GEARING UP

Sunday, March 21. 2010

I’m on the home stretch toward graduation. I’m now sure to pass all of my classes in this, my last semester, so my diploma is assured. Not that I’ll slack off; that’s just not me.
I’m also officially enrolled to begin my Master’s Degree program at Beige University in the fall. Outwardly not a lot will have changed. I’ll still be working in the genetics lab, but I’ll have a bit more authority.
Rachel and Rhonda visit frequently to help with wedding preparations. Tammy, also one of my bridesmaids, participates via Skype from the lighthouse on the coast. My other two bridesmaids, Fiona and Corrie, are a few years younger than us and basically have agreed to whatever decisions the rest of us make.
After the wedding, summer will be taken by our honeymoon. It won’t be a long trip since we don’t want to leave Tree unattended. Sudden thunderstorms are a frequent occurrence around here and Tree is still vulnerable to high winds.
Back home, Kell’s cast is driving her crazy. She’s not the type to complain, so when she says it’s a constant source of mental anguish we pay attention.

Posted by Lindesfarne at 00:05 | Comments (20) | Trackbacks (0)

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Actually, Lindesfarne, you may slack off on your classes later. But only a little. You might find that, with everything going on, you need more than twenty-four hours a day to accomplish everything you need to do. If you have to decide what to do in that situation, the logical decision would be to let your classwork slide for a few days or weeks. You're already on an accelerated graduation path from what you expected, and I'm certain your grades are excellent. You can make up any classwork that you might miss: you can't make up for a botched wedding.

With Tree in a fragile condition, you might want to consider an alternative to the standard honeymoon. Perhaps a series of shorter 'mini-honeymoons' when the weather is forecast to be good in the Beige area for the next few days. You might also have someone you trust (Rachel? Rhonda?) stay with Tree during those times to ensure her well-being.

Somehow, if she's anything like us humans, I think you probably cleaned up Kell's language about her cast. We humans don't often use phrases like 'constant source of mental anguish.' We use other phrases like 'driving me nuts' or others that I can't repeat here. I think Kell may have crossed that same linguistic line as well.

No question this week? At least, not at this hour. You might ask where other readers went on their honeymoons... (In my case, nowhere. Single, never married.)

#1 CharlieG on 2010-03-21 05:41 (Reply)

Still busy writing about Second Life, or what you might call Ninth Life, Lindesfarne. People here sometimes have virtual weddings, but I haven't seen one in a while.

By the way, another virtual world, "There", went out of business (article March 4). Was there a similar place online in Domain?

#2 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2010-03-21 12:01 (Reply)

I wasn't aware of "There," but I do know of "Ninth Life."
Tammy will be part of the wedding party.
And yes, Kell's language was quite colorful (but not around Coney). I did do some changes to it.

#2.1 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-03-21 18:27 (Reply)

IMO, you didn't miss anything. The graphics were lame and they charged you for practically everything. The only good thing about There was it was very responsive, which isn't surprising when your using South Park-like graphics.

#2.1.1 Mortar on 2010-03-22 10:48 (Reply)

First I thought you were saying that Tammy wouldn't be present at the wedding, merely Skyping during the ceremony.

#3 Classic Steve (Link) on 2010-03-21 12:16 (Reply)

Kell seems to be able to express herself well with that fool bull.
'Otter

#4 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-03-22 11:11 (Reply)

By the looks of her cast Kell will make her quota even with her broken leg. with 3 bulls to her credit haw many more will it take to fill her quota.

#4.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-22 13:27 (Reply)

Looks like like that bull should have taken "Taunting Predators 101." He would have learned that just because Kell can't chase him doesn't mean he's safe if he's within kicking range.

#4.1.1 nucleon on 2010-03-22 23:55 (Reply)

It does not seem that it is definite that Kell got a kill here,
could be just got her own dignity back. A bull should be able to survive a kick in the head, if they have the sense to move out of the way afterwards. But if that kick started a fight, I would bet on Kell.

Yeah, stupid prey.

Actually, by my understanding of Domain law, taunting a pred and running away means that if that pred kills you it would be killing a person you know for vengeance, that is murder. Not a bad tactic if you can pull it off. It certainly add to the paperwork Kell has to file to avoid being held for investigation.

Actually I would think that being held for a murder investigation is a HT staffer's occupational risk. I am surprised that it has not come up before.
'Otter

#4.1.1.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-03-23 10:50 (Reply)

The law in Domain is a little more slippery than that...and bulls tend not to run away nearly as much or as often as other prey exactly because they can take a lot of punishment (to say nothing of dishing it out!).

For professional predators like Kell, it's pretty well codified what is and is not permissible behavior (there are legal precedents), and learning that would have been part of her training in the first year of employment. I don't know all the details because I'm not a professional predator, and the rules are a little different for us.

If some prey was taunting me because I was injured, if I remember the rules correctly, I would have been required to give a warning -- something like "You're in range, and I'm hungry...stay in range, or come back in range, and you're a meal." Delivered in a level voice so that it's a statement of fact rather than a threat. And then, of course, I'd've been allowed to follow through as Kell did, assuming the prey was stupid enough to ignore the warning.

Since everything after I give the warning is allowed, you don' t see a lot of prey taunting predators (especially healthy ones!).

I imagine Kell isn't required to give a warning because, as a known professional predator, she's assumed to be "on duty" most of the time, so any prey taunting her is assumed to have already been "warned," in effect.

#4.1.1.1.1 Terri the Tiger on 2010-03-24 10:34 (Reply)

Thanks for the update on the law.
What I had been counting on, and what seems to be eliminated by your words, is that if the pred knows the prey, and/or has a personal motive to kill, it is murder, not predation.

Being traunted when down, well that is motivation.
Knowing the prey, as in knowing that they were the ones taunting you, is not anon. predation.

Could you elaborate on this point of law? I find it fascinating.
'Otter

#4.1.1.1.1.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-03-25 06:15 (Reply)

The kick may not kill the bull but keep it stunned for a few minutes so Kell could move in for the kill.

Even with the cast off Kell may still have to give her leg time to completly heal.

#5 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-23 18:54 (Reply)

Well this is not our reality,
but bulls can take much punishment (very hi hit points)
and still come back for more.
Arrogance is more likely to get them.
'Otter

#5.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-03-24 04:51 (Reply)

Oh deer it looks like someone wants Kell out of the hunting picture untill October. I wonder who it could be.

I don't think it will happen. I think Kell will do whatever it takes to get back on her feet even if it puts her in pain. Kell is not the kind to sit around all day when she could be out doing what she does best.

#6 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-24 23:09 (Reply)

The surprising thing is that Dorothy went for the bribe.
Maybe she has money troubles.
'Otter

#6.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-03-25 04:25 (Reply)

Did she. Could Dotothy be pretending to take the bribe becouse she knows kell will do what it takes to get back on her feet even without her help.

Remember Elanor had a broken hip that required surgary. Kell only had a broked bone thats easier to heal. Kell was walking even with the case. It was harder with the cast but she could still walk. So getting back on her feed again should be easy.

If Dorothy was having money problems I don't think a years supply of carrots would help. Becides I thing Kevein & kell would give her anyh finantional help she needed without giving it a 2nd thought.

#6.1.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-25 10:59 (Reply)

Um guys, I'm just wondering if it's wise to let Lindesfarne know about this, mainly due to the whole outside universal interfearance thing. I mean it is one thing to give her advise and words of incouragement and even info about our world, but this is freely giving her information she wouldn't get otherwise that effects her personally. I'm just unsure about the whole stability of an entire universe thing, or maybe I've just been reading too many back issues of Exiles.

That said, I don't think that's the case, considering it's Kell's musles that Dorothy's supposed to be working on, not the actual bones.

#6.1.1.1 Alex on 2010-03-25 18:42 (Reply)

In both Elanor's & kell's cases the doctor works to heal the bones & Dorothy works on the musles. The only diffrance is Elanor's injery was much worse then kell's. All they had to do with kell is set the bone & let it heal on its own.

I would think kell would be up in a few weeks. She may have to go easy on her left leg but I think may be able to do some of the slow dances at Lindesfarnes wedding without any trouble.

#6.1.1.1.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-25 20:49 (Reply)

Note. When I was about 9 or 9 years old I was hit by a car. I ended up with a broken leg. I don't remember how long I was in the hospital but I don't remember it taking very long to get back on my feed after the cast came off. As a matter of fact I attended school will I still had the cast on. All I needed was a pair of crutchs.

#6.1.1.1.1.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-25 23:36 (Reply)

Score conscience one deer zero. Like I said. Kell will be up on her feet in no time.

#7 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-03-27 11:59 (Reply)

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