On Friday, Mister Black and I were compelled to make a decision that no one wants to face. We had to choose to let our 16-year-old Maine Coon, Benjamin, go. He was refusing food and water, and was barely able to stand.
I don't have words to describe how much he meant to us. On our honeymoon, we picked him out at a specialty breeder when he was barely six weeks old, and I picked him up from the breeder when he was four months. He was, as Mister Black says, a TERRIBLE cat--he was sweet-tempered, good-natured, loving, non-destructive, cuddly, friendly, and almost never intentionally shoved things off of flat surfaces. Cats are supposed to be assholes. Ben missed that memo entirely.
(I did say ALMOST never, but that's a story I can't relate right now without breaking down into hysterical sobs.)
I can't guarantee there will be a page this week. We've had a couple of years to prepare for this loss, but I guess I wasn't as prepared as I thought. Apologies in advance if my productiveness hits rock bottom, and thanks for all your kindness.
Ben was a awesome kitty. He loved my shoes. and my backpack.. My purse.. there was no food in it.. he just loved them. I cant really say anything else. And I super respect Rose for staying with the Ben all the way to the last step. Ben.. this page leads to pics of Ben if anyone wants to see them.
If their EMP is similar to what an EMP is today, it can have unintended consequences, like taking out his monitor and comm, electronic weapons, other stuff . . . and intended ones, hopefully shiney dudes!
Is Celine the vehicle's AI?
They took Olina and Braden away . . . possibly still alive? (Yay?) Very glad Cyana's alive! (Yay!)
Ah, OK, good. The reason I mentioned it was because not all EMPs or shielding is/are created equal. Without going into a lot of dry detail, each has characteristics, which, if considered together in design, result in what you said: Logrin's stuff is fine. Otherwise, even good shielding can fail. Now let's hope Shiny dude's shielding (if any) is inadequate! :D
EMP shielding is one of the several reasons that milspec hardware is so much more expensive than civilian. Everything has it's limits, of course, but the EMP-producing hard point is not going to create anything with such unfortunate consequences as you antisipate.
Quite. Which is why the effectiveness of this burst is far from certain. Those shiny robots might be, and probably are, milspec with similar shielding which makes things iffy. It's quite possible that Lorcus will have to order a second burst which will fry *everything* electronic within range. Including his own gear.
I'm thinking that EW has evolved considerably over the thousands of years and intense warfare between 'now' and 'then'. ECM, ECCM, ECCCM, and ECCCCM are quite different today than they were even 20 years ago and I sort of think Celene's scans are capable of picking up damped frequencies or emission gaps and targeting those with a specifically tailored 'pulse' designed to flood the bands the Feeliewhackers are using and use others as entry points for jamming/frying electronics. Since 'she' knows which frequencies the pulse will affect then she can set her own EW defences to offset them. All in all, the pulse is going to do what the story calls for, how it does that is FM but well modulated FM ;)
Quite so, as is the possibility of using filter circuits and resonators to cloak the vulnerabilities. ;)
*edit: Unless you're talking about ECMs designed to disrupt digital systems specifically. There are also some effective cloaking methods for those as well, such as setting up 'dummy' code, and intercepting the ECM landing point and redirecting it to read the area of dummy code corresponding with the area of program code you want to cloak. There are lots of ways to avoid measures and countermeasures.
Nah, just plain old "filter THIS !!!" raw power :)
During a few International exercises, we still had the good old F-101 VooDoo's...their radar burned through just about any ECM through brute strength, enough to get a target anyway, and the 'Fox Five' call shortly after ruined a few umpire's days :)
Olina and Braden still alive? Possibly but not so sure it is a "yay". I'm betting they will either be shiny men themselves very quickly or spare parts for others. There's still hope of course but the bad guys have had part of a day and all night head start. I'm wondering why they left someone behind? To use the girl as bait and follow to the next target of opportunity or ambush any would be rescue?
The problem with scanning first is that it announces your presence to anything nearby that you would be attempting to detect. He was very sensibly running passive scans when trying to sneak up on a building. Active scanning is like running around yelling as loudly as you can that you are someplace and are looking for something.
hmmm now that we can see clearly, it's a completely different logo on Logrin's chest than the one on blue eyes...perhaps a little friendly inter-service rivalry is in the wings ? ;)
already got confirmation that Gunny Logrin is a Marine.. an Goldies look like navy logo.. don't know bout "friendly" ,, tho , you don't use a kid as bait...
..hum... U.C.M. , im thinking, United Continental Marines,, or going off 'Aliens' United Colonial Marines... (pointing to StlOrca.)
The head Feeliewhacker is most definitely sporting a USMC Force Recon badge, Logrin isn't. I had no trouble finding blue eye's badge, it only took a few seconds, Logrin's on the other hand remains quite elusive after a more indepth search and may well be something created specifically for his character in this universe alone, or something that didn't come about until a few thousand years from 'now', maybe a LunaComm unit ? or a long defunct military Unit or perhaps even a non-'USA' unit ? I'll keep looking but right now there's something about that 'gunny' badge that looks a little off...but then it's thousands of years in the future and things do change over the years, todays rank insignia don't look like those of a couple of hundred years ago in many cases....
In the set with Dr Demark his armour has the 'skull and swords' U.C.M patch... Ranger Logrin Imbrus
but in the set where Katya is delivered it has a six pointed star...Side Story - Katya 5
Texas ranger and US Marshal stars have five points...
So maybe it's a Magen David and they arrived on Shabbat ?
I can't make out what's engraved on his right forearm
"The FE(armour in the way)SS 3RD" Maybe "THE FEARLESS 3RD" ?
Or "THE FECKLESS 3RD" ? who knows ? ;)
CentComm confirmed in comic 1662 ,, last panel right collar was Marine rank.. i asked if was future Marines.. she said "yep." .. an i did NOT say "USMC" i just said Marine... hence my speculation on U.C.M.
oh an Gunny Logrins patch is a stock photo (pic) ,, https://cdn.xl.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/skull-with-two-crossed-daggers-on-white-background-image_csp24919378.jpg
Good finding that picture, it's not exactly the same, but it's close.
I know I've seen that particular skull/swords before but usually on non-military 'wannabe' patches or tattoos.
I'm going to assume Logrin's is an actual Unit patch even if his Unit may well be a fictitious one...
Hence the difficulty finding it or a UCM reference that matches exactly.
And I was thinking along the same lines as "United Colonial Marines" or somesuch so we agree there.
That's the trouble with the interweb findy stuff thingy it only goes backwards for real things :)
Now I just have to think of a suitably cringeworthy acronym that Cent or Rose would have come up with for him to wear...
Like "Unarmed Combat Master" or "Us be Centcomm's Marines" or...something
Most shielding degrades in effectiveness when the item in question loses structural integrity. If you put holes in a 'well-shielded' piece of gear, it generally stops being 'well-shielded'.
Very true! If the shield is designed to cover the object as a whole it would lose effectiveness. Today's shielding is usually "critical area" shielding which encompasses sensitive areas of concern, rather than trying to keep shielding intact around an entire object, or it has both. I don't know what the evolution of shielding brings, or whether it's an energy or mechanical (Faraday cage type) area shield, but if it's the latter and exists around the processing/memory area of Skeeter's circuitry, it's possible it was minimally damaged, or entirely undamaged. I can't speak to what they have in the far future, so, that's why I phrased it as "being similar to Logrin's" I should mention that as often as not, today's shielding is in place for FCC part 15 compliance, for consumer electronics. Mil spec is for equipment protection most of the time.
In the end, it depends on what you want the shield to do. (Protect against physical, electronic, other kinds of damage? Prevent radiation emissions outgoing or incoming?) There are actually many types and methods (even in today's terms). In terms of sci-fi, there are many more. If you're trying to keep an entire structure from harm, (like the energy shields of The Enterprise) then yes, if you lose structural integrity, or lose emitters, it's hard to keep the shield intact. If you want to keep the computer core safe from EMI, then a Faraday cage around the sensitive bits would suffice, unless you blow the whole thing to smithereens.
for those not in the know.. EMP - Electro Magnetic Pulse. is an energy wave that pushes electricity (ions) out of a device an renders it useless..(simple description.)
first found in Atomic / Nuclear bomb denotations, then lighting , an other high energy uses (IE: mig welders)..
shielding / faraday cage.. simply put, a box that directs the "wave" around instead of thru.. ANY holes or openings in box weakens the box effectiveness..
an like Oldarmourer sed , your best shielding is useless if you use a bigger blast, ("Tsar Bomba") an over load it..
EMP weapons have been directional for a while now. Raytheon even manufactures a focused EMP cruise missile. There is minimal hazard to anything outside of the targeted area.
It could also be that whatever is being used is simply called 'EMP' as a holdover term for something similar in past times but quite different in modern application.
Sort of like calling a personal issue frequency hopping, multi-encrypted, burst transmission capable communications system with datalink, GPS, 'blue force display' complete with internet, facebook and twitter accounts, a 'walkie talkie' ;)
That's certainly possible. EMP is a pretty specific term, though, with a specific meaning. EMP parameters, such as rise and fall times, amplitude, period, and specific waveform can vary, but it's essence is usually specific. When I think about it, Cent and Rose themselves usually research things, so I'd have to believe that if they said EMP, that's the intended meaning.
Having said that, I have no way to speak with Logrin directly, to have him describe exactly what the term means to him.
First, I can say with perfect honesty that Logrin has never lied to me. (so far)
As I understand it, his system follows the rules of known science. His shields and the EMP were designed together, and are considered a matched pair. The characteristics of the pulse are precisely tuned to the null resonance point of each shield, which are carefully matched. The shield null point lies in the trough between the fundamental period, and the first harmonic. The amplitude of the pulse is calibrated such that the sum of the corresponding inductive waveform is zero, and the induced current that is formed is negligible. The shield calibration is adaptive and uses variable impedance to insure null effect over a wide range of pulse configurations, but exhibits it's best performance in response to his own EMP generator.
Anything outside that parameter rings out, and gets toasted. I didn't find out anything as to whether Skeeter's shielding conforms or comes close enough, and I can't get ahold of Olina. (But we know in this case that she is indeed busy :( )
I know that there's nothing I can say that will make you feel any better. Anyone who has been in that position, knows how it feels. Even if you know it's coming; even if you think you're prepared, it still hurts. You have my condolences.
I don't care if you puncture me every way from Tuesday; I'm gonna give you a hug:
*Hugs*
Please don't worry about pages or productiveness now. Give yourself the time you need. We'll be here. I just wish there was something I could do.
My condolences on losing Benjamin. We had a Maine coon, a female, we named Milo. She passed several years ago, and it is still hard. Take what time you need, thanks.
TR, You have my deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences. I know only too well what you are feeling. After almost ten years I sill miss my Jamby. He didn't read the memo either. He trusted me so explicitly that I could take him in the shower with me without a struggle. That's why it still feels like I betrayed him when I took him for his last trip to the vet. (No, I just have something in my eye...)
Yes, you will remember the good times but there will always be an empty space on your lap and shelf. Please accept my hug and shoulder.
I'm awful at expressing condolences, bear with me.
Escorting our last dog to the rainbow bridge was something I never want to do again, but of course we have a puppy now so as is human nature we've set ourselves up again.
Sometimes, the older the animal the easier it is when we finally realize that there isn't any way to make them stay alive, it still hurts but there's that little "I did the right thing" that offsets the pain just a bit. Our last cat was 22 when that choice came, the dog was only 7, that was too early and she deserved much more time but we just couldn't give it to her and no Vet could have.
Sixteen is a venerable age for a cat, he had problems before and you gave him all that you could have, I'm sure he'll spend his time wherever cats go on to remembering the time he had with you, there's a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow bridge.
This ends in a silly way and hopefully won't seem inappropriate to anyone but it always pops into my head when I think about past cats, they may nap but they never really sleep.....
I am so sorry, Rose. as you said when I mentioned my cat, Max... I can empathize in every possible way. I've known how special he was to you for a good while now, and you have my prayers.
If you decide to do something like a net memorial page, let us know. I would want to sign that guestbook.
I was going to use this as my next "Poetry corner with Tokyo Rose", but I think it's more appropriate here:
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
… T.S. Eliot, The Naming of cats. from "Old Possum's book of Cats"
His daily name was "Benjamin"; his fancier name was "Nimitz". I think his third, effanineffable name was "Love", because that's what he gave and that's what he received for every moment of his life from the day he came into ours.
and now I made myself start fuckin ugly-crying again
Mister Black often made the joke that despite Ben having been neutered, he'd still ensured the continuation of his gene pool, because we're definitely, 100%, getting another Maine Coon when we're ready for it.
Oh trust me, you're ready for it now.
You are always ready for a maine coon kitten.
I mean, have you ever seen how ADORABLE they can be ?
When I was a kid, we once had a litter with a tiny completely white fluffball of a kitten with the most adorably blue eyes.
A lady came over with her child one day, locked eyes with this kitten and she was GONE !
The kid wanted an orange tabby that was very playful, the mother never even saw any of the other kittens.
The kitten seemed to like the Lady, so they got both. 😄
It later grew up to be one of the largest males I have ever seen.
But it was gentle, and it's brother was also a gentle cat.
Today I live in a flat where I can't have pets, and I feel so deprived !
But soon, that may change … I hope.
My deepest and most sincere condolences for your loss. May Bast hold Benjamin in her loving arms, heal him, give him rest, and love him in your stead until you meet him again. May he come to you in dreams. Blessed be.
Sympathy and condolences for your loss. May your memories buoy your spirits as your companion moves on. May you and your family and friends find comfort and peace in each other's arms.
Taking some time to deal with this is proper and expected. This time should not be about the webcomic, or deadlines, or the readers.
Never an easy thing. Take all the rest you need and while deep breaths don't really cut the hurt or fill the hole, they can give you time to reassemble. Peace to your friend and Peace to you. Thanks for your stories.
You have my sympathies, thoughts and prayers, Rose & Mr. Black. Losing a furry member of the family isn't easy, but somehow we find a way to carry on after the wound on our heart heals into a familiar and, to some degree, welcome scar of memory.
It's been so long since I had a pet that I can barely remember the feeling, but I know I've been there before. We had a dog when I was little, a pound rescue toy poodle my mom named Touche'. He was a good dog, had a few accidents once in awhile on account of his nerves (I still regret chasing him through the house, even if I didn't intend any harm - I was a dumb kid), but he was already older when we got him and had developed kennel cough. I still recall coming home from school one day (first grade?) to find out that he had made his final visit to the vet. My folks didn't get another dog after that, said they didn't want one unless the property was fenced in, which was too expensive, but I know they'd still love one and so would I. I'm not sure they ever got over losing their first dog, a black standard poodle named Boudreaux. He was one of a kind and I love hearing the few same stories about him over and over, because I feel like I miss him even though I wasn't born yet when he made his last trip to the vet.
This is too sad for a Monday, especially when it's as grey and rainy outside as it is right now.
Anyway, I'll still be here when the comic resumes, and so will everyone else, I'm sure. Take care Rose and Mr. Black. You too, Centcomm.
A coal black DSH with blazing green eyes came into our house through a misadventure occupying a car dealership storage lot. Given as a gift to my neighbor who couldn't keep him with the name "Spooks", my Wife called him "Marley" I called him "Shadow" our Daughter called him Kitty" and Our Son called him "Cat. He wasn't a wanderer but when I walked the dog he'd insist on accompanying us constantly calling to us asking Why or Where? He decided that my Son was his buddy and pal and never slept with anyone but him.
He lasted 20 years till he ceased to be through another misadventure, a coal black cat on an unlighted road. He occupies a place of honor in the woods by our house and is often visited during our perambulations.
I didn't even like cats till he came into all our lives.
A coal black DSH with blazing green eyes came into our house through a misadventure occupying a car dealership storage lot. Given as a gift to my neighbor who couldn't keep him with the name "Spooks", my Wife called him "Marley" I called him "Shadow" our Daughter called him Kitty" and Our Son called him "Cat. He wasn't a wanderer but when I walked the dog he'd insist on accompanying us constantly calling to us asking Why or Where? He decided that my Son was his buddy and pal and never slept with anyone but him.
He lasted 20 years till he ceased to be through another misadventure, a coal black cat on an unlighted road. He occupies a place of honor in the woods by our house and is often visited during our perambulations.
I didn't even like cats till he came into all our lives.
You have my sympathies. I know what it's like to lose an old furry friend.
Rosey was part of my life from some of my earlier memories. She was an Icelandic Sheepdog, we think. Nana got her, but when Nana got sick, we took care of her for what was supposed to be a few months, and ultimately she became our dog. Nana couldn't handle her puppy energy.
She was a ~30lb cream colored fluff, and was the royal queen fluff. She wasn't the cuddliest dog, or the most playful dog, but she was a constant companion. She may not want to sit on you, but she wanted to be with you. She'd sit by your feet.
She always knew when you'd had a bad day, or a nightmare, or grief. That was the only time she got cuddly. She'd come over to comfort you, lean up against you, gently lick your hand, set her head on your leg.
She'd wait there until you were better. She'd stay by you, even ignoring her favorite foods until she knew you were okay.
She loved her butt scratches, especially come shedding season. I swear that dog shed her bodyweight or more every year. We had one time we went 2 weeks without vaccuuming during shedding season because everyone was constantly busy. She completely covered the living room carpet to the point you couldn't tell that it was white, not cream colored. You could pull the dog-hair up in mats. She actually destroyed a few vacuums with the shear quantity of hair.
When she died, well, she'd had a stroke, and she had an internal cranial hemorrhage. But she held on for 12 hours, she wanted to say goodbye to everyone before she went. My parents had been divorced for a long while, and Rosey hadn't seen my father very often for years, but she refused to go until she got to tell him goodbye. She kissed his hand, and about 5 minutes later, she stopped breathing and passed. She'd been fighting so hard, breathing so hard, until he got there, then she slowed down, and stopped. She'd made sure her people were going to be okay, and she refused to die until she had.
She'd always looked after the kids of the neighborhood growing up. Her and the other dogs. She was the queen fluff among them, and the dominate female. In our neighborhood, you didn't have to supervise the kids outside, the dogs watched over them.
In addition to Rosey, there was Thunder, the largest yellow lab I've ever met. He was huge, muscular, and also the leaned Labrador I've ever met. He was a giant sweetheart, really gentle, and loved kids. He was the dominate male, mostly by virtue of being massive and smart.
There was Copper, a springer spaniel who lived across the street from me. He was also an absolute sweetheart. Not so bright, but very nice. He'd never start a fight, but he was also extremely protective, if you threatened the any of us kids he'd bloody end you. Copper actually saved me one time. A strange black lab tried to attack me when I was walking to a friend's house when I was about 8. Copper, despite the other dog being half again or more his size, charged straight into the fray to save me. Thunder had come out too, and while Copper kept this strange dog off me, Thunder closed, and this black lab took one look at Thunder and decided it didn't like its chances against the ball of fangs and fury that Copper was, and the largest, most muscular Yellow Lab I've ever seen. After that Copper didn't let me walk down the street alone for a few months.
There was also Relish, he was a German Shepherd-whatever-the-hell mix. He was also very nice and liked to play with Copper.
Then there was Shadow. She was a sizable black lab, yet somehow still was subordinate to Rosey. She'd actually taken on someone who tried to snatch one of the neighborhood kids, and ran him off.
There was also Penny. Penny was the largest chihuahua I've ever met, but she was still a chihuahua, and was scared of everything that moved. But if someone was in trouble, she'd go get the other, bigger dogs. If you sat still long enough, she'd come over to ask for pets.
Then there was Doug. Doug was a latecomer to the pack, and thought he was the Alpha male. Thunder humored him. You see, he was a miniature Pinscher. He was also incredibly fat, and very barky. But he was nice, and if you walked the back way to the pool, Copper would escort you until you came to Doug's area, and he'd hand you off to Doug, who'd walk along with you, barking the entire way until you got to the pool.
Then there was Chloe, who was Rosey's best friend. She was a tiny sweetheart of a Beagle. Her girls were friends of my sister, and if they weren't home she'd come to see if they were here, would come check through the house, and if they were here she'd stay and follow Rosey around until they went home (whenever they had sleepovers, she and Rosey would wind up sleeping together in one of the cutest things you've ever seen). Her people had an invisible fence, which didn't stop her for a minute. She'd just run through it, and they kept turning the fence up until it knocked her legs out from under her. She just went to the far end of the yard, built a huge head of steam up charging it, would jump and twist sideways at the land minute, get her legs knocked out from under her, and roll past the invisible fence. Eventually they gave up on the fence all together. She only ever left the yard to either look for her girls, or to come visit us when her people were out and she got bored. Otherwise, she stayed in her own yard regardless of the fence.
If their EMP is similar to what an EMP is today, it can have unintended consequences, like taking out his monitor and comm, electronic weapons, other stuff . . . and intended ones, hopefully shiney dudes!
Is Celine the vehicle's AI?
They took Olina and Braden away . . . possibly still alive? (Yay?) Very glad Cyana's alive! (Yay!)
The visual of the EMP is cool. :)
*edit: Unless you're talking about ECMs designed to disrupt digital systems specifically. There are also some effective cloaking methods for those as well, such as setting up 'dummy' code, and intercepting the ECM landing point and redirecting it to read the area of dummy code corresponding with the area of program code you want to cloak. There are lots of ways to avoid measures and countermeasures.
During a few International exercises, we still had the good old F-101 VooDoo's...their radar burned through just about any ECM through brute strength, enough to get a target anyway, and the 'Fox Five' call shortly after ruined a few umpire's days :)
well, good he has his AI on standby keeping watch - but why did she not report cloaked presences earlier? why did they not scan before approaching???
..hum... U.C.M. , im thinking, United Continental Marines,, or going off 'Aliens' United Colonial Marines... (pointing to StlOrca.)
but in the set where Katya is delivered it has a six pointed star...Side Story - Katya 5
Texas ranger and US Marshal stars have five points...
So maybe it's a Magen David and they arrived on Shabbat ?
I can't make out what's engraved on his right forearm
"The FE(armour in the way)SS 3RD" Maybe "THE FEARLESS 3RD" ?
Or "THE FECKLESS 3RD" ? who knows ? ;)
oh an Gunny Logrins patch is a stock photo (pic) ,, https://cdn.xl.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/skull-with-two-crossed-daggers-on-white-background-image_csp24919378.jpg
I know I've seen that particular skull/swords before but usually on non-military 'wannabe' patches or tattoos.
I'm going to assume Logrin's is an actual Unit patch even if his Unit may well be a fictitious one...
Hence the difficulty finding it or a UCM reference that matches exactly.
And I was thinking along the same lines as "United Colonial Marines" or somesuch so we agree there.
That's the trouble with the interweb findy stuff thingy it only goes backwards for real things :)
Now I just have to think of a suitably cringeworthy acronym that Cent or Rose would have come up with for him to wear...
Like "Unarmed Combat Master" or "Us be Centcomm's Marines" or...something
...or if you use [img] [/img] tags you can embed the image:
...or you could use the add image or add link buttons to do so...
so thanks,, no..
In the end, it depends on what you want the shield to do. (Protect against physical, electronic, other kinds of damage? Prevent radiation emissions outgoing or incoming?) There are actually many types and methods (even in today's terms). In terms of sci-fi, there are many more. If you're trying to keep an entire structure from harm, (like the energy shields of The Enterprise) then yes, if you lose structural integrity, or lose emitters, it's hard to keep the shield intact. If you want to keep the computer core safe from EMI, then a Faraday cage around the sensitive bits would suffice, unless you blow the whole thing to smithereens.
first found in Atomic / Nuclear bomb denotations, then lighting , an other high energy uses (IE: mig welders)..
shielding / faraday cage.. simply put, a box that directs the "wave" around instead of thru.. ANY holes or openings in box weakens the box effectiveness..
an like Oldarmourer sed , your best shielding is useless if you use a bigger blast, ("Tsar Bomba") an over load it..
Sort of like calling a personal issue frequency hopping, multi-encrypted, burst transmission capable communications system with datalink, GPS, 'blue force display' complete with internet, facebook and twitter accounts, a 'walkie talkie' ;)
Having said that, I have no way to speak with Logrin directly, to have him describe exactly what the term means to him.
It was posted at the briefing...
As I understand it, his system follows the rules of known science. His shields and the EMP were designed together, and are considered a matched pair. The characteristics of the pulse are precisely tuned to the null resonance point of each shield, which are carefully matched. The shield null point lies in the trough between the fundamental period, and the first harmonic. The amplitude of the pulse is calibrated such that the sum of the corresponding inductive waveform is zero, and the induced current that is formed is negligible. The shield calibration is adaptive and uses variable impedance to insure null effect over a wide range of pulse configurations, but exhibits it's best performance in response to his own EMP generator.
Anything outside that parameter rings out, and gets toasted. I didn't find out anything as to whether Skeeter's shielding conforms or comes close enough, and I can't get ahold of Olina. (But we know in this case that she is indeed busy :( )
I know that there's nothing I can say that will make you feel any better. Anyone who has been in that position, knows how it feels. Even if you know it's coming; even if you think you're prepared, it still hurts. You have my condolences.
I don't care if you puncture me every way from Tuesday; I'm gonna give you a hug:
*Hugs*
Please don't worry about pages or productiveness now. Give yourself the time you need. We'll be here. I just wish there was something I could do.
Yes, you will remember the good times but there will always be an empty space on your lap and shelf. Please accept my hug and shoulder.
Escorting our last dog to the rainbow bridge was something I never want to do again, but of course we have a puppy now so as is human nature we've set ourselves up again.
Sometimes, the older the animal the easier it is when we finally realize that there isn't any way to make them stay alive, it still hurts but there's that little "I did the right thing" that offsets the pain just a bit. Our last cat was 22 when that choice came, the dog was only 7, that was too early and she deserved much more time but we just couldn't give it to her and no Vet could have.
Sixteen is a venerable age for a cat, he had problems before and you gave him all that you could have, I'm sure he'll spend his time wherever cats go on to remembering the time he had with you, there's a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow bridge.
This ends in a silly way and hopefully won't seem inappropriate to anyone but it always pops into my head when I think about past cats, they may nap but they never really sleep.....
The Mouse Police Never Sleeps
If you decide to do something like a net memorial page, let us know. I would want to sign that guestbook.
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
… T.S. Eliot, The Naming of cats. from "Old Possum's book of Cats"
and now I made myself start fuckin ugly-crying again
Thank you all.
There's only one choice … a kitten !
I would recommend another Maine Coon, they are awesome.
You are always ready for a maine coon kitten.
I mean, have you ever seen how ADORABLE they can be ?
When I was a kid, we once had a litter with a tiny completely white fluffball of a kitten with the most adorably blue eyes.
A lady came over with her child one day, locked eyes with this kitten and she was GONE !
The kid wanted an orange tabby that was very playful, the mother never even saw any of the other kittens.
The kitten seemed to like the Lady, so they got both. 😄
It later grew up to be one of the largest males I have ever seen.
But it was gentle, and it's brother was also a gentle cat.
Today I live in a flat where I can't have pets, and I feel so deprived !
But soon, that may change … I hope.
Taking some time to deal with this is proper and expected. This time should not be about the webcomic, or deadlines, or the readers.
It's all about the Benjamin, baby. ^_^
See you when you get back.
spits Coke across keyboard CURSE YOUUUU
My condolences...
take your time, Rose...
It's been so long since I had a pet that I can barely remember the feeling, but I know I've been there before. We had a dog when I was little, a pound rescue toy poodle my mom named Touche'. He was a good dog, had a few accidents once in awhile on account of his nerves (I still regret chasing him through the house, even if I didn't intend any harm - I was a dumb kid), but he was already older when we got him and had developed kennel cough. I still recall coming home from school one day (first grade?) to find out that he had made his final visit to the vet. My folks didn't get another dog after that, said they didn't want one unless the property was fenced in, which was too expensive, but I know they'd still love one and so would I. I'm not sure they ever got over losing their first dog, a black standard poodle named Boudreaux. He was one of a kind and I love hearing the few same stories about him over and over, because I feel like I miss him even though I wasn't born yet when he made his last trip to the vet.
This is too sad for a Monday, especially when it's as grey and rainy outside as it is right now.
Anyway, I'll still be here when the comic resumes, and so will everyone else, I'm sure. Take care Rose and Mr. Black. You too, Centcomm.
He lasted 20 years till he ceased to be through another misadventure, a coal black cat on an unlighted road. He occupies a place of honor in the woods by our house and is often visited during our perambulations.
I didn't even like cats till he came into all our lives.
He lasted 20 years till he ceased to be through another misadventure, a coal black cat on an unlighted road. He occupies a place of honor in the woods by our house and is often visited during our perambulations.
I didn't even like cats till he came into all our lives.
Rosey was part of my life from some of my earlier memories. She was an Icelandic Sheepdog, we think. Nana got her, but when Nana got sick, we took care of her for what was supposed to be a few months, and ultimately she became our dog. Nana couldn't handle her puppy energy.
She was a ~30lb cream colored fluff, and was the royal queen fluff. She wasn't the cuddliest dog, or the most playful dog, but she was a constant companion. She may not want to sit on you, but she wanted to be with you. She'd sit by your feet.
She always knew when you'd had a bad day, or a nightmare, or grief. That was the only time she got cuddly. She'd come over to comfort you, lean up against you, gently lick your hand, set her head on your leg.
She'd wait there until you were better. She'd stay by you, even ignoring her favorite foods until she knew you were okay.
She loved her butt scratches, especially come shedding season. I swear that dog shed her bodyweight or more every year. We had one time we went 2 weeks without vaccuuming during shedding season because everyone was constantly busy. She completely covered the living room carpet to the point you couldn't tell that it was white, not cream colored. You could pull the dog-hair up in mats. She actually destroyed a few vacuums with the shear quantity of hair.
When she died, well, she'd had a stroke, and she had an internal cranial hemorrhage. But she held on for 12 hours, she wanted to say goodbye to everyone before she went. My parents had been divorced for a long while, and Rosey hadn't seen my father very often for years, but she refused to go until she got to tell him goodbye. She kissed his hand, and about 5 minutes later, she stopped breathing and passed. She'd been fighting so hard, breathing so hard, until he got there, then she slowed down, and stopped. She'd made sure her people were going to be okay, and she refused to die until she had.
She'd always looked after the kids of the neighborhood growing up. Her and the other dogs. She was the queen fluff among them, and the dominate female. In our neighborhood, you didn't have to supervise the kids outside, the dogs watched over them.
In addition to Rosey, there was Thunder, the largest yellow lab I've ever met. He was huge, muscular, and also the leaned Labrador I've ever met. He was a giant sweetheart, really gentle, and loved kids. He was the dominate male, mostly by virtue of being massive and smart.
There was Copper, a springer spaniel who lived across the street from me. He was also an absolute sweetheart. Not so bright, but very nice. He'd never start a fight, but he was also extremely protective, if you threatened the any of us kids he'd bloody end you. Copper actually saved me one time. A strange black lab tried to attack me when I was walking to a friend's house when I was about 8. Copper, despite the other dog being half again or more his size, charged straight into the fray to save me. Thunder had come out too, and while Copper kept this strange dog off me, Thunder closed, and this black lab took one look at Thunder and decided it didn't like its chances against the ball of fangs and fury that Copper was, and the largest, most muscular Yellow Lab I've ever seen. After that Copper didn't let me walk down the street alone for a few months.
There was also Relish, he was a German Shepherd-whatever-the-hell mix. He was also very nice and liked to play with Copper.
Then there was Shadow. She was a sizable black lab, yet somehow still was subordinate to Rosey. She'd actually taken on someone who tried to snatch one of the neighborhood kids, and ran him off.
There was also Penny. Penny was the largest chihuahua I've ever met, but she was still a chihuahua, and was scared of everything that moved. But if someone was in trouble, she'd go get the other, bigger dogs. If you sat still long enough, she'd come over to ask for pets.
Then there was Doug. Doug was a latecomer to the pack, and thought he was the Alpha male. Thunder humored him. You see, he was a miniature Pinscher. He was also incredibly fat, and very barky. But he was nice, and if you walked the back way to the pool, Copper would escort you until you came to Doug's area, and he'd hand you off to Doug, who'd walk along with you, barking the entire way until you got to the pool.
Then there was Chloe, who was Rosey's best friend. She was a tiny sweetheart of a Beagle. Her girls were friends of my sister, and if they weren't home she'd come to see if they were here, would come check through the house, and if they were here she'd stay and follow Rosey around until they went home (whenever they had sleepovers, she and Rosey would wind up sleeping together in one of the cutest things you've ever seen). Her people had an invisible fence, which didn't stop her for a minute. She'd just run through it, and they kept turning the fence up until it knocked her legs out from under her. She just went to the far end of the yard, built a huge head of steam up charging it, would jump and twist sideways at the land minute, get her legs knocked out from under her, and roll past the invisible fence. Eventually they gave up on the fence all together. She only ever left the yard to either look for her girls, or to come visit us when her people were out and she got bored. Otherwise, she stayed in her own yard regardless of the fence.