Steven Ross

1500 Things you can do to piss off your GM

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:18:29 GMT

Thanks to theglen for compiling this list.

1500 things Mr. Welch can no longer do during an RPG

Twitter and YouTube and Firefox, Oh My!

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:57:13 GMT

Ok,

A couple of days ago, I noticed that Twitpic and some of the other links of Twitter would load normally and then go blank. Now I sign on to YouTube and it does the same thing. I've also noticed that some times when I have more then one tab open on Firefox and I go back to the hidden tab, it is also blank. What do these things have in common?

Not what you usually expect to see in a Strip Club

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:20:04 GMT

From Alyssa Milano's Tweet:

Strip Club offers free Flu Shots to Seniors

What to run for the guy who has played everything.

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:14:57 GMT

Ok here's the problem, I'm part of jkahane's Sunday Gaming Group. He'd like me to run on Sunday from time to time, he'd prefer it if I'd run something he doesn't have or isn't familiar with. There is the problem, you see usually if jkahane finds a game he'd be interested in playing, he's generally also interested in running it and so he buys it.

As I'd rather not run out and by a new game system on the hopes that jkahane would like to play it, I'm currently considering two games SPACE: 1889 and 2300 AD these are both games jkahane used to own, but doesn't any more. Advice would be appreciated, especially from some of the people in jkahane's Friday Night Gaming Group.

This Explains a Few things

spross@xplornet.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:59:26 GMT

Thanks frustratedpilot
Deficits In Brain's Reward System Observed In ADHD Patients; Low Levels Of Dopamine Markers May Underlie Symptoms

As someone who started taking Ritalin in my 20's, I'd really like it more if they'd find a way to get me off.

Twitter

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:14:15 GMT

I recently stated going on Twitter, but for the life of me I can't figure out why...

Lucky Kid

spross@xplornet.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:17:56 GMT

If this kid were older I'd suggest he buy a lottery ticket...

14-year-old hit by 30,000 mph space meteorite

Has anyone ever Participated in The Genographic Project?

spross@xplornet.com — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:21:34 GMT

Hey Folks,

Lately, I've been thinking about where I come from, and I've been thinking about getting one of those Genographic Project Kits from National Geographic. Has anyone participated in this? Are the kits hard to use?

I can't help but think this is the Star Trek time travel movie they SHOULD have done.

spross@xplornet.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:43:15 GMT

Hmm, Donna and Kirk. Nah, she wouldn't want him...

Writer's Block: How'd You Get Here?

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:58:53 GMT

There are many roads to LiveJournal—how did you first hear about LJ?

View 500 Answers

I heard about it when jemstone announced the arg_comm community on the Mekton Zeta mailing list.

Writer's Block: Looking Back

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:12:26 GMT

LiveJournal is turning 10 and we're feeling nostalgic. What was your first LJ post about?

View 503 Answers

My first post was July 14th, 2006, and consisted of my answers to a survey posted by jkahane, but I actually had my account well before that, having gotten it to post in the arg_comm community.

War Eagles reveiw.

spross@xplornet.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:56:41 GMT

Hey Guys,

I just finished reading War Eagles by Carl Macek on friday.

The War Eagles story is set just prior to the start of WWII and revolves around a publicly humiliated Army Air Corps test pilot who was court-martialed and discharged from the service for an unauthorized flight that ultimately endangered the life of President Roosevelt. He takes the only job he can get—flying an experimental airplane around the world from pole to pole—and ends up stranded on an uncharted island above the Arctic Circle. The island is inhabited by a lost tribe of Norsemen who ride giant eagles that, in a surprising turn of events, become America’s only hope against a devastating sneak attack by the Nazis and their powerful new electromagnetic weapon.

The novel is based on an original concept by King Kong creator/producer Merian C. Cooper. One of a number of intriguing film ideas Cooper never got off the ground, do to his own wartime activities with the Flying Tigers. The adventure tale about a lost tribe of eagle-riding warriors has long fascinated Harryhausen, whose Ray Harryhausen Presents shingle is also developing a feature film version with Angel Gate parent company Left Field Film Corp. and Hand Picked Films.

The book, which has been adapted by Carl Macek, (anime’s greatest monster) from the original movie concept. War Eagles reads a lot like a HEX scenario, dishonored hero goes on journey, crashes, finds lost tribe, bonds with the ofrior orn that destroyed his plane, wins the heart of the hilmir's daughter, and leads the tribe in battle against the Nazis. The book can almost broken into parts, first Lt. J.P. Brandt’s accident and court-martial, then his job flying pole to pole, the crash, his eventually becoming a member of the tribe, and then the fight against the German Zepplin over New York. Except for some incongruities, a female MP guarding Brandt in 1939, and Utahraptors that seem to be T-rex size, it was actually a very enjoyable read. Nothing special in pulp terms, but good none the less.

Safety Dance

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:03:37 GMT

The feel good song of the Millennium.

Turkey's CAN Fly!

spross@xplornet.com — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:11:23 GMT

If you hit them fast enough...

Up since 3:30 am, on the way home at around 5 pm, after work and helping John clear some of his gaming stuff, I hit a wild turkey, roughly a 60 pounder, with a good THUMP! sent it flying off the hood.

Bird seemed well enough to take off, but he left a dent in the front of the hood.

It can only go down hill from here

spross@xplornet.com — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:54:09 GMT

George, your career can only go down hill from here:

A Question

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:22:02 GMT

So is there any women watching Dancing with the Stars who doesn't seriously envy Cheryl Burke right now? or guys who don't envy Gilles Marini?

Not as weird as I thought.

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:14:24 GMT

Thanks unquietsoul5

So, spross, your LiveJournal reveals...

You are... 2% unique (blame, for example, your interest in world-building.) and 16% herdlike (partly because you, like everyone else, enjoy star wars). When it comes to friends you are normal. In terms of the way you relate to people, you are keen to please. Your writing style (based on a recent public entry) is intellectual.

Your overall weirdness is: 34

(The average level of weirdness is: 29.
You are weirder than 72% of other LJers.)

Find out what your weirdness level is!

Mutant City Blues Sunday

spross@xplornet.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:38:55 GMT

Hi Folks,

Just yesterday, jkahane introduced me to a game called Mutant City Blues written by robin_d_laws and brought to us by simonrogers and the boys & girls at Pelgrane Press.

So without further ado, here is my first mutant cop:

DONOVAN KINCAID
Donny was a student of Art History who joined the police shortly after discovering his powers. He's fresh out of the Academy.

Academic
Archaeology 1, Art History 4, History 2, Languages 1, Law 2, Research 2, Textual Analysis 2.

Interpersonal
Bullshit Detector 2, Bureaucracy 2, Cop Talk 2 (Default).

Technical
Chemistry 2, Data Retrieval 1, Document Analysis 2, Evidence Collection 1.

General Abilities
Athletics 3, Driving 6, Filch 2, Health 10, Infiltration 3, Mechanics 2, Medic 3, Preparedness 5, Scuffling 4, Sense Trouble 4, Shooting 4, Stability 8, Surveillance 6.

Mutant Powers - General
Fire Control 8, Spontaneous Combustion 7, Fire Immunity 7, Fire Projection 4.

Defects
Trance Susceptible.

All in all, character creation was no where near as hard as I expected. However, talking to jkahane, I've learned that the math on the powers and the defect are wrong. Also, after having the powers defined, I probably wouldn't have taken Fire Projection.

And now for something completely different:

My bid for world domination
LiveJournal Username
Why you did it
Your lair
Your hideous secret weapon
Your favourite colour

Beautiful and exotic but deadly eastern lieutenant	waiwode
Henchperson who constantly plays with knifes	gmskarka
Your perverted scientific genius	ravinpa1
You cordon bleu chef	mazecontroller
Lieutenant with serious moral qualms	kayshapero
Number of countries subverted	92


This Fun Quiz created by Andrew at BlogQuiz.Net

Sagittarius Horoscope at DailyHoroscopes.Biz

Gamer Star Sign

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:20:24 GMT

I got this from simonjrogers thanks.

Traveller - 20 January - 19 February

They call me the Wanderer, yeah the Wanderer, I roam around and round and round and round... Sorry about that, Buttercup's playing 20 Number Ones of the 1950s again. That said, it pretty much describes a Traveller. Notoriously commitment-phobic, it's Another Girl, Another Planet. Buttercup, for goodness sake turn that off, how's a Moo to concentrate?

Most Compatible With: Frodos, who might like to travel along for a while and with Gurps who probably won't remember them in the morning.

Least Compatible With: Shoggoths, who have long memories and hold grudges.

Writer's Block: Dream Job

spross@xplornet.com — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:43:54 GMT

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

View 501 Answers

I was thinking along the lines of astronaut, archeologist, or S.H.A.D.O. agent. Don't have the physical conditioning for the first, the education for the second, and as far as I know, I could be wrong, but the third doesn't exist. :D

What's This Empire Coming to?

spross@xplornet.com — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:09:19 GMT

A friend of mine cross-posted this from one of her Classics lists.

Thanks ravinpa1!

A little Christmas cheer from Diane Roberts Have a PC Holiday, Ancient Rome-Style.

Enjoy.

The Christmas and post Christmas week

spross@xplornet.com — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:02:15 GMT

Well the past two weeks have been interesting.

Earlier in December, Dad took me with him to BestBuy to buy a Laptop computer for my mom. When we got it, we arranged for someone from Geek Squad to come and install it and the router we needed. The guy arrived on the 23rd and started to work, unfortunately, Xplornet doesn't offer router support and we couldn't get the network to see it or the other way around. So he left being unable to do his job, you can't fully install most software without going online.

To make matters worse, mom, who had only found out about the laptop that day, didn't really want one, because she was going to be leaving the volunteer position where she needed it. So I returned the laptop, except for Office 2007 to BestBuy. After a lot of hemming and hawing on their part, and trying to convince me that I couldn't return it, they took it back. However, because it wasn't my name on the card, they couldn't put it back on the card, and instead put it on a Gift Card. I was told that dad had 30 days to come in and transfer it to his credit card.

I then got mom a $200 Gift Card from Walmart, using dad's credit card, and using my own card, I bought her the two disk set of Momma Mia!, my original gift idea. Well Christmas went well, mom enjoyed the gifts, and the Diamond Studs dad got her.

Over the weekend I caught a head cold I'm still trying to get over. But, I did get to experience creating characters for HELLAS: Worlds of Sun and Stone for jkahane along with oni_neko.

On the 29th dad took me with him to BestBuy to deal with the card. He was quite upset to find out that unlike other stores, he couldn't do that at the cash, and used some fowl language. Well, I calmed him down and we got into Customer Service line and waited. While there the Manager came to talk to and warn my dad while one of the cash clerks tried to bait him into swearing again so that the Manager would have an excuse to call the cops. I kept dad calm and was about to remind the clerk that his boss and my father were talking and he should stay out of it when they left. Eventually, we got the thing dealt with and out that place. I have to say, if your going to get electronics, and want good customer service go to FutureShop or Circuit City, they'll treat you a lot better.

Well, now I'm resting, and will hopefully be recovered by the time I work tomorrow. Oh, yah, this will be the first New Years that I don't stay up for because I work tomorrow morning.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Do We Really Need This Now?

spross@xplornet.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:29:58 GMT

We just had an election, shouldn't we wait a little before forming a new government?

While I'll admit, Harper hasn't done anything to earn our trust as leader, neither have any of those forming the Coalition. I mean come on, the Bloc shouldn't even BE in parliament any more then the Confederacy should be in U.S. Congress.

Not that I have anything against a Coalition Government, it's worked in other countries. But, I'd rather the Canadian people choose their leaders. If they want to be a Coalition, fine, let them run as one.

My personal view is we should give the government time to actually try to do things. However, if no one can wait, then the Governor General should dissolve parliament in January and hold a fresh election. Only this time, none of the sitting candidates should be allowed to run. Just clean house totally.

I'm guessing that they didn't get much in 1894

spross@xplornet.com — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 01:13:31 GMT

Quotes from Ruth Smyther's book

Noir the dark sespool of the soul.

spross@xplornet.com — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:12:42 GMT

Well another Sunday gaming session.

The session opened with a newspaper article about the body of a City Councilman being found in the trunk of a cab at the bottom of a quarry. Eddie's cab, which is interesting because, I (Eddie) dragged the corpse out of the quarry and buried it before I was shot. Eddie, of course knows little about this, because I'm in the hospital with a shattered knee. Things for Eddie went downhill from there. First the Paradiso police arrived and I think jkahane was a little disappointed that Eddie talked before he had a chance to REALLY demonstrate what happens when the police question you in a place with no Miranda Rights. The way I figured it Eddie wasn't lucid enough to successfully lie, besides, he's not a hardened criminal.

At some point before this, Clair, Eddie's wife was with him talking to the doctor about my condition, and the horrendous expenses for the operations that would be required to rebuild the knee. To add to this, I couldn't work, and would likely be billed for the damages to the cab.

Later in the evening while I was being tended to by Evelyn Kelman (Tammy) Olivia Martinelli oni_neko showed up with a couple of goons to inquire into what I told the police. She was rather surprised when Evelyn refused to allow her access to me until she was finished. After sweating it out and claiming they already knew everything, they knew most of it, I admitted to confirming that her cousin "Sammy" was in the cab. I also expressed my confusion over how they found the body. Further discussion was interrupted when an other plain-clothed police detective showed up. Out-of-Character, it seems obvious that someone is taking her family down from the inside.

On the family front, unknown to Eddie, Olivia had a discussion with Clair about our situation. At this point, Erin, our eldest daughter reveled to her mum that Olivia had paid for Erin's operation. The favor that incurred the original debt. Now she's offering to pay for this one too. Suddenly, I suspect the leg will be the LEAST of Eddie's worries.

That's it for me.

Squirming, and loving it!

Steve