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CEO of the small exoplanet mining corp Ogremoch Engineering. A scientist at heart, Noah studies robotics and nanotechnology and seeks practical applications that will help humanity expand into the stars - Ogremoch Engineering is a pet project of his to prove that his designs work. He is also a cool dude, with a reputation for providing a good place to work, doing good things with his money and hiring Barsoomian sympathisers . "Secretly", he is a huge otaku - thanks to the wonders of simulspace, he spends almost as many hours a day as there are hours in a day playing roleplaying games.
Noah's usual morph is a tall exalt with dark hair, an average frame and a neckbeard. He looks handsome, despite his facial hair choices. He prefers simple clothes and stylish glasses that are probably not prescription.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Ogremoch Engineering +Philanthropy +Video Games
Notable Skills:
Notable Traits:
Status: Alive
One of Noah's personal assistants. Olivia is a hypercorp girl who started out as an indenture post-Fall and swiftly realised that the Consortium's claims that anyone can bootstrap themselves to the top are bullshit - especially for someone like her, who had never even been to high school. To game the system, she accepted an absolute lemon of a synth and a big cash payout as her indenture reward, then bought a bunch of skillsofts and exploited her new skills to get a new job and a much better morph. These days she runs the Martian side of Noah's business operation and is friendly to Barsoomians and anti-Consortium folk under the table.
Olivia looks like Noah picked her out of a secretary catalogue: Tall, curved and attractive, with short blonde hair hanging over one of her green eyes, hoop earrings and a short black dress with a stylish white belt. She is usually holding at least one data pad and sounds incredibly British.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Compassion +Self-improvement -Planetary Consortium
Notable Skills: Persuasion 55, Profession: Logistics 50, Profession: Hypercorp Operations 50
Notable Traits: Information Control, Social Butterfly, First Impression
Status: Alive
One of Noah's personal assistants. Julia used to work for the Tharsis League before going freelance, and still maintains plenty of ties to the Barsoomians; her @-rep is still better than her c-rep, and most of her profits are invested in the Tharsis League. At work she is more serious and efficient than Olivia, which is why she works directly under him managing Vance's operations. She is much less serious outside work, but that rarely happens; she is down with taking a quick break to hang out with a friend or play some video games, though, even in the middle of a robot invasion.
Julia's preferred morph is a hibernoid, with light brown skin and brown hair cut to the base of her skull. She prefers simple blouses and skirts and does most of her business in her head.
Faction: Tharsis League
Morph: Hibernoid
Motivations: +Efficiency +Personal Career +Martian Liberation
Notable Skills: Profession: Logistics 60, Networking: Autonomist 50, Networking: Hypercorp 50
Notable Traits: Common Sense, Fast Learner, Social Butterfly
Status: Alive
Stephane is the rich friend of a high-up man in Experia whose specialty is award-winning "artsy" movies carefully designed to cater to glitterati who want to be seen watching artsy movies. Because he really loved the show, his buddy pulled some strings to get Enrique demoted and Stephane put in his place, and Stephane immediately started ruining everything. Market research suggested the hardcore fans - the ones that spent their time posting on forums about the show instead of having a social life - wanted to see more fanservice, so he approved an implausible plot involving the heroes and villains teaming up to take a bath. Plans were also in the works to change Samantha's costume to a bikini. (Un)fortunately, Lowell decided to break his nose and send him fleeing from the show after discovering that he had accidentally given Swimes a lot of influence on the show and, more importantly, showed him footage of Lowell cosplaying as Dejah Thoris.
Stephane's preferred morph was a tall and thin long-faced sylph in nice black clothes and short dark hair. Despite not picking a morph designed to look good in a fedora, he insists on wearing a fedora.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Stephane Joubert +Stephane Joubert's Career +Stephane Joubert's Development
Notable Skills: Interests (Stephane Joubert) 100, Academics (Memetics) 60, Profession: Director 60
Notable Traits: Allies, Psi Defense (Ego), Oblivious
Status: Alive, fled
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Sword of Pandora +Artistic Expression +Geeking Out
Notable Skills:
Notable Traits:
Status: Alive
Faction: Argonaut
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Acting +Relaxing +Science and Stuff
Notable Skills:
Notable Traits:
Status: Alive
Mei Houwang
Jeremie Zheng is a Pathfinder junior executive who works a nondescript analytical job - he studies reports from hypercorps and colonies and helps prepare big-picture reports. He's also a shut-in who dealt with the loss of his parents during the Fall by staying indoors and playing sims all day instead of interacting with people, which is probably why Pathfinder doesn't suspect that he somehow sells sensitive information on the side. Firewall has been buying information and helping shield him, but recently Jeremie went into hiding, travelling to Mei Houwang and flexing his g-rep to secure triad assistance. Something made this recluse leave Mars, and Firewall wants to know what.
Jeremie's usual appearance is of a chubby Chinese guy with short, messy black hair and a big nose. He wears outdated clothes and does not wash them as often as he should.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Maintaining Privacy +Just A Little Extra Money +Escapism
Notable Skills: Profession: Forensic Accountant 60, Protocol 55, Networking: Hypercorp 30, Networking: Criminal 30
Notable Traits: Information Control, Shut-In, Math Wiz
Status: Alive, presumably went back to work
Tachibana-Squared is an ex-Reclaimer smuggler and con artist who makes bank smuggling xeno-artifacts to the gate-less LLA and selling people fake Earth relics. Though he claims to have patriotic reasons for doing so, Tachibana is really just a dick who prefers to prey on the desperate. He was last seen on Feng Bo keeping his head down after the bounty on his head was upped recently, and makes the perfect cover target for Min to pretend to be chasing after. Has had a lot of uplift girlfriends, so at least he's not racist. By the end of the mission, Min had captured him!
Tachibana's signature morph is a tall, lanky man of indeterminate Asian ancestry, with huge sideburns and hair that make him look a little like a monkey, but he often sleeves into other morphs as a disguise.
Faction: Luna
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Self-Preservation +Get Rich Quick -Responsibility
Notable Skills: Deception 70, Persuasion 60, Profession: Smuggling Tricks 60
Notable Traits: Danger Sense, On the Run (Consortium)
Status: Alive, in Consortium custody
Spitfire is an experienced Medusan Shield security specialist who somehow pissed off the wrong executive and got exiled to Mei Houwang, where she runs the Fucanglong Rangers. Local networks suggest Spitfire used to be determined to make the most of it and stamp out the triads, but after months of losing battles against both triads and an uncaring bureaucracy she is resigned to just keeping out of their way and trying to stay sober. She has retained her integrity and refuses to deal with the Bad Tortoise Triad, though, and has a little sister she strives to protect.
At the end of the mission, Lowell pulled some strings and got Spitfire and her sister out of there. They have signed up to Casey's microcorp as freelancers.
Spitfire has an upgraded Olympian (which requires frequent GSPs to keep her in line) with orange-and-amber fiery hair and a pair of goggles perched on her forehead. She would look a hell of a lot more attractive if she cleaned up, cheered up and stopped wearing that fucking ranger coat.
Faction: Extropian
Morph: Olympian
Motivations: +Leave Feng Bo +Protect My Sister +Integrity
Notable Skills: Profession: Security Ops 70, Kinetic Weapons 55, Investigation 50
Notable Traits: Situational Awareness, Enemy (Bad Tortoise Triad), Planned Obsolescence
Status: Alive, back on Mars!
Liquorice (her original identity was boring anyway) is a covert ops Sentinel who specialises in hypercorp infiltration missions. She is very, very good in her field of expertise and is always on the move, going where she's needed and finding hypercorps to screw over when she's not. Unfortunately she is bad at managing her rep - she's had to call in a lot of favours and can't seem to earn back all the rep she's burned before she needs it again. Firewall would give her a new ID with better rep, but she'd probably just trash it again. For now, she's just focusing on her missions.
Though she changes morphs as needed, Liquorice is at least partial to ones with purple hair and eyes. She prefers bland clothing with a lot of pockets.
Faction: Barsoomian
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: -Hypercapitalism +Martian Liberation +Reputation
Notable Skills: Infiltration 70, Disguise 65, Investigation 65, Freerunning 50
Notable Traits: Fast Learner, Bad Luck, Enemy (Fujizo), Shut-In
Status: Alive, no reputation scores over 15
Nakamo Group's leader and most experienced researcher, Steve is a good-natured man whose intense curiosity about everything trumps worries, risks and sometimes even common sense. He broke a promise to sign up with Go-Nin's Plutonian outfit after realising he could see more if he formed his own group, accidentally masterfully screwing Go-Nin out of a menton and an amazing researcher. They're still after him, but he doesn't care much.
Steve's favoured morph is a Japanese menton who would be a smiling elderly man if Steve couldn't just keep him as a young dude. He is easily recognised by the grin that lights up his face, the twinkle in his bright blue eyes or the mercenaries shooting at him.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Menton
Motivations: +Exploration +Research (Alien Civilizations) +Technoprogressivism
Notable Skills: Academics: Xenoarchaeology 75, Astrobiology 55, Astrosociology 55
Notable Traits: Eidetic Memory, Black Mark (Hypercorp)
Status: Alive
Simone is an MIT graduate and hyper-linguist who studies alien languages. Still trying to make a name for herself, Simone decided to take a gamble and be the second member of Steve's research outfit. Though she's the most outgoing and cheerful of the bunch, she is serious on the job and finds herself shouldering a lot of the work that her companions miss.
Simone's favoured morph is a dark-skinned girl with long black hair; she prefers them tall with a lot of curves.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Personal Career +Research (Alien Languages) +Hedonism
Notable Skills: Academics: Xenolinguistics 60, Astrobiology 60, Language: Most 55, Persuasion 55
Notable Traits: Hyper-Linguist, Common Sense
Status: Alive
Momoko is a Martian-born freelance astrophysicist who has spent quite a lot of time helping a lot of astrophysicists make rep and breakthroughs. When her steadiest employer at the Ma'adim Research Park mysteriously folded around the same time the Gate Gang was exposed, Momoko signed up with Nakamo Group looking for a breakthrough of her own. She is shy in person and easily intimidated by imposing figures, but can be a surprisingly hard negotiator or a close friend once she's comfortable.
Her favoured morph is a short, brown-haired Asian splicer loaded with mental implants, which she prefers to a menton for some reason.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Research (The Galaxy) +Nano-ecology +A System Named After Me!
Notable Skills: Academics: Astrophysics 65, Xenoethics 60, Xenoarchaeology 50, Freerunning 40, Intimidation -10
Notable Traits: Situational Awareness, Timid
Status: Alive
Faction: Argonaut
Morph: Menton
Motivations: +Adventure +Discovering Relics +Ladies
Notable Skills: Academics: Xenoarchaeology 60, Interests: Alien Relics 60, Profession: Excavation 55
Notable Traits: Brave, Fast Learner
Status: Alive
Faction: Ultimates
Morph: Reaper (Orpheus)/Synth (Other)
Motivations: +Wealth +Demonstrating Superiority +Personal Development
Notable Skills:
Notable Traits:
Status: In disarray
Mars: Hakutaku Security Systems
Wes Chesley's teenaged red-haired son, determined to prove himself as a genius (especially compared to his dimwitted father). Has been playing an incredible decades-long game to have a stranglehold on all inner system exoplanet colonisation efforts in a century's time, through the criminal Gate Gang group and an enormous number of shell hypercorps. May have a brain disorder.
Given that Matt is a barely-legal adult who has achieved an insane level of success micromanaging multiple hypercorp and criminal efforts on upwards of twenty worlds with hardly any mental implants, he is to be considered incredibly dangerous.
Faction: Criminal
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Recognise My Genius +Absolute Power +Research (Exoplanet)
Notable Skills: Academics: Physics 80, Academics: Political Science 85, Academics: Xenoarchaeology 75, Infosec 80, Investigation 80, Kinesics 80
Status: CLASSIFIED
A low-ranking Gate Gang member, identity unknown, who is doing the monkey work in setting up the auctions. Very professional and a good judge of people, except when it comes to women making eyes at him.
Faction: Criminal
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Personal Career +Wealth
Notable Skills: Kinesics 55
Status: Alive, probably fired
A science blogger from Yatsugatake Research Park here for the scoop, the story and maybe some fun along the way. She lives entirely off her wits and reputation and seems to have a basic knowledge of most sciences as well as an uncanny ability to persuade hypercorp representatives to talk to her. Maya speaks Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Portugese and Hindi, swears in French and enjoys uncovering other people's secrets.
Maya's favoured appearance is a distracting Korean sylph with hoop earrings, curly brown hair and a red qipao. She almost certainly has drones and electronic spies lying around. Don't say "Firewall" near her.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: -Censorship +Sousveillance +Open Source
Notable Skills: Kinesics 80, Persuasion 70, Art: Writing 60, Performance 60, Investigation 60, Academics: Memetics 55, Psychology 45
Status: Alive
Previously rescued in the Yoshi-Gen mission, Zou has come a long way from her forced-indenture-executive's-daughter origins. After receiving psychosurgery from Vinyl Scratch to get her skills back (plus new ones) and merging with her stolen fork on Titan who had her own skill retraining, she has teamed up with Calista to become the combat, exoplanet science and demolitions expert of their gatecrashing team. Zou is amazingly happy with her new job and set on finding fame, adventure and romance, and feels she owes a gigantic debt to the PCs for what they did for her.
Zou normally appears as a tanned Chinese girl with an oval face and a long dark braid, clad in a crasher suit, but she keeps a synth nearby in case of emergency.
Faction: Titanian
Morph: Olympian
Motivations: +Exploration +Romance -Infomorph Slavery
Notable Skills: Kinetic Weapons 60, Demolitions 60, Hardware: Robotics 60, Academics: Astrozoology 55, Xenoarchaeology 50
Status: Alive
Another rescue from Yoshi-Gen, this former college student has gone through some accelerated training courtesy of Vinyl Scratch and teamed up with her new friend Zou to be the science and talking expert of their gatecrashing team. Calista wants to make a new scientific discovery, retire to Mars with a pile of credits and never be anyone's slave again, but a close relationship with Zou has led her to start questioning even more of the Consortium's core memes.
Calista stole a modified sylph with bouncer's feet from Yoshi-Gen and decided to keep its long blonde hair and bright green eyes. She would look less like a gatecrasher and more like a fashion model for grey crasher suits if she weren't really good at serious faces.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Personal Career +Research +Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Kinesics 70, Academics: Physics 65, Nanotechnology 60, Chemistry 50, Sociology 60, Persuasion 60
Status: Alive
One of the seven lieutenants of Matt Chesley, codenamed "Sunday". Xian Fae is surprisingly smart and opportunistic and will latch on to whoever provides her with a comfortable life where she doesn't have to do much. When she is actually coaxed to work, she displays impressive powers of deception and kinesics. Would probably make an excellent diplomat or social engineer. Though at the time of the Kringle mission she was using Misaki's body, her avatar - a short, curvy Chinese girl with long black hair and cat ears - can be considered her real appearance.
Faction: Criminal
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Hedonism +Wealth +Survival
Notable Skills: Deception 70, Kinesics 65, Impersonation 60
Status: Defected from the Gate Gang - possible Firewall recruit
Mai Loan Tran is a xeno-biologist and bodysculptor at the small alien pod hypercorp Brigit's Touch, recruited by Firewall for her expertise in xenological fauna and morph design. She happened to be representing her corp at the ExoCon on Kringle and has lent morphs, network access and potentially a few credits to the cause. Outside of work Mai is a cheerful girl with a deep love and respect for all life in the universe, and she often sleeves into non-human pods to get in touch with her inner animal or into a neo-hominid to go partying.
Though her base form is a short amber-eyed Vietnamese girl sporting flared yellow hair with a purple streak, Mai usually only uses it for work and can be found in whatever morph she feels like playing with.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Olympian, Scurrier, Neo-Hominid or Neo-Parrot
Motivations: +Research +Morphological Freedom +Uplift Rights
Notable Skills: Academics: Biology 70, Genetics 70, Art: Bodysculpting 50
Status: Alive
Mars: Deep Space Five Restaurant
A "fork" of Casey, one of her backups which assumed her identity due to unfortunate legal troubles. Briefly retired from bodyguarding to run the Deep Space Five Restaurant in Pathfinder City to help Firewall keep a finger on the pulse of the gatecrashing community. Thinks Casey is a bit of a stupid cow and was very upset when her actions accidentally harmed the restaurant, but is willing to talk things out like adults. Softened up a bit once the PCs solved her issues. Appears as a slightly less muscled Casey and favours her qipao uniform over armour.
Faction: Scum
Morph: Olympian
Motivations: +Adventure! +Personal Reputation +Personal Independence
Notable Skills: Persuasion 65, Kinetic Weapons 65, Profession: Restaurant Manager 50
Status: Alive
Katherine's coworker and the one who handles most of the security/information tasks the place was actually designed for, Yun can usually be found in the secret basement lair keeping tabs on everything and idly chatting with anyone who will listen. A bit of a troll, but not an actively harmful one. Yun prefers tall morphs with brown skin, orange hair and toxin filters so she can stuff her face with delicious poison fish.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Ghost
Motivations: +Secrets +Hedonism +Justice
Notable Skills: Interfacing 70, Infosec 60
Status: Alive
The restaurant async and server of poisonous food, Alexandra is always cheerful, friendly and perky and is totally fine with invading people's personal space to give them hugs. If unnecessary cheer and friendliness is a mental disorder, it is almost certainly Alexandra's async affliction. Xandra loves meeting new people and learning about them, though she gets a little cagey about the extent of her powers or why the others don't allow her to carry guns, and prefers dark-haired morphs with a lot of pleasing curves.
Also, it turns out if Alexandra gets a gun and there's conflict going on she enters an altered state of consciousness. Specifically, she starts shooting fucking everybody. Maybe the no-guns thing is a good idea.
Faction: "Scum"
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Social Networking +Exploration +Personal Development
Notable Skills: Persuasion 60, Kinesics 60, Interest: Gatecrashing 50, Kinetic Weapons 100 (when flipping her shit)
Known Psi Sleights: Enhanced Creativity, High Pain Threshold, Pattern Recognition, Qualia, Superior Kinesics, Unconscious Lead
Status: ^_^
PSP (aka Positron Signature Palindrome, though files indicate her intended name was Pulsar Star Princess and her comrades prefer Pepper Salt Pepper) was created by Pathfinder as a secret AGI project to create a PR agent who could hype up any exoplanet and impress bored socialites and rich investors alike by showcasing exotic things. PSP turned out to be kind of a bitch, though, possibly because the project included socially-awkward scientists who thought "Positron Signature Palindrome" was funny, and PSP was turfed out and blackballed. Rather than move far away, she was recruited into Firewall and helped run the restaurant. PSP is surly, short-tempered and basically pretty awesome. PSP prefers pink-haired morphs with retro headphones, the purpose of which is unknown.
Faction: Mercurial
Morph: Steel (Masked)
Motivations: +Personal Development +AGI Rights -Hypercapitalism
Notable Skills: ???
Status: Alive
An ex-Jovian who fled the Junta to sell scientific secrets to the Extropians, Paz is extremely reluctant to share any details of her past and seems content to lay low under Firewall's thumb. Gets extremely jumpy around Jovians and has a pistol concealed on her person at all possible times. Paz prefers tanned Spanish morphs, showy clothes and not talking about the outer system much.
Faction: Jovian
Morph: Sylph
Motivations:+Anonymity +Personal Independence +Education
Notable Skills: ???
Status: Alive
no. No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mars: Yatsugatake Park
Uni-Sol is a copyration with a single employee - Richard Hamdorf, astrophysicist. Richard and the many forks he makes to complete his work push the bounds of astrophysics and a cursory study of his work indicates that he could be but years away from being the next Stephen Hawking. A deeper study, however, indicates that the reason Hamdorf only works with himself is because he is an insufferable prat. It is an open secret that Hamdorf has made several alpha forks of himself and sometimes takes his time merging, though he always tries to. The rest of the Park puts up with him because he chips in cash and can prune a beta fork to not be an arrogant shit if he has to. His morphs tend to be tall and lanky and look a bit like Mr Bean if he watched anime. Ended up in trouble with the Gate Gang and assigned a disposable fork to take care of it.
Faction: Hamdorf
Morph: Splicer (Forks: Splicer, Worker Pod or Case)
Motivations: +Hamdorf +For Science! +Being Right
Notable Skills: Academics: Astrophysics 90, Protocol 10
Status: A huge dick
Aveline is a young student who'd love to be working for Gatekeeper or the Argonauts someday; for now, she handles PR for the Yatsugatake corps and makes scientific contacts. Bubbly, helpful and eager to please, Aveline is everybody's friend (except Hamdorf's because he doesn't have any.) Actually has potential to be a future star in the field of xeno-botany, if she can get some field work. Usually appears as a cute girl with short silver hair and a cuter magician's outfit.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +For Science! +Personal Career +Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Academics: Botany 50, Academics: Xenofauna 40, Kinesics 45, Persuade 55
Status: Alive
Founder of Komachi-Tec. Amazing at her job, but known to be incredibly lazy, a little too trusting and a fan of delegating. Also enjoys AR rap battles with other scientists. Likes to be in control, and panics in high-pressure situations where she isn't. Usually appears as a slender, red-haired girl who prefers smart business suits, flared sleeves and trendy heels.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Comfort +Research +Martian Liberation
Notable Skills: Academics: Neurology 80, Psychosurgery 70, Art: Rap 65
Status: Alive
Kondo and Haldar are two neo-hominids (an orangutan and a gorilla respectively) who work as freelance criminals. Their strength lies in their adaptability and blasé attitude to danger - need to whack a rival gang boss? Smuggle something through the TQZ? Crash a spaceship into a Venusian aerostat? Okay, that's weird and won't really do anything, but if the money's right they're in. Both of them have an impressive criminal record and are wanted nearly everywhere in Consortium space. They look amazingly unprofessional until they have to shake someone down and whack a guy; that, or they are amazingly unprofessional. If someone at the Park has them on their payroll, bad things are happening.
Kondo the orangutan is the brains of the outfit, insofar as the outfit has brains. Ranger investigation suggests something went wrong with his uplifting, which would explain why he loves his job so much and smokes even as a synth. Adept at smuggling, evading capture, and using the word "fuck". Likes crime, cigarettes, humaniod synths, smuggling, murder and Japanese disco-pop fusion.
Faction: Criminal
Morph: Synth
Motivations: +Hedonism +Survival +The Thrill of Crime!
Notable Skills: Kinetic Weapons 75, Infiltration 70, Profession: Smuggling Tricks 60
Status: Farcasted to an unknown location
Haldar the gorilla is the heavy hitter of the group, but arguably the smarter if you're not talking criminal ops. Haldar is a Catholic and a casual cognitive sciences fan who keeps up to date on the latest inventions and augmentations. Known to use souped-up versions of the Kiko (a gorilla-like synth from Feral Robot), about a third of his police record is related to collateral damage from the other two-thirds. Likes money laundering, freerunning and vintage Earth soft drinks.
Faction: Criminal
Morph: Kiko
Motivations: +The Thrill of Crime! +Reclaiming Earth +Religion
Notable Skills: Unarmed Combat 80, Freerunning 60, Interests: Religion 60, Academics: Neuroscience 35
Status: Ego contained in Lowell's ghostrider module, later transferred to Firewall for interrogation. Alpha assumed resleeved by Kondo.
One of Komachi-Tec's psychosurgeons. Appears to have gotten himself into debt with criminal types. Can be bullied into performing psychosurgery on the unwilling. Does not take fear well. Short and pudgy and seriously wears beach shorts on Mars. Owed gambling debts to the Gate Gang; abusing his boss's trust and agreeing to interrogate Hotaru got him in a world of trouble.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Survival +For Psychoscience! +Reputation
Notable Skills: Psychosurgery 70, Academics: Neurology 70, Medicine: Psychiatry 60
Status: Alive, paying off a debt to Hotaru through indenture to Komachi
A mathematics AGI at Aleph Seven. Overly professional and detached no matter the situation, γSmith (also known as Gamma-S) appears to have an interest in the greater galaxy and purchases black market xenotech to indulge in its hobbies. Blackmailed by the Gate Gang into providing a fork sleeved in an invisible synth body and assisted in the kidnapping of Firewall agents. Willingly sold the Gate Gang out the second a chance at getting out of the mess presented itself, however.
Faction: Mercurial
Morph: Infomorph/Synth
Motivations: +Solving Conundrums +Alien Contact +Secrecy
Notable Skills: Academics: Mathematics 85, Interests: Xeno-artifacts 70, Stealth 60
Status: Alive, fork remerged
The leader of the local xenodeists. A tall, long-faced man who looks a little like a neanderthal with a thing for ancient suits and wide-brimmed hats, Herbert has science degrees from Titan Autonomous University but still believes the Iktomi "ascended to a higher plane of existence" and humanity will join them, one day. Very good at dodging questions scientific debate. An async with some unusual powers - he could interact with Pandora Gates with his mind, and had some sort of personal force field. Wanted to contact his alien masters, which are almost certainly bad.
Faction: Xenodeist
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Alien Contact +Education (Xenosciences) +Personal Development
Notable Skills: Academics: Xenoarchaeology 80, Academics: Astrosociology 70, Persuade 65
Status: Dead, backups unknown.
Hahona "The Kiwi" Benjamin is a large Polynesian man who is extremely friendly and easygoing for a xenodeist, especially for a xenodeist who likes Factors enough to tattoo animated dancing Factors on his body. Hahona likes them even more than music, and as the resort DJ who can be moved to tears by a particularly well-sung song and walks in a cloud of broadcasted music all day, that is actually a little worrying. Has received the biotic implants, and the music appears to be self-generated; worryingly, Hahona was learning to create basilisk hacks.
Faction: Xenodeist
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Factors +Artistic Expression +Philanthropy
Notable Skills: Interests: Factors 90, Academics: Xenolinguistics 70, Art: Music 70
Status: Dead, backups unknown, would still marry a Factor if he could
Lance "Gillbeard" Warlock is the smiling mascot of New Brisbane. Often seen around the beach in his goofy shark pirate suit, Gillbeard loves greeting tourists, befriending people and chillaxing. Believes transhumanity is destined for great things and alien contact can only speed this process, but is not as fanatic as the other xenodeists. Is an async thanks to his "biotic" implants, granting him unnatural speed and reflexes. Copies of Gillbeard that fail the process have become shark-like exsurgents with large toothy maws and atrophied legs. Multiple successful copies guard Herbert's secret facility.
Faction: Xenodeist
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Social Networking +Alien Contact +Good Times
Notable Skills: Unknown
Status: Dead, backups unknown.
J████ was an async and former employee of Cognite before being transferred to Wandjina for biotic experimentation. Appeared to have a worrying power to "know" everything about anyone who spent time in proximity to him. Kind of a jerk. An unwilling participant in the scheme, J████ willingly supplied information in exchange for a means to commit suicide.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: Unknown
Notable Skills: Unknown
Status: Dead. Backup under employ of Cognite, unaware of his recent predicament.
Ozma agent. DO NOT ENGAGE.
See file ██-█████████.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Unknown
Motivations: Unknown
Notable Skills: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Three Titan Autonomous University guys who are doing their thesis in a mountaintop observatory on a planet two gates away from Titan because they are awful with people. Spend most of their time looking at the stars and playing Oceans & Orcas. Akio is a long-haired aquanaut, Kefka is a chubby neckbeard splicer and their team leader and Ocean Master Exo-Bob is a menton. Other than that they are almost interchangeable.
Faction: Titanian
Morph: Aquanaut/Splicer/Menton
Motivations: +Science +Friends +Oceans & Orcas
Notable Skills: Interests: Role-Playing Games 80, Academics: Astrophysics 55, Persuade 15
Status: Ronery
A neo-porpoise astrophysicist who happened to be studying Wandjina's tidal lock when The Eye called her in. Goes by the handle "Alien Skies" and prefers tall bodies with hourglass curves. Is easy-going as long as you're not hypercorp swine. Has a spare dolphin morph and likes to play gentle mind games with people who ask what she is. Has light green hair to fit the Firewall contact theme.
Faction: Mercurial? Titanian
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Techno-Progessivism +Anarchism +Nano-ecology
Notable Skills: Academics: Astrophysics 75, Academics: Astronomy 70, Programming 60
Status: Alive
Mars: Yoshi-Gen
An executive in the pre-Fall Japanese megacorp Tetsu-Gen who took advantage of his position to steal a bunch of egos for indentures and profit. Ambitious, arrogant, has a thing for Asian girls and sake. Was going to join the Lucky Star Group before Haruhi Nagasaku paid the Sentinels to ruin his life. Was probably a little crazy after the Fall; probably completely mental now.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Personal Career +Hedonism +Infomorph Slavery
Notable Skills: Networking: Hypercorp 65, Deception 60, Protocol 50
Status: Broke, mad and in simulspace prison
A beta fork of Daisuke, pruned for dealing with the criminals he sometimes sells egos to in order to protect his own identity. Good a disguises and a decent hacker, though it's unknown if Daisuke had these skills originally. Went to ground once the Sentinels set him up and framed Daisuke for screwing over the local crime gangs; current whereabouts unknown. Before he vanished, Green Dinosaur preferred green cases.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Case
Motivations: Unknown
Notable Skills: Infosec: 60, Persuasion 60
Status: Unknown
A Medusan Shield guard by trade, Meiling is an efficient and likeable leader who signs up for guard duty so she can see the world piece by piece. Is fascinated by science and corp activity, even if most of it goes over her head. Likes meeting new people, fucking hates people who interfere with her work. Aesthetically pleasing like most Medusan Shield furies, Meiling prefers morphs with long red hair and Asian appearance.
Faction: Extropian
Morph: Medusan Shield
Motivations: +Seeing The World +Open Source +Education
Notable Skills: Kinetic Weapons 60, Profession: Security Ops 55, Profession: Bodyguarding 50, Profession: Inner System Law 45, Academics: Miscellaneous 25
Status: Alive
A salaryman, and Haruhi's dad. Was tricked out of Green Dinosaur's hands without payment and sleeved in a Spare before being reunited with his family. Is finally impressed that his daughter accomplished something and saved him from the indenture he was tricked into, even if she never got a real job. Despite his love of boring office jobs, appears to be adept at coping to new situations on the fly and lying to seasoned liars.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Spare (probably resleeved)
Motivations: Unknown
Notable Skills: Profession: Forensic Accountant 65, Deception 65, Interfacing 40
Status: Alive
A bug collector and science blogger by trade, this Argonaut once worked for Ozma (see file ██████-XVI) before going back to freelance (given that he is still alive, he most likely remembers nothing useful about Ozma). Landed some contract work with Oversight investigating nanotech corps; Coronado called him in in a pinch to help arrest Daisuke. Known womaniser. Prefers lanky, brown-haired morphs with broad smiles, loud ties and sunglasses.
Faction: Argonaut
Morph: Splicer/Slitheroid
Motivations: +For Science! +Party Hard +Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Academics: Nanotechnology 70, Academics: Engineering 65, Persuasion 60
Status: Alive
- +
- Enrique A.A. Arnold
- Jack Bullet
- Kirk Rockmann
- Wakefield
- Haruhi Nagasaku
- Armstrong
- Samantha Reagan
- Swimes
The producer of smash-hit shows such as Bella the Martian Ranger and Three and a Half Flexbots. Enrique started off in the smaller media hypercorp Penultimate Media before being snapped up by Experia and allowed to produce Martian Ranger and the Sword of Pandora.
Enrique's signature image is a tall man with a shaved head, thick brown beard and lines tattooed down his cheeks. Unless you really like last-minute rewrites, dick moves and using filming on new exoplanets as an excuse to smuggle xenotech onto the black market, Enrique is about as easy to work with as an antimatter crocodile. On the bright side, he is easy to manipulate if you're giving him "script ideas".
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Hibernoid
Motivations: +Wealth +Artistic Expression +The Thrill of Crime!
Notable Skills: Art: Vidshows 75, Networking: Media 70, Networking: Hypercorp 65
Status: Alive
Jack Bullet is a rugged ex-cop known for performing quite a few acts of heroism during the Fall, fighting TITANs and rescuing damsels all across America. After evacuating he had a sequel adventure saving more girls from terrorist before a movie was made of his adventures - which he starred in, nobody else being quite the right amount of manly for the role. Jack had a good time there, and has been playing an action hero ever since. His vices are cybernetic augmentation, babes, one-liners and cigars.
Jack plays Biff Spacepunch, who is Jack with a different backstory.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +One Liners +Babes +Heroism
Notable Skills: Kinetic Weapons 70, Fray 60, Persuasion 60 (Seduction 70)
Status: All out of gum
Kirk is a laid-back Extropian who loves acting, getting paid tons of money to act, and getting into fistfights with xenofauna. He would be an Ultimate, except he hasn't run out of fun ways to punch aliens. He favours lanky morphs with blonde mullets and sharpened teeth and is a surprisingly good actor. Compared to other actors, punching aliens isn't that strange a hobby, really.
Kirk plays Professor Pentium, a mild-mannered menton with a love of all xenosciences and a cowardly streak who always finds some courage if his friends are in danger.
Faction: Scum
Morph: Fury (male!)
Motivations: +Hedonism +Alien Contact Fisticuffs Contact +Artistic Expression
Notable Skills: Unarmed Combat 75, Art: Performance 70, Impersonation 65, Academics: Astrobiology 50
Status: Alive and itching for a rumble
Wakefield was an old man when the TITANs came. Somehow, he survived, and with the magicscience of resleeving and a morph built like a brick shithouse, he's young forever. Wakefield chooses not to dwell on the past, and ditched his old life to take up acting (something he'd always wanted to try) and collecting xenoflora. Is quite friendly, though despite his efforts he still reminds people how old he is like once a week.
Wakefield plays Akio McGonnagal, the evil hypercorp boss who is trying to assert his control over the solar system with the help of xenotech and is thwarted every week by Biff Spacepunch thanks to luck, determination, and a lot of people who aren't Biff Spacepunch.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Olympian
Motivations: +Artistic Expression -Reclaiming Earth +Experiences
Notable Skills: Interests: Science Fiction 60, Art: Performance 60, Academics: Old Earth History 60
Status: Alive
Haruhi is a shy young actress who tends to get nervous around new people, though if you had the fans she did you would be too. She is amazing at getting in-character, though. She has sweet black hair with purple bangs and even sweeter tattoos on her shoulders, and may or may not be hiding something is an async. On a related note, she is extremely protective of her privacy and doesn't talk about herself much. So far she is unaware that her secret has been tricked out of her by another async.
Haruhi plays Cortexa Daggerblade, a powerful space Nazi technomancer who wields alien technology with ease and wants to take over the world. Worlds. All of them.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Artistic Expression +Nano-ecology +Privacy
Notable Skills: Art: Performance 75, Kinesics 50, Protocol 50
Known Psi Sleights: Mimic, Enhanced Creativity, Superior Kinesics
Status: Alive
Armstrong is a mellow octomorph who spends his free time working on an indie series about uplifts, currently popular only among uplifts and parts of the Luna-Lagrange Alliance. Appears to be Haruhi's close friend, and not the close friend of alien birds, who want to see what he tastes like (see <sillyocto.avi>).
Armstrong plays Jozan, a Brinker octomorph and technology buff who collects nanoswarms and is the closest thing the group has to a healer.
Faction: Mercurial
Morph: Octomorph
Motivations: +Uplift Rights +AGI Rights +Reclaiming Earth
Notable Skills: ?
Status: livingocto.avi
Samantha is a Jovian-born redheaded lass who cared enough about transhumanity's future to join Firewall and move to hypercorp space. She likes technology (some of her best friends are technology) but draws the line at implants. Naturally, Firewall pestered her into getting a cortical stack for her exoplanet work. Samantha can be a very grumpy person if she wants to be, and still nurses a grudge against Lowell for screwing her out of a date and toying with her emotions. Also, that time Lowell and Min took out her fellow Jovians and shot her in the face during a botched op on Venus. Mostly the romance thing. She is relaxing her attitude a little, though.
Samantha plays Payzo D'Qayle, a Qirian async who studies the Progenitors, the series' alien TITANs and provides fanservice for the neckbeard crowd.
Faction: Jovian
Morph: Flat
Motivations: +Knowledge +Bioconservatism -Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Infiltration 60, Kinetic Weapons 55, Kinesics 50
Status: Alive
swimes is a sensitive soul but most girls don't realise this and are bitches who prefer jocks. all he wants is to find a girl who shares his interests in vintage anime, hipster music and katanas. lowell may be the one because she made eye contact with him once. he has asperger's syndrome so please treat him with respect. no psychosurgeons.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Neo-Kitsune
Motivations: +Reclaiming Japan +Romance +An Obscure Motivation You've Probably Never Heard Of
Notable Skills: Interests: Old Earth Culture 70, Interests: Geek Blogs 65, Interests: Hipster Scene 60
Status: Dead, following possession by xeno-guardians. Stack held by team pending a decision on what to do with it. Backup not resleeved.
- +
- Wes Chesley
- Misaki Machimoto
- Genoveva Caldera
- Natalie Murphy
- Vinyl Scratch
- Victoria Williams
- Troovolta
A slick and handsome executive who was given a side-promotion to a distant exoplanet because he's an idiot his skills were important and valued. Likes long walks on the exoplanet beach, the 1980s, indentured girls and doing business. Confirmed ass man. Secretly dealing with the Venusians and stealing forks of important people. Oversight is going to have Words with him.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Hedonism +Personal Career +Venusian Sovereignty
Notable Skills: Networking: Media 70, Networking: Hypercorp 65, Protocol 60 (Hypercorp 70), Kinesics 20
Status: Languishing in an Oversight simulspace prison.
Chesley's Japanese assistant. He believes Misaki's job is to wear sexy outfits and run minor errands for him, because he is an idiot. Basically runs the facility behind the scenes for him, and uses her status to fast-track her indenture. Has an understandably low opinion of her boss, but a strong work ethic. Extremely patient, great legs. Now comes in Firewall flavour!
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Sylph
Motivations: +Personal Development +Privelege +Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Persuasion 70, Networking: Hypercorp 60, Kinesics 55, Deception 50
Status: Alive, joined Firewall.
A Direct Action merc with black hair and piercing green eyes who Annabelle bumped into when looking for a tour guide. Puts Direct Action's logo on her swimsuits. Very easy-going and cheerful when she isn't on the job shooting dudes.
Genoveva is actually an Oversight agent who picked the worst time and place to go on vacation. Doesn't like Stellar Intelligence.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Action +Artistic Expression +Exploration
Notable Skills: Art: Music 55, Kinetic Weapons 50, Fray 60, Profession: Security Ops 60
Status: Alive. Got a lot of rep from Oversight for her good work!
Natalie believes she has spent the last few weeks relaxing and working in a simulspace and remembers nothing about Crowley, thanks to Omnicor. Is a much nicer person when getting a massage from an octomorph instead of shot at by cases. Managed to avoid basically everything.
Faction: Argonaut
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Relaxation +Techno-Progressivism -Hypercapitalism
Notable Skills: Academics: Nanotechnology 70, Computer Science 60, Physics 60
Status: Alive. Phew!
Continuing a theme of Firewall contacts with odd-coloured hair is the blue-with-light-blue-streaks Vinyl Scratch (aka Victoria Williams), a DJ specialising in pre-Fall music and techno beats. Was manufactured by Experia but dropped for causing pro-Earth sentiments. Is usually so high you could bounce satellite signals off her, but can sober up on request. Really likes to party, says words like "totes" and "deffo", wants to know what is up with colours.
Faction: Hypercorp Scum Argonaut? Argonaut (if sober)
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Party Hard +Reclaiming Earth +Shit, I Forgot +Justice
Notable Skills: Academics: Neurology 80, Academics: Biology 60, Psychosurgery 70, Medicine: Psychiatry 70, Nanomedicine 60, Art: Music 60
Status: Alive and partying harder than ever
A fork of Vinyl Scratch maintaining the illegal ego banks in the basement. Was not aware she is a fork until Vinyl Scratch told her. Has substituted drugs with smoking like a chimney. Made money on the side coding narcoalgorithms; since then she has become a fellow Firewall member and Vinyl Scratch's agent.
Faction: Argonaut
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Personal Career +Wealth +Reclaiming Earth
Notable Skills: Same as Vinyl
Status: Alive and feeling better
Dieter "Troovolta" Stenonychosaurus is a secret Stellar Intelligence agent who poses as entertainers at popular hypercorp vacation resorts and entertainment joints while doing surveillance on everyone. Also an ego hunter, Dieter is willing to break cover to go after a target. Sucks at resisting async powers and can't catch a break.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Neo-Troodon
Motivations: +Secrets +Personal Career +Catch Min!
Notable Skills: Kinetic Weapons 60, Investigation 60, Infosec 50, Deception 50
Status: Dead. Stack recovered by Stellar Intelligence and revived much later, after Min had already left. Kind of upset about that.
The middle-aged, gray-haired head scientist at Trans-Global Dynamics's research facility. Quite cheerful and excited about science, Herbert is a cutting-edge nanoscientist as well as a TITANs expert. Is definitely not up to something. Keeps a messy lab.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Menton
Motivations: +Singularity Seeker +For Science! -Anarchism
Notable Skills: Academics: Nanotechnology 70, Programming 65 (AI 75), Profession: Data Forensics 65
Status: Killed. (Was up to something.) Restored from backup, sans exsurgence and memories.
A lovely blonde Omnicor indenture and research assistant. Natalie has a very expressive mouth, and mostly uses it to frown. Is paranoid about Omnicor screwing her over and worries about literally everything. Sleeps in her crasher suit.
Faction: Probably Argonaut
Morph: Splicer
Motivations: +Survival +Techno-Progressivism -Hypercapitalism
Notable Skills: Academics: Nanotechnology 70, Computer Science 60, Physics 60
Status: Alive. Memories of Crowley removed.
A Trans-Global Dynamics AGI who assists Herbert in running the facility, Frank believes more recent AGIs are "dumbed-down" versions of old, superior technology. Would very much like to get back to the spirit of "true" AGI. Has several fundamental misunderstandings on what a TITAN is.
Faction: Mercurial
Morph: Infomorph
Motivations: +Verisimilitude +AGI Rights +Personal Development
Notable Skills: Infosec 60, Hardware: Electronics 60, Interests: TITANs 55
Status: Exsurgent, killed. All backups wiped by Omnicor.
A neo-avian raven who runs the facility's defenses, because Trans-Global Dynamics refuses to hire an outsider with more security experience than some free time spent at a firing range hitting on a gray parrot from Direct Action. Has a Ph.D, pulls off an ascot well.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Neo-Avian
Motivations: +Uplift Rights +Martian Liberation +Exploration
Notable Skills: Academics: Neurology 70, Academics: Nanotechnology 60, Gunnery 55
Status: Alive. Memories of Crowley removed.
An Omnicor engineer and energy specialist. Michael thinks Omnicor is the best, and they should totally promote him. Assigned to maintain the facility's power facilities, and has up to twenty forks of himself running around at all times. Probably up to something. Is not as subtle about angling for a promotion as he thinks he is.
Faction: Hypercorp
Morph: Slitheroid
Motivations: +Personal Career +Hypercapitalism -Venusian Sovereignty
Notable Skills: Hardware: Industrial 80, Hardware: Electronics 70, Academics: Physics 60
Status: Dead, cortical stack retrieved for interrogation and storage by Firewall. "Restored" from backup by Omnicor.
Easily recognisable by her pink hair and unnecessarily large curves, Kawashiro is a freelance Firewall agent and scientist who wants to explore everything the exoplanets have to offer and push the boundaries of science. Will settle for getting to blow things up.
Faction: Ultimate
Morph: Exalt
Motivations: +Personal Development +Exploration +Techno-Progressivism
Notable Skills: Academics: [classified], Academics: Genetics 60, Kinetic Weapons 60, Interests: Exoplanets 55
Status: Alive


text:
Address & Phone Nos.
KDR MOTORS (SALES) Ltd.
Unit 1, The foundry Offices
101 East Road
KDR CAR SALES LTD Are a family run business based at Sleaford in the heart of lincolnshire.
The Company is headed up by Lee Bird who has been in involved the motor industry for 20 years.
Also the owner of a vehicle repair company based in sleaford, he has prepared many sales vehicles for other local car dealerships and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the repair, maintenance and preparation of a vehicle
In turn you can rest assured that when buying a vehicle from KDR that you are buying a vehicle that has been fully inspected, checked and valeted to the highest standard.
We are a VAT registered company so you know that you are buying from a genuine car dealership, being a family run business our reputation means everything to us.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Its humour is very much in the style of Mel Brooks at his Nazi/Star Wars-spoofing best, but sadly without the same level of acting and direction (or budget). The humour ranges from the lowest common denominator to knowing references to Nazi history, and in a way it would be better called the Ironical Sky (oh hold me, hold me, before my sides split!).
The premise of the film is that a group of Nazis escaped to the dark side of the Moon in the final moments of the Second World War, where they established a Moon colony with plans to return to Earth just as soon as they have got their supreme weapon fixed (named the Götterdämmerung, naturally - not the only Wagner reference by far). Problem is, with time their technological knowledge and culture have degenerated somewhat, with only an old mad-professor type (ironically with a resemblance to Einstein) left to complete the project, and the children on the base being taught that the Nazis are a peaceful race.
The fun begins when a hunky black American model lands on the Moon, is captured by the Moon Nazis, and thereby inadvertently delivers into their hands the essential super-computer needed to get the Götterdämmerung launched. That super-computer being a mobile phone. Moon Nazis then hop over to Earth in a dinky UFO to get more of these phones because, typically, the battery ran out before it could be used properly. I'll leave it there for you to see how the plot expands.
Well, plot such as it is because it has enough holes to fly a space-zeppelin through. The scenes were sometimes a bit disjointed, but then it did take three years to make, with 10% of the funding coming from the internet community (individuals credited in a long list at the end). But you can forgive all that for a wonderful parody of Sarah Palin as the US president trying to get elected for a second term, which is worth the admission-price alone.
As an aside, when the German's talk about people living on the Mondrückseite (the far side of the moon), they mean that they are ignorant and out-of-date. Just though I'd throw that in there.
Of course there was an added frisson of watching a film full of Nazi regalia in a cinema just 800 metres from Hitler's former Chancellory and bunker, and the German audience gave lots of nervous laughs at the audacity of e.g. a swastika shaped moon colony. But this film definitely has an anti-Nazi (and anti-Republican Tea Party) message, despite some pretty sexy (male and female) Nazi characters.
There are lots of literate nods to other films, including Dr Strangelove, Star Trek, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Moon (the Nazi base is powered by helium 3), Charlie Chaplin's Great Dictator, Hitler's rage scene in Downfall, and Team America: World Police.
The stunning soundtrack is dominated by Laibach, whom we had seen the week before at the Heimathafen in Neukölln. Indeed, Laibach had projected most of the film onto the stage backdrop during their gig, so we felt that we had already seen the film. There is also reference to Laibach in the film, when the Moon Nazis come to Earth and get a makeover when they are requisitioned to lead the Sarah Palin look-alike's re-election campaign: the swastikas have been replaced with the logo from Laibach's Volk album. Tracks from that album are of course in the film, most effectively 'America'.
The costumes in the film are something Max Mosley would have gagged for (or been gagged for), especially when given a makeover into shiny black BDSM short-skirted Nazi chic. It actually got me thinking, somebody back in 1930's Germany must actually have got together a team to sit down and design all the Nazi uniforms and regalia right down to the last Totenkopf button and jack-boot buckle. What strange brain-storming sessions they must have been.
Not just the wardrobe is well designed; a lot of thought has gone into the entire concept and realization of the film, so that there is a consistency and originality that is stamped all over Iron Sky. We were particularly impressed with the thought and level of detail that must have gone into the UFO's, and especially the awesome Götterdämmerung.
In conclusion, the funniest Finnish film we have seen, ever. And in comparison to the sparse number of comedies to come out of Hollywood in recent years, the best original comedy film we've enjoyed in a long time.
Definitely worth seeing, just don't go expecting any kind of cinematic or acting masterpiece. Sit back and prepare to laugh your stockings off.
The bad news is that German audiences absolutely hate sub-titles. They would much rather watch foreign (by which I mean English) films very badly dubbed into German. This applies to English language television as well, and it is somewhat distracting hearing Jamie Oliver or Jeremy Clarkeson speaking German in a deep voice. Interestingly, when the Danish-Swedish crime series The Bridge was shown on German TV (it was made in collaboration with ZDF) it was dubbed into German, whereas in the UK it was shown with sub-titles. Personally I think that an actor's voice is just as important in the projection of a character as their body-language, but I'm in a minority here.
The good news is that the Berlin CineStar Original in the Sony Center on Potsdamer Platz always shows original language films, and often shows German films with English sub-titles as well. Check out the forthcoming programme here.
(Addendum: apparently Iron Sky will only be on release for one day in the UK. One day! So ironically it looks like you would have to come to Germany to watch it on a movie screen.)


text:
Germany has struggled internationally the past few years. But Christian Ehrhoff, the star defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks has not.
Christian has been one of the few shining lights for Germany in recent years. With nearly 60 internatonal games for the Germans, including 2 Olympic appearances Christian is the most experienced international competitor for the German team.
Ehrhoff doesnt have a notable award to his credit, but he is certainly a defender most NHL teams take note of when he is on the ice, especially on the power play. His ability to quarterback a power play & distribute the puck to the proper people is near the top of the league & one of the reasons the Canucks are in a playoff spot right now. It is this skill that makes him invaluable to Germany.
Germany is not a likely threat to win a medal. They are going to Vancouver to try & improve on their current 12th place ranking in the IIHF. If they are to make any steps in doing that, a great performance by their notablres, such as Christian Ehrhoff will be needed.
Comments are closed.
Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.
March 2010


text:
Tom Lia is executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting legislation, raising public awareness, and educating code officials and governmental policymakers on home fire sprinklers. Lia will regularly post about the challenges and successes he experiences in his state. Check back often for his insights. Here's his introductory blog post for the Fire Sprinkler Initiative community:
When I left the Orland Fire Protection District to take on a new endeavor at NIFSAB, there was no job description for me. In its meager beginnings, NIFSAB served as a centralized source for basic information and research about fire sprinkler codes and education. We also advocated for a grassroots approach to fire sprinkler education; if a fire department requested assistance or education, we responded in person the next day and offered advisory support.
What has NIFSAB been up to since its inception? For starters, NIFSAB gives fire and building officials the chance to see how a fire sprinkler operates. (I was with a fire department for 10 years before seeing a sprinkler in action.) Through the use of two demonstration trailers, fire officials can witness a sprinkler system's operation. The traveling trailers head to approximately 30 different locations each year.
Other fruitful efforts by NIFSAB are the side-by-side burn demonstrations, which feature two simulated, residential rooms, one protected with fire sprinklers and one unprotected. NIFSAB conducts more than 50 demonstrations a year, from village board meetings to Fire Prevention Week open houses at fire stations. To date, we have conducted more than 460 demonstrations over a 10-year period.
A house that has been acquired by a fire department for training is another excellent opportunity for local or regional fire sprinkler educational events. We install a fire sprinkler in one room to show how it activates during a fire in a real house setting. These demonstrations—about two a year—attract great media attention.
In the beginning, we were on our own when researching fire sprinkler resources and information, but now there's the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition. We have taken advantage of all resources to expand our education to homebuilders, owners of sprinkler-protected homes, real estate agents, and elected officials. Today, we are also blessed with the total involvement and commitment of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative.
We also recognize village boards that have passed ordinances in accordance with NFPA 13D, Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. NIFSAB started its advisory program with two NFPA 13D communities in Illinois. Today, the state has 94 communities protected by the standard. The success is made possible through continued efforts by fire chiefs and dedicated building officials to adopt the highest standard for the future fire safety of their communities.
What are your thoughts on NIFSAB's efforts? What efforts have worked in your state? Click on the "comment" link below and let us know.


text:
Any help appreciated.
Have a look through our locos module, where we have plenty of photos
Can anyone advise/direct me to a photo of the short end of a FA X class, I have photos of the long end (Large Green X and numbers on yellow panel), no writing on the sides of the hoods, was there anything on the short hoods, or just plain green or yellow.
Any help appreciated.
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text:
Reversal of my Fate
On a beautiful summer day in 1989 I visited a friend from my youth. At that time I had been a meditation student of Sri Chinmoy for about 15 months. I was also studying homeopathy, acupuncture and other subjects at the Josef-Angerer-School in Munich where I hoped to qualify as a health practitioner. We had a great time chatting about old times while my friend prepared a typically Chinese dinner of vegetables with rice and sour cherry jam. The food was delicious and I had already eaten a little bit too much when I suddenly noticed a devastating sensation in my stomach. The reason for this sensation was not the food that my friend had served, as he felt perfectly well, but was rather the beginning of a life-threatening situation. (Photo: Antaranga in Lignano, Italy2010)
But before my life changed its course, I flew to New York in the middle of August to see my spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy for the first time for his birthday celebrations. In the plane, high above the clouds, I was overcome with a deep and beautiful feeling of joy, but unfortunately this joy did not remain when I arrived on the soil of North America. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed Sri Chinmoy's 58th birthday celebration, with all its music, plays and meditations, by the time it was time to return to Germany I was not truly fulfilled – because I had not had any deep meditation experiences in the presence of my Master. I had read in one of Sri Chinmoy's books that it is best not to expect anything so as to avoid any disappointment, and also that it is God's gift to have a deep meditation and it can happen at any time and at any place. But our human nature has its own needs and theoretical knowledge versus a true feeling of unconditional surrender are two different things.
As it turned out, I left Frankfurt airport with a few of my fellow Munich meditation students. I was leaning casually against one of the airport pillars while waiting to be picked up by our friends when suddenly my consciousness changed drastically. All of my thoughts stopped, I felt peace and then everything around me became absolutely beautiful. Everything was the same but I felt like I was in paradise. I remembered that as a small child I had had such feelings on a few occasions. One of the Munich meditation students could see the change in me and asked if I had entered into Samadhi. This peaceful and delightful consciousness stayed with me during the whole trip from Frankfurt to Munich and continued even during the last part of the journey on the tram. Everything around me was so fulfilling and I simply wished that this feeling would never end. But as soon as I entered my apartment the experience left me. So I had seen and felt the wonderful experience that meditation can bring to the fore. At a later time I interpreted this experience as the descent of God's Grace to inspire me to meditate regularly and to serve humanity, so that in the future I might stay in such a consciousness permanently. I can see now that it was very important that I had had the most fulfilling spiritual experience of my life so far without Sri Chinmoy's physical presence. As it turns out – due to personal health reasons – I was not able to enjoy Sri Chinmoy's presence very often, but I know now that Sri Chinmoy can offer a spiritual seeker experiences at any time and at any place. (Photo: Sri Chinmoy)
A few months later the same devastating feeling in my stomach came back even after eating just normal food in small quantities. My digestion stopped functioning properly, I started to lose weight and I was losing strength rapidly. A visit to the doctor to check on my jaundiced face and eyes brought no alarming explanation. Ikterus Juvenilis – teenage yellow fever is the translation in the medical dictionary. Nevertheless, I seriously felt that my life was in danger. Homeopathic remedies, which had helped me in the past with digestive issues, did not provide any improvement at this time.
During February 1990 Sri Chinmoy offered a concert tour in Germany on the occasion of the reunification of East and West Germany. Even though I already felt very weak, I decided to participate in the tour. I felt sure that Sri Chinmoy would save my life. Tirtha and her family, all of them Sri Chinmoy's students from Munich, gave me a ride in their large white Citroen and took care of me very lovingly. Right at the beginning of the tour I felt miserable even after very small meals and I asked Tirtha to please tell Sri Chinmoy that I had the feeling that I would die soon. Tirtha suggested that I should tell Sri Chinmoy personally and arranged a meeting with my Master.(Photo: Sri Chinmoy meditates during a concert in the Iinternational Congress Centre in Berlin in February 1990)
Somewhere backstage and close to the elevator that Sri Chinmoy would soon be using, I waited, with Tirtha and her family standing behind me. Sri Chinmoy came towards me, I bowed down spontaneously and Sri Chinmoy bowed too. I bowed again and so did Sri Chinmoy. This happened a third time and then I don't know what happened. I was deeply moved and very happy, without a single word having been uttered. A short time later I saw Sri Chinmoy and his companions entering the elevator. Tirtha understood that it can be an overwhelming experience to stand just a couple of feet away from your spiritual Master for the first time, so she promised to talk to Sri Chinmoy the next day about my situation. I waited excitedly for her answer. "He will definitely not be dying" was Sri Chinmoy's response. I was very relieved and felt confident that this would definitely be the case. During dinner after the concert in Nurnberg I saw Sri Chinmoy concentrating on me a few times. As a result my pain and discomfort diminished.
However, on returning home after the concert tour I felt so weak that I could only walk a few very short steps. This meant that I had to interrupt my studies and move back in with my parents who lived about 100 km east of Munich. Computer tomography of my pancreas, gastroscopy and endoscopy did not reveal any organic disease. Without my approval I was given a sedative by injection, which only made me delirious and had no positive impact on my digestion. Even though my weight had dropped to 44 kg by April 1990, I never for a minute doubted that I would not survive. The experiences of deep inner peace that Sri Chinmoy had blessed me with at various times were so positive that I had no doubt concerning the statement Sri Chinmoy had made during the concert tour.
I had to find a diet that did not leave me weak and useless after eating. I found out that some banana, dried dates or figs taken every hour or so did not drain me of too much of my strength and my low periods were shorter and more bearable. Very slowly I regained my strength and was able to study at home for the final examination of the public health department. Passing this exam would permit me to work as a health practitioner. I passed the exam in April 1991 and felt strong enough to look for a job, as I did not believe I had enough strength to start my own practice. The problem was that every 90 minutes I had to eat some of the bland mixture of sweet fruits so as to keep my pain within reason. Eating anything else meant that I was attacked by pain and could not work at all. What company would hire such an employee?
But Grace was with me and Tirtha's brother, Jwalanta, offered me a job in his family business. His family understood my situation and was very compassionate and as a result let me work at their publishing house.
So for about two and a half years I had to survive on only fruits. Even so, my body still didn't show any sign of recovery. Kailash, one of Sri Chinmoy's first disciples in Switzerland was so kind that in October 1992 he encouraged me to write a personal letter to Sri Chinmoy and he delivered it personally. I had asked if there was anything special that I could or should do to be able to eat proper food to regain my strength. Sri Chinmoy said that I could start eating a little more regular food and he drew one of his birds on my letter and wrote underneath: "Blessings, Love, Joy, Gratitude". I still have this letter and every so often look at it with great joy and gratitude.
During 1993 my health once again took a wrong turn. Immediately after eating a meal, I would feel a burning pain in my stomach. In April Tirtha decided to inform Sri Chinmoy again about my situation as neither homeopathic doctors nor regular physicians seemed to be able to help. Sri Chinmoy's answer was very illumining: I am dealing with major karma but have already made significant progress. It is my good fortune that I am leading a spiritual life as otherwise I would not be among the living anymore. I should continue to meditate and pray regularly, because that is the only thing that can help me. Sri Chinmoy is also praying for me. I need to convince my soul, my heart and my mind that my body will be healed and I should go to one doctor in whom I have complete faith.
This confirmed my feeling of years before that I was standing at death's door and that this was not just a thought, but a reality. And that I should stop looking for better homeopathic practitioners or another method of healing – this was simply my fate. I then went to a doctor who requested a series of hospital tests, but I was basically very, very grateful to God that I was on Sri Chinmoy's spiritual path. (Photo: Antaranga 1992)
In the middle of 1994 after getting a high dose of a homeopathic medicine from my homeopath, I found that I could eat normally again without any painful side effects. I had taken the same formula and dose previously, but never with such success. It seems that my food related karma had been nullified, and so, after 4 years on a diet consisting of fruits I was able to rediscover just how wonderful real food tastes.
The year 1994 did not only bring relief in that way but rather another karmic wave was waiting for me at the beginning of 1995 that continued to create quite a lot of problems for me. Read more ...
Experiences with Sri Chinmoy
More stories from Sri Chinmoy's students.


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Who is responsible for a Christian's spiritual health—for his or her growth in the faith, in understanding the Scriptures, and progressive increase in personal holiness?
The answer might seem obvious. It's you, right? If you're a Christian, you need to take ownership of your growth in understanding the Scriptures and pursuit of holiness in Christ.
But is it your responsibility alone?
I can't tell you how many times I've heard a pastor say something like this:
"It's not my job to feed you—you need to feed yourself."
And, if I had to be honest, nearly every time I've heard it, it's made my skin crawl.
Why? Well, consider John 21:15-17 with me:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep…" (John 21:15-17 ESV)
In this passage, the restoration of Peter, Jesus asks him three times:
"Peter, do you love me? Do you love me more than these other men? Do you love me?"
Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, so three times Jesus asks this question. And each time, Peter responds "Lord, you know that I love you."
Now look at the response that this love brings. Three times, Jesus gives Peter this command:
Feed My lambs.
Tend My sheep.
Feed My sheep.
This command is so imperative that Jesus gave it three times in response to Peter's profession of love—so what does He mean?
At the risk of being obvious, Jesus means exactly what He says: "Feed My sheep." [Read more…] about Everyday Theology: You Need To Feed Yourself


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|P is for Practical
comment on
|( #3333=superdoc: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
The main problem I have with ~> is the change in shift key. The ~ is on the left side of the keyboard (at least my US-style keyboard), so touch typists will use the right shift key. > is on the right, thus the use of the left shift key. tchrist's "Twister" moniker comes in to play here - try typing it out a few times to see how easy/difficult it is. Maybe for hunt-and-peck typists there won't be much difference. For touch typists, we could come up with an alternative that was less discordant (such as ->>).
The fact that a quick glance at code wouldn't always tell the difference between -> and ~> is, in my opinion, both a positive and a negative. Positive in that they are so tightly related and often that's good enough, but negative in having to mentally switch gears to actually pay attention and notice it when it matters.
In reply to Re^4: What operator should perl5porters use for safe dereferencing?
by Tanktalus


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Copyright ©2020 Blade HQ. Server: web03All rights reserved
Hogue was founded in 1968 and became one of most respected companies in the firearms industry. In 2009, Hogue entered in to a collaboration with renowned custom knifemaker Allen Elishewitz to develop a new product line of high-end sporting cutlery. From basic concepts to design execution, Hogue's manufacturing processes include the best ideas, finest materials, and finishing all of which they do themelves.


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Unique Vintage Riviera Lace & Tulle Bridal Dress
Unique Vintage
**THIS DRESS IS ON SALE AND THEREFORE FINAL SALE** Size chart is maximum so please contact for any questions. The Riviera Bridal Dress is an angelic vision of 1950s elegance with a graceful swing style of tulle and lace in a radiant slightly off white. This mid-century inspired tea length wedding dress is the perfect outfit for any vintage-themed wedding celebration and just gorgeous in person.
The Sweetheart bodice features molded padded cups, soft underwire and front and back boning for a splendid structured lift. The upper delicate mesh illusion neckline secures in the back with a snap button that creates a sweet keyhole cutout. Pretty white lace cascades over the bodice and onto the flowing A-line skirt and gathers at the bottom scalloped hemline. A layer of ivory mesh creates separation from the dual layer of honeycomb tulle and a shiny, smooth satin layer boasts a dramatic pop from a comfortable lining with a stiff honeycomb tulle hem. This amazing wedding dress is also embellished with twinkling clear beads, crystals and sequins throughout the bodice. A back zipper and hook nips in your hourglass figure.
The Riviera wedding dress is available in sizes XS to 4X while supplies last.
Please note this style runs a little small due to the boning and layers. We've hand measured the medium at apx 36 Bust, 28 Waist from the exterior flat. Attached please find the Unique Vintage size chart.
NOTES: Any returns of this dress with any issues as per our return policies will be subject to full bridal dry cleaning fee taken from any credits/exchanges. This dress can be tried on instore via appointment with the same conditions.
Fabric: 100% Polyester
Dry Clean only
Model Info: Height: 5'8" | Bust: 34B | Waist: 24 Inches | Hip: 36 Inches
Model Info: Height: 5'6" | Bust: 39.5 Inches | Waist: 31 Inches | Hips: 46 Inches
Size S Length: 43", Size 2XL Length: 47"
Sizing Guidelines
It's also suggested to measure an item you like the fit of flat then double for better accuracy. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact us as all sale items and discounts over 15% are final sale.
Woman's sizing guide:
1 - If your measurement does not fall into an exact size, or if you are not sure,
please choose the next LARGER SIZE. You can always alter your dress down but not up.
2 - For accuracy, measure your body while wearing thin undergarments.
3 - Use a tape measure snugly around your body but do not tighten it.
BUST: Measure your chest around the fullest part. Note: It is not your bra size.
WAIST: Measure around your natural waist line.
HIPS: Measure your hips around the fullest part.
Men's sizing guide:
Measure width across chest all the way around 1" below armhole Waist - Natural waist smallest point all the way around
Returns and Exchanges
NOTE: Covid 19 Extended Exchanges..all items less than 15% discounted are valid for extended exchanges now up to 30 days from receipt as long as they follow our regular return guidelines for items (see below).
Unsatisfied with an item you have received from us? Not a problem! We will gladly do an exchange or issue a web store credit code for items that are applicable for return. Please read our policies below and contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We want you to be pleased as pie with your goodies, and experiences, from our store!
Prior to ordering, if you are unsure of sizing or fit of an item please contact us with your measurements, etc. and we will help you select the right size so as to avoid a potential return.
Also note: Our brick and mortar Rowena & website Retro Glam are two different entities so prices, returns, etc. are not interchangeable.
Items Applicable for Return/Exchange
Items that were purchased at regular price, are unworn, and unwashed (including dry cleaning) with tags still attached and/or any manufacture packaging.
Items Not Applicable for Return/Exchange
All sale items, discounted items of over 15% through use of a coupon code, intimates (such as underwear, bras, leggings, stockings, socks, bathing suites, shape wear, cosmetics, hair scarves), earrings due to health reasons, seasonal merchandise (such as ornaments, cards, and calendars) are FINAL SALE.
Items that have been washed*, altered, have odour (cigarette, perfume, deodorants, pets, etc.), have stains, or are incomplete will not be entitled to exchange or web store credit and will be shipped back to you at your cost. If you cannot be contacted within 30 days for return shipping payment, the item will be donated and no exchange/credit will be issued.
* If an item is washed and a defect found (such as colour bleeding), the item will only be accepted as a return in the event that the manufacturer admits a defect. It is recommended to follow care instructions as directed on the label - most items require either cold water wash (with a good quality detergent) or dry cleaning. Allowing items to sit in wash water, or while wet, can lead to colour bleeding. If you are concerned an item may experience colour bleed (black and white, white and red, etc.) please use a colour catcher.
If an item is damaged after using a dry cleaning service, the dry cleaning service is responsible for your item.
Certain fabrics will experience characteristic wear and tear (rayon may pill from rubbing, etc.) which is typical for that fabric - we are not responsible for wear and tear on items. Using items such as a clothes razor can help bring an item to its former glory.
If you have any questions or concerns in regards to long term care for an item please contact us.
Return Policy
Items may be only returned for exchange or web store credit. Sorry due to being a small business and labour costs we do not do refunds. All returns/exchanges must be initiated (RMA# requested - please see below in the "How To Return/Exchange an Item" section for the RMA form) and returned in the mail within 14 days of receiving the merchandise. If your item is not post marked within 14 days of your receipt we may issue a 25% restocking fee.
Shipping Charges
Original shipping cost is non-refundable and we do not cover return shipping cost, except in cases where we have made a shipping error on our part or we have determined that the item is defected. The customer is responsible for return shipping charges. We highly recommend you insure your return shipment.
Order Issues
If you receive a defective item, damaged item, or are shipped the incorrect item please contact us asap. We will give you instructions how to deal with the issue or item. If a credit is warranted it will be made within 5 to 7 business days of us receiving and verifying the returned merchandise.
How to Return/Exchange an Item
Please ensure that the item is eligible for return/exchange as listed above in the Return Policy and that you understand our policies regarding returns. Items returned not following the outlined instructions may be subject to refusing the package and/or a restocking fee of 25%.
Canadian Returns
Please note that web order returns cannot be made in our brick and mortar store. Items for return may be dropped off at our brick and mortar store but must be sealed with an RMA# attached to them and will be processed at the same time as other web returns and therefore cannot be completed on the spot. When shipping a return, we suggest shipping via an insured method ( such as Canada Post Expedited) as we are not responsible for packages lost in the mail.
- Please fill out the Return Form with the necessary information in regards to the item(s) you will be returning.
- You will be issued an RMA# (Return Merchandise Authorization number) via email after the form has been received. Please only fill out one form. The web shop is closed weekends and it can take a few days for us to get to them when busy.
- Ensure your RMA# is written clearly on the front of your parcel. Not doing so will lead to delays in having your return processed.
- If you want to ship via a method that requires signature for pick up of your return, please not this on the Return Form and we will give you an authorized name to use - generic "signature required by owner" will not be accepted and will lead to your return being shipped back to you.
- Ship your parcel to the address on the original shipping label:
Retro Glam
c/o Rowena
10544A - 82 (Whyte) Ave
Edmonton, AB T6E 2A4
- Once your parcel has been received and processed you will be emailed.
Quick Exchange
Love your item but ordered the wrong size, or the colour just doesn't work, and you need it right away for a time sensitive event? Not a problem! Follow the standard return procedure and specify when you fill out the Return Form that you will be doing a Quick Exchange. Then order the correctly sized/coloured item right away! Once we have receive your parcel we will refund you the cost of the item. Easy peasy!
* Please note that to be eligible for Quick Exchange the item being exchanged for must be the same cut/style and you are only exchanging for an alternate size and/or colour.
International Returns
Please ensure that your item is marked as a return and is shipped via your country's domestic mail carrier (USPS for the USA, Royal Mail for the UK, etc.). We are not responsible for packages lost in the mail so we suggest you insure your package and select a tracked method of shipping. We do not accept returns shipped via UPS or priority shipping due to the additional cost of brokerage and handling fees. If the value of the return is over $60.00 Canadian please contact us for instructions as we will not accept parcels back with duties and brokerage attached.
- Please fill out the Return Form with the necessary information in regards to the item(s) you will be returning.
- You will be issue an RMA# (Return Merchandise Authorization number) via email after the form has been received.
- Ensure your RMA# is written clearly on the front of your parcel. Not doing so will lead to delays in having your return processed.
- Ship your parcel to the address on the original shipping label:
Retro Glam
c/o Rowena
10544A - 82 (Whyte) Ave
Edmonton, AB T6E 2A4
- Once your parcel has been received and processed you will be emailed.


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When you are finished shopping:
Shipping costs can vary widely for each product and
shipping destination. We reserve the right to contact you (for your
approval) if the shipping costs to your location are more than the
amount calculated above. Also, please feel free to contact us directly
to enquire if shipping costs for your order and shipping destination can
be reduced from the amount indicated above. 1-877-401-1195


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By Stopsy
April 19 2014
Harlequins 24 Tigers 20 So seeing as no one else can be bothered to help our site out, you are lumbered with another effort from me. 19:45 on Good Friday, what a time to pick! It's bad enough trying to do these when sober.
I am not sure of the fitness or injury issues behind our team selection and Tom's omission from the squad is, I pray, on grounds of preservation rather than necessity. I am interested and pleased to see Toby back in the side; this is no comment on Owen, who I believe has been showing fantastic maturity and play over the past few fixtures.
Will Logo actually take the pitch after coming off last week? No disrespect to Fraser but I hope so.
There is an Austin inspired thread on the Quins board regarding the relative merits of Care and Youngs Minor and it reminded me just how far the former has travelled in my regard over the past few seasons. Before that I regarded him as being similar to the main character in this advert [www.youtube.com] , not the man with the dog! However I have seen him overcome personal issues and also broaden his game to become really irritating in an entirely different and admirable way.
Please let there be no repeat of his match winning performances against us tonight.
Logo does make it onto the pitch and Marler doesn't, Lambert filling the breach at Loosehead.
The ground looks packed and indeed is a sell out with no need for any non rugby razzle dazzle entertainment, surely these people cannot have paid full price for tickets in order to watch a top flight clash in the Premiership, it will never catch on!
Toby takes the kick off, high and hanging and wonder of wonders, chased by Scully who is duly obstructed, 0 – 3. Quins kick off and Scully challenges Easter in the air for the ball and strips it from him and we go to the TMO, seeing as Easter caught the ball before Scully it makes it a tackle in the air. Penalty to Quins who kick to touch, Quins go for the catch and drive but Slater admirably disrupts them and a scrum is awarded which is reassuringly solid.
Care is already looking threatening except when he and Ben are exchanging smiles and pats all round. My internet feed then hangs but it appears we have scored. Fortunately I get to see the replay and we are very lucky that the TMO adjudges no forward pass twice for Niki to score, we would have been livid had that gone the other way. The sooner we go back to a simple and consistent did the ball travel forwards interpretation, the better. Toby adds the extras and we are 0 – 10.
Care takes a quick one but is called back and the ensuing penalty makes it 3 – 10 with just 7 minutes gone. Scully again chases the restart and the Slater twins are everywhere, there must be 2 of them!
Toby hits a fantastic penalty to touch on their 5m line, the ball is taken well and spread out to the opposite flank where unfortunately it bounces off Slater's chest for a knock on. The crowd are making a great atmosphere, amazing what can be achieved when 2 teams are really going for it. We are however becoming increasingly inaccurate with knock ons. The scrum is also interesting as I haven't seen a 4 man front row deployed for a long while and I thought Wallace was a Flanker. Sinckler is doing well by hook or by crook against Marcos and showing an admirable propensity to play what you can get away with but I am more impressed by Lambert who had a rock solid game against Logo.
Brown and Care are beginning to threaten more and it is quite clear that we are struggling with their pace. We are also inaccurate at the breakdown, Ward turning over the ball well when he should have been splattered into next week. Another penalty and Evans makes it 6 – 13 and Quins are looking increasingly dominant aided and abetted by some distinctly dubious interpretations from the ref so it isn't just us that benefit from his decisions.
And the internet goes down again.
By the time it is back Quins have levelled the scores at 13 apiece, I understand a penalty try from a scrum going down for the first time and it is Half Time.
The first scrum of the second half sees Quins retreat at a rate of knots and we get a penalty, its all well and good being dominant in the scrum but where you do it on the pitch makes the difference.
Crane is off, Matera on and we seem to be missing what Jordan brings to us, a bit like Allen, you really notice when he's not there. Scully then beats Brown to touch down and excellent communication between the ref and TMO shows that Scully took the ball over our try line so 5m scrum. Sinckler then pops up out of the scrum but is invisible, he then rapidly gets involved and goes over but is held up. The tide is against us now. Brown and Flood get involved, Flood knocking Brown late and Brown responds but TMO advises to leave alone.
Sinckler is then on his knees and Marcos is penalised for dropping the scrum! 16 – 13, really Sir?
Hawkins on for Briggs who has had a solid game. Manu is making yards but is pretty well marshalled by the Quins defence. Deliberate offside? No just intercepting a scoring pass from an offside position, really Sir? Never mind, the penalty is taken and the ball gets to the impressive Gibson to score the extras added by Toby from out wide. 16 – 20.
Geoff on and immediately you can see him communicating. We get a scrum the ball just sits in the tunnel and this time the ref sees Sinckler go to ground and penalises him.
Another mini punch up as Matera is daft and Robson violent, both get a yellow card that penalty would have taken us 7 points clear assuming it was successfully taken, penalty reversed only once, really Sir?
And the internet freezes again. Brown has scored and a further penalty take it to 24 – 20 and the ball is kicked out for no side.
A good game to watch, I bet the neutral would have enjoyed it as much as the partial. Well played Quins and both sides put on a show to reward the crowd who in turn made a fantastic atmosphere. So a home semi looks unlikely, let's make sure we get a place in the Play Offs and pray we don't get this ref again or if we do, we up our game significantly to take him out of the equation. We lost tonight because we didn't do that.
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The Strategies + Ideals Behind Defending As A Team
For a team to find success, they cannot simply focus on putting the ball in the back of the net. No, in order find that sought after success, a squad must be willing to do the dirty work and defend. If you were to ask somebody how to win a match, the easy answer would be: score more goals to win. However, it would be remiss not to counter that approach by saying that you cannot lose a match without conceding a goal as well.
There are various strategies for defending in soccer, but all of them can be traced back to the basics of pressure, cover, and balance. These terms refer to the positions that soccer defenders should take whenever an opponent is on the ball. If you and your teammates want to become a better defensive unit, take these CoachUp tips and suggestions to heart.
The Basics
One-On-One DefendingA team will only be able to play as a unit if each defender knows how to defend one-on-one -- thus, the key to playing defense is patience. Attackers in soccer love to bait inexperienced defenders into rash, unwise tackles. Becoming a better defender means waiting for attackers to make moves and only making tackles when the ball presents itself. Defenders should stay about three steps from an attacker because it forces the attacker to chose between three options -- shoot, pass, or attempting to dribble past the defender.
Theoretically, if the defender has given himself enough space, he should have enough time to block the attacker's kicks or stay with the attacker step-for-step if he tries to dribble past.
In the first two-thirds, try to push the attacker towards the middle of the field. When attackers come to the middle of the field they have to work through more traffic than if they stay near the sidelines. In the final third, try to force attackers towards the sideline and away from your goal. Guiding attackers towards the corner flags in the final third will prevent them from having shots on goal.
TrackingTracking is one of the hardest parts of soccer because of the game's constant ebb and flow. At times, it seems like a thousand things are happening at once. Yet, it's still the defender's responsibility to read and analyze all that information and consistently pick the appropriate course of action. The best defenders are capable of watching the ball and tracking opposition's runs at the same time. Tracking does not necessarily mean chasing after opponents, chasing a game and players are foolish.
To track a run, in the simplest terms, is to see where they're running in an attempt to predict what's next. If an opposing attacker moves into a passing lane, the second or third defender should follow and mark that player. Sometimes, however, forwards make runs to draw the defenders out of position. Defenders need to track each run and be able to judge the amount of danger created by each one. Try thinking about it like this -- you wouldn't bring checkers to a chess match, right? A team's defense is, obviously, built on a formation and strategy. Whether this means a flat backline, diamond formation, or any other variation will depend on the team; however, the sentiment is the same: there is a game plan in play, so let it play out. That idea may not seem revolutionary or, perhaps, might feel redundant, but let's break it down:
Zonal DefenseOften enough, teams will play with a zonal defense -- meaning that, in most cases, your defenders won't be marking individual opponents time and time again. In the zonal defense, teams pick up offensive players on the attack based on the aforementioned cover, pressure, and balance method. For everybody not directly impacted by the ball carrier, they must stay in open space and decide when to pick up on an attacking player's run. These defenders will clog lanes and take up room until they are forced into action and another player will, theoretically, side into that position to make up for the change.
But good defending sides will not chase the game and they won't get unnerved by non-threatening runs, waiting for the correct time to pounce or tackle. Just as the offense has a strategy applied, so does the defense. If a defender pays attention to everything at once, they'll often find themselves drawn out of position and concede an easy goal.
And, as the attacker, they'll hold the immediate advantage because defenders can only anticipate and won't truly know what's happening until it happens and they react accordingly. Bad defending teams will forgo their formation and shape the second there is initial distress. When this happens, the offensive team holds all the cards and will dictate the game as they see fit. However, if the defending team has good resolve, they will not simply try to react to the offense as it happens, but will attempt to see what is coming next. If a defender stays focused and ready, they can read a run before it happens, step into the passing lane, and win the ball. Thusly, don't chase the ball just because it's the easy solution -- that's playing checkers.
The best teams will, instead, play chess in order to read the offensive movements and attack, preemptively striking within their own strategies before it's too late. It all comes back to a team's ability to communicate. No good, strong team defense is possible without resilient communication.
Communication Is KeyWithout communication, team defense is impossible. If defenders are not on the same page, then there will be a breakdown and the opposing team will capitalize. For example, the first defender runs to meet the attacker with the ball, he should yell: "I got pressure!" Then, the second defender should move into position behind the first defender, favoring one side. If the second defender says, "I got cover on the left," the first defender knows to force the attacker to his left and towards his support. Even if the attacker beats him, his teammate will be there to help.
(Related: Read about why warming up is important here.)
Huddle Up
The best soccer teams in the world have defenders that are constantly talking and, in turn, working as one unit. At the youth level, players learn that the most effective defense is to attack the ball whenever the opportunity presents itself. However, as the skill and strategy level on the pitch improves, the less effective that ideal becomes. Teams need to be able to think a step ahead of their opponents and not blindly react to their advances.
By utilizing CoachUp's tips to become a better 1v1 defender, players ultimately become better team defenders. The better a team is at defending as a unit, by applying pressure, cover and balance, the less goals they'll concede. The less goals they concede, the more games they'll win. And then, you'll finally be playing chess while everybody else plays checkers.
Be prepared for the biggest moments by mastering the small ones off the field.
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