Dentistry - Part Deux

An update on the ongoing storrrrrrry.

I now have two nice happy clean quadrants.  In another week, all of my quadrants will have been deep scaled, scaled, polished, cleaned, folded, spindled, and numbered.  A couple of cavities to be filled, and I'll be in the best shape, dentally, I've been in two decades.

Again, I'm amazed at how little pain I've endured.  It is nothing like what happened to me, 20 years ago.  I kinda resent that bastard dentist who pulled my 4 pre-molars without checking to see if the Novocaine was working.  Ah well.

Science rules.

Model Railroading - The Board Game

So, there's a lot of aspects to Model Railroading.  Running trains, building kits, detailing, scenery, trackwork, electronics.  It crosses over many borders, and combines many interests under one umbrella.

Dentistry

Wow, whole week behind.  Le sigh.

So, yeah!  Dentistry.  It has come a long way.  I spent a good 20 years without going to the dentist.  I know, ew.  But, I'm back in the clean world, now, and they're jammin' away on my mouth.

Here's what I've learned:

Behind! I blame Arisia.

I spent a lot of time prepping for Arisia, where I, along with Thom, demo'd and pimped Artemis, the bestest Starship Bridge Simulator EVAR.

Evar.

You should buy it.

I learned some interesting things, watching three distinct groups play the game.

Oops #1

Missed yesterday's writing, double-post today to make up for it.

The replacement facility for the US to research particularly nasty things is going to be in Kansas.

Kansas State University conducted an aggressive campaign to win DHHS selection as the future home of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a $650 million award that will replace the deteriorating institute at Plum Island, New York. One might hope that the caliber of their research might rise accordingly, once that animal disease reesarch facility - located in the middle of America's bread basket and cattle country - starts its operations.

So, follow me here as we step into the end of the United States.

Cultural Anthropology Working Group, TSN (Part Two)

The Argonian Race

The Argonians, self-identified, are another reptilian race.  It is theorized that they are either an off-shoot of the Kraliens, or a ‘superior’ caste.  They share common features, although the Argonians tend to wear more clothing.  Rank or their place on the social strata appears to be marked by jewelry or ornamentation.

Food - It's what's for dinner

INTRO:  BRAD FORSYTHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.  IN THE HOPE THAT A CURE WOULD BE FOUND, HE ELECTED TO BE CRYOGENICALLY FROZEN.  HE WAS REANIMATED 75 YEARS LATER, CURED, AND SET UP WITH A FAMILY WHO VOLUNTEERS TO ADAPT THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO SOCIETY.

Commissioning Letter

Chief of Naval Operations 

Dear Captain,

            Upon the commissioning of USS ARTEMIS (CG-100), I extend to you, your officers and crew my congratulations and wish you well in your new endeavor.

            ARTEMIS recalls the might and majesty of the Greek goddess of the hunt, known for her keen eyes and powerful weapons, such as her bow and spear.  These weapons have been entrusted into your hands, forged by one of the greatest team efforts ever conducted by man, to build this new class of Star Vessel.  ARTEMIS, together with her sister ships, add a potent new dimension to our ability to take the fight to the alien races threatening humanity, and reflects the increasing complexity of stellar warfare.  You are fortunate to have this opportunity to participate in and contribute to this new concept.

            The first Captain of a new ship is in a unique position.  He or she, more than any of the Commanding Officers who follow, sets the tone of the ship and formulates their reputation in the Fleet.  This is a challenge which few naval officers are privileged to assume.  It will require the finest attention, leadership, and devotion to duty.  By your leadership and example will your ship be known.  I am confident that you and your officers, working together with your highly skilled crew, will be a valuable asset to the Stellar Navy and ready at all times to participate in the defense of Humanity.

            To you, your officers, and their ship's company go my best wishes for a challenging and rewarding cruise.

            Sincerely,

            (sig)

GERALDINE L. McDONALD

Eagle

SCENE:  Interior, Eagle Cockpit

The Pilot of a resupply Eagle, on the way from Earth to an orbiting space station, witnesses the departure of the Moon due to the explosion of the nuclear waste storage facility on the dark side.

EAGLE covers the pilot's experiences, the witnessing of the damage done to the Earth's eco-sphere, and attempts at survival. 

Requirements:
Green-screen set of a Space:1999 Eagle Cockpit.
Space:1999 Pilot's Suit
Footage from a few early Space:1999 Episodes
Space:1999 Soundtrack


And maybe a script.

The Flu

Nothing like having a 100 degree fever to derail any real sense of accomplishment.  Or being conscious.

I am thankful that I have a good constitution, the fever has already broken, and now I'm just feeling /meh/.  I suppose I should try and accomplish SOMEthing, but I'm not sure what.  I'll probably so laundry, and maybe work on the basement some more.  Part of 2011 is to re-focus my interests, and remove some clutter.  I tend to do this once a year, now.

I will go through, and look at my stuff, seeing if I've used it, played with it, whatever.  Sometimes, I keep stuff for nostalgia.  Everything else goes, preferably to a worthy home, charity, or donation box.


Here's some plans/resolutions:
1) Get a damn job.
2) Add more exercise.
3) Get back to playing board games.
4) Meet more local people.

That's the news for January 5th, 2011.

Singularity part one

            The fact that unemployment insurance still existed, in spite of the Earth having been blown up, still amused me.  Today, it entertained me as I waited in line at the Unemployment Office, on one of the surviving Network Transfer Stations that belonged to the former Terran Transit Authority.  The clerks and maintenance staff dutifully processed paperwork, ran the restaurants, and handled all the work involved in a station of this size.  This one was mid-sized, all told, with the ability to Transit-with-a-T a few hundred starships a day.  Not that it was ever to see such traffic again.  I chit-chatted with the teller, exchanged pleasantries, and was given my pitifully small weekly dole.  It was better than nothing at all.

The Kralien Race - Cultural Anthropology Working Group, TSN

Ever since encountering this race in the Corvalis System, attempts to understand and communicate with the species has been met with overwhelming failure.  Translation attempts work with materials collected from the wreckage of destroyed spaceships, and from the occasional probes which manage to penetrate their systems, and briefly collect data before their inevitable destruction.

This document presents a short summary of what has been collated, thus far.

An abbreviated time-line of the actions of the Terran Stellar Navy.

2098 - Alexander Fitzgerald confirms the existence of a field effect that can 'warp' space and time.  Limited experimentation leads to his untimely death, along with a spectacular display of energetic particles throughout the Terran solar system.

2111 - Independent teams rediscover Mister Fitzgerald's work, including groups in the United States, Russia, China, Eurozone, and African states.

Thirty-Five

(Kicking off with something I wrote last year, since I missed 1/1/11.)

Thirty-Five

She slammed down the broken stretch of highway at speeds the original architects never envisioned. It helped that she was piloting a last-generation Panzer, sitting on a cushion of air, propelled by a pair of alcohol-fuelled turbojets. Broken pieces of asphalt, downed light-posts, and abandoned vehicles meant next-to-nothing to the pilot, able to choose to float between inches and feet off of the ground.

Passive sensors augmented her awareness, full-spectrum vision extending a full three hundred and sixty degrees. Technical overlays informing her of possible hazards, fuel and weapons status; the occasional chirp of energy being directed at her Tank flitted across her vision. Those could only be the enemy, as she and her group were operating in stealth, avoiding conflict.