This thunderstorm is about 10-20 miles away. Lightning can be seen up to 75 miles away at night when the intervening sky is clear and dark. Thunder, however, may be heard only a few miles away in a noisy location, 10 miles away in the open, and up to 15 miles away in quiet locations.
Cloudcover has mostly passed, but we were treated to a lovely set of lightning flashes, heavy rains and parking lots reduced to wading pools due to poor drainage. Still a flood watch until 6pm, and a severe weather warnig until 8.
Some of the things I’m digging about the rain is the cooler temperatures… I may be able to open my windows when I get home tonight…. but the humidity makes it feel much warmer than it might otherwise.
On another tack, either this code red thing is worse than I’d thought or all the mailing lists I’m on are taking a little nap today. Where I usually get about 30-50 pieces of mail a day, I think that perhaps only 10 got through… and the majority of those are LJ replies and personal mail… that’s why there’s no evil news today, none of the spiders have crawled back home to roost. Perhaps that explains all the ip pinging I’ve been getting lately too. Kids, get a firewall, especially if you’re on dsl or cable. I can’t say it enough.
Life’s always been a little odd for Will Piper. At seven, he won a science fair
prize for showing that meta-abilities can exist in plant life. (Sadly, the
experiment was lost after the fern in question found a suitable ‘host’ to
control, and fly it to somewhere in South America. The pilot returned with no
memory of the incident.) At twelve, he and his younger brother (six at the time)
inexplicably stopped a bank robbery by blinding the robber with Fire
extinguisher spray & locking him in the vault. Events like those happen to Will
on a regular basis… this is not to say regular things don’t happen to him, but
it seems that oddities are more frequent with him around. He’s a product o f a
boy’s club style family. (His mother died when he was 13, leaving behind a very
busy father, and a younger brother.) Will thrived when he took on the household
responsibilites, acting as cook & maintenance for the family, as well as tutor
and confidant to his younger brother. Aside from the occasional peanut-butter
omelette (Which younger brother August enjoys eating…), Will did a great job
keeping the family together and maintaining excellent grades at school.
Excelling in science, Will got a scholarship to U Penn, and later was recruited
by Sabretech to pursue his theory about loosening the bonds surrounding matter
(Desolidification) surrounding matter to allow for safe, unhindered movement
from place to place. Cars never need crash, police need never be shot, and
freight trains could fit dozens of cargo cars overlapping in the space of just
one. The procedure involved a chemical bath of the object, and subjecting it to
a ‘phase-altering’ radiation. Unfortunately this experiment never came to
fruition, as on the fifth day of testing, the laboratory building suffered some
sort of electrical surge, exploding the containment tank, and dousing visiting
brother August, a lab Chimpanzee and Will with an upsettingly large amount of
the chemical. After a quick trip to the emergency room, and showing no ill
effects, both of them began exhibiting a high level of control over the
molecules in their own body. The chimp somehow gained a much higher intelligence
as well. (One guess is the Neurons of his brain formed new connections and
‘jumpers’ as a result of the accident. INT. of about 13-15), and communicates
via a hand powered voice box on his chest. (acts as Will’s Lab assistant, now.)
Will, by extending or contracting the distance between his atomic structure can
shrink to a small, physically dense man of about 4 inches tall and grow to a
powerful giant of nearly 3 or four stories. August’s abilities are not similar
to Will’s, he can bridge seemingly empty gaps in space with a thought. August
has since gone to boarding school to learn to control his abilities. Shortly
after the accident, Will left Sabretech (and destroyed the notes he had
there) when it was revealed that the lab was making weapons for a terrorist
group. Hired by Vanguard he and the ape (Who has taken the name Owen, and under
sentient beasts law, exists as a citizen) continue work in subatomic physics and
molecular biology there. Eventually Sabretech came looking for him, to take
notes back, and to have him build weaponry for them. He refused, and instead
decided to take the law into his own hands to destroy the lab. Donning a costume
and building a few items that would help in the attack, Will (as miniMAX)
infiltrated the lab’s complex, made sure no people were there, and laid waste to
the computer & written weaponry information. No longer safe at Vanguard’s labs
in Hershey, Will and Owen transferred to the ABE area branch within the last 3-4
days. After getting a taste of pummeling bad guys, Will has decided to devote a
serious portion of his time tracking down the baddies, and seeing to it that
they get picked up by the rightful authorities. (Once fully trained, he hopes to
send for his brother, and work as a team. That, and he misses the little
booger.) A side effect of his molecular shifting ablitites, Will takes more
damage from electro-magnetic attacks.
The other players would know of a blue-suited giant crimefighter with a gadget
bent. (I don’t imagine the shrinking would make the papers as much, except that
he seems to manage to leave the scene very quickly, and he does wear a silver
jetpack lately.) Other things known would be he used to appear in Hershey, but
is now in ABE, is known to put protecting innocents in front of capturing
criminals… has medical skills to some degree. Apparently has a flippant but
friendly attitude to non-violent types and authorities, and is seemingly appaled
by violent folk.
Appearance-wise, he’s a handsome man, with the build of an an athlete who
engages in regular workouts. Sandy-brown hair, cut short for comfort, low
maintenance style. Eyes are blue. If I had to pick a look, I’d go with Gil
Kane’s Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) about 1965 or so. Think Johnny Weismeuller
without the stupid look on his face. In costume, he wears a Blue & black
jumpsuit (akin to a S.H.E.I.L.D. uniform, with black knee-boots, long Black
gloves & a black riot helmet w/mirrored visor for keeping the identity a
secret. An ‘elevator-like’ logo on his chest, with a green tringle pointing
up over a red one pointing down, on a yellow oval. (He keeps the costume shrunk
on his person, in a pocket…about half the size of Ken-doll clothes…when
changing, he shrinks down, takes a half phase and grows to fill.) When not in
costume, he usually wears polo-style shirts, Khaki pants. In the lab that’s
augmented with safety goggles and a lab coat.
miniMax Character Sheet
VALUE CHARACTERISTIC COST BASE PTS NAME: Will Piper, Scientist at Vanguard
15 Strength x1 10 5 HERO ID: miniMAX (Will S. Piper)
18 Dexterity x3 10 24 PLAYER: Scott von Berg
20 Constitution x2 10 20
10 Body x2 10 0 PTS POWERS END
18 Intelligence x1 10 8 86 MP (Mutant Powers) (86),
11 Ego x2 10 2 "Molecular Powers "
15 Presence x1 10 5 7u 4 LVLS Shrinking (Mutant
16 Comeliness x1/2 10 3 Powers)(64mm,25g,+8 DCV,+12 KB),
8 Physical Defens x1 3 5 Affects Inanimate, Accessable
8 Energy Defense x1 4 4 Items (Unliving)(+1/4),0 END
5 Speed x10 2.8 22 (+1/2) 0
8 Recovery x2 7 2 3u 6 LVLS Growth (Mutant Powers)
44 Endurance x1/2 40 2 (4m,6.4t,+6 BODY/STUN,-4 DCV,+30
40 Stun x1 28 12 STR,-6 KB) 3
Characteristics Cost: 114 1u +9" Running (Mutant Powers),
"Giant Sized Movement",linked to
DISADVANTAGES BASE: 150+PTS levels of growth 1 pt usble
DNPC,"Owen Ng (Lab Assist- 5 doubles with each lev(-3/4) 2
Chimp)",normal,useful skills, 2u 15/10 Armor (Mutant Powers),
appear 8- "Dense Skin",linked to levels of
Hunted,"Sabretech-enemy lab", 10 growth 3 pt usble doubles with
less powerful,non-combat each lev(-3/4)
influence,harsh,appear 8- 15 1 LVLS Shrinking (Radiation)
Psych Lim,"Hero Code (patrol 4 15 (0.5m,12.5kg,+2 DCV,+3 KB),
hrs a day, do duty)",common, "Grenades"(0.5m,12.5kg,+2 DCV,+3
strong KB),OAF(-1),4 Charges(-1/2),
Psych Lim,"Vs. Killing",common, 15 continuing,duration: 1 turn,
strong Ranged(+1/2),Area Effect(+1),
Psych Lim,"Overconfidence", 15 radius,up to 800 kg accessable
common,strong inanimate, non living(+3/4),
Secret ID,"Will Piper, 15 usable against others
Scientist at Vanguard" (inanimate)(+1/2) 0
Vuln,"Electro-magnetic",common, 20 10 PKG,"Helmet",OIF(-1/2),
x2 stun unbreakable
Watched,"U.S. Govt./Vanguard", 10 (4) x1000 Micro Vision,Extra Time
more powerful,non-combat (-3/4),time: 1 minute,only to
influence,mild,appear 11- start power
Weirdness Magnet 3d6 unluck 10 (2) Discriminatory,Detect,Extra
only for we Time(-3/4),time: 1 minute,only
Ape is Human 0 to start power
Vuln,"Electo-magnetics",common, 10 (1) +0 Detect,"Chemicals",Extra
x1 1/2 body Time(-3/4),time: 1 minute,only
to start power
(3) 5 Flash Defense
20 15" Flight,OAF(-1),unbreakable,
total flight time 6 hours
between refuelings(-1/4),0 END
(+1/2) 0
5 3 Levels: Hand to Hand,linked to
levels of growth 1 pt usble
doubles with each lev(-3/4)
3 Scientist
1 SC: Molecular Biology 11-
1 SC: Inorganic Chemistry 11-
1 SC: Robotics 11-
1 SC: Subatomic Physics 11-
1 SC: Biochemistry 11-
3 Inventor 13-
0 Climbing 8-
0 Concealment 8-
0 Conversation 8-
0 Deduction 8-
0 Paramedic 8-
0 Shadowing 8-
0 Stealth 8-
0 TF,Automobiles
0 AK: Hershey, Pennsylvania. 8-
0 PS: Scientist 8-
4 M Strike
4 Martial Dodge
3 Martial Throw
Disadvantages Total : 125 171 : Powers Total
Experience Spent + 10 114 + Characteristic Total
Total Points = 285 285 = Total Cost
Not during the rainy season. Not that I mind. Not a bit… I only would prefer to skip work again today, and curl up with the kitty, my sweetie, a good book, and some bedclothes.
Heavy Rain
73 °F Feels Like: N/A
UV Index: 1 Minimal
Wind: From the Northwest at 12 mph
Dew Point: 73 °F
Humidity: 100 %
Visibility: 1.25 miles
Barometer: 30.08 inches and steady
Everyone who has ever fought a troll in D&D should pause a moment in memory.
Subject: [MASSFILC] Poul Anderson – November 25, 1926:August 1, 2001
“We brought Poul home from Alta Bates for terminal hospice care.
We gave him Jubilaeum Akvavit, Carlsberg Beer and Boeuf Tartare.
We gave him all our love. About midnight, he slipped away.”
signed Karen, Astrid and the rest of the Andersons.
Please pass this around verbatim and in toto.
Everyone is encouraged to repost without alteration.
http://myfreedomforce.com/index_ff1.html = the next game I buy. I’m a dork. so sue me.
Planet of the Apes actually contains the line, “Can’t we all just get along?” (at least the preivew does) So even if you like the other 89 and a half minutes of it, you’re going to remember the movie as retarded.
now, for the word of the day –
wiseacre (WIZ-ay-kuhr) noun
One who obnoxiously pretends to be wise; smart-aleck; wise-guy.
[From Middle Dutch wijsseggher, soothsayer, translation of Middle High German wissage, from Old High German wissago, wise person, altered by folk etymology.]
Since many of us are fans of science fiction and fantasy, I thought that this would be of considerable interest to many of us here. Poul Anderson, long-time science fiction and fantasy writer, is in hospice care, and is expected to die very soon.
This from the bottom of Jerry Pournelle’s daily column at http://www.jerrypournelle.com/view/currentview.html#Tuesday
************
Friends —
It’s with a heavy heart that I write that my father, Poul Anderson is receiving hospice care at home and is not expected to live more than a week.
I know that some of you are fans of his work, and if you would care to send an e-mail direct to my parents house ( trigonier@earthlink.net ) expressing what it has meant to you, he would be very appreciative. I’ll be going down there myself tomorrow (they’re in the Bay Area), so will not be getting mail here for a few days.
skotto bracelet. (she ran out of “c” beads, even cooler as I’ve long wanted the letters C and Q stricken from the Alphabet. they are extraneous. replace them with a character to mean the ch sound. that is all.)
a wet nap
a vote yes on indian gaming button.
fragile sticker
corrosive sticker (very cool!)
hawaiian mafia staff car sticker(?!)
sheet of rubber duckie stickers(~35 mini ducks)
blank shield & banner sticker to make a family crest sticker.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
(I left a voicemail on the excite account, too…I’m thinking I’ll have to subscribe to chewiezine.. the price is right. 🙂 )
This might seem weird to a lot of people. It doesn’t come up very often, but here it is.
I don’t shake hands with strangers. I try my best not to touch them *at all*. I’m happy to hug my hippie friends, let the cat lick my face, deep kiss my girlfriend… but I want no part of touching strangers. I’ve gone so far in a business meeting to avoid shaking hands by sneezing right as I’m getting ready to leave, so as to avoid having to be put in the situation.
Why? For a couple of reasons.
I don’t know those people from Adam. Who knows what sort of gross personal habits they have, or what they might’ve picked up? Is this guy a nose picker? Did this woman change her baby son before coming to work without washing? Do they have a cold? Is it slimy, clammy, or wet from them just being a sweaty, clammy or moistly sticky person? Yech. I give blood, I don’t want hep.
Few people know how to shake hands properly.
I’m a scary, big man. I’ve got big hands. People’s hands vanish in mine… imagine a baseball glove. them’s my paws. When I’ve shaken hands in the past, invariably some wanna-be alpha male tries to play the “crush his bones, show him who’s boss” testosterone thing. If I’d been feeling uppity, I’d give the death grip right back, hoping to hear the spintering of bone, and rending of sinews on the wanna be he-man. Other times I just give an impassive look, and returned with a firm, but friendly grip. It’s not limited to men, either. I’ve seen a few “I’m as tough as any man” misguided females try the same thing, and get *nail marks* in my oversized mitt, when they can’t fit the dainty meathook of their own around it.
On the flip side, although I’m a gentle giant… sometimes I don’t know my own strength. I don’t want to do the aforementioned accidental marrow-leaking death grip on a frail person with the bone structure of dried maple leaves.
Then there’s the social side of it. The quote below sums it up for me pretty well…
“if you feel compelled to grab part of my body and shake it, before you can even be friendly, you’ve got far worse problems than you think I have.”
Why should I have to touch someone I don’t know? Can’t a friendly smile and a kind voice do the trick without my having to grasp your palm, and have us feel each other out for some bizarre fraternity rite, placing the grip properly so as to let each other know we’re fellow masons/ boy scouts / ATO brothers / Illuminatus ?
To heck with that noise. As far as I’m concerned, a handshake is a form of social assault and battery.
I’m thinking that my next way of getting out of it is going to be…”Sorry… I don’t shake hands. Not with the ebola and all. Nothing Personal.”
This thunderstorm is about 10-20 miles away. Lightning can be seen up to 75 miles away at night when the intervening sky is clear and dark. Thunder, however, may be heard only a few miles away in a noisy location, 10 miles away in the open, and up to 15 miles away in quiet locations. 
