Just re-read the first half (or so) of "A Fanfic Writer's Guide To Writing (or, How To Be In The Ten Percent)" since I saw it was linked from the new ATT page about verb tenses. And, as usual, I found myself making comments of varying degrees of usefulness.

Quote:I. GENERAL GUIDELINES
...
2. Acquire writers' references, and consult them as needed.

Quote:4. Get into the *habit* of writing.
...
And it can be heartbreaking to sit
there for hours and look at a blank sheet of paper or an
empty document file, and have *nothing* happen.

Quote:6. Proofread and preread.

Do it yourself, or recruit a friend.

Quote:7. Pick prereaders carefully.
...
self-
nominated prereaders run the risk of being (or turning into)
"yes men" who always respond "it's great!" to any new
material. While good for the ego, this can make it hard for
an author to grow in his skills, or to evaluate his growth.

Quote:9. Don't be wedded to your text.

Quote:12. Know your source material.
...
But almost
everything is on DVD these days, and the subtitles are just a
button-press away on your remote.

Quote:I swear I will hunt down and kill the next
person I find misspelling "Dolores Umbridge" as "Dolorous" or
"Delores".

Quote:II. STUPID WRITER TRICKS
...
xx. Eggcorns and Mondegreens
...
* "For all intensive purposes"

Quote:xx. Overusing Favorite Words
...
((Which author always used "sandalwood" for Ukyou's eye color?
Dreiser, among others. Need to doublecheck. Gregg Sharp?

Quote:xref "Bathos"
...
A "Love Hina" fic I have been reading at the time I write this
suffers greatly from this -- the narrative voice frequently (read
"excessively to the point of monotony") calls Kitsune "the foxy
lady",

Quote:xx. Chapter Size

Despite what Dan Brown does in "The Da Vinci Code" and his other
works, ten paragraphs do *not* a chapter make.

Quote:xx. The Eternal Now
...
((case in point: the cell phone era makes it almost impossible
to put characters in serious jeopardy -- unless the author goes
through hoops to take their cell phones away or strand them far
away from a cell tower.

Quote:xx. The "Burly Detective" Syndrome
...
Using "the red-haired
> girl" when it should be obvious to the reader that the person speaking is
> girl-type Ranma is so very annoying.

Quote:xx. Special Advice for "Ranma" fiction:
...

* And while we're on the topic: Despite nearly a generation of
fanon, Nerima is *not* a haven of weirdness, known throughout
Tokyo as an open-air lunatic asylum, a mere visit to which is
tantamount to a legal declaration of suicidal intent. Nerima
is in fact a very sedate middle-class area, which Takahashi
(and other mangaka) use as a *contrasting* background for all
the bizarre happenings in their stories.

Quote:III. CRAFTING FICTION

Why?  because I've been watching AMV's based on Bonny Tylers "Holding out for a Hero" and both wanting to make my own, based on my CoH Star Ranger saving, and alternatly... well, won't say saving, but at least pushing back the threats to our tanks (Mags, Terr and Silicon Sabre) using something that looks similar to (CoH:homecoming) in game footage...

But I don't have the mad skillz to do it.

*sigh*

From the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49221936

But even during these things, people rise to the call: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man...g-n1039011

My condolences to the families of the victims.

Yeah, I didn't know about it, either. But apparently it's been a thing since 2008.

The Register: It's Friday lunchtime on International Beer Day. Bitter hop to it, boss'll be none the weiser

Let's see, in this article, we have scientists using a procedure to turn normal photons into Ridburg polaritons, which then condense into quantum entangled photonic molecules... then in the links to other articles offered below, there's twisted light gaining angular momentum through self-torque, nanophotonic structures that enable artificial vision, and a hyperbolic lattice forming an a coplanar waveguide array! Behold the wonders that SCIENCE has wrought!

The final episode of the Simpsons will begin with an electric sign high above Springfield, broadcasting the status of the nuclear power plant.

"Relax. Everything is fine"

Meanwhile, far below in the plant itself, we fly in through the window of the managers office with a glowering Mr Burns receiving a visit from NRC inspectors. Turns out, an important safety test wasn't done fifty years ago - actually, a lot of important tests weren't done fifty years ago but this one most of all.

What happens if there's a blackout, and the core still needs to be cooled?

If it's not succesfully completed, the plant will be closed by the coal-friendly government. Naturally, Mr. Burns picks the one employee whose name he can't remember - since obviously everyone he can remember, has failed him somehow. But he cannot remember who the devil Homer Simpson is.

Naturally, Mister Smithers begins to sumbit his CV's to places like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl.....

Homer arrives at the office. He's offered a promotion if he succeeds - to executive status. But if he fails

Mr. Burns: "Now, if you pass this test you will never have to worry about being a safety inspector again. But if you fail, you will never have to worry about being a safety inspector again."

Homer: "WooHoo! Win! Win!"

Homer, of course, seeing no failure in failing promptly puts his feet up, until everyone else at the Plant begins to despair. Their livelyhoods now depend on Homer - harmless in the window-seat of Sector 7G - but now he's in charge. Their abject bullying and despair needles at Homer

Homer, realising that his job and the job of everyone in the plant is now riding on his shoulder, tries his best to study up on what's involved. He brings the test proceedure back home to study. A "Man getting hit by football" season is on Fox but Homer's doing his damnedest to focus.

Lisa, asks what he could possibly be doing to get hom to focus so hard. Homer tries to explain.

"Dad! That's the same test as Chernobyl!"

"Oh please Lisa, our reactor has a negative power coefficient. That means it shuts itself down if I make a mistake. It can't possibly explode."

Lisa is stunned. Damn, he's taking it seriously enough to recognise Chernobyl.

-----
The test begins. Mr. Burns has brought in the best nuclear engineers from around the world. With Homer in charge. Naturally, being an empty suit Homer just parrots what he remembers of the proceedure and, remarkably, being a robot succesffully completes the test. Well done Homer. Piece 'a cake. He sits on the control panel and closes the main core isolation valves.

The valves are stuck stuck. There's no water flowing to the core. A safety valve has opened and is flooding the containment with highly radioactive feedwater. The core is boiling. It's going to explode and kill everyone. But there's a single manual override on the valve that will save everyone.

This, of course has to be explained in excrutiating detail to Homer who's professional facade is cracking.

The radiation monitor has stuck at 3.6 and none of the really fancy well educated types are willing to go in there because they know how dangerous it is. It even looks like that scene in Wrath of Khan.
Of course, they reckon without Homer - and the plaque. The Maggie plaque.

Do. It. For. Her

Homer enters the reactor and dissapears into the steam. Mr. Burns resigns himself to his fate. Smithers panics.

The alarms stop
---
Springfield General Hospital.

Marge sits beside a homer covered in bandages, in a mirror image of a particular scene from Chernobyl. Homer is wheezing to breath. Hibbert enters.

"Will Homer be Okay?"

Hibbert chuckles. "The feedwater was only mildly contaminated. I've seen worse with Doctor Gale. His obesity saved him from the worst of it."

"But his burns Doctor?"

"Oh.... the guys were so glad they got to keep their job they poured a giant pot of scalding hot coffee all over me to celebrate"

The final episode of the simpsons will end with an electric sign high above Springfield, broadcasting the status of the nuclear power plant.

"Relax. Everything is fine"

Bart gets a B-plot.

Prototype, swap out the absolute amazement for the Overwhelming Force KB to KD.  Dren, could you take a look at this?


Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.962
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Level 50 Technology Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1: Charged Brawl
(A) Gladiator's Strike - Accuracy/Damage/End/Rech
(3) Gladiator's Strike - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
(7) Hecatomb - Damage
(11) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge
(17) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(19) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge


Level 1: Deflection
(A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
(3) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(9) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
(11) Gladiator's Armor - Resistance
(17) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist


Level 2: Battle Agility
(A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
(5) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(13) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance


Level 4: Hover
(A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
(5) Winter's Gift - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(15) Winter's Gift - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance


Level 6: Jacobs Ladder
(A) Superior Brute's Fury - Recharge/Fury Bonus
(7) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(21) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage
(21) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Recharge
(31) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(33) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime


Level 8: Build Up
(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
(9) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(13) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(23) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge


Level 10: Fly
(A) Winter's Gift - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
(15) Winter's Gift - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range


Level 12: True Grit
(A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
(27) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
(27) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
(36) Aegis - Resistance
(36) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge


Level 14: Active Defense
(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(37) Recharge Reduction IO


Level 16: Thunder Strike
(A) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(34) Superior Unrelenting Fury - RechargeTime/+Regen/+End
(39) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage
(39) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/RechargeTime
(40) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
(40) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime


Level 18: Boxing
(A) Absolute Amazement - Stun
(19) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge


Level 20: Phalanx Fighting
(A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
(42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge
(42) Luck of the Gambler - Endurance/Recharge
(48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge


Level 22: Tough
(A) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance
(23) Impervious Skin - Resistance/Endurance


Level 24: Chain Induction
(A) Gladiator's Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
(31) Gladiator's Strike - Accuracy/Damage/End/Rech
(33) Gladiator's Strike - Accuracy/Damage
(33) Gladiator's Strike - Damage/Recharge
(37) Gladiator's Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(37) Gladiator's Strike - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge


Level 26: Lightning Clap
(A) Absolute Amazement - Chance for ToHit Debuff
(34) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge
(34) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage
(36) Perfect Zinger - Accuracy/Recharge


Level 28: Weave
(A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
(29) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
(29) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(31) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(45) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge


Level 30: Taunt
(A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage
(43) Perfect Zinger - Taunt/Recharge
(43) Perfect Zinger - Taunt/Recharge/Range
(43) Perfect Zinger - Accuracy/Recharge


Level 32: Against All Odds
(A) Endurance Reduction IO
(46) Endurance Reduction IO


Level 35: Grant Cover
(A) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
(48) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage


Level 38: Shield Charge
(A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge
(39) Force Feedback - Damage/Endurance/Knockback
(40) Force Feedback - Accuracy/Knockback
(45) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge
(46) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge


Level 41: Lightning Rod
(A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge
(45) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
(46) Overwhelming Force - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(50) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown
(50) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(50) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge


Level 44: One with the Shield
(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%


Level 47: Electrifying Fences
(A) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime


Level 49: Mu Lightning
(A) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge


Level 1: Brawl
(A) Empty


Level 1: Prestige Power Dash
(A) Empty


Level 1: Prestige Power Slide
(A) Celerity - +Stealth


Level 1: Prestige Power Quick
(A) Empty


Level 1: Prestige Power Rush
(A) Empty


Level 1: Prestige Power Surge
(A) Empty


Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint
(A) Empty


Level 2: Rest
(A) Empty


Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift
(A) Flight Speed IO


Level 2: Health
(A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
(25) Numina's Convalesence - Heal


Level 2: Hurdle
(A) Jumping IO


Level 2: Stamina
(A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
(25) Performance Shifter - EndMod


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



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Wooly Rupert sits in the cough drop tree~e
eating all the tourists he can see~e
Nosh, Wooly Rupert
Nosh, Wooly Rupert
Leave their dosh for me

Previous thread is here.

I found a copy at a yard sale and figured I might as well, since I've been doing Trek stuff for the past couple of days. I was surprised - this wasa a good movie. I wouldn't have felt like I got cheated out of twenty bucks to have bought a DVD new, or for a movie ticket and a "small" (read, 32oz.) soda. Why can't they make movies that make me feel like this anymore?

Why can't they put in a female character like Lily Sloane, Cochrane's chief assistant, materials scavenger, and intended copilot, who picks up a gun to defend their work from invaders, quietly and effectively gets free from the people who have (as she sees it) captured her, and after getting filled in on the actual situation walks into Picard's ready room and gives him a reaming for being a stubborn, obsessed jerk and pulls his head out of his ass, and yet is never "a strong woman defying the patriarchy" or whatever, just being a strong character who fills a critical role in the plot? Deanna Troi, having put up with Cochrane's off-camera but implied to be half-socialized-geek level attempts at flirting and gotten drunk enough that she passes out after tagging Riker in to try to get him to try to convince him to do his test flight as planned, doesn't come off as a "weak woman conforming to outdated role expectations" either, for that matter. And Bev Crusher is a consummate professional who shepherds her team to safety with the Borg overrunning the Enterprise having literally beaten down the door to Sickbay, and still worries about the somewhat hostile local they picked up earlier when she realizes she's gone missing, again with no gender politics involved. Truly, the future is a different time... except the movie is over twenty years old, so why does it come off with a better representation of female characters than the supposedly pro-feminist "triumphs" of the past two or three, that seem to only be able to make their ladies look good by turning the men into incompetent buffoons? Eh, but that's not what I wanted to talk about.

This is about First Contact! So-- the starship battle in the first act! That was great! It's only relevant to set up the rest of the movie and confirm that Picard does have a point when he says he has knowledge that makes him the best man to fight the Borg, while at the same time that he's really not in a very good place to do so from a personal standpoint as the film goes on to further explore. Heck, despite knowing Data is in the rest of the TNG movies and has some kind of major role in the upcoming Picard series, despite even having watched documentaries about making the effects for the movie's climax that mentioned the broad details of the ending, there was some real tension in the final act as he seemed to have been won over to the Borg's side.

I wasn't even annoyed by the rock-song insert of Magic Carpet Ride during the Phoenix's launch sequence, and was disappointed when Party Pooper Number One asked him to turn it down and Cochrane shut off his music player. I don't even resent the movie Jossing the old FASAtrek and novel assertion that Zeyafram Co'achran was actually an Alpha Centauran human, because this version was just so much fun, even if he is a drunken ass and had the odd idea that spending years of effort and all the resources he could convince an apparently rather large group to scrounge to build an FTL rocket would somehow let him retire to a life of wealth and leisure on a tropical island full of nubile women, instead of building a comfortable settlement and machines to make widgets even barely-above-post-apocalypse level WWIII survivors would want enough to trade goods and services for. He'd hardly be the first inventor to have an over-inflated idea of the results of demonstrating a successful prototype, I guess, but still.

Oddly enough, it didn't fuel my desire to get back to working on my own ship models again though, and I didn't even notice the Akira making her screen debut despite having thought to look for her in the battle sequence. Ah well, I don't mind the thought of watching it again, and that's something I haven't been able to say about a movie since Revenge of the Sith stole two precious hours I could have been reading fanfic or watching cat videos. I got Insurrection and the last two seasons of Depp Space 9 at the same place and have had the Star Trek Continues playlist open on YouTube for months, so there should be plenty of other inspiration to be found.