Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
From: d.brin [EMAIL PROTECTED] David, Would you be so kind as to entertain us by taking the test (takes only a few minutes) and tell us the result? Inquiring Brin-L minds would like to know. Stefan Jones posted this link on another board to which I subscribe: http://gning.org/skiffy.html I was unable to find Greg Bear or KS Robinson or myself. Someone let me know if you do. I admit I cheated and found David Brin was actually on the list by cycling through the answer links. Some interesting authors on that list... Here was a set of answers that got me David Brin: 1. War and conquest 2. Whatever is big, fast, and/or powerful 3. Patriotism is foolish... but I suppose I'm rather parochial. 4. I'll shit on you like you've never been shit on before. 5. I just avoid people as much as possible. 6. When you get onto a subject that I care about, I'll surprise you 7. Sort of, but it's as much commercial as artistic. 8. Pat. 9. It is morally wrong to silence yourself just so somebody else can talk. 10. I'm all about questions, not answers. 11. Hell, it's practically brimming full! For whatever that's worth!! (My real answers said I was Greg Benford) But honestly folks. Ain't it too silly for lifespan? Well, I needed the break! The reason we ask, is for comments about things like these, they are valuable. So what is your take on things like the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) test? I think it's absolute BS that people use to classify each other and pigeonhole people with. My MBTI totally depends on my mood the day I take it. As do most of these tests... ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [ir]rational answer question
Deborah Harrell wrote: sigh Clearly I must bow to those with superior knowledge in this field - but I still don't have to like the kinked logic of a supposedly rational _Mathematics_. ;P Mathematics is not about numbers, it's about abstract things that can be manipulated using known rules. An imaginary number is as logical as a function, or a set, or a matrix. I think you accept sets - heck, my _daughters_ have managed sets at Terceira Serie [the equivalent in the USA is 4th grade]. But sets can become much more weirder than irrational numbers Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
Jon Gabriel wrote: Got this in my mailbox this morning. Whoo boy. For anyone else who didn't see this week's episode of Enterprise, this excerpt from a review doesn't spoil the ending or plot but may ruin your viewing pleasure anyway. :-) Yeah, it wasn't too good. They pulled out all the corny cliches about mismatched couples you've ever seen. On the plus side, the alien chick was really hot! Um, did I say that last part out loud? Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
At 23:00 14-12-2002 -0600, Amanda SubbaRao wrote: Aha -- a new face in the crowd! Welcome! :-) Care to tell us more about yourself? My informants tell me you are a doctor of Astrophysics and Astronomy at Northeastern Illinois University, but that's pretty much it. (OK, that plus a comment about seven years being a very long time to not update a website grin). BTW, they also tell me you are the author of the the short story _MoonRise_ (http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/shorts/2001/07/MoonRise.htm). I liked that story; when can we expect the sequel? Jeroen Inquiring minds want to know van Baardwijk LEGAL NOTICE: By replying to this message, you understand and accept that your replies (both on-list and off-list) may be published on-line and in any other form, and that I cannot and shall not be held responsible for any negative consequences (monetary and otherwise) this may have for you. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [Listref] Hayman Fire
Deborah Harrell wrote: --- Julia Thompson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Deborah Harrell wrote: Prairie fire that would outrace a horse Maru (from another 'Little House' book) Which one? I'm trying to remember, and about all I *can* remember is something about Pa plowing a firebreak around the house, and after the fire swept through, the house being on a little island in a sea of char Exactly! _Little House On The Prairie_; the fire may have been set by the Indians before their big migration, to make it easier for the travois to be pulled, and something about encouraging new grass growth for their ponies... IIRC. The Cover Had Laura Racing Bareback Flatout Maru I thought that _On the Shores of Silver Lake_ was the one with her riding bareback flat-out, and that _Little House on the Prairie_ had the picture of her looking out the back of the covered wagon. (And it was _Little Town on the Prairie_ that had the sisters with the kitten, and I could probably describe a number of other covers, but probably nobody else is interested) Julia Book-intensive Girlhood Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Fwd: Re: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
d.brin wrote: But honestly folks. Ain't it too silly for lifespan? Too silly is relative. It's ridiculous, certainly, but is it more or less a waste of time than sitting around in the covered outdoor seating area of a restaurant on a Saturday night with a bunch of people in various approximations of Santa costumes, some of them drinking margaritas, some of them smoking cigarettes, chanting, Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! at passers-by? Julia Been There, Done That Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Update on Ali the Video Store Clerk
Jon Gabriel wrote: My wife's suggestion was also practical: Wear boots to and from the office and keep the dress shoes under my desk. Change when arriving and leaving. :-) You mean, you hadn't thought of that already? I'm guessing the weather doesn't get bad enough for you to *need* to wear the boots, rather than the dress shoes, to and from work. :) (Some sort of boot that goes *over* the shoe might work, as well. That's what my father did when I was little. Totes used to make something very affordable along those lines.) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: citations
The pattern suggests that 45 scientists, who might well have read the paper, made an error when they cited it. Then 151 others copied their misprints without reading the original. So for at least 77 per cent of the 196 misprinted citations, no one read the paper. Actually, my papers typically have some citations which are included out of respect for those who first researched the topic. If I say Furde proved X in [17]., I'm merely acknowledging that Furde did prior work. I usually have not read the original paper, and don't care. ---David ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
In a message dated 12/15/2002 12:26:25 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Oh, and welcome to Brin-L too! The people here aren't as crazy as they look (except for Rob, who is much crazier). As I sit here pouring Cheerios on my applesauce, I wonder what he means by this statement. Whatever. I add my welcome. Not a story writer; just a detailer. William Taylor - (Who has now probably started a string on favorite odd food combinations.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
- Original Message - From: Richard Baker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 1:23 PM Subject: Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You? Amanda said: I decided Academia was Not For Me Welcome to the club! (Although I suspect that I'm a newer member than you are.) Oh, and welcome to Brin-L too! The people here aren't as crazy as they look (except for Rob, who is much crazier). I suppose thats true, seeing as how I am the creator of the geneticly engineered pythons that swallow volunteers in order to remake them as superhumans. (No really, just ask Rich!) Moonrise is still on my to fiddle with further list Do you find that you write most of a story in a sudden rush of enthusiasm and then find it hard to go back to it and finish it off? I'm really suffering that with my latest story - I know exactly what needs to go into the missing section and what changes need to be made to what's already written, but I just can't seem to find the time and the right mood to push through to the end. I'm starting to see a whole future of unfinished stories and fragments of novels ahead of me. Stephen Kings On Writing addresses this. But I'm not sure that his suggestions apply across the board. Worth a read by any aspiring writer in any case. (In the shameless plug department, what I've written so far is at http://www.theculture.org/rich/story.txt and spoiler junkies can see most of the ending at /end.txt The parts that make it make sense are as yet unwritten however.) As I've said before, I like it alot. I think it has a lot of potential. And welcome Amanda! xponent We Got Our Own Amanda Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [ir]rational answer question
At 12:50 AM 12/15/02 +, Alberto Monteiro wrote: But sets can become much more weirder than irrational numbers Indeed, they can _be_ irrational numbers . . . unless you think that's too unkind a cut. --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Update on Ali the Video Store Clerk
At 10:45 AM 12/15/02 -0600, Julia Thompson wrote: Jon Gabriel wrote: My wife's suggestion was also practical: Wear boots to and from the office and keep the dress shoes under my desk. Change when arriving and leaving. :-) You mean, you hadn't thought of that already? I'm guessing the weather doesn't get bad enough for you to *need* to wear the boots, rather than the dress shoes, to and from work. :) (Some sort of boot that goes *over* the shoe might work, as well. That's what my father did when I was little. Totes used to make something very affordable along those lines.) Julia Um . . . hello? I saw my message in which I made those very suggestions on the list, so I know it made it. Did everyone stop reading after the TMI portion on nylons, before getting to that part? --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Update on Ali the Video Store Clerk
Actually, I saw them both! :) Thank you! Will be responding in more depth once I figure out if I'm telecommuting in the morning. :-( Jon Transit Strike delenda est maru From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Ronn! Blankenship Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 4:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Update on Ali the Video Store Clerk At 10:45 AM 12/15/02 -0600, Julia Thompson wrote: Jon Gabriel wrote: My wife's suggestion was also practical: Wear boots to and from the office and keep the dress shoes under my desk. Change when arriving and leaving. :-) You mean, you hadn't thought of that already? I'm guessing the weather doesn't get bad enough for you to *need* to wear the boots, rather than the dress shoes, to and from work. :) (Some sort of boot that goes *over* the shoe might work, as well. That's what my father did when I was little. Totes used to make something very affordable along those lines.) Julia Um . . . hello? I saw my message in which I made those very suggestions on the list, so I know it made it. Did everyone stop reading after the TMI portion on nylons, before getting to that part? --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Fwd: Re: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
At 10:41 AM 12/15/02 -0600, Julia Thompson wrote: d.brin wrote: But honestly folks. Ain't it too silly for lifespan? Too silly is relative. It's ridiculous, certainly, but is it more or less a waste of time than sitting around in the covered outdoor seating area of a restaurant on a Saturday night with a bunch of people in various approximations of Santa costumes, some of them drinking margaritas, some of them smoking cigarettes, chanting, Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! at passers-by? Or at least 90% of the required meetings at the office . . . --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
Welcome, Amanda! At 12:12 PM 12/15/02 -0600, Amanda SubbaRao wrote: From: J. van Baardwijk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Aha -- a new face in the crowd! Welcome! :-) Care to tell us more about yourself? My informants tell me you are a doctor of Astrophysics and Astronomy at Northeastern Illinois University, but that's pretty much it. That's what the list always needs more of: professional astronomers who write in their spare time! -- Ronn! :) Ronn Blankenship Instructor of Astronomy/Planetary Science University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Disclaimer: Unless specifically stated otherwise, any opinions contained herein are the personal opinions of the author and do not represent the official position of the University of Montevallo. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
Thanks, Amanda, for finding me... so to speak. Here was a set of answers that got me David Brin: 1. War and conquest 2. Whatever is big, fast, and/or powerful 3. Patriotism is foolish... but I suppose I'm rather parochial. 4. I'll shit on you like you've never been shit on before. 5. I just avoid people as much as possible. 6. When you get onto a subject that I care about, I'll surprise you 7. Sort of, but it's as much commercial as artistic. 8. Pat. 9. It is morally wrong to silence yourself just so somebody else can talk. 10. I'm all about questions, not answers. 11. Hell, it's practically brimming full! How interesting. In fact, a majority of these answers are bizarre or even diametrically opposite to anything having to do with me. 1,2,4,5, and 8 have no bearing on truth in any way. 3(c) (Patriotism is foolish... but I suppose I'm rather parochial.) doesn't even make sense as an answer, no matter who gives it. If I'm right about what the designer MEANT, it might be my answer, or internationalist... or 'good old USA' depending on context. Certainly the Postman could be looked at as patriotic, but only in the sense that restoring the USA would serve the long term interests of civilization. The answer for 6 conflicts with their answer for 4... and is just as inaccurate. Whether you like my opinions or not, it's clear that I'm an extrovert. Number 9 is a matter of opinion. It is not the answer I would give about myself, but I admit that I am rather forward in bouncing all over with enthusiastic opinions. I constantly check to make sure I'm not suppressing others, and feel genuinely interested in others' ideas... but I know I fail in that effort often. So if the designers of this test wanted to put me in category 9(a) it is at least based on a general set of behaviors that occur in real life. That leaves 7, 10, and 11. These are the only answers that I would have written about myself. Ah... but before I get all lathered up, let's try variation. I changed all the insultingly stupid answers in 4 through 9... and even changed 3 to internationalist... and still got David Brin! It turns out the only 3 questions that need these answers in order to get me are #1,2 and 11 so I take back what I said about designer-tendentiousness. It's just silly. I'd be interested in how Vernor, Greg Bear, Stan Robinson etc score. All told, I consider this thing to be tendentious and stupid. The inherent biases make it pretty easy to dial in on the people who wrote it. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
I second that welcome! Nice to meet you. :) And... don't worry, Jeroen *does* work for a government, but not ours. :) Although I'm almost afraid to ask what his 'informants' tell him about the rest of us. Jon GSV Who knew Big Brother would be Dutch? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Ronn! Blankenship Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 4:24 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You? Welcome, Amanda! At 12:12 PM 12/15/02 -0600, Amanda SubbaRao wrote: From: J. van Baardwijk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Aha -- a new face in the crowd! Welcome! :-) Care to tell us more about yourself? My informants tell me you are a doctor of Astrophysics and Astronomy at Northeastern Illinois University, but that's pretty much it. That's what the list always needs more of: professional astronomers who write in their spare time! -- Ronn! :) Ronn Blankenship Instructor of Astronomy/Planetary Science University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Disclaimer: Unless specifically stated otherwise, any opinions contained herein are the personal opinions of the author and do not represent the official position of the University of Montevallo. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [ir]rational answer question
Ronn! Blankenship wrote: At 12:50 AM 12/15/02 +, Alberto Monteiro wrote: But sets can become much more weirder than irrational numbers Indeed, they can _be_ irrational numbers . . . unless you think that's too unkind a cut. What kind of cut would that be? :) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
I taped it... but didn't watch it until this afternoon. It was bad. Bad Bad BAD! Whoever wrote it should be shot. Fatally. Then they should be killed one more time just to be sure they never write again. Anyway, the 'hot alien chick' guest star is Padma Lakshmi. I knew she looked familiar, but couldn't place where I had seen here before. My wife walked through the living room and said Hey it's the host of Padma's somethingorother show on Food Network! Apparently FoodTV named an exotic foods show after her. *sigh* I never thought of myself as a Star Trek geek until my wife pointed out how often I spot actors and actresses on other shows and movies and say things like Hey, he was a Klingon on a Deep Space Nine episode a few years back. Jon GSV Anyway, Hoshi's still prettier. :) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Jim Sharkey Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 9:47 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh Jon Gabriel wrote: Got this in my mailbox this morning. Whoo boy. For anyone else who didn't see this week's episode of Enterprise, this excerpt from a review doesn't spoil the ending or plot but may ruin your viewing pleasure anyway. :-) Yeah, it wasn't too good. They pulled out all the corny cliches about mismatched couples you've ever seen. On the plus side, the alien chick was really hot! Um, did I say that last part out loud? Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
From the weird lunch department: I had a Yoohoo and a Morningstar fake corn dog for lunch with a golden delicious apple and some raisins. I don't normally drink Yoohoo, but it magically appeared in the fridge this morning and I couldn't very well let it mingle unchecked with the condiments and beverages lest they become corrupted. :-) How are Cheerios and Applesauce? Do they make the applesauce more festive? Jon BTW, I don't recommend the above combo... fake hotdogs wrapped in cornbread don't go as well with sickeningly sweet chocolate milk as you might expect. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 3:04 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You? In a message dated 12/15/2002 12:26:25 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Oh, and welcome to Brin-L too! The people here aren't as crazy as they look (except for Rob, who is much crazier). As I sit here pouring Cheerios on my applesauce, I wonder what he means by this statement. Whatever. I add my welcome. Not a story writer; just a detailer. William Taylor - (Who has now probably started a string on favorite odd food combinations.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
Our good Dr. Brin comments: 1. War and conquest 2. Whatever is big, fast, and/or powerful How interesting. In fact, a majority of these answers are bizarre or even diametrically opposite to anything having to do with me. 1,2,4,5, and 8 have no bearing on truth in any way. Perhaps if he had written The Uplift Police Action, he wouldn't have made their military list. William Taylor - And I say you should ask question 11 in a weightless environment. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
Jon wrote: I taped it... but didn't watch it until this afternoon. It was bad. Bad Bad BAD! Whoever wrote it should be shot. Fatally. Then they should be killed one more time just to be sure they never write again. Anyway, the 'hot alien chick' guest star is Padma Lakshmi. I knew she looked familiar, but couldn't place where I had seen here before. My wife walked through the living room and said Hey it's the host of Padma's somethingorother show on Food Network! Apparently FoodTV named an exotic foods show after her. *sigh* I never thought of myself as a Star Trek geek until my wife pointed out how often I spot actors and actresses on other shows and movies and say things like Hey, he was a Klingon on a Deep Space Nine episode a few years back. Jon GSV Anyway, Hoshi's still prettier. :) So now I have to decide if I'm either a big enough Trek geek not to miss even a bad ep. or a big enough Food TV geek to miss Padma... ;-) Now for true food meets geekdom, Alton Brown is the only way to go! Sean (anyone see Nemesis yet?...) -- ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: [ir]rational answer question
At 04:26 PM 12/15/02 -0600, Julia Thompson wrote: Ronn! Blankenship wrote: At 12:50 AM 12/15/02 +, Alberto Monteiro wrote: But sets can become much more weirder than irrational numbers Indeed, they can _be_ irrational numbers . . . unless you think that's too unkind a cut. What kind of cut would that be? The Dede-kind, of course . . . --Ronn! :) I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed that I would see the last. --Dr. Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Weird eats was: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
Jon wrote: How are Cheerios and Applesauce? Do they make the applesauce more festive? Jon BTW, I don't recommend the above combo... fake hotdogs wrapped in cornbread don't go as well with sickeningly sweet chocolate milk as you might expect. As I would expect it to be awful, I'll heed your advice... of course as I had a Chunk Beef Soup sandwich for lunch I should be careful what I say on odd combos. :-) Sean -- ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re:[Sausage LINK] What Science Fiction Epicurean Are You?
In a message dated 12/15/2002 3:44:59 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: How are Cheerios and Applesauce? Do they make the applesauce more festive? It's like crushing Fritos over cottage cheese. You go for the combination of crunch and soft. You only add the Cheerios as you are digging in; they so soggy faster than if in milk. I don't normally drink Yoohoo, but it magically appeared in the fridge this morning and I couldn't very well let it mingle unchecked with the condiments and beverages lest they become corrupted. :-) Speaking of corruption, pickles are the communists of they food world. They do not respect borders. Once introduced, their taste can never be silenced. Even if the pickle itself is removed from the plate, their propagandistic juices will still be inflicted upon the purity of the french fries. [It was a funnier routine in the 80s.] William Taylor Ding Dongs in taco sauce is a bit too far ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
In a message dated 12/15/2002 3:50:48 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Sean (anyone see Nemesis yet?...) -- Nope. I figure it is only worth the $5 non weekend afternoon price. I did spend the big $8+ for Drumline. As expected, the late Friday night showing was dominated by high school cheer and band types. I was the token older white guy. I even got to do my I can't count a beat routine. Tap out one-two-three by hand and voice, and then slip in an occasional vocal one-two-three four five while keeping the hand beat at three. Then ending it with a one-two Three-four, Damn. But no Two Towers preview. sigh William Taylor - Wait for the $3 second run houses. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
Sean wondered: (anyone see Nemesis yet?...) Word from an acquaintance is it's as good as First Contact, much better than Generations or Insurrection. I'm waiting for Two Towers. Peter Jackson RAWKS. *does dance* Gotta have a new Object of Fanboy Worship, since Lucas managed to completely f*ck up Star Wars. Adam C. Lipscomb [EMAIL PROTECTED] Silence. I am watching television. - Spider Jerusalem ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
d.brin wrote: Here was a set of answers that got me David Brin: 1. War and conquest In fact, a majority of these answers are bizarre or even diametrically opposite to anything having to do with me. 1,2,4,5, and 8 have no bearing on truth in any way. I think the reason for 1. War and conquest is that many of your books have War and conquest as an important part of the plot: Uplift War, the two books and the short story set on Jijo, Glory Season, The Practice Effect, etc - even if in the books you take the side of the weaker, defending side. Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ST Enterprise episode review... yeesh
Jon Gabriel wrote: *sigh* I never thought of myself as a Star Trek geek until my wife pointed out how often I spot actors and actresses on other shows and movies and say things like Hey, he was a Klingon on a Deep Space Nine episode a few years back. One day I watched _Dark Angel_, then _Birds of Prey_. When Huntress appeared, I said: Hey! That's Asha!. She changed the hair colour from blonde to black, and the role as the princess that must be saved by Logan to the fighting bitch, but I could recognize her. Alberto Monteiro I guess I am watching too much TV ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: On the topic of Star Trek and pain
In a message dated 12/15/2002 5:41:41 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: a CD of Wlliam Shatner and Leonard Nimoy singing. You've not known psychological torture until you've heard Shatner do Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or Mr. Tambourine Man or Nimoy do Proud Mary or The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins. *Goes and huddles in the corner in the fetal position* Jim Go rent the DVD or video of Paint You're Wagon. You need to recover step by step. William Taylor - I talk to the trees, that's why they put me away. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Hi-tech arms 'would finish war in a week'
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=361736 The American weaponry likely to be deployed in any military strike against Iraq is so advanced and hi-tech that some was not even ready to be used in the operation in Afghanistan just 12 months ago. With an armoury including satellite imagery that can distinguish a tank from a bus, even through thick cloud, to microwave bombs that can destroy electrical and computer systems without hurting civilians, military planners preparing for war are confident that any strike would be completed in little more than a week. The first Gulf War was fought like the Second World War, with air dominance - pounding their defences, softening up the forces and then going in, said Daniel Gouré, a military analyst with the Washington-based Lexington Institute think tank. This will be speedier, more precise - an effects-based operation. It will be much more surgical, both in the use of explosive force and in the overall operation. While the present emphasis is on securing the evidence America would need to go to war - the UN wants a list of Iraqi scientists linked to arms programmes by the end of the month and is stepping up the pace of inspection, swooping on 11 sites yesterday - analysts agree that America's military dominance will ensure any assault on Iraq is brief. Among the weapons Mr Gouré and others highlight are satellite-guided smart bombs known as Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). While a number of these were used in Afghanistan, many more are likely to be deployed in Iraq. The smart bombs available have also been upgraded. The GBU-28 bunker-busters have been upgraded by the BLU-31. Designed to penetrate hardened underground facilities, these have also been equipped with a new device called the hard-target smart fuse, which allows the bomb to count how many floors it needs to penetrate before detonating. A new category of bomb is the thermobaric device - only one was used in Afghanistan, and missed its target - which can penetrate indoor or underground spaces and then set off a blast of heat and pressure strong enough to destroy biological agents such as anthrax or smallpox. One weapon that is completely untested in battle is the microwave bomb, which British and US experts have been working on for several years. Exploding in mid-air, these bombs release pulses of magnetic energy that seek out electrical systems and computers and burn them out - even if they are buried underground. These can also be used to create a fizzing sensation on a person's skin - something US law enforcement agencies have been testing for crowd control. Chris Hellman, a senior analyst with the Centre for Defence Studies, said: If it's available and we get into a situation where we are looking at urban warfare, it will definitely be used. They may not be man-portable, but having them on the back of a truck would not be a problem. Other new or updated weapons include an improved battle tank, the Abrams MI A2, the Apache Longbow helicopter and a high-altitude version of the unmanned Pred- ator drone, which can be used to carry satellite surveillance equipment or Hellfire missiles. Another is the Stryker, an armoured fighting vehicle offering great manoeuvrability. Planners believe it could be so important that - unlike the recent campaigns in Kosovo and Afghanistan - ground forces could play as important a role as bombers. John Pike, director of globalsecurity.org, another research group, believes the supremacy of US technology will mean any military operation will last little longer than a week. I think when this war is written up it will emerge as the re-emergence of the importance of land power, he said. xponent Inneressin Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Wierd News: Buyer Pays $485 a Word for Potter Plot
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2cid=573ncid=573e=6u=/nm/2002 1213/od_nm/potter_dc A private U.S. buyer coughed up $485 a word for a 93-word synopsis of the yet-to-be completed fifth book about wizard boy wonder Harry Potter. It was sold to a telephone bidder from America for 28,680 pounds ($45,180), a spokesman for auction house Sotheby's told Reuters. The final price for the collection of random words giving a tantalizing glimpse into the plot of Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix was nearly five times the pre-sale estimate of up to $9,500. J.K.Rowling, the author of the world's most popular children's books, offered the teaser for sale Thursday to raise funds for Book Aid International. The actual content of the plot preview will remain the secret of the buyer who bought it sight unseen -- although Sotheby's did release a selection of the chosen words as a taster before the auction. Thirty-eight chapters ... might change ... longest volume ... Ron ... broom ... sacked ... house-elf ... new teacher ... dies ... sorry, were obviously more than enough to generate vigorous bidding as Potter mania continues to sweep the globe. xponent Anxious Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Wierd News: Thief steals bags of poop; owner still laughing
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1701060 Matt Boswell had that holiday spirit after Christmas shopping last week in Frisco. Then he saw some stinking thief messing around in the back of his pickup truck outside Stonebriar Centre mall. I yelled at him, said Boswell, who watched the dirty dog haul two plastic bags from the truck to a waiting car and flee. The Little Elm, Texas, resident didn't give chase or waste his time calling police. No. 1, the loss was a mere drop in the bucket. No. 2, this is the season of sharing, a time for surprises. I sure wish I could have been there when he opened the bags, said Boswell, entremanure of a pet waste-removal company. Those gift bags together contained about 25 pounds of leftovers from Texans' lawns in Irving and North Dallas. I just couldn't stop laughing, said Boswell, who had parked in the open so people, including thieves, could read the words painted on the sides of his truck. It's pretty obvious what we do, he said. It says we scoop poop. Boswell said he and his three employees weekly take in about a ton of dung. And if the guys in the black, four-door sedan want some more, he said, we have plenty where that came from. xponent When It Hits The Fan Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Wierd News: Gambian confuses German snow with vandalism
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1698542 A Gambian man unused to Germany's winter weather woke up to find his car had turned completely white overnight and called police to complain vandals had painted it. Police in the central German town of Hildesheim responding to investigate the crime discovered the man had mistaken snow on his car for paint when he looked down from his apartment window. To him it looked like paint when he was looking down on the car from the fifth floor. He was really worried and it wasn't a hoax, otherwise he would have been fined for it, police spokesman Walter Wallott said Monday. xponent Learn About Geography Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Wierd news: French crack down on Internet pronunciations
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1698583 French is such a rich language that it now has, by state decree, two words for the at sign, which has become a worldwide symbol for the Internet, but only one official way to pronounce it. A special commission struggling to defend French against the spread of English in cyberspace has decided that the popular e-mail sign can be named either arobase or arrobe but not at. The august commission, which failed a few years ago to impose the name jeunes pousses (young sprouts) for Internet start-up companies, decreed that the French should only call it arrobe when they give out their e-mail addresses. The problem is that most people say arobase -- the traditional French name for the at sign -- and have never heard of the old Spanish measure of weight arroba that the commission used to create its new term. The same decree concerning the at sign also advised the French to say le site instead of le site web to describe a Web site. They have successfully fought off other English terms, imposing ordinateur for computer, logiciel for software and informatique for computer science. xponent The Harsh Struggle Against Reality Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Numinous Nomination: Woman missing 8 years is home for Christmas
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1692161 A woman who had been wandering the streets for eight years was headed home for a Christmas reunion with her family today because she remembered she once had invested in the stock market. When a bedraggled Alice Perley wandered into the brokerage firm of A.G. Edwards Sons in Nashville earlier this week the first person she met by the elevator was Michael Guess. I could tell she was homeless, Guess, a financial analyst with the firm, told Reuters Friday. It was obvious she needed help. When the woman told him she thought she had some money invested with the firm, Guess was skeptical but we need to help people regardless and I wasn't going to walk away from her. So the 44-year-old Guess invited the woman into his office and listened to her story. She was vague about everything except that she remembered the name of our firm and felt that somehow she had money with us, said Guess. Guess said he and another broker took some cash from their own pockets to give her but she refused, insisting she had money in an account. I knew something was going on then, Guess said. So I put through a call to our company's office in Atlanta and asked them to check on it. A few minutes later he had confirmation that Perley was a client -- and that she had been missing for eight years despite exhaustive search efforts by her family. Guess said it appeared that Perley, a college graduate with a chemistry degree, property and other investments, had disappeared from her home in Kentucky after a painful divorce. She left a commercial flight during a stopover at Nashville's airport and lived in the woods, on the streets and in shelters in the intervening years. The firm refused to say what her investment amounted to or to characterize it in any way, citing customer confidentiality. While Guess was still on the phone with the Edwards office in Atlanta, the woman's brother, Fred Perley of Charlotte, N.C., called and talked to her. She was happy -- really very happy when she heard her brother's voice, Guess said. It was obvious she was ready to come home. At that point, I left the office to give them privacy but I don't mind saying I felt a real glow myself. The brother came to Nashville Friday to take the woman home. Said Guess: Well, that's what Christmas is really all about, isn't it? We're not supposed to judge others. We're supposed to remember to help one another and not just walk on by -- aren't we? xponent There Is A Season Called Everyday Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Wierd news: French crack down on Internet pronunciations
From: Robert Seeberger [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1698583 French is such a rich language that it now has, by state decree, two words French is like those galactic languages, in which their is only one way to say something. French is rather anal retentive. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Wierd news: French crack down on Internet pronunciations
The Fool wrote: From: Robert Seeberger [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/bizarre/1698583 French is such a rich language that it now has, by state decree, two words French is like those galactic languages, in which their is only one way to say something. French is rather anal retentive. Heh. I prefer English, which is not above chasing other languages down dark alleys, beating them senseless and going through their pockets. Adam C. Lipscomb [EMAIL PROTECTED] Silence. I am watching television. - Spider Jerusalem ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: On the topic of Star Trek and pain
Mike wrote: Where can I get that CD? I have a few people I don't like. I don't know if I can be party to spreading such torment. :) However, if you e-mail me after the holidays, I suppose I could be talked into making a copy of it for interested parties. I'm pretty sure the hideous works from where they originated are out of print, so I don't have to feel bad about freebies. :) Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Wierd News: Buyer Pays $485 a Word for Potter Plot
In a message dated 12/15/2002 6:18:06 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A private U.S. buyer coughed up $485 a word for a 93-word synopsis of the yet-to-be completed fifth book about wizard boy wonder Harry Potter. I would rather have an auction where the successful buyer can insert 20 random words into our good Dr. Brin's next novel. Freedonia would be my first choice. William Taylor - (And I don't mean the Arizona city.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
One other thing worth pointing out about this type of test is that the answers for which an author is mostly unique (i.e., few other authors gave the same answer) are pivotal in scoring the overall test. For example, for Brin, questions #1, #4, and #8 have Brin with 3 or fewer other authors, so if you choose #1, #4, and #8 as shown below, then randomly choose the answers to all the other questions, you are likely to be named Brin. Unfortunately, I think the designer got the most unique one for Brin, #4, wrong, so the test is pretty skewed from true Brin. On Sun, Dec 15, 2002 at 08:19:34PM -0500, Erik Reuter wrote: 1) (War and conquest., sdh); 4) (I'll shit on you like you've never been shit on before., dj); 8) (Al., dgnt); -- Erik Reuter [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.erikreuter.net/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
Thanks Erik But there must be more to it. Some answers are obligate. They form a choice cut between one author and another. Others... the test doesn't care if I voted for Al Gore or PatRobertson. As for #4, I'd like to know who j (my fellow shitter) is. Bizare. and enough on this I got kids stuff to do. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
On Sun, Dec 15, 2002 at 07:32:28PM -0800, d.brin wrote: Thanks Erik But there must be more to it. Some answers are obligate. They form a choice cut between one author and another. Others... the test doesn't care if I voted for Al Gore or PatRobertson. It just adds one to each variable (a-z) for each author associated with each answer that the person chooses. Whichever variable has the highest number after adding all the answers up is the overall choice. As for #4, I'd like to know who j (my fellow shitter) is. Bizare. Pournelle. -- Erik Reuter [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.erikreuter.net/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Brin: Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
Just ran across this awesome database for speculative fiction. The link below is for the Brin entries, or should I say, Glen David Brin entries? :-) Looks fairly complete, including quite a few articles and stories that I have never heard of. Brin entry: http://www.sfsite.com/isfdb-bin/exact_author.cgi?David_Brin main page: http://www.sfsite.com/isfdb/sfdbase.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
As for #4, I'd like to know who j (my fellow shitter) is. Bizare. Pournelle. Yup. Nuff said. This dope has had enough of our time. Next item. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: On the topic of Star Trek and pain
On Sun, 15 Dec 2002, Jim Sharkey wrote: Mike wrote: Where can I get that CD? I have a few people I don't like. I don't know if I can be party to spreading such torment. :) However, if you e-mail me after the holidays, I suppose I could be talked into making a copy of it for interested parties. I'm pretty sure the hideous works from where they originated are out of print, so I don't have to feel bad about freebies. :) Uh, no, they're *not* out of print. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B032C1/ref=m_art_li_1//002-3804376-7111252?v=glances=music http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B089JE/ref=m_art_li_1//002-3804376-7111252?v=glances=music That covers all the songs you mentioned Julia who can think of a number of things a lot higher on her torture list than Shatner's rendition of Mr. Tambourine Man (which is saved by the backup singers from being *truly* unbearable) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
Just ran across this awesome database for speculative fiction. The link below is for the Brin entries, or should I say, Glen David Brin entries? :-) Looks fairly complete, including quite a few articles and stories that I have never heard of. Brin entry: http://www.sfsite.com/isfdb-bin/exact_author.cgi?David_Brin A nice contribution, though much was obviously taken from my online bo at http://www.davidbrin.com/ There are about eleventy more interviews available there, too. Interesting to rank CONTACTING ALIENS as nonfiction! I list it under fiction. I think I had 2 more Locus Awards. No prob but a site like this should offer links to the author's web site. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
From our good Dr. Brin: Bizare. and enough on this I got kids stuff to do. I once had fun with a local radio talk show host, as I called her a radio personality who happened to be a Tucson resident. And I called the man who had the program before her's, a Tucson resident who happened to be a radio personality. She didn't understand the difference. She also isn't in Tucson anymore, having obtained a job elsewhere in a city with a higher market rating. Husband, father, writer, smoozer. I think Dr. Brin has it in the right order. Now, who is going to send this damn test to Jerry? William Taylor -- Black powder, bridles and booze. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
d.brin wrote: Interesting to rank CONTACTING ALIENS as nonfiction! I list it under fiction. It's reference material for a fiction series. Reference material counts as non-fiction, no matter to what it refers. Or something like that. :) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I list it under the category of puzzles and brain teasers, but surprised our good Dr. Brin by coming up with solutions to problems that he never knew existed. He just de-Pila-tated my best idea. Must have been a hairy one, then. Ah well. Let the Buyur beware. William Taylor - No claw for alarm. Why not? Why not a species where they raise the alarm by clacking their claws? Wouldn't those be claws for alarm? Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Interesting essay ...
A friend sent me this... ... on 30 years after Apollo 17 -- in The Guardian, of all places! http://www.guardian.co.uk/spacedocumentary/story/0,2763,860813,00.html __ Cute. Laurie is a San Diegan. I met him recently. As for sadness over abandoning the moon -- Jerry Pournelle said I always expected to see the 1st man land on the moon... I never expected to see the last. But articles like this one miss the point. Apollo was like the Video-Casette Recorder... a weird/cludged/insane attempt to do something that the underlying science/technology was nowhere near ready for! NOW we at last have the tech to do accurate, nimble recording of entertainment/TV at whim, digitally. No such thing 30 years ago. And yet - (here's the point) AMericans have a way of getting what they want, when they want it. We WANTED to record programs, so a weird electromechanical Rube Goldberg contraption called the VCR was made... then sold in such vast numbers that it never even made sense to repair one when it went bad! The same is true of Apollo. We wanted to visit the moon. We weren't ready by more than a generation. Did that stop us? Hell no. We did it in a way that will cause future generations to call us utter maniacs. Even NOW I doubt we're really ready to go back. Not sensibly. Not soberly and seriously. This glass is not half empty. Not even a drop empty. The gloomy headshakes miss the whole point. We have all been privileged to live to see something that was scheduled to happen in 2050!! Anyway. I like my way of looking at things a whole lot better than all the gloomy sourpusses out there. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: brin: [LINK] What Science Fiction Author Are You?
... Now, who is going to send this damn test to Jerry? Jerry doesn't take tests. After all, he's a best-selling science fiction writer. He *gives* tests. Did I mention that he's a best-selling science fiction writer? And makes a lot of money? Really a whole lot? Nick ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
