Mechamaniac

Nope, the person that's looking for trouble is more doomed than the person that's prepared for it. If someone shows up with a butcher knife, they will meet the business end of my .45

Definitely not my wife, as she was sitting right next to me the first night, and was the one that called me last night and informed me of the other phone call. Also, the gifts are non-specific, like a set of dishtowels with snowmen on them, and a 2 litre bottle of Sprite. If it were crotchless panties or something like that, then I would suspect it was one of my Bitses . However, the gifts are very generic. If I can, I will get a recording of the voice tonight.

If it's a girl then it's news to me. Been married for 6 years, with my wife for 10. Haven't so much as talked to another female that I don't work with in aeons. It's strange, but perhaps it's completely random???? What gets me is how coordinated it is, either someone is calling my house from that pay phone, and playing a recording then hanging up, or they are calling some other number from the payphone and entering my number which is then auto dialed, and the recording is played. Either way, it is definitely a recording, that voice is not human. Stranger still is that the stuff they are dropping off is inexpensive, but the gift bags, and ribbons etc are all Hallmark and Carlton (known brands) so it's not really cheap stuff. I think it might be some good samaritan thing, perhaps they choose a number at random out of the phone book since my number and address is listed. If that's the case then I wish they had chosen someone who actually NEEDS this stuff. I'm not rich by any monetary means, but I definitely do not need this stuff, and someone else probably does.... I guess, I will just wait and see. If you guys read of a bizarre intruder being shot dead on Christmas day in Maryland, you'll know it happened in my house!

Well, both of the packages were delivered around the same time each night. Tomorrow night, I am off, so I will be spying out my bedroom window. I feel kinda bad, I mean if it is just a purely benevolent Christmas spirit type of thing, then I would hate for them to feel the cold steel of my BFK against their throat, and turn to see my camo'd face staring into theirs with eyes full of blazing fury. So, I will just spy out the window, and see if it is someone I recognize.

EDIT IN - NOW LISTING ALL NEW UPDATES (GIFTS AND MESSAGES IN THIS POST. OK, so last night I am sitting in my house around 9:20PM when the phone rings. I answer it, and get this message: "This is Santa's Elves, you have a surprise at your front door". The voice was obviously a recording, and some stange pixie like female voice. I went to my door, and sure enough, there was a gift bag hanging from my doorknob. I opened the bag with a stick, and found a set of dish towels in it, and bearing the following message: "On the first day of Christmas Your secret elves bring a delight Festive Christmas towels and mitts For you to use each night Love, your secret elves" The number on the caller ID from the phone call was a pay phone in a shopping center around the corner from my house. Tonight, another call, same time, same recording, same pay phone. Another gift - A bottle if Sprite with a ribbon attached, and bearing the following note: "On the 2nd day of Christmas A drink we hope is right To brighten up your holiday And make your spirits "Sprite"! Love, your secret elves. Now, I have done a search on Google, and found NOTHING about an organization called the Secret Elves. Anyone ever heard of this??????? FREAKING ME OUT MAN!! I mean, I am as big a Christmas fanatic as anyone else, and totally believe in the Christmas spirit and all that jazz, but in this day of white powder filled envelopes etc, I can't help but be a little apprehensive. At this point, I have to assume that the stuff will keep coming all through the twelve days of Christmas, but I am off tomorrow night, so I think I will be watching to see if it is someone I know. BTW - I have asked all of my relatives, and close friends, and they all have rock solid alibis. HERE IS THE TOTAL RUNDOWN OK, here are details, here's a rundown thus far..... 1st Day (Sunday12/14) - A set of dish towels and a hot pad with snowmen on them: "On the first day of Christmas Your secret elves bring a delight Festive Christmas towels and mitts For you to use each night Love, your secret elves" 2nd Day (Monday 12/15) - A bottle if Sprite with a ribbon attached. "On the 2nd day of Christmas A drink we hope is right To brighten up your holiday And make your spirits "Sprite"! Love, your secret elves. 3rd Day Tuesday 12/16) - 4 holiday M&M gift tubes with the little figures on top of them. (Incidentally, there are 4 people in my house, more proof that the culprit knows me.) On the 3rd day of Christmas A treat for your delight Red and Green M&M's Try one or two tonight Love, your Secret Elves. 4th Day (Wednesday 12/17) - Christmas tree ornament. On the 4th day of Christmas An ornament for your tree To brighten up your holiday And fill your hearts with glee Love, your secret elves. 5th Day (Thursday - 12/18) - Another bag on the door, containing a children's book, and the following note: On the 5th day of Christmas A Christmas story to bring good cheer, To warm your hearts and spirits At this special time of year! Love, your secret elves. 6th Day (Friday - 12/19) - Another bag on the door, containing a can of cocoa in a hand knitted sleeve, and the following note: On the 6th day of Christmas A sweet tooth begs attention, We know it adds some calories But that we will not mention! Love, your secret elves. 7th Day (Saturday - 12/20) - A big tin of tri flavored popcorn On the 7th day of Christmas We hired a little elf, To make this tin of popcorn You may eat it all yourself! Love, your secret elves. 8th Day (Sunday - 12/21) - A fruit basket On the 8th day of Christmas We bring a harvest bounty, A sack filled with luscious fruit From farmers in the county Love, your secret elves 9th Day (Monday - 12/22) - A large pillar style candle On the 9th day of Christmas A candle bright and gay, To decorate your mantle In a cheerful sort of way! Love, your secret elves. 10th Day (Tuesday - 12/23) - A bevvy of Candy Canes On the 10th day of Christmas For a family kind and sweet Here are some candy canes A traditional Christmas treat. Love, your secret elves. 11th Day (Wednesday - 12/24) - A poinesttia plant On the 11th day of Christmas A pretty flower we impart, To bring a ray of sunshine And joy into your heart!. Love, your secret elves 12th Day (Christmas Day) - A letter addressed to my family by last name. We hope these days of Christmas, Have brought you lots of joy, And made your holiday extra nice And made you shout "Oh boy!" We sure have had fun sharing At this special time of year, We want to wish you "Merry Christmas" Because you are so dear. Merry Christmas, With love, your secret elves. AND a tin of cookies, the final note attached to the tin said... On the 12th day of Christmas Your secret elves have been baking, Now we place upon your doorstep A treat we had fun making Love, your secret elves.

Perhaps. I was a good member for a year. Well, as good as the population at the time required. I think most of the main participants of this forum have had their beefs. The only real issue I've ever had was with a member that some of the other old timers may remember - sfer1. But that was over blatant stupidity(his justification of charging $3,000 for a 1/55 Millia) I had somewhat of a major problem with Roy Focker right before I was made a moderator. I think that conflict to a certain degree is conducive to an environment based on discussion. Members that feel passionate about certain issues may lash out occasionally, but that's just because they're passionate. We're passionate about Macross, but our passions can be infinitely different than another member's, this can lead to some bad blood between members. As long as they're mature enough to realize that in the grande scheme of things it is a minor issue. There are eight billion people on the planet, and we all know that not everyone agrees, but that is part of being human. Another thing is that NOBODY EVER has problems with Shawn or Graham. They aren't the ones getting their hands dirty every day here. The passions of the members that I mentioned previously cause them to act irrationally, treating every post or thread that they create as if it were their only child. That's part of being a moderator; knowing when to go easy, when to be firm, and when to tell someone to shut up and move on. As a moderator, you don't make too many friends. I had an ample stock of cronies and comrades before I became a moderator, and now that number is a fraction(many of my 'board buddies' have taken off). Additionally, because of my experience on the board(and the other mods) we have been forced into a more authoritarian role. Since I am one of the more outspoken of us, I do take a lot of flak. For example - when we did the mass banning of the troublemakers, people complained and while I had little to do with the decision, I was blamed by many of the offending parties. There was a thread on VEX where some people gathered to vent their frustrations about me, some of them flat out lies. Amazing that all of that sprang because I was a moderator defending a decision that SHAWN made. Shawn is a really cool guy, he just likes his board run a certain way, and according to him; all of us moderators are doing a great job. I've been banned before. I accidentally banned myself from the last board. But that's the problem; the new mods would have to be indoctrinated and taught how to run the board like Shawn wants it to be run. Shawn doesn't really have the time to explain to new mods how he wants things done, but this could be a good plan. Maybe have some temp mods or forum specific mods in addition to the current global moderators. Kewl Max, thanks for the input. You didn't have to go line by line, those were only suggestions that popped into my head in the 30 seconds or so it took to make the post . They just seemed to be some basic "good" guidelines. Obviously, you wouldnt nominate a real tool who spent their time being a dick all over the forums, plus it would give some members who want to be mods some incentive to keep their noses clean. As to the training of new mods, it would be better handled by the incumbent mod than by Shawn. You could even to it on an OJT basis... Mod X is coming to the end of his term, so he nominates Member X. (Shawn approves) As a result, Mod X is required to show Member X the ropes. Once Member X has reached the point where Shawn, the other Mods, and Mod X feel that Member X is ready, then Mod X steps down, and Member X is promoted. At the end of Member X's term, he/she would choose someone else that was experienced, and known to be a decent all around forum member, and nominate that person. That way, Shawn is not required to take any more of his time (he's barely here any more these days ) And the pressure is really only on Mod X to train, and Member X's ability to learn.

Sweet, mad talent as usual.

Right, just not be controllable. Defying gravity because of massive thrust is one thing... Being able to steer is another

Maybe then, there should be term limitations on Modship . That way, noone would get sick of it. Just lay down some ground rules. Member in good standing for X amount of time.... Never had a major beef or vendetta with another member.... Never had a major problem with a current mod, or Shawn or Graham... Never been banned, and/or had access taken away and re-granted... If all of these are met, Nominated for Modship for one or two years, then you step down, and someone else is chosen...

Man, that Gouf looks fantastic. Can you tell us what paint you used?, airbrush?, or spray? If spray, what's the color? What weathering method do you use?, is that pastel chalks, or a wash??

That is a cool site Noriko, knocked out a nice Dragonball calendar for a fanatic friend of mine. Edit: I'm sure peope can find that one their own.

Those are beyond sweet. How much would you charge to complete a kit like that?

Yeah, but you are talking about the DYRL Max 1A. What we are alluding to are TV colors Max and Millia 1J's. I am sure we will see them before long.

As if anyone should be surprised that they botched this..... How soon we all forget that piece of crap they passed off as DUNE.

Damn skippy - Iaido is much the same. Dogi & Hakama were a couple hundred. And a good quality Iaito will run you at least $400 - $500 bucks these days. I never got that much into kendo, because I couldn't afford more than the Shinai. What's a good online source for Bogu?

Now now, the mods have already laid down the law. NO MORE MAN FAYE THREADS! So, let's get back on topic, and talk about the little yaoi boys and their fruity little slumber party.

Exactly. In Japan, it's about preserving a part of their history and culture, and not letting an ancient art die out. That's the way it is supposed to be. In America, it's a cash cow that started back in the early 80's after Chuck Norris, and Bruce Lee, and those god awful Ninja movies. I remember being a teenager, and every other kid wanted shuriken, or nunchaku, or a ninjato, and the black pj's. Sorry, but it never appealed much to me, even after they made "Gaijin Ninja movie number 403".

That's the best thing about where I study. It is run the traditional way, no contracts, no 60 dollars a month, no snakeoil salesmen teaching out of a book. We go once a week, and pay a mat fee since we are using someone else's dojo. Basically, we contribute for the use of the dojo, and the electicity, but if you don't go, you don't pay. I would never sign a contract to learn martial arts, that's not the way it is done in Japan, and it has become too much of a ripoff industry here in the states.

If these are for the Yamato 1/48... Why the louver cover stickers????? Yamato has these down pat, especially on the 1/48.

So, with all the Japan aficionados we have here, I imagine that many of us must be studying one martial arts form or another. Too many types and schools to make this a poll, so how about listing them straight up? As for me, I never got much into the hand to hand stuff, so mine are.... Iaido - Kendo Renmei Sei Te Gata Kendo - Natural progression of swinging my sword at nothing for hours on end Any belts yet??

Well, judging by the look of those "guys" there may be other issues here.... I mean, first off, a slumber party with other guys - STRIKE 1 Fluffy cutesy PJ's - STRIKE 2 Dude's room, replete with cutesy anime stuff, and not one giant robot - STRIKE 3 So, I must amend my statement to... I wonder what horrors those poor anime pillowcase chicks were witness to that night. Bishonnen! Yaoi!! AAHHHH!

Kensaku (Ken) Watanabe

I wonder how many of those pillows got some that night.

Well, I guess I will be the first one to come out "against" this movie. Sorry, but IMHO, one of the gayest, lamest films of all time, with a close second being Enemy Mine. Maybe I just don't like guys in lizard suits, but meh....

33, and just waiting for Montarvillois to tell me to "get off his lawn"!!!