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Realm of the InterNutter

Thoughts, stories and ideas.

Challenge #01570-D109: The Fall of the Hespruss

After two repetitions of a standard hazard announcement ("Warning: Shields Critical", or "Cabin Pressure Dropping", or "Warning: Heat Levels Critical", something like that) - something dangerous in meaning but pronounced in a calming voice and almost mundane, the ship says this:

Warning: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here. -- RecklessPrudence

Alarms and klaxons filled the air with their noise. If it wasn't beeping or flashing, it was already broken. The computer struggled to keep up with the warnings.

"Warning: Lateral stabilisers offline. Warning: Engine temperatures beyond tolerance levels. Warning: Hull breach detected in levels one through seventeen. Warning: Engine failure imminent. Warning: Internal pressure dropping. Warning: Internal temperature controls are failing. Warning: Emergency warning system overloaded..."

The klaxons turned off. The alarms silenced. The automated warning voice glitched a few "war"s before it, too, fell silent. The crew, already in their emergency livesuits, slowed to a stop. Many were holding their breath.

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Lurgi, Lurgi, go away

I've finished up all my blackberry pills, and I still have ur-lurgi symptoms. But I can breathe through my nose, and my brain seems to be functioning properly, so that's some improvement.

I'll see whether or not the Lurgi comes back. But the meanwhile will be spent with lots of ginger tea.

When I shake off the last of whatever-this-is, I will immediately take myself to the local quack and get my annual flu jabs. I don't want to be taking any

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Challenge #01569-D108: Just Like Home

Australian States and Territories named by the British: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania (formerly Van Diemen's Land).

Australian States and Territories named by the newly-fledged Australians: Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory.

See a pattern? -- RecklessPrudence

The populace of New Australia spread out into their assorted wide, brown lands. In typical colonial innovation and enginuity, they named the continents after their old states and territories. New Queensland, Novo South Wales, New Victoria, and so forth. New Australia

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Up to my eyes in it

So today is an interesting schedule. I have a plumber coming at an unspecified time. I have the cleaners coming. Both will want paying and I only have the cash for one of those people and I worry about that sort of thing.

Fortunately there are ATMs, and I definitely used the Suncorp account this morning. Huzzah. So after a short school run, I now have enough money for everyone including myself.

I also found out that the account I can access

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Challenge #01568-D107: I Play to Relax, Damnit!

There was, after all, mad science to be done. Although it was only really mildly deranged science. -- RecklessPrudence

Curses filled the air. Since Amy wasn't one to curse, Tess left her bread in progress to investigate. "What's going on?"

"Therapy," said Amy. "I got recommended this... Minecraft... as a means to relax, but... this stupid stuff doesn't have any logic to it."

Tess finished drying her hands so she could lean on Amy's shoulder. Peering at the window, she read, "Redstone?

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So much for plns

I had a nice, relaxing day mostly-at-home planned for myself, and like the best-laid plans of mice and man... they've gone agley.

The dude who mis-cut our window replacement now has the proper replacement ready. So I have to get all the heck way out there, measure it to check, and collect it. I also have to go get a parcel from North Lakes so that I can finally store all my rescue singles properly. Once they're cleaned and verified playable, of

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Challenge #01567-D106: Improbably Driven

[Person #1]: And you think this will work?

[Person #2]: We have the highest expectations of success.

[Person #1]: Highest expectations?

[Person #2]: Reasonable certainty.

[Person #1]: Reasonable certainty?

[Person #2]: Mild confidence.

[Person #1]: Mild confidence?

[Person #2]: We are drawing lots from a bowl of angry scorpions while ice skating downhill.

[Person #3]: YEAH! WHO'S WITH ME BABY? -- RecklessPrudence

Many a life-threatening adventure has both started and ended with the words, "The human has a plan." Many more have

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F-O-C-U-S

Lots to do.

I have a Chaos to take up north to see her shrink. I have to take the window replacement back to the dude who made it because he cut it too short. Which means that today is an enormous Leyland's Tour for me. Which means I should put dinner on now or I won't have the energy to do anything by tonight.

But I also have to take the dubiously reliable Elderberry capsules. I haven't been that fantastic at

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Challenge #01566-D105: The Kindness of Strangers

A true pessimist is always pleasantly surprised. So if you're ever disappointed or upset at something, take heart! Some part of you believes in a better world. -- RecklessPrudence

The collapsible booth on Babel Avenue[1] simply had one word on its placard. Cheer. It was written in large, friendly letters and the person inside it bore a beatific expression and watched those passing by without the slightest hint of flagging spirits.

Rael, on his way to the Temple of Feasts[2]

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Aftermath

Okay, so sugar and lots of it does really terrible things to me. I have learned this now.

Following a breakfast of a Lindt dark choc bunny, a Guylian sampler1 and some sugar-free creaming soda... I had asthma, loose stools, and trouble staying upright.

At least until we headed off to Maccas for lunch for some grease-burgers and, in my case, the promisingly disgusting Cadbury Cream Egg McFlurry. It was actually more of a sundae with caramel sauce and definitely-not-cadbury-flakes on

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Challenge #01565-D104: Not Fooling Me

You've got to be kidding? Right! that mask is supposed to hide who you are? -- Knitnan

The hero blushed a little and scratched the back of his head. "You'd be surprised how often it works, though," he said. "Like... people don't recognise my mum when she wears her contacts, so..." He shrugged. "The flashy costume helps a lot."

"If I knew who you were, you would catch so much shit, right now," said Pam. "Like, thanks for the rescue and all?

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Happy Easter, everyone!

It's my morning habit to wake early, and this time, it's held me in good stead. I crept around the house like a thief in the pre-dawn light, delivering sugary goodness in the shape of bunnies and eggs.

Of course, Easter Sunday is a feast day. Which means that a majority of the family can indulge in all the carbage they could dream of. But just for the day.

Beloved has a rationable supply of chocolate, the lighter portions of which will

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Challenge #01564-D103: Are You Valuable?

Prompted by recent disasters. Local Survivalist proves to be a helpful resource during bad weather event. -- Anon Guest

The town was practically atomised after the winds died down. There was very little left that was recognisable. There were streets, somewhere under the risen water, and people were clustered on the few buildings that both survived the storm and had upper floors to huddle in.

Cara piloted her larger boat to the old town hall. It had been built in the era

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Nothing much

There's not a lot of shops open, there's some things that need to be got, but that's pretty much all we have planned to do today. Beloved and I did get to play Warcraft together for a while, so that was some fun.

I have some tea brewing, which always helps my health and disposition. Today's recipe involves Elderflower and Peach Teas with two slices of ginger that have also been sliced into thin chips. That should be ready about now.

The

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Challenge #01563-D102: The Birth of the Vardian Empire

Follow up to "Designer Babies". Other less reputable Medical facilities, pounce on the process, Dr Vardian is praised for actually trying to talk vanity parents out of bad choices instead of offering a range of "options", athletic ability, perfect pitch, genius I Q. Which leads to the sad question asked by the results. "Why don't I look like Mummy and Daddy?" -- Anon Guest

It only took two years for other gene therapy organisations to spring up in the void left by

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