The writ's been dropped, and http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/]Canadians go to the polls October 14. I still don't know why, except maybe that the Prime Minister had to negotiate with other party leaders in the just-dissolved minority government instead of getting everything his own way. (Which would explain why he called an election, but doesn't address why an election was necessary...)

At least there's one good thing - http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/crp ... sf/en/Home]Bill C-61, which would have removed some of the "fair dealing" rights from the Canadian Copyright Act, died on the order paper. But was that really worth the ~$300,000,000 it'll cost to hold this election?
--
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

http://arsludi.lamemage.c...ots-of-roleplaying-games/ Ars
Ludi has a great article on the great-granddaddy of the RPG. A really fun an informative read.

ok, I figured I'd share what I do on my Tuesday nights.
The links are to rather large images. I have even higher resolutions available (photobucket limits it to 1 meg per photo) if someone wants them.

My first piece (and an object lesson as to why not to leave alabaster out in the acid rain)


The second piece I've done (had a rather bad split towards the end and had to glue it back together)


Piece #3, I'm still in the progress of mounting this into a wall lamp


Piece #4, My largest so far (about 2.5 feet tall), and looks best when lit outside.


And yes Ankh, If you really want a sculpture of Emet I can do it. I can make it between 1 or 2 feet high, and I'm in CA so shipping cost will depend on where it has to go. It will also have to wait until I'm done with my current piece (about 18 months out).
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/ev ... _to_darwin]Evolutionists Flock To Darwin-Shaped Wall Stain

Quote:"To those who would deny that genetic drift is responsible for a branching evolutionary tree of increasing biodiversity amid changing ecosystems, we say, 'Look upon the face of Darwin!'" said Jeanette Cosgrove, who, along with members of her microbiology class, has maintained a candlelight vigil at the site for the past 72 hours.

That faux AA-style group Microprose & others used to promote Civilization games.

The game being Spore. I've got it and well I start playing it at 9pm and 6am rapidly appears. Because of that factoid, all copies should be kept away -
under lock & key- from Bob, Chris and any other usual suspect tracked in the update threads and beyond until they finish a major new part of whatever piece
they are working on.

Still, I think I was the first one to provide some buildings. And boy, I never thought the Orctaur I made in the standalone creature creator could look
so....massive, in the Kajira-class instance during the WoW/CoH-style playmode.

--Rod.H

"People missing from the 'net. Have you checked WoW/Spore/School yet?"

For those who like the X-Com series, Steam has the whole collection, including UFO Defense, Terror From the Deep, Apocalypse, Interceptor, and the hilariously
awful Enforcer available for $15 ($13.50 if you buy now). The DOS ones run via DOSBox.

BUT a pretty cool music video anyway... and the whole host site is pretty cool too.

http://www.brickfilms.com/filmview.php?filmID=830
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children

This is a quick Setting piece, describing the world where Enynn came from, and also a sorta-prelude to the whole thing.

----

The Countess Crey looked down approvingly up from attop the Central Grandville Tower. Crey City was a sight to behold, and she had made it all happen. After
being cast out as a unethical crack in Paragon, through sheer determination she made her own small empire through out the Isles. Her corperation was always
working, always finding new discoveries, and the sound of the elevator door opening behind her reminded her that she was about to hear another.

As the nervous, slightly shaking scientist aprroced her, he was lost for words. She frowned, she did not like these types.

"Well?" She asked expectantly.

"I.. On behalf of the departm-ment," He choked up a moment, "I r-regret to inform you, Countess, that we are not yet ready for h-human
testing.."

"And the schedule I assigned you?"

"B-but.. There were no expectations for att-ttack, Countess."

She Sighed. Longbow was getting much more open in their attemtps to stop her. They claimed her corperation was inhuman in its experiments. What could be more
human than curiosity, though? She was pushing the boundaries of knowledge that none other dared. Some day she would return and show Paragon the folly of their
'scientific ethics'. She would rule over them.

"Fine. One week. You have access our most talented staff. If you don't have a successful test by then, I'll make sure you are the next
'volunteer'. Do you understand 'doctor' Aeon?" The last with a not-so-subtle mock-respect.

"Y-yess Countess. Thank y-you." He bowed and wimpered his way out.

(You might guess I don't write for length.)
---

The Master said: "It is all in vain! I have never yet seen a man who can perceive his own faults and bring the charge home against himself."

>Analects: Book V, Chaper XXVI

At first I thought that having B-52's would be flippin'
cool. Then, while checking out the Wikipedia article on the BUFFs, I stumbled upon something that I knew would be a much better fit. Comment at will. ^_^ Quick
edit to fix some gun calibers.

• 6 Retractable 20mm Vulcan Turrets
  
• 2 Fixed 20mm Vulcan Turrets (nose and
  tail)
  
• 4 Modular Bays rated at 21,500 lbs. of
  capacity
  

• I'm Not a Lemon: Like the aircraft they are derived from, these beasts find some pretty interesting ways to break.
  Fortunately, they'll faithfully hold together until they get back home.
  
• Keeps
  On Truckin': They may be slow and unwieldy, but God help you if you get in their way.
  

• Not as uncomfortable as their predecessors,
  these space-planes have four very large modular bays that can have
  self-contained crew quarters 'dropped' inside with no fuss whatsoever.
  
• The Peacemaker Class may not be the fastest
  thing out there, but it packs the biggest wallop in its size-class. For straight-up 'bombing' runs, the modular bays can be converted from crew
  quarters to missile bays so the 86,000 lb. capacity of these monsters can be put to full use.
  
• Buy Yours Today! The Peacemaker doesn't
  just drop bombs! Use it to transport precious valuables through the more dangerous parts of Known Space, or contact The Roughriders to contract their armed
  transport services!
  

Not to get anyone too excited or anything but...

Helen, Peggy and I have been watching season 5 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer one night a week for the last few weeks, and we've been plotting. The outline is nowhere near complete, but what we've got already... hooo boy. It's going to be an interesting ride.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.