Just a check in on our posters in that area.

Are you guys prepped and/or evacuated?

Vibes from JAX, FL

Some of the barcades in Denver commenting on the disparity between the casinos being allowed to have their machines, and they aren't:

https://www.9news.com/video/news/local/n...35c120554c

I suspect it's mostly because of the tax revenue casinos bring in versus arcades - still doesn't make it right that one is able to do it and the other isn't. Not that I plan to venture to either anytime soon. In fact, we've been buying home arcade setups the past four months as part of being able to stay at home.

despite the fact that the likelihood of my ever joining a Champions game asymptotically approaches zero, and a bunch of the powers crammed into the "Mentalist" VPP being pretty likely to catch a NIMGYD if I tried even though it's overall built exactly to the 400pts w/75pts complications HERO 6e superheroic standard. (The Champions Complete version of that, at least, which simplifies telepathy and skills a little.)

(This means of course that I completely failed at the original plan to make one according to the 125cp/-50cp Heroic standard, but I honestly don't see how you could make a caster-archetype on that basis, and I don't have Fantasy HERO or any core book except CC anyway.)

Maybe I'll write "Rule 63 SI" on the "campaign" line before I file it away? Certainly nothing could go wrong with that plan.

Not that there's that much unusual about her besides the various "Yeah, it's got a stop sign but it's so cool" powers, though I did do something a little weird for disposable "shadow clones" entirely unlike the nominal Duplication power in the system - slapped Size Increase and Desolidify together to stand in for a horde of normal-size bodies with one STUN or BODY each from what Size Increase adds and all sharing a mind, that pop as each one takes any damage until the last one left (with the character's normal STUN and BODY) is automatically "the real one."

I pretty much just wanted to gripe, but wouldn't mind talking about this or other people's characters more if anyone wants to. I considered putting this in The Legendary or OPF, but it's tabletop, not computerized, and not really fanfic either since there's no plot, setting, or even characterization beyond a couple of psych lims really, just a collection of powers with a vague blue-haired-space-hottie wrapper and a few standard-issekai-premise assumptions in the very minimal fluff.

Welp.  The fan on my decade-old Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 has finally given up the ghost, making me subject to spontaneous reboots if I play something like Sims 4 or City of Heroes for more than an hour or so.  So I guess I ought to buy a new one.

I want to spend under $100-$150, and I've generally been pleased with Nvidia's products over the years, but honestly, I haven't paid attention to what video cards are up to these days.  The GeForce GT 710 is Amazon Choice at $55 -- but is there anything at a better price/performance point?

Best as I can recall, I have a 300W power supply, and otherwise don't put a lot of load on it.

Any suggestions?

Ottawa, ON, Canada
January 17, 2017
10:17 AM


Mayumi Osaka looked up as the front door's chime rang, to see a nervous young woman walk into her shop. "May I help you, miss?"

"Well, I was hoping I would be able to help you. I'm looking for a job."

"I see." While she could use some help around the shop, she wasn't about to hire just anybody. The last thing she needed was to wake up in the basement, tied up and gagged, hearing somebody in the shop pretending to be her. Again. But she had to take a chance if she was ever going to hire anybody to work in the shop. "Do you have a resume, miss ...?"

"Hanyu. Mimi Hanyu. I'm sorry, but I don't have a resume to show you. And I don't have any previous experience in retail, either."

Mayumi frowned. "But you still think that you can work in a jewellery shop. Miss Hanyu, I have to wonder whether, as they say here, you were born yesterday."

"Would you believe I was born four days ago?"

She almost replied in the negative, but she realized that Ms. Hanyu was being completely serious. Either she was deluded, or she was involved in the weirdness that had started to overwhelm her life; either way, Mayumi wondered whether she should just ask this woman to leave now. Then she realized that her thoughts were showing on her face - and that Ms. Hanyu had read her expression.

"Please, Ms. Osaka, please give me a chance! I don't have a diploma, I don't have any relevant experience, I don't even have a resume because I've never worked for a wage. All I have is a couple of character references, who both suggested that I talk to you first."

"Ms. Hanyu, I'll be honest with you. From how you just described yourself, you are unemployable at any job more complicated than flipping hamburgers at a fast-food restaurant." But then she realized that Ms. Hanyu had addressed her by name, which she hadn't mentioned. "How did you know my name?"

"My character references - Rob Donaldson and Usagi Tsukino - suggested that I talk to you first. I can give you their telephone numbers, if you want to call them and ask about me. You are Mayumi Osaka, aren't you?"

Mayumi did her best to not let her amazement show. Ms. Hanyu probably wasn't deluded about having been born four days ago... but that meant she was involved with the weirdness that had seeped into her life. However, she had said that Usagi-chan was willing to vouch for her. Pulling out her cellphone, she replied, "There's no need for that; I have both of their numbers on speed dial." She almost tapped Usagi's speed dial button before remembering that she was in class, along with her daughter Naru. She tapped Mr. Donaldson's speed dial number instead. After a moment, the call connected. "Hello, Mr. Donaldson. This is Mayumi Osaka calling. ... You were? If you were expecting my call, then you probably also know why I'm calling. ... Yes, Ms. Hanyu is standing in front of me right now. ... Ah. I'll apologize to her after we finish our conversation." She winked at the other woman in the room, who smiled. "Is there anything important that I need to know about her? ... Yes, that is important. Can I assume that anybody who knows Tsukino-chan is Sailor Moon is trustworthy?" It was her turn to smile, as she saw Ms. Hanyu - Mimi - raise her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh. Well, I trust you; you've always told me the truth. ... No, I'll let her tell you. Thank you for your time, Mr. Donaldson." And, after giving him a chance to end the call, she ended it for him. Then she looked straight at Mimi. "Mr. Donaldson tells me that in this country it's extremely unusual to check somebody's references while the person is in the same room. I apologize for being rude, even unknowingly."

"Oh, that's all right. Think nothing of it," Mimi replied.

"He also tells me that you're from the same universe as Ms. Tsukino... so we have that in common." She smiled. "When can you start?"

Mimi's grin lit up the room. "Right now!"

Mayumi shook her head. "No, that's too soon. I have to draw up an employment contract for you to read and sign. Can you come back at 10 am tomorrow?"

"I'll be here! And thank you so much for being willing to take a chance on somebody like me."

"Well, we - what did Mr. Donaldson call us? Oh, yes - we displacees need to stick together. And now I have to figure out how to teach you the basics of retail - unless that's what you learned in school."

Mimi shook her head. "No, I'm hoping to go back to school starting next semester. I was a dramatic arts major back in Tokyo."

With that, Mayumi realized that Mimi's expressions throughout the impromptu job interview might not have been authentic. But if Mimi could play her emotions that way, then she could do the same with customers' emotions - and flatter them into buying more, and more expensive, jewellery without saying a word. What were the ethics of that?

"Is something wrong?"

"What? No, I was just thinking about what to teach you to do, and not do. Oh, we should make this formal." She extended her hand. "I'm Mayumi Osaka, the owner of the OSA-P jewellery shop. Welcome to the OSA-P family."

Mimi took her hand and shook it. "I'm Mimi Hanyu. Please take care of me."

So, finding a good Human in Equestria fic is kinda hard these days.  The good ones are all either long-running stories that I'm already following, are NOT about humans in Equestria, or are shorts that, while good, don't quite have the satisfaction slogging through a long, well written story has.

I took a chance on this one and I haven't regretted it.

The basic premise is that Anon lives with Twilight Sparkle - a version of her that is incredibly autistic - and for whatever reason, Anon has been taking down her Friendship Reports instead of Spike.

You can easily imagine where this is going.

The best part is that someone else has been doing a side-long fic for this one that contains Celestia's responses to Anon's... missives.

Here's one of my favorite Friendship Reports.

Quote:Dear Princess Cellphone,

Today I learned that hickeys are a mark of sexual love, and should not be used to show affection for a family member.

Your freak with a streak,
50 Shades of Purple

Quote:Dear Anon,

I am revoking your 'only sane one' card for the week.
Do you want zombie parasprite apocolypses? This is how you get zombie parasprite apocolypses.

Your friend,
Tia

Old thread is full of sound and fury

A thread for all those scraps of dialog that you don't have a use for.

Starting us off...


"I know you're on a diet, but this chocolate cake is sooooo goooood..."

"Nanoha! Stop tempting Fate!"

I just had to ask you guys about the new band the HU from Mogolda that has become very huge on the past year along with thier crossover songs with some of the big names in USA rock right now. I just have to ask what types of powers would Doug get from some of thier songs and the very cool music they do?