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StefanEJones

@StefanEJones@dice.camp

Retired QA guy. Model rocket nerd. Author of RPG material since 1980. Dogs, SF&F, practical exercise, weather.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. For a complete list of posts, browse on the original instance.

SJohnRoss , to random
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So, as a lifelong nerd invested in fantasy and silly woo-woo, I honestly thought I'd seen every imaginable pretentious alternate spelling of "fairy magic."

But by golly today I saw one I don't remember seeing before. 😅

StefanEJones ,
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@SJohnRoss Trying to imagine something like Fearea Majick.

Tim_Eagon , to random
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I've been reading some reviews of Inside Out 2 and critics keep on harping on Pixar's creative decline like Turning Red (one of Pixar's best films), Coco, Lucca, Soul, and Onward (yeah, I'll go to bat for it) didn't come out within the last 10 years. The Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4, while unnecessary, we're still pretty entertaining.

StefanEJones ,
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@Tim_Eagon "Didn't do well during the pandemic / post-pandemic movie strangeness" is kind of a dumb metric for success.

Turning Red, Coco, and Lucca were bonkers great. Soul and Onward were workmanlike entertainment and I watched them both twice.

StefanEJones , to random
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Working on a little RPG setting for a City Book style book.

StefanEJones OP ,
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@SJohnRoss It will be in a "Zimrala" (Crompton, St. Andre) project. Classic City Book type establishment. One of three I've taken on.

GottaLaff , to random
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AGAIN.

Via Chris D. Jackson, “ 16 Years Elective Office, TN Election Commissioner, Local Democratic Party Chair, Strategist”:

Caught Paying People to Attend Rally

A Craigslist ad has been found offering payment for people to attend Trump's rally in Las Vegas today.

Remember the video from a few days ago where Trump was waving at a non-existent crowd? It appears EVERYTHING IS A FACADE.

The media wants you to think Trump has enthusiasm, but the facts say otherwise.

StefanEJones ,
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@GottaLaff I despise Trump and his followers with every fiber of my being, but . . . Come on, ANYONE can post a Craig's List ad.

I've seen this stunt pulled for years, aimed at both Republicans and Democrats.

StefanEJones , to random
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Off to have an embedded tick-head yanked out of my belly, and get tested for Lyme Disease.

StefanEJones OP ,
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Doctor said removing the tick "head" would be more trouble than it is worth, and Lyme is really rare in the PNW, but the antibiotics I'm taking for the skin infection will ward that off anyway.

StefanEJones OP ,
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@SJohnRoss It's the mouth-parts. "Ticks don't really have a head" said the doctor.

StefanEJones , to random
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Still exhausted and sun-fried from this morning's model rocket launch. Non-stop, 10 am - 1 pm.

Between families and a cub scout group, 112 models were flown. Very few lost kits or mess-ups.

The scout leaders gave me leftover Subway mini-sandwiches, which I just had for dinner.

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StefanEJones OP ,
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Most of these kids have never seen a "real" model rocket fly.

Even the sight of a modest model flying on a small motor just blows them away.

Hopefully a few of the kids will stay interested in the hobby.

StefanEJones OP ,
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@Tim_Eagon There are some great rocketry events for HS students now. Very envious!

robindlaws , to random
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Even more terrifyingly, Australia’s extinct 3-ton thunder birds turn out to be geese

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433704-ancient-geese-stood-3-metres-tall-and-weighed-as-much-as-a-cow/

StefanEJones ,
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@robindlaws Recipes?

StefanEJones , to random
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Discovered that the free Civilization clone available on Linux went a massive revamp and now looks and plays much better, and I've already lost an afternoon to it.

I may have to erase the damn thing.

StefanEJones , to random
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Daphne, after being told to get off the bed.

StefanEJones , to random
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Had a good session with dog behaviorist today. I walked his chill small pit bull. Then we walked our dogs together; Daphne (reactive on leash) kept her cool. Then he walked both together, then he handed them both to me.

Next time he brings his more energetic, larger dog.

StefanEJones , to random
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1/ Near taken in by a phishing email.

I had JUST done an account-change thing on a credit card website.

So when a "you have a new letter in your account" email, I figured it was a confirmation message.

I had just logged off of the website, so I logged back in and . . .

StefanEJones OP ,
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2/ ...looked at the top bar, expecting a "something in your mailbox" type icon. Nothing.

Looked for the "secure messages" section. Finally found it. No messages.

Looked back at the email. No instructions on how to get the letter if already logged in, so I clicked the button.

StefanEJones OP ,
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3/ It went to a broken link. Huh?

Then I thought to check the email address of the notification mail.

Not remotely close.

I probably would have looked a lot more closely if it hadn't been for the coincidence of having just modified my account.

StefanEJones , to random
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Stop wasting time being appalled by the details of Project 2025.

Use your energy to defeat the people who would implement it.

Get friends and relations registered. Inform and inspire them. Help out campaigns of candidates opposed to that madness.

#VoteBlueToProtectOurDemocracy

StefanEJones , to random
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Daphne is smart, generally quiet & well behaved, does fine on her own when I'm on errands, but honest, I out of ideas of fun stuff to do with her to occupy the day.

I try to take a nap, and she politely lays her chin on my shoulder after five minutes as if to say "do something."

StefanEJones , to random
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Yeah, pretty much.

Screenshot of a Twitter post from Mohamad Safa. Text: "Best voting advice: Voting isn't marriage. It's public transport. You're not waiting for 'the one.' You're getting on the bus. And if there isn't one going exactly to your destination, you don't stay home and sulk. You take the one that's going closest to where you want to be."
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    StefanEJones , to random
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    Model rocket launch today!

    New dog Daphne will be on her own at home for five hours. Fingers crossed.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    Back from launching rockets and helping others get theirs ready to go.

    Perhaps 20 people showed up. Newcomers and old-timers. Together we made about 65 flights.

    Three people, one carrying an umbrella for shade, standing near a metal stand with four model rockets set up on it.
    A grassy field with a metal model rocket launch stand set up on it. A man in a green shirt is putting the nose cone on a large orange model. A teen girl is about to hook electrical leads to a small model.
    A metal model rocket launch stand is set up in a field. Four model rockets stand ready to fly.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @SJohnRoss Yes! She was on her own for 4.5 hours. Nothing torn up or peed on.

    StefanEJones , to random
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    TFW you realize you have read maybe two of the ten #FreeComicBookDay books you picked up last year, and suspect there are three or four unread from the previous year, and are resigned to the fact that you'll probably die under a toppled pile of unread stuff.

    KeithAmmann , to random
    @KeithAmmann@dice.camp avatar

    Life under the Biden administration, a summary:

    That's good
    That's good
    That's good
    That's good
    That's good
    WHAT NO THAT'S TERRIBLE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING
    That's good
    Ooh, that's very good
    That's good
    ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GOTDAMN MIND STOP IT
    That's good
    That's good
    That's good
    FFFFFUUUUU— 💢

    StefanEJones ,
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    @KeithAmmann

    Somewhere in there: WHY HAVEN'T YOU FIXED EVERYTHING:?

    StefanEJones , to random
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    TFW you remember that a Kickstarter for an RPG product never got around to shipping the printed edition of the rulebook.

    TFW you realize you'd never read, much less play, the game anyways.

    StefanEJones OP ,
    @StefanEJones@dice.camp avatar

    @Tim_Eagon I forgot the exact title. It was a space adventure RPG targeted at kids.

    I thought it would be nice to support it, maybe write for it.

    I haven't even glanced at the PDFs he sent out a year ago.

    Lesson learned. Hopefully.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @Tim_Eagon No update since February 2023:

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bigbaldgames/space-kids-rpg/description

    StefanEJones , to random
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    1/ Had an encounter which could be an amazing coincidence, a case of mistaken identity, or someone bullshitting me.

    While walking through an apartment complex parking lot with Daphne, a guy said "did you adopt her?"

    "Uh, yes! She's friendly if you want to say hi."

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    2/ "That's OK, I'm the one who gave her up."

    "What? Really? You're from Los Angeles?"

    Walking away: "Yeah."

    "What's your name for her?"

    "Moxie."

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    3/ Now, Daphne, or Moxie, hardly paid this guy any attention. As I walked back to my car, I said "Moxie" a few times.

    No special reaction.

    Could this guy really have raised Daphne? Or maybe a litter mate?

    I'm leaning toward mistaken identity.

    StefanEJones , to random
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    How many Experience Points does a dog owner get for convincing a dog to drop a tampon they found on the street?

    StefanEJones , to random
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    I could really use a day off from dog ownership.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @SJohnRoss A half day is $26; Daphne did fine there early on, but she's become a rough player (at least at the dog park) recently.

    Overnights are $51. Not sure what a full day/ not overnight is.

    StefanEJones , to random
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    If my impulse buying a McD's Mocha Latte before a dog walk results in the End of Days, I all owe you one.

    BigJackBrass , to random
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    Something I never imagined would happen was Tunnels & Trolls books becoming collectibles. Prices for things like the orange Chris Harvey 5th edition box are quite silly these days, not that I'm in the market.

    After supporting and recommending the game for so long back in its "wilderness years" it's very strange to see, but then the current edition and future of the game are up in the air until Rebellion makes an announcement, so perhaps that helps. There are so many simple fantasy games on the market that I'm not sure it has a niche to fill any longer.

    #RPG #TunnelsAndTrolls #Games

    StefanEJones ,
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    @BigJackBrass @SJohnRoss They guy in charge of Rebellion supposedly cut his RPG teeth on T&T and likes it for attitude mentioned above.

    I hope 2025 -- 50th anniversary -- provides the excuse for a new edition.

    Arrgh, bleargh, the person at R.U. who encouraged me to keep asking how things were going just doesn't answer emails any more. And I only asked maybe three times over the year?

    StefanEJones ,
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    @SJohnRoss @BigJackBrass I'm hoping T&T gets a re-release for the selfish, practical reason that I have four solo adventures I want published!

    Or at least I can self-publish with a license.

    One or both of you have playtested them as I recall!

    StefanEJones , to random
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    Random Daphne photos

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    StefanEJones , to random
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    @pluralistic While I'm enjoying Lost Cause for the story, biggest best take-away is mention of using a skillet to warm up left-over pizza.

    Damn, game-changer. (Assuming one plays games with pizza. I just eat it.)

    The cast-iron skillet I found by the side of the road and refurbed fits three slices.

    A cast iron skillet on the edge of a sink. A wad of steel wool sits on it.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @alexisdyslexic @pluralistic I once found a Wagnerware dutch oven in a dumpster! A little rusty, but it cleaned up nicely.

    Likely worth over $100.

    Who DOES things like that?

    Man holding the lid of a cast iron dutch oven. In the background is a book case with many books.
    Man holding a cast iron dutch oven, showing the viewer the inside.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @LucyKemnitzer @alexisdyslexic @pluralistic I have dumpster-dived some amazing housewares and cookware through the years. Splendid stainless steer pans and pots, frex. I call them "deep discount moving sales," because its stuff dumped by people moving in a hurry.

    I've also gathered a half-dozen like-new Tupperware buckets, tossed after a final apartment cleaning. Sometimes with a bottle of Fabulosa and other cleaners.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @arniepix @pluralistic My friends and I call it "Trashure."

    image/jpeg
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    StefanEJones , to random
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    Watched the #Bluey episode "Cricket," which gets the highest ratings of any of the show's installments, at least in Australia.

    The game still utterly baffles me, but the story of a dedicated kid is wonderful.

    Episode clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEyg0QmSiVM

    StefanEJones , to random
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    Finally got a new primary care physician.

    Got blood draws today for PSA, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.

    Hearing test next week.

    StefanEJones OP ,
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    @SJohnRoss I just tune out. Joke with the phlebotomist about the lollipops I'll get afterwards. Also asked if anyone had fainted on her. (Yes!)

    StefanEJones , to random
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    Listening to "The Lost Cause" by @pluralistic

    deinol , to random
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    My crew have opted to work for Vargr going on The Great Hunt, an adaptation of Independence Games’s Grand Safari.

    So now I need to work on defining my Vargr worlds better and make NPC hunters and staff.

    Should keep the crew busy for a few months.

    Traveller Subsector Map Foreven Sector Vargr Worlds of the Akaiya Zhatanoe 2517 Adadha B777233-6 Fr Lo { -1 } (610+1) [6168] 2518 Zangknorr C968367-4 Lo Mr { -2 } (420+1) [1155] 2611 Ghaerlag C74A859-8 Ph Pi Wa { -1 } (876+1) [871A] 2613 Aghzoer C559768-6 Mr { -1 } (969+1) [B668] 2614 Soung A110464-F Ni Re { 1 } (432+1) [65AG] 2615 Nungaeks B200224-8 Lo Va { -1 } (B10+1) [1184] 2616 Urlaeng A669778-8 Ho Ri { 1 } (C67+1) [6878] 2712 Llagnar A361777-8 Ri { 1 } (768+1) [4879] 2715 Gvaerlik A838441-C Ni { 2 } (C37+1) [165G] 2812 Dza B6A5331-B Fl Lo { +1 } (A21+1) [3239] 2814 Aeksueng B435444-A Ni { 1 } (B35+1) [455C] 2920 Kfonga D203555-9 Ic Ni Va { -2 } (842+1) [634B] 3013 Khots A000641-B As Na Ni Va { 2 } (657+1) [688B] 3014 Rekhzor C553973-5 Fo Hi Po { 0 } (983+1) [8923] 3015 Toghzaeng C448552-9 Ag Co Ni { 0 } (742+1) [256B] 3018 Ksakhs B401101-C Co Ic Lo Va { 1 } (C01+1) [124F] 3020 Okhokferr A9959DC-A Fo Hi Ho In Tr Cx { 4 } (78A+1) [4D3A] Capital of Akaiya Zhatanoe. Theocracy run by Kukh Akaiya, “Members of Akaiya’s Pack”. 3115 Fotadokh C532559-8 Co Ni Po Px { -2 } (740+1) [733C] 3116 Khakfon B79A777-8 Pi Wa { 0 } (668+1) [5749] 3119 Zaeller C200104-7 Lo Va { -2 } (500+1) [1178] 3214 Ouzfokhs C473436-9 Co Ni { -1 } (B34+1) [235C] 3215 Foklaen C99A489-B Fr Ni Wa { 0 } (H33+1) [145F] 3217 Dighzue C310726-9 Co Na Pi { 0 } (765+1) [3798]
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    • StefanEJones ,
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    @deinol Lovely map. A long way from the B&W Traveller maps of the '80s!

    Arooo!

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