Sooner

Y'all are gonna make me blush.

Thanks.

Part II of Ways of the Heart is posted.

Ways of the Heart
Part II


The demoness who would be known as Ciara Banenighe by the Celts a few centuries later returned to her lair and shed the guise of the human woman Marah. The cramped stone cave was barely tall enough for her to stand upright in her true form, but she had her eyes on better. She just had to avoid Cad'strum's intentions for a little longer.


Ciara was ambitious. She intended to better her standing in the world of demons, but Cad'strum wanted to bind her into his service. She had escaped his first attempt only because he became distracted long enough for her to flee. Since then, she had kept her guard up and made certain that another attempt would be costly for him. Servitude had no part in her plans. And so she began to involve herself in his schemes. She watched and she waited. And when she noticed that his pretty little servant Na'rul had begun working at a human tavern, Ciara took on human form and began visiting there herself. It took less a week to unravel his plan: Ruadh.



Ruadh was a Principality, a powerful guardian angel and destined to move up in the ranks. For a devil, any angel was a target. But Ruadh had been instrumental in the casting out of Cad'strum and his lackies Atru'vum, Ira'tus, and Trist'us. The four of them considered it a betrayal, but Ciara suspected Ruadh believed he had only done his duty. Once cast to earth, Cad'strum had embraced his fate and his power grew. That was how he came to control the other three so quickly. He had found Na'rul, cast out a century earlier, and bound her as well. And now his power grew even more as he drew from his minions and he began to work to bring down the one he blamed for his fall.



Ciara was not as powerful as she intended to become, but she was smart. It took only one look at the soft, pretty, lush, shy human form that Na'rul wore to unravel Cad'strum's rather simple plan. And it didn't take very much longer to see how she could insert herself in it and come out the victor. And when it was over, she would have her own servants feeding her power and Cad'strum would be dead.



She smiled. Just a little patience, and everything she wanted would be hers.


And to start it all, she would have a talk with the constable of a nearby village. He clearly favored Na'rul's human form, and was just as clearly displeased by her lack of response to his overatures. With just the right words in his ear, she believed she could encourage him to pursue Na'rul rather more aggressively than Ruadh would be able to tolerate. Cad'strum would be encouraging Na'rul to develop her relationship with Ruadh slowly. But Ciara intended to up the pace, and she would use the constable to do it.



----


With each passing week, Ruadh found himself intrigued more and more with Sadb. That she was lovely certainly added to it, but there was her laugh, her shy smile, her sweet nature. It was the way she was clearly attracted to him but did not throw herself at him as some of the other girls there had. More than once during the course of a week he would find himself thinking of her, picturing that pretty blue pendant nestled at the neckline of her blouse, and he would sternly remind himself that she could be trouble he was unwilling to endure. But by the end of the week, all he could think of was rushing back to the Hart. It was no longer for the companionship of humans, the food, the fun... now he looked forward to his visits there just for the opportunity to watch Sadb laugh and move, for the chance to smile into her eyes and see her smile back.


---

For Na'rul, that one night of the week that Ruadh would stop by was the only night she didn't hate the pasty, pale human face that stared back at her in the looking glass. It was the one night she took extra care in the fall of her hair, adjusted the ribbon tie of her blouse so it would appear that any flash of cleavage was entirely unintentional. She touched the red flaw in her blue lapis pendant and placed it just so it would draw attention to her neckline. She would apply just a hint of color to her cheeks and dye her lashes. And she refused to admit even to herself that she no longer did these things just because Cad'strum ordered it.


The little house where she made her home was a few minutes walk from The Hart and, unlike other nights, she set out eagerly into the twilight, lifting her skirts just enough to let her jog. The evening was cool but not cold, the shadows were deepening, and shift from the noises of the day animals to night was starting to favor the nocturnal.


She smiled more brightly when the lights of The Hart came into view. It wouldn't be long now until Ruadh arrived. Not long at all before she could be with him again. She didn't let herself think of the harm that Cad'strum intended for Ruadh. She didn't let herself think of her part in it. She would enjoy her time with him while she had it.


Her only warning of danger was a moving shadow, then a dark haired bulky man stepped out into the road. She nearly skidded into him trying to stop, then danced back when another two men stepped out and stood at the shoulders of the first man.


“Pretty Sadb,” drawled the first one.


She reminded herself that she had to react as if she were a human. This close to The Hart, she couldn't risk revealing herself or all her work would be for nothing. “You... you were here last night.. Jon.” she breathed. He was constable of a nearby village and seemed to believe that entitled him to whatever he wanted. Her human form had been carefully designed to be appealing to Ruadh. But Na'rul was coming to learn that there were quite a few human men drawn to her current form. And Jon the constable wanted her, he'd made that clear.



He turned his face, angling the left side toward her and revealing four red and angry lines crossing over his cheek. “You think a lot of yourself, for a ***** who works in a tavern.”


“I am not a *****!” she spat back. “Come any closer and I will mark your other cheek!”


Jon shrugged, “If you're not a *****, then I won't pay you when I'm finished!”


The man had grabbed her the night before and tried to reach inside her blouse. She'd retaliated with an angry slap, but he'd just redoubled his efforts, despite the objections of the crowd. If she'd truly been human, she would have bruises from where his fingers had dug into the flesh of her arm. He hadn't released her until she crooked her fingers and raked her nails down his face. She wished now she'd had her natural claws and had been able to lay his face open as he deserved.


She backed away as her attackers companions, the constable's deputies, she suspected, began to try to flank her, thinking furiously. As a human woman, she should be near helpless against the three men. In her true form, with her full powers, she could dispose easily of all three, but that would expose the truth, and she couldn't allow that. But... they wouldn't attack her here in the road. They would want to take her someplace where they wouldn't be seen or heard, and could take their time. That suited her well. That meant that SHE wouldn't be seen or heard. And could take her time.


Once her decision was made, she flew into action. She started running towards The Hart, screaming for help, even though she was too far away for anyone to hear. The constable stepped into her way and grabbed her, scooping her up while pinning her arms to her chest. She flung her head back, screaming as if all hope was lost and flailing about uselessly as his friends rushed in and grabbed her as well. One slapped a hand over her mouth while the other wrapped his arms around her ankles and hoisted her up. She made a great show of wiggling and whimpering as the three humans began to hustle her out of sight.


However, her plan fell apart when she heard a deep, angry voice bellow. “Release her! NOW!” She twisted her head to see Ruadh standing there. Even with his appearance roughened to give the illusion of humanity, he was glorious, powerful, and filled with righteous anger. Well, well, well... she thought.

I have started a new story in Protector Forums titled "Ways of the Heart" which describes how the angel Ruadh became the demon Conall Cian.

I am also reposting The Sooner Nation in RP forum. I won't keep reminding you of that one.

I got my first four cards, despite the fact that I gave Vyx the wrong address!

If you HAVEN'T sent your cards out yet, the street address is 5410 NOT 5418.

*sigh*

I AM a flake.

The Ways of the Heart - by Sooner - is in progress in the Protector Forums. It tells the story of how the Angel Ruadh became the demon Conall Cian.

Ways of the Heart
Part I

As the sun set in a golden blaze, the angel Ruadh flew through the gilded clouds. He left behind him a rebellion against a robber baron, a common thug who had claimed power through terror, then claimed a title and lands when the people were too terrorized and demoralized to oppose him. The evil man had enjoyed living off the labors of others, taking whatever and whomever he wanted. With each passing year, he had expanded his holdings, spreading his misery farther and tightening his grip on the people around him. There were those who would have said that an angel of war or an angel of vengeance would have been a better choice than an angel of passion, but Ruadh had claimed the task. It had taken time and a gentle touch, but he had managed to inflame the people, to inspire them to fight back, to defend themselves. And it had taken even greater care to make sure they didn't simply throw their lives away against the castle walls. He had left a determined group behind him, a people who would plan their own freedom and take it back. An angel of war could have won the fight for the people, but for the sake of their own futures, they needed to win free by their own efforts. Hard days were ahead for the villagers, but Ruadh thought that perhaps even worse days were ahead for the robber baron.

Ruadh allowed himself one indulgence in his life, The Hidden Hart. A human gathering place, warm and festive. He allowed himself a good meal and a few mugs. He listened to music, played a few games of chance, flirted with a few women, and stopped just short of violating any of the rules that governed his existence. He stopped there once each week, and the people there knew his human form as a guard for hire. It was an inn along a major road, so there were many travelers passing through. The place was always busy and noisy, and he could lose himself for a few hours there.

An old and nearly forgotten shrine near the Hidden Hart was where he made his change to human form. Like all guardian angels, his natural shape was a winged human, impossibly beautiful in form and face. His eyes lacked any pupil, his wings so brightly white that they shimmered. His wrists and ankles were ringed with crystalline armor and weapons. He would never escape notice among humans in this form. Once hidden away in the shadows of the shrine, Ruadh made his change. His glorious wings folded up and vanished, the crystalline armor sank away into his skin. Blue irises swam up through the pure white of his eyes, and his features roughened - a small scar, whiskers grown up since a presumed shave earlier in day, a bit of dirt under his nails. His clothing changed as well from off white robes to rough wool, leather, and muslin. He strapped a sword to his hip, tossed a bit of road dust onto his clothes, and then continued his trip to the Hart on foot.

As the lights of the Hart came into few, he caught sight of a woman walking alone along the road. He jogged to catch up to her. "Marah!" he scolded, "You are far too lovely a woman to be walking along this road alone after dark! How often will you make me remind you of that!"

Marah was beautiful with her rich black hair, round dark brown eyes, and full curves, but she was too free with her charms, too brazen in her flirtation to really attract him. However, he often found her unattended on her way to the Hart, and would hate to see something unfortunate happen to her.

"But, Ruadh..." she smiled, her voice husky, and looked up at him him through her thick lashes. "If I brought an escort, I would not get to enjoy your company, now, would I?"

He laughed, ignored the way she stroked his arm, and chatted with her until they reached the Hart.

The warm light, the laughter, the rich smells of food drifted out and welcomed him. He hadn't even made it through the door before people began calling his name. The well endowed matron who ran the kitchen darted out to greet him with a hug and tugged him inside, chattering away about the fresh bread and stew she would serve him. He allowed himself to be guided inside and settled at his favorite table with a broad smile. The room was warm and welcoming and full of friendly good cheer. Several humans waved and shouted welcome to him, but those who knew him also knew to leave him his space. It took Ruadh some time to finally shake off the weight of his responsibilities and relax enough to enjoy his time in human company.

He leaned back into the wall behind him and his eyes lit up when he saw Sadb approaching with a heavily laden tray. The comely red-head was a recent addition to the staff at The Hart, and Ruadh admitted to himself that he was more attracted to her than was safe for his own piece of mind. Her heart-shaped face was framed by red-gold waves and set off by eyes the blue of a sun-kissed sapphire. Her slender neck was framed by a bright blue ribbon supporting a distinctive pendant, a lapis stone shaped like a teardrop with a deep red flaw set in the center. The stone nestled just inside the drawstring on her blouse and tended to draw the eye there. Her curves were enhanced more than they were hidden by the simple white shirt tucked into a full skirt. Her smile widened as her eyes found him, then she glanced away shyly. His mouth crooked in a smile when he saw the color come up in her cheeks. She would be quiet around him until nearly the end of the evening, he knew, and then she would finally become brave enough to meet his eyes and smile at him.

“Good evening,” she greeted him quietly, and leaned over the table to serve his meal. The matron had sent twice as much food as promised – the full bowl of stew and foaming mug of beer were joined by a hot loaf of bread, a wedge of sharp cheese, butter, honey, and some sort of sweet and sticky pastry.

Ruadh cocked an eye at the laden table and smiled up at Sadb. “Is she trying to fatten me up?”

Sadb lifted her eyes to his for just a moment through the soft fall of her hair, before glancing away. “I thought that you would like the sweet.” At that moment, the blue teardrop pendant dropped away from her skin and the ribbon tie at the neck of her blouse slid open, revealing a curve of white flesh disappearing into the suddenly gaping neckline of her shirt. She gasped, clapped a hand to her neck and straightened up abruptly. Ruadh hid his smile as her skin flushed red from her scalp to out of sight inside her blouse. With one last glance at him through her lashes, she darted away.

He watched her go, indulging himself in appreciation of the view before indulging himself in the meal instead. His excursions to walk among the humans were tolerated as long as he obeyed the rules. That particular curvy red head tempted him dangerously close to the boundaries defined by those rules, as did the laden table. He savored the rich flavors of the stew, stopping himself before he was full and reminded himself sternly to watch his step with Sadb.

By the end of the evening he was laughing and singing with the other regulars, listening with appreciation to their stories, but sharing none of his own. By then Sadb had recovered nicely from her bashfulness. He loved her laugh, the way she tossed her head back and her hair tumbled over her back. She swirled gracefully through the raucous crowd, taking care of everyone there, but Ruadh was aware of her eyes on him.

Despite his lecture to himself, his eyes kept going to her as well, so he was watching when a particularly drunken bear of a man reached out and dragged her into his lap. Ruadh frowned, but Sadb was fast as a cat and she rolled free in a moment. The man lumbered up after her, moving faster than his bulk and state of inebriation would have suggested. A ham fist tangled itself in her hair and dragged her back

Everything happened so fast that the humans were just starting to react. Sadb let out a startled shriek and clawed at the hand holding her hair. Her nails dragged through the man's skin and he bellowed angrily. She twisted around in his grip and slapped him across the face, reddening his cheek. His eyes narrowed into slits as his other hand curled into a fist. He drew his arm back.

Ruadh was capable of moving faster than any human, and in that moment he allowed himself to cross that distance between them. The humans, in the excitement of the moment, wouldn't make note of it. He grabbed the bear's wrist and twisted his arm back.

“Take your hands off her,” Ruadh growled.

By then the rest of the humans took note of the situation and reacted. The enormous man was surrounded by hostile and judgmental human faces. Sadb let out a whimper when the hand tightened in her hair and the crowd closed in on them. After a silent heartbeat, the man released his grip on Sadb and the crowd reacted by hustling him quickly out the door and tossing him into the night. It was one of the reasons Ruadh liked The Hart so well. They took care of their own.

The matron hugged him tightly and announced, “Your money's no good here tonight!” She wasted no time supplying him with another frothing mug.

Ruadh glanced over to where Sadb sat pale and shaking nearby, her left hand clenched around her blue teardrop pendant. He settled near her and offered her his mug. Sadb glanced at him with frank gratitude in her wide blue eyes and drank deeply. “Are you well?” Ruadh asked after she'd calmed a bit.

“He... startled me, is all.” she answered after a moment. “He didn't' hurt me.”

Ruadh nodded and they sat silent for a moment.

“Ruadh...” she said quietly, and he glanced over in surprise. He didn't recall her ever speaking his name. “Would you.... like to walk me to my home?”

Ruadh studied her. The flush was back on her cheeks and it was clear she was offering him more than a few minutes in her company. The temptation was strong. But not strong enough. “I would like to, Sadb. Very much. But... perhaps it would be better if one of the others walked with you.”

Her eyes flicked up to him, wide and surprised, then she went white. “Of course, I did not mean... ah... “ She stood quickly and darted away.... and Ruadh nodded sadly, said his good nights, and walked back out into the night. A few minutes later, he took wing again and flew home.

---

Cad'strum waited in the dim light of his servant's small human hovel. He still wore the shape of the obese and drunken human man. It wouldn't do to be seen in his true form.

The door opened and his servant Na'rul stepped in, still wearing the form of the lush human Sadb. She recognized the magic scent of his presence instantly. "What if he had agreed to come home with me?" she asked irritably as she turned towards him. "Your presence here would have revealed everything."

"Mind your tone with me." Cad'strum snapped. "He is an angel, you simple fool. He is tempted, he is intrigued. He considered it. But it is too soon."

"He WAS tempted," she agreed with a satisfied purr.

"You have his attention and his interest. But it will take more. It will take time."

Irritation danced across her pretty face. “So I must stay here, living like a human, until he returns?”

"You will stay here until I order otherwise!" He shook off his irritation. “Na'rul, he will be thinking of you. He will remember your eyes, the flash of her skin. And he will not be suspicious because you are not forward with him. He will feel safe because you do not pursue him. His rescue of you tonight will make him feel protective of you. This will not be fast. But once he gives his heart to you, once he is willing to risk everything to be with you... we will engineer his fall.” Cad'strum smiled. "I would think you would like it, Na'rul. You were cast out because of your heart. And now another angel will follow your fall, for the same reason."

She smiled, but her eyes were bitter. "I would like to see any angel fall, for any reason." she said finally.

“And once he is away from the protection of the host... I can repay him in full.”

Na'rul's smile broadened. There was not a devil alive who did not relish the idea of bringing about the fall of an angel. But deep inside where she could still deny it, she remembered the spark in Ruadh's blue eyes, the strength, the determined way he stood as a shield for her. It provoked feelings in her that were not entirely diabolic.

I cannot connect with CoHupdater. I can BYPASS it, but I can't connect with it.

I have put in a help ticket, but surprisingly have gotten no response at all, not even a "we've escalated" type response. They're usually pretty quick to respond, so I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that I've gotten nothing at all from them.

Since there's a new publish tomorrow, I'm a little desperate.

I recently moved to a new location with a truly wretched connection, however, I HAVE successfully connected with updater from this location. Then, after a day or two, updater quit connecting.

I have tried flushdns, ipconfig release, ipconfig renew, I have added " -port 13094" and " -port 23094" to my target properties.

Below are some diagnostics

C:...>tracert cohupdate.coh.com

Tracing route to cohupdate.coh.com [64.25.34.135]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 2 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 1136 ms 2733 ms 1370 ms 10.3.192.1
3 1927 ms 1453 ms 1444 ms 10.246.20.9
4 1937 ms 1496 ms 1407 ms 10.246.30.33
5 2072 ms 1457 ms 1485 ms 10.246.30.1
6 1479 ms 1380 ms 1404 ms 10.246.100.2
7 1071 ms 1462 ms 732 ms 10.246.110.2
8 1544 ms 1414 ms 2069 ms 12.117.149.57
9 1970 ms 2145 ms 1447 ms cr2.dvmco.ip.att.net [12.122.144.154]
10 1716 ms 2106 ms 1487 ms cr2.dlstx.ip.att.net [12.122.31.89]
11 971 ms 1027 ms 1251 ms ggr3.dlstx.ip.att.net [12.122.138.25]
12 907 ms 2865 ms 1248 ms 192.205.35.142
13 782 ms 939 ms 934 ms ae-42-90.car2.Dallas1.Level3.net [4.69.145.196]

14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at December 6, 2010 18:25 (-06:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Studio XPS 8100
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Memory: 8192MB
.Net Memory Report: 5993MB out of 8151MB available
Page File: 13779MB (2520MB currently in use)
C Drive: (SAMSUNG HD103SJ) 878175MB out of 938828MB (93%) free
D Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GH50N) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7600.16385 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI display adapter (0x68B8)
Video Memory: 4080 MB
Driver Version: 8.660.0.0
Driver Date: 9/18/2009 11:50:38 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5953
Driver Date: 10/6/2009 8:51:22 PM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5953
Driver Date: 10/6/2009 8:51:22 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 0T568R
Motherboard Version: A00
BIOS Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS Version: DELL - 20091209
BIOS Release: 20091209000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1920x1080
3D Resolution: 1920x1080 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes


Physics Quality: High
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Off
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: Ultra quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned on)
Depth of Field Enabled: Yes
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Medium?


World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.506
Entity Detail Level: 1.506
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Shadow Mode: Unknown (4)
Shadow Map Shader: High quality
Environmental Reflections: High quality
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: High quality
Occlusion Strength: Strong
Blur: Trilateral
Ambient Resolution: Quality


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.605

Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.500
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 1698321 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1900.201011102104.8
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
.\texture_library\MAPS\city has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Midnight_Squad has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Safeguard has 9 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\sewers has 44 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\static has 38 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\City has 1 file
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Outdoor_Missions has 9 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Static has 16 files


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 6:40:04 PM, on 12/6/2010
Platform: Windows 7 (WinNT 6.00.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16671)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Local Backup\Components\scheduler\STService.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Local Backup\Toaster.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\SSScheduler.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorIcon.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Multimedia Card Reader(9106)\ShwiconXP9106.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastUI.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jucheck.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ArcSoft\Connection Service\Bin\ACDaemon.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ArcSoft\Connection Service\Bin\ArcCon.ac
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nikon\Monitor\NkMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\HeroStats Unstable\HeroStats.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\City of Heroes\cohupdater.exe
C:\Users\Sooner\Downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://g.msn.com/USCON/1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://g.msn.com/USCON/1
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SEPsearchhelperie.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAStorIcon] C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorIcon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShwiconXP9106] C:\Program Files (x86)\Multimedia Card Reader(9106)\ShwiconXP9106.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "c:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell DataSafe Online] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe" /m
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVDDXSrv] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\Windows\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DellSupportCenter] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe" /P DellSupportCenter
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Conime] %windir%\system32\conime.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EKIJ5000StatusMonitor] C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\EKIJ5000MU I.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ArcSoft Connection Service] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ArcSoft\Connection Service\Bin\ACDaemon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Nikon Transfer Monitor] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nikon\Monitor\NkMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [Launcher] C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Local Backup\Components\scheduler\Launcher.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [STToasterLauncher] C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Local Backup\toasterLauncher.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RESTART_STICKY_NOTES] C:\Windows\System32\StikyNot.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [FlashPlayerUpdate] C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil10k_Pl ugin.exe -update plugin
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - .DEFAULT User Startup: Dell Dock First Run.lnk = C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DellDock.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: Dell Dock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DellDock.exe
O4 - Global Startup: McAfee Security Scan Plus.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Bonjour - {7F9DB11C-E358-4ca6-A83D-ACC663939424} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\ExplorerPlugin.dll
O23 - Service: ArcSoft Connect Daemon (ACDaemon) - ArcSoft Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ArcSoft\Connection Service\Bin\ACService.exe
O23 - Service: Adobe Active File Monitor V8 (AdobeActiveFileMonitor8.0) - Adobe Systems Incorporated - c:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Elements Organizer 8.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AMD External Events Utility - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Dock Login Service (DockLoginService) - Stardock Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DockLogin.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology (IAStorDataMgrSvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Kodak AiO Network Discovery Service - Eastman Kodak Company - C:\Program Files (x86)\Kodak\AiO\Center\ekdiscovery.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Security Scan Component Host Service (McComponentHostService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\McCHSvc.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB10 - Sonic Solutions - c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Roxio Shared\10.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB10.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SessionLauncher - Unknown owner - c:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\DX9\SessionLa uncher.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SoftThinks Agent Service (SftService) - SoftThinks - C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Local Backup\sftservice.EXE
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SupportSoft Sprocket Service (DellSupportCenter) (sprtsvc_DellSupportCenter) - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtsvc.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 11884 bytes

I'm there

I should be there for that one.

Reminder! This is this weekend!

...and I won't be here for it.

I'd be interested in more.

Filled out the form.

That was really nice, and went far to take the bad taste out of our mouths from yesterday.

It's awesome what we can do when we all pull together.

Thank you Protector!

Thank you as well to the ranged team. Both ranged team stuck around and kept trying right to the end. And we got our jobs done.

Thanks!

Very much appreciate the update. It's nice to hear something.

Oh... you know I'll be there. I assume I should bring Ici?

We've got it down pretty solid.

Remember, this is TODAY!

Nukes, people! Grab em!

I will be there, nukes in hand.

A few of my friends have already heard this story, but I'm going to tell you about a young man who really made an impression on me recently.

I was flying to visit some friends, and I had a long layover in Dallas.

Now, normally, when I'm traveling like this, I prefer to just keep to myself. I read a book, or do some work on my netbook. I suppose it's antisocial of me... but there you have it.

I went into the TGI Friday's there at the airport and found myself a table. There was a young man at the next table, also alone, and I noticed the waiter bring him a drink that looked interesting, and so I asked him what it was.

After he answered me (bloody mary), he said, in a friendly Texas twang, "Why don't you join me? We're both here alone, why don't we share a table?"

Now, normally, I would have said, "Thanks, but I think I'll just read my book." But... something about this young man.... I gathered up my stuff and said, "Sure!"

He was a very fit young man, very tan, wearing BDU pants and a plain t-shirt, with a ball cap on his head. I asked him where he was headed, and he told me he was just 3 days back from Iraq. He was headed to a base in Kentucky. He said he was a Ranger, a sniper.

We talked for about an hour and a half. Or... rather, he talked. He told me about getting shot, about his best friend dying, about ambushes and bombs. A few times he cried. More than once he said he was done talking about it... and then a few minutes later he would start another story.

When he got up to catch his plane, I tried to pay for his meal, as a thank you for his service, but he flatly refused, telling me his mom raised him as a gentleman. He finally agreed to let me pay the tip - though I think he just did that so I would stop insisting.

Then he told me I was sweet and thanked me

He thanked me for listening, gathered up his duffle, and disappeared into the crowd at the Dallas airport. That was when I realized we'd never exchanged our names.

At the time I thought it was odd that this young man was so open with a stranger he'd just met in an airport. Later on, I began to wonder... was I the first person he'd had a chance to talk to since he got back to the states? Perhaps he was so open because he NEEDED to talk to someone. I like to think that I helped that young man by sitting and listening to his stories, by letting him cry, by smiling and laughing at his jokes. Maybe by putting all that on me, he didn't cry in front of his mother or girlfriend.

At any rate, that young man made a profound impression on me, and I hope he knows how much I appreciate his service.

Thank you, to everyone who has served.

Happy Birthday!

EDIT: Sorry, Kid. I guess I was typing this while you posted. I can be done with it.