xkcd

by **Jesse** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:09 pm UTC

Pfft, a lady called Helen trains at our wrestling gym, she comes from Wales to Manchester and back again every weekend.

I mean, sure you can stay in Cardiff, if you want to live a boring, unadventurous life. Or you can come battle some evil with us crazies in Manchester.

by **Aramis** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:47 am UTC

Jeez, and I thought I was going to have to fork out to get from Rawtenstall to Manchester and back every week. From Wales? Wow.

by **sleepygamer** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:18 am UTC

I'm still unsure as what to come as...

How about Zasalamel? From Soul Calibur 3? I could dye the hood white, and wear some ultra baggy white clothes with lots of useless gold ornamentation! And a scythe.

by **thecommabandit** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:39 am UTC

Well actually, after doing some research with sleepygamer last night we found out that it'll be about £26. I'll have to leave at nearly five in the morning but whatever. Righteous cause > one more night of uninterrupted sleep.

by **Jesse** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:44 pm UTC

Don't forget that I am still willing to buy anyone cake who wants it (Last time we had cookies that I didn't pay for).

by **Aramis** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:04 pm UTC

Yum... Delicious Cake...

sleepygamer wrote:I'm still unsure as what to come as...

How about Zasalamel? From Soul Calibur 3? I could dye the hood white, and wear some ultra baggy white clothes with lots of useless gold ornamentation! And a scythe.

That would work, but you would have to bleach the hood, so be very careful doing that.

And I have some left over blue fabric, I could probably fashion a Sub Zero costume. Any cool ideas for other easy to make costumes?

by **sleepygamer** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:20 pm UTC

I was considering doing a Sub Zero, or a Scorpion costume. Would the ninja mask be enough to hide your identity? Probably.

by **Aramis** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:38 pm UTC

More than enough. The last two protests, I wore just a bandanna over my face.

by **Jesse** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:34 pm UTC

I have no videogame costume, so I think I'll dig out my old mask and cape and t-shirt and come as The Hurricane, because technically he's been in three/four videogames.

by **sleepygamer** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:09 pm UTC

I'm gonna convince my mum to make me an Ermac costume. Mortal Kombat characters rock.

by **Aramis** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:26 pm UTC

So that leaves me to make a Sub Zero costume...

Shame I'm too small to pass off as Rosey...

by **thecommabandit** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:30 am UTC

Jesse wrote:Don't forget that I am still willing to buy anyone cake who wants it.

[GLaDOS] Anyway, this cake is great. It's so delicious and moist.
Look at me still talking when there's ~~science~~ protesting to do
When I look out there it makes me GLaD I'm not you
I've experiments to run there is ~~research~~ protests to be done
On the people who are still ~~alive~~ inside.[/GLaDOS]

I look forward to the delicious cake, and hope it isn't a lie.

I don't hate you...

by **sleepygamer** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:56 am UTC

Aramis wrote:So that leaves me to make a Sub Zero costume...

Shame I'm too small to pass off as Rosey...

I was gonna try Smoke or Noob Saibot, but black clothing isn't good for warm weather.

by **LE4dGOLEM** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:23 pm UTC

Trust not enturb for having all the informations which are about. I would recommend hopping on the irc channel. (PM for it, general t'internet ain't too friendly no more)

by **Aramis** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:22 pm UTC

OK so very shortly, probably tomorrow, I am going to start making placards.

My question is to LE4D, Jesse and Sleepy. And also anyone else who is coming to Manchester 5/10.

Does anyone need me to make them a placard? I have enough wood board to make about 4 signs. If so, is there anything in particular you would like?

by **Jesse** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:28 am UTC

LE4d is currently banned from the fora I believe, so he won't see that, and I'm not up for placard holding, too much effort especially when walking around for dinner. Thanks for the offer though.

by **Meez** » Mon May 05, 2008 4:16 am UTC

sleepygamer wrote:I'll probably come to the Scientology Protest, if only to meet other XKCD-ers, and for cake. And for a day out. I live in Leeds, so I'll probably get a bus/train there. Anyone know what would be best?

Also, if anyone else is gonna be at the stop I get off at, can you hang around with a "sleepygamer" or "xkcd" sign? I've never been to Manchester, and I will easily get lost. Even if I use a map.

Mmm, decided how you're getting there yet or happen to know the train fares? I also live in Leeds, contemplating whether to go or not.

by **sleepygamer** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:43 am UTC

I'm going by train. I think the fares are a fiver each way (according to this website).

I'm probably gonna get my tickets in the station, booking online is never comfortable for me.

by **Aramis** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:26 pm UTC

It is very very easy to find someone's details over the web. Buying from the station is probably a good idea.

Sleepy and Meez, do you need me to make any signs for you? If so, what would you like on them?

by **sleepygamer** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:49 pm UTC

Hmm.. tempting to have a sign, but I have no idea what I'd put on them.

"Scientology is... bad?"

"Fair Game is... bad?"

by **Jesse** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:24 pm UTC

Anyone going through Piccadilly station let me know, and I'll meet you all there and we can walk together, since I kind of know the way. Don't worry about being there long before eleven, it's not an incredibly long walk.

Sleepy also has my mobile number if any of you need to get in touch with me for whatever reason.

Essentially my plan is to turn up at Piccadilly, meet whoever wants me to meet them, buy any drinks I want, walk to the protest (put my mask on along the way). We'll meet up with LE4d and his utterly cool friends when we get there, hang around the protest for about an hour before we go for some lunch, stay at the protest until between 2:30 and 4:00 at which point we all go for sweets and caek.

by **thecommabandit** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:55 am UTC

*raises hand* I'll be coming. Me and sleepygamer have arranged to get there for about 9ish because the next latest train I could catch gets there too late. I guess it's good that I heven't booked my tickets yet - I was planning to be on the train home at about half four. Suppose I'll be getting home by ten instead of nine then =P Oh well. It's worth it for delicious caaaake. It better not be a lie...

In case you/anyone who cares didn't know, sleepygamer won't have access to the blag-o-nets until after the protest. I still have his mobile anyway so communication endures.

Hey, for placards, how about "This idiot isn't one of us" with an arrow in case we get attacked by scilon agents posing as chavs. Maybe on the back of a main placard... "Co$ hates free speech"? "Fair game - game over"? That's about all I can think of right now.

by **Jesse** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:18 pm UTC

Well the earliest I'll get there is ten, so I can meet you guys in the train station, go grab a small brekfast and then walk down together?

by **Aramis** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:29 pm UTC

Do you know the way? Because I can get in to Manchester early and meet you at Piccadilly if you'd like.

by **Jesse** » Thu May 08, 2008 5:18 am UTC

I do know the way. I took a really circuitous route last time, but I should be able to go the right way this time. Hopefully.

by **thecommabandit** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:40 pm UTC

Cascade failure! I won't be able to get to Manchester. Tried to get a railcard today, would cost £24, needed a passport photo (extra £4) and huge amount of bother. Ticket would be expensive since I'm a complete fool and failed to prepare in advance so I will not be there to create epic win. D=

Make sure you make some more epic win/lulz in my name (or not as it might be safer to do). Depending on the date of the next one I may or may not be able to get there.

by **sleepygamer** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:47 pm UTC

Okay, update.

I should be able to come in, but I had a failure in the Metrocard area (lost it). So I'll have to pay full price. Which is bad. Because I am poor.

Okay, not that poor. My EMA didn't come through today (due in on monday... FAIL) so unless I can beg £20 off my mum, I'm stuck. VERY stuck.

So, I won't be able to interblag tonight, so if Jesse can give me a ring on my mobile number (I'll PM it to ya, I can't remember if you have mine yet) at about 0930 hours, I can tell him I if I am or amp't coming. If I am coming, I'll be arriving between 9am and 10am.

Jesse, give me a text and tell me where you will be waiting for me... I don't know what Piccadilly looks like, so you'll have to be in plain sight. XD

Anyway, I'm gonna head home from college, it's nearly 6pm, and I'm still online.

Sorry about you not being able to come, dude. Prepare for your next one. Now. NOW.

When is the next one anyway?

by **Aramis** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:51 pm UTC

June 14th I think.

by **Jesse** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:44 am UTC

Congratulations to those who made it down, we had a great time and managed to hand out every single flyer for the first time ever.

Highlights:
Marching
Superheroism
Guy with V masks on his knees and elbows
Mounted police and two Incident Response Units, bit of a step up from the two CSO's we had last time.
Table of cake
Refilling KFC cups and a big bottle of Pepsi at the Pizza Hut refill (Next time, someone bring a hose or funnel).
Attractive masked ladies.
Scitrolls.

14th of June is the next one.

by **Jesse** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:46 am UTC

Also, the focus is on the Sea Org section of Scientology, so pirate attire would be suitable.

by **thecommabandit** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:21 pm UTC

Jesse wrote:Also, the focus is on the Sea Org section of Scientology, so pirate attire would be suitable.

I can do that! I dressed as a pirate for Comic Relief and I won the award for best costume! Well I would've if there had been a prize...

by **Aramis** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:20 pm UTC

I can do pirate... :twisted:

by **sleepygamer** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:40 am UTC

I might come as a ninja, to balance the ninja : pirate ratio.

by **Jesse** » Fri May 16, 2008 3:09 pm UTC

I think the Hurricape shall return, but with my original leather mask instead. That needs to get more use. I just checked train times, and I'll have no problem getting to the food court by 12:30, so if I meet you guys where we usually sit down there at around 12:30 I'll tag along and protest all afternoon.

by **Aramis** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:39 pm UTC

Yay! It shall be great to have you with us again. Sleepy, do you know the way from Piccadilly? If not, I'll get to Manchester early and walk you to Starbucks.

by **sleepygamer** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:49 am UTC

Nah dude, I'm still a n00b around Manchester. I could probably find my way there from memory, but it'd take me a while! So I'll probably need the help!

Actually... I could pull of being a pirate... a bandana wearing pirate!

And I'm not too bad at making a wooden leg, either!

by **Aramis** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:59 pm UTC

OK - what time will you be most likely getting into Manchester? And I will bring a funnel.

by **sleepygamer** » Sun May 18, 2008 1:59 am UTC

Aramis wrote:OK - what time will you be most likely getting into Manchester? And I will bring a funnel.

I'll bring one too...

Hmm, I'll try and arrive for 9:30 at the latest, that way we can grab a breakfast of some kind.

And a length of pipe... just in case the funnel is too awkward on it's own

by **LE4dGOLEM** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:49 am UTC

Free refills!

Ahem. As Jesse said, Sea Org --> Sea Arrrgh: Pirates. Though most will probably be in normal protesting attire, there will be a fair few piratey-type fellows (and lasses) about. I intend to be wearing something somewhat different from my normal protesty gear, though not full pirate. I will have a tricorn of some kind though!

As far as getting "that" mask goes, this excellent online costume shop will sell you the V mask cheaper and faster than Forbidden Planet^{[direct link]}: because they support Anon, they automatically put it on Priority mail, which means they will send them out the same day if you make the order before 3PM EST (seven PM GMT), and will arrive to US destinations (I know, I know, it'll take longer to get here) within 2-3 ~~working days~~ "weekdays", which includes Saturdays!

EDIT: Updated the OP.

by **sleepygamer** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:59 pm UTC

Oh, I just wanted to raise a couple of notes...

How much is a V mask from a store in the UK? I'm not much of an internets purchaser. I don't have Paypal. >.>;

Eyepatches? If I can't get a V mask/don't want to wear one, anyone know where I can find a decent one that isn't made from cardboard?

A suitable way of attaching a length of wood to a knee that is bent? Y'see... I want to make a peg leg... so I can carve a length of wood into shape and so on, and I can adapt a cheap pair of jeans (in this case, cut them short, and run zips up the back, so that I can pull my leg up underneath them, and alternate quickly and painlessly, without getting naked), but I can't figure out a way of sticking the wood to my exposed knee in such a way that it will hold steady, and not hurt!

...maybe a plunger?

Anyway... I also wanted to add a little note to the highlights above...

Bad dancing LE4D = /facepam

XD

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