Originally I intended for the Competitions in this forum to run for about two weeks, then close, after which I'd judge a winner.  And while I tried to do that for the first couple, we really don't have the volume of responses that would make that really the best plan.  And Things have been happening since I started the Competitions that led me to forget or postpone ending the competitions anyway.

So I've decided, every competition is going to remain open to encourage the creative energies of the board members in perpetuity.  Since there was about as much substance to the award for winning a competition as there was to a Marvel No-Prize, I'm sure that no one will be too upset about there no longer being proper winners.

Of course, if there is disagreement, please feel free to let me know.

Competition #5: The Kangaroo Joke

Quote:A kangaroo walks into a bar and orders a vodka martini. The bartender gives the kangaroo his drink and the kangaroo gives him a $10 bill.

The bartender figures kangaroos don't know anything about money and only gives him $2 back in change, then says, "We don't get many kangaroos in here."

The kangaroo says, "And at eight bucks for a martini you're not going to see very many more!" and walks out.

Muck found himself blowing out a breath of relief as the simulator cockpit opened over him. He forced himself to wait until he could vault out to the deck and eye Gamlin.  He was certain how he’d done, but he also knew that the final verdict was Gamlin’s.



“So, how did I do in your eyes, LT?”



Speaking of said third party, though, it looked like Muck had managed to *TOTALLY* break Lieutenant Gamlin Kizakai, his alleged impartial third party, based on Gamlin’s thoroughly ‘gob-smacked’ look at the moment.  Gamlin looked at Muck, then back at the simulator control console, then back to Muck again.



Muck facepalmed for a moment, the tried again.  “Muck to Gamlin… come in Gamlin!”



Gamlin finally showed some sign of recovery as he held up a palm to Muck.  “D-1 copies your traffic.  Wait one.”  Gamlin otherwise ignored him and leaned forward conversing with the rating running the simulator; looking intently at the data thrown on the screen in response to his request.  As much as Muck wanted Gamlin to confirm what he was sure of, Muck was also sure that rattling Gamlin’s chain at this point would work against Muck instead of in his favor; and so forced himself to wait patiently, even though all his time as what any comic title would call a ‘superhero’ had primed him for instant decisions and reactions.  All of those reactions would be wrong at the moment, though.  Gamlin had the final say, to disturb him at the moment just might cause him to rule against him out of pure spite.



Muck could have know just how long he’d waited, but decided against it when Gamlin finally straightened up and shook himself much like a dog would before looking over at Muck.



“When I was a flight cadet back on Mars, my initial instructor was Milia Jenius. She told me I needed to become one with my mecha, to know everything it was telling me.  This data says you’ve surpassed me in the ship I have the most flight hours in, even though this should be the first time you’ve been in its cockpit?”



“Hell, LT.  Haven’t you figured out I cheat yet?”



“So, your NOT qualified to pilot a VF-17?”



“Oh, I’d say I am.  But the particulars here are not for enlisted ears, LT,” Muck pointed out with a nod at the rating staring at both of them.  “Perhaps someplace where there aren’t little pitchers with big ears?”



Gamlin nodded, grabbing Muck by the arm and pointing the two of them to the hatch.  “I know a place,” he assured, before looking behind the pair.  “Dismissed, sergeant.  I get word you said anything to anyone other than Cap’n Jenius…”



“Sir, understood sir!”



* * * * * * *



Muck sighed after finishing a long draft of the beer in his hand, setting it down on the table between he and Gamlin Kizakai, gazing out the armored glass into deep space.



“So.  Your wondering how the heck I am so proficient as a pilot, Kizakai.  Both of the mark 17 you tested me on as well as my own claim I am, or was, fully qualified in the VF-01, right?”



“Well, that and your claim you cheated, Thunders.”



“Well, Gamlin, that depends on how one defines cheating.  How old do I look to you?”



Gamlin blew out a long breath and contemplated the level of beer in his mug; sadly there was too much left in it to try and use the excuse of ordering a new one as a delaying tactic.



“Somewhere in your late twenties, early thirties, like myself,” Gamlin admitted, to be rewarded by a fairly impressive snort of liquids out of Thunders nose, followed by Muck cursing about how having done so really HURT!



“Add a hundred years of living, and four other fica to that estimate, Kizakai.”



“WHAT?”



“Patience, my Padawan.  You are about to hear all about it as long as you keep seated and listen; well… assuming you can get that cute barmaid to bring us another round.”



* * * * * * *



“You realize if a pilot or enlisted told me a story like that I’d send him to the brig for over embellishing his sea story?” Gamlin sighed after hearing Muck’s tale. (1)



Muck nodded.  “And yet, no shit, there I was;” he confirmed, hoisting his drink in the traditional gesture for a toast.



“How the explitives deleted are you still alive?”



“DamnifIknow, Kizakai.”



“But you LIVED it.  How can you NOT know???”



“Kind of my point Kizakai.  I LIVED it.  Things happened way to fast to really get how it was I made it through at times.  Sure, the little things I could probably remember, but breaking down just how I managed to dodge each and every attack during the crazy moments?  I’d argue YOU were the crazy one, Mate.  All I really remember is being expletives deleted glad I was still alive when the dust settled.”

At 4:24 am (PR time) a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest of the island.

My family is ok, but there is plenty of damage to roads, buildings and power company.

Please have them in your thoughts prayers today.

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/top...29th-2020/

Just tossing this up here for folks whom are interested in running WST's and need to know what is up each week.

Muck found himself blowing out a breath of relief as the simulator cockpit opened over him. He forced himself to wait until he could vault out to the deck and eye Gamlin.  He was certain how he’d done, but he also knew that the final verdict was that of a third party from outside the engagement simulation.

“So, how did I do in your eyes, LT?”

Speaking of said third party, though, it looked like Muck had managed to *TOTALLY* break Lieutenant Gamlin Kizakai, his alleged impartial third party based on Gamlin’s thoroughly ‘gob-smacked’ look at the moment.  Gamlin looked at Muck, then back at the simulator control console, then back to Muck again.

Muck facepalmed for a moment, the tried again.  “Muck to Gamlin… come in Gamlin!”

Gamlin finally showed some sign of recovery as he held up a palm to Muck.  “D-1 copies your traffic.  Wait one.”  Gamlin otherwise ignored him and leaned forward conversing with the rating running the simulator; looking intently at the data thrown on the screen in response to his request.  As much as Muck wanted Gamlin to confirm what he was sure of, Muck was also sure that rattling Gamlin’s chain at this point would work against him instead of in his favor; and so forced himself to wait patiently, even though all his time as what any comic title would call a ‘superhero’ had primed him for instant decisions and reactions.  All of those reactions would be wrong at the moment, though.  Gamlin had the final say, to disturb him at the moment just might cause him to rule against him out of pure spite.

Muck could have know just how long he’d waited, but decided against it when Gamlin finally straightend up and shook himself much like a dog would before looking over at Muck.

“When I was a flight cadet back on Mars, my initial instructor was Milia Jenius. She told me I needed to become one with my mecha, to know everything it was telling me.  This data says you’ve surpassed me in the ship I have the most flight hours in, even though this should be the first time you’ve been in its cockpit?”

“Hell, LT.  Haven’t you figured out I cheat yet?”

“So, your NOT qualified to pilot a VF-17?”

“Oh, I’d say I am.  But the particulars here are not for enlisted ears, LT,” Muck pointed out with a nod at the rating staring at both of them.  “Perhaps someplace where there aren’t little pitchers with big ears?”

Gamlin nodded, grabbing Muck by the arm and pointing the two of them to the hatch.  “I know a place,” he assured, before looking behind the pair.  “Dismissed, sergeant.  I get word you said anything to anyone other than Cap’n Jenius…”

“Sir, understood sir!”

* * * * * * *

My mother passed away this week at 72, having outlived her doctor's prediction by 4 months.

She died from congestive heart failure, surrounded by her children, having survived from her 51st wedding anniversary through the holidays.

The severity of her CHF was essentially a side effect of her long-term dialysis (10 years worth) while waiting for a kidney transplant. And she was number two on the local waiting list for most of it, as her transplant surgeon... was more concerned with his rep and record of perfect surgeries refusing to operate because of her high BMI, which was... a side-effect of why she needed it. She eventually got her transplant at the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic, and her transplant was still working, it was just her heart couldn't pump the fluids where they needed to go.

Just had to vent.

So, I think it was DW2 that used "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurithmics (and one or two covers for different moods) as the GENOM motif - if not, it still fits well enough that this mashup seems suited to call up a version of one of the buma that Doug arranged to get liberated. How helpful the particular individual is feeling and what they can do may be up to a bit of variation, though...


non-embedded

Though it's not the official title, I like to call it "Sweet Dreams of a Seven Nation Army."

Well, good news, bad news, and bemusing news.

Good News: A new Sakura Taisen game and anime are being released. Yay!

Bad News: Apparently the Tokyo, Paris, and New York teams were wiped out! WTF?!

Bemusing News: One of the new characters' names is Yang Xiaolong.   

I post this on the Fenspace Thread to ask a question. If this "soft reboot" happens in the Fenspace timeline(and should it?), what does Li Kohran think about it?

Check out the details on Wikipedia.

Trump just fucked us all over in the worst way possible.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nat...story.html