6.88% Defense(Melee)
  
• 8.75% Defense(Ranged)
  
• 9.38% Defense(AoE)
  
• 12.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 31% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 9% FlySpeed
  
• 100.4 HP (7.5%) HitPoints
  
• 9% JumpHeight
  
• 9% JumpSpeed
  
• MezResist(Held) 6.05%
  
• MezResist(Immobilize) 8.25%
  
• MezResist(Sleep) 3.3%
  
• MezResist(Stun) 3.3%
  
• 5.5% (0.09 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 52% (2.91 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 3.15% Resistance(Fire)
  
• 3.15% Resistance(Cold)
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Energy)
  
• 4.39% Resistance(Negative)
  
• 9% RunSpeed
  

• 8% (0.45 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 0.63% Defense(Energy,Negative)
  
• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  

• 4% (0.22 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 10 HP (0.75%) HitPoints
  
• 3% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 1.25% Defense(AoE)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
  
• 20.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 3.3%
  
• 3.75% Defense(Ranged)
  

• 4% (0.22 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 10 HP (0.75%) HitPoints
  
• 3% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 1.25% Defense(AoE)
  

• 1% (0.02 End/sec) Recovery
  

• 8% (0.45 HP/sec) Regeneration
  

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

• 8% (0.45 HP/sec) Regeneration
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 20.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 2.75%
  
• 3.13% Defense(Melee)
  

• 5% JumpSpeed, 5% JumpHeight, 5% FlySpeed, 5% RunSpeed
  
• 25.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  

• 10% (0.56 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 3.13% Resistance(Negative)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 3.13% Defense(AoE)
  

• MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
  
• 0.95% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• MezResist(Stun) 1.65%
  
• 1.88% Defense(AoE)
  
• 1.88% Defense(Melee)
  

• MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
  
• 0.95% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• MezResist(Stun) 1.65%
  
• 1.88% Defense(AoE)
  
• 1.88% Defense(Melee)
  

• 10% (0.56 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 15.1 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
  
• 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.2%
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 2.5% Defense(Ranged)
  

• 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.5% Defense(Energy)
  
• 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
  
• 2.5% Defense(Ranged)
  

From an email.




When I first got this bird I spent two weeks trying to get him to say "Hello." By the end of the month he was saying
"'lo! 'lo!" But that was about it. So I gave up.




But then I bought a GameCube and, well, every Resident Evil game they've cranked out for it. I played them for hours on end with the lights out. I
won't lie to you -- it sorta put me "off," you know? I started sleeping with the lights on and locking my windows at night.




One night I crawled out of bed to get myself a drink, and I shuffled down the dark hallway between my bedroom and the kitchen, feeling along the wall with my
hand as I went. The kitchen was nearly pitch black until I opened the refrigerator, and then a brilliant wedge of light poured out, causing me to squint.
That's when I heard it:




"Grraaa ... aaaagghhh..."




It was the slow, raspy moan of THE UNDEAD. I wheeled around, panicked, staring into the darkness beyond the fridge. The milk slipped from my hands and
crashed onto the ground, spilling all over the kitchen floor. I didn't move a muscle. Time was frozen for me. And then again:




"Nnyyaagghhhh... glup, glup, glup..."




The sounds were terrifying, and yet ... familiar. Slowly, my socks wet with milk, I stepped gingerly forward toward the family room. I must've left my
Nintendo on, I thought ... but no, it and the TV were both silent. The Resident-Evil noises were coming from elsewhere. Then, from behind:




"GRAAHH!!"




I whirled around and reeled backwards in horror. I smashed into the lampshade and furiously reached over to flick the switch. And there, sitting on his perch
amidst the warm glowing light that filed the room, was my parrot. "'lo! 'lo!" he said to me, cheerfully.




Apparently all those zombie noises from the game had gone to the little guy's head. He could duplicate them exactly! This went on for some weeks, until
finally I got used to it. The groanings and mumblings as I lay in bed at night actually started to get kinda soothing.




Of course, I forgot to warn my friends and neighbors. A couple weeks ago, after a late night partying, Gary crashed on my couch. At 4:30 he came slamming
into my room in his boxers clutching a baseball bat. "SOMETHING'S IN THERE!" he hissed at me, panting.




So of course I had to introduce him to my parrot's habit. He only does it when the lights are off -- I guess I trained him to do that, you know, by
playing those games in the dark. "'lo! 'lo!" he'd squawk, and then we'd flick off the lights and it would be:
"Mmwwwaaahhhhh... *slurping noises*"




One day Gary and Chris and I all stood around his cage one evening talking it over. We dimmed the lights until the bird let out a long, low,
"Grrannggpphhnyayyyaahh" sound, like an oboe being played by an asthmatic's last breath. "See?" I said. "Zombie bird."




"Dude," Chris said, stepping back. "How do we know that that bird's still alive? Maybe he's dead. Or ... undead. Has he eaten
recently?"




"Truth be told, he's been a bit peckish," Gary said.




"Of course he's peckish," I grunted. "He's a bird."




"Grrrraaannnnghh! RAANNNRRRGHGHHHH!"




"You better take him to the vet," Chris said, holding up a crucifix.




The next day at the Animal Clinic, the vet couldn't figure out anything wrong. "That's a fine healthy bird!" he told me.




"'Lo!" the bird cheeped in return.




So I turned out the lights in his office. The room fell silent.




And then, from the cage, a soft low murmur: "Braaaaains..."




"Maybe he should stay for observation..." my vet answered.




The next morning I came in to pick him up, but I found his cage outside the office with a note attached. "Please take bird home," it said.
"Dogs all scared and night janitor quit."

Okay, 2nd Biomods have been discussed already and it seems like it is a viable, if costly, thing to do.

But something has wormed its way into my head and simply will not let go. The mental imagery of Benjamin being pushed beyond his limits and his biomod
suddenly shifting, as did Kazuma's Alter in S-Cry-Ed, to the advanced Shine Brighter form. And even, with much passage of time and usage, the full-on form
in which he anihilated the Big Bad Guy and then again when he goes on to have the big knock-down-drag-out fight with his rival. (God, that epilogue at the
very end sucked.)

An alternative, which I find equally attractive would be called "Paint It Black." The Handwavium in his system is sick of the beatdown he's
taking and decides it's time to let Ben take the gloves off by NOT transfering the Speed Drive field he generates into whatver he hits (in other words,
what he hits will actually be on the recieving end of some serious punishment). As a warning sign, the red portions of the armor turn black to signify the
dangerous nature that his biomod takes on.

I have a theory that if the sorce material of a biomod (if anything specific is provided) shows that the ability that the biomod is based on evolves, then so
can the biomod. It kinda makes sense to me. The Handwavium would probably go like, "Oh, it can do this too? Well, let's save that for when we
really really need it."

I feel that it can be a moment of extreme stress and duress, a do-or-die situation where it seems that its going to be 'die' no matter how hard you
push. That, or it could be triggered by a massive dose of Handwavium into the system, like the Espresso Strain. Or perhaps maybe a combination of both
(that's probably more likely)?

What do you guys think?

Well, I'm looking for a little advice for getting Shizuru a little more, well, durable in combat. I'll throw up the stat block and let you guys look
it over. I won't say a budget because I'm willing to work for whatever I have to purchase.

Hero Plan
by Mids' Hero Designer 1.4006

http://www.cohplanner.com/



Shizuru:
Level 50 Magic Controller

Primary
Power Set: Mind Control

Secondary
Power Set: Sonic Resonance

Power
Pool: Flight

Power
Pool: Fitness

Power
Pool: Leadership

Power
Pool: Speed

Ancillary
Pool: Fire Mastery



Hero
Profile:

------------

Level 1:
Mesmerize

(A) Call of the Sandman - Chance of Heal Self: Level 50

(3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 50

(3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50

(5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50

(5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50

(7) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 47



Level 1:
Sonic Siphon

(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(17) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50





Level 2:
Dominate

(A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50

(7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 50

(9) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 50

(9) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 48

(11) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50

(11) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50



Level 4:
Sonic Barrier

(A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(23) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(25) Resist Damage IO: Level 50



Level 6:
Sonic Haven

(A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(25) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(31) Resist Damage IO: Level 50



Level 8:
Mass Hypnosis

(A) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep: Level 50

(13) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep/Recharge: Level 50

(13) Fortunata Hypnosis - Accuracy/Sleep/Recharge: Level 50

(15) Fortunata Hypnosis - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50

(15) Fortunata Hypnosis - Sleep/Endurance: Level 50

(17) Fortunata Hypnosis - Chance for Placate: Level 50



Level
10: Hover

(A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance: Level 38

(37) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 39





Level
12: Swift

(A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50



Level
14: Fly

(A) Soaring - FlySpeed: Level 50

(37) Soaring - Endurance: Level 50

(37) Soaring - Endurance/FlySpeed: Level 50





Level
16: Disruption Field

(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(31) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(34) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50



Level
18: Total Domination

(A) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50

(19) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Endurance/Hold: Level 48

(19) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 50

(21) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Hold/Range: Level 50

(21) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge: Level 50

(23) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Chance of Damage(Psionic): Level 50





Level
20: Sonic Dispersion

(A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(36) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(36) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(36) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50





Level
22: Health

(A) Healing IO: Level 50

(39) Healing IO: Level 50

(39) Healing IO: Level 50





Level
24: Stamina

(A) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50

(39) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50

(40) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50





Level
26: Terrify

(A) Detonation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50

(27) Detonation - Damage/Endurance: Level 45

(27) Detonation - Damage/Recharge: Level 48

(29) Detonation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50

(29) Detonation - Damage/Endurance/Range: Level 50

(31) Fear Duration IO: Level 50





Level
28: Assault

(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(40) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(40) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50





Level
30: Tactics

(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(42) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff: Level 50

(42) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge: Level 50





Level
32: Mass Confusion

(A) Coercive Persuasion - Confused/Endurance: Level 50

(33) Coercive Persuasion - Contagious Confusion: Level 50

(33) Coercive Persuasion - Confused: Level 50

(33) Coercive Persuasion - Confused/Recharge: Level 50

(34) Coercive Persuasion - Accuracy/Confused/Recharge: Level 50

(34) Coercive Persuasion - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50





Level
35: Clarity

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50





Level
38: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50

(42) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50

(43) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50





Level
41: Fire Ball

(A) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 48

(43) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 50

(43) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 50

(45) Accuracy IO: Level 50



Level
44: Fire Blast

(A) Accuracy IO: Level 50

(45) Damage Increase IO: Level 50

(45) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50

(46) Devastation - Chance of Hold: Level 50

(46) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50

(46) Devastation - Damage/Endurance: Level 50



Level
47: Fire Shield

(A) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Recharge: Level 45

(48) Titanium Coating - Resistance: Level 48

(48) Titanium Coating - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50

(48) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50

(50) Resist Damage IO: Level 50

(50) Resist Damage IO: Level 50





Level
49: Maneuvers

(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50

(50) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50





------------

Level 1:
Brawl

(A) Empty





Level 1:
Sprint

(A) Empty





Level 2:
Rest

(A) Empty





Level 1:
Containment

------------

Set Bonus
Totals:

6%
DamageBuff(Smashing)

6%
DamageBuff(Lethal)

6%
DamageBuff(Fire)

6%
DamageBuff(Cold)

6%
DamageBuff(Energy)

6%
DamageBuff(Negative)

6%
DamageBuff(Toxic)

6%
DamageBuff(Psionic)

5%
Defense(Energy)

7.5%
Defense(Ranged)

1.88%
Defense(AoE)

2.25% Max
End

2.5%
Enhancement(Held)

4%
Enhancement(Confused)

20%
Enhancement(RechargeTime)

29%
Enhancement(Accuracy)

8%
FlySpeed

64.9 HP
(6.38%) HitPoints

8%
JumpHeight

8%
JumpSpeed

MezResist(Sleep) 3.85%

MezResist(Stun) 2.2%

17.5%
(0.29 End/sec) Recovery

12% (0.51
HP/sec) Regeneration

4.1%
Resistance(Fire)

4.1%
Resistance(Cold)

1.88%
Resistance(Energy)

5%
Resistance(Toxic)

3.13%
Resistance(Psionic)

13%
RunSpeed

1%
XPDebtProtection

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*********************
In the epic rage of furious thunder
legends create their tales
when the twilight calls and the dark lord falls
our glory will prevail

Taken from http://www.cityofheroes.com/feature_upd ... e_13a.html

Quote:Below is a list of most, but not all, of the Day Jobs available in Issue 13: Power and Responsibility:

Hero Day Jobs

Day Job Name
Log Out Location
Benefit

City Official
City Hall (Atlas Park)
Influence Bonus upon mission complete.

Law Enforcer
Police Stations
Experience Bonus upon mission complete

Commuter
Train Stations
Travel speed bonus.

Shop Keeper
Store Lobbies
Enhancement drop on mission complete.

Intern
Portal Corp Lobbies
Large Inspiration upon mission complete.

Caregiver
Hospital Lobbies
Out of combat regeneration bonus.

Professor
Inside Universities
Random tech salvage drop upon mission complete.

Midnighter
Inside the Midnighter's Club
Random arcane salvage drop upon mission complete.

Banker
Inside a Vault
Influence Bonus upon mission complete.

Clubber
Pocket D
Out of combat recovery bonus.

Fashion Designer
Tailor Lobbies
Coupons that will grant a discount at the tailor.

Mortician
Graveyards
XP Debt Protection


Villain Day Jobs

Day Job Name
Log Out Location
Benefit

Demagogue
Arachnos Building (Marconeville, Port Oakes)
Influence Bonus upon mission complete.

Arachnos Agent
Arachnos Bases and Arachnos Controlled areas.
Experience Bonus upon mission complete

Pilot
Near Black Helicopters
Travel speed bonus.

Smuggler
Ferry Docks
Enhancement drop on mission complete.

Crey Employee
Crey Industries Building in Nerva Archipelago
Large Inspiration upon mission complete.

Pain Specialist
Hospital Lobbies
Out of combat regeneration bonus.

Professor
Inside Universities
Random tech salvage drop upon mission complete.

Midnighter
Inside the Midnighter's Club
Random arcane salvage drop upon mission complete.

Thief
Inside a Vault
Influence Bonus upon mission complete.

Clubber
Pocket D
Out of combat recovery bonus.

Fashion Designer
Tailor Lobbies
Coupons that will grant a discount at the tailor.

Mortician
Graveyards
XP Debt Protection


Accolades
An Accolade is obtained by earning two Day Job badges that work in conjunction with one another. In other words, earning multiple badges unlock Accolades. These Accolades will grant an even more enhanced set of powers and benefits. Additional ‘charges’ can also be earned for your Day Job Accolade powers by logging off from either of the areas associated with the two badges that unlocked the Accolade. Below is a list of some, but not all, of the Day Job Accolades available in Issue 13: Power and Responsibility:

Hero Day Job Accolades

Day Job Accolade
Day Job #1
Day Job #2
Benefit

Police Chief
Law Enforcer
City Official
Baton Power: Melee Minor DMG (Smashing) For Stun.

Security Chief
Law Enforcer
Banker
Tear Gas: Ranged AoE Hold.

Scientist
Professor
Intern
Sleep Gas: Ranged AoE Sleep.

Physician
Professor
Caregiver
Ally Resurrect

Alchemist
Caregiver
Midnighter
Ally Heal


Villain Day Job Accolades

Day Job Accolade
Day Job #1
Day Job #2
Benefit

Web Weaver
Arachnos Agent
Demagogue
Web Grenade: Ranged Foe Immobilize, \-Rech, \-Fly, \-Speed

Black Ops
Arachnos Agent
Thief
Smoke Grenade: Ranged AOE Foe \-Perception, \-To Hit

Crey Scientist
Pain Specialist
Crey Employee
Sleep Gas: Ranged AoE Sleep.

Physician
Professor
Pain Specialist
Ally Resurrect

Alchemist
Pain Specialist
Midnighter
Ally Heal

Quote:On Patrol
In addition to all of the Day Jobs, every character is "On Patrol" after they log out of the game. When players log back into Paragon City or the Rogue Isles they will gain 1 bar of double experience (when defeating enemies) for every 24 hours they are logged out. A player can earn up to 10 bars of double experience this way. Double experience is shown as a blue portion of your experience bar. One thing to note is that if a player has any experience debt, the debt will be removed first before any double experience is applied.

If your character has a number of bars of double experience that exceeds the number of experience bars you need to level up, then this double experience will carry over to the next security/threat level.

Giving you guys a heads up - I won't be online tonight for City of Heroes. Most probably tomorrow either, or even Sunday.

My Dad went into surgery on Tuesday to have his knee replaced (they did the other one a few years ago.) and there have been complications.

The original plan was he was going to be out of the hospital today and I would've spent the evening tonight and Saturday over at his place helping out with
things (like reaching up to a top shelf or helping him move around).

But - well, my Dad has been on blood thinners for years due to high blood pressure. And for some reason - I'm not clear on the details - he had to have a
blood transfusion today. A good friend of his has been with him at the hospital and says he's been "shaking". I'm not sure what that means.

I called Dad the other day, he seemed to be okay, if a little woozy (to be expected). But I called him today and he was -really- out of it. I called Sharon up
- the friend I mentioned - and she went up there to check on him. I called later while she was there and got the above description. He's conscious, but NOT
feeling well. So I'm headed up to the hospital to stay with him there tonight. My brother will take over for me later, but I'll probably be back there
again tomorrow.

I believe I may have mentioned before - Dad's been beating the odds of his family medical history to the tune of about 25+ years of when his father and
grandfather died of either heart attack or stroke. Miracles of modern medicine and all. But shit like this makes me worried sick to the pit of my spine.

So, even if I'm back at my house, I'm likely not going to be in the mood for playing City of Heroes or anything this weekend. But I'll check back
when I can.

In the meantime - for those of you who believe in such things - send a prayer on my Dad's behalf? It can't hurt, that's for sure.

I'll check back when I can. Hopefully this isn't anywhere near as serious as I'm making it sound.