Experiment IV: Israel May Use Sound Weapon on Settlers

Here's something that could be useful for your RPG campaigns. It reminded me of the old Kate Bush song, Experiment IV:

We were working secretly
For the military.
Our experiment in sound,
Was nearly ready to begin.
We only know in theory
What we are doing:
Music made for pleasure,
Music made to thrill.
It was music we were making here until

They told us
All they wanted
Was a sound that could kill someone
From a distance.
So we go ahead,
And the meters are over in the red.
It's a mistake in the making.

From the painful cry of mothers,
To the terrifying scream,
We recorded it and put it into our machine.

Then they told us
All they wanted
Was a sound that could kill someone
From a distance.
So we go ahead,
And the meters are over in the red.
It's a mistake in the making.

It could feel like falling in love.
It could feel so bad.
But it could feel so good.
It could sing you to sleep

"I'll bet my mum's gonna give me a little toy instrument!"

But that dream is your enemy.

We won't be there to be blamed.
We won't be there to snitch.
I just pray that someone there
Can hit the switch.

But they told us
All they wanted
Was a sound that could kill someone
From a distance.
So we go ahead,
And the meters are over in the red.
It's a mistake we've made.

Hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm.
And the public are warned to stay off.

Experiment IV: Israel May Use Sound Weapon on Settlers

"Israel is considering using an unusual new weapon against Jewish settlers who resist this summer's
Gaza Strip evacuation — a device that emits penetrating bursts of sound that leaves targets reeling with dizziness and nausea.

"Security forces could employ the weapon to overcome resistance without resorting to force, their paramount aim. But experts warn that the effects of prolonged exposure are unknown.

"The army employed the new device, which it dubbed 'The Scream,' at a recent violent demonstration by Palestinians and Jewish sympathizers against Israel's West Bank separation barrier."

Comics and graphic novels, not just men in tights

Comics and graphic novels, not just men in tights

"Who would win a fight between Batman and Balzac, Superman and Steinbeck?" [via Colleen]

Church Sex Case Stuns Louisiana Town

Sounds like something from a Lovecraft story. See, there are still debased cults down in the "swamps" of Louisiana.

Church Sex Case Stuns Louisiana Town

"From his tire store next door, Donald Moore got an up-close look at the strange changes that went on at the once-bustling Hosanna Church.

"For one thing, the congregation had dwindled to a handful of reclusive members who chased away visitors. For another, the windows were painted white so no one could see in. And just before it closed its doors for good a couple of years ago, eight dump trucks came in and spread dirt over the church's back lot." [via Jonny]

Cleveland Gamers: Next Gathering

The next gathering of Cleveland Gamers will be at Seekers Coffehouse in Middleburgh Heights, June 18th at 8:00pm. If you're a role-playing in the Cleveland, Ohio area you should come by and say hello. While slightly scary looking, we are a friendly bunch.

Send an email to Cleveland Gamers at Yahoo to join the mailing list.

Announcing True20 Adventure Roleplaying

From the Green Ronin website:

"Green Ronin Publishing is proud to announce to upcoming release of the True20 Adventure Roleplaying game. Based on the innovative new rules system from Blue Rose, our Roleplaying Game of Romantic Fantasy, True20 provides a complete set of rules for fast, easy, and fun adventure roleplaying. All you need is a single 20-sided die to play, and the system guides you through the process of creating your own heroic character, with plenty of options to choose from, letting you create the hero you want to play! True20 Adventure Roleplaying will be available next week in PDF format from RPGNow. Whether you are an experienced roleplayer or just looking for a new, simple, and fun game system, True20 is roleplaying done right!"

A Great Man: David C. Sutherland III

A Great Man: David C. Sutherland III

"I have some profoundly sad news to report. David C. Sutherland III passed away sometime Tuesday in his residence in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. While his health had been in sharp decline, he was fairly active in his last days and was taking good care of himself. Thus, his death comes as sudden and unexpected.

"Dave is survived by his ex-wife and two daughters. His sister Trudy, brother Scott, and mother would like to pass along their warmest regards to all of those who participated in the Collector's Trove auctions of David's collection over the past year. The funds have been placed in an account to support David's estate and his surviving family members.

"He will be interred with full military honors at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

"David as you know was a longtime artist in the gaming world. Producing countless works at an incredible rate, he helped illustrate the games of our imagination for generations of players. Wargames, roleplaying games, strategy games, and board games. David had done it all with the care and intensity that only a true fan of the historical, sci-fi, fantasy game genre could uphold.

"The seminal artist of the Dungeons and Dragons and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons game and the fantasy world of M.A.R. Barker's Tekumel, David helped shape the very roots of the roleplaying games we all know and love. His work is the canvas of our youth and fond sentiments. Many of the top writers and artists involved with the roleplaying games industry owe their inspiration and calling to him.

"David's involvement in the art of games goes back to 1974 and the breadth and depth of his work is a roadmap for the history of the industry.

"Every game industry person that knew Dave respected him for his unswerving devotion to art and remembered him for his great heart. Dave was a truly honest, loyal, decent, kind hearted soul, that selflessly shared a particularly keen wisdom to all around him. Many of them owe their happiness in life and life's calling to David. He was truly a man for others."

Corporations Enter Blogosphere

Corporations Enter Blogosphere

"When General Motors Corp. wanted to stop speculation this spring that it might eliminate its Pontiac and Buick brands, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz took his case directly to dealers and customers who were up in arms about the possibility.

"He wrote about it on the company's blog."

Alien Thinking

Alien Thinking

"Not many scientists are prepared to take tales of alien abduction seriously, but John Mack, a Harvard professor who was killed in a road accident in north London last year, did. Ten years on from a row which nearly lost him his job, hundreds of people who claim they were abducted still revere him.

"Professor John E Mack was an eminent Harvard psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and Pulitzer Prize winner whose clinical work had focused on explorations of dreams, nightmares and adolescent suicide."

Fudge Factor: Kilbrandeen House

Here is a very good adventure that recently appeared in Fudge Factor. Being that it is written for Fudge, it would be pretty easy to adapt. It is well worth checking out.

Fudge Factor: Kilbrandeen House

"Sitting high up on a hill, on the outskirts of Scotland, there sits Kilbrandeen House. This abandoned house has held the town in awe with legends and mysterious happenings for the last 200 years.

Enter, if you dare."

Voyager 1 reaches solar system's final frontier

Voyager 1 reaches solar system's final frontier

"NASA's Voyager 1 has reached the final frontier of our solar system, having traveled through a turbulent place where electrically charged particles from the Sun crash into thin gas from interstellar space.

"Astronomers tracking the little spaceship's 26-year journey from Earth believe Voyager 1 has gone through a region known as termination shock, some 8.7 billion miles from the Sun, and entered an area called the heliosheath"