13/02/09 [PF #52] - He got better!

[Pagan]

Yay! The Dorc is back. Though jeez, why did Yak run all the way to some backwater Being village to reanimate some Cubi what got himself killed. Actually, what exactly was Dorc doing in such a backwater anyway? I know he had that vixen booty, but he coulda taken her somewhere a bit more progressive and not so horribly racist. 'Nother example of man playin' fool for a woman.

On another subject, I haven't read Future History, but I did read Chronicles of JP. So at least I get the back story.

Oh, and Dorc's still shirtless, whoo!

[Tapewolf]

Yay! The Dorc is back. Though jeez, why did Yak run all the way to some backwater Being village to reanimate some Cubi what got himself killed.

Yak didn't.  See also:  http://www.project-future.org/strip.php?strip=25
...as for his motivation, that'll come out in the following page.

Actually, what exactly was Dorc doing in such a backwater anyway?

Ja'Fell members split from their parent clan in an acrimonious manner.  As a result they will often choose to settle in places where Creatures aren't welcome, the thinking being that no-one will think of looking for them there.
Dorcan was investigating the town as a possible base, but in a moment of stupidity decided to try out the ol' 'Cubi charms.  Unfortunately, having spent the last few hundred years among other Creatures, he let his guard down at a critical moment - with severe consequences.
There is another dimension to it, one that wasn't in the original chapter, but you'll have to wait for that.

that 70's computer in the background made me giggle

That also makes me giggle.  Apart from a couple of ethernet patchbays and some HDD racks, most of it is genuine equipment - and not computer equipment.  Though it was admittedly intended to give that impression.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

that 70's computer in the background made me giggle

<pedant>
What computer? I see a terminal for a computer, but not the machine itself. And I see the tape deck, in the rack, but that's something else unrelated to computers, insofar as it can be - audio manipulation is one of the things that has pushed computers onwards and upwards. not a major push, but it's been damn quick to take advantage of any available options...
</pedant>

[AmigaDragon]

i am kind of surprised more of the fans for this fine piece of fandom have not actually gone to the art section of the forum and read the story.

then again they may think its spoilers

I've noticed previous mentions of the story but didn't know it was available to us mere mortals, since no links or location have been given (that I've noticed).

that 70's computer in the background made me giggle

What computer? I see a terminal for a computer, but not the machine itself.

To be more specific, that's the venerable VT100 terminal.

[Tapewolf]

I've noticed previous mentions of the story but didn't know it was available to us mere mortals, since no links or location have been given (that I've noticed).

Well, it will spoil the strip to a degree.

To be more specific, that's the venerable VT100 terminal.

Yes, thanks for that.  I've got someone trying to make a model from your photos, but it wasn't ready in time for the strip, so I went with vectorisation.

[Pagan]

i am kind of surprised more of the fans for this fine piece of fandom have not actually gone to the art section of the forum and read the story.

then again they may think its spoilers

I've noticed previous mentions of the story but didn't know it was available to us mere mortals, since no links or location have been given (that I've noticed).

I would recommend reading Tape's Chronicles of Jakob Petershon, which is the backstory to Future History of Jakob Petershon/Project Future. The link is in Tape's sig.

[Tyranastrasz]

I've noticed previous mentions of the story but didn't know it was available to us mere mortals, since no links or location have been given (that I've noticed).

Well, it will spoil the strip to a degree.

To a degree? Oh, yeah, it's only about 40 chapters ahead of the strip

[Tapewolf]

To a degree? Oh, yeah, it's only about 40 chapters ahead of the strip

Yes.  Though it's still possible to enjoy the strip even if you know what's happening/what's going to happen.

**EDIT**

I would recommend reading Tape's Chronicles of Jakob Petershon, which is the backstory to Future History of Jakob Petershon/Project Future. The link is in Tape's sig.

I'll be including some parts from Chronicles of Jakob Pettersohn in Project Future.  Jakob's original encounter with Daryil and Simeon's backstory are currently being planned.  Daryil runs to five pages and will be included inline, whereas Simeon's 12-page story is probably going to have a separate strip a'la Abel's Story.

[Tyranastrasz]

Yes.  Though it's still possible to enjoy the strip even if you know what's happening/what's going to happen.

Oh, I never said that it wasn't still enjoyable, merely that there is a considerable amount of plot that is revealed through reading the Future History.

**EDIT**
I'll be including some parts from Chronicles of Jakob Pettersohn in Project Future.  Jakob's original encounter with Daryil and Simeon's backstory are currently being planned.  Daryil runs to five pages and will be included inline, whereas Simeon's 12-page story is probably going to have a separate strip a'la Abel's Story.

Heh, that should be interesting to see in comic form...

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

What computer? I see a terminal for a computer, but not the machine itself.

To be more specific, that's the venerable VT100 terminal.

I, sadly, am lacking the experience to differentiate by sight alone between the VT100, and the VT102, etc. Or, indeed, any of the other VT models. 302? 220? I forget...

[Tapewolf]

I, sadly, am lacking the experience to differentiate by sight alone between the VT100, and the VT102, etc. Or, indeed, any of the other VT models. 302? 220? I forget...

The VT1xx series looks like that.  The 200+ generally look like a PC keyboard and a PC monitor.
The earlier models (pre VT100) look even more exotic.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Mmm. I probably saw some of each, back when I was playing with paper tape, but I wasn't paying enough attention to remember them.

I _do_ remember the paper tape making machine, though...

[AmigaDragon]

I was in a hurry to get out the door before, so didn't get this added then...

What's happened to my powers?

They're fake!

I'm a being!

Since I haven't read the story yet that this strip is coming from... What's fake (that he's noticing)? His ears, headwings, some sense of powers?

Since there's now two synthetic cubi (that we know of), the question arises, do/will they have cybernetic equivalents to cubi powers? Not necessarily some of the same ones they had before, but perhaps some form of transformation (shape shifting), accessing computers or other synth beings (mind reading), whatever else?

----------------
Now playing on Winamp: Classical - Minnesota Public Radio (Classical Minnesota Public Radio)
via FoxyTunes

[Tapewolf]

Since I haven't read the story yet that this strip is coming from... What's fake (that he's noticing)? His ears, headwings, some sense of powers?

The headwings (this is clarified around page 4).

Since there's now two synthetic cubi (that we know of), the question arises, do/will they have cybernetic equivalents to cubi powers?

Actually, Dorcan is the first. Azrael is an Angel, if that's who you're referring to.

Not necessarily some of the same ones they had before, but perhaps some form of transformation (shape shifting), accessing computers or other synth beings (mind reading), whatever else?

I hadn't thought of accessing computers.  As for the others, some of these will be dealt with eventually.  Jakob and Azrael's long-term goal is to get a generalised magic system working, but that will take a long, long time.  Some limited form of nanomechanical shapeshifting may be possible, but isn't available within the comic timeframe.

[AmigaDragon]

Since there's now two synthetic cubi (that we know of), the question arises, do/will they have cybernetic equivalents to cubi powers?

Actually, Dorcan is the first. Azrael is an Angel, if that's who you're referring to.

Uh, yeah, I forgot that difference when posting. I don't recall if he was identified in the strip as and angel and forgot that detail in his cast bio. Since posting that, I've gotten up to chapter 16 of Chronicles of Jakob Pettersohn. I might finish it tonight, if not, then tomorrow.

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Now playing on Winamp: Ottorino Respighi - Ancient Airs & Dances: Suite No. 1 (Classical Minnesota Public Radio)
via FoxyTunes

[Brunhidden]

accessing computers or other synth beings (mind reading), whatever else?

Jakob- hey josh, i got an upgrade for you

Josh- ......

Jakob- JOSH!

Josh- oh, yes?

Jakob- what were you doing, staring into space?

Josh- i was on the internet

Jakob- it was porn wasn't it?

Josh- ......im not sure what constitutes robot porn so i will refrain from a definitive answer

[AmigaDragon]

By the way, I didn't notice anyone connect this thread subject to Monty Python yet.

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Now playing on Winamp: Jean Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 (Classical Minnesota Public Radio)
via FoxyTunes

[Jairus]

By the way, I didn't notice anyone connect this thread subject to Monty Python yet.

...

...

Tape... I know fully understand your feelings when I pointed out the Ja'Fell thing last week. Just the moment that someone points out something you had no intention of doing. I can honestly say that Monty Python did not cross my mind when I titled this thread: I was just making a joke on how he died and now was back (in one form or another). Apologies.

Now, excuse me, I need to go laugh myself into hysterics, because that is just too funny.

[Tapewolf]

I can honestly say that Monty Python did not cross my mind when I titled this thread: I was just making a joke on how he died and now was back (in one form or another). Apologies.

Oh, I assumed it was a deliberate reference.  Not that I mind this time - last week was different because it squashed the mood we'd worked so hard to create.

[Pagan]

At least the comic itself is still sad. Just the forum thread was funny because of Jay's mistake.

[Kipiru]

At least the comic itself is still sad. Just the forum thread was funny because of Jay's mistake.

The comic is not sad- it just lacks girls and shirts

[AmigaDragon]

52 - No matter what is being studied, the oscilloscopes always show lissajous figures

I'm half surprised nobody asked what a lissajous figure is, as most here probably never used a scope (though I could be wrong).
Before someone does ask, it's that continuous loop pattern, which could be anything from a diagonal line to a plain circle to what looks like a looping sine wave. It's a graphical representation of phase and frequency relationship between two waveforms.

For ratios other than whole numbers (like 1:2.1 instead of 1:2) the figure shifts continuously, which movie makers are more likely to use because it's moving instead of static.

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Now playing on Winamp: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony No. 46 (Classical Minnesota Public Radio)
via FoxyTunes

[Tapewolf]

I'm not honestly sure what the other ratios are used for, but 1:1 is dead handy for aligning tape decks and other audio systems. 

I was slightly disappointed that the 'scopes didn't come out very well in the final strip.

[Tapewolf]

I am so, so tempted to use this for one of the computer rooms:

http://videopreservation.stanford.edu/dig_mig/images/rca-trt1_lg_v1.jpg

(They're video recorders)

[Jairus]

I am so, so tempted to use this for one of the computer rooms:

http://videopreservation.stanford.edu/dig_mig/images/rca-trt1_lg_v1.jpg

(They're video recorders)

Doooooo eeeeeeet!

Ye gods those are old.

[Brunhidden]

its bordering on steampunk style computers

[Tyranastrasz]

I am so, so tempted to use this for one of the computer rooms:

http://videopreservation.stanford.edu/dig_mig/images/rca-trt1_lg_v1.jpg

(They're video recorders)

Doooooo eeeeeeet!

Ye gods those are old.

I think they're about four times as old as I am

[AmigaDragon]

its bordering on steampunk style computers

How about the computer in the private detective's office (or home?) in the PI story of Animatrix?

[Amber Williams]

*camps out and waits for next update* MOAR.

[Tapewolf]

*camps out and waits for next update* MOAR.

Dammit, woman!  Each week it's earlier and earlier for you...






**EDIT**
Actually, we just need to decide what to call it.