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Post Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 1:39 am 
 

In 8 months I added 40lbs due to pretzels and beer.... It took 2 years to lose it... um, still love pretzels and beer... I had to get rid of the beermeister kegerator.  :(

-SKA

  

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Post Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2026 12:21 am 
 

Sir Kill Alot wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:In 8 months I added 40lbs due to pretzels and beer.... It took 2 years to lose it... um, still love pretzels and beer... I had to get rid of the beermeister kegerator.  :(

-SKA


I got rid of 250 lbs. in 1 day when the judge approved the divorce. I thought you used to run across barren deserts?!?!


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Post Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:33 am 
 

I was once 280-300 lb (125+ kg).
Two years ago my kidneys gave out.
To handle that they pump out the blood, clean it, replace it. But they can also decide how much water to remove as well, since you don't pee.

Now I'm at 150+ lb (71 kg). Amazing how much weight is lifted, literally.
Nice bonus at age 75. :)


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Post Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 2:56 pm 
 

I've been a lightweight my entire life. I weighed just over 140lb. after high school in '85, and maintained that for years for the most part, maybe a little less as I wasn't as physically active. Sometime around the early 2000s, I suddenly gained 25 lb. in a couple of weeks. It might not seem like a lot to some, but that's a significant percentage at my size, especially in that timeframe. I've had trouble managing to keep the gut-weight off, which isn't healthy. Going organic, using a good liquid-based multi-vitamin and reduction in the intake of gluten helped me a lot, but it's difficult to maintain now since the mom-and-pop grocer I used to go to was forced to move out for development in the area.


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Post Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 2:59 am 
 

This is a long shot, but can anyone here read Japanese? I have a sword that is begging for identification via the writing on the tang. I can barely read English myself so any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I attached a drawing I made of the writing. I can't seem to take a pic or scan it......

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

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Last edited by Deadlord on Sat Apr 04, 2026 5:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
  

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Post Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:58 pm 
 

Deadlord wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:
I got rid of 250 lbs. in 1 day when the judge approved the divorce. I thought you used to run across barren deserts?!?!


250lbs?  That's almost having to pull into weigh stations...8-). ..I couldn't run if being chased by a mugger...I'd be like ok, mug me.

  

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Post Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:02 pm 
 

ExTSR wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:I was once 280-300 lb (125+ kg).
Two years ago my kidneys gave out.
To handle that they pump out the blood, clean it, replace it. But they can also decide how much water to remove as well, since you don't pee.

Now I'm at 150+ lb (71 kg). Amazing how much weight is lifted, literally.
Nice bonus at age 75. :)


That's awesome (losing weight).  I hope you are doing/feeling well.  Losing that much weight relieves a ton of stress on the body.

  


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Post Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:50 am 
 

ExTSR wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:I was once 280-300 lb (125+ kg).
Two years ago my kidneys gave out.
To handle that they pump out the blood, clean it, replace it. But they can also decide how much water to remove as well, since you don't pee.

Now I'm at 150+ lb (71 kg). Amazing how much weight is lifted, literally.
Nice bonus at age 75. :)

That's super encouraging!

  

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Post Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 8:43 pm 
 

Deadlord wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:This is a long shot, but can anyone here read Japanese? I have a sword that is begging for identification via the writing on the tang. I can barely read English myself so any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I attached a drawing I made of the writing. I can't seem to take a pic or scan it......

I ran this by my step mother who is Japanese and she said it's Chinese, silly :-). My eyephone translation app wigs out a bit with it, but I wonder if loosely speaking it can be equated to a maker's mark, perhaps suggesting it comes from a shop in Guangzhou (previously Canton) in China's southern mainland province above Hong Kong.

  

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Post Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2026 12:41 pm 
 

It never occurred to me it might be Chinese but I have heard that from two people now. I'll try the google thing again with the right language :). Thanks!


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Post Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2026 10:54 pm 
 

Tried running it through several image-to-text sites that I have used before, but they can't find anything to make into text. Normally, I would then take the text and enter into DeepL for a translation, but I get nothing to work with.

Sometimes, it is because the image isn't clear enough to read, or they just can't pick up stylized writing very well. I have heard that even native Chinese readers have difficulty with stylized writing. I know when I was in MA school, my teacher had issues reading his teacher's calligraphy.

I would guess a maker's mark, as the writing is on the tang. Maybe try a Facebook group that deals with this sort of thing.


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Post Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 6:11 am 
 

When I travel to ancient ruins, I try to capture photos with no current technology or trash visible.  I succeeded better in some than others.  Modifying these photos into black and white line images are especially inspiring for ancient dungeons and adventures.  Feel free to use them free of charge.  

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Some of you may have figured out that this location was used by the film makers of Laura Croft Tomb Raider.  My wife and I just returned from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.  Details and pictures on my Facebook profile if interested. 8)


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Post Posted: Sat May 16, 2026 12:54 pm 
 

Hey Allan, apparently you have a new padawan here: link

:-D


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Post Posted: Thu May 28, 2026 12:11 am 
 

You guys ever wonder why a character who can cast Monster Summoning 1 doesn't automatically have the formula for the higher MS spells and vice versa? How much different can the basic verbal and somatic components be between 1 and 2, for example?


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Post Posted: Thu May 28, 2026 9:34 am 
 

The way I look at summoning spells is that, even though the basic frameworks are similar, summoning a more powerful creature requires more intricate verbal tuning and complex mental geometry. It’s like the difference between Algebra and Calculus I. You are still working with numbers and variables, but the complexity, tools, and mental load required to hold the formula together are on a completely different level.

  

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Post Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2026 10:06 am 
 

dbartman wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:The way I look at summoning spells is that, even though the basic frameworks are similar, summoning a more powerful creature requires more intricate verbal tuning and complex mental geometry. It’s like the difference between Algebra and Calculus I. You are still working with numbers and variables, but the complexity, tools, and mental load required to hold the formula together are on a completely different level.


OK, that makes sense. Sort of like MS 1 being "C'mere!" and MS 3 being "I implore thee to saunter in my direction".


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Post Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2026 1:02 pm 
 

Deadlord wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:OK, that makes sense. Sort of like MS 1 being "C'mere!" and MS 3 being "I implore thee to saunter in my direction".

Yep. :)

  

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Post Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 8:08 pm 
 

I like to incorporate alignment into Summon Monster spells.  IE a Good aligned character can only summon good or neutral  r aligned creatures or beings, evil aligned characters can only summon evil or neutral beings.  Why would a Celestial Owl come to the the aid of an evil mage?  It's a nice role playing touch.


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