(Part one found here; part two found here.)

Here endeth the triptych of drama, with a paraphrased "correction" of what Helbrecht sent out from the last post. This is from the "corrected" notice sent out to group members about the situation (no emphatic bolding on this one; it's going to be tricky enough to figure out who's speaking when. Maybe I'll just emphasize 'chapter' titles):

=============================ROE================================
-Melna speaking here; I wanted to narrate here so I just opened up the document and added my cliff notes to it to give you some facts! I didn't want to have to do this, but here it goes, sorry for the slop! Look for the parts labeled ">>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:"

ORIGINAL:
As all of you are already aware, the Administrative Council of Remnants of Earth has re-affirmed control of the simulator. Contrary to what Melna claims, the simulator has been owned and payed for almost entirely by Chii Howl. The Council consistently has been attempting to look out for the best of the role-players here at ROE. None of us wanted this to boil over into the situation it did because we admittedly love and adore the community here on sim with us.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
-Melna never claimed this, Melna and Chii CO OWNED IT. Melna paid half the rent making them a legal co owner and tenant. By law, you cannot evict someone with out giving them prior notice before hand. Just as I could not simply remove Chii whenever I wanted to do so.

ORIGINAL:
1. - How the sim was supposed to operate.

As some of you may be aware, ROE was originally run by Melna Milos and a board of four administrators. As the simulator grew in size, this number became eight. After an issue arose involving Melna potentially being biased, the entire Administration formed an entity known as the Administrative Council, henceforth referred to as simply "The Council" The council consisted of Melna, Chii, Rukia, Bighairy, Darksleepur, Krystal, Morveyn, Moondoggie, Lutin, Reina, and Myself. We had decided that any decision must be passed through The Council before it was placed into functionality. Moondoggie departed shortly after it's formation due to personal reasons. Morveyn left because of personal reasons as well, and Rukia and Reina ended up becoming inactive due to various reasons. This left Melna, Chii, Hairy, Dark, Krystal, Lutin and myself to operate The Council.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
This is true. We are suppose to work as a team.

ORIGINAL:
2. - What actually happened.

The last two months have been hectic to put it lightly. Our inventory system was lost because of various problems and as the sim was set up, it was entirely needed to drive roleplay. This caused things to collapse in on themselves and inhibit roleplay from taking place. Our primary solution was a man I'll simply call "Mr. Sparks" Mr. Sparks is one of the best scriptwriters in SL. At-least in my opinion Mr. Sparks had been reliably working on a brand new web server which would pretty much allow us to update the hud and instantaneously get back to work. However, Sparks has a very busy real life and was unable to work on it more than a few hours per day, and even then, only if his schedule allowed it. He was doing this for free as well. Melna got tired of waiting and asked Jerrik to make a new system with him. This new system is unfortunately very buggy and barely reliable as is, simply because it's based on a sim positioned server and not a web server. This resulted in numerous exploits whilst using and transferring items that often resulted in duplications and manifestations of items not previously acquired. There also was a back-door that might have resulted in someone using a prim, changing it's UUID and easily being able to do whatever they pleased with the server as long as they knew the commands. This system was rolled out early in an efforts to appease all of you, our roleplayers. But the Council felt it needed more extensive testing because of the bugs we KNEW were present.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
"Mr. Sparks" had a full time job and I had many players leaving and being upset over the loss. I had to act to make a temporary solution to keep you all happy. This temporary solution could do the job almost identically to the original. Atleast to you the player. This would give "Mr. Sparks" ample enough time, with out being rushed to complete our system, or even continue using the new one if it worked out well enough. It's always nice to have a backup. There were little exploits, this point is exaggerated. When we found one. We patched it. The Dupe bug mentioned here was minor and was patched in 15 minutes. Chii, Helbrecht and Krystal did not even take part in the Alpha or Beta testing. They were even too busy playing games in a skype call to even show up to our weekly admin meetings.
How could they give a proper opinion?

ORIGINAL:
Krystal and Myself are both scripters and were well aware of these risks so we insisted that if it was implemented, it be wiped and the players (( You )) be told this so no one was too attached to their items. Melna felt it was un-needed and rolled it out anyway. During it's time out, it was determined that Powered Armor ((One of the rarest items in the game)) was dropping like candy as well as Jet-packs. This immediately caused alarm and the items were to be confiscated. The Council insisted that immediately the system be turned off and the bugs be fixed. Krystal Slade (( The admin who spawned the items )) is a scripter. And was the one who found out that items were duping and things were far worse than they appeared. Previously, it was determined that their character "Alexis" was to be played as an incredibly important EarthGOV exec who used a rare bio-android as a stand in whilst on planet. This character was intended from creation to be over-powered but in the event of it being downed, to drop incredibly rare items such as shield generators and rare implants that aren't sold by vendors and are not readily available from loot piles. So, as is procedure on sim, Krystal generated the pre-determined items for the character which Melna had agreed to along with Chii and myself. The down side to having such a powerful event type character was that is was not intended to ever engage players. Rather, to let players engage it. That was four of our seven Admins and was within Council Majority Vote rules.

ORIGINAL:
Melna "Magically" forgot that this decision was arrived to months ago. When Krystal spawned the items, Melna immediately shut down the system and inhibited admins from using our commands to check inventories and the like to ensure that no one had been duping items or using any form of exploit. ((We try to be thorough.)) He did this without speaking to any of us aside from Lutin. One Admin and a GM cannot override a Council decision, but Krystal was punished anyway. This is when I got involved, and in the blink of an eye, the Council was at each other's throats. It split into two groups. Melna and Lutin, Versus, Chii, Jade, and Myself. Melna told us that it didn't matter who agreed and disagreed and that he was the GM and that the Council existed only to advise him on matters. This immediately infuriated the vast majority of the Council. Melna went on and on about owning the sim until the person who actually payed for the simulator snapped. Chii took the sim and said. "I'm sick of you constantly pretending we don't exist! I'm taking the sim, we're done." At this point, Melna began fabrication of a story involving Chii spawning items, when Chii has been inactive due to the administration's infighting. Melna then turned around and started spinning stories to defame all of us.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
Power Armor was never in any of the loot nodes ever. Im not sure where they got this fact from. It wasn't in the old system, or the new one. That is completely false. There was no confiscation happening...Again. I am not sure why they made this fact up. Noone had power armor.
Furthermore, "Alexis" (is an admin) was only approved a few items to play that character in the old system, Before the wipe. Then generated their items back to themselves without asking the admin council, when the entire council agreed to not spawn items again. Breaking our law: Don't act with out the council's approval. Even for admins. It would be unfair to players who worked hard to get their stuff. We turned off spawning for all admins, Including myself to stop further spawning temporarily then attempted to talk to "Alexis", and the rest of the council, But they had a fit and quit. Which caused the spark to ignite.

I did not want admins spawning things at all during a delicate testing period, ( as they stated above themselves, in their own words) and harming the economy of the sim. There was also no majority vote to approve "Alexis' " character to carry 500,000 credits and a slew of implants and permanent items, Even if it was approved, which it was not, It was moot, because everyone, including admins should have been WIPED clean of all items and would start fresh. ( you all know this) Just because you're an admin does not make you a special snowflake, Chii did NOT spawn these items. Krystal did. However Chii is responsible for supporting it. I did not lie about Chii. They must follow rules too. Heres the proof of what they (Krystal) was spawning to themselves with out approval of all admins.

ORIGINAL: We didn't respond lightly, and Bighairy and Dark abruptly left once Melna wrote a blatantly fictitious statement and put it out on in a notice. This lead to the complete division of our staff between Melna and Lutin, and Chii, Jade, and myself. Dark and Mammoth stood up and have so far remained neutral though this may potentially change.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
Melna didn't write fictitious things. He only stated facts. Facts they did not want to face. Bighairy, Lutin, Reina, Morveyn, and Dark did not leave at all. Infact, Helbrecht, Chii and Krystal has spent the past 3 hours attempting to badger them in their IMs to get them on their side. They won't budge because they know who is really right.

ORIGINAL:
3. - How things currently stand.

Melna continues his efforts to defame and attack the sim in any way he can, including sending Jerrik in to return all the prims he can on sim in order to destabilize RP. We're replacing things as quickly as we can in an effort to prevent any issues with your roleplay. We have no intention of stooping to his level and responding to it. He insists on attempting "Peace talks" as he asks people to join his side because we're all "Bad People" We would like to keep the sim open so that you all may continue your roleplay without worry.

As for the inventory system and the story, we will be opening a google moderator forum ourself so that you all may be involved in ROE's reboot, should you all choose to do so. Hopefully we can establish a roleplay sim that will surpass ROE and eventually end up a shining star in Dystopian/Cyberpunk RP. As for what was lost, We've lost a few roads and buildings, but the internals are still completely functional and the wasteland has been completely un-affected. We'll replace the city as soon as possible and this time, with a better layout that is geared for a 50 man RP sim and not a 20 person homestead as the current sim build was intended for.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
I am not defaming or attacking. I have tried to open communications, they outright refuse. I sent in Jerrik to pick up my parts that they will not allow me to pick up. This is not to spite them, It's my property that I want picked up. Why shouldn't I have my objects back? I will simply get LL to return my objects to me. I am not stooping to any level, I just want to collect my objects off the old sim. The inventory system belongs to the real RoE, and will be going to the new sim. Not to Chii's. He does not own it and I did not allow it to go into his hands due to his unstableness that he just demonstrated today by taking out his rage on 850+ people instead of on me. He pulled a real low blow to not only me, but the entire community here.

ORIGINAL:
4. - Personal note from the Author.

Hey everyone, Now that the formal crap is out of the way I'm going to be completely honest with all of you. We've hit a critical point in this community's existence. We cannot change what has happened and I wholesomely apologize to each and every one of you that we failed in our duties as Administrators and failed to prevent the issues we dealt with from spilling over into your RP and into the simulator. I am completely and utterly appalled that it came to this... Hopefully this is for the better and this rough spot won't result in this community collapsing because of the behavior of a few. Those of us on what remains of the Council are asking you to forgive us for the mess that has ensued and we hope that you'll continue to consider our sim your home and favorite place to Roleplay.

Thank you all for you understanding, patience, and compassion when dealing with this particularly nasty bump on the road.


- Sincerely, Helbrecht Kytori


of the Administrative Council.

>>>>>>FACT/WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:
I am not defaming nor attacking. They COULD change what happened, They outright refuse, so I will be purchasing my own sim. I am not asking you to choose sides here. I just want you to have the facts and to make up your own minds. Theres two sides to every story and I wanted mine heard. Thank you for listening.

In conclusion, this is a "bump in the road", but I have purchased my own sim and have begun rebuilding the sim the way it was and installing the new inventory system so you all can continue, The new sim will be open in 1-2 business days as it is being rebuilt. Please have patience. This will be the real RoE. You are all welcome to continue or make up your own minds about who is right and go where you like. If you want more information Please contact me personally,

PS: Jay, the dev asked me to send this to you about his inventory system being insulted as well, It is his words, not mine.


Signed,
Melna Milos

So what does this all mean for Remnants of Earth? Well, I didn't have much time to explore the sim post-meltdown (nor was I really dressed for wandering a dystopian future sim, being in my frilly Loli best), but from what I saw with a short jaunt, while it looked fairly empty, it also looked fairly complete. Granted, there is still room for explosions, expletives, and ensuing hysteria, but that's all from former (and current) sim admins. The sim itself--the pixelated bones and carbon struts making up the space--is trying to struggle on and ignore everything swirling overhead. Not the worst option, but I get the definite feeling there's going to be some insistence on picking sides, one way or the other.

I'll keep you updated if I can.

(Part one found here.)

Hello, and welcome to the second part of the dramatic coverage of the dramatic drama! This is another admin weighing in on the admittedly weighty and emotional issues behind what happened (emphatic bolding again mine):

=============================ROE=================================

As all of you are already aware, the Administrative Council of Remnants of Earth has re-affirmed control of the simulator. Contrary to what Melna claims, the simulator has been owned and payed for almost entirely by Chii Howl. The Council consistently has been attempting to look out for the best of the role-players here at ROE. None of us wanted this to boil over into the situation it did because we admittedly love and adore the community here on sim with us.


1. - How the sim was supposed to operate.

As some of you may be aware, ROE was originally run by Melna Milos and a board of four administrators. As the simulator grew in size, this number became eight. After an issue arose involving Melna potentially being biased, the entire Administration formed an entity known as the Administrative Council, henceforth referred to as simply "The Council" The council consisted of Melna, Chii, Rukia, Bighairy, Darksleepur, Krystal, Morveyn, Moondoggie, Lutin, Reina, and Myself. We had decided that any decision must be passed through The Council before it was placed into functionality. Moondoggie departed shortly after it's formation due to personal reasons. Morveyn left because of personal reasons as well, and Rukia and Reina ended up becoming inactive due to various reasons. This left Melna, Chii, Hairy, Dark, Krystal, Lutin and myself to operate The Council.


2. - What actually happened.

The last two months have been hectic to put it lightly. Our inventory system was lost because of various problems and as the sim was set up, it was entirely needed to drive roleplay. This caused things to collapse in on themselves and inhibit roleplay from taking place. Our primary solution was a man I'll simply call "Mr. Sparks" Mr. Sparks is one of the best scriptwriters in SL. At-least in my opinion Mr. Sparks had been reliably working on a brand new web server which would pretty much allow us to update the hud and instantaneously get back to work. However, Sparks has a very busy real life and was unable to work on it more than a few hours per day, and even then, only if his schedule allowed it. He was doing this for free as well. Melna got tired of waiting and asked Jerrik to make a new system with him. This new system is unfortunately very buggy and barely reliable as is, simply because it's based on a sim positioned server and not a web server. This resulted in numerous exploits whilst using and transferring items that often resulted in duplications and manifestations of items not previously acquired. There also was a back-door that might have resulted in someone using a prim, changing it's UUID and easily being able to do whatever they pleased with the server as long as they knew the commands. This system was rolled out early in an efforts to appease all of you, our roleplayers. But the Council felt it needed more extensive testing because of the bugs we KNEW were present.

Krystal and Myself are both scripters and were well aware of these risks so we insisted that if it was implemented, it be wiped and the players (( You )) be told this so no one was too attached to their items. Melna felt it was un-needed and rolled it out anyway. During it's time out, it was determined that Powered Armor ((One of the rarest items in the game)) was dropping like candy as well as Jet-packs. This immediately caused alarm and the items were to be confiscated. The Council insisted that immediately the system be turned off and the bugs be fixed. Krystal Slade (( The admin who spawned the items )) is a scripter. And was the one who found out that items were duping and things were far worse than they appeared. Previously, it was determined that their character "Alexis" was to be played as an incredibly important EarthGOV exec who used a rare bio-android as a stand in whilst on planet. This character was intended from creation to be over-powered but in the event of it being downed, to drop incredibly rare items such as shield generators and rare implants that aren't sold by vendors and are not readily available from loot piles. So, as is procedure on sim, Krystal generated the pre-determined items for the character which Melna had agreed to along with Chii and myself. The down side to having such a powerful event type character was that is was not intended to ever engage players. Rather, to let players engage it. That was four of our seven Admins and was within Council Majority Vote rules.

Melna "Magically" forgot that this decision was arrived to months ago. When Krystal spawned the items, Melna immediately shut down the system and inhibited admins from using our commands to check inventories and the like to ensure that no one had been duping items or using any form of exploit. ((We try to be thorough.)) He did this without speaking to any of us aside from Lutin. One Admin and a GM cannot override a Council decision, but Krystal was punished anyway. This is when I got involved, and in the blink of an eye, the Council was at each other's throats. It split into two groups. Melna and Lutin, Versus, Chii, Jade, and Myself. Melna told us that it didn't matter who agreed and disagreed and that he was the GM and that the Council existed only to advise him on matters. This immediately infuriated the vast majority of the Council. Melna went on and on about owning the sim until the person who actually payed for the simulator snapped. Chii took the sim and said. "I'm sick of you constantly pretending we don't exist! I'm taking the sim, we're done." At this point, Melna began fabrication of a story involving Chii spawning items, when Chii has been inactive due to the administration's infighting. Melna then turned around and started spinning stories to defame all of us.

We didn't respond lightly, and Bighairy and Dark abruptly left once Melna wrote a blatantly fictitious statement and put it out on in a notice. This lead to the complete division of our staff between Melna and Lutin, and Chii, Jade, and myself. Dark and Mammoth stood up and have so far remained neutral though this may potentially change.


3. - How things currently stand.

Melna continues his efforts to defame and attack the sim in any way he can, including sending Jerrik in to return all the prims he can on sim in order to destabilize RP. We're replacing things as quickly as we can in an effort to prevent any issues with your roleplay. We have no intention of stooping to his level and responding to it. He insists on attempting "Peace talks" as he asks people to join his side because we're all "Bad People" We would like to keep the sim open so that you all may continue your roleplay without worry.

As for the inventory system and the story, we will be opening a google moderator forum ourself so that you all may be involved in ROE's reboot, should you all choose to do so. Hopefully we can establish a roleplay sim that will surpass ROE and eventually end up a shining star in Dystopian/Cyberpunk RP. As for what was lost, We've lost a few roads and buildings, but the internals are still completely functional and the wasteland has been completely un-affected. We'll replace the city as soon as possible and this time, with a better layout that is geared for a 50 man RP sim and not a 20 person homestead as the current sim build was intended for.


4. - Personal note from the Author.

Hey everyone, Now that the formal crap is out of the way I'm going to be completely honest with all of you. We've hit a critical point in this community's existence. We cannot change what has happened and I wholesomely apologize to each and every one of you that we failed in our duties as Administrators and failed to prevent the issues we dealt with from spilling over into your RP and into the simulator. I am completely and utterly appalled that it came to this... Hopefully this is for the better and this rough spot won't result in this community collapsing because of the behavior of a few. Those of us on what remains of the Council are asking you to forgive us for the mess that has ensued and we hope that you'll continue to consider our sim your home and favorite place to Roleplay.

Thank you all for you understanding, patience, and compassion when dealing with this particularly nasty bump on the road.


- Sincerely, Helbrecht Kytori


of the Administrative Council.

So that's Helbrecht's side of the coin, and there's yet one more (at least) voice to be heard from! Here endeth the second lesson; the third awaits.

I call this one, "Tales from the SL RP Side", or "Haven't we all seen this before?"

So there's a sim called Remnants of Earth. By all reports, it was a well-built, less-than-well-filled, post-apocalyptic SF-with-furries-and-fanged-folk RP sim. Their combat system was more than slightly nuts, based upon actual dice rolling, and an incredibly complicated system of challenge and flight that could be interrupted at any time. (Thus rendering running away, for example, impossible, even if you tried. More than once.) But up until yesterday, that was literally all I knew.

That changed.

Sometime over the past couple of days, all hell broke loose on the sim. Sadly, I don't have the complete story as it's been evolving insanely quickly, but I do have bits of it. Long story short: two of the game/sim admins have had a major falling out over the actions of one player. Words Were Said, and the sim fractured as a result. Soon, there will be another Remnants of Earth sim, either under a variation of that name, or under a different name, with likely info pointers that emphasize who's running the "REAL" Remnants of Earth.

Not going to spare SL names since all of this has been made EXCEEDINGLY public; so here we go!

What We Know:

Well, honestly, not that much. It's very Xie said/xie said at this point. But the things that everyone agrees on are as follows:

• The sim admins had implemented a new inventory management system--for game inventory and items, it should be said, not actual SL inventory.
• There were some bugs in the system. Some of these were known; others weren't. One was a bug that duplicated previously given items (or items available in the system), whether they could be duplicated in-game or not. This was a somewhat known flaw but had not yet been corrected.
• There was a (scheduled) clearing of game inventory. This was known in advance.
• After the scheduled clearing, an admin-level player rezzed out a very high-level suit of power armor, and a significant number of in-game credits. Another admin called her on it. Drama ensued.

This from another admin (emphatic bolding mine, but no grammatical errors corrected):

"Since things have been said about the beta inventory system, I wanted to make a few things known. First and foremost, none of you should be concerned. Earlier today if you remember, a version update happened. What I didn't publicize was that it came out because of the dupe bug others have mentioned. This bug was the result of another 'bug fix'. This sort of thing happens in programming sometimes. Those of you who were a part of the alpha stress test might remember the infinite loop bug, that was what caused the dupe bug.

In any case, a player was kind enough to actually -report- this bug, and less than an hour later, it was patched, along with the white list for admin commands, which is why admins like Krystal lost spawn priveledges. I should note that according to what they say, they knew about this dupe bug before hand, and said -nothing-.

I'm sure you all know that I don't own a server. While I can code a database, I don't have access to one. The idea of an in SL inventory system is a great deal more complex. It has never been done with this level of fluidity. So yes, there's going to be bugs, and we appreciate all of you baring with us while we test this new technology and make it work.

What we can't have however are selfish admins. Despite knowing the bug existed, they kept it to themselves for several hours. It's only when they need mud to sling that they talk about it. However, this is the only bug they have.

Power armor does not appear in the loot nodes, and they did not have the ability to check your inventory forcefully, despite what appearances they might make. It does remain that if they -do- know any exploits, they have been keeping them a secret, and none have made a bug report.

TL:DR These admins who were supposedly out for your greater good, decided not to help the sim, long before they decided to splinter it. Thankfully, I had mine as well, and they didn't know their spawn commands were being logged. Krystal was caught red handed. All she had to do was give up the admin spawned items and play fair with you all.

P.S. For anyone who wants to review the items, they are right here. Perhaps it can be explained away as NPC inventory, but I'm unsure what an NPC needs with 500,000 credits.


Best Regards,
Jerrik (Janey Obelyn)

And that's Jennik's version. There are others. Thus endeth part the first, with part the second to be launched forthwith.

I'm fairly sure that everyone reading this knows about the Bechdel Test, but in case you don't, here's a brief description of what the test actually does, and accomplishes:

To pass the Bechdel test, a work of fiction must:

• have two women in it
• who talk to each other
• about something other than a man

Simple, right? There's even a few extended variants:

• the two women must be named characters, in addition to the other provisions
• the two women must talk for sixty seconds about something other than a man
• The Vito Russo variant:
  • must contain a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
  • that character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity alone
  • that character must be tied into the plot in such a way that their removal would have a significant detrimental effect

• The Finkbeiner variant relates to articles written about women in science:
  • the fact that she's a woman cannot be mentioned to pass this variant
  • or her husband's job
  • or her child care arrangements
  • how she's such a maternal, nurturing presence to her interns
  • how she was taken aback by the level of competetiveness in her field of study
  • how she's now a role model for other women (especially young women)
  • or how she's the first woman to do [thing] (extra points subtracted if the article's author names her as the first woman to do [thing], when even a Google search will establish other female scientists have previously done said thing.

So, still with me? Now there's a new variant, and it goes like this:

The Mako Mori Test requires:

• at least one female character who gets her own narrative arc
• that is not about supporting a man's story

Which is just about as bare-bones as the original Bechdel test. I like it.

And now, Neverwinter chatter!

[Zone] Darkspeed@dlayer2: oh look im at the gate...no im not...yes now i am...no now im not..

Wait, what's going on?

[Zone] Gotr Durentil@durentil123 pats butthurppl
[Zone] Willoh MacCool@maccool2: make your own team if you dont like the random one given you by the game.

Oh...the skirmish thing? Skirmishes (and dungeons) are limited to groups of five. You can take a team of five in--you and four of your friends or acquaintances--or you can just join the skirmish, wait until five folks are in the queue, then say yes when the announcement comes that the skirmish is ready to join.

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: I feel bad for Eluna though. With such rage having a family of his/her own will be nearly impossible

Huh?

[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: HAHA
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: ask eluna, she knows
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: in fact, u should pm her about it

Why?

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: I usually find it is the people complaining that end up being the ones holding people back though

Sad, but true.

[Zone] Mahanon@seylythia: it is
[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: blast it....well..im still sayin "nuff said" ITS MINE! ITS ALL MINE! MY PRECIOUS! *goes into a corner*
[Zone] ShadowB'rs@educandido69: ushasuhahusa
[Zone] Mahanon@seylythia: looks good on Winterfell:D

I suppose that's a good thing. Or...at least a thing.

[Zone] Eluna@eviled777: seriously......does this Timothy (%#!^$/ ever #@~!?

Apparently not, but I didn't catch any of Timothy's dialogue so far, so...

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: I could ask the same thing about you

Oh, hi, there you are.

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: never fails, everytime I log in it is you with all caps complaining about people

Eluna? Or someone else?

[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: WOAH~ THE ANGER ..CALM DOWN...:)
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: if you dont like people that MIGHT be messing up then make your own group prior to entering. Stop filling zone chat with your useless drivel

Ouch. That's really harsh.

[Zone] GerbilHurdler@gerbilhurdler: Eluna, this is officer Goat. I'm here because you wanted to file a hurt feelings report.

She did?

[Zone] Gotr Durentil@durentil123: with that attitute? HOW he can manage to get even MMO "friends" to run whit

"Attitude", and sometimes, I do wonder how some people continue to find running mates. The way some folks treat other players in Neverwinter--in any MMO, really--is nothing short of abysmal.

[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: it pays to be cool yo. Only cool peeps say yo..and peeps...so..BE COOL!

Timeless advice from Felkirth.

[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: stop teasing her
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: who is teasing who mika? :P
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: the ppl teasing eluna
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: Noone is teasing Eluna really. We are making her aware that her behavior is not acceptable especially in society

Hmm. Surprisingly rational point.

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: If she is not made aware of her issues then she can not fix them
[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: what Behavior does Eluna have?
[Zone] Das it Mane@zilla0922: who cares what society thinks
[Zone] Gotr Durentil@durentil123: bitchy
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: Continual rage problems, complaining about others, using profanity when upset over worthless issues
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: the list truly does go on

So far, the needle's cautiously swinging towards Timothy's side...

[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: she keeps lifting up her dress, around the grown-ups

What??

[Zone] Gotr Durentil@durentil123: lolita att ?

...Lolita attitude? Do you mean, acting generally bratty and underage, or Lolita in the fashion sense, or Nabokov's character? Specify, please.

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: but seriously, to get so worked up over a game is not healthy

Well, that's certainly true.

[Zone] Agorn@drartwhodent: a lot of little girls do that, most grow out of it
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: i know but shes 39

...Oh.

[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: then she SHOULD already know this stuff and apparently does not
[Zone] Felkirth Brimstone@jenkwise: hey Timothy, did you just get worked up over a person in the game? lol, that isnt healthy :P

Ha. Ha ha. Ha.

[Zone] Das it Mane@zilla0922: so we bullying someone or what
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: Nah I just made some very clear comments :)
[Zone] Astroid@lademonicc: yes
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: yes char
[Zone] Timothy@timtheguardian: I was originally gonna troll her but decided to hold off on that :P
[Zone] Nashirah@metonymie: what's all this about somebody learning what she should know already? did I just walk into general chat having to give someone the period talk

Ew. But okay, seemed fairly level. Yay for no major insanity!

Later:

[Zone] SesameStMafia@truemafia: how do u get a companion passed lvl15?
[Zone] Agorn@drartwhodent: pay
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: money, sesame
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: astral diamonds actually
[Zone] Mika Goldweaver@oitsubob: so, time or money

Yep.

And later still:

[Zone] Emberglo@emberlori: maybe the problem is I am playing a money grubbing game and should go back to playing wow or eq2 which don't cost a small fortune to maintain or get adequate armor and such
[Zone] Shaarika@sheer13: maybe the problem is you dont know how to play dont need money
[Zone] Shadana@artillis22: you can get practicaly everything in this game without spending a single cent

Yeah, seriously. I still don't get people who complain that Neverwinter is Pay-to-Play, or Pay-to-Win. Sure, if you're a lousy player, and you're only interested in PVP--in which case, yeah, you're gonna buy the best armor and weapons you can get, and then not invest another thin dime. Because at the end of the day hardcore PVPers don't spend money on fripperies--they're just there to measure their virtual penis size against other testosterone-poisoned seat jockeys.

Where the real money in any game comes from is from the PVE contingent. Because we're the ones interested in the mythology of the game. We're the ones who want the custom titles, the custom clothing sets, the companions, the pets. We spend money on things that we think suit our characters. We buy the dyes, the crafting essentials, the keys for the lockboxes that will get us special mounts or ancient artifacts. And we're willing to do it again and again, because that's how we play.

So yes, you can get practically everything from quests alone, up until levels 58-60, say--and even there, you don't necessarily have to spend Zen (the purchasable currency for Neverwinter), if you're willing to run quests in the Epic zones for Astral diamonds (the in-game currency). Everything you need is there in the game.

[Zone] Ingwe@starkbannerman: EA touched me here *points to doll* and here *points to wallet*

Isn't that what EA does?

In other news, the Lab isn't giving up on Second Life. Uh...good to know? Though it does strike me as exactly the same kind of statement they made about Teen Grid...before the Lab did exactly what they said they wouldn't do, ever, and merged Teen Grid with Main.

So...yay, they're not giving up on Second Life, just developing a new platform? Save at tsome point, it's fully within their ability to ditch SL when it stops performing the way they want.

From a random profile:

"Dominance is not about force or aggression.

"One should merely tell their submissive their desires, with the expectation that she will work to fill them. There should be no need for forcing factors, if there are, then she is not truly yours, nor are you truly her dominant."

I do admit, I like that a great deal.

In the meantime, Tea Time Costuming contacted CassowaryMarie, ChamomileCatastrophe and MarzipanMassacre, and put together a steampunk shoot for some familiar characters. So far, there's Snow White, Red Riding Hood and Little Bo Peep. All outfits were designed around concepts originally seen in NoFlutter's art, so it's quite the collaborative thing.

You can see all the gallery images here.

Also, keep an eye on the Lovecraft Society blog, because 2014's Lovecraft Festival is coming. This year, as with last year's festival, the charity it benefits is the Autism National Committee. (Contact Ms. Rosalie Fleury with specific charity questions, as she's on RL staff of the ANC.) I'll post more information when I get it!

There was some controversy on today's Neverwinter livestream on Twitch.TV. Namely, one of the mods implemented the ROBOT9000 chat moderation code, and...things went a bit buggy.

In brief, what the code does--if you don't feel like the wall of text on the link--is search for words that haven't been said before, or at least, haven't been put together in that way. Those words and phrases, it allows through; all repeat words and phrases it blocks.

Okay, so why is this a problem? Because the community managers running that particular livestream have catchphrases--to wit, to win things like Founder chest packs, signed Forgotten Realms books, t-shirts, stickers, in-game digital titles and other goodies--that people type in to receive a random chance to win whatever's on offer. Today's phrase was #NeverwinterBBQ, which again, wouldn't be a problem, save several dozen people typing the exact same phrase at nearly the exact same time confused the coding.

Which meant the code started preventing some people--whose only flaw was typing too quickly after someone else had entered the phrase--from entering the contest at all.

Now, the chat moderators, after this was pointed out, insisted it couldn't have happened that way, but without knowing exactly what did happen, I'm going by the theory as it looked on the ground--some people got in, others didn't, pretty arbitrarily, and no one apologized. This is a small issue now, but it has the ability to become a much larger one, in time. Hopefully this was just a momentary glitch. We'll see what happens during the next stream.

Finding geeky jewelry is a lot easier than it used to be, considering Etsy is pretty much cornering the market on hipster culture references. But most of those stores offer their geekery in plastic or polymer clay. What if you wanted metal? Better yet, 3D-printed metal? That was suitable for men or women?

Surface Defect has you covered, and there are two additional very cool things: first, this is only the start of their line, and second, they're costume-jewelry priced. Neat!

What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?

And have a very tiny hedgehog,

And continuing from yesterday's drama...

[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: Teh biggest mistake ever turn water in wine. It should beer beer !@$&*!%@ it
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: It was whine no beer

Actually it was wine, you moron, but we're so past that now.

[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: I believe there is a god, but I don't believe religion is required
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: stop hiding behind jesus, you can be a boon to this world without a proxy
I actually like this statement. Just be a good person. Leave religion out of it.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: water into wine...jesus was a party animal
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: HE WAS NOT A PARTY ANIMAL

Actually, he was. He had parties all the time. He even got yelled at for inviting tax collectors to his shindigs.

It's in the Bible. Read it sometime.

[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: I find it funny how jesus was a baby....then poof 30 year old hippy.

Well, there is that bit about him wandering in the desert for thirty years, but...hey, whatever.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: Sooona ll of your ignorants foolish piece of stupids will be in HELL!! For ever and you will think damm what jesus told was right he was the road to life and heaven and you will cry when satan laugh

*facepalms again* But of course, he's not just a nutjob, he's an insanely religious nutjob. Perfect.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: I don't deny jesus existed. I do deny that he had supernatural powers and was the son of a god.
[Zone] Ashe Soul Silver@bloom817: why can't all y'all shut up. we playing a game, not avangalizing

Amen. So to speak.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: he will laught at you very hard and funny make of you

"Funny make" of us? What?

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: there is no logic in that
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: I'd pay to see God vs Allah.
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: god is allah u %$$)(
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: god = allah you ignorant !)&!
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: uh oh - lightning King just pop a vein

Probably Vhailor as well.

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: god and allah one and the same -_-
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: god loves you so much he'll cast you into hell for not believing
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: ALLAH IS NOT MY GOD

Yep. Saw this coming.

[Zone] Sheniqua@iszuule: jesus isn't real... love how people base their entire lives off of an old work of fiction
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: god vs allah lol kid #nevergofullretard
[Zone] Ladislaus@ladis1aus: Gods names different in every language
[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: How stupid can a man be if you like wine
[Zone] Bones@tikiya: the only religious thing that should happen here is praying in game take it out in RL
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: he dont cast you to hell
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: mbeciles
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: allah is just how muslim say god
[Zone] Ithandra Sapphic@Huddicles: my question is: what are religous folk doing on a site where Pagan worship is rampant?

Good question! Haven't found a good answer yet.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: do you agree that everything that happens is God's will?
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: salam aylaykum
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: why he send his son to die for all of you
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Bones this is fantasy mmo...taking out praying won't make it any more realistic lol.
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: Saying god is allah is probably one of the reasons your country gets terrorized.

Highly doubt that.

[Zone] Sheniqua@iszuule: says the backwoods moron that can even spell... Lightning King... go back to school..
[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: If its all gods will then tehre is no personal choice
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: If everything that happens is God's will, then God is directly responsible for everyone who sins and goes to hell
[Zone] Saftbauer@juicefarmer: allah just translates to "Lord" or "God" in arabic
[Zone] Zamoura@zamoura: Please stop preaching and get back to killing, kthx ;)

Ah, but will they listen?

[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: Don't worry you will find out but it will be too late.
[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: I think Thor rules most
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: God is only a concept made up of the human mind. Please don't spread your brain wash here.
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: Odin > thor >God > potatoe> Allah
[Zone] X'avrok@x4vr0k: I agree, Thor does rule....you see any Ice Giants around?

Fair point.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: is it that hard to accept that you die? Your selfish to desire to exist forever leads you to delusional thinking
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: cthulu rules all
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: well if you dont know the story about cristianety islam and juwisme

I...I think my brain just melted from the spelling errors...

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: I WONT LET YOU FOOOLSSS INSULT MY GOD

Then shut the hell up and LEAVE, if it bothers you so much. Honestly.

[Zone] Sheniqua@iszuule: ALL HAIL C`THULU!!!
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: $#@!& ALL OF YOU
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: Lightning so srs.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: well they got same god
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: Troll the troll
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: HE GAVE HE SON TO SAVE CRAP LIKE ALL OF YOU
[Zone] Solstra Stormchant@teixyl: man, this is the worst trolling ever. and i thought WoW was bad :)

I know. It's insane.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: r u mad bro?
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: you were created get over it
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: IM MAD

You're an idiot, is what you are.

[Zone] DreamWalker@ashtash: all hail the flying spagetti monster
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: YES

[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: not following in the footsteps of jesus lightning. turn the other cheek

*snerks*

[Zone] Zamoura@zamoura: Don't judge lest ye be judged right Lightning?
[Zone] Sheniqua@iszuule: mmmmmm spaghetti monster....
[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: "IM MAD" lmao
[Zone] Vrah El Leoric@rayfw: well, the infidel are going to be burn in hell anyway, why bother
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: WHY ALL JUDGE?

You started it.

[Zone] X'avrok@x4vr0k: All Hail the FSM, may your marinara bless this fool and his false god.
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: WHY ALL TALK #@^&%

Because they can, mainly. Because once people figure out what drives you crazy, they do that thing. You've shown your shiny red button, Lightning, people have to press it.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: yes people please don't judge the brain washed sheep.
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: So if I sacrifice my son, can I be god?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: IF SOON VERY SOOON
[Zone] Jenn Littleknight@EmillyOrr: Also, stop typing in ALL CAPS, Lightning, it's rude and shouty.

Yes, yes it is. Thank you, me.

[Zone] DreamWalker@ashtash: good enough to eat good enough for you
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: YOU WILL BE IN FRONT OF GOD
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: i am shaking in my boots
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: soon? how soon?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: AND YOU WILL HAVE CONSECUENSES

And we will have...what was that last word??

[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: To prompt their own ignorance.
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: dat spelling
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: im not going to enable your religious insanity by respecting it
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: your spelling has consequences
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: I PUT CAPS SO ALL CAN SEE IT

We see it, Lightning. We don't want to, but we see it. And soon we'll start ignoring it, so now's your chance to stop typing in all caps.

[Zone] Fyona Sarkany@sotetsarkany: stop feeding the trolls please
[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: WHAT IS CONSECUENSES

We may never know.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: IM NOT SCREAMING OR SOMETHING
Actually, you are, because that's what translates as shouting in the text world, doofus.

[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: This chat becoming too @%^!( moment.
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: how do you think you have miracle of life = GOD
[Zone] Solstra Stormchant@teixyl: hey, leave Jesus out of it... he's really nice and makes a mean taco
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: or something..lol
[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: who gives a &*$ let eachother be. like what in the shyt is the point to all this gas baggery?
[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: STOP BEING AN ATTENTION ^)(*) AND TYPE LIKE A REGULAR HUMAN BEING.
[Zone] Dopey@lyam84: jesus frowns on writing in all caps....
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

You first.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: ALL OF YOU ARE LIKE JUDA

Shows what you know.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: he is mad cuz people are choosing not to absorb his dribble.
[Zone] Dopey@lyam84: thats not very jesus like....
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: BETRAYERS
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: stop being idiots ... wait a moment.. NWM to much work for you
[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: And ignorance shouts from the dark
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: HERETICS
[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: I hope you all know Lightning is just working people over

I dunno, I think he sounds pretty sincere about being an apoplectic, overly-religious, brainless gasbag.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: I am not a betrayer..I never was a follower
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: ALL OF YOU HAVE A BLACK HEART
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: This is the internet.
[Zone] Sandhya@shizukaid: guys calm down
[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: YOUR TROLLING DOESN'T WORK
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: PURGE THE UNCLEAN
[Zone] Ashe Soul Silver@bloom817: calm your %)*& gusy
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: A black heart why?? because we aren't brain washed??
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: can you believe i am a good person without being deluded into thinking there is a god?
[Zone] DreamWalker@ashtash: PURGE THE UNICORNS!

Wait, didn't we already do that?

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: NO BRAIN WASHED
[Zone] Havok@logosghost: is this what happens when Keys go on sale?
[Zone] Zone LeonHardt@ZoneHero100: You should wash your brain regularly.
[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: Why's it gotta be a black heart? Are you racist or something?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: JUST INSULTING WHO SAVED YOU
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: lol best laugh ive had in a long time
[Zone] Fumbler@scottyfaic: i argue against religion on the internet because i am smart
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: so if I become brain washed will my heart turn white?

Considering hearts aren't supposed to be either shade, I'd think that would be just as bad for you, frankly.

[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: NO GRAMMAR OR SENTENCE STRUCTURE
[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: No because you are and can't see it.
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: INSULTING THE ONE WHO OPEN YOUR EYES EVERY DAY
[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: scarlet calling people diluded makes you a bad person xD
[Zone] Brummelgrad@gurkenverbieger: religion kills more people than other things so why i should believe...

I won't say it wasn't connected to the sale; but the sale did pull tons more players in, so...at the very least it's highly circumstantial.

[Zone] Solstra Stormchant@teixyl: yep, 33% off keys and 250% more trolling :)
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: im performing a public service...openning eyes to the lies
[Zone] Bruce Dickinson@donovam777: Heart Diseases kills more.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: just look what our ancestors did with religion and thy had no world whide web
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: GOD IS THE WAY TO LIFE
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: hey you want to owe a lich forever thats your deal LIGHTNINGDBAG. dont force it on us
[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: your precived lies not theirs
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: HE IS NOT RELIGION
[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: I pity you, really. Those that have nothing but darkness to spend eternity in.

Still not entirely sure whose side Pam's on, but it's a good point nonetheless. A closed mind lets in no light; and thus, the existence and experiences of those with closed minds should engender pity, not outrage. They aren't whole, thinking beings; if it were a better universe, we would treat such gentles with compassion and concern, not sarcasm and contempt.

But...

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: HE IS LIFE

...We do not live in that compassionate a universe.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: JESUS IS THE WAY TO LIFE

Yuh-huh. You keep telling yourself that, Lightning.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: I am life, because I'm living, yeah, so...
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: iatragenic deeath is the number one cause of death

Clever.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: This is what I am talking about. Children not being given the chance to think for themselves and believe something based on their own logic. Unfortunately they are born into religion. poor souls.
[Zone] Crushinator@Aristolian: go to church and speak psycho babble
[Zone] Nameless one@thekorisnik: Religion- weapon of mass instruction
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: ATLEAS MY SOUL IS NOT LOST LIKE MILLIONS OF YOU
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: you know religion is not !)&!&^ up human are
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: How about back in the day when non believers were hung and burnt in the name of jesus and the holy ghost.
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: what about them?
[Zone] Ahzeron@philx1: u still going on with this?
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: u know what i hate? tards taht cant keep up with the chat scroll & get all wound up cause they dont understand what they reading.
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: SHUT UP

Obvious answer is obvious.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: let's burn some witches
Oh, can we not?

[Zone] Dopey@lyam84: and who gave you the right to say wether my soul is lost or not?
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: only a few will be taken up in the rapture ...the rest will be devoured by sandworms
[Zone] Peren Huntinghawk@verolinti: lightning we hear you no need to scream
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: im sure thay had a lot of infidil babeq
"Infidil babeq"?? I can't even. Translator failure.

[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: any group of humans is detrimental to the individual and all groups of humans are corruptable
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: if a woman keeps cats, she's a witch
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: GOD SOMEDAY AND IM WAITING HE WILL COME IN THE SKY YOU WILL HEAR THE SOUND
[Zone] Imapercent@imapercent: why can't people follow more mainstream religions like Oprahism or Voodoo. :P

...Oprahism?

[Zone] Pam Willows@pauledwin: People did that I am afraid, and that is not the teachings. of course, but it's the argument you continure to preach yourselves.
[Zone] DreamWalker@ashtash: Dune. Desert Planet
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Bacteria will inherit the earth!!
[Zone] Havok@logosghost: wait...bacteria already do
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: the sound of broken english
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: that's not god, it's an F22
[Zone] Solstra Stormchant@teixyl: i worshipped Mystra. then she died. again. :(
[Zone] Grubb Tugger@murmble: rumph of the ha kind
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: FOOOOOLS
[Zone] Huge@majesticthirteen: mystra died for your sins

...Actually, she died because Cyric killed her, but hey, carry on.

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: and oh god can die
[Zone] Inuyasha@darkballad: The world of god is not to be taken lightly. You know that there is proof of an afterlife? A neurosurgeon Eben Alexander M.D. wrote a book about his afterlife experience.
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: IF GO CAND IE HE IS NOT DIE HE IS ALIVE

That...makes no sense. Try that again.

[Zone] Havok@logosghost: Mystra died, damn it, I was just beginning to Love Magic
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: TELL ME WHO CAN KILL GOD?

Which one? You should specify, because some gods die on a daily basis.

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: it is true god can die
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: there is no proof of life after death you moron just because some brain washed neurosurgeon says so doesn't make it fact.
[Zone] X'avrok@x4vr0k: God can't die....he never existed.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: jesus died on the cross
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: NO ONE CAN KILL HIM IGNORANTS

I may start editing out Lightning King's blather, he gets increasingly shrill from here, and it's getting old.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: Jesus = Zombie
[Zone] Inuyasha@darkballad: Why must the burden of proof be on the neurosurgeon. Do you have proof there is no afterlife?
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: he is a zombie or a vampyre?
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: u r right there. ignorants just dont die

No, sadly, it's one of the two constants of the universe--hydrogen and stupidity. Ignorance will never truly go away, because it can never be created or destroyed completely.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: he died, and reanimated, therefore zombie
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: JESUS DIED AND HE RESURECT IN 5 DAYS FOOLS

Wasn't it three days? Do you not know your own holy writings, Lightning?

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: so jesus died on the cross and you still belive your god cant die :S ?
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: no zombie - jesus is a lich
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: just believe in god u dont need religion
[Zone] X'avrok@x4vr0k: if jesus bite a person, would that person become a zombie too?
[Zone] Imbroglio@dysgruntled: all of the zombie tv shows and movies are being used to desensitize the public because the government knows the zombpocalypse is really going to happen

The real tragedy with that statement is there actually are scientists working on reanimating dead tissue--mostly for medical purposes, but at least one doctor working in the field is also a fan of zombie films...

[Zone] Lucinda BlueSky@lucindabluesky: reliogion was created by man. That does not preclude the possibility of a higher power creating man.
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: JESUS IS A LICH #@(^)&@$&
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: YES THEN THATS THE PROFF HE IS ALIVE

...Wait. You're using the words of someone trolling you, as proof of your argument? Jesus being a lich means that's your proof? Have you lost your tiny little mind, son?

[Zone] Brummelgrad@gurkenverbieger: no he becomes a god then [Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: ONLY FOOLS SAYS HE IS DEATH
Um...don't you mean "say he is dead"? Saying Jesus is "Death" is terribly melodramatic.

[Zone] Lasciel Invictus@unboundpredatel: the burden of proof is on the person making the extraordinary claim, otherwise why aren't you trying to disprove unicorns, they are real for 7 year old kids you know.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: if jesuse was god walking as man on earth and he died on the cross well then it mean god can die
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: STUPIDS
[Zone] Zamoura@zamoura: Son of a lich!
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Lightning King you don't have to type everything in caps to get noticed. Try offering something with substance.
Yeah, really. Be Mr. "I have something intelligent to say" instead of "Mr. Shouty", and more people will listen.

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: all I wanna do is eat your brains...I mean we're not unreasonable, I mean no ones gonna eat your eyes
[Zone] Peren Huntinghawk@verolinti: but how do you it is a he and not a she lich?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: GOD IS THE FATHER OF JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT THEY ARE 3 AND MAKE 1
So you're Catholic, then?

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: jesus was a necromancer...brought lazerus to life
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: SO DONT BE CONFUSED
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: religion is false prophet just believe in your own god or allah or bhudda or spaghetti monster
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: The whole concept of god was created from human beings do you understand that lightning king? it's not a secret. i'ts common sense
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: carosel at 30 i always say
And on that note...Thus endeth the ranting.

When memes collide with culture, you get...this. Well done, though. "Someday, my no will come..."

Also, looking for a good, sturdy, industrial sewing machine? Current bid is only $61. It'll likely go higher, but with three days left, it won't go that much higher. And Singer did make a tidy little workhorse of a machine with that model.

Anyway...

[Zone] Adran Gentleharp@dedekindch0p: 4. there is a contradiction: that which nothing greater can be conceived must exist in both the mind and reality, for that which exists only in the mind is leseser than what exists in both.

So, I logged in in the middle of a theological debate in Neverwinter Zone chat, a few days back. I don't know what 1, 2 or 3 were for points.

Also, "leseser"??

[Zone] Mystra@mongo91: no, he wants more nail polish
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: god is a polack. yup
[Zone] Adran Gentleharp@dedekindch0p: so quod erat demonstratum God must necessarily exist
[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: Poland has bloody everything damn it

Oooookay. Where does Poland come into it?

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: the jesus story is cool but it needs more dragons
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: I believe jesus existed but do I believe he had supernatural powers and was the son of the bibles "god"? no way. That's preposterous
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: jesuse is by modan them a myth

What? I mean, dragons, okay, fine, but "modan them"? What?

[Zone] Peren Silentread@trinitius: i can crack open wall-nuts with my titanium ^@%
[Zone] Kildaer@shirgun: It also needs a better editor.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: like king artur

"Arthur".

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: they really lost me over the whole holy trinity deal...they really jumped the shark there
[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: Well he went like...Wingardium Leviosa! and the see split

The..."see"?

[Zone] Akayla@amondeliegebq: sea damn it

Ah, thank you.

[Zone] AISHA Red Fury@pakatapoes: god is a squirrel

Pardon, God is a what?

[Zone] Mystra@mongo91: self important hipster atheist making fun of theist's on a video game, film at 11
[Zone] Elizar Oakwood@stopicanhitu: leviOsa
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: well i bet jesuse did split things a lot that oldtimer

Well, he was a carpenter.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: logically speaking if god is anything? it's the universe.
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: well yes
[Zone] Silly Walk@ashen1988: no it's me
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: i think your logic stuttering there
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: yes but wine from water. bad ^)%@ right there
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: look at me at all my glory

Do we have to?

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: on what grounds scarlet?
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: oh well
[Zone] Adran Gentleharp@dedekindch0p: further reading: anslems proslogion, Kants critique of pure reason pt.2 div.2 bk.2 ch3 section 3

So, an advanced course in philosophical theorems, then.

[Zone] Tojam Wetwhistle@gooseisloose: logic has no place here. begone.
[Zone] Peren Silentread@trinitius: all price the lord allmighty he who creatted us and now back to the saturday night fever maraton

All..."price"...the...Ow. My brain. Ow.

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: bueatyfull univers so a creativ creating thinking
[Zone] Adran Gentleharp@dedekindch0p: and Kurt Godels correspondence with the ontological argument

And now Gödel. Wau. Invoking lots of hefty philosophy, there.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: god as we define it is sentient whereas there is little evidence to suggest the universe as a construct is self aware

Interesting point for debate.

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: how can pll still talk about god

Annnnd just like that, interesting point dead.

[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: the universe is expanding like my fat pomeranians stomach. spoiled brat
[Zone] Silly Walk@ashen1988: cause they crazy :O
[Zone] Elizar Oakwood@stopicanhitu: i dunno sometimes i think the universe is screwing with me
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: its like so old i come i try convince u about how wise in religion i am so you get convincet and so on
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: just because we don't have evidence to prove it isn't self aware doesn't mean %%!*
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: how is that a valid argument?

I was wondering that myself.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: i prefer not to live my life based on faith
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: i have a magic stone that keeps away tigers

Uh...good for you?

[Zone] Kildaer@shirgun: God hates bad spellers.

Everyone hates bad spellers.

[Zone] Tojam Wetwhistle@gooseisloose: I say keep your options open. Because if you're wrong it's gonna (%#( forever.

Keep our options open, how? Do you mean, believe in maybe-God, just in case? Or don't believe in God, just in case there might not be one? Your meaning is unclear.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Me either..I am a pantheist myself but in saying that there are some different types that share different views on what it actually means.
[Zone] molo@kobmol: hehe christians are so funny ofcourse YOUR god isnt real
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: i prefer to remain unafilliated
[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: ahahahah what if god was WAS WAS not god at all huh ?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: So god dont exist?
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: Blame the Terrorist

Why? And what exactly did Pharygt mean, with the "what if God was was not God" bit?

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Well my view is that the planet gave life to everything that lives and breathes off it and the universe gave life to earth. So if anything deserves to be worshipped as a higher power to human beings.
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: it would be that
[Zone] Dwelf@mouglea: gods a &*^#%!@( for getting mary prego anyways
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: God exist yes or not? if no explain if yes explain too
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: islam is the pedophiles

Oh, for the love of tiny screaming tree frogs, not this idiocy again...

[Zone] Aelar Wolfsbane@juls51: if you dont believe in deity, why do you use "OMG" sometimes?

Because it's a cultural catchphrase?

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: wow...solid argument
[Zone] Aelar Wolfsbane@juls51: why use "OMG" if not exist?
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: This planet didnt maked it by itsel ignorants foolss
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: burn the kuran burns the islamic ideology

*facepalms* No, you troglodyte. Burning the Qur'an just burns a book. Also upsets a lot of people, if you're seen doing it, but at heart, it's just words on paper. It doesn't destroy anything but those words, printed on that paper. It doesn't even destroy all other copies of the Qur'an. Don't be deliberately stupid.

[Zone] molo@kobmol: so wait is santa real?

Yes. Next.

[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: we get the point.
[Zone] Wis Win Mun@zepharii: omg = oh my gourd
[Zone] Lohrno@golkax: why is zone chat always a place for stupid conversations?

I've also been wondering that.

[Zone] Mystra@mongo91: baby raptor jesus, your argument is invalid
[Zone] Mailee Darksbane@snprjnky: just love each other no matter the differences, and queue for gate crasher....and it will be ok :)
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: Sometimes I think the bible was not meant to be taken so literally in some parts and more just the teaching of decency and compassion for your fellow man. I agree with some aspects of the bible
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: santa is real. god is fake made up sheet

"Fake made up sheet"? What?

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: i have a valid agument that i dont want to share with you all cures it will take a lot of intelegenc to exsplain to hmm you all and im not that bright

.....Testing understanding: you want to share a cogent point for later debate with Zone chat, but you're too stupid to articulate it properly? Is that really what you wanted to say??

[Zone] molo@kobmol: and the easter bunny is he real?

No. But Jack Frost might be. Next.

[Zone] Trikki@colabeancounterx: Just my 2 cents....I used to hate really pious people because they get in your face about their beliefs...now I have to deal with the agnostic people that get in your face and say God don't exist...
[Zone] Dwelf@mouglea: i saw Norse pantheon on tv ... they must be real ! ,tv never lies.

Believe in Loki. Yes. This is good.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: i agree with some aspects of frank herberts dune but i dont worship sandworms
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: God exists only in the human mind. Which is where it came from.
[Zone] MeSeeUDie@jeffreyabeck: sand worms worship me
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: thats like your opinion man
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: islamic ideaology is the problem

Why can't I punch people through the screen yet??

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: Why zone chat is always full of ignorants and foolsss

Got me. Law of averages?

[Zone] Pharygt@okokjah: just becoures you say you dont belive in it dont make it non exsistant

Also bad spellers.

[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: who cares let ppl do what they want and everyone mind your own business xD
[Zone] Spit McDirtNap@heygor: thats like your opinion man
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: Yes my opinion i can testify he exist
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: christians do wonderful things for people though I give mad respect to them feeding the homeless and doing good work in the name of jesus.
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: i say good on them for that.
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: charity is evil...it creates a reliance that should be erradicated by responsible government while enabling those same governments to shirk their responsibility to the elecorate

.....Screw you.

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: The things that make god seems dont exist its some christians they are very anoying and bull%$#@@ the name of god and dont do what jesus did
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: children have the right to think for themselves and believe what they choose.

Or they should, anyway.

[Zone] Dwelf@mouglea: didn't jesus get nailed to a cross ? i totally want to try that some day !

What??

Actually, there were people who used to do that regularly as a way to celebrate Easter; in some communities, this has stopped, because of deaths and major injury, but many of the faithful are still compelled to reenact the crucifixion.

[Zone] Lohrno@golkax: http://www.churchofkelemvor.org/

Well, at least that's relevant to PLAYING IN NEVERWINTER...

[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: he was nailed but he give his life away for you you ignorant
[Zone] Vhailor@soggmeadmug: u are following what they want u to do is make ppl hate god dont u see

Not the way you spell, no.

[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: yes everybody think and do exactly how a book tells you. = logic -_-
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: sheep mentality imo
[Zone] Zamoura@zamoura: I love a good fairy tale
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: Yes an ancient book that will take your road to heaven not to hell
[Zone] BitterBlur@bitterblur: can we talk about bewbs or somthing?

It'd be nice.

[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: be a belieber

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Never!

[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: heaven is a child's fantasy
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: you making a big mistake of being funny with that
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: anybody can claim to be a higher power and promise life after death. Probably get life long followers that believe that %!*$ to and they say human beings take pride in their intelligence? laughable.
[Zone] Solnya Everglow@Anagami: a place for good people, a place for bad people---could we be a little more creative please?

A place for apathetic people who only want to move one limb at a time, a place for people who want to watch every season of American Idol back to back, a place for people who want to raise fainting goats, a place for people who want to live in the universe without shrimp...Creativity may be overrated.

[Zone] SlySpy@slyspy00: Satan doesn't scare me. I've played Doom before.
[Zone] Scarlet Reaver@Perilaxe: the church of jesus christ the utterly indifferent...i cant belong to a religion that takes attendance...im often tardy
[Zone] Juggernaught@pantheist84: I would like to believe that some day humans will be intelligent enough to realise that relgion is no longer neccessary. That is my dream.
[Zone] Lightning King@darkyo2423: Yes they make the diference becauseJESUS DI THE DIFERENCE

Lightning King is also starting to irritate me.

Thus endeth part the first. Tune in tomorrow for part the second.

The NSA won't hand over data to the courts because apparently, they don't know where it is. By their own admission, they'd have to shut down all servers and do a manual, byte-by-byte search. Somehow, I have faith in this statement, but doesn't that say how much things have gotten out of hand?

And, since the new McDonald's Happy Meal character is so terrifying, Gizmodo is helping us deal with it by providing rich resources of nightmare fuel. ...Enjoy?

I'm still kind of heartbroken over the whole "Slender stabbing" thing...It used to be just one, terrifyingly savage event in Waukesha, Wisconsin, but...then news broke that another "follower" has arisen who stabbed her mother. Now I'm wondering who else is going to be injured or die as hysteria rises.

I found this video:



and now I'm wondering why Nicolet Park, too. Was it just that it was a forested space nearby? Had there been supposed "sightings" of this character within the park? As far as I know, no semi-canonical records (AKA, YouTube channels like MarbleHornets, DarkHarvest00, EverymanHYBRID, TribeTwelve, WhisperedFaith, KeratinGarden, weibWillow and others) use Nicolet Park as a staging center. But who knows? It's not like I'd recognize Nicolet Park for the trees:



For comparison, this is a hiking train in Kenmore, Washington:



and this is a hiking trail just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, in Overton Park:



so as you can see, trees in one place pretty much look like trees in other places. Because trees.

"Magic School Bus" is in process to return to public television. I'm kind of happy about that.

And here's some terribly cute kittens to make up for the Slender Man trauma.

And have half a dog. Ta.