Fanfic Helpdesk: Technical and Scientific Help for Writers

[SF_and_Coffee]

Oh come on, everyone knows it's forty-two.

Or chocolate. Take your pick.

[Skydiver]

Okay, so whats the meaning of the life, universe and everything else?

42

[SF_and_Coffee]

Or chocolate.

[Whytewytch]

since i don't care about arrogance, i'd say i'm good at tech and science.

so blast it away. i love a good thinking exercise

Rodney? Rodney McKay? Is that you? LOL! Just kidding, TKM. I appreciate you volunteering. It may be a few weeks, possibly months, however, before I have specific questions. Just putting out a general call in case I need Sanctuary-specific tech help. For example, if Henry needs to re-boot security or something at the Sanctuary, maybe only in the SHU. What terms would he use to do that? In Hangover, he used a term I am unfamiliar with and will have to watch the ep again (oh, darn!) to remember what it was. But while I have all my lovely techies--what the hey is the ethernet? What's the difference between that and the internet? Keep it simple--remember, short bus to tech school! (Ok, I was truant more than present--) Oh, and are there terms that are different in Canada? I think Britain uses interweb instead of internet, for example.

Oh, and if you ran security systems for a cutting-edge facility that housed both dangerous and friendly abnormals (sentient non-humans) & had an unlimited budget & government backing/blessing, what would you expect to find in your office/lab/armory? What would you dream of having? I'm talking both offensive and defensive things--from computer systems to weapons, tracking devices, etc.

Same question to the medical people?

[Whytewytch]

Or chocolate.

Dark, rich chocolate, drizzled over ripe, red strawberries... Mmmm...

[SF_and_Coffee]

Dark, rich chocolate, drizzled over ripe, red strawberries... Mmmm...

Okay, between that and the chapter I just posted on my fic (yes, that chapter!) I almost need a cigarette. And I don't even smoke!

[Whytewytch]

Okay, between that and the chapter I just posted on my fic (yes, that chapter!) I almost need a cigarette. And I don't even smoke!

Spoiler:

Did your chapter include ripe, red strawberries (or something/-one else) drizzled in dark, rich chocolate (or somthing/-one else)?

Back to technical stuff (how's THAT for cold water?), maybe this is not the right place to post this, but it's morning and I'm lazy. Those who screencap--what program do you use to screencap from shows that are not on DVD yet? Do you use a certain TV on the computer software program or a site that is playing the current show or what? SF or Feast, whoever started this thread, feel free to slap me for putting it here (and/or guide me to the correct thread).

[WraithRichard]

Since I'm a fan of breaking things in the cheapest, easiest, and often dumbest and funnest ways possible... is ancient tech immune to diet coke and mentos?

[Choo1701]

Since I'm a fan of breaking things in the cheapest, easiest, and often dumbest and funnest ways possible... is ancient tech immune to diet coke and mentos?

How about writing a fic about it and find out?

(btw: isn't putting coke and mentos together a bad thing? *pokes the GW Fan Fiction 'Mythbusters'* Well i'm in the right thread! Go make me something explodey!!!)

[WraithRichard]

How about writing a fic about it and find out?

(btw: isn't putting coke and mentos together a bad thing? *pokes the GW Fan Fiction 'Mythbusters'* Well i'm in the right thread! Go make me something explodey!!!)

It's supposed to be the beginning of a fic (quick, easy, and thorough sabotage).

The mentos just make sure the coke gets everywhere. I'm not going to be as artistic in the fic.

[thekillman]

Oh, and if you ran security systems for a cutting-edge facility that housed both dangerous and friendly abnormals (sentient non-humans) & had an unlimited budget & government backing/blessing, what would you expect to find in your office/lab/armory? What would you dream of having? I'm talking both offensive and defensive things--from computer systems to weapons, tracking devices, etc.

i'm not familiar with Sanctuary but there would definitely be a warehouse-like armory with large signs displaying what counterweapon is stored where, with alleys of guns ordered by type of mutant. oh and a good old fashioned rack of primitive projectile guns like assault rifles, machine guns and anti-tank weapons.


in the hallways there would likely be the occasional "use in case of mutant escape" gun. i think a good stun gun works. you know, the kind that fires a bullet with an electric charge.

Since I'm a fan of breaking things in the cheapest, easiest, and often dumbest and funnest ways possible... is ancient tech immune to diet coke and mentos?

given the conditions it has survived, i'd say: yes. unless you remove the casing and pour the mixture directly onto the exposed parts. given the serious durability of ancient tech, that means also taking the coverage off the individual parts.

[WraithRichard]

given the conditions it has survived, i'd say: yes. unless you remove the casing and pour the mixture directly onto the exposed parts. given the serious durability of ancient tech, that means also taking the coverage off the individual parts.

Since this is mostly to cause severe annoyance, delay, and make it impossible to figure out the details of what someone was doing with the computers just before it was destroyed... that leaves fire and large objects against the device. Fire looks most like the easiest to keep quiet for a minute, but I'm already using that.

I don't thinks ancient tech comes apart that easily, or one could just shove coke and mentos inside, slam the top back on and run.

[SF_and_Coffee]

Spoiler:

Did your chapter include ripe, red strawberries (or something/-one else) drizzled in dark, rich chocolate (or somthing/-one else)?

Back to technical stuff (how's THAT for cold water?), maybe this is not the right place to post this, but it's morning and I'm lazy. Those who screencap--what program do you use to screencap from shows that are not on DVD yet? Do you use a certain TV on the computer software program or a site that is playing the current show or what? SF or Feast, whoever started this thread, feel free to slap me for putting it here (and/or guide me to the correct thread).

Spoiler:

No chocolate (or cigarettes, or even coffee ) on Tir Awyr, much to Frank Cromwell's chagrin. Fortunately, he's found other things to occupy his time and attentions.

Heck, I don't see why it can't be here. I don't have an answer for your question, but this seems a reasonable place to ask it.

[Whytewytch]

How about writing a fic about it and find out?

(btw: isn't putting coke and mentos together a bad thing? *pokes the GW Fan Fiction 'Mythbusters'* Well i'm in the right thread! Go make me something explodey!!!)

Depends on your POV. Personally, my boys & I had quite a lot of fun with that one summer!

[Whytewytch]

Spoiler:

No chocolate (or cigarettes, or even coffee ) on Tir Awyr, much to Frank Cromwell's chagrin. Fortunately, he's found other things to occupy his time and attentions.

Spoiler:

Well I guess he would have to, wouldn't he? Everything's better with chocolate. And I do mean everything. And the cigs I could do without, but no coffee! What fresh Hell have you created? Ah, well, I have a teaser scene that's driving me crazy to be written. I must be off.

Heck, I don't see why it can't be here. I don't have an answer for your question, but this seems a reasonable place to ask it.

Thanks!

[SF_and_Coffee]

Spoiler:

Well I guess he would have to, wouldn't he? Everything's better with chocolate. And I do mean everything. And the cigs I could do without, but no coffee! What fresh Hell have you created? Ah, well, I have a teaser scene that's driving me crazy to be written. I must be off.

Spoiler:

Heh. Read it and find out. He does find a way to turn it into heaven... with a little bit of help.

[Whytewytch]

Spoiler:

Heh. Read it and find out. He does find a way to turn it into heaven... with a little bit of help.

Spoiler:

I will have to do that. I'm a little out of touch with SG-1 stuff, except the very basics. I'm more into SGA. Anything I should know in particular?

[SF_and_Coffee]

This and this explain it quite nicely, I think.

Episodes are available on Hulu.com, and most of them also have synopses right here on GateWorld. The one you will HAVE to have actually watched is A Matter of Time, as that is the episode that introduces my protagonist, Frank Cromwell, and is the only episode he ever appeared in.

Spoiler:

Watching The Torment of Tantalus helps, too, as does at least understanding the basics about the Tok'ra.

[Feast of the Muse]

Back to technical stuff (how's THAT for cold water?), maybe this is not the right place to post this, but it's morning and I'm lazy. Those who screencap--what program do you use to screencap from shows that are not on DVD yet? Do you use a certain TV on the computer software program or a site that is playing the current show or what? SF or Feast, whoever started this thread, feel free to slap me for putting it here (and/or guide me to the correct thread).

I grab screencaps from Hulu. I'm on a Mac, so I just hit pause and then command + shift + 3. That takes the shot and saves it on my desktop. If I am pulling from a DVD I use VLC to watch it and do the same thing. Actually VLC has a built-in snapshot feature.

[mathpiglet]

Unfortunately, hulu only works in the States.