FrankL

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

 

THE TICK

 

Color me surprised. I expected Mr. Incredible since you made the comment about rethinking after Elastigirl was picked.

Edit: And Gosh How quickly did "Not provide service to Gay People" become the effect of the law? I mean who saw that coming? 

 

That's not what she said. From the article:

"Early Wednesday, one of the shop's owners Crystal O'Connor said she would refuse to cater a same-sex wedding as the shop was a "Christian establishment.""

She didn't say if they come in they will be refused service. She said she would not participate (even by being paid to be there) at a same-sex wedding. That's a contract job and not part of her normal business. That's her freedom of association. As a business owner, it should be her right to reserve the right to refuse contract service to anyone for any reason. And likewise the person requesting her service should simply bow out when it becomes stated that the service provider does not want to be involved.

It's also worth noting this lady was "ambushed" by a journalist. She didn't release a press statement. She was in her shop, someone came in, and asked a question. She answered.

Let's say there's a Muslim photographer in my town, and he's the absolute best around. Let's say that I want to hire him for my son's birthday party. I want him to come and take pictures of everyone and everything. Oh, and as part of the celebration, all the friends are bringing their dogs. I promised every parent a picture of their child with their dog. Oh, and we're serving pulled-pork sandwiches. The photographer has to take pictures of us eating. And some of the dads will be drinking beer. I want those pictures taken too.

When I explain the party to him, he says, "Oh, no. In Islam dogs are unclean, we don't eat pork, and we don't drink beer. I would be very uncomfortable in such a setting and could not take good pictures. But I know a great guy who wouldn't be offended at all. Here's his card."

At this point, I have two choices: 1) Sue him for not accepting my business. 2) Thank him, walk away, and call the name on the card he just gave me.

What's the adult thing to do?

It is. It's part of the genre that can only be described as "Chuck Tingle," after its foremost author.

I thought you were joking. Amazon search for "Bussell" has "But... You're a Horse" as the top result and has that cover. Published Dec 1, 2014. Am not opening the page. The thought of a Look Inside gives me the heeby-jeepies.

Brain bleach anyone?

The snipage is heavy this draft.

The opposite of "indecent"?

 

Actually, the biggest problem was finding a picture of her that 1) wasn't some variation of the Phoenix costume, 2) wasn't unnecessarily stripperific, and 3) wasn't a cosplayer or an action figure.

 

Most of what I saw was fan art on DeviantArt or Pinterest.  It was hard to find an 'official' picture of Jean in that outfit.

 

I'm curious to see what picture the Commissioner comes up with. Most of his were better than mine last season, especially Black Knight (RIP).

Ok. I was wondering if by decent you meant "of at least halfway quality artwork" or "not stripperific."

Okay, I think I have a replacement for Rogue.

 

Marvel Girl (Jean Grey)

 

(Incidentally, do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent picture of her in this costume?!)

 

Define "decent," please.

Funny, I was going to say that as a Broncos fan, coming up short in the Finals feels natural to me.

Funny, when he said that, my thought was, "As an Oklahoma State Alum, I know the feeling of that choke in the fourth."

Must try harder next time...

 

Ps...great minds... And hope you like the song.

I like the new name.

Yesterday at work I was telling a friend (L) about the CoC solo, stand-alone adventure. He's part of a Pathfinder table. Another guy from the table was also in the pod. We will call the second man "J".

Me: I had exactly 1 hit point left and was peddling like crazy away from the cultists. No way am I looking back over my shoulder.

J: Wait. What? Cultists and bicycles? That makes no sense.

L: Did you ever play Paperboy on the old NES.

J (confused): Original NES? Yes, I did.

L: That was a hard game. If you missed the box, people would unsubscribe from your route.

J (still confused): What has this to do with cultists?

L: In Paperboy 2, the unsubscribers and those for whom you break a window join together in a cult. Frank's been doing some retro gaming lately.

And I'm thinking, "The Cult of Shattered Glass actually sounds like a CoC cult."

And let's face it, Angelina Jolie is clearly a mutant.

I'll agree. That woman frightens me.

Knuth also wrote a book Surreal Numbers: How Two Ex-Students Turned on to Pure Mathematics and Found Total Happiness about a class of numbers where every real number is surrounded by a host of new numbers that lie closer to it than any other "real" value does. Definite reality warping right there. It wasn't his idea alone, but Knuth did come up with the name that has been used since.

I really like how this scene takes place at Lou's Bar & Grill, a location in my stories. With Greywind's permission, two of his characters are making an appearance in a different set of my stories, Joshua's Pawn Shop.

Walk Away Joe

Cindy high stepped over a puddle that Joe hadn’t thought to go around. The rain had stopped several hours ago, but the cold stayed on like it always did this time of year in San Jose. Even in her heavy coat she shivered as they walked down the sidewalk. Their car was right behind them. Cindy wished they had been able to park closer, but this would have to do. Pawn shops were never crowded but this one was smack between two busy bars.

“No worries, baby,” Joe said to her. “I’ve got everything under control.”

“That’s what you always say,” she muttered.

He stopped suddenly and spun her around to face him. His fingers gripped the sleeves of her coat. “And it always works out just fine. Don’t it?”

Cindy nodded, her bangs flopping in front of her eyes. “Yeah, Joe. Always!” She could tell his smile was forced. His eyes flicked from side to side as he let go of her.

“Just remember that. Come on.” He roughly took her hand, and they resumed their walk to the pawn shop.

With her free hand, Cindy brushed her dark blonde hair back. She liked the bangs, but they were just getting too long. She’d snip them tonight. Her younger sister had an emo hair style, the bangs covering over one eye, and Cindy never wanted to look like her.

Cindy and Joe stood about the same height. She was tall for a woman, and he was short for a man. Cindy looked at him from the corner of her eye. He had the same military-style cut the whole time she had known him. He wasn’t in the military or even going in. He just liked his hair short.

A bell tinkled against the glass as they pushed the door open.

“Be right with you,” said a short man behind the counter. His name tag read “Joshua.”

Cindy’s eyes bulged in surprise. He was several inches shorter than Joe! She hadn’t expected that. She couldn’t help staring. Joshua had dark curly hair, and looked well-built. Muscles rippled from the short sleeves of his blue-striped white shirt. He had a jeweler’s scope attached to his glasses but swung away for the moment. His hair hung down to his chin and a full beard fell past his Adam’s apple.

A woman and a man stood at the counter with him. “Seriously?” the man asked. “You want to just give it to us?” Cindy wondered why they were in the shop. They were dressed too nicely to be from this neighborhood.

Joshua nodded. “It’s not mine to sell.” He turned to the woman. “This is the watch that you lost, isn’t it?”

Ah. Cindy realized they were looking for something specific.

“It certainly looks like it. Where did you find it?” She played with her necklace while she talked. The pendant held a black-star sapphire set in gold. It went well with her strawberry blonde hair.

Joshua placed the watch on the counter. “The finder sold it here yesterday.”

“So we at least owe you that much,” the man said, pulling out his wallet. “What did you pay for it?” He was much taller than Joshua, but Joshua had a bigger presence. The man took off his sunglasses.

Cindy gasped. “Joe! That’s the guy from the society pages! Jason Scott! Oh, is that Marlene with him?”

Joe pulled her back amongst the comic book aisles. “That jumped-up secretary that he signed his daddy’s company over to? Well, we certainly don’t want them to see us then. Act like you’re checking out the books.”

Cindy grimaced but faked interest in the covers. These kind of stories had never appealed to her. She just wanted this night to be over and done. She tried to listen to the conversation at the counter.

“No,” the woman said. “We insist on paying for the watch. Whatever you paid, we’ll add something for your trouble.”

“Oh, it was no trouble at all, miss, but if you insist, I paid the woman who brought it $500.” Joshua slid the watch to them. “It’s high quality, and she needed the cash for her rent money.”

Jason counted out some bills from his wallet. Joshua took them and said, “God bless you and have a nice day.” Jason paused for just a moment at the door, then the couple left, the woman obviously happy to have her watch back.

Joe stepped out from the aisles, reaching into his coat.

“Wait there, young man,” Joshua said. “You’re still not next.” He walked around the counter and went down one of the aisles. He called to the back of the store. “Little brother! I’m going to help Mrs. O’Donnell pick out a new handgun. Can you take the front?”

“Sure thing, big brother,” said a man in a messy apron coming from the back. His name tag read “Jacob.” He wiped his greasy hands on the apron, took it off, and threw it behind some boxes. His pants were clean but very faded at the knee. He looked to Joe and Cindy. “Are you two next? Pardon my hands. I was cleaning some car parts we just got in.”

Jacob was a couple of inches taller than Joshua and built just the same. Even if they hadn’t called each other ‘brother,’ Cindy would have guessed they were. They had the same hair, beard, and eyes.

“We’re just browsing,” Joe said, stepping back amongst the titles.

“Okay. Maybe I can help you, miss?” Jacob smiled. His whole face lit up when he did so.

Cindy started to say no but changed her mind. “I’d like to see your rings and necklaces.”

Joe hissed at her. “Cindy!”

She ignored him and walked to the counter. “What have you got in silver?”

Jacob pulled out a tray from under the glass and placed it on the counter. “This is our silver for sale. We have several more pieces that might become available on Tuesday if nothing suits your fancy.”

“Might?”

“They were left as collateral.” He shrugged. “Terms of the loan are up on Tuesday.”

“Oh, that’s right. That’s how pawn shops work. Silly me.” She looked at the tray. “I like that one with the emerald.”

“Good eye.” He picked it up for her and held it out so she could try it on.

“It’s fits perfectly!” She held it close to her face. “What do you think?”

“It goes very well with your eyes, but there’s one here you might like even better.” He pointed to one on the tray.

“I don’t see anything special about that one.” She frowned.

“Look closely. You’ll see. I got my wife one just like it for her birthday last month.”

Frowning, she leaned over the counter. The ring looked just like any other. The stone was a ruby with an emerald on each side. “Pretty, but…”

Jacob leaned over the counter so his mouth was close to her ear. “You don’t have to do this, you know,” he whispered. “There’s still time to call it off.”

Cindy jerked back from the counter and looked over her shoulder towards Joe. Joe was back amongst the comic books and couldn’t see her. “Call off what?” She kept her voice low.

“The robbery. Even though it was Joe’s idea, you’ll be an accessory.”
 

I finished the solo CoC adventure "Alone Against the Flames" and learned some very important things about CoC:

1) put points in Spot Hidden. It doesn't matter how you justify it in the backstory, do so! When taking my character's personal skills (not professional), I choose stealth, violin, fighting (brawl), and archeology. Why violin? I wanted Harold to be a little more well-rounded as a person. Forget that! Next run, those 20 points are going into Spot Hidden. Spot was the most common check. I made several spot hidden checks (I passed two and missed two). One of the misses would have been a success if I had taken it before. NOTE: consider playing as a police detective and thus justify Spot Hidden as a professional skill.

2) if a crazy, homeless man teaches you a chant "to be used only if all else fails," speaking it is never a good idea, even if all else has failed. I stopped the cultists, but there's a 16-mile diameter barren place in the Connecticut landscape now and "my spirit floats amongst the stars."

3) Being a hero takes second place to living (I already knew this one, but it was reinfornced). I rolled back the last bit to try a different escape plan. That worked and I got away from the bonfire, singed and hurt. Without the sacrifice (me), something or things descended on the town. I found a bicycle in an alley and sped away. The book then said this. "You hear screams behind you and what sounds like the rush of wings high above. If you look back at the bonfire, turn to __. If you keep going, turn to __." I said, "I've got 1 HP left. This is no time for heroics. I peddle like crazy!"

Even though I plan on running the adventure again, I'm keeping Harold's sheet. I found a book of poetry that gave me 4 points to the Mythos skill. Professor Matthers might have other adventures, and a professor of chemical engineer has great potential. He was on his way to take a seat at Miskatonic U when he got stranded in the village of Emberhead.

I finished the solo CoC adventure and learned some very important things about CoC:

1) put points in Spot Hidden. It doesn't matter how you justify it in the backstory, do so! When taking my character's personal skills (not professional), I choose stealth, violin, fighting (brawl), and archeology. Why violin? I wanted Harold to be a little more well-rounded as a person. Forget that! Next run, those 20 points are going into Spot Hidden. Spot was the most common check. I made several spot hidden checks (I passed two and missed two). One of the misses would have been a success if I had taken it before. NOTE: consider playing as a police detective and thus justify Spot Hidden as a professional skill.

2) if a crazy, homeless man teaches you a chant "to be used only if all else fails," speaking it is never a good idea, even if all else has failed. I stopped the cultists, but there's a 16-mile diameter barren place in the Connecticut landscape now and "my spirit floats amongst the stars."

3) Being a hero takes second place to living. I rolled back the last bit to try a different escape plan. That worked and I got away from the bonfire, singed and hurt. Without the sacrifice (me), something or things descended on the town. I found a bicycle in an alley and sped away. The book then said this. "You hear screams behind you and what sounds like the rush of wings high above. If you look back at the bonfire, turn to __. If you keep going, turn to __." I said, "I've got 1 HP left. This is no time for heroics. I peddle like crazy!"

Even though I plan on running the adventure again, I'm keeping Harold's sheet. I found a book of poetry that gave me 4 points to the Mythos skill. Professor Matthers might have other adventures, and a chemical engineer has great potential.

Gravy and dressing sodas? I had never heard of such (and wish I hadn't).

I think this qualifies. It's not neat (funny maybe), but we don't have a nauseating pics thread.

And there's a diet version!

I love this one. Rich makes D&D economics fun

 

Did anyone else notice that "almost the end of the year" comment? Poor Belkar

I wonder how much of Belkar's growth here has been planned from the beginning. Rich has stated that he knew the arc of the story from very early on, such as that it would take 7 books, and he even knew the last panel way back when he decided to turn it from a gag-a-day comic to a plotted story. At the same time, he has been flexible and responsive to his fans, grown as a writer, and even made some changes. For example, he didn't know what the monster in the dark was when he first introduced it. Since he figured it out, nothing he stated before works against the identity but neither does it really help (I think he said #93 is when the MITD's identity jelled).

Rich made a comment after Belkar started faking character growth. People had wondered if it was real, and he replied, "fat chance of that." Now, I really do think that Belkar's growth is real. If he was faking it, he could simply remain silent about his suspicions of Durkon. Instead, he obsesses on it in front of everyone to the point of repeatedly risking his life. Obsessing on it would fit with faking (making people think he cares about the team) but not attacking and being thrown overboard.

While part of me wants Belkar to continue on and be different, I also want him to make the hero's sacrifice. Little would show more character growth. And while Rich has been known to go for laughs by anticlimaxes, he also knows when to halt the laughs and go for drama.

Rich has taken a murder hobo and made him a sympathetic character. I expect to shed a tear for Belkar when he dies just like I cried in Phantom of the Opera (my wife still doesn't understand that) when Erik told Christine to leave with Raoul. It takes talent to turn a character that way. Kinda like someone had me blinking back tears for Foxbat recently...

And tonight, after finishing some things around the house, I intend to start a solo CoC adventure called Alone Against the Flames. I'll use Harold Matthers, the character I wrote up for a novelette called "Fun and Games."

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As I suspected, the adventure is a Choose Your Own Adventure with a character sheet that you fill out. Fun so far. Just getting into to the weirdness when I stopped for the night.

I played a couple of those CYOA knockoffs that had simulated combat with very simple rules way back. Can't recall any of their names, but the first program I ever tried to write from scratch was inspired by CYOA and Ghosts and Goblins. My program was "The Secret of Tut's Tomb."

Fair to moderate, not critical. Still, the guy is 72 and just coming off a broken ankle.

 

Ford has been known for his piloting activities in the aviation community for some time. He's one of the few men alive who can actually afford the hobby, and has been known to assist in search and rescue missions for lost hikers.

I hope he wears a fedora on those rescue missions. That would just be tops.

And tonight, after finishing some things around the house, I intend to start a solo CoC adventure called Alone Against the Flames. I'll use Harold Matthers, the character I wrote up for a novelette called "Fun and Games."

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"The Dark Morris Song" by Steeleye Span from the album, Wintersmith

 

Upon seeing the album title and the song title, I knew this had to be inspired by Terry Pratchett. Quick Googling verifies. Will have to try giving this one a listen.

An engineer, a mathematician, and an economist were out hunting deer. From their blind, they saw a huge buck. They took aim. The engineer shot to the left, the mathematician shot to the right. The economist shouted, "We got it!"

Bellamy Brothers' "The Courthouse" on Grooveshark. Then I've got the Hippie Trilogy (Old Hippie, Old Hippie The Sequel, and Old Hippie III) queued up.

I refused to give up (but I really, really wanted to). I refused to accept the computer's nonhelpful error messages. I got the program done. I can't say I chokeslammed the orchestrator, but I put it in a sleeper hold until it was out.

Wise.